The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-05-09

nearly square, two and half stories
high, with quaint gables and small
pane windows, and, the most surpris-
ing thing about them is that, they are
unadorned by single drop of paint.
There is not a dwelling, shop, Office
building or clubhouse of any kind that
has ever been honored by as much 40
single brush of color. On asking for
the reason of this, two answers were
vouchsafed, each materially differing
from the other, hence, you may draw
your own conclusions. The Brothers
averring that any outside decorations
or embellishments were contrary to
the principles of their religious creed;
while the outsiders" positively asserted
that the absence of paint was simply q
mercenary expedient to avoid the pay
ment of building taxes, claiming that,
according to the statutes of Iowa, an
unfinished building is non-taxabIe, and
an unpainted house is, perforce, an un-
finished building. However this may
be, the fact remains that all these
houses wear lackIuster hue, and
some, more especially the older ones,
bear strange, grimy appearance.
With summer comes partial relief. as
vines and creepers are trained to climb
these somber walls and gables impart-
ing anatural freshness and gaiety, COM
pensating to a great extentth absence
of the decorators art. Moreover, the
yards and gardens are beautifully kept,
effecting a very charming tout-en-
semble.
When admitted to membership it is
requisite to deposit all monies, and
chattels with the company-which may
be withdrawn, without interest, in the
event of quitting the society-to be
used for the common good. All receive
a uniform salary-nO matter what po-
sition occupied-said salary being thirty
five dollars per annum. Small, isn't itp
Yet, with their system of free schools,
libraries, medical attendance, houses
and house furnishings, board and laun-
dry, and clothing manufactured at
home, it suffices to give them as many
luxuries as they seem 70 care for. In
addition to the necessaries each adult
member is allotted thirty-five gallons of
native wine yearly, which may be in
creased IN exceptional fruitful years.
This wine is stored in a large cellar
under the supervision of regular ap-
pointed custodian whose duty it is to
see to its safe.keeping and supply the
individual demands. Cards similar to
restaurant meal tickets (only Iarger) are
issued and furnished to those that are
entitled to them. On these cards are
printed the quantity due each holder
and checked off as drawn by means of
an ordinary punch-each perforation
representing one quart. Before the
state adopted prohibition laws, these
people owned and operated quite
large brewery, and, l was told, that
the beer they made was of a superior
quality.
Ah ~AAAoA0 ciAOy INV
have for many years-a large wooden
factory, finding ready sale for all their
surplus goods. At one time Marshall
Field, of Chicago, contracted each year
for the entire output declaring, that he
was willing to buy of them with no
other guarantee than their word, as their
goods were always honestly made.
AS a whole, they are unceasing in
their perseverance to protect feminine
chastity, and ever look with q suspi-
clous eye on the actions of those with
out the pale of their order. The wom-
en-, without exception, when exposed
to the observation of any of the Broth
ers, are reticent, almost to degree Of
comical absurdity.
One of the Brothers said to me. that
after his days work, seated in his COM
Portable rocker, with his book and his
pipe he was perfectly contented, and
would not exchange places with Presi-
dent Roosevelt-and 1 believed him.
PAUL.
1. G,1n niv,rp oI~ L