Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-04-01
A QUAINT PEOPLE.
HABITS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.

Their Religious Creeds and Customs 60 Per.
sonaI Appearance of the Omish Sect =
What They Wear and Read-A Sober
and Industrious People.
The PENNSYLVANIA Dutchman lives as
he has for a century, obscure, yet
serene, paying no attention to the out
side world and receiving none in turn.
His ambition in life is to have small
farm and food enough to eat; more than
that doesn't interest him, unless it be
that he would like to leave when he
dies farm to each of his sons without
mortgage. If there is anything q
Dutchman of the State of Pennsylvania
hates it is a mortgage.
These quaint people have lived for
more than century in various portions
of Pennsylvania. Among them there
are number of peculiar religious sects
whose strange creeds and customs are a
marvel to the uninitiated.
One of the most peculiar among them
is the Omish. The personal appear
ance of these people is certainly very
striking. The dresses of the women
are as plain in appearance as they can
possibly be made. Always of some
dark material, they are made without
any trimming, and are not relieved by
any trace of color. In the house all
the female members ofithe family wear
a plain white cap that covers up the
ears and is tied under the chin, giving
the young girls the appearance of youth.
full grandmothers. No jewelry of any
kind is ever used as means of personal
adornment, for, say they, adornment
leads to pride and vanity, which are
terrible sins. For the same reason
buttons are not used to fasten any arti-
Gle of apparel either by the men or
women. Hooks and eyes are employed
instead. Even shoe buttons are dis
carded, and laced shoes or congress
CATERS are always worn when they wear
any shoes.
The men are even more striking in
appearance than the women. They
wear their hair so long that it falls
below their coat collars, and is cut
evenly around the head. while over the
forehead it is banged"
The Omish as do most of the Penn
sylvania Dutch, have the most fantastic
idea of color. One farmhouse which is
regarded by the neighbors as the most
beautiful in the country around is
painted a most gorgeous pink, with
black trimmings and green shutters.
These people regard it as great sin
to read anything that borders on fiction.
No novels are tolerated in their houses.
Their library field consists of the
Bible, historical books and newspa-
pers.
The Omish hold their religious SER
vices at varying intervals, sometimes
once in two weeks, but oftener their
meetings are further apart. They have
no regularly installed ministers. They
elect at intervals one of their own
numbers to act in that capacity for a
stated term, and when his time expires
some one else is chosen. The minister is
almost always one of the most prosper.
Gus farmers in the congregation, but
his ministerial duties do not interfere
with his lay occupation.
Another of the remarkable sects that
flourish among the Pennsylvania Dutch
is the Dunkards. The people are in
many respects like the Omish, but their
form of worship is the most peculiar
and interesting part of their religion.
They are sometimes called Tumblers,
because of their practice, when baptiz.
ing a convert, to have him kneel and
then push him head first into the water
Like the Quakers, the Dunkards are
very simple in their language. They
will not take an oath, neither will they
fight or go to law, and until very re.
Gently they were not allowed to receive
any interest on money they loaned.
The social customs of the Pennsyl.
yania Dutch are so positive that they
can not be passed over without some
notice. No young man ever calls on a
girl unless he's "goin' a courtin'."
If he means business, he usually
dresses up in his best on Saturday at.
ternoon, gets out his buggy, that has
been washed for the occasion, bitches
up his horse and drives to the home of
his best girls father. The old man and
his sons rush out, put up" the horse,
and the stranger is invited in to supper,
which usually consists of fried ham and
potatoes and pie, which latter is the
staff of life among the Pennsylvania
Dutch.
After supper the whole family gather
in the sitting room and talk crops and
gossip about the neighbors. About
nine o'clock the family withdraws and
leave the two lovers to do their court.
ing all alone. The call doesn't last
until ten, eleven or twelve o'clock, but
the young man, if he is properly trained
in etiquette, will drive off just as the
sun begins to appear above the hills.
This is what they call "sittin' up with a
girl, and man who can't continue his
call until morning is not regarded rs
being either very ardent or very
acceptable sutton by them.
With all their peculiarities and &C.
centricities. however, the Pennsylvania
Dutchmen make good citizens. They
are, as a rule, sober and industrious
and moral.