The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-21
ss1 WOMAN an0
 SOCIETY.
Mrs. J. N. decottes.

suburbs of Washington, D C.. there is a large brick house which shelters a unique community. consisting of twenty-five wo- tmeE under the government of Mrs. Mar tha McWhirter. Most of them have found marriage a failure and have left worth-
 less and incompatible husbands to enjoy life in sisterhood where each can do
 exactly as she pleases, provided she con- tributes her share to the general purse , and does nothing to disturb the harmony of the family. They do not live lives of absolute idIeness, but each performs certain amount of labor under the direc- tfon of Mrs. Mcwhirter, who seems to be . woman of remarkable personality and ext cptiye ability. !"
 The community has gradually grown ana now consists of twenty-five women of thirty years old and upward, who are living what they consider an ideal life. Each one who enters the community sur renders to 1t all the property she pos sesses, and 1t goes into the common fund.- which is quite large. The amount is un-
 known and Is estimated all the way from
 s10o,0oO to $500,oO0 They agree also to
 obey the orders of their superior and
 submit to the rules of the organization
 which are few and simple and are chiefly
 for the regulation of labor Mrs Mo-
 Whirter assigns the duties of her subor-
 dinates. There is only one man about the
 place, and he Is an aged negro. He does
 the heavy outdoor work and the women
 are assigned to whatever they can do in-
 side.
 One of them Is a physician, who not
 only looks after the health of the com
 munity. but answers calls from the neigh
 borhood Another Is a dentist who has
 chair and case of instruments in the
 reception room of the house. Others are
 aaa afnu y11tIl aJf
 travagance in dress Is prohibited; and
 one is shoemaker, who not only mends
 but makes the footwear of the house. hold. Mrs. McWhirter selects the cooks and the house semaids according to their tastes and qualifications and thus far,
 she tells me, there have been no kick CTS Every woman in the community has cheerfully accepted the situation and performed the duties to which she has been assigned. The labor is ght, being distributed among so many, and, as the underlying principle of the community is to promote peace. comfort and happiness of its inmates. the effort of living has been reduced to a minimum.
 The women have no politics and do not pretend to be reformers. Nor do they interfere in any manner with the outside
 world. They enter the community to
 obtain relief from care and anxiety and
 to avoid all responsibility and everything
 that will interfere with their tranquility
 If they become tired of their restful sur
 round ngs and desire to return to scenes
 of activity, they are allowed to leave,
 but they forfeit whatever they have con
 tTibuted to the common fund. Two or
 three nervous creatures who sought the
 shelter of the community found that they
 could not endure its peaceful atmos phere
 and returned to their husbands One of
 them soon regretted her vacillation, but
 they would not allow her to come back
 again. Each woman is allowed her own
 religion. No attempt Is made to influence
 the conscience, No religious or pol tical
 discussions are permitted. Chicago Rec
 ord Herald.