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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7932-8.txt b/7932-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..982c4ec --- /dev/null +++ b/7932-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10122 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brook Farm, by John Thomas Codman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brook Farm + +Author: John Thomas Codman + +Posting Date: October 14, 2012 [EBook #7932] +Release Date: April, 2005 +First Posted: June 2, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + + + + +Produced by Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +BROOK FARM + +HISTORIC AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +BY + +JOHN THOMAS CODMAN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT + +Transcendentalism; Explained by Mr. Ripley,--The Proposition,--Members +of the Transcendental Club--The first Persons at the +Community--Constitution and Laws; Articles of Agreement--Description of +Mr. Ripley, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Dwight, Mrs. Ripley, Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford, +Hawthorne and Others. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT + +Thoughts on Reorganization--Fourier on Social Code--Mr. Ripley's +Action--Progress of Society--Theories by Fourier, etc.--Closing of the +Transcendental Period--Reorganization, and the Industrial Period. + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS + +Departure from Boston, and Arrival at the Farm--Description of the +Place--Attica--Personal Occupations, etc.--The Wild Flowers. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD + +Descriptions of Members: The "General,"; Ryckman, Blake, Drew, Orvis, +Cheevers--William H. Charming, and Albert Brisbane,--S. Margaret +Fuller--Ralph W. Emerson--Theodore Parker and Mr. Ripley's Joke. + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK + +Many Visitors--An Odd Visitor--The Groups and Series, etc.--The +Workshop--My first Spring--Death and Funeral--The Amusement Group, +Dances, Walks and first Summer. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER," AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS + +The _Harbinger_ Published; Editors and Contributors, Its +Characteristics and Effect--The Industrial Phalanx--The Phalanstery--A +Financial Report--The Grahamites, and their Table--John Allen and +Boy--The Visitation of Small-pox. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING + +Resumption of Building--The Crowded Conditions--Gardener's +Department--Prince Albert--Jumping the Brook--Retrenchment--The +Doves--The Gardener--The Position of Woman in Association--The Right to +Vote--The Wedding--Lizzie Curson--Our Young Folks. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA AND IMPORTANT LETTERS + +The Play in the Shop--The Associative Movement--Rev. Adin Ballou's +Letter--Mr. Brisbane's, and Mr. Ripley's Letters--Mr. Pratt's +Departure--The Great Party--Cyclops. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL, AND PARLOR LIFE + +Meetings in Boston, etc.--Two Lady Friends--Music at the +Eyry--Consciousness of Self--The Great Snow Storm--C. P. Cranch's +Imitations. + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE + +Fun at the Phalanx--Ripley's Quotation--On Punning--The Robbery, and +the Waiting Group. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE + +The Last Dance, and the Fire--The _Harbinger's_ Account of It--Feeding +the Firemen--The Morning after the Fire. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES + +The Bearings of the Association and its Occupations--Slanders of the +New York Press--Definition of the Associationists Position toward +Fourier--Forebodings at the Farm--Personal Reveries. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK + +Peter's Departure--Mr. Dwight at the Association Meeting--Practical +Christians--The Solidarity of the Race--Mr. Ripley's _Harbinger_ +Article. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES AND AFTER LIVES OF THE MEMBERS + +Breaking up--Ripley's Poverty, after Life and Death--Mr. Pratt; Mr. +Dana; Mr. Dwight, and various Persons--William H. Charming--A. +Brisbane--C. Fourier--Letters of Approval. + + +APPENDIX. + +PART I. + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS + +Student Life--Explanations and Answers to Objections--Letter on Social +Equality--Religious Views. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +There were two distinct phases in the Associated life at Brook Farm. +The first was inaugurated by the pioneers, who introduced a school, and +combined it with farm and household labors. The second phase began with +an attempt to introduce methods of social science and to add mechanical +and other industries to those already commenced. These different phases +have been called the Transcendental and the Industrial periods. + +Each individual had his special experiences of the life. The writer +chronicles it from his standpoint. None, perhaps, was more interested +in it than he, young as he was, but many were more able to elaborate it +and write it in details, and did he not feel that it was an important +duty neglected by all, these memoirs would have remained unwritten. + +The record books of the institution are missing, and are doubtless long +ago destroyed. These chapters have been compiled and written from few +memoranda, at various times, very often after the arduous duties of +days of professional life, and with a desire only to present the +subject truthfully, faithfully and simply; and also, not wholly to +gratify curiosity, or to record the doings of the noble men and women +who were wise before their time, but to whisper courage to those who, +like their predecessors, are seeking some solution of the social +problems that involves neither the too sudden surrender of acquired +rights, the reckless abandon of old ideas to untried and crude +radicalism, or the more to-be-dreaded feuds between classes, that mean +desperation on one side and war on the other; but to aid, if possible, +in inspiring a belief that a peaceful adjustment of our surroundings +will, in time, bring order out of chaos and harmony out of discord. + +The reader will have observed long before he lays down this book, that +the Brook Farm life and ideals were purely coöperative and +philosophical, that all the elements of true society were recognized, +and that the attempt was for the better adjustment of them to the +changing and changed relations of their fellow-men, brought about by +the pervading moral, scientific and social growth of the past and +present centuries. + +The nation is older, richer and wiser, since the Brook Farm experiment +began. It is more tolerant of one another's opinions, more +enterprising, progressive and liberal, and surely a few weak trials +made half a century ago, are not enough to solve the majestic problem +of right living and how to shape the outward forms of society, so that +within their environments all interests may be harmonized, and the +golden rule begin to be, in a practical way, the measure of all human +lives. + +The author, in closing, will confide to his readers the wish of his +heart, that this sketch of his early days may inspire some who can +command influence and means with an interest to continue the +experiments in social science, along lines laid out with more or less +clearness by the Brook Farmers. + + J. T. C. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT. + + +Early in the present century, New England was the centre of progressive +religious thought in America. A morbid theology had reigned supreme, +but its forms were too cold, harsh and forbidding to attract or even +retain the liberal-minded, educated and philosophic students of the +rising generation, or hold in check the ardent humanitarian spirit, +that embodied itself in ideals that were greater than the existing +creeds. + +Yet nowhere prevailed a more religious spirit. It showed itself in +tender care of masses of the people, in public schools and seminaries, +in lectures, sermons, libraries and in acts of general benevolence. + +From these conditions developed the idea of greater freedom from social +trammels; from African slavery, which had not then been abolished; from +domestic slavery, which still exists; from the exploitations of trade +and commerce; from the vicious round of unpaid labor, vice and +brutality. Protestations were heard against all of these evils, not +always coming from the poor and unlearned, but oftener from the +educated and refined, who had pride that the republic should stand +foremost among the nations for justice, culture and righteousness. + +The old theology was crumbling. A new church was springing from its +vitals based on freer thought, in which the intellect and heart had +more share in determining righteousness. The fatherhood of God and the +brotherhood of man became the themes of discourse, oftener than those +of the vengeance of an offended Deity; and pity and forgiveness, +oftener than those on everlasting punishment. + +In truth, the new departure which had begun, soon attracted to itself +the most cultivated persons of the time, some of whom, Sept. 19, 1836, +formed a club that met at one another's houses and discussed all the +important social and religious topics of the day. They were mostly +young people, college-bred, learned, artistic and thoughtful, and of +high ideals in intellectual acquirement, religion and social life. They +were all agreed that there were many evils to be eradicated from +society; in what way--individualistic, governmental or socialistic, or +by a combination of ways--few were agreed. + +The problem was an open one. The theories proposed and the discussions +were extremely interesting, but no record of them is at hand, except a +few essays published in the _Dial_, a quarterly magazine which was +edited by members of the organization, which finally took the name of +"The Transcendental Club." One of the _Dial_ editors, as well as one of +the founders of the Club, and at whose house it had its first meeting, +was Rev. George Ripley, a Unitarian minister who was born at +Greenfield, Mass., in the beautiful valley of the Connecticut River. He +was of good farmer stock and had a fine physical presence, though of +medium stature. He was a lover of books, a graduate of Harvard college, +and a well trained and religious scholar. He was then settled over a +Unitarian church worshipping on Purchase Street, in Boston, and +faithfully fulfilled his duties. Above all things his head and heart +sought righteousness for all men. He believed in the justice of God and +the divine nature of man His best creation. He believed man to be +involved in an intricate and un-Christian social labyrinth, and with +deep earnestness of purpose and thorough convictions of his personal +duty in the case, set himself at work to evolve a way to extricate at +least some of humanity from their vicious surroundings; and finally +proposed to the Club a plan which he urged with his customary vigor and +eloquence. + +This plan was, in short, to locate on a farm where agriculture and +education should be made the foundation of a new system of social life. +Labor should be honored. All would take part in it. There should be no +religious creeds adopted. The old, feeble and sick were to be cared +for, the strong and able bearing the greater burden of the labor. There +would be no rank, to entitle the owner of it to superior considerations +because of the rank; and truth, justice and order were to be the +governing principles of the society. + +The theologians and philosophers of Europe, with whose writings and +logic Mr. Ripley was well acquainted, had impressed him with the truth +of the divinity of man's nature, or had convinced him more thoroughly +that his own ideas of it were right. He had wrestled with progressively +conservative giants, professors of colleges--notably Andrews +Norton--and had won well-earned laurels. Norton was professor of sacred +literature at Harvard, one of his own professors, sixteen years his +senior, and made a point that the miracles of Christ and the writings +of the gospel were the only sure proofs existing of spiritual truths. + +The Transcendental philosophy to which Mr. Ripley had become a convert, +claimed that there was in human nature an intuitive faculty which +clearly discerned spiritual truths, which idea was in contradistinction +to the beliefs of the day, which declared that spiritual knowledge came +by special grace, and was proven by the divine miracles; this latter +belief being largely joined to the doctrine of the innate depravity of +man. Mr. Ripley's own words to his church on Purchase Street, declared +that + + +"There is a class of persons who desire a reform in the prevailing +philosophy of the day. These are called Transcendentalists, because +they believe in an order of truth that transcends the sphere of the +external senses. Their leading idea is the supremacy of mind over +matter. Hence they maintain that the truth of religion does not depend +on tradition nor historical facts, but has an unswerving witness in the +soul. There is a light, they believe, which enlighteneth every man who +cometh into the world. There is a faculty in all--the most degraded, +the most ignorant, the most obscure--to perceive spiritual truth when +distinctly presented; and the ultimate appeal on all moral questions is +not to a jury of scholars, a hierarchy of divines or the prescriptions +of a creed, but to the common sense of the human race. + +"There is another class of persons who are devoted to the removal of +the abuses that prevail in modern society. They witness the oppressions +done under the sun and they cannot keep silence. They have faith that +God governs man; they believe in a better future than the past; their +daily prayer is for the coming of the kingdom of righteousness, truth +and love; they look forward to a more pure, more lovely, more divine +state of society than was ever realized on earth. With these views I +rejoice to say I strongly and entirely sympathize." + + +The prevailing tone of New England life was Calvinistic. Its doctrines +may be said to have entered every household, penetrated every sanctuary +and influenced all the leaders of society. The new departure was not a +going away from religious thought, but it joined intellect and heart. +It ignored unreasonable extravagances of statement wherever found. It +ignored faith alone. It did not believe that faith stood above works. +It pointed always towards action. It summed up the lesson and meaning +of all good doctrines, that man should _lead a better life here_, where +the duties to our fellows