The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-05-25
THE zoAR SETTLEMENT.
A Visit 10 OhiO'S Settlement of Mystic
and Communities
Correspondence of the Chicago Times.


This settlement of German mystics and
communists is complete little kingdom in
itself, and not such very little kingdom,
either. The Zoarites own 1000 acres of
land in one tract, of which half is under
cultivation, while the remainder is heavily
timbered with valuable walnut, oak and
pine trees. Their original purchase here
was 10000, but 5000 have been sold from
time to time at great advance over first
/ cost.
Every article, implement or machine
that is used, wrought with, eaten, drank or
worn by the Zoarites is produced in Zoar,
as are also the materials of which it is com
posed. The only exceptions to this rule
are coffee, tea, sugar and spices. The
shoes the Zoarites wear are made by their
own shoemakers from leather prepared by
their own tanners from hides taken from
their own cattle. The coal that warns
them and cooks their food is dug in their
own mines aud is burned in stoves cast in
their own foundry from iron smelted in
their own furnaces from ore found in abun-
dance on their own lands. The clothing
that covers them is made by their own
tailors from cloth woven in their own mill
from wool sheared from their own sheep.
The beer they drink is brewed in their own
brewery from malt made by their own
malsters and hops grown on their own
lands.
All manufacturing done in Zoar is done
by water power. Steam is scarcely used
at all. The Tuscarawas river, by means Of
dams, is made to flow with sufficient swift
ness and volume to supply thirty or forty
horse power to each of the Zoarite manu-
factories. Nearly all the machinery used
was made in Zoar by Zoarite mechanics.
One of their principal products is -four,
of which, after supplying their own wants,
they ship large quantities to Pittsburg,
Cleveland, Washington and Baltimore
THE COW STABLES.
One of the chief places of interest in
Zoar is the great collection of immense
barns, in which the mileh cattle are kept.
A considerable portion of the Zoarites'
wealth is invested in their live stock, and
they have devoted much attention to de-
termining what are really the best breeds.
They have experimental largely with the
Holstein, the Jersey, the Alderney and the
Durham and are now inclined to favor the
last named, the1gh all four varieties are
well represented in their herds.
Every sanitary and convenient device
that modern ingenuity has been able to
suggest is utilized in the construction of
these COW stables. The stalls extend in
long rows on either side Of broad aisle,
and the conditions for light and ventilation
are of the most favorable kind. Already
the cows are out to pasture, and it is
rare sight to see the mild faced, patient
creatures come fling in at eventide in
seemingly interminable procession, each one
knowing her accustomed place and going
voluntarily to 1t without the slightest dis
turbance or confusion,
On the morning and evening of each day
all the young women in Zoar repair in
merry procession to these barns and milk the
COWS. As members of congress sometimes
are for much less useful purpose, the
girls are pared, and each two are assign
ed eight cows, which they must always
milk Fancy more than thirty buxom
young milkmaids, with the good looks which
are the offspring of good health, outdoor
exercise and good diet sparkling in their
eyes, lips and cheeks Each one is taste
fully dressed in well fitting chintz OF calico,
and wears white apron, which, ike every
thing else about these most attractive young
women, is scrupulously neat and clean.
Another place in which to see the Zoarite
young women to advantage is the bakery,
where all the bread and pies for the entire
community are baked fresh every morning.
From IS to 100 loaves comprise the aver
age daily consumption of the town. The
baking is done by men, but each house
hold sends its young women to the bakery
to procure its supply Of daily bread and
carry it home, wrapped in large, sp0tless
white cloth, which each damsel carries with
her
AIRING THE LITTLE ONES.
Besides these quaint professions Of young
women to the cows stables and bakery
there is another similar one to be seen in
Zoar ON every pleasant day That is
procession of girls ranging from s to ID
years, each drawingin an old fashioned baby
carriage younger brother or sister for an
airing. As all the property in Zoar is held
in common, so the Zoarites share equally
and participate together in all their pleas
ures aud duties. Thus even the babies of
the society are ''aired" simultaneously in
,long drawn out procession.
For the pleasure of the members of the
society and their visitors public garden
and green house are maintained in Zoar.
Both are of considerable extent and would
be highly creditable to any large city. The
garden is tastefully laid out, and contains
some noble trees and elegant shrubbery.
A large and delightfully."- cool arbog. in the
centre is entirely concealed by the latter.
The greenhouse boasts fine collection OF
choice plants and flowers. There is no
prohibitory "No admittance" or "Hands
off on anything, and every one is free to
enter at all times and roam about at WILL
From the garden and greenhouse it is
but few steps to the picnic ground,
grove of grand old forest trees, in which
the Zoarites have placed swings and COW
cred dancing platform for the enjoyment
of their young visitors, who in summer time
come in large numbers from surrounding
cities and towns as we'll as from the ada
cent country and picnic here on two or
three days of almost every week But
swinging and dancing are not the only
amusements provided for these young peo-
pie by their good friends the Zoars, who
fad their chief happiness in making others
happy. Many beautiful pleasure boats are
maintained here, and no stream could be
better adapted for boating than the Tus-
carawas river.
If any people in the world practically
indorse, in every possible way, the old say
ing that cleanliness is next to godliness,
that people are the Zoarites. In the brew
ing of their beer, the making of their wine,
the milking of their cows, the baking of
their bread, and the slaughtering of their
cattle, their chief object seems to be the
attainment of the highest possible degree
of cleanliness Their slaughter house,
where some magnificent beeves are killed
daily, is a model in that particular. They
are very fond of the pleasures of the table,
and their are few city hotels whose bill of
fare presents greater variety than that of