Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-04

tive note In It, The melody Is really
very simple, but the leader quavers
and improvises slow chromatic scales,
until you wonder that the others are
able to follow until you are permitted
glimpse of the notes. Each member
Of the congregation has a part in the
service in reading from the Bible or
in the little prayers in verse which
pass from lip to lip among the kneel-
ing worshipers. A sweet peace per-
vades the quiet room, but underneath
the dull, plain gowns UP near the front
rows is much dainty lace and berib-
boned lingerie, and the hearts that
beat under the demure little capes are
not always in unison with their moth
ers and fathers farther back.
Each village has it's own school, but
the best is at Homestead, their station
on the Rock Island road. Here Mr.
Seifert, who as young man taught in
Germany before coming to the United
States has held sway for twenty five
years and is one Of the powers of the
community. The state authorities al
low the colonists to conduct their own
schools in their own way, and the chill
dren go to school every day in the
year, except Sunday and holidays,
summer and winter. from the time
they are big enough. the girls until
they are Is and the boys A. Then they
are examined in the religious tenents
in which they have received instruc-
ton, are received into the church, and
for them schooling is at an end.
The school room is like any country
school in America, little better built
probably for 1t is not isolated, but is
a room in larger house. The boys
sit on one side and the girls on the
other at ordinary double desks and
with all the accouterments for study
and for making noise necessary to the
school boy. The master sits on rails
ed, platform in front, with shelf OF
books high up on the wall behind him.
All the instruction is given in German
except the period when the pupils
wrestle with their English construc-
tons and learn to write our English
script. This English hour Is the only
time many of the children speak the
language for the speech of the colon
lists among themselves is entirely in
their mother tongue. Mr.. Seifert is
very particular about his pupils pen
manship and the hour is strenuous
one. The Spencerian letters are an
alyzed alord, first by the boys and
then by the girls, then all together,
drawing in sing-song voice as they
write their w. Double u, Elm, zwei drei
double u. Elm, zwei, drei," until the
page is filled.
School begins at o'clock in the
morning and is dismissed for lunch at
$3.50. At half past II they arr back
again for a longer session, until at 8
the little girls are taken into knit
ting school by several of the old wo-
men and the boys go to help in the
orchards. In the winter the boys, too,
finish one day learning to knit.
The money put into the society by
it's founders is inherited by their de-
scendants, and at any time they wish
to leave the colony their share may be
withdrawn, without interest or claim
for wages. So great number of their
young people leave that the popula-
ton has increased practically none for
several years, but has stood at what it
is now. about 1900 members. At the
beginning of the year, each member
receives his check book. good for what
is necessary to keep him in comfort
for twelve months and he may draw
for that amount on the colony store in
any Of the villages. In return he is ex-
pected to do only what he can of the
work to be done on the farms and
in the COLONY