should not be passed by as now, but +fulfilled. It was a newer way of thinking, to be logical with religion +and put it to the test of every-day life. If the new departure meant +anything then, if it means anything to-day, its object is to accomplish +a better life here on this earth. In his soul, penetrated by divine +aspirations, Mr. Ripley heard these words ringing out: "A truer life, a +more honest life, a juster life--accomplish it!" + +It was at the Club that he again urged the realization of his plan. +There gathered together were the brightest intellects, the highest +minded, the most sympathetic, thoughtful and talented young men that +New England contained. Preaching was good, but more than preaching was +wanted--the Christian life; could it not be commenced? Could they not +educate the young in practical duties as well as in books, and by their +own good example so surround them that the interior life could be +awakened--the soul's inward goodness and the power to discern the true +destiny of man? + +Encouraged by the sympathy of his wife, sister and a few earnest +spirits, Mr. Ripley started on his project. He was in his fortieth +year. He was neither too young nor too old. A few years of life he +could possibly spare for the experiment. He would then be only in his +prime. He had no children to embarrass his movements. He could give all +his strength of body and mind to it. He loved the country life. It was +to be the fulfilling of what he had preached so long and what is, alas, +still preached to-day with not much attempt to realize it--the +Christian life. People would laugh at him! I doubt if that gave him one +disturbing thought. It _was right_; as it was right he would do it. But +maybe in his secret heart he thought that more of those who seemed to +have been awakened, as he had been, to the divine call, would follow +and join with him than did; for, singularly enough, not one of the +members of the Transcendental Club, who first met together, joined Mr. +Ripley's movement. They were all radical to the prevailing theology, +stiff, rigid as it was, and never, in America, was there a group +assembled who aimed higher, or did more, first and last, to elevate +humanity; for the Club contained a galaxy of mental talent. + +Mr. Ripley led them all in practical endeavor to form the Christian +commonwealth that many of them had preached. + +William Ellery Channing, in whose veins ran the blood of one of the +signers of the Declaration of American Independence, a beloved +preacher, was there, full of earnestness, tenderness, faith and love. +With vigor he poured out his eloquence to awaken thoughts for an +enlarged theology, and with a sympathizing heart criticised chattel +slavery, social slavery and domestic servitude, and afterward became +one of the acknowledged leaders of liberal Christendom. + +Young Ralph Waldo Emerson was there, very late from the ministry, known +better as poet, philosopher and essayist; and James Freeman Clarke, +talented writer and preacher; and faithful and independent Rev. Cyrus +A. Bartol. Rev. Theodore Parker, son of a Lexington hero, doughty, bold +and brave, on whose head fell the anathemas of the orthodox and the +curses of the slaveholders at a later day, showed his ever calm, +pleasant and earnest face at the board. + +Rev. F. H. Hedge, Convers Francis, Thomas H. Stone, Samuel D. Robbins, +Samuel J. May and another Channing--William Henry--were there; +Christopher P. Cranch, divinity graduate, but now well known as +painter, poet and story teller; and beloved John S. Dwight, famed +mostly as writer on music, and musical critic; and Orestes A. Brownson, +prominent essayist, who was, by turns, a Radical, Unitarian, +Universalist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. + +All these above named persons were attached to the clergy. There were +others who, like A. Bronson Alcott, were teachers, and sometimes +lecturers. There was Henry D. Thoreau, a charming writer who spent two +years in a hut in Walden woods; and Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer of +many familiar romances; also George Bancroft, the historian, Dr. +Charles T. Follen, Samuel G. Ward, Caleb Stetson, William Russell, +Jones Very, Robert Bartlett and S. V. Clevenger, sculptor. As an +innovation in clubs there were lady members, among whom were Elizabeth +P. Peabody, and her sister Sophia, who became the wife of Hawthorne; +Miss S. Margaret Fuller, remarkable for her intellectual capacity, and +who became the wife of Count D'Ossoli, of Italy; Miss Marianne Ripley, +sister, and Mrs. Sophia Ripley, wife, of Rev. George Ripley. + +Or if those persons were not all members of the Club, of which there +seems to be no list extant, nearly every one was, and they can all be +classed as belonging to the coterie or Transcendental circle; all at +times attended the meetings, participated in the discussions, and wrote +articles for the _Dial_ and for what in those days were called the +radical journals and magazines. + +The winter of 1840 had been the time of talk. Early in the spring of +the year 1841 it was announced that a location was chosen at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, nine miles from Boston, Mass. Mr. Ripley selected +it. He and his wife had boarded there the former summer. It was retired +and pretty. Mr. Ellis owned it; Mr. Parker, Mr. Russell and Mr. Shaw +lived not far away, and a small amount of cash paid down would secure +the place for an immediate commencement of the effort. The party who +went earliest to settle at Brook Farm consisted of Mr. George Ripley; +Sophia Willard Ripley, his wife; Miss Marianne Ripley, his elder +sister; Mr. George P. Bradford, Mr. Warren Burton, Mrs. Minot Pratt +with three children, Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne and several others. Mr. +William Allen acted as head farmer. There were in all about twenty +persons. Doubtless there were blisters on the palms and aching bones, +in the first raw days of labor, and the poetry of life was often lost +in the fatigue of the body. + +Of the men of the Transcendental Club only Hawthorne and Dwight joined +what was called "Mr. Ripley's community"; and though Mr. Emerson talked +favorably of it he finally declined to join when asked to do so by Mr. +Ripley. + +The farmhouse, the only dwelling there was on the place, must have +resounded with remarkable echoes as the pioneers of the new social +order alighted on its threshold. They were of cultivated families, and +were nearly all from the city and neighborhood of Boston. Their hearts +were open to the tender influence of buds and blossoms, the fresh +springing grass and the bubbling brook. They watched the birds of +various plumage; the oriole, who hung his basket nest from the pendant +branches of the elm, the robin redbreast who built close in the thick +branches of the firs, and the sparrow who was contented with a less +prominent nest, as he picked up hairs from the stable or from +underneath the windows. + +They were fond of cows, pigs and poultry. There was a flower garden to +work in. There was a plenty of wild flowers in the fields and in the +woods near by. There was delightful solitude and delightful society, +and there was a wonderful novelty in all. There were contrasts of +character, deep, strong natures to reason with, cheerful hearts to talk +with, and great hopes everywhere. What wonder that they laughed, +frolicked and sang, and got up little parties and masquerades to +entertain the wonderful, wonderstruck and remarkable visitors who came +to see them? The place was a "milk farm" when the "Transcendentalists," +as they were often called, entered on it. The surroundings were +picturesque. Some one of the party started at an early hour in the +morning with the milk for Boston, nine miles away. + +All was new and had to be done by many for the first time. There was +much hard work for the women, as it was not a well-proportioned family; +pupils and visitors added to the labor, but poetry and enthusiasm +changed plain names into elegance, as Deborah into "Ora," and +beautified the laundry and kitchen with hopes and glories. + +Immediately the school was set in operation. There were some promising +pupils. The young and talented Dwight, whose heart was too full to +preach what he might better practise in this ideal society, soon left +his pastorate in Northampton, Mass., and joined as instructor, and was +shortly followed by the capable Dana, who gained power for himself as +well as gave it to the Association. + +The following persons were nominated for positions in the Brook Farm +School, fall term, 1842:-- + + George Ripley, Instructor in Intellectual and Natural Philosophy and + Mathematics. + George P. Bradford, Instructor in Belles Lettres. + John S. Dwight, Instructor in Latin and Music. + Charles A. Dana, Instructor in Greek and German. + John S. Brown, Instructor in Theosophical and Practical Agriculture. + Sophia W. Ripley, Instructor in History and Modern Languages. + Marianne Ripley, Teacher of Primary School. + Abigail Morton, Teacher of Infant School. + Georgiana Bruce, Teacher of Infant School. + Hannah B. Ripley, Instructor in Drawing. + +The infant school was for children under six years of age; the primary +school, for children under ten; the preparatory school for pupils over +ten years of age, intending to pursue the higher branches of study in +the institution. + +A six years' course prepared a young man to enter college. A three +years' course in theoretical and practical agriculture was also laid +out. The studies were elective, and pupils could enter any department +for which they were qualified. + +There were various other details, the most striking of which was that +every pupil was expected to spend from one to two hours daily in manual +labor. + +Before the Association started from Boston, a constitution was drawn +up. The following is a copy of the original:-- + +_Articles of Agreement and Association between the members of the +Institute for Agriculture and Education._ + +In order more effectually to promote the great purposes of human +culture; to establish the external relations of life on a basis of +wisdom and purity; to apply the principles of justice and love to our +social organization in accordance with the laws of Divine Providence; +to substitute a system of brotherly cooperation for one of selfish +competition; to secure to our children, and to those who may be +entrusted to our care, the benefits of the highest physical, +intellectual and moral education in the present state of human +knowledge, the resources at our command will permit; to institute an +attractive, efficient and productive system of industry; to prevent the +exercise of worldly anxiety by the competent supply of our necessary +wants; to diminish the desire of excessive accumulation by making the +acquisition of individual property subservient to upright and +disinterested uses; to guarantee to each other the means of physical +support and of spiritual progress, and thus to impart a greater +freedom, simplicity, truthfulness, refinement and moral dignity to our +mode of life,-- + +We, the undersigned, do unite in a Voluntary Association, to wit:-- + +ARTICLE 1. The name and style of the Association shall be "(The Brook +Farm) Institute of Agriculture and Education." All persons who shall +hold one or more shares in the stock of the Association, and shall sign +the articles of agreement, or who shall hereafter be admitted by the +pleasure of the Association, shall be members thereof. + +ART. 2. No religious test shall ever be required of any member of the +Association; no authority assumed over individual freedom of opinion by +the Association, nor by any member over another; nor shall anyone be +held accountable to the Association except for such acts as violate +rights of the members, and the essential principles on which the +Association is founded; and in such cases the relation of any member +may be suspended, or discontinued, at the pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 3. The members of this Association shall own and manage such real +and personal estate, in joint stock proprietorship, as may, from time +to time, be agreed on, and establish such branches of industry as may +be deemed expedient and desirable. + +ART. 4. The Association shall provide such employment for all of its +members as shall be adapted to their capacities, habits and tastes, and +each member shall select and perform such operation of labor, whether +corporal or mental, as he shall deem best suited to his own endowments, +and the benefit of the Association. + +ART. 5. The members of this Association shall be paid for all labor +performed under its direction and for its advantage, at a fixed and +equal rate, both for men and women. This rate shall not exceed one +dollar per day, nor shall more than ten hours in the day be paid for as +a day's labor. + +ART. 6. The Association shall furnish to all its members, their +children and family dependents, house-rent, fuel, food and clothing, +and all other comforts and advantages possible, at the actual cost, as +nearly as the same can be ascertained; but no charge shall be made for +education, medical or nursing attendance, or the use of the library, +public rooms or baths to the members; nor shall any charge be paid for +food, rent or fuel by those deprived of labor by sickness, nor for food +of children under ten years of age, nor for anything on members over +seventy years of age, unless at the special request of the individual +by whom the charges are paid, or unless the credits in his favor +exceed, or equal, the amount of such charges. + +ART. 7. All labor performed for the Association shall be duly credited, +and all articles furnished shall be charged, and a full settlement made +with every member once every year. + +ART. 8. Every child over ten years of age shall be charged for food, +clothing, and articles furnished at cost, and shall be credited for his +labor, not exceeding fifty cents per day, and on the completion of his +education in the Association at the age of twenty, shall be entitled to +a certificate of stock, to the amount of credits in his favor, and may +be admitted a member of the Association. + +ART. 9. Every share-holder in the joint-stock proprietorship of the +Association, shall be paid on such stock, at the rate of five per cent, +annually. + +ART. 10. The net profits of the Association remaining in the treasury +after the payments of all demands for interest on stock, labor +performed, and necessary repairs, and improvements, shall be divided +into a number of shares corresponding with the number of days' labor, +and every member shall be entitled to one share for every day's