Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-05-31
A STRANGE COMMUNITY.
Economic and Social Features OF Flour
ishing COLONY In IoMu.

ishins Colony In Iowa.
Probably the most prOsrerou COM
munistic society in this country is in
Iowa, nearly 100 miles west from
Davenport, on the line of the Milwau-
kee and st. Paul road There are no
saloons in the colony and every man,
woman and child is a worker. There
are no idlers, no caucuses, no politics
Marriage is looked upon as one of
the necessary evils, but it is not re-
garded by any means as a meretorious
act Children must be had and any
looseness of morals is steinlv frowned
upon, yet the lot of the newly mar
ried couple is not in any sense happy
one. The religious standing of young
married people is very low until, by
patiently bearing the yoke of matri-
mony, they demonstrate their fitness
to enter into the circle of the elect.
Despite their costumes there are
many remarkably pretty girls in Anna,
ma. In form they are straight and
slender Many of them have clear
cut features, and their compilations
are beautiful beyond description
The costumes of the women are Sc
verely plain, and at the same time are
picturesque. A print kerchief, manu-.
featured in the village, is folded across
the bosom so that the waist of the
loosely fitting dress is hidden. The
villagers manufacture all the hannels
and calicoes worn, and each has a
wide reputation. A black cap of some
thin material is worn rather far back
on the head, being gathered into lit
tie bag at the back, narrow black rib
bons tying it under the chin. Knit
stockings and broad slippers or coarse
shoes are worn, wooden shoes being
reserved for field work Neither age
nor condition in life brings any
change in these garments.
No social intercourse is allowed be-
tween the young men and the maidens,
and they see each other at intervals,
and even then at distance. The as
ISOLATION of the sexes is forbidden. On
Sunday afternoon the boys and girls
are permitted to walk in the fields, in
opposite directions, though sometimes
they come together.
When young man signifies his de-
sire to marry a maiden he is put on
probation for year or more. Once a
week he is allowed to see the object of
his affection, and no encouragement
is given his suit by any one He is
never allowed to see her alone how
ever When the marriage finally takes
place it is made the gloomiest OF festal
occasions.
There are no wedding clothes and
no wedding guests. Two or three
elders meet at the home of the brides
parents and read hymns and lead in
prayers. The chapter in Paul's epistle
to the Ephesians. wherein the APOSTLE.
with unninching severity. describes
the duties of husband and wife. is
read. with somber comments. After
the lecture there is dead cold supper.
and every one is made TO feel as mis-
cradle as possible. When once mar
ried however there is no hone for the
couple. as divorce is unknown. 4
These communists are rich. vet
they 90 without amusement of any
sort: all musical instruments save the
flute are tabooed and there are no
renity of their even existence.
A small colony came to the United
States from Germany in 1912. headed
bv Christian Metz. an inspired in
strument," and settled near Buffalo.
N. Y, the name of Ebenezer being
riven to the colony. As the colony
prospered beyond all expectation It
was necessary to secure more land.
and the present peaceful valley was
selected. The old name was LETT be-
hind and Amana was chosen as the
title bv which the COLONY should be
hereafter known. Seven VILLAGES
spranr up and are known AS Amana.
East, West, South, Middle and High
Amana and Homestead. ANYTHING
more peaceful than these little VII,
lares cannot be imagined
The inhabitants are pietists or
rather, inspirationists. but they do not
look happv. They are puritanical To
the last degree and the children are
as sedate and staid as their elders
Christian Metz. their leader. died
twenty-five years ago, and Barbara
-, ii ~, ,1a,,,,io g., er. -, -.
after when she too died zoo than