A reminder: Ai is my hereditary tribal name - not artificial intelligence.
U.S. Dept. of Interior and the Anabaptist
While doing volunteer work one summer at a living history village within The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, (NPS) the work became hard and the weather hot. Together with Jim, (retired schoolteacher) we single handedly dismantled a cider mill, cut the timbers for a new frame and scheduled a “raising day” to erect the building.
Since period clothing was encouraged, my decision was to get a good straw hat to keep the sun off my head, and it occurred to me that Lancaster County would be the place to find one.
US Rte. 30 is lined with tourist traps and gift shops, so it didn’t take long to acquire a genuine Lancaster County straw hat, and it was no more than a mile down the road that the realization came to me it was trash, unfit for real duty.
Driving along wondering what to do next, there appeared a crowd by the road watching some performance. Pigs! Pigs running a very well-built obstacle course, the trainer calling out their every move and motive, each having its’ own name, all the while remaining at his station as the pigs ran the course over and over. Daniel, as he came to be known, gave particular attention to a little pig last in line, as they ran the course in order. He pointed out this was the “runt” of the litter and always difficult, evaded obstacles and strolled along at his leisure. None the less all the other pigs would cooperate to get him to the finish line where they would stop in front of Daniel; he would then ask the crowd, “how many pigs are there here?” and the crowd would respond “nine”. “Good”, and off they would go again.
They went on for some time when it became obvious all of this was expertly choreographed: the pigs ran the obstacles in perfect order, the runt lollygagged by rote, the others baying to cheer him on, and Daniel asking how many pigs were there in front of him, always being nine. The crowd was transfixed.
When the show ended the crowd dispersed without fanfare. As Daniel left the stage it became apparent to me that he wielded his stick as deftly as any limb and his movements made it clear why. Daniel was blind. It all came clear in that moment.
The Anabaptists settled in Early America escaping persecution because they baptize in adulthood as opposed to infancy. Passivists who retain their strong faith and close communities, laboring as worship. Everyone has an occupation. Daniel, being born with a crippling disability, made some very pragmatic decisions early on in life. His community supported him fully.
1775 Mennonite address to the Pennsylvania Assembly:
It is our principle to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men’s lives, but we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men’s lives are destroyed or hurt.
Growing up among Amish and Mennonite taught me to be sensitive and respectful of their ways. When the question of gaining a proper hat was put to Daniel, his response was still surprising to me. “Well”, he said, “go that way down the road and take the first right, you’ll cross a small stream and in about a mile you’ll come to a large tree on your right, can’t miss it. Pull into the first farm on your left and ask Sarah if she will sell you a hat, but you must accept her answer whatever her decision”.
“OK Daniel, and how should my hat fit?”
Daniel replied, “it should fit on your head”.
These are a pragmatic people, and while walking away he added, “and don’t tell Sarah who sent you”.
Now, an Amish man’s hat, like all his clothing, is religious garb made or acquired by Amish women, and all affairs are conducted by committee including commerce. Although Sarah did consent to fitting me with a hat, the mistake was mine and no doubt became the topic of much discussion among that community. It is with me still but only worn for its stated purpose - to protect me from the heat of the sun while working, it is not for “show”.
There’s a lot more to this story and for that you’ll have to ask. It is worth adding that there are tens of thousands of genuine Lancaster County hats for sale to tourists there, and if you examine the replica pictured above, note the weave terminates at the top in a fold. That is the front of the hat. Every genuine Lancaster County hat sold to tourists, who are non-Amish, terminates in the opposite direction. Those hats are worn backward. The Anabaptist is not without a sense of humor.
In Lancaster County, a man’s hat (or the absence thereof) tells you everything you need to know.
Really enjoyed this story, David, and would enjoy hearing more.
We went to Amish country for a visit when I was a girl, and I was fascinated by their ways. Still am.