Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-05
ECONOMY.
A Community of MiIlionaires without u
Penny.


The Economic Society is possessed of
great wealth. Some assert it reaches
800, 100000, says Pittsburg Dispatch
correspondent. AT the present day there
are not more than thirty Economics.
They are all aged, and in all probability
ten years will find them gathered to their
fathers. In the last two years there have
been twelve deaths. The houses at Econ
omy are of the plainest, built gable end
to the street. Modern wall paper is now
on nearly every house, but all else is
ancient. Rag carpet is mostly used, and
everything is spotlessly clean.
The history OF the society is too well
known TO need repetition. Miss Rapp, the
daughter OF the founder, is still living in
Economy. She is beautiful, silvery-
haired, blue-eyed lady OF seventy-eight
years, but looks no more than sixty. In
her younger days she was very accom-
plished, and to this day she furnishes all
the church music. She was beautiful
singer, and her voice is yet musical ana
sweet.
There are many men and maidens hired
to do the work. These, of course, live to-
gether, but the unmarried are not allowed
to fllrt with each other. If two are seen
talking or walking together, or if they
marry, they are Immediately sent away.
If man smokes IN the town limits he is
discharged. Whisky and beer are strictly
forbidden. II any citizen wishes to go
out OF town, or, in fact, do ANYTHING, he
must first ask the permission of MIR.
Heinrich or Miss Rapp. Groceries, dry
goods, milk, bread and meatar furnished
at stated intervals IN any quantity de-
slred-milk twice day, meat once, bread
three times, etc. The members of the
society, with the exception of the man
ayers, never handle any money, as they
have no need for it. Many would not
know piece of money if they should see
1t, never having handled penny in their
lives, and yet each is worth at least 81, 000,-
600. The washing for every family in
town is taken to the laundry, where hired
help handles it.
At . n. m. they breakfast: at the bell
rings for them to go TO work; at 10 O'Clock
they have lunch, consisting of bread, but
ter, cheese, meat and CIDER u to l is din
ner hour; 3O'clOck lunch again, and 6:30
supper. At p. m. the bell rings, and
everyone must 90 to bed. Nine watchmen
nightly guard the town and enforce the
rules of society, which visitors must
observe.
The church is built of brick, and sup
ports large bell and two town clocks.
straightforward, uncushIoned benches
hold the congregation. At each side,
directly opposite, are raised rostrums,
one for the pulpit, the other for the choir.
MIR. Henrici breaches about an hour every
Sunday morning and evening. Nearly
thirty young people compose the choir,
over which the venerable Miss Rapp
presides at the organ. The clothing worn
is made perfectly plain. The dresses
consist of a gathered skirt, plain waist
full sleeves, and a square kerchiet across
the breast. The best of silks and woolens
used to be manufactured at Economy, but
the factories stand silent and deserted
now. The members are too old to work
now, and the hired help does not take in
terest enough in the work to insure sue
cess. Everything Is raised in abundance,
and the large wine cellars of the thirty
community contain over $4,000 gallons of
the best article. Some of the choicest
wines are fully fifty years old. Last yea 4
500 barrels of cider were made. 1t j
drunk instead Of water. No one ever be
comes drunkard there, and a quarre
has never occurred or a cross word bee.
spoken.