labor +performed by him. + +ART. 11. All payments may be made in certificates of stock at the +option of the Association; but in any case of need, to be decided by +himself, every member may be permitted to draw on the funds of the +treasury to an amount not exceeding the credits in his favor. + +ART. 12. The Association shall hold an annual meeting for the choice of +officers, and such other necessary business as shall come before them. + +ART. 13. The officers of the Association shall be twelve directors, +divided into four departments, as follows: first, General Direction; +second, Direction of Agriculture; third, Direction of Education; +fourth, Direction of Finance; consisting of three persons each, +provided that the same persons may be a member of each Direction at the +pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 14. The Chairman of the General Direction shall be presiding +officer in the Association, and together with the Direction of Finance, +shall constitute a Board of Trustees, by whom the property of the +Association shall be managed. + +ART. 15. The General Direction shall oversee and manage the affairs of +the Association so that every department shall be carried on in an +orderly and efficient manner. Each department shall be under the +general supervision of its own Direction, which shall select, and, in +accordance with the General Direction, shall appoint, all such +overseers, directors and agents, as shall be necessary to the complete +and systematic organization of the department, and shall have full +authority to appoint such persons to these stations as they shall judge +best qualified for the same. + +ART. 16. No Directors shall be deemed to possess any rank superior to +the other members of the Association, nor shall be chosen in reference +to any other consideration than their capacity to serve the +Association; nor shall they be paid for their official service except +at the rate of one dollar for ten hours in a day, actually employed in +official duties. + +ART. 17. The Association may, from time to time, adopt such rules and +regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the +Articles of Agreement, as shall be found expedient and necessary. + +[_This was signed by_] + +GEO. RIPLEY, WARREN BURTON, SOPHIA W. RIPLEY, MINOT PRATT, SAML. D. +ROBBINS, MARIA J. PRATT, D. MACK, GEO. C. LEACH, NATH. HAWTHORNE, +MARIANNE RIPLEY, LEML. CAPEN, MARY ROBBINS. + +Not all who signed this document entered on the work. Mr. David Mack, +whose name is attached, for some reason did not, neither did Mr. and +Mrs. Samuel D. Robbins. Mr. Mack afterward founded the Northampton +Association at Northampton, Mass. + +It would be interesting to give a history of and describe all the +persons who signed this original document, but room will not permit it. +Mr. Ripley's biography is published; I refer the reader to that book +for particulars of his life, but cannot refrain from selecting one +pen-picture of him by the author, Rev. O. B. Frothingham, who writes:-- + +"He was no unbeliever, no sceptic, no innovator in matters of opinion +or observance, but a quiet student, a scholar, a man of books, a calm, +bright-minded, whole-souled thinker, believing, hopeful, social, sunny, +but absorbed in philosophical pursuits. Well does the writer of these +lines recall the vision of a slender figure wearing in summer the +flowing silk robe, in winter the long, dark blue cloak of the +profession, walking with measured step from his residence in Rowe +Street towards the meeting house in Purchase Street. The face was +shaven clean, the brown hair curled in close, crisp ringlets; the face +was pale as if in thought; the gold-rimmed spectacles concealed black +eyes; the head was alternately bent and raised. No one could have +guessed that the man had in him the fund of humor in which his friends +delighted, or the heroism in social reform which a few years later +amazed the community. He seemed a sober, devoted minister of the +gospel, formal, punctilious, ascetic, a trifle forbidding to the +stranger. But even then the new thoughts of the age were at work within +him." + +Minot Pratt was at one time foreman printer at the office of the +_Christian Register_--a finely formed, large, graceful-featured, modest +man. His voice was low, soft and calm. His presence inspired confidence +and respect. Whatever he touched was well done. He was faithful and +dignified, and the serenity of his nature welled up in genial smiles. +In farm work he was Mr. Ripley's right hand. He was not far from him in +age. They agreed in practical matters; indeed, Mr. Ripley deferred to +him. His wife was an earnest, strong, faithful worker. They entered +into the scheme with fervor, and it was often said of him that he was +first to give Mr. Ripley the hand of fellowship in the practical work +of organizing the society. + +John Sullivan Dwight was born in Boston, and was keenly sensitive to +harmony of all kinds; amiable, thoughtful, kind. Touched with the +divine desire to do good to all, he entered into the work with his +whole earnest soul. Modest to a fault, but singularly persistent in +what he felt to be his duty, he never flinched or failed to act when +occasion required it. His tastes were of the most refined order. He +shrank from coarse contact with an unusual degree of sensitiveness, but +his great heart embraced all mankind in brotherhood. He graduated at +Harvard College, and rumor says that he had more than ordinarily the +goodwill of his classmates. He studied and made some fine translations +from French and German authors, and was ordained to the ministry. He +soon left the pulpit, feeling that it was better to try to actualize a +Christian life, preaching it by deeds himself, than to preach it by +words to others. He was supremely musical, though his musical feeling +sometimes showed itself in verse, and he stamped Brook Farm with his +musical influence. Short in stature, delicate in physical organization, +the school claimed the major part of his services. + +Mrs. Ripley was born under favorable stars and had superior mental +talent and training, with hosts of friends and relatives. Her devotion +to the "Community" caused a great flutter in her social circle. Her +relatives were noted for their position, their personal dignity, and +generally for a haughtiness of manner unknown in these days. In person +she was tall, slender and graceful, with rather light, smooth hair, +worn in the plain style of the day. Being near-sighted she was obliged +to use a glass when looking at a distant person or thing. Her manner +was vivacious and she was a good conversationalist. Mr. Ripley had +changed since the description given of his appearance in earlier days, +and had grown stouter; had lost his pallor and gained a good, healthy +color. He had allowed a vigorous beard to grow, and shaved only his +upper lip. + +A young man of education, culture and marked ability was Charles +Anderson Dana when from Harvard College he presented himself at the +farm. He was strong of purpose and lithe of frame, and it was not long +before Mr. Ripley found it out and gave him a place at the front. He +was about four and twenty years of age, and he took to books, language +and literature. Social, good-natured and animated, he readily pleased +all with whom he came in contact. He was above medium height; his +complexion was light, and his beard, which he wore full but well +trimmed, was vigorous and of auburn hue, and his thick head of hair was +well cut to moderate shortness. His features were quite regular; his +forehead high and full, and his head large. His face was pleasant and +animated, and he had a genial smile and greeting for all. His voice was +musical and clear, and his language remarkably correct. He loved to +spend a portion of his time in work on the farm and in the tree +nursery, and you might be sure of finding him there when not otherwise +occupied. Enjoying fun and social life, there was always a dignity +remaining which gave him influence and commanded respect. If you looked +into his room you saw pleasant volumes in various languages peeping at +you from the table, chair, bookcase, and even from the floor, and they +gave one the impression that for so young a person he was remarkably +studious and well informed. + +George P. Bradford had the department of Belle Lettres. Of him, after +his decease, his former friend and pupil, George William Curtis, wrote +as follows in _Harper's Monthly_ for May, 1890:-- + +"The recollection of George Bradford is that of a long life as serene +and happy as it was blameless and delightful to others. It was a life +of affection and many interests and friendly devotion; but it was not +that of a recluse scholar like Edward Fitzgerald, with the pensive +consciousness of something desired but undone. George Bradford was in +full sympathy with the best spirit of his time. He had all the +distinctive American interest in public affairs. His conscience was as +sensitive to public wrongs and perilous tendencies as to private and +personal conduct. He voted with strong convictions, and wondered +sometimes that the course so plain to him was not equally plain to +others. + +"It was a life with nothing of what we call achievement, and yet a life +beneficent to every other life that it touched, like a summer wind +laden with a thousand invisible seeds that, dropping everywhere, spring +up into flowers and fruit. It is a name which to most readers of these +words is wholly unknown, and which will not be written, like that of so +many of the friends of him who bore it, in our literature and upon the +memory of his countrymen. But to those who knew him well, and who +therefore loved him, it recalls the most essential human worth and +purest charm of character, the truest manhood, the most affectionate +fidelity. To those who hear of him now, and perhaps never again, these +words may suggest that the personal influences which most envelop and +sweeten life may escape fame, but live immortal in the best part of +other lives." + +Among the signers was also Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer, and it may +not be out of place to make here a few comments on his relation to the +Brook Farm life, so often alluded to by writers. + +Hawthorne was an idealist in its broad sense. The idea of a juster and +more rational social state pleased him. He felt himself honored, and +was very grateful for the appreciation of the men and women by whom he +was surrounded in the literary circle of the Transcendental Club, but +he never surrendered the well-matured plan of his youth, to be a writer +of stories. + +When, he went to Brook Farm he thought that his manual labors might in +a small way do a trifle towards aiding the formation of the ideal +state, and evidently felt that in his leisure hours he could compose, +write for magazines, and the like; but the hard, unwonted though +self-imposed labor, the peculiar surroundings, the buzz and hum of the +large family in which he could not fail to take an interest, distracted +him from his purpose. James T. Fields, the publisher, said of him, "He +was a man who had, so to speak, a physical affinity with solitude." He +could not put his mind to his special work. The seclusion in which he +had worked before, he could not find, and though "no one intruded on +him," as he says, yet he was not in his best element. + +Had he stayed longer, this newness of situation would doubtless have +worn off, and he would have found a seclusion little dreamed of at +first acquaintance with the life. He was in haste to be at his writing; +so after a few months of manual labor, bidding adieu to the farm, he +found himself back in Boston. There were other interests that carried +him there, for we find that in the next year he married Sophia Peabody +of Salem, Mass. Critics have said that the Brook Farm life was hurtful +to his genius. He never once intimated it, but said afterwards to +Emerson that he was "almost sorry he did not stay with the Brook +Farmers and see it out to the finish." + +The most ingenuous, the most simple-minded of all men in matters of +ordinary business, in relative values and exchanges, and unwilling to +act as teacher, he could only be counted as an ordinary day-laborer, +except where he could use the twin gifts of intellect and imagination +with which he was so highly endowed. His allusion to his "having had +the good fortune, for a time, to be personally connected with it," and +"his old and affectionately remembered home at Brook Farm" speak +volumes, as does also this little passage from "Blithedale Romance":-- + +"Often in these years that are darkening around me, I remember our +beautiful scheme of a noble and unselfish life, and how fair in that +first summer appeared the prospect that it might endure for +generations, and be perfected, as the ages rolled by, into the system +of a people and a world. Were my former associates now there--were +there only three or four of those true-hearted men still laboring in +the sun--I sometimes fancy that I should direct my world-weary +footsteps thitherward, and entreat them to receive me for old +friendship's sake. More and more I feel we struck upon what ought to be +a truth. Posterity may dig it up and profit by it." + +In "Years of Experience" the writer, Georgiana (Bruce) Kirby, one of +the early associates, says:-- + +"Hawthorne, after spending a year at the Community, had now left. No +one could have been more out of place than he in a mixed company, no +matter how cultivated, worthy and individualized each member of it +might be. He was morbidly shy and reserved, needing to be shielded from +his fellows, and obtaining the fruits of observation at second-hand. He +was therefore not amenable to the democratic influences at the +Community which enriched the others, and made them declare, in after +years, that the years or months spent there had been the most valuable +ones in their lives." + +Messrs. W. B. Allen, Minot Pratt, Warren Burton, Charles Hosmer, Isaac +Hecker and George C. Leach, with Mr. Hawthorne, devoted most of their +time to outdoor farm work. + +Many of the pupils became interested in the new life with which they +came in contact. It influenced them for good, and in after years they +were full of gratitude and praise for the help and moral tone it +imparted to them. An extract from a letter from Mr. Richard F. Fuller, +the father of Margaret Fuller, to Mr. Ripley at this time reads as +follows:-- + +"A lady asked me not long since where she should send her daughter to +school. I said at once, to the _Community_, for there she would learn +for the first time, perhaps, that all these matters of creed and morals +are not quite so well settled as to make