San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-05
A VENERABLE SHAKERESS.
Though Ninety Years of Age, She Still
Performs Hrl L,,-t Amnnr Her PennIe.

performs hri tiit Among Her IeOple.
Among the UIuun Village Shakers, near
Lebanon, lives a woman who has witnessed
| the foundation and general development OF
the society 10 the present time.
She was wears of age when, i'll 1905, after
an extensive religious awakening, known as
the Kentucky revival, her parents were assO-
ciated with other persons in organizing the
community upon principles believed to be the
same as those Of the peuLrCOstal organization
into which Anami;IS and Sapphira attempted
an entrance. Now we'll advanced in her S0th
year, she will narratc to an interested listener
the general history Of the society.
A keen, searching glance, indicates great
powers of observation, which have ever DccU
on the alert and are still active. The uHiOn
of these with an excellent memory. unusually
tenacious Of dates, has enabled her to act as a
veritabIe encyclopedia for the "BeIlevcrs in
Christ'S Second Appearing," which is the
title which Shakers claim for themselves.
The early struggle with poverty incIdeu'
to pioneer life; the encounters with mOhS:
the growth of the social and church system,
and the management of the various indus
tries, are subjects with which she is very
familiar She possesses fund OF Informal
ton in regard 70 the people who have been
connected with the society, including general
characteristics, age and interesting incidents
in their lives, which constitutes her biog
.apher, as well as historian; and she has rem
lered excellent service in this capacity to
hose in search of information, in regard to
persons who have been connected with the
sOciety.
She still maniicstS an intelligent interest in
matters at home and abroad; and in CONVEX
satiOn exhibits IA discriminating Judgment.
Her opportunities for scholarly attain;nent>
and Social culture, in the ordinary accepta
ton of those terms, have been, necessarily,
very limited.
In answer to query in regard 10 her op,
portunities for school attendance, she SAYS:
Il went to school only three weeks after
was years Old. and only fourteen months in
all Then we We're taught only reading
writing and spelling. have learned a good
deal of geography by looking for places on
the map when | was reading. | think could
have learned arithmetic pretty well. When
was small and the country was new every.
body had to work so hard 10 make a living
that we could not go to school much"
In the school of hard labor, in the varied |
departments of handicraft necessary for the |
comfort and welfare of all, where the watch |
word of excellence prevailed and established |
the Shaker reputation for honesty, together |
with a constant discipline through conform
ing to rules, which involved constant pre-
.ision in time and great exactneSs in all the
daily routine of life, the sister, has been
educated.
Abundant intercourse with many person,
If varied capacity, and often of excellent
social culture such as the teacher Of socialism
1t the present time, constantly insists upona,
me of the needs Of every individual, which
society, as now constituted, does not afford t.
he majority.
In regard to the present declining condition
If the society, she speaks of entire ap, reci;.
ion of cause and effect, indicating natural
alent for analytical reasoning.
During the summer months a rising bel,
It half-paSt o'clock, a. ~, and at } the
of the year; breakfast follows az
lour later. The sister is sill ''On time a.
very bell call, and attributes her present
condition 10 her regular habits and great
Moderation III all things which have CHAR
ctcriHed her life
sac daily crosses the street to her "shop'
Don after breakfast, where she is employed
Il cutting shirts for the brethren, bastiu.;
hem for the machine operator and in max.
ng the button holes Her work is still done
n the most approved manner. In her risur,
moments, in her private room, she reads tn.
ews and knits socks which would look well
N the counter of any genteman's FURNISHING.
t"''' She pms in an appearance a. r'n i&H,.-
~ for the performance Of some duty Oh
18th wa>iln" and ironing days. At rr.i ,iu,,.
'rVIr"S -" - a constant attendant. Her r.
gioua LIE displays Iittl" Of tin emotional!
ut 1t Is an uswrrving devotion to- the prii.
piles and rules OF the society, believing that
hereby the spiritual nature is disciplined amt
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