Said May, “I wish I had the wealth Of that bright star up there.” I took the hint, and now she wears A diamond solitaire. Without doubt the average Pennsylvanian knows more of the Mormons of Utah, or of the fantastic actions of some new religious sect in a distant State, than of the Amish (pronounced Ornish), a people of far greater historical interest, and of equally strange customs, who are located in a secluded nook at the very centre of our populous Commonwealth and scarcely fifteen miles from State College. Their home is in the Kishacoquillas, one of the many small and picturesque valleys of the Allegheny mountains. Be cause of their unobtrusive ways and the quiet valley which sup plies their simple wants, the Amishmen are but little known, even by their neighbors of the surrounding district. Their sect was founded in Europe in the stormy times of Mar tin Luther. Their forefathers were originally followers of that old-world sect known as Meunonites, or followers of Simon Menno, who were driven from Switzerland to America because of the relig ious persecutions in that country during the 17th century. Shortly after coming to America there was a division among the people, some thinking the rules of the church far too lax. As a result, a number of the people banded themselves together and followed Peter Ammen to the Kishacoquilla valley, where they obtained a large tract of land by purchase and governmental grant and es tablished the present Amish community. The patient toil of several generations of these frugal and in dustrious people has made the valley a garden. Generations of quiet, rural life and total abstinence from dissipation have given them an almost perfect physique, and the youth of both sexes are usually handsome in features as well as form. The first precept of their society is non-progressiveness, and so well have they kept it that should some entire community have slept ten times Van Winkle’s sleep they would find themselves, upon awaking, more in keeping with modern progress than this community of the Amish. These people, though not inhospitable, are very difficult of ap proach. They fear the stranger’s questioning gaze, and are reti cent on all questions as to their mode of worship. The Free Lance. A STRANGE PEOPLE. [April,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers