Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-09-22
12 So, 4
GSiz<1 81 Z. e r fCIC
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COLONY OF AMlSHMEM.


VIII IIorten1aac Laws.
A few miles northeast Of Washing
ton, Ind. Is fertile section of hand
owned aud cultivated by a peculiar
sect OF people known as the Ainish.
Little is known OF them except by the
people living in the immediate vicinity
Of their settlement.
l The Amish came to that county ct an
Z early date and bought rich farms for a
nominal price. They have added great
~ to their pUssef,siois Until now this
settlement takes up thousands of acres.
Their peculiar manners and customs
are Interesting
According TO their religious beliefs,
the Ainish are not allowed to use but
tons Oh their clothes Instead of hat
tons, they use hooks and eyes. Their
clothing Is homcspun, and they wear
black siouch hats. All Anishmen let
their hnir grow long and fnll over their
shoulders. They never shave, not even
when young men. They invariably
drive fine, big horses. They prefer
death rather than to swear In court.
They are an economical sect of people
aud are great traders. They seldom
pay cash for anything, but always in
sist on trading farm products and poul-
try for what thcy want
Their settlement Is divided I'D into
farms of an equal number of acres.
They adhere strictly 10 The code Of
laws handed down to them by their an
ccstors. One OF these laws Is to the
effect that 40 A.a:samaii In the settle
meat shall be entitled to more of the
WORTH 3 goods than his ncighbor. Con
sequently the farms are about the
same size and stocked equally An
other law says If one member of the
settlement meets with misfortune his
neiShbofs mast 20 down in their peck
cts, pay his Indebtedness and, If neces.
saiy, buy him new farm ana stock it,
The Anilsh originally came from
county In one of the eastern states.
There are few families sim living in
the east. Whenever a scion of one Of
the eastern families emigratcs 10 the
Indiana settlement he Is immediately
presented with farm equal i'm size to
those of his brethren The AmiSh do
not believe In courts that is, they nev-
or settle any Of their difficulties IN the
courts. All disputes ana disagree
ments of every nature are taken up for
settlement 10y majority of the mem
bets OF the settlement. 1t is, however.
"A rare occurrence that the least trouble
arises among them. They are law
abiding, honest auf truthful They do
not deposit their money in banks, but
accumulate and hoard it in their
homes. They raise all the farming
products usually grown in this section
OF the country aud are said to be the
most successful poultry ralsers in the
United States.
Their everyday life Is their religion.
They speak the German language and
no other They are negligent about
educating their children, and start
them boys and girls alike. to work in
the fields when young The women aud
girls never wear ilashy colors. ana long
pants ARE put on the boys ut the axe of
= and 3 years.
Several months ago young Amish-
man conceived an idea TO discard the
hooks and eyes on his clothing. to
shave his beard and to don suit of
store clothes. This he did and returned
To his heighbors in the new garb. He
was Immediately elected from the com
muilty. His farm was taken from him,
AS we'll as his stock aud farm ma
chinety, and he was given strict orders
never again To put his foot on proper
ty owned by any member of the settle.
meat. After several weeks he allowed
his beard to grow to its former length.
discarded his new clothes for the old
aud returned To his people They finally
Received him and returned his property
to him.
Another Amlshman. while doing his /
trading In Washington. became struck
with the idea Of wheeling. lie pnr.
chased bicycle aud went gleefuiiy I
home. To show the machine To tife
members Of his family. The old +
Anlahmen OF the settlement looked +
wise aud called mass asaeting 10 de- /
eide whether OF not Ii was proper for
one OF their number 10 ride upon such /
y cehttiEaace rs a bicycle The yer.
diet Of the elder heads was against,
the young Amlshman. aud he was com.
PEELED e part with the wheel. Chicago
Tribune,
HossNar, the Man killer.