Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-25
Practical Socialism.


In Looking Backward" Edward
Bellamy laid down the law of consoli-
dation as the ruling spirit Of the hu-
man race in coming generations. HIS
view of the conditions of life in the
twentieth century has been pronounc-
ed impracticable and absurd, for It is
stated that the temperament of man
kind is such that 1t will not permit
men to live in the idyllic state of
which he dreams. Perhaps this dog
ma is true, but only short distance
from Cincinnati, in Kentucky, is to be
found a quiet, peaceful settlement of
Shakers that is an extraordinary ex-
ceptlon to this rule
An Interesting account is given of
these quaint peop,e by well-known
cyclist of this city, who recently rode
down to their settlement at Shaker
town, near High Bridge. Branching
on from Nicholasville the party of
wheelmen proceeded Is miles into
Mercer county, arriving at Shaker
town at 1890 p. m. They were met
by a most dignifed, courteous gentle
man, DR.. Pennybaker by name, whom
they afterwards ascertained to be one
of the largest property holders in the
settlement. DIR. Pennybaker at dinner
gave most interesting account of
Shakertown it's inhabitants and his
tory. A colony of Shakers first estab-
lished Itself at his point in 1905, ac-
quiring about 1000 acres of land, which
was divided among five families. Each
family had its head, or general super
intendent, whose duty it was to take
charge of all matter pertaining to the
familys welfare. These families en-
braced from 20 to 50 members each,
none of the members being married,
as marriage is contrary to the rules of
their religion, and a misstep in this di-
rection leads at once to banishment.
The men and women maintain sep
crate houses and have their respective
duties, which are faithfully attended
to. Whenever a family is unable to
attend to its share of land by its own
efforts outside labor is employed and
paid for just the same as in the work
ing of an ordinary farm.
The principal houses of the settle
ment as they now stand bear dates
ranging from 1872 to 1921. They are
built of brick and stone, manufactured
or quarried on the farms of the settle
ment, and are models of strength and
cleanliness. At the present time the
settlement consists of two main faml-
lies, at the head of one of which is DR..
Pennybaker and his brother. The
land now owned by the settlement
consists of 5000 of the most fertile
acres in the Blue Grass region, and the
two families have a membership of
about rs, and employ labor amounting |
to about 200 hands in working their |
farms. Since early in the history of |
the settlement it has been famous for |
its attention to visitors, and has al |
ways been stopping place for travel
ers between Harrodsburg and High |
Bridge, and the hospitable baord offers
abundant reason for this having been
he Mecca for the tired and hungry.
Every one seems to be well clothed, !
happy and active, without appearance
Of want or inactivity within their en-
The farms are under
excellent cultivation, the inhabitants !
simple in their manners, educated |
above the average, and, so far as re-
port goes, absolutely honest. There
religion provides for anyone coming
into their midst who is of their faith
and able and willing to buy or earn
the right to enjoy place in one of the
iamalies, and to student of political |
economy OF the present day sojourn
IN this town could not but prove deep
y teresting-Enquirer