The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
By CHARLES SHERMAN HAIGBT.


Hills. lies the village Of the Lebanon
Shakers. # you turn from it moment
and gaze down into the Lebanon Valley
below you have before you one of the
most beautiful views of those beautiful
hills. and you feel that the name Of the
place was well chosen. It's appearance
is one of plenty. The cultivated fields
extend to the SUBMITS Of the rolling
hills. and the rich coIored woodlands
add to the beauty Of the scene. Along
the. slopes are scattered the houses Of
the farmers, surrounded by their gar
dens and carefully laid out orchards,
and the barns near by give the idea Of
bountifuI harvests The COWS are feed
ing in the pastures, and now and again
the musical tinkle Of the sheep bells
can be heard from the distance. Through
the deep green of the bottom OF the val
ley runs a winding stream, marked by
the cool willows OF cleaning bright in
the sun. and down in the little settle
ment the white spire OF the church
reaches up toward heaven # you can
view the scene in the glory Of the set
ting sun you feel that the Shakers chose
we'll when they settled here TO begin
2 conquest of the New World to their
religion.
This is the chief settlement Of q peo-
pie strange in their history and stranger
in their beliefs. people who will tell you
that as Christ was the Son of God so
was Mother Ann Lee the Daughter Of
God that the family is the only divinely
sanctioned organization; that there
should be no marriage nor giving in
marriage, but that all Christians must
withdraw from the world and live to
gether as brothers and sisters Of one
family. that when the millennium comes
everyone will have become a Shaker,
and the salvation of the world viii in
that way have been accomplished They
Will tell you of the start of their society,
less than hundred years ago. when six
or seven destitute disciples came to this
country 10 battle singIe-handed; and
then they will tell you with pride that
they now number thousands. They fam
would convince you that their life is the
happiest and hottest that man can know.
And at first you almost believe them
There is an atmosphere Of such perfect
peace about them. and they seem so faI
removed from the worry and disaP-
pointment and struggles OF the hurry
ing. throb6fng world that their home
seems q perfect refuge for tired hu-
mainly. a refuge indeed it may be. but
it can be little else; and when you think
OF their solitary. IoveIess lives, of the
never-ending monotony Of it, Of the lacH
of all possible ambitions and personal
hopes. you wonder at them. You car
see how man whose one unsuccessful
struggle has been to provide bread FOL
a family should be willing to take VI
such a life. where the necessities, a
least. are 10 BE- had; but you find among
these people those who have enjoyed al
education. and who know what they are
leaving. and yet seem content with theil
lot.
Could We but know, We should prob
ably find. under the surface Of these
lives. the scars OF a tragedy which
wrecked them and left only the shat
tered remnants with which the owner
had not The courage TO go on in th'
struggle OF the outer world. Be this a.
1t may, We cannot accept their avoweC
principles. The human heart should be
and is. the real center Of this life, ans
love and sympathy are the noblest o
our feelings The love OF husband for
wife, or Of parent for child, can rem
Ger truly beautiful an existence which
would otherwise be commonplace. and
one who Willingly steeIs his hear
against such feelings deprives his life o
its greatest opportunities; wrapping hi
talent in a napkin, he buries IT in tn,
earth.
As you pass through the Shaker set.
Element you are impressed by the ap-
pearanee Of order and thrift in every.
thing The white buildings and fence.
so carefully painted. the perfectly KEPT
grounds and paths, the wonderful stone
walls, the regularly laid out gardens
the rows Of carefully trimmed fruit
trees. the white horse blocks, and the
Immediately white doorsteps. with &
broom hanging by each-au these give
you an idea OF perfect order and ar
rangement. And as you see the inhabi-
tants clad in their favorIte modest col
CTS, moving so regularly about their
business, the IDEA is increased tenfoId
The absolute method Of everything al