The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-04-22

kitchen or gardens. 1t is surprising,
therefore, to find the Amana school
the merriest, most cOntented group
of little folks who ever attended any
school. The children are each given
a plot of ground which they must
learn to cultivate under the guild
ance of the teacher, and 1t really
fills an outsider with wonder to see
how much the children enjoy it. The
long day in the school is broken into
three parts, which prevents the work
from becoming tiresome. The first
part of the day is devoted to the
common branches, such as reading
and writing, then the children have
an hour in which to play games, at
ter which they are taught manual
training, gardening, knitting and
spinning. The atmosphere of the
Amana school is more like the large
household than of the ordinary
school. Each child has the air of
being a member of a great family
and visitor to the school is the
guest OF every boy and girl as well
as the teacher. He may be some
what bewildered by the array OF
little hands extended in welcome and
he soon learns that the parting
guest is speeded in the same cordial
way-the little ones reaching under
and the big ones reaching over In
an effort to shake hands. Since so
much influence is exercised over the
child by the teacher, the board of
trustees use great care in selecting
those only who are endowed with
the greatest and deepest spiritual
qualifications for the calling. If
there ever was a school where the
surly and michievous had firm and
upright judge who never runs the
risk of spelling the child by sparing
the rod, it is in Amana colony.
The religion or true inspiration
of people is based upon the old Ger
man Lutheran doctrines with mark
ed alterations. The fundamental
doctrine is the self sacrifice of indi-
vidual gain for true community
spirit. Every function in the colony
is performed in accord with their in
depreciation of the Bible. Every act
and duty is imposed upon them by
a deep religious truth, with the
Bible their code OF, law. 1t must be
remembered that Amana was estab-
lished upon the doctrine of a purer
religion, and for the advancement
OF this cause it exists today
Their deep religious spirit, how
ever, exposes them to many abuses.
A sufficient example: The Master
said Give to him that asketh thee
and from him that would borrow of
thee, turn not away" Like all 9TH
er religious communities Amana has
earnestly endeavored to follow this
precept. But like Him, too, it has
been shamefully imposed upon by
tramps who establish their winter
quarters there. Hoping to alleviate
the congestion the colony erected on
the edge OF the larger villages what
they call Hobo Hotel" 1t is fur
nished with such articles as are
Il acmed necessary for the comfort of
the guests The effect was entire
ly opposite These hotels have be-
come winter residences of many
tough customers.
Amana's simple doctrine of
Brothers al as Gods children" is
maintained even in death. In the
cemetery, there are no family lots,
no monuments. The departed mem
bers of each village are buried side
by side in the order of their death,
of birth, family or spirit
ual rank. The graves are marked
by low stone or a white painted
headboard with only the name and
date OF death on the side facing the
grave. E.
There is much in the life of the
people of Amana that seems plain
and monotonous to the outside
world Yet we are compelled to ac
knowledge that theirs is in many re-
spects a more rational and ideal life
than that which is found in our av-
erage country village. There is less
extravaganza, no living beyond ones
means, no keeping up of appear
ance," and fewer attempts to pass
for more than one is worth. 1t is
apparent, however, that that isola-
ton from. the world for which the
colony has SO earnestly striven and
which it has SO jealousy guarded
for over a half century becomes less
and less easy to preserve.
Whether the spirit of brotherly
love and devotion to the ideals of the
Amana colony will be strong enough
to counteract successfully the ways
of the world" cannot be foreseen.
But whatever is in the future for
the colony, the history of mankind
is richer for their example of loyal
devotion to religious inspiration and
plain living. Star-Clipper.