The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-07-29

1t Is practically a German village of a
century ago. Seventy-five buildings Of
varied size and shape, struggling over
eight or nine streets, comprise the viii
lage. Water is piped from spring on
the hill to two drinking troughs in the
heart of the village. Notwithstanding
the absence of every modern conven-
fence, the town is Immediately clean.
Log cabins of pioneer days stand be-
side frame structures rarely exceeding
story in height. All the roofs at one
time were formed of red tiles, the max
ing of which constituted an industry in
which the community thrived. With
out garrets or cellars, the houses are
comfortable, having large rooms and
windows often placed high up. Rigid
plainness and monotony in mode of liv
ing prevail as behooves people with
a common treasury, each possessing no
more, no less than his neighbor, how
ever superior may be his skill or his
money-making capacity.
THE LUXURIANT GARDEN OF
ZOAR.
The houses stand close to the street,
with spacious yards in rear or on either
oibG, ctliti IlG lu[Atl ietlL AZ IL uito, WEI
tables and old-fashioned flower gar
dens. Flowers are the one aesthetic in
diligence of Zoar. In the center of the
village is more than an acre of luxu-
RANT floral bloom. This garden, which
suggests that of Elizabeth, is the Nee
ca Of visitors, the admiration of artists
and the village pride. AS everything
must serve practical ends, fruit trees
supplant shade trees in the streets. 1t
touches ones poetic sensibility to stroll
the streets of Zoar in blossom time.
From the rich garden rise imposing
white steps to the palatial home of the
dead king. 1t was erected in 1895, and
was looked upon as magnificent and
costly mansion.
Celibacy was advocated by the Zoar-
ties until Joseph Bimeler succumbed to
the charms of a village maid. Then
marriage became honorable In the COM
munity.
For some years the 'king's praise"
has been the repository for goods to be
distributed among the community.
Thither came each family twice week
to receive food, clothing and house
tribution was kept. Each person was
keeping goods. No account of the dis
permitted two suits of clothes a year.
Each selected his or her material.
There were the village tailor, dress
maker and shoemaker, and as all fol-
lowed the same mode, rivalry had no
place in their fashioning. Until recent |
date they spun and wove their own ma
terials, tanned leather for their shoes,
tod Lo rf hn
but controlled a large out
side market in stoves, tiles and other
They had no literary or
artistic taste and little social life !
Ability to make music of common
place order was the only talent appa-
rent. Their religion forbade dancing. |
A concert, lecture or public entertain |
ment was unknown to- them. Their |
was unimpeachable. Asked |
why so moral community maintained |
I prison, they replied, For the accom-
of visitors"
WHEN EVE HARDENED TO THE
TEMPTER.
Zoar received it's death blow in 1884,
when it was made station on the
and Lake Erie railroad This
orced 1t to assume municipal form.
Then came the public schools and the
summer boarder. Women began to ape
he fashions of the visitors. Families
ell to doing chores, sewing, laundering
or the stranger. receiving pay which
hey gradually forgot to turn into the
common treasury. Boys built boats
md rented them, putting the money in
heir pockets. Young Zoar tasted the
world and it's opportunities, Restless
less and discomfort set in. It was
simulated by Levi Bimeler the village
He is the one Zoarite
ducated outside the community. He
penly advocated the right of members
o withdraw, if they desired, and to re-
Give their distributive share. To pro- I
nulgate his views he published in 1895
four-page sheet. Of which he was ed
tor, publisher and pressman, doing the |
rinting on hand-press. 1t was the {
My publication ever attempted at ]
,oar. 1t accomplished it's purpose; it
isrupted the society. Happily, before '
IS history was written in detail by Mr..
!. O. Randall, the scholarly editor of
he transactions of the Ohio State c
and Historical Society {
Is endorsed by the secretary of the {
oar society, and is an important con- /
'ibution to sociology" |
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