[PEN-L:7695] Re: My New Chair Was Built by Child Labor

[Tom Lehman <uswa12@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pete, you should have given him hell and asked for an explanation, if you
thought the kids weren't just hanging around or engaging in some version of
junior high wood shop.

I pretty familiar with the Amish and Mennonite ways in Ohio, Pennsylvania
and Maryland.  Here in Ohio, starting not far from here there is the largest
concentration of Amish and Mennonites in the country.

The Mennonites have gone more or less mainstream protestant in my lifetime.
I remember that when I was a kid you could tell the Mennonites from the
Amish because the Mennonites drove cars(black naturally).   The Mennonites
dressed the same as the Amish---except that Mennonite women wore brighter
whites, than Amish women.

Today for the most part, unless wearing a costume for the tourists or their
own amusement the Mennonites are indistinguishable from the Methodists or
the Dutch Reform/Congregationalists in dress.

There are many sects of  Amish.  Most are trying to cope with the modern or
post-modern(?) world in their own way.  For some reason whenever I am in
"Dutch Country" the Amish and the Mennonites will talk about
political/public/economic affairs around me.  Which is unusual.  The
conversations are surprisingly enlightened!

On this Amish furniture business in general.  There are a lot of people in
"Dutch" country  who are not Amish or Mennonite and who use the name Amish
furniture as a way to advertise.  Of course there are by the same token
non-Amish or Mennonite furniture makers who produce beautiful furniture in
"Dutch" or as some advertisers refer to it, Amish country.

My favorite event in Ohio Dutch country is the livestock auction held in
Kidron, every Thursday.

Your email pal,

Tom L.





Peter Dorman wrote:

> I swear I didn't know it at the time.  I heard that an Amish guy in
> central NY State made fantastic rockers for a low price (a little over
> $100).  So I ordered a chair to be picked up in several months, my head
> filled with thoughts about supporting cultural diversity as well as the
> happy moments I would have reading in my new chair.
>
> When I got there, the chair-maker was behind the cash register, and
> behind him were a gaggle of kids, mostly pre-teen, operating woodworking
> equipment.  And, yes, the chair was beautiful to look at, comfortable to
> sit in, and very, very cheap....
>
> Peter