thinking nowadays a piece of +supererogation, and would learn to distinguish between truth and the +'sense sublime,' and the dead dogmas of the past. This is the great +benefit I believe you confer upon the young." + +The pupil who became most prominent was George William Curtis, who +always acknowledged the beneficial effect it had upon all his future +career. + +New England and New York sent in their share of pupils until the +accommodations were crowded. The school flourished. It was not large, +but select. It was necessary to have more room, and a neighbor's +cottage was hired. Enthusiasts wished to build on the place. Plans of +procedure for the Association were indefinite. The central idea of +justice to all men and women was ever uppermost. Mrs. Olvord, a lady of +means, built a small gabled cottage of wood, which, owing to ill +health, she was able to occupy but a short time. At the highest point +of the domain, on a ledge of "pudding-stone," the Association erected a +small, square, wooden building which was named "the Eyrie," and at +another period a large double or twin house was built to be conjointly +occupied by two brothers from Plymouth, Mass., of the name of Morton; +it was called "the Pilgrim House." The original farmhouse was +christened "the Hive." The cultivation of the farm proceeded, and some +ornamentation in the shape of flower-beds was done around the houses. +It was soon found that much milk was needed at home, and the sale of it +was discontinued. + +A few individuals making a common family on a farm near a city, would +seem to be too unimportant a matter to excite much comment now, even +though the people who did it were superior in attainments, of high +purpose, and above criticism in their moral and social standing; but at +this date of our country's history, all thoughtful people in New +England seemed to be gaping at them with curiosity and wonder, and +comments were unlimited. As they were neither dogmatists, nor active +fanatics who brandished anathemas of terror and destruction at those +who followed not in their ways, but simply and unostentatiously +attended to their own business, and seemed to care very little for what +anyone said derogatory to their proceedings, the conditions appeared so +unique, that interest in their doings increased day by day. + +Mr. Ripley wrote of it a few months after its commencement: "We are now +in full operation as a family of workers, teachers and students. We +feel the deepest convictions that, for us, our mode of life is the true +one, and no attraction would tempt any one of us to exchange it for +that we have quitted lately." And it would be an impertinence now to +penetrate into its private circles and bring its members and doings to +the gaze of an investigating and curious public, were it not that its +doings and its members have become, from their relation to social +science, a part of public history. + +The pressure of life was off at Brook Farm, for the nonce. What anyone +did that was out of the common, might cause smiles and laughter but no +frowns or scoldings. Each felt and believed in the demonstration of his +or her own individuality, and, as a first consequence, there was +something that was often mistaken, by strangers, for rudeness and want +of order. Some forgot that it was especially work they came for, and +were anxious to have their theories discussed. Independence in dress +was universal. The Mrs. Grandys were all away, and if the young ladies +thought it was prettier to exhibit the grace of flowing tresses than to +bind them up in "pugs" behind their heads, who should, who could, +object? + +Prim Margaret Fuller, who was a visitor--and never a member of the +community as has often been stated--professed herself disturbed, at +first, by the easy and perhaps indifferent manner in which they +listened to her long conversations, as they sat on the floor or on +crickets; but on a later visit, she expressed herself as better +pleased. Doubtless some of the individual angularities had been rubbed +off, by this time, by the pleasant but close contact of the Community +life--and some of hers as well. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT. + + +Two years of the experimental and "idyllic" life, ran rapidly away, and +the Community had gained something of position and name in the outward +world. Personal contact had modified the extreme views of many of the +founders. Changes had taken place in the Individuals composing it; some +had departed. Six of the original stockholders remained. The number had +increased to about seventy, including some thirty who were pupils. The +financial success had not been all that was desired. Everything else +was getting more settled. The social life was charming. Improvements in +material matters, in comforts, in discipline and in grace of manners +were visible. But what was to be developed next among all the things +desirable? Was it to push the school still further in progress, to +attach mechanical industries to the organization, to work up the farm +life into more prominence, or what? + +It could not be expected that this large number of persons, whose early +surroundings and ideas had been so varied, could at once agree as to +what next steps were necessary to take, or to what definite end the +Community should be shaped. There was need, certainly, of some central +purpose strong enough for all to unite upon to inspire permanence. + +Neither Mr. Ripley nor any of his co-workers had heard of Charles +Fourier--the French exponent of industrial association--or his +doctrines, unless in a most casual way, and certainly they had not +studied them when they started the Community. They were independent +workers in a field of social science; but when they became acquainted +with his ideas, especially his ideas of industry made attractive by +organized labor, and its relation to the higher standard of work and +liberal belief they had adopted and maintained thus far, their +enthusiasm was awakened for them and they resolved to graft some of his +formulas on their institution. The little Community, with its bright, +cheerful school and its happy members, was not paying its way. There +were philosophers enough in it. There were plenty of sweet, charming +characters and amateur workmen in it, but the hard-fisted toilers and +the brave financiers were absent. + +Still, it was not entirely absence of financial success that led the +responsible men of the Community to make the change in the organization +that they did, but truly because the grand and reasonable ideas of the +distinguished Frenchman bore such internal evidences of harmony with +human nature and with God's providence and laws that they carried +conviction to the great and sympathetic minds of Brook Farm. Fourier +argued that there was a sublime destiny for mankind on this earth, that +the Creator was infinitely good, that all the instincts of our nature, +when not subverted by bad conditions, pointed towards that destiny, and +that humanity was on its way upward--that the past progress argued what +the future might be. + +I give as illustrations, a few extracts from "The Social Destiny of +Man," by Albert Brisbane, page 269:--"Four societies have existed on +the earth--the savage, patriarchal, barbarian and civilized. Under +these general heads may be classed the various social forms through +which man has progressed up to the present day. _If four have existed +may not a fifth, or even a sixth, be discovered and organized?_ Common +sense would dictate that there could, although the world has +entertained a different opinion." + +Page 293: "If the barbarian asserts that the lash is the only means of +forcing the slave to labor, the civilized is not far behind him in his +reasoning, for he will assert with equal confidence that necessity and +want are necessary stimulants to industry. The barbarian is as ignorant +of the levers which civilization puts in play as is the civilized of +the powerful incentives to action which the groups and series will call +forth." + +Page 464: "If He [God] has not known how or has not wished to give us a +social code productive of justice, industrial attraction and passional +harmony;--_if he has not known how_, how could he have supposed our +weak reason would succeed in a task in which he himself doubted of +success? _If he has not wished_, how can our legislators hope to +organize a society which would lead to the results above mentioned, and +of which he wished to deprive us.... What motive could he have had to +refuse us such a code? Six views may be taken on the subject of this +omission. + +"_First--either he has not known how_ to give us a social code +guaranteeing truth, justice and industrial attraction; in this case why +create in us the want of it, without having the means of satisfying +that want which he satisfies in creatures inferior to us, to which he +assigns a mode of existence adapted to their attractions and instincts: + +"Second--_or he has not wished_ to give us this code; which thus +supposes the Creator to be the persecutor of mankind, creating in us +wants which it is impossible to satisfy, inasmuch as none of our codes +can extirpate our permanent scourges: + +"Third--_or he has known how and has not wished_; in which case the +Creator becomes a malignant being, knowing how to do good, but +preferring the reign of evil: + +"Fourth--_or he has wished and has not known how_; in this case he is +incapable of governing us, knowing and wishing the good which he cannot +realize, and which we still less can attain: + +"Fifth--_or he has neither wished nor known how_; and we must attribute +to him both want of genius and evil intention: + +"Sixth--_or he has known how and has wished_; in this case the code +exists, and he must have provided a mode for its revelation--for of +what use would it be if it were to remain hidden from men for whom it +is destined?" + +Page 468: "If the human race were at the commencement of their social +career--in the first ages of civilization--they would perhaps be +excusable for founding some hope of social good upon human science, +upon the legislation of man; but long experience has proved the +impotency of human legislation, and shown clearly that the world has +nothing to hope from human laws and civilized constitutions." + +Page 260: "Either the passions _are_ bad or the social mechanism _is +false_, for evil prevails, and to a melancholy extent. If the former be +true, then there is no hope of a better state of things, for every +means of repression and constraint that human ingenuity could invent +has been applied to regulate their action; but all in vain--they have +remained unchanged, and in the eyes of the moralist as perverse as +ever. If, however, the latter be true--that is, if the social mechanism +be false--then there is a chance for a better future; for our +incoherent and absurd societies are changing more or less with every +century. They are at the mercy or whim of a tyrant, or of a revolution +of the mass; they may therefore be reformed or done away with entirely." + +These grand words and this powerful logic, if even too strong for some +of the readers of this book, were not so for the brave hearts of the +leaders of Brook Farm, and for Mr. Ripley in particular. The tentative +feeling, the search for science to back up the social impulses, seemed +at last to have found something solid in a society conceived by the +Creator; the man created by him, fitted to it by him; the society +fitted to the man; the one the counterpart of the other. Albert +Brisbane, Parke Godwin and Horace Greeley, with the _Tribune_, were +arousing the thinkers in New York; Gerritt Smith was agitating the land +question and giving away to actual settlers vast tracts of land owned +by him. The works of the communist Owen and others were read. +Antislavery, anti-war and non-resistance societies were vigorously +prosecuting their claims. It was an era of great social activity. +Thousands were aroused. "Communities," "Associations" and "Phalanxes" +were springing up in various quarters. It seemed that the tide of +change from social chaos to order was fast rising. A great wave of +reform was sweeping over the land. Should the Community moor itself +where it was, or be borne on with the flood? + +This was the question of moment; and while the young danced or played, +acted in charade or masquerade, and the youths wove garlands of green +around their straw hats, and amused themselves by wearing long tresses +and tunics, the sedater heads were solving this important question. And +they must decide it, but first of all Mr. Ripley's wishes must be +consulted: the key to the situation was in his hands. What would he do? +Would he, and should they, take among them men and women endowed only +with practical, everyday talents, able to be honest and make shoes and +sew garments; to strike with a sledge and a blacksmith's arm; to be +adepts, maybe, in all the cares for the outward wants of the body, but +who had never read Goethe or Schiller, and, possibly, neither +Shakespeare, Scott nor Robert Burns; and might not care to read or +study Latin, French, German or philosophy! It was for Mr. Ripley to +decide. + +Did he then think of the little church in Purchase Street, and of what +he had solemnly said to the listening congregation? Had he not told +them that in every soul was a divine fire that aspired to the right no +matter how deeply it had been covered from sight or buried by the +troubling cares and surroundings that environed it: that there was a +divine equality of spirit at the base of all human lives? + +Did he not hear reverberating in his soul the sublime passage, "If I be +lifted up, I will lift all others up to me"? Had he not been lifted up? +Had he not been supremely blest with health, strength, education, +talent, friends, companionship with the great and his cup filled full +of the sweet and sublime accords of the Christian faith? Had he not +been lifted up, not in crucifixion, but by myriads of silent blessings, +and was it not Christ-like to aid in lifting all others up also? + +Alas for those who speak of Mr. Ripley's action at this time as +"Ripley's fall"! These were the moments when he achieved his glory, +when the greatness of his character arose, almost without exception, +above all others of the Transcendental School, who hovered around, and +wished to claim him as a bright example of a man separated from the +common herd of humanity, as a leader of a select group of men and +women, cultivated intellectually and socially. Then, as before, when he +saw what he deemed right, or, rather, when the intuitions of his soul +told him his duty, he did not hesitate. + +Soon he was practically deserted by