The sun., 1916-11-19

Is pitiable. a story Of a different kind
is Jemima Blanchard's account OF her
conversion. which seems to show us
how Il timid girl can be frightened and
persuaded into doing something h
does moi fully understand: IL is a can
did and very human document.
With the death Of the founders
the historical arrangement ends. They
passed their authority on 70 capable
administrators, who formed a fixed rit-
ual and established rules for the con-
duct of life and for the work OF the
community which probably saved the
sect from the dispersal which In the
usual fate Of religions established by
individuals. The religious element,
too. held the community together. for
no system of philosophy or material
istic form Of reasoning has been able
to prevent later communistic expert
ments from going to pieces. by 1871
the Quakers were back at Harvard
to stay. The author describes the re-
ligious revival Of 1907 n later cpl
sodes. clearly with the coming OF
tranycendentallsm In mind. She
for granted that the story or the
growth Of the Harvard community and
its subsequent decline IL common
knowledge. For the dying cut. she
seems to hold the growth OF me-
chanical methods responsible. which
have put an end to the hand Industries
the Shakers developed: she makes no
mention of the lack Of accessionS OF
new blood to the community. h has
gathered together all that relates to
Alcott and Charles Mason, she
prints extracts from journals Of h
forties and fifties that relate to the In
dustrial occupations Of the Shakers.
| From these we select n few that have
a touch OF human nature and use
quaint New England phrases.
June list. ist. An odd kind ~ queer
dick came here. took supper and stayed
IN the next afternoon and labored hard
| 10 convert US. then returned where ] know
not. neither do I ca-c.
Dec. 90. istl. The passenger cars run UP
to shirley village to-day for the nrst time.
4 screaming from the engine whistle could
he heard almost every hour from seven In
the morning til seven at night. Note.
This wa. the nrst passenger train that
went up there on the Fttchburg Railroad.
She prints a poem on table man.
ners, in which the Shaker rule Of
wasting no food Is inculcated. with
the comment.
Many Of the present generation have
doubtless heard the expression. shaker
your plate" who will now understand
from whence It's origin.
In a printed Manual Of Good Man
ncrs' these rules are found.
Never be squirting and seovling. and
x.a,,t,,,. sha NtgsuaIs N sAA ~ VIM can
discover a coal. a speck. or . hair: and
IL you do md one. take II out decently.
and not make a great ado about II. For
your honor's sake never make . mountain
Of a moiehill.
Never play mean. dirty tricks upon any
one: Il shows meanness OF heart and an
ugly disposition.
Never give a Joke. unless you can bear
one as keen,
eat II Improper.
Never be found a-gazins round and look
ing over your shoulder. when you are going
through a city or village, or by a house:
IL necessary to look. then stop and view
handsomely; or wait until you get fairly
by. and then turn round AMI make a bust
ness ~ looking.
Never try to poster any person on ac-
| count Of his form. features or complexion:
for 1t l. very mean.
The authors descriptions Of the re-
ligious ceremonial OF the Shakers In
the fnrties and OF their u of life
In secular matters are very interest
ing. she gives slight sketches Of
! some If them. We should like to hear
| more OF Sister Tabitha Rabbit who
invented cut nails and the circular
saw and other mechanical improve
mcnts and was working on false tccth
when h died. ana Of other Shaker
worthless. men and IN who APP
| pear. She has gathered a mass Of
valuable and interesting material and
, we hope that more like II nay bc
drawn from the papers she has in
spectcd.