The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-08
An Isolated Existence.

The exodus Of the Mennonites from
the valley of the Volga to America began
about two decades ago. The love Of peace
on the part of these simple minded folk led
them to forsake Russia as their forefathers
had departed from German provinces and
they came in large bodies to the extreme
west.
In 1874 body Of them purchased 100,
900 acres of land in central Kansas, and
the settlers came in one company to make
it their home. They wore queer sheepskin
coats and odd kerchiefs and attracted as
much attention on the streets Of Kansas
towns as would a freak from Midway.
But they soon were seen no more outside
their own territory, where they built their
own villages and began tilling their own
farms Another colony went far into
western Kansas, back many miles from
the railway, and entered on its similarly
isolated existence. This colony has per-
haps kept itself most strictly to native
Russian customs, and not even the Min
nesota settlements retain SO interrupted
a heritage Of old world strangeness.
Such names as Herzog, Catherinestadt,
Liberthal, Pfeifer and Obermundshuh are
given to the villages, and their appearance
Russians still cling to the primitive meth
cd of residing close together and filling
farms outside the settlement, relic of the
days when protection to life demanded
that help should be within speedy call
Hence at morning there is a scattering of
workers from the central hive, and in the
evening the teams and drivers come back
to the coy village.
n
they take as close an interest in the doings
of the Russian empire as ever. The recent
events in the royal household attracted
much attention and were discussed eagerly
in native patois, the death Of the ''little
father" being particularly deplored, not
withstanding the old time oppression.
When they first located on the prairies,
they built their homes in facsimile of those
left behind on the banks of the Volga.
Their chief villages are of stone, the houses
square and fat rooted, erected clos on
single long street, with yards in the rear
The people wore their queer foreign vest
ments for long time, but now show signs
of adopting conventional dress. The stable
manure Is manufactured into peatlike fuel
for the big Russian ovens with which the
houses are equipped. These ovens also
ou. pidlIfC 81 tllO
expensive coal question is to a degree an
swered.
Within the houses are in many instances
furnished partly with heirlooms from the
firesides of their native dwelliDgs-old
chairs, settees and dishes brought with
them in the exodus.
Their Churches.
A notable feature of the settlements are
the churches, the large stone edifices being
the most prominent features Of the narrow
streets. Some of these are very expensive
and magniflcently furnished, considering
the character of the commandments. The
priest is the most important parsonage in
the community, and the utmost faith ex-
lists in the power of religious rites. Dur
ing the long continued drought of last
summer the Mennonites of western Kan
sas became thoroughly alarmed for their
crops and decided upon pilgrimage as
last resort in bringing the much desired
rain. One Sunday morning an entire con-
gregation, men, women and children,
headed by the priest bearing sacred en-