Emerson and his coterie, by some of +the associates and pupils of the school, and boarders, who were scared +out of their propriety by the fear of losing social caste, and they +showed their disfavor by leaving him alone; but, intrenched as he was, +and surrounded by a multitude of friends, new and old, and many +secretly admiring his intrepid spirit, they could only vent their +disfavor in sly sneers and hints that Mr. Ripley, and, of course, his +followers with him, had fallen from their high estate. Yes, they who +sat near by on the fences and crowed reform the loudest--they who had +never soiled their ink-stained fingers with the grass-green sod of old +Brook Farm in practical example of work--found most fault with him, +because he chose to remain and risk his social standing still more than +he had already done, in his magnificent work and experiment. + +In order to show more clearly some of the philosophy under which the +leaders of Brook Farm based the changes in their theories and +organization, let us pause a few moments to give a slight sketch of the +growth of human society from its primitive formation to the present +time, trusting that the time spent on it may not be unworthily used, +and the patience of those to whom these ideas are old is asked for the +benefit of others to whom they are new. + +It is evident that, at some time, there was a beginning of social life. +To those who have full faith in the Mosaic record it was in the Garden +of Eden; but that may be considered as before society, as such, was +fairly begun. It was the very dawn of the childhood of our race. To +those who recognize the fact that the primitive man was a weak, +unskilled, uncultivated savage, the conclusion must come that the first +social life of the race was very crude; that men lived in trees or in +caves and rude huts, and that they formed societies or hordes for +protection from the huge and formidable wild animals that roamed the +uncultivated earth. + +Upon the slain beasts, wild fruits and grains they existed. They hunted +and fished, and although the passions of friendship, love and ambition +implanted in their souls by their Creator shone out at times, at other +times they quarrelled like the brutes they slaughtered. This state of +crude society is named _savagism_. + +But as the beasts became less formidable foes, and were much diminished +in numbers by being slain and possibly from other causes, it is +probable that at times the race suffered hunger, and finding that the +ground readily produced from seed, the primitive race or races began to +plant, and finding also that they had slain so many of the wild animals +that they could keep herds of cattle without great danger of their +destruction by them, the life of the herdsman began. But as the herds +began to be numerous, it was found necessary to travel with them in +order to give them new pasturage, and then the nomadic or wandering +life was fully installed. + +With their cattle and their wives, and their limited knowledge of +cultivation, the patriarchal tribe moved from place to place; sometimes +to find water, sometimes to find pasture for their horses and cattle, +and at harvest time they returned to their fields to harvest the grain +which had been planted for all. This, as you see, describes crudely the +second state of society, which is the "_patriarchal_" state. + +As population increased, the difficulty of constantly changing the +place of residence was more and more apparent; and as some arts had +sprung up, such as the manufacture of pottery, farming implements and +defensive weapons, which could not be equally well carried on in all +places, towns, and afterwards cities, sprang up, where the artisans +resided; and being often liable to marauders, especially when the +outside population or tribes were wandering away from them, they +enclosed them with walls. By industry some wealth was acquired; some +luxury and comparative splendor were introduced. Prominent and +naturally ambitious individuals and families raised themselves into +power, and, placing themselves at the head of armies, with the newest +weapons of war, made by their own hands, went forth to conquer. Thus +the third, or what is called the "_barbaric_" state was established. + +Still moving on in the same direction, a great variety of class +distinction was made. Woman arose steadily from a condition of almost +hopeless slavery to be the one companion of man, and direct slavery of +man to man was abolished. Invention was stimulated, and means of +dissemination of knowledge, such as the printing press and the +university, came to light. Kings and princes reign by law, which is +fully established, and commerce and trade flourish. These things +inaugurate the advent of civilization; but perhaps the most marked +types of civilization are the _independence of the individual, +monogamic marriage_ and _free competition_. Thus was established the +fourth societary condition. + +Society having progressed so far, and gone through so many changes, is +it reasonable that it must now stop at what we call "_civilization_" as +the _ultimatum_ of its progress? With a little thought it will be seen +how surely man has, through all these changes, emancipated himself from +physical surroundings until he stands forth free and independent, but +without, however, any positive relation or duty binding him to maintain +the independence of all the human brotherhood. His independence is for +himself alone, and in that relation he is forced by _conditions of his +surroundings_ to neglect and trespass on the rights of his fellow-man +to keep his individual supremacy, and to develop various promptings of +his soul, which are ofttimes good, great and noble. + +In the early days of civilization, free competition develops the +resources of man. The prospect of wealth, and the power it brings with +it, encourages trade to seek the ends of the earth, and from its +products vast enterprises are built up. As every fruit has in it that +which causes its final dissolution, and within it also the germs of a +future and higher life, so civilized society carries in it the germs of +its decay and dissolution, society being a natural product, as fruit +is, of God's providence. _Free competition_ is the destructive agent, +or one of the most important agents in its dissolution. Observe that +the power which ripens a natural fruit causes, in the end, its +destruction. Observe also that free competition, which in the early +stages of civilization glorifies and typifies it, by continuing at its +work will finally destroy it. + +There is another element which is called capital. In savage life there +is hardly anything which can be called capital. The amount of capital +depends on the wealth of the community. As society advances, wealth +increases; from savagism to civilization, from early civilization to +the present time. This wealth, this capital comes from the reserved +products of labor; "dried labor," it has been called, for labor is its +only source of production. This wealth belongs to the community that +has earned it, saved it and inherited it. It is the grand moving power +of society as it now stands, and without it we would return to the +savage state. Society can never be too wealthy, any more than it can be +too powerful, and the one is the synonym, to a great extent, of the +other. + +But capital with interest, as the agent and assistant of competition, +is destructive. Capital joined with labor builds manufactories, +railroads, towns, and is the great moving power of civilization; but in +the growth of civilization vast amounts of it have accumulated, and +being unevenly distributed, there are those who are constantly seeking +its use to help them to business and to elevation, and have been ready +to pay a royalty, which we call interest, for the use of it. This has +made capital a commodity. + +The progress of arts and inventions has been, in modern days, in such +increased ratio to the increase of capital that it has created so great +a demand that a monopoly has been made of it; more is paid for the use +of it than its real worth, so that wealth, even in this democratic +country, is piling up in colossal fortunes by being drawn from the +great body of society. Consequently, classes of people grow relatively +poorer as fast as other bodies of people or individuals grow richer; +the extremes of riches and poverty constantly increasing. + +Every advance in the producing capacity of machinery gives organized +capital a better hold on labor, because capital owns the machinery, +and, in homely phrase, labor "is the under dog in the fight" all of the +time. It makes no practical difference to it whether the laborer +becomes capitalist or no, for the moment he becomes so he is engaged in +the same crusade. He is no better nor worse than the one whom we called +capitalist yesterday. It is the _unnatural position_ or _relation_ of +_capital and labor_ that makes him what he is. To change this relation +to a more just one was among the grandest ideas of the Brook Farmers, +and the only way it could possibly be done, in their estimation, was by +reorganizing society on a new basis; by combining the capital of the +workers and others interested and using it so as finally to control +machinery for the benefit of labor, and to reduce its hours of toil so +that the laborer could have time for self-improvement. + +Having traced the progress of society from its earliest forms to our +present civilization, it can be easily shown how the supreme or +governing power is first in the hands of the most powerful physically; +then passes to the one most able by prowess to sway a tribe or people; +then passes into the hierarchy of the church, that rules by swaying +mental terrors; next into the hierarchy of the state, that rules by +both mental and physical terrors; and, in our present civilization, has +passed or is passing rapidly into the hands of a moneyed class ruling +with powers according to the amount of capital swayed; and it can be +proved that these changes are but the natural result of forces that are +as sure and constant as sunlight and electricity. + +This present form of social power, it is argued, is transient, and like +the others, will pass away and be replaced, and can only be replaced by +anarchy, or by a hierarchy of organized talent arranged in serial order +from the most talented down to the humblest laborer, and this was +another of the grand ideas of the Brook Farmers. From the seeds of this +civilization will spring--is springing--a higher order. It is an order +that the teacher Fourier called "_guaranteeism_." It is an order in +which the _governing power_ passes from the moneyed aristocracy into +the hands of _organized bodies_. It is an order in which the spiritual +and material truths are incorporated into organic societies and +governments which guarantee to everyone support in sickness and +protection from dangers of various sorts; an order which, in fact, +abounds in mutual guarantees covering by degrees all the numerous +necessities and wants of life--hence its name; and finally, in the +process of time, placing all the material wants of the people under +protective guarantees. + +This fifth condition of society must pass into the sixth order, which +is the _associative order_, or the coöperative phase of society in +which it will be proven by practical works that, by adherence to +principles and proper organizations, we may avoid a large share of the +miseries we have in the past so unsparingly laid to the charge of the +Deity as discipline for us, but which are the results of our own +ignorance. The "_harmonic order_" is associated life of a high type, +and includes association of families, economy of means, unity of +interests, labor made attractive, equitable distribution of profits, +integral justice, etc., in such a way as to bring about very great +happiness among _all_ people, thus deserving its grand name. From the +commencement of the age of harmony, which is a higher octave of life, +society begins a new era, the beauties and accords of which no one can +do more than speculate upon. + +This sketch of the progress of the human race may seem trite to many +readers. It may have a familiar sound, but it is necessary to our +narrative. It was promulgated many years before our modern writers came +into the field with their evolutionary theories, and it is at least a +theoretic base for social scientists to build their hopes of present +and future progress on. To the Brook Farm leaders it was new; it was +sensible; it was reasonable. Communism they did not favor, for their +motto was, "Community of property is the grave of individual liberty." +Instinctively they rebelled against it. + +The organized communities held everything in common--houses, lands, +moneys and goods; even prescribing what garments should be worn, and +also electing a religious creed for their members. It was not +compatible with the greater ideas of freedom held at Brook Farm. It was +not a free life and it could not be a true life, for they all believed +in the motto, "The _truth_ shall make you _free_," and instead of +freedom, the "Communities" used mental constraint and tyranny to hold +themselves together. + +The Brook Farmers believed that the laborer owned the value of his +labor; if it was used, it was credited to him, and a part of the +increased value of the domain belonged to him. It never belonged to the +organization;--that is, the value of it--but by mutual consent might be +retained, invested and added to the laborer's stock. Theoretically the +result would show that the person who was the most capable, active and +industrious would in time own the most accrued capital. This the Brook +Farmers claimed was right and according to nature, and, combined with +_yearly diminishing interest_, could not be destructive, as capital is +now. + +They had fallen unwittingly, it may be said, on ideas that coincided +with those of Charles Fourier. There was an agreement between them, +unknown at the start. Their idea that certain mutual guarantees were to +be in the constitution, such as immunity from labor in extreme age and +youth, care in sickness--a certain "minimum" of rights according to the +prosperity or wealth of the institution--and that an "integral +education" was a duty of the Association--an education not of the mind +alone, but of the hands, heart and affections--coincided exactly with +Fourier, and it was easy to adopt his motto of "_coöperative labor_," +for they had already adopted the principle; also "_association of +families_," for that had been agreed on. It was easy to adopt his +formula of "_honors according to usefulness_"; they believed in it. + +Usefulness, not