Wichita eagle., 1888-06-17
LIVES OF THE SHAKERS,
STEADY HABITS BRING TO THEM
LONGEVITY AND HAPPINESS.

MeHts at DIUerene fi3ceS IN America.
A Visit to One Of the Communities.
Some Queer Customs.
Situated in the beautiful valley of the Con
nectlcut, about $50 miles from New ork, Is
a community Of people known by the name Of
Shakers" The correct name is Believers
but from their peculiar manner Of worship
the common or outside people dubbed"
them Shakers" Their leader was Ann Lee.
born IN Manchester. England, in the seven
teen hundreds, who. with her husband and
brother and few followers. commenced to
hold their meetings peculiar to their religious
belief-rhat is, OF the ''ceibare life" being the
only true way; but this not suiting the peo-
pie, she was arrested and thrown into prison.
There then appeared to her in visions mes
sages from above, telling her to take with
her her followers and come to America and
spread the new gospel She was released,
and with her followers, eight in all, arrived
In America in 179S Her persecution was
not stopped after leaving the old country.
A storm arose on the sea, and the captain
was half inclined TO throw them all over
board, but only through the prayers Of
Mother Ann were they saved Her husband
left her here in this country, and she and her
few followers started on their mission Der
persecution here was terrible, as she made
number of conversions to the new faith and
got many followers Mother Ann was
great medium, and at 'Niskiuna," now
Natervleit, n. z, where the final settlement
was made, she is buried These people claim
forty years advance Of the Rochester
knockers better known as the Fox sisters
We arrived at the office of the camp,
where we were met by two of the sisters, and
were invited into the sitting room We
were invited to dinner, which comprised
plain but well cooked fare
NEATNEsS OF EVERYTHING.
After dinner, by the aid Of guide, we In
spected the brothers and sisters rooms, the
meeting, reading and dining rooms, which
are complete with all the modern improve
ments-hot and cold water, baths. etc. We
were struck with the neatness of everything.
In each room hangs the broom, buster and
dust pan. The walls were as white as snow,
and the floors were polished like looking
glass. Leaving that, we visited the barns,
and there we saw one of the finest and larg-
est herds OF Jersey cattle that could be
brought together, all of which were regis
tered, as none but full bred can be- We next
visited the dairy where the bright pans, the
patent creamerieS and churns were admired.
We visited the boys and girls workshops,
the sisters quarters and the carpenter shop.
After little rest we took tramp through
the orchards, consisting Of pears, apples,
plums of almost every known kind On .
little knoll on the side OF the orchard is the
cemetery, the little white stones with the
name, age and date of death inscribed Oh
them Very few died under 60, the maxi
mum being 60, a pretty good showing that
they are not very short lived.
AS night drew on, feeling tired, we were
shown to our rooms; the sisters took care OF
our female friends, while a brother did the
honors for US, According to the rules, no
one brother and sister can walk, talk, ride or
work together, and visitors who stay over
night, be they married or not, must come
under the same head as regards the sleeping
part. 1t was our privilege to stay over Sun
day. We brealifasted on the piazza, and
were invited to attend meeting.
In the meeting house were arranged on one
side, in their snow white caps and straight
dresses and white shoulder capes. the sisters,
on the opposite, the brothers in the same
order. a hymn is sung and after few 10
marks by the elder or eldress both sides form
by twos and march around the room, singing
at the same time. At the regular march the
elbows are placed at the sides; the hands,
with palnssturaed upward, Keep time in the
marching. In the slow march the hands are
dropped at the sides, with swinging motion,
the body slightly bending forward. They
thus marched, counter marched circles and
nalf circles with the precision of ''crack"
regiment After the meeting closed each side
dled out to their respective rooms At the
meeting in the evening at o'clock there was
no marching, but singing, speaking and read
ing.
VERY INDUSTRIOUS
The Shakers are very industrious people
They arise at $50 in the morning, except in
November, December and January, when
they arise at 5. The brothers who attend
the milking are on hand at the barn by or
before, and the milk is delivered at the dairy
before $50. The churning is also done at
that time. The sisters have the tables set
and breakfast is ready at 6, dinner at IL
and supper at 9. The meals are all eaten in
silence, The brothers and sisters kneel in
this is over each brother or sister knows
what his or her duties are, and gets ready
for the days work. Each does an equal
share, and in unison. which makes it easier
Mother AIMS motto was Hands TO work
and hearts to God" They are makers Of
numerous kinds Of patent medicines
There is saw mill, carpenter shop, broom
factory, preserve and pickle factory and
steam evaporator for apples. corn dryer,
from whence Is got the Shaker sweet corn
In case any Of the brothers or sisters are
taken sicl, the best of care is taken OF them,
and if they should die they are placed in q
plain coffin covered with white. an emblem
OF purity and the simplicity of their ways
meeting house. while the brothers and sisters
speak and sing appropriate hymns, after
which the body is taken to the cemetery ard
consigned 10 the earth.
The Shakers 90 not mingie with politics or
anything peculiar 70 the outside world, any
more than selling the products OF the farms
and orchards About ! 900 acres are worked
at this place. Their principal markets are
Springfield, Mass, and Hartford, Conn
Some years ago they made cider, but have
given that up. Neither do they raise tobacco,
and no brother can Use it until he b over 70
years of age The regularity OF their habits
no doubt leads them to such long hveA
The settlements are at the following places:
Lebanon, y z, Enfield. Conn, Hancock,
Mass. Alfred. Ne, Canterbury, y. Il, and
Union, Ey.-NeS York Presa