Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-16
A QUEER COLONY.
Some Strange Settlers in the In
dian Territory.
Religious Enthusiasts Who Wear Masks
Day and Night and Regard 1t a Sin
to Look Upon the Face ola
Human Being.

Since the practical abandonment of
the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reserva-
ton has left that country almost
wilder than it was before the opening
year ago. small colony of religious
enthusiasts have settled in what is
known as T county, among the sand
hills, The leaders of this colony went
there from Scdgwick and Barber
counties, Kan, and took with them a
following of seventy men and women.
That was six months ago. Since that
time they have been Joined by at least
sixty persons, so they now number
about one hundred and thirty.
Their belief, says a Texas correspon-
dent, is exceedingly simple. They
worship an unknown god as repre-
sented by life, and deem it q moral sin
to look upon the face of human be-
ing Men and women wear masks day
and night, and never by any chance do
they gaze upon the face of one an
other They teach morality in the
severest perfection, not permitting the
two sexes even to dwell in the same
valley, their homes being about two
miles apart. There is a daily religious
service, when all come to a central
open air, regardless of the weather.
John Walrond, formerly of Sedgwick
county, conducts all communication
with the outside world, and only on his
visits to Ell Reno and Kingfsher does
he lay aside his mask. After each one
of these trips he buries himself in soil
tude for ten days and expiates the sin
of having come in contact, uncovered
with mankind.
Walrond and E. NJ. Scott, another Oh
the leaders, were formerly well-known
in Kansas as alliance organizers. When
the alliance was merged into the
peoples party they resolved to gather
such followers as they could and retire
from the world, or at least to disappear
from the so-called civilization of the
present day. The result was the found
ing of the colony in the Indian Terri
tory. No name has been adopted, none
is wanted They have sought seclusior
and have found it. What little prop
erty there is in the community is hello
| in common, anyone using any par
| ticular thing he sees fit to desire at the
| time. The colonists believe it sinful t.
J seek to accumulate property.
They have twenty log houses equally
4! divided between what are in reality
two communities, and two storehouses
| from which they draw their supplies
| The work is done regardless of sex
men and women alike engaging in al
the vocations common to a new coun
| try. They appear to be contented ant
| healthy, and were it not for the un
slightly darlz-red mask constantly worn
they would appear as other people afte
| having been divided off into separate
communities. They say that they ar
| happy; that they have no want un
supplied, and that they could not b
induced to return to the world.
The chance visitor to the colony i
treated kindly and courteously, and i
| given lodging in cabin kept for tina
| purpose. He is not invited to stay, no
do they give him hint to leave. The.
converse without hesitation, but per
sistently refuse to listen to anything
about the world they have left. The
talk simply about their spiritual state
it's beauties and its blessings.
There are several married couple
there, but they live apart. There ha
been no rule adopted. regarding lif
of celibacy, each one being his ow;
Judge in this matter. In fact, no on
seeks to control any of the others.
appears to be a community without
| head or a ruler.