wealth, station or any artificial distinction, was to +receive the highest rank and the greatest honors and favors from the +body politic. It might be an invention of the mind; it might be some +Herculean or disagreeable labor of the body, or it might be some +enthusiasm imparted from some brilliant soul, that would win the honor; +but it could be given to none except those who had won it by superior +usefulness, whether that usefulness came from doing the work in the +"sacred legion"--who were a body of persons who did unattractive work +from a sense of duty--or in any other body or group. + +It was easy to adopt "_attractive industry_," another of Fourier's +mottoes, for were they not trying mind and body to make it so? And +finally, it was easy to adopt the aphorism that the attractions of life +in the universe are in proportion to the destinies they assist in +accomplishing--"_attractions are proportionate to destinies_," as it is +translated. Certainly it was simple and easy to grasp and believe, when +explained so well as it had been by Fourier, and by Brisbane and +Godwin, his American translators. And lastly, if all these things were +true, why not say so and adopt them? They were outside and free from +modern society. They had one of their own. They were happy in it. They +had adopted truth as their guide--truth as they saw it, and whenever +and wherever they saw it. + +Thus closed the first chapter in the history of this little society. +They had gathered together without any idea of scientific organization, +but from profound convictions of the present wrong relations of the +human brotherhood, from religious convictions of duty, and in the +belief that they would increase in love to one another, and draw to +themselves by their example the good and wise; believing also that if +they planted the seeds of truth and unity they would be watered with +deeds of faith, and by degrees overtop and destroy the evil undergrowth +that abounded in the so-called civilization all around them. + +Now came to the leaders a new revelation! It was of science applied to +society. Mr. Ripley had great faith in scientific agriculture. Was +there to be science applied to society? Was it true that the actual +laws applicable to social life had been discovered? Were they immutable +as the laws of earthly bodies--of the sun, the stars and the universe? +And did they actually agree with the laws of music, color and +mathematics? It seemed so. They could but try them. And with a faith +for which, during all these succeeding years, they have been, laughed +at by cynical philosophers, they went to work to apply them, as far as +possible, to the actual life they were then leading. All honor to them! + +When the resolution was finally taken to join with the movements that +seemed to be, as it were, a new impulse for humanity's sake--an +outpouring of spirit upon the children of men, instanced by the very +great and sudden interest taken by numerous bodies, societies and +individuals along the line of social reform--it was not entirely +palatable to all who had looked on the little Community as their pet +property, their ideal home; for the sainted individualists, for +cultivated book-worms, for theorists who could read Latin and Greek but +whose ideas of labor extended only to planting flowers or washing with +care a few muslins to adorn their beautiful selves; and fearing a loss +of selectness some departed. The motive extended to the school, and, +although many of the former pupils left, their places were soon filled +by others. + +The responsible men looked at the matter from another standpoint. They +felt that the labor on the farm had been the least success of anything, +and that to organize and improve it was one thing important, if not +_the_ one thing needful. Many good men stood at the outer gates waiting +for entrance. The members of the "Direction" were firm, and brave. They +felt that the experience of the first two years was a permanent +advantage to them, and they reorganized under the same name as before. +With the new constitution was published a preliminary statement from +which the following is extracted:-- + +"All persons who are not familiar with the purposes of Association, +will understand from this document that we propose a radical and +universal reform rather than to redress any particular wrong, or to +remove the sufferings of any single class of human beings. We do this +in the light of universal principles in which all differences, whether +of religion, or politics, or philosophy, are reconciled, and the +dearest and most private hope of every man has the promise of +fulfilment. Herein, let it be understood, we would remove nothing that +is truly beautiful or venerable; we reverence the religious sentiment +in all its forms, the family and whatever else has its foundation +either in human nature or Divine Providence. The work we are engaged in +is not destruction, but true conservation; it is not a mere resolution, +but, as we are assured, a necessary step in the progress which no one +can be blind enough to think has yet reached its limit. + +"We believe that humanity, trained by these long centuries of suffering +and struggle, led on by so many saints and heroes and sages, is at +length prepared to enter into that universal order toward which it has +perpetually moved. Thus we recognize the worth of the whole past, and +of every doctrine and institution it has bequeathed us; thus also we +perceive that the present has its own high mission, and we shall only +say what is beginning to be seen by all sincere thinkers, when we +declare that the imperative duty of this time and this country, nay, +more, that its only salvation and the salvation of civilized countries, +lies in the reorganization of society according to the unchanging laws +of human nature, and of universal harmony. + +"We look, then, to the generous and helpful of all classes for +sympathy, for encouragement and for actual aid; not to ourselves only, +but to all who are engaged in this great work. And whatever may be the +result of any special efforts, we can never doubt that the object we +have in view will be finally attained; that human life shall yet be +developed, not in discord and misery, but in harmony and joy, and that +the perfected earth shall at last bear on her bosom a race of men +worthy of the name." + +[_Signed by the Directors_.] GEORGE RIPLEY. MINOT PRATT. CHARLES A. +DANA. + +Brook Farm, Mass., Jan. 18, 1844. + +This constitution was largely like the first one, but varied from it in +the following particulars:-- + +"The department of Industry shall be managed in groups and series as +far as is practicable, and shall consist of three primary series, to +wit: Agricultural, Mechanical and Domestic Industry. The chief of each +group to be elected weekly, and the chief of each series once in two +months by the members thereof, subject to the approval of the General +Direction." + +"Persons wishing to become members must first reside on the place as +applicants for one month." + +"Applicants who have passed acceptably through their term may become +candidates, and remain in this new relation a month more, when they may +be admitted as Associates." + +"Personal property may be received as stock by the Direction of Finance +when it shall be deemed advantageous to the Association." + +"Persons shall, on becoming residents on the domain, deliver an exact +inventory of all the furniture and implements which they may retain as +private property, to be filed for reference in the office of the +Direction." + +"New groups and series may be formed from time to time for the +prosecution of different and new branches of industry." + +"Three hundred days shall be considered a year's labor. The hours of +labor shall be from the first of October to the first of April at least +eight hours daily, and from the first of April to the first of October +at least ten hours daily, and no person shall be credited for labor +beyond that time." + +"No debt shall be contracted in behalf of the Association by any person +whatever." + +"Articles furnished to the Associates shall be charged at cost as +nearly as the same can be ascertained." + +"The period of education shall extend from birth to the age of twenty +years, and shall be divided into three stages: Infancy to six years, +Pupilage from six to sixteen years, and Probation from sixteen to +twenty. The education during probation shall be in the practical duties +of Associates." + +"No public meeting for business or amusement shall be protracted beyond +the hour of ten P. M." + + * * * * * + +Many persons who have heard of the Community life at Brook Farm have +idealized it into a little coterie of choice spirits who sat around the +study lamp at early eve, after the light toil of the day had ceased, +and discussed the intellectual problems of the German philosophers who +had given much of the impulse to the Transcendental Club, and brought +so many young men forward as leaders of thought; but this was only +partially true. + +Mr. Ripley at first endeavored to instruct the assembly and impart to +them some of his own intellectual enthusiasm. Evening classes were +formed; readings took place from some of the prominent poets--Goethe, +Schiller, Shakespeare; from Carlyle and Cousin as well as Emanuel Kant; +but when the industrial period began, he had more than his hands full, +and he laid his books on the shelf. They were his tools--they were the +ladders on which he had mounted to his high estate. Why should he +worship them? They had taught him, as had the Hebrew writers, faith in +the Creator; faith in His best creation, man; faith in reason, faith in +right, faith, in a magnificent human destiny. Why should he spend his +life in singing praises of them? To work! To begin to shape society to +higher ends! That was indeed the worthiest end in life, and his +worthiest homage to the writers and their books. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS. + + +It was a pleasant afternoon in March, 1843, when I left Boston, in a +small omnibus, that started from Brattle Street for West Roxbury +Village and Brook Farm. My father's family of three had preceded me, he +remaining behind to close his business; it was a question of but a few +days when we should be all embarked in the new and untried life to +which we were looking forward with pleasurable emotions. + +The nine miles of interval was passed, riding through an undulating +country, by pleasant farms surrounded with the stone walls so common in +Massachusetts and the eastern states, and by pretty white houses, with +green window blinds and little front flower gardens, with fruit and +shade trees standing sentinels on their borders. Here and there a ledge +of "pudding-stone" cropped out, and the scenery grew more primitive as +we neared the vicinity of the farm. Slowly we rode on, leaving +passengers and parcels by the way until it showed signs of deepening +twilight, when we reached by a slight acclivity the door of the +farmhouse that was at the entrance of the place, where I was soon +joined by my relatives who took me in charge and made me presentable +for supper; but I was too late to join with the family, and took my +first meal with them the following day. + +Looking out of the window the next morning, I found it overlooked the +farm-yard and the broad meadow that lay south of the house. What +awakened me was the sound of a trumpet or horn, blown by some one for +rising or breakfast. I dressed leisurely, as I found it was the first +or "rising horn," and went out of the front door for a survey. Before +me was the driveway. A wooden fence, and a row of mulberry and spruce +trees stood guarding the two embankments that were terraced down to the +brook and meadow. On the embankments were shrubs and flower beds. A +couple of rods to the right stood a graceful elm, beside a gateway that +opened on a pathway to the garden and fields. + +Passing by the front of the house I found that two wings had been added +to it in the rear, leaving shed and carriage room beneath. Directly in +front of me, and facing due east, was a large barn raised upon stone +posts, which was open on the south side to the large barnyard, and +between the barn and house was a driveway or road, leading over the +premises. + +In the kitchen, which was directly in the rear of the dining room, +there was a clatter of dishes, and a few persons were going from place +to place outside. + +Some one was in the barn attending to the cattle. He had on a tarpaulin +straw hat, and a farmer's frock of blue mixture that hung down below +the tops of his cowhide boots. I looked sharply at the man, and found +it was Mr. George Ripley. The "second horn" sounded; it aroused the +dog, who howled pitifully or musically--in bad unison with it. Soon the +persons from the other houses came to breakfast, strolling leisurely +along. + +I found that all the people, unless ill, took their meals at the +farmhouse dining room. A little quaintness of dress, some picturesque +costumes--such as the blue tunics with black belts of leather, that the +men wore; the full beards, that were not common then as now; the broad +hats and graceful, flowing hair of the young ladies; the varied style +of garments of the students and the boarders--all interested me. + +The long, low dining room had rows of tables, some six in number, +seating on an average fourteen persons each. White painted benches +supplied the place of chairs. The tables were neatly set in white ware; +white mugs served for both cups and drinking glasses. There were white +linen table cloths, and everything was scrupulously neat. + +At the farther end of the room sat Mr. Ripley. The garments of the +husbandman and farmer had all been laid aside, and, neatly dressed, he +was smiling and laughing, his gleaming eyes seeming to reflect their +brilliancy on the golden bows of his spectacles. At his right sat his +wife, and near by his sister, who poured the morning libation of tea or +coffee. Most of the pupils were at this table. Mrs. Ripley, tall, +graceful and slim, was, like her husband, near-sighted, but only on +occasions would she raise a gold-bowed eye-glass to look at some +distant object or person. The fare at the table was plain; good bread, +butter and milk from the farm were present. It is hardly necessary to +say that I looked around with peculiar interest on those who were to be +my new friends and companions. It was not a dismal or sober meal. There +was a happy buzz that indicated to me a probability of great future +happiness. + +How well do I remember the old dining-room with its familiar forms and +faces--too many to describe now! There were the young and pretty Misses +Foord; the one a dimpled blonde, lovely, rosy-complexioned, with large, +wonderful blue eyes; and her sister with her clear skin and dark hair +and eyebrows, both wearing their contrasted and unbound tresses flowing +over their graceful shoulders. And hark! 