The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-23
fastidious. and, unlike any Of hts subjects
always wore the most gaudy and bright

COlOrS.
In the early history of the society King
took unto himself a wife. After ten
years of his prohibition the law was
changed and the Zoars were permitted to
marry. but only among themselves. At
that time the Children were placed in a
general nursery. Here they were taught
the rudimentary branches Of learning until
they were IA years Of age. After that they
were put to work and toiled for the COM
mon good. The same rule is in force
here today. only that the children are
permitted to be with their parents.
PROSPERITY.
The Zoarites prospered on the banks of
the TuscarZwas river, and the community
wealth is estimated at from 81 900, 900 to
$1,5OO.0OO There are about 135 members
among who this wealth will be divided.
Many members have left the community
dissatisfied with life, and in so doing
abandoned their rights in it, few years
ago the society had $4,000 in bank and
this has been lost in bad Investments
The decrease in the populatio of Zoar is
due to the fact that many of the young men
do not take kindly to life Of drudgery
simply for a living only and forsake the
home of their ancestry as soon as they are
able to make living for themselves else
where. Then, again, there is a strong OBJ
lection to the way in which the work is
given out. Some claim that favOritism is
more than others. For instance, the tele-
graph operator objects because he has to
turn his salary into the common fund every
month while some of his fellows receive
just much he for sitting around the
tavern and guZZling beer.
THE TOWN
The situation Of the town is charming.
Many of the buildings are primitive and
picturesque German cottages Two of the
most ancient buildings stll standing are
the kings Castle" and the Hermitage"
The former was erected under the superyis-
ion of King Joseph in 1885, and was occu-
pied by him until his death. 1t is a handsome
three-Story brick structure and stands on
the main street of the quaint town. The
walls are nearly two feet In thickness and
the entrance is through heavy plllared
rotunda by two flights of moss-covered
stone steps The first. rom is where King
Joseph used to receive his subjects 1t
remains today just as it Cid when the former
king was In the zenith of his power This
room is devoid of luxurious furniture In
fact, there is scarcely any and what there
is was constructed by his subjects In one
corner of the room stands a piano which
was purchased by King Joseph in 1924 The
castle is now occupied by a great grandson
of King Joseph.
A ROMANCE
There is a romantic story connect ed
with the Hermitage When the society
was first formed one of it's members fell
in love with Indian maiden, whose
tribe at that time We're in close prox-
unity to Zoardom His name was Gisfer
He wanted to make the maiden his wife
but this was contrary to the rules of
the society, the privilege was of course
refused him. Giefer then withdrew
from the society and built the dwelling
now called the Hermitage" Here
he lived aloof from any of his fellows for
Ions period of years never speaking
to or recognizing any of them. His
body was found one cold winter morn
ing shortly after King Joseph's death
Since then the Hermitage has never been
occupied, and many uncanny tales are
told of how the spirit of Giefer still haunts
the place where he spent his last days in
silence.
MODERN CHANGES
The advance of civilization has changed
many times in Zoar. Tine Quaker-like cos
tunes of the sect have given way largely
to modern modes of dress and village gov
eminent has been established. Police and
crime unknown. and trustees act as
arbitratorS instead of the courts and man.
age the finances of the community. Their
! mode of worship-the reading of a sermon
and the singing of hymn, with a complete
separation of the sexes in churCh-iS UNI
changed. but some of the old laws of the
community disregarded. and individu-
alty and modern ideas in the erection of
buildings have taken the place of uniform
ity and primitive construction. A handsome
hotel for the accommodation Of summer Wis
itors has been built within recent years.
One of the sights of Zcar is the old mill
in which the miller has built an organ
pumped by water power. He is the organist
and when not grinding the grain is often
playing modern music. Many jolly party
has gathered the broad mill floor and
capered about to the music of the organ.