The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-30

A VISIT TO OHlO's SETTLEMENT
OF MvsTlcs AND COMMUNISTS.

Fair eex-A musements, Etc.
This settlement of German mystics anc
communists Is a complete little kingdom fr
itself. and not such Q very little kingdom
either The Zoarites own 1000 acres Of LAND
In one tract, OF which half is under cultiva
ton, while the remainder is heavily tim
bsred with valuable walnut, oak and pins
trees Their original purchase hero was 10.
600 acres. but 1900 have been sold from time
to time at great advance over first cost.
Every article implement or machine that
Il used. wrought with. eaten, drank or worn
by tho Zoarites Is produced in Zoar. as are
also tho materials Of which it Is composed.
The only exceptions to ialls rule are coffee,
tea, sugar and spices Tho shoes the Zoarites
wear are made by their own shoemakers
from leather prepared by their own tanners
from hides taken FROM their own cattle. The
coal that warns them and cooks their food II
dug In their own mines and is burned In
stoves cast In their own foundry from iron
smeted In their own furnaces from ore found
In abundance on their own landa The cloth.
ing that covers them Is made by their own
talors from cloth woven in their own mill
from wool sheared from their own sheep.
The beer they drink Is brewed In their own
brewery from malt made by their own malt
stars and hops grown OIL their own lands.
All manufacturing In Zoar is done by
water power Steam is scarcely used at all
. The Ttiscarawas river. by means Of dams. Is
made TO flow with sufficient swiftness and
volume to supply thirty or forty horse power
TO each Of the Zoarite manufactures Nearly
ali the machinery used was made in Zoar by
Zoarite mechanics One Of their principal
products is -four, of which. after supplying
to Pittsburg. Cleveland, Washington and
Baltimore
THE COW STABLES.
One OF the chief places of interest In Zoar
Is the great collection Of immense barns, In
which the mich cattle are kept. A consid-
cradle portion Of the Zoarites' wealth Is in
vested in their live stock, and they have de-
voted much attention to determining what
are really the best breeds. They have ex-
perimented largely with the Holstein, the
Jersey. the Attorney and the Durham, and
are now inclined to favor the last named,
though all four varieties are well represented
in their herds.
Every sanitary and convenient device that
modern ingenuity has been able to suggest is
utilized in the construction Of these COW sta
bles The stalls extend In long rows on either
side of broad aisle, and the conditions for
light and ventilation are Of the most favorable
kind Already the COWS are out at pasture.
and it is a rare sight to see the mild faced,
patient creatures come filing in at eventide
in q seemingly interminabe procession. each
one knowing her accustomed place and going
voluntarily to it without the slightest dis
turbance or confusion.
On the morning and evening of each day
all the young women in Zoar repair In merry
procession to these barns and milk the cows
As members Of congress sometimes are for a
mnch less useful purpose, the girls are
paired" and each two are assigned eight
cows, which they must always milk. Fancy
more than thirty buxom young milk
maids with the good looks which are the
offspring of good health. outdoor exercise
and good diet sparkling in their eyes, lips
and cheeks Each one is tastefully dressed
in well fitting chintz or calico, and wears q
white apron, which, like everything else
about these most attractive young women, is
scrupuiously neat ana clean.
Another place in which to sec the Zoarite
young women to advantage is the bakery,
where all the bread and pies for the entire
community are baked fresh every morning
From IS to 100 loaves comprise the average
daily consumption Of the town. The baking
Is done BY men, but each household sends its
young women to the bakery to procure its
supply Of daily bread and carry It home,
wrapped In q large, spotless white cloth,
which each damsel carries with her
"AIRIYGn THE LITTLE ONES
Besides these quaint professions Of young
women to tho COW stables ard he bakery
there is another similar one to be seen in Zoar
ON every pleasant day. That Is, a procession
Of girls ranging from to 10 years, each
drawing in all old fashioned baby carriage a
Younger brother or sister for an airing. As
all property in Zoar is held in common. 80
the Zoarites share equally and participate
together in all their pleasures and duties.
Thus even the babies of the society are
''aired" simultaneously in long drawn out
procession.
For the pleasure Of the members Of the So
ciety and their visitors public garden and q
greenhouse are maintained in Zoar. Both
are of considerable extent and would DO
highly creditable to any largo city. The
garden is tastefully laid out, and contains
some noble trees and elegant shrubbery. A
large and delightfully."- cool arbor In the GEN.
ter Is entirely concealed by the latter. The
greenhouse boasts fine collection of choice
plants and flowers There Is no prohibitory
mo admittance" or Hands OFF" on any
thing, and every one II free to enter at all
times and roam about at will.
From the garden and greenhouse It Is but q
few steps to tho picnic ground, a grove Of
grand old forest trees, In which tho Zoaritas
have placed swings and q covered dancing
platform for the enjoyment Of their younger
visitors, who In summer time come in large
numbsrs from surrounding cities and towns
- we'll a. from the adjacent country and pic
MO here on two or three days Of almost every
week. But swinging and dancing are not
the only amusements provided for these
young people by their good friends the Zoars,
who find their chief happiness in making
others happy. Many beautiful pleasure boats
arc maintained here. and no stream could 10
better adapted for boating than tho Tuscara.
was river.
II any people In the world practically III
dorse, in every possible way, old John Wes-
lsyS saying that cleanliness Is next to godl-
reaa that Deople arc the Zoarites In the