'tis Dolly, dear Dolly Hosmer, +with her rollicking, noisy laugh. And pretty Mary Donnelly--oh, how +pretty! with the dimples and the peach-bloom on her face, her white +teeth and coal-black hair--ever pretty whether she was smiling at you +or peeling potatoes. And Charles Newcomb, the mysterious and profound, +with his long, dark, straight locks of hair, one of which was +continually being brushed away from his forehead as it continually +fell; with his gold-bowed eye-glass, his large nose and peculiar blue +eyes, his spasmodic expressions of nervous horror, and his +cachinnatious laugh. There were sturdy Teel, and heavy Eaton, and +frisky Burnham, and bluff Rykman, with round-eyed Fanny Dwight and +another graceful Fanny, and oh! so many more men and women, friends and +workers striving for a sublime idea. I could describe very many of them +and the minute details of all the houses and surroundings, but it would +unwisely overcrowd these pages. + +Mounting the central and highest portion of the farm I found it was +beautifully situated in an amphitheatre surrounded by hills on all +sides, and formed a charming picture. There was a young orchard of +apple trees, and here and there stood a few shade trees by the walls +and roadside. There were fields, or rather patches, where corn and +vegetables were grown for family use. Some of them were exposed on the +southern faces of the hills, and some were in the hollows. In front was +the broad, meadow, like a pleasant sea of green, stretching far away. + +From the first house, the old farmhouse called now "the Hive"--a pretty +and well-chosen name--the driveway led to the other houses. It +descended nearly to the level of the meadow, and did not rise again +until it neared the "Pilgrim House," the most distant one. From that it +turned on itself on the high ground toward the "Cottage" and "Eyry," +the remaining houses. + +The "Pilgrim House," an oblong double house, occupying a commanding +position, was plain and white, without ornamentation, and squarely +built like most of the New England country houses of its date. There +were no trees around it, and it was the least attractive house on the +place. + +The "Cottage" had four gables, and was also plain and unpretending; it +had only some half-a-dozen rooms and was painted a dark brown color. It +was situated on a little knoll, with flower beds in the rear, and +greensward all around it. + +Beyond and nearer to the "Hive," in the centre of the domain, was the +"Eyry" (this is the way Mr. Ripley spelled it; some spelled it "Eyrie" +and some "Aerie"). It had for its base a ledge of Roxbury conglomerate +called "pudding-stone," and it was banked up with two greensward +terraces. It had the highest and finest location, with a background of +oak and maple woods, and looked out on the orchard, commanding a fine +view. It was a square, smooth, wooden structure painted a light gray, +sandstone color. It was made of smooth, matched boards, and had a +large, flat cornice or flange that surrounded it near the top, which +saved it from extreme plainness. Yet it was pleasing to the eye, and it +had low, French windows that open like doors out on to the upper +terrace. + +As I looked in it for the first time I saw that a few pictures adorned +the walls: pressed fern leaves filled the mantel vases, and the bright +remnants of last autumn's foliage were in some places fastened to the +walls. There was also a piano, over which hung an oil painting, and in +the opposite room was a large array of Mr. Ripley's books. It was "the +library," and many of the works were in German. In particular, there +was a set of fourteen volumes, "Specimens of Foreign Literature," +edited by Mr. Ripley, that attracted my attention. + +At the Cottage were the school-rooms principally for the younger +children; and the Pilgrim House was used mostly for family lodgings. + +For a time my sleeping apartment was with others in the upper room of +the rear wing of the farmhouse, dignified by the name "Attica." My +companions were all single men; good, reliable fellows who were working +for a principle and would ordinarily have declined such a +lodging-place, but under the circumstances were not apt to grumble, but +made the best of it. It was like camping out, and all its mischances +were turned into fun. My roommates were called "the Admiral," "the +Dutchman," "the General" and "the Parson,"--nicknames given each one of +them for some personal peculiarity. + +There were advantages as well as disadvantages in living in "Attica." +It was nearest the centre of the life and business of the place. In the +winter mornings there was no long walk to meals, as those had who lived +at the other houses. We were near the warm kitchen; and when the house +was still and work suspended--all save the baking of bread, which often +proceeded in the evening in the range ovens--a group would gather +around the fire and talk and gossip--for we were not beyond the last; +speculation, theory and argument went pleasantly on until bed-time. + +No, Attica! I have not forgotten the days spent inside thy walls, thy +strange inhabitants, or the mysteries that surrounded thee on my first +entrance into thy domain! I have not forgotten the long, low roof and +projecting beams, or the half dozen bedsteads that were standing +around; the two large chimneys that arose in the centre and the number +of stove-pipes that came from below and entered them; or the skylights +that were thy only means of illumination save the window at "the +Parson's" end, which looked out on the pleasant fields and the houses +beyond; or the plain, uncarpeted floor, the washstands by the chimneys +and the clothing hung up around. + +Neither have I forgotten the nights when lying in bed I have heard the +rain pouring and pattering above thee and me; or when I saw by the dim +light of a single oil lamp, as I lifted myself on my elbow in bed, one +of the occupants moving his cot bedstead from some gentle leak that was +getting too familiar with his bedclothes; or when in the dreary winter +the Storm King howled around and bore some fleecy flakes on his windy +gusts through a stray hole in the roof, and morning showed us a +miniature white mountain on the floor. + +No, to this day a vision of the "Parson" (Capen) comes to me, reading +by the light of an oil lamp placed on a shelf at the head of his +bedstead, long after others were asleep; lying in bed at the +furthermost portion of thy space; now chuckling to himself, then +drowsily reading on and on, with his spectacles dropped down on to the +point of his long nose--as the passage was either witty or dry; or +visions of the early risers, waking betimes and disturbing the dreams +of the later ones by the preparations of the toilet; or the sound of +the morning horn as it rose from beneath us on the clear air! + +I was seventeen years of age, and having passed the time when I could +have been by right a pupil in the day school, was assigned to manual +labor. You will see by the Constitution that I was a "Probationer." It +was fortunate that I loved the grass and trees, and the routine of farm +life. My youth excused and deprived me of the council meetings and the +right to vote, so that many hours spent by some, though but a little +older than myself, in meetings, were absolutely mine to rove in, or to +use as I liked. Though born to city life and work I dearly loved the +country and a farm, but did not know its duties, nor had I the strength +for heavy labor, so I assisted in work in and about the houses in the +early hours of the day, and in some of the lighter farming, as +planting, hoeing, weeding and driving the oxen, horses and cows; in +fact, taking a lad's place in the farm and house employments. + +Owing to the amount of labor and the disproportion of female help, some +of the young men under age oftentimes assisted after meals in wiping +dishes and supplying hot and cold water. It was a matter of rivalry +between parties to see which could beat in a match, the washer or +wipers. Two lads of near my own age supplied dishes and hot water as +fast as it was needed, and one young lady washed the plates, saucers, +mugs and the like, the same young men doing the wiping. + +There was plenty of plain crockery piled up and it was rushed into a +capacious receptacle and washed with great dexterity. Then wipe, young +men, wipe! Will you allow a young lady to wash faster than two can +wipe? _Never_, _boys_, never! and with incredible speed the surface of +the plates and dishes was changed into mirrors. There was one young +lady who was hard to beat; often when the parties thought they had +nearly succeeded she would cry out for "hot water"! and one would have +to supply her with it, and by that time his partner would be +overwhelmed with a stock of unwiped crockery. Need I say that at times +I was one of those boys? + +There were none of the modern conveniences for water, and the pump had +to do its share of work. The rooms were supplied daily by a water +carrier who went from house to house filling the pails and pitchers in +the rooms and halls. + +I was willing and tractable. The fresh air, the simple diet and the +free life began at once to tone up my organization. I soon found that +the Eyry steps and the Eyry embankments were where the air was freshest +of an evening, and the tones of the piano presided over by the "poet's +sister," Fanny Dwight, attracted me more and more. The pupils and those +of their ages grouped naturally together. I did not care to go among +the arguers and the disputants who talked anti-this and anti-that, the +new sciences of medicine--the water cure and homoeopathy; who disputed +the doctrines of community of property, western lands, politics, +approaching war with Mexico, etc., etc. Nor did I care to group with +the few who played euchre and smoked "conchas," and the book of nature +had very often more charms for me than any other. + +Our family rooms were small, and as stated I was sandwiched in with +others, in rather unpromising quarters. But I almost only slept there. +My interested parents often spent the evenings as well as the days in +domestic duties, so I was much alone. I cared not. I could thoughtfully +contemplate the climbing constellations, and sometimes one of the many +who grew friendly to me would point out the planets and name the stars +for me, and I would watch the moon rise slowly above the horizon. The +beautiful meadow was below me, and above and around the whole eastern +hemisphere of sky. Or I would wander around the houses to see what was +going on, meeting groups of promenaders by the way. At the cottage the +piano would be playing, and likely as not Lucas and José or Willard and +Charles were waltzing with Anna and Abbie or Katie and Agnes to +Louisa's playing. Or it was singing school, and all joined it; or Mrs. +Ripley was going to read "Margaret"; or the "Professor" (Dana) wanted +me in his German class; or it was full moon and we would walk a mile or +two down the highway, or make a moonlight visit to the pines. Otherwise +I was dreaming day-dreams to Fanny's piano playing. + +Ah! do you think I was indolent? Not so! In my meditations I was +working out social problems and solving theories of life and religion. +I was nursing kindliness of heart, love to all men. I was awakening a +crushed nature, and absorbing influences that made the mottoes of +"Unity of man with man," "Unity of man with God," "Unity of man with +the universe," seem like real, tangible things. But who can say how +much was also due to the low, soothing harmonies that floated out of +those graceful windows with parting sashes that opened like doors down +to the windowsills? + +In time I explored every cranny and hollow of ground. I wandered in the +woods, found every wild flower, knew every tree; knew where the +trailing evergreens grew; could go to the spot where I could find what +I wanted for bouquets, and surprised the Community with their ample +size and beauty. I came in with wreaths and garlands; gathered +varieties of grasses untold; picked rhodoras in early spring, saracenas +and orchids in summer, asters and gentians in the late fall, and +innumerable flowers in various places of a neighborhood wonderfully +rich in botanical specimens. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD. + + +When I arrived, Hawthorne, Bradford, Hosmer, Hecker, Burton, Leach and +Allen had gone; as had also the Curtis brothers, George and Burrill, +the Bancroft boys, sons of the historian, and Barlow (since General +Barlow)--all pupils; as well as some of the ladies--Miss Dora Gannett, +niece of Rev. Ezra S. Gannett, Miss Georgianna Bruce, (afterwards Mrs. +Kirby), Miss Allen, Miss Sarah Stearns; and the phase of the Brook Farm +life jocosely or seriously alluded to by the after-comers as the +"Transcendental Days" or "Community Times," gave place to the +"Associative or Industrial Period." + +In the place of the Transcendentalists came other men and women, new +and untried, with not so much of Greek and Latin, not so much suavity +of manners, not so much "cultivation," but warm of heart and brave of +purpose. The magnificent idea was a revelation of truth to some but +also a great temptation for many shivering poor and impatient +outsiders. They could thrive on it. They felt it was their right, their +destiny, having failed in the civilized fight for bread and butter and +comfort, to have from some source food, shelter and protection; and it +struck them that Brook Farm was just the place to go for it. So the +Association was inundated with applications of all kinds by person and +by letter. + +It is my fortune to possess the originals of a number of these +interesting letters, specimens of which may be found in the appendix. +The replies by Mr. Ripley were drafts of the letters sent; they are all +in his fine handwriting and _bona fide_ documents which the writer +personally secured at Brook Farm many years ago, after the organization +had broken up. + +The Directors used discretionary power, and if there was any +probability that the applicant would be useful, his case was presented +for action at a general meeting of the Association. + +I was not long on the farm before I became acquainted with many of the +Associates besides those before mentioned--those who belonged entirely +to the Associative period; and among the unique figures there was no +one that struck my young fancy more than that of Peter, or, in familiar +talk, "the General." + +Peter