Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-04-07

is drawn aud placed in the common
fund for all.
The Shakers are norespecters OF per-
| sons. All stand on an eluality the
rich, the poor, the educated, ignorant,
refined, coarse.
Books are not their highest idea OF
obtaining knowledge; "and it makes
the people dissatisfied, too much read
ing and writing, the elders said to me.
| found the Shakers to be very mar
row in many of their views, as they
could not well be otherwise, living in
the isolated, nOn-progressive way they
do.
Many of the Olden-time industries are
done away with, broom making, corn
drying, and a few Shaker medical rem
edies among the most pr ointment. to-
gether with storkraising, etc.
The community is entirely self-sup-
porting, and not an eleemosynary inst:
tuition as many suppose. Therefore, it
is not desirable to receive as a member
any one who is not able to "pay his
way by his labor, unless he has means
to live upon without.
The women and girls of this commu,
nifty, | found to be, to a great extent,
superior to the male portion, although
there were exceptions.
They are a credulo is people, and fire.
quent'y imposed upon.
Nearly all are in favor of woman
suffrage, and most of them strong spir-
itualists.
The head of the Community is
Mormon, and she informed me that
they preferred to take women, as no
woman ever came to them without hay-
ing a change of garments. and always
made herself useful, while in many in
stances men came who did not have "A
change of clothing, the garments upon
them hanging in rags; and after sup
plving their needs they were frequent
~ too lazy to work.
Corporal punishment is prohibited.
If a child cannot b. gotten along with
without this, he is turned over to some
other authority.
No one is permitted to leave the
premises while a member without per-
mission.
Once year all are given what is
called "a harvest ride" This is looked
forward to with cool deal of pleas
ure. The great wagons are loaded
with old and young, and hampers and
baskets are filled with the choicest vi
ands in their store, and then day is
made of It, either of to the woods, CT,
more frequently, to neighboring vii
laGe, where there are unusual sights
to be seen.
A few of the elders and addresses
sometimes come to the city and visit
relatives and friends.
No one is permitted to go alone, only
in very rare cases
The rules of the Community are less
rigid than i'll former years.
was delightfully."- surprised to come
upon a group of beautiful girls, all in
their neat white caps and straight, full
gowns, with the uniform cape pinned
primly across the shoulders, playing
croquct, the gayly colored balls flying
over the velvety grass with the ac-
curacy of accomplished players, as in
deed they were: yet many of the old
Shakers consider it grave sin, and
were shocked when | took "a hand"
and wore Il rose at my throat, and
laughed, and talked to the girls.
In this game the boys were not al
lowed to take part.
When one becomes ill, aged, or in
firm, and unable to work, he is sent to
the Nurse House." binding at the
"tenter,' erected for this purpose,
where there are those in attendance to
care for them.
The Shakers" do not believe that
every one should become Shaker"
only those ito whom it is given" and
able to live this celihate life, feeling
convinced that it is the only true
life" To these they offer home, with
simple, primitive comforts luxury
and Il life that is a continual self
denial.
While it has certain Inducements,
there are many grave drawbacks, es-
peCially TO an impulsive, active pro-
gressive nature. who must be all re-
straint, repression and non-expressive.
All ambition Is land low in the dust
here. 1t has much to remind one of
monastery.
1t is in Il Shaker community" as
with any other life--none are perfect.
There is 90 d in all, and none all
good, and the monotony is wearisome.
As visitor, for the time being, |
enjoyed myself with them, under the
novelty, and was treated more than
kind; but it was with Il decided feeling
OF relief that | left them, having be-
come convinced that either one has
nothing to look forward to hut death
OF is il nero, to become IL Shaker.