The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1906-03-31

True Disciples of Tolstoi
Members of English Colony ia Cotswold Hills Follow
the Russian Philosopher.
Especial Corresl { rdence. }

Up on the highest point of the
co,swold hills In Worcestershire is
little colony OF practical followers of
Count Tolstoi. people who believe that
II IL wrong to live In any way by the
labor OF others. Unable to carry their
taith Into practise in the outside
world. they have settled in this re-
mote corner Of England to extract
their living from an inhospitable soil
by the labor OF their own hands.
One must not suppose. however.
that this is colony OF wild eyed
anlrchists or dangerous enemies of
government. 1t is true that they OBJ
ie,ted at first to paying taxes to
government which they declared gave
them nothing In return. and one or
two men actually carried their pas
size resistance to the extent of going
to Jail for their principles but even
tho country people round about to-
day are forced to admit that they are
bother no one-this in spite OF the
active opposition Of squire and par
son, who regard them as dangerous
Ell emies of church and state
The little colony. which Is known
as Whiteway, is situated about the
center of a triangle the angles OF
which are formed by the towns of
G oucester, Cirencester and Stroud
1t is approached by mountainous
roads and lies about seven miles from
Stroud. which is the. nearest railway
station.
The land owned by the colony
stretches alonr the side OF hill and
comprises about sixteen acres. The
tract was left to set OF trustees
headed by Aylmer Maude. the well
Known English disciple OF Tolstoi. by
a farmer OF the nelghborhood who had
b.come convert to the theories OF
the Russian philosopher.
All colonists Welcomed.
s'he land. OF course. so far as It's
legal aspect Ia concerned. Is held alb
solitely by the trustees. but any one
VIII, Is willing to work on II and live
In harmony With the colonists is well
cone to settle on an acre and cult
vat. II. He may do so free OF all
cha. re. but he must not attempt to
acq Ire any title TO It. and as soon as
he leases to cultivate It with his own
hams all his interest In It ceases.
There are at present about dozen
families I'm the colony and there are
n coiple OF acre plots vacant. but It
IL expected that they will soon be
fakes mp. The: were rendered vacant
by the Efforts OF the persons who had
ownership In them.
Apart from their peculiar views as
TO ownership in land and the immo.
rali,y Of living by the labor OF othery
the co'onists are perfectly norms
people. Living. as they do. an opea
air life. they have adopted some re,
forms In dress. but these are no, the
result OF any fixed belief: rather they
are the result OF an effort to ind tn
clothing most suitable to the cond:
tons under which they live.
The women rs n rule wear nm outer
garment Of the flowing Grecian type
and the men knickerbockers and soft
cotton or wool shirts. open at the
neck. In the height OF summer they
sometimes dispense with the shirt
while working In the fields.
Both men and women go barefooted
partly from preference and partly be.
cause shoes are an expensive luxury
to persons living from the product OF
mn acre Of rather unproductivc soil,