The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-19
SHAKER ELDER HAS ELoPED.
Outlandish Action of a Good, Pious Ole
Man

Rutland, VT, Dec. 1S.-In the prosper
Gus Shaker settlement at New Leban-
on, n. Y, there is much lamentation
| and possibly an inclination to break
! forth into more expressive English than
the simple yea" and may" customary
| in the community. Sober-visaged old
| deacons, with soberness intensified with
| in the last few days, have ordered two
| pictures turned toward the wall in the
| community. as they were found yester-
| day, and possibly the visitors day or
two hence may see on the great bear
| front of the main brick structure the
| sign Wanted, a bookkeeper; no bicy-
clists need apply"
Elder Daniel Offered, who is So. has
forsaken his cherished belief and home
| of comfort for a taste of the world whic
| he had so often condemned. The book
keeper Of the community. Sister Mabel
Franklin, who is Is. is also among the
! missing.
A comparison OF observations Of the
station agent at Lebanon Springs and
at East Lebanon reveals that the same
down train to Cha than Thursday night
bore both elder and sister away from
the Shaker people.
At Lebanon Springs, mile and half
north OF North Lebanon. Elder Oxford
boarded the train. AT New Lebanon
Sister Franklin became one of the pas
sengers. They have not been seen since
in New Lebanon, and that IL is a case OF
eiopement there is no doubt in the
minds Of the community.
Elder Daniel Oxford came to the Sha-
ker settlement from England years ago.
He was short and thick and stern OF
countenance, for many years he has
been one OF the best known leaders in
the church. and many an honest farm
er or sportsman from the country round
has been stopped by him while passing
through the Shaker village, possibly
On hunting expedition, and has been
treated TO a sober earnest discourse on
the error Of his ways.
Some of the younger members Of the
OF the community were dissatisfied with
the sternness Of the old elder, but all
respected him. He was hard worker.
q good superintendent OF farm labor
and a man OF considerable education
His choice as successor 10 Elder Evans
was made with little opposition. he
did not have control o. the finances %
the community. but considerable Of the
funds passed through mis- hands.
About three years ago Miss Franklin
came 10 the village with q man named
Moody, whose adopted daughter she
was She secured employment az
manufacturing company as bOokkssper
Glil LR 70 last MAY ~ti- 60 - III /
services were very satisfactory A few /
months after her arrival with Moody. |
who was about 50 yearsold. his wife ep- |
peared and the three resided together /
a year passed and after some trouble !
with her husband. Mrs Moody let Il 4
vas whispered al the time that possibly |
she was jealous OF the younger woman. /
who was fair uf form and face and al /
tractive IN manner. Finally Moody /
followed his wife % Boston
Miss Franklin remained She rode /
bicycle and was quite liked among The
young people OF the village Her visits
70 the settlement became quite frequsn: i
and as 4 oookkeeper was desired oT the
Shakers 4 was supposed nat her calls
were encouraged When she resigned 1
her position IN the manufacturing CON-
psny last May she took I'd her residence
n 1he Shaker community as full
6s1gs6 sister.
Somewhere. down n the makeup -
Elder o1foFd. Il seems. was spark %
wO-ldliless that had not been smother
81 BY years % psons re The spark
grew a. The sight - he eookksep@r-
Gradually cd traditions ware ;ulabisi
down within Rim AMI peace and qGlec
gave way - growing Gisconrent
IN her once Hiss Franklin had S-=-
eueniiy bssa pet ey s.zr AID sols