The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-05
FIVE SEERS OF DESCANSO
A COMMUNITY OF OLDMEN

In fair, secluded valley Of the Cuya-
maca mountains of southern Califor-
mia is one of the strangest settlements
of five old men, Of whom the eldest is
over eighty and the youngest not less
than SiXty-fiYe.
Many years ago DR.. Meyer, a pros
porous physician of Kansas, and a law
yer friend were converted 20 the ten
cts of spiritualism and decided to
place themselves entirely under the
guidance of the occult. Being joined by
a retired actor, who at one time had
/ Deen We'll known on the New York
stage the three were directed TO
/ journey westward, where, in a spot
TO be disclosed, they would be able to
pursue that ideal life in communion
with the unseen to which they so
earnestly aspired.
! Dlsposing of their interests in Kan
sas, they set forth and finally arrived
IN southern California, where they each
look 10 adjoining claims in the Des-
canso district. To this was shortly
added two other claims taken up by
an eX-minister and an ex-policeman.
who Joined the confraternity-the
whole tract Of eight hundred acres en-
Draclng one Of the most fertile and
picturesque little valley in that part
Of the country.
Erecting their future home at the
head Of the valley under a splendid
grove Of live-oalls and surrounded bv
hJgh Undiscovered hills, they pro-
ceeded to engage IN agriculture
under that spiritual guidance which
they claim TO be the source of twenty
years Of success and happiness.
Being vowed to celibacy and comnou-
nifty interests. each of the old men pre-
sides over department of their affairs.
while the doctor Superintends the farm
ing operations, the lawyer, perhaps
naturally, keeps account of the fin
ances. The minister rules in the kitchen
over their simple cuisine. and the ac-
tor mendS all the clothes and also
takes care Of the beautiful garden sur
rounding the house. The ex-policeman
the youngest of the household. assists
the doctor in the farming Operations
ana brings to good account his pro-
4 res. experience by keeping all in
truders off their joint domain.
Occasionally a wayfarer is invited
10 spend night with the five old men.
when he is likely to meet with a novel
experience. Supper is early served in the
HOrary-an oval room Of conSidera HE
dimensions, round which are book
cases reaching from floor to ceiling
containing many hundreds of volumes
OF philosophical works. Two paintings
asserted TO have been executed under
the inspiration Of the spirits. attract
attenuon-one OF a venerable old gen.
tleman with his head and shoulders
garlanded with flowers. iniudicionsiv
putting out into a stormy sea in an omen
boat, while two little girls with pro-
IrudlrS fOTeheadS on rock sDeed his
departure with bouquets; the other. de-
parting from the generally conceived
idea of angels being beautiful female
forms. represents a fight of white
I bearded patriarchs descending upoi1 a
farmhouse at break of Gay. From an
open window a much astonished look
ing individual receives them with ont
stretched arms, and on the porch a
/ smiling watch dog courteously ac-
knowledges the offer of a chaplet of
flowers.
The doctor having seated himself at
the head Of the table, the ex-minister
serves a meal Of fruit. vegeta HES
serials bread. honey. eggs and milk.
All meats are barred from the table,
as we'll as tea and coffee. Wine. how
ever made on the ranch. is Dartaken
Of subsequently.
The meal over. the old men repair TO
the garden. walking among the flowers
until night has fallen, when. if the
weather is fine, they proceed to the
grove Of oaks, where the ex-actOr. in
the high soprano voice for which he
was once celebrated. chants a weird
hymn Of the spirit land. the refrain be-
ing caught up by the deep voices of the
other four.
1t would be hard to believe that any,
one could fail to be impressed with the
strange ness of the scene. The cold
moOnbeams filtering through the foil
age Of the gnarled and age-blackened
oaks. the venerable white bearded old
men, the deep silence only broken bv
the chant echoing far of in the gloomy
canyons. is awe-inspiring in the ex-