The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
A STRANGE COMMUNITY.
Economic and Social Features OF q Flou
ishfng Colony in Iowa.

Economic and Social Features OF a Flour
ishing Colony in Iowa
Probably the most prosperous 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 nc
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 oil
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 sternly 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 callcOes 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 a 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 announcement
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 unflinching 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 hope for the
couple, as divorce is unknown.
These communists are rich, vet
they go without amusement of any
sort; all musical instruments save the
flute are tabooed and there are no
brass band contests to disturb the Sc
renity of their even existence.
A small colony came to the United
States from Germany in 1S42, headed
by Christian Metz, an inspired lin
strument," and settled near Buffalo,
N. Y. the name of Ebenezer being
given 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 left be-
hind and Amana was chosen as the
title by which the colony should be
hereafter known. Seven villages
sprang up and are known as Amana,
East, West, South, Middle and High
Amana and Homestead. Anything
more peaceful than these little vii,
lagos cannot be imagined.
The inhabitants are pietists, or,
rather, inspirationists, but they do not
look happy. 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
Heyneman, who was also an ''instru
ment, led the people for fifteen years
after, when she, too, died Since then
there has been no one prominent or
holy enough tosucceed them and there
is in consequence no leader. Good,
pure and virtuous as Barbara was,
however, she came under the ban once,
though she finally regained her stand
ing as an instrument.
She fell in love with comely youth
named George Iandnlann, and marry
him she would and did. though she
suffered expulsion for it, AS she was
a power in the community, she sue
ceeded in getting back, but she was
never really and heartily forgiven for
having taken to herself husband.
There is a community of everything
No cooking is done by families, the
meals being prepared and served in
kitchens maintained for that purpose.
There is an abundance of everything
and no one ever goes hungry. In
Amana, for instance, where there are
perhaps five hundred inhabitants, fif
teen kitchens are maintained. The
proportion is the same in the other six
villages. philadelphia Times.
Too Much Reading.
xr,oe "a - ktT7.