St. Paul daily globe., 1884-11-07
THE IDEAL SHAKERS.
Their Industries, Enserfafnnents, aRd
Religious ForDas-HOse the
People Lire

Their industries. En,ertafnnlents, ard
Religious ForBs-H Ho,e fhs
People Lice.
1t was early In the month of October that
my friend Hernia and made our long anti
cipated pilgrimage to the Canterbury
Shakers.
We did not arrive at the settlement till
after dark, and our rap at the great door Of
what is called the ''office," where strangers
were received, was rather a timid one. II
was opened Hospitality vide, however, by
woman who gave us kindly welcome, and
conducted US through the hall to q cosy sit
ting room, where she babe Us ''make our
selves to-home."
1t was to this sisters special care that We
were committed during our stay. They called
her Sister Elizabeth. She was dressed like
all the others, in a gray pongee gown, cut
with plain round waist loosely fitting the
figure, on which the full skirt was plated in
small uniform kilt plaits. A large white
herchief was folded about ther neck and
across her breast in some marvellous way
that we have tried in vain TO initiate. A lit
tie close lace lap, like the milliher's bonnet
frame, covered her rather blond hair, which
was combed straight hack from the forehead
and fastened In fat knot behind.
The Shaker dress, though ugly in itself,
makes now and then a woman wonder of
quaint lovliness. 1t was so with sister Eliza
BETH; it suited her quiet eyes, her gentle
smiling mouth and calm repOse of manner;
also, the somewhat severe but graceful lines
OF her slender figure.
They wear hoop OF some contrivanee
which extends the skirt with a strait and
gradual slope from wa 81 TO hem, and gives
q stately look 10 the wearer.
Later on, when saw the sisters all to-
gether, decided that this dress was remark
ably well suited TO the majOrity-seeming 10
belong to them in very fitness, and they to
1t. They are all, with rare exceptions, thin
and pale, with sober, II not severe, express
sion of countenance when in repose. There
are no plump, merry faces; even the child
rem look old and staid, until they speak, and
then there seems 10 be an intangible some
thing-a representation, perhaps,-that sets
them a little apart from our full sympathy.
The society at Canterbury, \. H., consists
OF three families, who live aud are governed
separately, hut worship together In the same
church except in winter, when as a matter
OF convenience they occupy halls in their own
separate buildings. The family with whom
we visited was the first or church family.
There are various buildings belonging 70
| II; homes, a school house, workshops-one
| for the men. one for the women, and another
] for the children-a printing office, an iufrm-
AIRY where an elder sister presides over a full
! equipment of drugs and medicines, 10 which
are added their owD peculiar remedies-Sha-
ker bitters, etc.
can testify to this good sisters skill, for
she dispelled my wretched headache in a
/ triee with & magical dose from dainty little
/ glass.
or course their main support and income
/ is the farm, which Is large and under high
state OF cultivation. 1t islwell stocked with
cattle and horses, but they do not raise either.
as an article Of food.
Some Of the horses are magnificent crea-
lures, anu so intelligent that they come and
60 at the call OF their keepers and do many
wonderful tricks. One Of q span Of iron
grays has trick OF walking through the
barn anu displaeing with his teeth and throw
ing about every article he can find. Very
disorderly for Shaker horse.
The house in which we were entertain cd
was large and square, with wide halls and
staircases-two sets-one for men and ono
for women ;>they were on opposides OF the
bouse, but so confusing that we felt In dis
grace half the time from biuuderIng up TIE
wrong stairs or into the wrong rooms. The
floors were of dark wood, stained and pol.
ished till they were slippery as glass, and the
doors and casings were everywhere stained 9
peculiar aesthetic yellow, which, with the
qusint surroundings, was very effective.
Nothing anywhere Il poor or mean, though
ali u - eli sr1n
! picture-the yellow stained doors and shut
tiers, the polished floor, over whish were seat
tered large, handsome rugs Of Shaker man
ufaciure; these are woven OF soft wool, and
closely resemble Smyrna rugs; the two white
beds in opposite corners, the little cast iron
stove. perfectly plain and smooth, and sbou
az big az good sized loaf of bread, in which
ere cracked cheerfully. These stoves arr
in every room alike; no larger in Office o
dining room. How do they keep warm IN
winter therei
But most dainty and delightful OF all were
the curtains, which nearly drove dear
aesthetic Hernia Wild. They were OF whit,
linen, and suspended by brass rings on
brass rod. Theo were starched very stifiiy
and where every ring was sewed were ironeC
10 hang in fold from top TO bottom. WheI
drawn back they formed a Eat mass OF folds
and were confined high up at the side Of tn
wide, smail-paned window by brass fixture
like an inverted shepherds crook--Well
like Shaker ethereallzed.n q
Hernia aptly said These wer
the curtains everywhere; We saw no others
AT the head OF each staircase was a tall
old fashioned clock, as old as the house II
self, which was built over hundred year
ago. These sentinel-liks clocks seemed par
aud parcel Of the place, and We heard then
at midnight calling TO each other in solemn
sweetness, keeping their faithful watch Will
others slept
1t is the custom 10 serve meals to guests II
a room and at table by themselves, which
perhaps, seems hardly hospltable, but th
fact that the Shakers eat in perfect silenc
J somewhat alters the aspect Of the case. Th