The great simplicity of the surroundings on this occasion may lead the reader to suppose that the congregation was poor. It was, however, composed in a great measure of some of the thriftiest farmers in one of the richest upland sections of the United States.
Some time after attending this meeting I called upon an aged Amish man to converse with him upon their religious society, etc. The Amish are another branch of the Mennonites, and those among us are likewise descendants of Swiss refugees. They are the most primitive of the three divisions of the sect, preserving the use of the Dutch or German language not only in their religious meetings, but almost entirely in their own families.
I mentioned to this aged man the feet-washing that I had attended, and told how Dr. ——, the bishop, had washed the feet of the other brethren.
"Did he wash them all?" said my Amish acquaintance.
"Yes, all that were assigned to him. How is it among you?"
"They wash each other's, every two and two. If he washes them all, he puts himself in Christ's place. He says, 'Wash each other's feet.'"
This, I am also informed, is the rule among the third division, the Old Mennists, the most numerous branch of these remarkable people.
P.E.G.
THE RAW AMERICAN.
London at present abounds in Americans on their way to the Vienna Exposition. Many of them are commissioners from various States. Some have lands to sell or other financial axes to grind. Of such the Langham Hotel is full. The Langham is the nearest approach to an American hotel in London. There, though not a guest, you may pass in and out without explaining to the hall-porter who you are, what you are, where you come from or what you want: you may there enter and retire without giving your pedigree, naturalization papers or a certificate of good character. At other English hotels something analogous to this is commonly required.