Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-04-07
IN A SHAKER VILLAGE,
A Visit to Community Where ALI
Stand Upon a Footing
of Equality.
Their Frigid Manners, Digniiiei De.
meanOr and Total Lack
OF Cordially.
Mode of Life, Religious Worship and
General Characteristics of
Queer Set.
BY MRS. =. c. HAu.Err.

Taking the train at the Court street
depot at 9:l5 one balmy morning in
early autumn, we left Cincinnati fo1
Lebanon, a small village north, thirty
miles distant, o. perhaps three thou
sand inhabitants.
Our destination was n Shaker vii
lage four miles west of Lebanon, lying
between the Big and Little Miami
rivers.
The ride from Cincinnati to Lebanon
TOOK us through some of the finest
country i'll the Ohio Valley.
At IL: l5 We steamed into Lebanon.
quiet, sleepy little place, whore we
were obliged TO wait until 2:3O y. IL.
for the h9ck-.a stage route lying be-
tween Lebanon and Franklin, the lat
ter about ten miles distant.
The day was one of those dreamy
days in autumn, that seem somehow to
have straved away from heaven.
The drive from the railroad station
at Lebanon to Union Village, the
Smoker settlement, was lovely one.
The sky hay blue, the air soft and
mild, and replete with the melody of
the BIRDS, and fragrant with the per-
fume of the late flowers. The dew still
sparkled upon the wayside grasses, and
the leaves upon the grand old trees,
through which the smooth white road
wound, rustled, and seemed to whisper
that the green of their garments must
soon be changed to russell and brown.
1t was with q feeling of re erence,
not unmiXei with sadness, aud no little
curiosity, that we approached the
boundary line dividing shaker from
"the world"
From earliest recollection we had
learned of the perfect lives of these
people, and it seemed like sacrilege as
the hackwheels rolled upon the CON
secrated ground.
This is the line" said tine driver,
breaking in suddenly upon our reverie
and pointing to the place indicated with
his whip.
"And there are five thousand acres
of land all in bunch belonging to this
community, besides Il fine farm within
two or three miles of Cincinnati" he
continued.
looked out upon what appeared to
be the garden spot of the world. As
far as the eye could reach lay acres
and acres of fine timbcr-Iand, fields of
waving corn and luXuriant vegetation,
tlocks of sheep, and cattle, and horses
upon thousand hills.
turn in the road, and we came sud
denly upon the houses and lands of the
"South family.
Here were fine orchards and vine
Yards, aud everything, from the white
washed gates and fences to the tall,
quaint buildings, with their broad,
old fashioned chimneys, bespoke neat
ness and thrift.
Upon nearly all the buildings could
be seen the date of theirerection- 1907,
1877, 1922, and lS49.
Looking up the long white road, l
could see the village proper entire,
with the exception OF the West fam
lily" buildings, lying off in that direc-
ton, and hidden from view by the
trees and undulatinS ground.
The Comm nifty is divided into four
families.
The "Center,' called the "first"
family-and if there is any distinction
made it is here-and the North,
South" and West" families,
The houses are all built after one
pattern, having a large square front,
with very long wing or l. attached,
and each family has its stables and
sheds for stock and farm implements.
I grew deeply interested as we rolled
along, noting everything.
There was an air of peace surround
ing us. Except for the sound of the
carriage wheels and horses hoofs upon