The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-10-13
PECULIAR PEOPLE.
{ Report for Class b by r. NJ


There are great many peculiar people in this
world. Some of them are ALFRED peculiar
that you and would not care to have them for
mOthers-in-law. and. probably some of them
would not care to have us for their mothers-in-
law either.
Well! such is nature and we can't alter it.
Now want to tell you something about people
who are peculiar that they don't have any
mothers-in-law at ALL people who never marry,
who have no use for money in their dealings with
each other, who have no paupers nor criminals
among them. and who believe in doing unto
others as they would that others should do unto
Them l refer to those people known as Shak-
ers. There are many families of these people
scattered throughout the United States. Those
of whom l am about to tell you are located in
the state of New Hampshire at town called
Enfield, in the western part of the state close by
the famous White Mountains; along the shore of
beautiful lake they have purchased a large
tract of land and built three villages. Here they
are not born, but. here they live quiet peace
full life of industry. sObriety and comparative
happiness die and are buried. They never turn
deaf ear to the appeal of those in Distress they
never prosecute at law those who wrong them;
they never NEEDLE with politics, and they
won't sit on jury to decide any case at law
We often hear the question asked - Is marriage
a faure!' The Shakers considered this ques-
ton long ago and decided that marriage is fail
IRE, and that the average mOther-in-law is not
conclusive to domestic happiness. Their verdict
upon this question stands unrivaled to-day in the
peculiar lives they live. These people believe in
making the best of everything. They not only
make the best of those circumstances which sur
round them, but they also make the best brOOms
pals. hat blankets, medicines and in fact what
ever they place upon the market brings the high
est market price because their products are al
ways up to standard and generally above sample.
And may add that a Shakers word is as good
as a first mortgage on the Bank of England.
This fact alone is sufficient to secure to the
Shakers the title of peculiar people. for to-day
the man who is honest is peculiar man indeed,
and, he's about as scarce as hens teeth" If
married people join the Shakers they do not
need to be divorced they simply live as do those
who are not married. The wife becomes the
husbands sister and vice versa. The children
also become brothers and sisters to their par
ents. All property is owned in common share
and share alike. their dealings with the worlds
people Gas they call all who are not Shakers J,
are conducted by one of their number who has
power of attorney for a whole village or family.
They elect officers each year with the exception
of head elders whose terms are for five years and
generally they hold the office as long as they live
being repeatedly reelected The Shaker religion
embraces dancing and singing as prominent
methods of worship. They don't get their arms
around the ladies' waists and tread on their toes
and cornS. they simply arrange circle of singers
in the center of the chapel and form themselves
in double columns around them. the women and
girls on one Side the men and boys ON the other
the singing commences and they all keep time
with their hands and feet, marching round and
round, until the leading singer stamps his foot
preStO!-all hands face the singers and com
mence to hOe-er-dOwn in red hot STYLE Every
body gets mixed up with everybody else and al
seem to be trying to see who can kick the fastest
Again the leaders stamp is heard and instantly
all become sober as owls and are marching in
perfect step and time to the singing. Occasion
ally young sister will get 1.-THE pOwer' and
whirl around like top until she falls down ex
hausted. This is considered as side show by
most of the young men, who take.great pains tC
cheer the sister up and restore her to her feet