The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-25
THE IDEAL SHAKERS.
A PILGRIMAGE TO A COMMUNITY
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
How the Sisters Dress-The Three Fami
lies of the Society Interior of a
Shaker HOuse-SchOoIs, Music
and Worship.
ECor. Boston Transcript

It was early in the month of October
that nv friend Hernia and | made our
ong-anticipated pilgrimage to the Canter-
bury Shakers We did not arrive at the
settlement till after dark, and our rap at
the great door of what is called the
Eof1ce, where strangers are received,
was rather a timid one. 1t was opened
Hospitality wide, however, by woman
who gave US kindly welcome and con-
Quoted US through the hall TO coy sit
ting.roonl, where she babe US make our
selves at 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, but with q plain round
waist loosely fitting the figure, on which
the full skirt was plated in small, uni
form kilt p its. A large white kerchief
was folded out her neck and across her
breast in some marvellous way that we
have tried in vain to initiate. a little close
lace cap, like the milliner's bonnet frame,
covered her rather blonde hair, which was
combed straight back from the forehead
and fastened in a flat knot behind.
The dress, though ugly in itself, makes
now and then a woman a wonder of quaint
loneliness. 1t was so with Sister Eliza
beth; it suited her quiet eyes, her gently
smiling mouth and calm repose of manner;
lines Of her slender figure. They wear a
hoop of some continuance which extends
the skirt with a straight and gradual slope
from waist to hem and gives stately look
to the wearer.
The society at Canterbury, n. H, con
sists of three families who live and are
governed separately, but worship together
In the same church, except in winter,
when as matter OF conven-
fence they occupy halls in their
own separate buildings. The family with
whom we visited was the first or church
family. There are various buildings be-
longing to it; homes, school-house, work
shops-one for the men, one for the
women and another for the children-a
printing Office, an infirmary, where an
elder sister presides over full equipment
of drugs and medicines, to which are ad
ded their own peculiar remedies-Shaker
bitters, etc.
Of course their main support and in
come is the farm, which is large and un.
der high state of cultivation. 1t is well
stocked with cattle and horses, but they
do not raise either. Pigs they have none,
and pork is interdicted as an article OF
food.
The house in which we were entertained
was large and square, with wide halls and
staircases-two sets-One for men and one
for women; they were on opposite sides OF
the house, but so confusing that we felt in
disgrace half the time from laundering up
the 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 castings were everywhere
stained peculiar aesthetic yellow, which,
with the quaint surroundings, was very
effective
Nothing anywhere is poor or mean,
though all is severely simple. Our room
was picture-the yellow-stained doors
and shutters, the polished floor, oven
which were scattered large, handsome
rugs of Shaker manufacture; 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 about as
big asa good sized loaf Of bread, in which
fire cTackled cheerful1y. These stoves
are in every room alike; no larger, in
Office or dining-Toom. How do they keep
warm in winter there?
The sisters outnumber the brethren as
five to one in every family, and this
advantage alone would perhaps keep the
men rather in the background; butt am
strongly inclined to the opinion that
while the elders and few others are not
naturally intelligent and well educated,
the majority are in all respects inferior
TO the women. As Sister Elizabeth re.
marked with a twinkle in her eye, "it is
Woman's day here.
Their schools must be excellent, fol
the children are well advanced in every
branch.
Their anthems and hymns for church
use are written entirely by Shakers, and
are, of course, peculiar. Most of the lat,
ter are chorals, which they sing with great
spirit They sit and sing, they march and
sing, they kneel and sing endless verses,
and the last note is as loud and clear as
the first Most of their hymns have ring
Of triumph and victory about them, though
some are exceedingly sweet and tender.
No one wI1o hears the Shakers can doubt
that with them singing is, indeed, wor-
ship
We attended their regular church serv,
ices. Aside from the singing it consisted
OF a short Scripture reading, a short ser
mon or address by the minister, "EldeT
Henry" they called him, and remarks by
several members.
The women left their bonnets outside
and marched in with heads uncovered, ex
cept for the lace caps before referred to-
AL remained standing through the first
bart of the service, and they made very
striking appearance. After the sermon
they marched about in sort of figure
singing or shaking" their hands, will
palms upward. This shaking" was not
at all what expected to see. There is in
all their service nothing ludicrouS
or undignified. Their ferver seems like
true exaltation of spirit-not at all rant Of
excitement-and seems to find full eX
preston in their singing and in theil
faces, which are, especially those of the
women, spiritual in the extreme.