642 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 21 
HOW IT IS DISTRIBUTED. 
PART VI. 
We now know something of the reli¬ 
gious, social and business aspects of com¬ 
munity life as practiced by the Shakers. 
Up to date, their society has proved a 
success. They are healthy, happy and 
rich. They enjoy far more of the com¬ 
forts of life than the average farmer and 
his family, and there is no fear that old 
ape will be spent among strangers, or in 
any charitable institution. At peace 
with all men, they go gently down the 
slope ot age, full of contentment and 
happiness. 
It is easy to see that the combined 
property of the present 1,000 Shakers is 
not only greater than that of 200 average 
farm families, but that the division is 
fairer. Take 75 farm families who pro¬ 
dace raw material, and 25 families of 
these who merely handle, sell and manu¬ 
facture what these farmers produce, and 
see how the value of the product will be 
divided between them ! The Shakers, 
as we have seen, saved all the tolls and 
taxes paid to middlemen, because they 
did their own manufacturing and selling. 
In theory, their business was conducted 
on exact scientific principles, and had 
the additional advantage of being backed 
by pure morals and the best of reputa¬ 
tion ! There is all the more interest, 
therefore, in the question as to why their 
business has failed. Among the more 
important reasons, seem to be the follow¬ 
ing : 
An exactly satisfactory community 
system seems well-nigh impossible, ex¬ 
cept among a few people of similar ideas. 
The Shakers came to a point in their 
history when they were forced to hire 
outsiders to labor for them. These men 
and women did not belong to the society 
—they simply sold their labor for money 
as they would have done in working for 
others. The Shakers managed this labor, 
and the profits made on it went into the 
general fund. This upset one theory of 
socialism, because Shakers thus received 
benefit from labor which they really did 
not perform. Though just and honor¬ 
able to all their employees, they made 
an employer’s profit, and without the 
aid of outside labor, it is doubtful 
whether they could have attained such a 
success. It is but the development of 
the selfish extreme of this employing 
principle, that has created the sad con¬ 
dition of society against which the 
Shakers protest. This is referred to 
here only to show how difficult, if not 
impossible, it is to carry out a purely 
socialistic enterprise. 
Again, while the property of the Shak¬ 
ers is held in common, at least to the ex¬ 
tent that no individual can take away a 
share of it, there is no community spirit 
in its management. This seems to be 
left entirely to a committee—the aver¬ 
age member of the Society knowing little 
or nothing about what is going on. 
Cheap Excursions to the I/Vest. 
Bountiful harvests are reported from 
all sections of the West and Northwest, 
and an exceptionally favorable oppor¬ 
tunity for home-seekers and those desir¬ 
ing a change of location is offered by 
the series of low-rate excursions which 
have been arranged by the Northwest¬ 
ern Line. Tickets for these excur¬ 
sions, with favorable time limits, will 
be sold on August 29, September 10 
and 24 to points in northern Wisconsin, 
Michigan, northwestern Iowa, western 
Minnesota, southern Dakota, Nebraska, 
Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and a large 
number of other points. For full in¬ 
formation apply to agents of connect¬ 
ing lines, or address II. A. Gross, G. E. 
P, Am 423 Broadway, New York.— Adv. 
There are, of course, plenty of men and 
women in the world who are willing to 
follow those of stronger mind without 
any question. Doubtless society would 
be better off if its leaders and directors 
were the best and purest to be found, 
and they were given arbitrary control of 
affairs—as is the case among the Shak¬ 
ers. There are men and women, though, 
who cannot be satisfied to follow blindly. 
They may have an exalted idea of their 
own powers, or they may really possess 
God-given gifts of organization or direc¬ 
tion. It is evident that such people 
could not be satisfied to serve in the 
ranks of the Shakers, and know nothing 
of the management of affairs. 
Our impression is that most of the 
younger people who have left the Shak¬ 
ers, did so because the system of life 
there gave them no scope for the powers 
that were bred and born in them, and 
which they could not stifle or leave un¬ 
satisfied. It seems to us not only impos¬ 
sible, but against natural law, to try to 
drive all idea of competition out of a 
man’s heart. It is true that this com¬ 
petitive system may be abused. Such 
abuse is at the base of the world’s 
troubles to-day ; but because abuse is 
wrong, it does not of necessity follow 
that fair usage is also wrong. An honest 
competition may produce good results. 
