The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-12-13
A SHAKER SETTLEMENT.
The Prosperous Society at Canterbury
N. II,

An elderly woman, with fine features,
, fresh complexion, gray hair, and Il
sweet voice, sat beside Il young man on
n train from Boston which arrived in
New York a few days ago. They were
chatting, and Il magazine article on the
Moravian settlement in Pennsylvania
introduced the subject of the Canter-
bury Shakers.
when | visited the Canterbury set
Element in New Hampshire II little over
a year ago said the lady, II found
three families, who live and arc govern
ed separately They worship in one
church in summer, bnt in winter, for
convenience, occupy halls in their sepa-
rate buildings. The family l visited
was the first or church family NV
daughter was with me.
I'VE arrived in the evening at the So
cicty's Office. A checrful-looking wo-
man, who W. afterward learned was
Sister Elizabeth, opened the door wide
to u rather timid knock. She wei
coined us kindly TO Il sitting-room and
babe us be at home. Her costume was
like that of all the women A gray
pongee gown, but with a plain round
waist, loosely fitted her figure. The full
skirt was plated in small uniform plaits.
A large white handkerchief was folded
about her neck and across her breast in
some wonderfully pretty way, which |
could never afterward initiate. A close
little cap of lace. like q milliner's bonnet
frame, covered her blonde hair, which
was combcd straight back and fastened
in a flat knot behind. The Shaker EOS
tune. though ugly in itself, made Sister
Elizabeth look very sweet. 1t Just suited
her quiet eyes, her gentle, smiling mouth
and reposcd manner.
"Ihe Shaker women wear a hoop of
some contriyance which extends the
skirt with a straight, gradual slope from
the waist to hem. 1t gives them a state
ly look. The women, with rare cxcep-
tions, are thin and pale, with a sober
and sometimes severe c~ountenanco. We
saw no plump, happy faces. Even the
children look old and staid, and speak
with Il something which sets them apart
from ones sympathy.
81 spoke of the women first, because
they interested me most, and besides
they outnumber the men as five to ono
They are remarkably refined and intel
lectual for their class. The men, with
the exception of the elders. and q few
others, are inferior to the sisters in all
respects. They are, however, extremely
kind and courteous to the women. The
sisters look after their wants with moth
erly care, each of the elder sisters hav-
ing charge Of the clothes and general
well-being of one or two brothers.
"lhe Shaker settlement is very pros
porous in II worldly scnse. There are
various buildings belonging to the So
ciety-homcs, a school-house, a work
shop for the mon, and also one for the
women and another for the children.
There arc a printing-oflice, an intirmary
presided over by an elder sister, and
containing a full equipment of drugs
and medicines.
"Of course, the main support of. the
colony and its income is from the farm,
which is large and under high state Of
cultivation. 1t is well stocked with
horses and cattle, but they do not raise
either. Pigs there are none, and pork
is prohibited as u~nclean 5ood. Some of
the horses are fine stock.
''Thc house in which we were enter
tanned belonged to the first family. 1t
was large and square. The halls and
%staircases were on opposite sides of the
house, one for the men and the other for
the ONE The floors were of dark
wood, stained and polished. The doors
and castings were stained a peculiar vel
low throughout. Nothing poor or mean
was used in either the furniture or deco
rations. Everything was simple. In
our room large, handsome rugs of soft
wool, made by The Shakers, lay upon
the floor. They rescmbled Smyrna
rugs. In opposite corners were two
white beds, and in another corner was
u little cast-iron, wood-burning stove,
plain and smooth. In it a fire cracked
chcerfully. These stoves are in every
room. The curtains in all the houses
were most dainty and novel, and why
they are not used elsewhere for their
asthetical value is strange. They were
of white linen, suspended by brass rings
on Il bright brass rod. The curtains
were starched stiff, and where every
ring was sewed q crease was ironed
from top to bottom. When drawn back
they formed q flat mass of folds and
We're tied high up at the side of the
small-pancd windows by a brass fixture
like a shepherds crook. When the cur
tains were down each side looked like a
half-open fan.
"a tall. old-fasllioned clock. stood az
the head of each staircase. The clocks
are as old rs the house itsclf--one hun
dred years. Meals are served to guests
in u room and d table by themselves.
This hardly seemed hospitable, but Sis
teT Elizabeth explained TINT, the Shakers
klHkEK ATE Ia aApfSat KuI6nk w