A "CRANK" COMMUNITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1906, Page 15

A "CRANK" COMMUNITY.

♦ The strango colonies of hermits who have- taken up their abode in the neighbourhood of Locarno, Ronco, and Orselina, are (says the Geneva correspondent of the Daily Express) increasing in numbers. On© group, which occupies tho wooded plateau known as Monte Verita, is 126 strong, and counts in its members six German professors, three military officers, one of whom io married to a countess, who also belongs to the sect, two doctors, and a priest. The majority are well-to-do, and some are wealthy, As these pay well for anything they buy, and do not trouble about making converts, the inhabitants are jjd. friendly terms with them. They sleep in caves, ore vegetarians, and do not wear ordinary clothing. A linen hood, and a shroud of the sume material, are tho only garments they wear. Their feet, legs, arms, and neck are uncovered, and tho hair is never out though the men trim their beards in a patriarchal way. The women allow, their tresses to float in tho air. The motto of all is "Back to nature." "The height of wisdom and philosophy," they say, "is to understand nature ; that alone brings psocs and happiness," They rise L »&4 g? to ffleoo, with fclio pitting

of the sun ; they eat only fruit- and vegetables, and drink only water. In the summer they have daily sun baths, and in the winter enow baths. Some of them have extraordinary theories, which ■ they carry out with great perseverance. One beautiful woman of thirty, who was formerly a well-known singer? at the Berlin opera, refuses to touch money, which, she says, is the root of all evil. Her theory often lands her in difficulties, from which she occasionally extricates herself by singing to her debtors. Another member only eats vegetables that ripen underground. A third confines himself strictly to raw eggs and potatoes. A fourth spends £5 a week among the poor villagers, and keeps the doctors busy by bringing to their notice cases for which, he pays. All the colony are in the best of health, and always appear perfectly h&upy amiable, and polite.

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