New-York tribune., 1901-08-16
THEIR SUMNER WORK.
BUSY LIFE OF THE SHAKER WOMEN
HOW THEIR QUAINT BONNETS
ARE MADE

Tbe many summer tourists who seek the pict-
uresque Berkshire Hills n August invariably n
clude the quaint Shaker village OF Mount Lebanon
y y IN their Itinerary and the first view OF the
little cluster OF dwellings IN the valley below, as
they drive over the mountain. IS always greeted
with delight
Everything is restfuIly quiet, even the little
place whose sign announces that II Is "Oflce and
Store" and whose closed doors open only TO a ring
Of the bell That given. q dainty little woman IN
gray gown and siIken kerchief OF gray or old rose
appears 70 display her wares. Fully three-fourths
OF the leo settlers are women, and, consequently
the industries Of the place are largely conducted
by them
Most attractive among the products OF the COM
ruuniry are the long cloaks OF cloth specially
manufactured fo- the purpose The little hood
neatly gathered 81 The crown and prertly lined
Is The most charming feature Of the whole Every
Shaker woman owns one
Shaker bonnets are OF closely woven straw. light
flexible and almost silky in their glossy appear
anoe. They are completed by neat lining g-,,Sc Of
The straw is obtained from the rye helos OF the
r-oducrior from The first stage 70 1he last. Here
and there IN the corridors, as one walks through
bonneIs seen hanging in their places along the
wsl, ready for use when The owners need them
OF The same rye straw are also conspicuous on the
Another form OF weaving in which these women
are skilful is the making Of fancy boxes from
splints o. white poplar wood. The slender pieces
OF wood ere woven together with cotton thread
by means Of q shuttle. and the result is unique.
by some OF the families Of the community, and
al make rag mats. One mat OF silk rags, ex-
treney heavy and dnely made. was shown with
nor lltrle pride. 7 could not tel you its value,
sa1o The woman who displayed il 1t has already
taken prizes at three different fairs"
Although sixteen societies Of Shakers are found
throughout the country in NeW-Englands New
York ohio Kentucky and Florida that al Mount
Lebanon Is me Oldest and largest As is generally
known. the sect traces its origin 70 Ann Lee now
called By her followers Mother Ann.
The 'Ninistry' is the central executive OF the
society and consists OF TWO brothers and TWO sisters
FOR the Shakers believe that women should share
the other positions OF trust are also filed the
same dual order. All Of The housework IS done by
anee, each taking her turn OF four weeks at the
c.1erent departments
III is a mistaken notion said OF the sisters
that We condemn the institution OF marriage, but
We hold that there TWO orders, the earthly and
The heavenly, and we, Is Shakers, would choose The
-Oh. yea We love music and flowers and art and
al the me things she salc, srnlllng Ihen she
1roke into a laugh and ADDED. ana We nave taken
The Daily Tribune ever since Horace Greeley 5
Many vegetarians are found in these comrnuni-
ties, but IN spite OF this fact their dinners are
popular among the summer guests and during this
season they serve many meals 10 driving parties.
The grounds are prettiy decorated with bright
Mowers. The library contains books and the latest
magazines and everywhere are Waxlike cleanliness
highly polished by means Of 81 old broom, in
case6 first in flannel bag then IN an outer bag
q soft coarse material The broom is an article
quite in evidence everywhere, for II hangs In al
the outer doorwEys-
% lhe use OF some one color in dress, yet many
prefer the quieler shades. The wholesorneness Of
Quently made that longevity rates higher with
men than with any other people known perhaps
-91no in the little settlement was uttered by one
ol me sisters as she stood al the doorway 70
the world she said where labor IS more de-
As1J--- more OF q real pleasure than here