Should any one wish to become a member of the colony, he must, in the first place, put all his ready money into the hands of Doctor Keil:  he will then be taken on trial.  If the candidate satisfies the doctor, he can remain and become one of the community:  should this, however, not be the case, he receives again the capital he paid in, but without interest.  How long he must remain “on probation” in the colony, and work there, depends entirely on the doctor’s pleasure.  If a member leaves the community voluntarily—­a thing almost unheard of—­he receives back his capital without interest, together with a pro rata share of the earnings of the community during his membership, as appraised by the doctor.

All the ordinary necessaries of life are supplied gratuitously to the members of the community.  The doctor holds the common purse, out of which all purchases are paid for, and into which go the profits from the agricultural and industrial products of the colony.  If any member needs a coat or other article of clothing, flour, sugar or tobacco, he can get whatever he wants, without paying for it, at the “store:”  in the same way he procures meat from the butcher and bread from the baker:  spirits are forbidden except in case of sickness.  The doctor also appoints the occupation of each member, so as to contribute to the best welfare of the colony—­whether he shall be a farmer, a mechanic, a common laborer, or whatever he can be most usefully employed in; and the time and talents of each are regarded as belonging to the whole community, subject only to the doctor’s judgment.  If a member marries, a separate dwelling-house and a certain amount of land are assigned him, so that the families of the settlement are scattered about on farms.  The elders of the colony support the doctor in the duties of his office by counsel and assistance.

The lands of the colony are collectively recorded in Doctor Keil’s name, in order, as he says, to avoid intricate and complicated law-papers.  It would, however, be for the interest of the colonists to make, a speedy change in this respect, so that the members of the community, in case of the doctor’s death, might obtain each his share of the lands without litigation.  Should the doctor’s decease occur soon, before this alteration is made, his natural heirs could claim the whole property of the colony, and the members would be left in the lurch.  He does not appear, however, to be in great haste to effect this change, though it ought to have been done long ago.  It is always said among the colonists, naturally enough, that all the ground is the common property of the community.  Whether the doctor fully subscribes to this opinion in his secret heart might be a question.