The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-02-28
THE AMAkA IMMUNITY.
A Successful Socialistic Organization In
the State of Iowa

"The believers in socialism should !
visit Il little settlement in Iowa, which /
carries out the socialistic principles most !
beautifully, and has done 50 for forty |
wears" said Silas NJ. Young. 1T IS |
called the Amana Community, or So |
ciety of True Inspiration. Everything |
is held in common-the land, farm |
products, cotton and woollen factories, |
sawmills, the store, the mineral spring, |
and, greatest of all, the church. !
There are about 1000 people in the
community, and they own nearly all OF
Iowa county A few of them are we'll
to do, but the mjority were poorer than
the average Iowa pioneer when they
obtained their charter, in the first years
of lowa's Statehood. But every one
put whatever he had into the common
till, a chief clerk watched over the in
comes and disbursements, and they all
toled hard, at first in the fields, but IN
a few wears in foundries and mills as
we'll and to-day they are, per capita
by far the richest people in the State.
They are very economical, to be
sure. The regulation dress of the wom-
en- is blue calico, and the clothing OF
the men blue jeans; and they have no
| balls or theaters. But their life though
| simple is by no means pitltuL 1hey
have plenty of milk and butter from
| their daries, and good home-g grown
vegetables and fruits, and their meal
time, which, German fashion, comes
five times day. brings a great deal OF
good cheer. They eat together IN large
| cooperative kitchens, which the women
keep wonderfully clean, and after sup
per the men smoke a placid pipe, and
whoever wishes to can solace himself
with a glass of beer.
"The consequence of their diligence
and thrift is that their wares are much
sought after by the outside world
'Amana blue calico is known as far as
the State of Maine, and whatever bears
their trade mark is sure to be exactly
what it is claims.
The district which they own is beau
. tifully situated, and the air of peace and
uuiet makes it a delightful place foI
rest and refreshment. Once in while
the young people grow weary OF the
monotOnv, and the most reckless OF
/ them sometimes go far up the railroad
2 track of evenings and play French
harps. But this is not common. They
are generally contented, and no one
has ever been known to leave the com
munitv. Neither has there ever beer
a suicide in the community, nor cast
of insanity There is very little neet
of doctors One of their own number
} whom they sent abroad to educate
tends to ali their ailments, and, withou
taking much medicine, they manage t.
live to a vigorous old age.
Their religion is peculiar in its Oh
servance and requirements. 1t forbid
their taking oath, or going to war, AM
enjoins simplicity of life. They ar
sprung from the German Pietists, tina
sect to which the Quakers can also b
traced, and they believe in the persona
revelation of divine truth. One of thel
number, Barbara Heinemann Land
mann, who died in 1884 and now lie
buried in their little graveyard, was
prophecies for many years, and 1t
said that she foretOld the civil wa
years before it broke upon the natlor
Their church. like their houses,
unadorned, and scrupuously clear
Very few outsiders are allowed with
its precints, and none except those WI
enter ia a reverent spirit. White mu
lin curtains screen the windows, Il
q floor is scrubbed and sanded, and a
old-fashioned brick oven warns Il
room. The seats are plain, unpainIe
benches, with stiff wooden backs. Z
one side sit the men, on the other Il
women, and hither they all come eao
day to worship. Whoever feels move
to pray or preach will do so, and all
them unite in singing psalms, The
take great comfort in their religion
is their bond of union, and their sta
would doubtless have fallen long a!
had it been built upon a foundation lie
substantial-.St Louis Globe DemOcrt