The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12

ness. For this the explanation Is difficult
yet the same condition has been observed
among tho Icarians. and in almost every
other socialistic society that has ever existed
long enough to afford basis for statistics
At Amana and in the villages and on the
farms of the Amantes you will find
strange proportion Of gray-haired maidens
and bachelors. Are they happy and con-
tented? Have they taken up this lot from
choice or from other motive? Is it best
for the community that they should live
thusp
Whatever may be the answers TO these
quesuonsand they are as varied as the
number Of indivduals-it is certain that
socalistio or communistic communities
always discourage early marriages. look
with no great favor on marriage,
and tend to encourage celibacy as great
virtue 1t is often said that the hard
economic cond lions Of the close competi-
tive system tend toward race suicide; but
experience of every communistic commu-
nifty proves that the easy economic condi-
tons Of the communistic system are still
more conducive to restriction of the in
crease of population.
The Amanites are the purely socialistic
Mennonites. Their socalistio community
conducts their schools aud their general civil
administration, manages their agricultural
operations owns the land, conducts the great
and highly successful woolen manufact-
uring industry that for a generation has
been famous all over the West for its product
of fine clothes buys for the entire commu-
nifty and conducts the supply establish
ments through which all are afforded
whatever they need
The colony cannot be said TO be popular
with surrounding people, though from the
moral point Of view it Is above suspicion.
1t has been progressive in substantials;
the villages, the stores and the homes are
models Of neatness and cleanliness. The
people are the same.
The schools are good so far as they go,
which is not very far. The people take
small interest in politics, 1t would be
contrary TO their fundamental idea Of nom
resistance to do so.
They seldom vote Sometimes at state
and county elections, when they conceive
their interests as a community to be di-
rectly affected, they vote; but almost never
at national elections. This one popularity
has done much TO make them unpopular
with their neighbors, for they have long
been recognized as holding the balance
Of political power in the county. and their
leaders have been accused of great clever
ness in having their people either vote or
not vote, according as would best serve
their purposes.
In general the Amanites live in family
groups, though frequently two or more
families occupy a single house. Their
farms are models of cultivation and care.
They always have the finest of horses and
other live stock.
The Amanites live well UP TO their re-
ligious professions. Altogether they make
up one Of the most interesting communities
In the country. Men have come from
almost every part of the world to study
this commonwealth which centres in this
village of Amana; and it has been declared
by many observers be typical of all
I that Is best. and also Of all that is weakening
and dangerous, in the communistic con-
ception Of society.