In fact, this idea of competition has 
always entered into the business trans¬ 
actions of the Shakers. When they sold 
their sweet corn, their medicines, seeds, 
brooms or buckets, they entered into 
competition with other makers. Every 
customer who bought their goods, had to 
compare them with goods made by some 
one else, and he bought them, if at all, 
because he decided that the Shaker 
goods gave some value for money 
which the other goods did not. That 
was competition and, so long- as it was a 
question of man against man,with cruder 
machines and imperfect application of 
steam power for force, the Shakers con¬ 
trolled the markets, because means of 
communication with the great markets 
were imperfect and men placed a true 
valuation on the scrupulous honor and 
care which the Shakers packed into every 
package of their goods. Of late years, 
however, various influences have been 
at work to destroy this trade. 
The power of steam has been enor¬ 
mously increased. This has been con¬ 
centrated in towns and cities, which 
have sprung up in locations which have 
easy access to the great coal fields, and 
to the great waterways and railroads 
over which their products are distrib¬ 
uted. Coal and commerce have been the 
two great factors in locating cities since 
the great proportion of our manufactur¬ 
ing force has come from coal. Im¬ 
proved machinery has revolutionized all 
branches of trade. The handmade brooms 
of the Shakers might be stronger and 
more lasting than those made by ma¬ 
chinery, but the machine dashed them 
out so rapidly that the housekeeper 
could afford to buy two of the cheaper 
ones and wear them both out at less 
actual cost than for the one Shaker 
broom. “ Quick sales and small profits ” 
became a business motto, and “short 
life and: low cost” became another 
among consumers. One of the first re¬ 
sults of the vast crowd of improved im¬ 
plements, was a flood of cheap, shoddy 
goods. Consumers were for a time dazed 
and almost intoxicated by the rapid and 
marvelous industrial changes, and for a 
time almost lost faith in standard old 
goods, and sterling reputations. The 
Shakers, as manufacturers, could not 
compete in the new industrial battle. 
They were far from the coal fields and 
other cheap sources of force, and could 
not make use of the newer and power¬ 
ful machines. Transportation, too, was 
against them. They could not ship their 
goods to a distance with any profit, 
while the products of distant fields were 
poured into their markets, until they 
were undersold and driven out. 
Not only-that, but a ^spirit of dishon¬ 
esty crept into trade. The last 30 years 
have been a period of wonderful develop¬ 
ment. Men have made fortunes rapidly 
and spent them in rich or vulgar display. 
The National and State governments 
have granted special favors to individu¬ 
als and classes that have made men 
enormously rich at the expense of the 
poor. Our system of granting patents 
has not turned in the interest of inven¬ 
tor and consumer, so much as it has 
aided in fostering monopolies. All these 
things have injured the honest and con¬ 
servative Shakers. They might have 
availed themselves of more of the advan¬ 
tages of machinery and labor-saving 
devices, but for the fact that most of 
their property is in land or real estate. 
They, in common with most farmers, 
have lacked the cash capital needed to 
invest in new machinery, or develop new 
enterprises. Like most country land 
owrers, they have seen their property 
decrease, both in selling value and in 
producing capacity. It has become 
harder and harder to obtain cash with 
which to make exchanges. They have 
seen the country’s cash, steam force, 
commerce and population steadily run¬ 
ning to the town, and as it left the 
country, decreasing the ability of the 
farmer to compete fairly in the world’s 
affairs. Thus the Shakers have lost 
their trade. Let us see what hope they 
have of regaining it. 
Prof. Bi-ddy Hen.—A paper in Cali¬ 
fornia (the Woodland Mail) gives this 
statement from one of its farmer readers: 
Oil yes, we are learning very fast to adjust our¬ 
selves to the times. Many years ago my barn¬ 
yard was as full of chickens as now. But wc are 
much more respectful to them than we used to be. 
Then, when I could come home from my annual 
wheat sale with a mule-pack of $20 pieces, none 
of the family knew or cared where biddy’s nest 
was ; but now, when we take eggs to town to pay 
grocery bills, every nest is spotted and every egg 
is counted. The roosting place is also well known, 
and often raided to fill the coop for market. Yes, 
we are learning every day how to live. We will 
soon be graduated in this school of hard times. 
That is right. The hen is teaching many 
lessons in economy and thrift—even in 
rich California. 
llUsccUancouj? Advertising, 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Ruiial New-Vokkeb. 
You Lay the Roofing and Your 
Chickens will Lay the Eggs. 
YOUR YOUNG CHICKENS WILL SOON HAVE 
TO BE PROTECTED FOR THE WINTER. 
