The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-18
THRIFTY EXILES.

There is in western Kansas one class OF
citizens that has successfully delied the
elements and has made success of farming
regardless of the droughts and all other
natural disadvantages with which the
settlers on the far Western plains have had
to contend. These are the Russian
Mennonities, the most industrious people
that ever plowed furrow of Kansas soil.
They have no time to attend TO anybody s
business except their own, and, above all,
they never NEEDLE with politics.
The Mennonities, exiled from southern
Russia because of their religion, made as
systematic an exodus as did the Israeites
OF old. They sent out their agents to spy
out land, and purchased 100 600 acres
from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe and Kansas Pacific railroad companies
for homes Then the people packed up
their household goods and came to America
On the depot platforms they landed, wear
ing sheepakin coats and black kerchiefs
over their heads They carried iron tea
kettles and regarded the gazing Americans
with as much curiosity as they themselves
attracted.
They built their villages of yellow lime
stone. the houses having queer hip roofs,
green blinds, and double doors, like those
seen in mill. Curious ovens in which
prairie grass or straw could he burned
oycrcame the lack OF fuel and IA street
looked for all the world as though it had
dropped out OF an illustration in Siberian
sketch Such names as Catherinestadt
l.abcrthal, and Pleiler grace their towns
and no man not Mennonite is allowed
inside their limits as a resident, though
visitors are cordially welcomed
The Mennonites number several thous-
and in the state, but they are never heard
OF in politics. They are busy tilling their
100, 600 acres, raising stock, planting
orchards, and piling up wealth. The wide
awake Western politician, standing on the
street corner explaining the contraction of
Illt ltllCl " IL hllOu VI IISltlItlS, SttS IL
half dozen odd looking wagons toling up
the road. They are loaded with wheat
and solemn faced Mennonites, who guide
the sober teams, pocket the payments, and
drive homeward. Orators proclaim in the
country scholhouses and the eager real
estate agent plots additions to the towns,
hut the Mennonites pay no attention to
either They keep on selling wheat and
corn and cattle until they have b, come
dered, that Kansas affords. They take few
pape,s; they do not vote; they care nothing
whether the Government is Republican or
ntmo cratic in its management. They are
as isolated as though they were on sea
island, except as they bring in their pro-
duce to the shipping station.
1t is noticeable that nearly all their lands
are in the much discussed arid region, yet
the Mcnnonites never ask aid or seed
wheat. They prosper every year and their
homes are veritable storehouses of garden
and field products. To step INTO them is
like visit to the land of the Nolga
Curious furniture, strange garb and
peculiar habits impress one with the feeling
that he is in another land and another age
The houses are for the most part surrounded
barns and implements are everywhere
apparent. The people have their own
minister, their own church, and their own
school. When higher education is de-
sired and some of their young people are
as forward in their ambition as American
youths there is plenty Of money in the
village bank to send them to Europe or to
some Eastern college to acquire it.
During the year 1893, when complaint
of hardd times has gone up from the
jewellers on the plains when seed wheat
has been sent by the thousand bushels to
American settlers, the Russians have con-
tinued to thrive. Their old fashioned
vehicles have come regularly to the rail
roads and carload after carload OF wheat
has been sent East. Lumber dealers in the
town where they do their buying say that
there has been no diminuton in their
purchases and that by far the larger por-
ton of their yard sales have gone to their
Russian customers.
There is an important lesson in their
success. They have shown by their works
what industry and frugality can accomplish
upon the prairies, and what can be done
with the right kind of effort. Still, it is
doubtful if the American could bring him
sef and his family to the grinding economy
OF the European peasant labor which the
Mennonitts have transplanted in their
settlements.