The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-02


pier mechanical arts have been cultivated
ana occasionally. the products OF com
munity have become as widely known ms
popuiar proprietary medicine. A whim-
scai distinction in religious obsery ance
obtrusively practioed at first mas been in %
sensibly modi fled by outside influence ;
md the restiyeness Of the progressive ele-
ments within until the community is
distinguished more by it's exolusiyeness
and the exceeding plainn6ss of its ideal
of living from the surrounding villages.
1t has simply become joint stock con
Germ. held together by tho nature of the
plant IL operates, jealous as a trades
union of admitting newcomers 10 its cor
porate privileges and justified because it
furnishes subsistence to those who sub
scribe To il. Such is the successful com
munity.
The records of the failures have bevn
obscured by scandals that reflect un-
pleasantly OIL the impulses of society
held togsther by compact rather than by
law.
In "As You Like IL" the poet has as
sem bled under the green shade OF the
forest group OF pourtlers whose daily
vicissitudes are solaced by music and
romance, but the companies which issued
from Europe TO seek retreat in the forests
CT the new world were a simple folk
among whom the loves OF William and
Audrey succeeded the capricious ilirta-
ton of Orlando and Rosalind and tine
melancholy Jacques was routed by the
philosophy Of Touchstone. The colonists
were from the lowhest classes Of the
European peasantry, although, perhaps,
with as complacent faith in their own
mission as that displayed by the Bavarian
villagers who presented their plays Of
folk life in this country couple OF years
back.
Some of their religious customs, as tho
use of hifer broth in tho communion SER
vice, tho resort TO hooks and eyes instead
of buttons. the encouragement of the cell
bate state and the obedience rendered TO
the Old men of the community. suggest
an environment as primitive almost as
that from which the unorganized multi
tudes of north Europe issued TO join tho
first crusade. The Separatst OF Ioar rec
ognized their founder, Joseph Bisneler.
as their king. and he seems To have exer-
reigniug king of gypsy tribe. Ammo
Lee. the Shaker Miriam, was prophecies
in tie regard of her followers and in
their writings sometimes receives the
title of Mother-in Law of God.
Out OF this coarse and sour plebian soil
most OF the peculiar virtues of communal
life have sprung. One looks in vain for
the lighter graces and refinements which
have been the gains of civilization. Even
in the architecture of the dwelling and
the meeting house, OF grange in the
centre of the villages. there has been
pretty rigid avoidance of any otber OBJ
ject than utility. Plain. yellow frame
buildings substantial but unsigEtly, arc
seen. And the lives of their tenants are
as the homes which they have builded
Wherever there has been any affectation
of the localities it has approached the
grotesque the Cherry Sislerhood has its
prototype in many solemn Shaker So
ciety.
LABOR AND THRIFT
Toll is the cheerful inheritance of all
toll steady, unremittinR, but not severe
Along with il has gone the peasant virtue
OF a rigid economy. Indeed. to this trait
may be traced the Celibate condition
which some societies enjoin, and which
most encourage, ana TO compliance with
this injunction may be charged whatever
of prosperity has come to certain com
munities The statement of principles
of the Zoar Scp3ratists observes Com
plete virginity is more commendable than
perhaps because it entails less
expense TO the village. Robert Owen,
who preached the first American crusade
in favor OF the communal life. accounted
as Que of the trinity OF mans
oppressors, and after tho Oneida Com
munity had formally abandoned its afro
cious institution of complex marriage"
it established 1.-TWO distinct classes the
married and the celbatas, both legitimate,
but the last preferred. The devotees Of
this practice have found or imagined
happiness in it beyond that which the
most ascetic monks professed. and have
given public expression 10 what they call
the unspeaknble joys of the slibate. Tho
Injunction of st. Benedict might DO writ
ten at the gate of every society: IF you
Iesiro to enter here, leave your body at
the door hero is only space for the soul
Tne instances of longevity recorded
among them would indicate. however,
that the members were not eager TO
abandon for good this earthly tenement.
But tho monks were winners in
tho old world, and the citizons of the new
wcrld communes have shown that they
can trsw gooc beer anG press good cider
and make lasting dyes. Some OF tie
Shakers have conducted summer hotels
and sanitariums; their patent medicines
have a certain vogue and Ioar is becom-
ipg summer resort among tho people of
tho Iuscarawas Valley.
AMONG rHE Hills.
It is in the mountains that old customs