P.&B. RUBEROiD 
Roofing and Siding 
WILL KEEP THEM WARM AND DRY 
It Is the best and most durable in the market, 
and does not require skilled labor to put it on. 
THE STANDARD PA I NT CONI PA NY 
Chicago Ohio--. ( Sole \ 2 LIBERTY ST., f 
186 FIFTH AVE. ( Mfrs. { New York, N. Y. / 
Send for Samples and Prices. ) 
Can be applied by 
any one on steep or 
flat roofs. 
LOW PRICE! 
DURABLE! 
FI REPROOF! 
If you are going to 
build or have leaky 
shingle or tin roofs, 
send for sample 
and circular. 
A. F. SWAN, 
38 Dev Street. N. Y, 
No BUST nor RATTLE. Outlaef tin or iron: 
4 Durable Substitute for Plaster on walls. 
Water Proof Sbratliing of same material, the 
wwt and cheapest in the market. Write for samples, Ac. 
the FAY MANILLA ROOFING CO., CAJlBEN t N«I, 
UARTER OF CENTURYOLD- 
SrSngWATER PROOF.' by cases. 
I No Dirt I 
G 
tin This Dairy I 
# It is kept clean by a farmer’s wife $ 
H who is up-to-date and knows a good 
0 thing when she gets it. Every ^ 
St milk pail, churn, can, etc. is cleaned & 
H thoroughly , quickly and easily with ® 
1 Gold dust f 
jV^fSefcj 
$ the greatest enemy to dirt. Every 
farm-house kitchen should have it. o 
£ Saves the farmer’s wife many an ® 
0 hour’s hard work. Put up in large g 
St packages at 25 c. each. At all gro- St 
j| eery or general stores. 
# II Gold Dust Washing Powder has 
an additional value to the farmer for 
destroying insects. Send us your name 
and address and we will mail you an 
important booklet containing recipes 
for making kerosene emulsions, for 
spraying crops and trees and livestock. 
THE N. K. FAIRBANK COMPANY, 
0 Chicago, St. Louis, New York, © 
0 Boston, Philadelphia. 0 
IF YOU WANT 
a good, safe, seven per cent 
investment, secured by first 
mortgage on an improved 
farm worth three times amount loaned, write to 
Willis A. White. 239 First Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn 
CALIFORNIA COLONY. 
Desirable families only. Small capital necessary 
Five to 40 acres in each farm. One acre keeps a cow 
and calf the entire year. Poultry profitable. All 
kinds of fruit. Vegetables planted and harvested 365 
days in the year. Perfect irrigation. No malaria. 
150 miles from San Francisco. Schools, etc. Over 500 
people now settled. Fastest growing colony in Cali¬ 
fornia. B. MARKS, Box 175, Omaha, Neb. 
BIG FOUR ROUTE 
CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND 
ST. LOUIS RAILWAY 
TO 
WESTERN AND SOUTHERN POINTS. 
Through Sleeping Cars from 
New York to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and 
St. Louis 
VIA 
New York Central to Buffalo, L. S. & M. S. 
Railway to Cleveland, Big Four 
Route to Destination. 
ELEGANT CONNECTIONS 
YVitli all Trunk Lines in New York State. 
Ask for Tickets via BIG FOUR ROUTE. 
E, O. McCORMICK, I>. B. MARTIN, 
Pass. Traflic Manager. Gen’l Pass. & Tkt. Agt 
BIG FOUR ROUTE, CINCINNATI, 0. 
FEEDING ANIMALS 
This is a practical work of 660 pages, by Professor 
|S. W. STEWART, upon the science of feeding in all 
its details, giving practical rations for all farm ani¬ 
mals. Its accuracy is proved by its adoption as a 
text book in nearly all Agricultural Colleges and Ex¬ 
periment Stations in America. It will pay anybody 
having a horse or a cow, or who feeds a few pigs or 
sheep to buy and study It carefully. Price, $2.00. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
The Business Hen. 
This little book is one of the most popular we 
have ever published. Every one interested at 
all in poultry, seems to w-ant it, and to ap¬ 
preciate it. It gets down to the practical side 
of the question, and treats of the hen as the 
means of making a dollar. The price in cloth 
is 75 cents, but as the paper cover edition is 
exhausted, we fill all orders in cloth covers at 
paper cover price, while a new supply of 
paper covers are being provided. Price, 40 
cents. Sent to any subscriber for sending us 
one new subscription. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York. 
