26

and where the fundamental Christian virtues were honored more in the obser-
vance than in the breach." 13

Because his novels show him to have been a keen observer of life and
customs, Charles DickensT comments on his visit to New Lebanon are
especially interesting. (See Appendix B, pages 52-4) However, all was not
Utopian- As J. M. Phillippi observes:
"The designing and unscrupulous have taken advantage of the
well-known hospitality of the Shakers. In the prosperous days
of Union Village (Ohio) no visitor ever was turned away. The
Sabbath Day became an established occasion for the gathering
of outsiders, ostensibly to attend the services, but in reality
to enjoy a square meal at the expense of the Believers. As many
as 500 have taken dinner at the Shaker homes on a single Sunday. T ^
Although the Shakers did not vote or hold office and, indeed, did not
want to get involved in politics or things of the world, still they were good
neighbors. They paid their taxes promptly, not being exempt because of
being a religious group. Indeed, it would appear that the local assessors
rated their lands and buildings very highly. The 1909 assessment rolls for
the Town of Colonie (the location of the Niskayuna or Watervliet Shaker colony)
show the Church Family assessed for 769 acres and buildings at $60,000, plus
a river farm of 73 1/2 acres and buildings for $5900, and 80 acres on Osborne
Road for $5500, or a total of $71,400. The West Shaker Settlement had a
total of 443 acres and buildings for $38,200, plus

13. Fried, op. cit. p, 23
14. Dickens, Charles. American Notes and Pictures from Italy.
Oxford University Press, London, c. 1957. pp. 215-8
15. Phillippi, J. M, Shaker ism or The Romance of a Religion.
Otterbein Press, Dayton, Ohio, 1912. p. 62