M. Baldwin was about his work when I was introduced to him, and +as he put forth his hand I saw that his arms extended no little way +through the sleeves of a common green baize jacket; and that his large +feet, which were encased in an old pair of slippers, had descended some +six inches below a pair of blue overalls before they touched the +ground. If he had been inclined to corpulency, his frame was ample to +build upon for a man of Websterian proportions, but he was not so +inclined; on the contrary, he simulated other great men in his +personality--Jackson, or our modern Abraham Lincoln. He was spare, +bony, nervous. His heavy eyebrows, his dark hair well sprinkled with +gray, which arose straight upward from his high, indented forehead, and +his large, half Roman nose, prominent cheek-bones and thin cheeks +reminded one so forcibly of the pictures of General Jackson that he was +by unanimous consent nicknamed "the General." + +He shook me by the hand warmly and asked me a few questions, and it was +not until after this first interview that I discovered he had an +impediment in his speech. A rapid talker, he would rattle on in +conversation and then stop as suddenly as though you had put your hand +over his mouth. You would look up in astonishment, and then find by the +contortions of his face that he was trying to speak some troublesome +word but could not. The word once recovered, his speech flowed on as +before and perhaps for a long while, until he stumbled upon another +fence-like one; when he would dismount, take down the bars, or jump it, +and proceed as before. + +This impediment, strange to say, never troubled the General when he had +prepared a piece for recitation, for he would then speak with dignity +and precision, and made the very beau ideal of "the lean and hungry +Cassius." + +He was a universal favorite, on account of the kindness and benevolence +of his disposition. This generosity was superabundant, for if any of +the younger portion of the family wished for the sweets of the +storeroom, over which he presided, they had only "to coax the General" +to succeed in obtaining their wishes. + +"The General" was the baker and made the bread, cake and some of the +pastry. He also assisted the "kitchen group" in domestic cookery. +Beyond this he was particularly fond of three things--disputation, the +newspapers and a cigar. He was thoroughly devoted to the doctrines of +"United industry" and to Brook Farm. He was among the first up in the +morning and last at night, attending to his ovens and his bread. + +Peter's room was at first in Attica with others, where I saw him often, +and his favorite pastime was a game of euchre, which had not then +worked itself into general favor. I did not care to play it then, or +any cards; I was too much charmed with the life of the place, with the +society of the young, with social games under the inspiration of the +hostess, with love of dance and music and the ever-changing face of +nature, to care for such dull solace as the pasteboard games. + +But the General did; he conversed, he smoked, he read the newspapers, +he argued, stuttered and talked the "water cure," and one day I was +surprised on going into the room to find him fully embarked for the +cure of a desperate headache. What had he done? Why, taken the +wash-bowl and filled it with water, placed it on the floor, stretched +himself out at full length on the floor also, and, with a pillow at his +shoulders, laid the back of his head into the wash-bowl. But being of +an active temperament he could not be quiet and idle long, so, calling +for a newspaper and lighting a cigar, he gently puffed the weed and +read the news, lying still in position while the "cure" was +progressing. It was a funny sight! + +My attention was soon drawn to a large, portly gentleman who carried +his head erect and had an easy, familiar way about him; for he was +acting as host, being charged with the reception of guests and +strangers who came to visit or to look about the place. He walked with +the grandeur of a Falstaff and the dignity of a sachem. His capacious +gray coat and broad-brimmed hat might suggest to a stranger that he had +been at some time a member of a Shaker community, but his closely cut +gray hair and his heavy, o'erhanging eyebrows and brave visage gave the +lie to any such suggestion. Aye, aye, every hair that stood bristling +up on that front of his seemed to stand in rebellion against such a +charge, seemed saying, and growing more bristly every moment, "I, a +Shaker? Not I!" A large mouth was an appropriate companion to a +ponderous throat and chin, which were daily shaven with scrupulous +adherence to the first principles of warm water, soap and a sharp +razor, and a practice of thirty years gave a polish to his face unknown +to those less adept in the art. + +On one occasion, some of the members fled from the tyranny of the +brutal blade and let their beards grow in uncut stubble, not, however, +without criticism from our host, who said in answer to their argument +that it was natural for the beard to grow, "Art is the perfection of +nature! Look at this garden!" It was after dinner, and some were taking +a few moments' rest in front of the Hive, lounging on the fence and +looking down the terrace into what was called "her majesty's garden" +and toward the bubbling brook. "What would it be without its walks, +flower-beds and arrangement?" he continued. "And these fields--what +would they be without the art of cultivation? You see it is art that +perfects nature." + +Then some wag suggested that he was trying to cultivate "the field of +his face," but nothing could disturb the imperturbable gravity of his +composition. Gravity, solid gravity, was one of the basic elements of +his nature. When, however, he lighted his enthusiastic lamp, and his +warm heart gushed forth in song or story--I think I hear him singing +now, "A man's a man for a' that!"--he carried his audience with him. + +The "Omniarch," as Mr. Ryckman was called, was a man of family, his +short, sprightly, nervous little wife acting as hostess and attending +to the lady visitors. + +Many visitors asked the question of him, "Mr. Ryckman, do the Brook +Farmers hold all their property in common?" + +With a bland smile he would say to them: "Certainly not; the idea of a +Community, as it is generally understood, is a society that owns or +holds all the property or capital of its members as its own, in its own +corporate right--that no one can remove, but everyone can use portions +of at will, or in turn. If the ideas of the first projectors were not +all definite on this point, we now stand boldly as champions of +individual property. It is one of our watchwords. For what is property? +It is but the extension of the individual; wings to fly with; hands to +work with; dried labor; labor's product laid away for future use, to +bless oneself with. It is the bottom and foundation of material +society, for none exists without it, and the greater the amount, +distributed fairly and justly, the greater the power and strength of +the society that holds it. We take human nature as it is--as God made +it. We do not propose to remake it; that is the folly of reformers and +theorists, and more especially moralists in and out of the church. The +desire, the personal desire, to acquire property is a fundamental trait +of character more or less strong in every individual. If a society +cannot be adjusted to that trait it will fail. We think one can be. We +think ours is so, as fairly as the nature of our transitory conditions +will allow. We want capital here. That we can make it here in time, +there is no doubt, but we must labor long to secure a plus of labor +that we can dry and store for future use. Meanwhile we want to build a +suitable unitary building, which is almost an absolute necessity; +farming implements and various appliances are wanted to suit the new +conditions under which we live, and many things for comfort, too +numerous to mention." + +The host was not sparing of his words, especially when stimulated by +charming questioners, in ways like these: "Tell me more, Mr. Ryckman." +"What are you living here for?" "Can you expect anything from this +life?" + +"Yes, madam, we expect a great deal. The theory of our life is that a +great saving can be made over ordinary ways of living. It now takes one +hundred houses for one hundred families, and one hundred housekeepers, +and probably, on the average, one hundred servants, one hundred +kitchens, one hundred fires, and as many cooking stoves or ranges, and +everything in proportion. Now by combining together the saving on the +cost of all these houses and cooks, kitchens, coal and wood, dispensing +with all unnecessary servants and labor, a house of magnificent +proportions adapted to the wants of the combined families could be +built, with elegant parlors for lectures, assemblies and music; +dining-rooms, kitchens and laundries which would not cost as much as +the separate households full of inconvenience and discomfort. + +"This economic side of our life is easily seen, but there are many +other sides or phases that are not as readily comprehended. We are here +as a protest to the unnatural life of our crowded cities. We are here +to build society anew on juster principles, believing that if we once +get a fair foothold, the institution will be self-supporting, and so +attractive that we shall have no need to seek for true, earnest +workers; they will seek us, rather than we seek them, and we shall be +able to choose of the best material for an eternal city where all will +be rich in the fulness of the surrounding life, and the children will +be educated from the start to industry, goodness and justice." + +Among the pleasant pictures of memory is that of Thomas Blake as he +appeared after he had changed his civilized clothes for a Brook Farm +tunic of blue plaid, a "tarpaulin" straw hat and a neat broad rolling +shirt collar of large dimensions that gracefully tended towards his +square shoulders. I see again his dark, manly countenance lighted up by +his keen brown eyes; his Roman features; his closely curling hair; his +intellectual forehead and pleasant smile, and his very neat, "trig" +appearance. The new life seemed to fill him full of pleasure, and he +was always ready for his share of work, study or enjoyment. His short, +nautical figure and his name, Blake, soon earned him the complimentary +title, which with one accord we gave him, "the Admiral." A nearness of +age brought us together, and a strong sympathy of tastes cemented our +friendship. We worked, played, danced and sung together, and wandered +up and down the paths and roads discussing social problems and all +sorts of subjects, ever returning in our talks to our home life, its +pleasures, aims and duties. + +I thought that there was a little of the dapper look about John Glover +Drew who arrived the same day with the Admiral, as I met him for the +first time near the corner of the Hive. He seemed stiff and formal in +dress and manner, and his face had in it the cool, matter-of-fact +element which did not attract me; in fact he looked too "civilized." +His clothes were of fine materials; dress coat, silk vest and dark +pantaloons. His stylish and plump person filled them out thoroughly. A +tall silk hat set a trifle back on his head exposed his large forehead; +a fob and seal that hung below his vest, in contrast to the Brook Farm +dress, made an added conspicuousness to his appearance. I can see him +now, in my mind's eye, lift his watch out of its secret enclosure and +examine it to secure promptness of his engagements. + +His large head was covered with dark, slightly curling hair. His smooth +face, toned by a delicate beard and fine arching eyebrows, reminded one +of the portraits of Shakespeare. His nose was short and round and his +nostrils dilated when in animated conversation. The muscles of his firm +mouth were ever on the play and gave life to his countenance, which +when in repose assumed a heavy and somewhat stern appearance. The union +between his head and body was made, apparently, by a high, stiff, black +neck-stock. + +He was fully of medium height, and healthy, but if one in his presence +tried the blowing of a flute or the tuning of a violin it would set him +in agonies, and the of his wrath was not forthcoming. He was wholly +alive. There was not a point where you could touch him and not +appreciate that the nerves of sensation vibrated and quivered. Droll +and jocose in manner, he was constantly quoting from Shakespeare or the +poets, of whom he had been a constant reader. He was witty, too, and +did not disdain a pun, or repartee. + +He had the elements of a good mercantile training, and was therefore +just the man needed in the young Association, and soon arose from one +position to another, winning the meaner laurels of "chief of group" and +"head of series," and in time became the "commercial agent" and member +of the "Industrial Council." Thenceforth and ever after, he was more +bustling than before, both in and out of doors; hovering around the +barn with its horses and wagons; ever tackling up teams and starting +for the city; unpacking boxes, bales and barrels; ever in conference +with the chiefs, inquiring what was needed--anyone could see that +almost everything was needed--and showing by his exterior the busy +brain that worked within. Mr. Drew was an especial admirer of some of +Byron's poems, and it was rumored around that the corners of newspapers +had occasionally been garnished with the fruits of his pen. + +Here let me say that first impressions in this case gave no index to +the manly, brave spirit that was in him, which, true as steel, bore to +the end witness to his belief in the truth and the divinity of the +associative and coöperative ideas. + +There was in the farming group a healthy-looking young man, of ruddy +countenance and fair skin, with brown hair and beard that grew +luxuriantly, who soon made himself conspicuous by his individuality, +his good nature and cheerfulness. There was a positive side to his +character; he was in earnest, and he put himself by his earnestness +into a positive way that to the superficial seemed to savor of the +important, so that Irish John nicknamed him "John Almighty," and it +stuck to him, as an old simile says, "like a burdock to a boy's +trousers." His devotion was rewarded by chances to lecture. He became +one of the faithful, and faithful he has always remained. Amid all the +changes of life that have come to him since, and notwithstanding the +many persons indoctrinated with Fourier's ideas, he has been for years +almost the only man among them broadly advocating them and directly +working for the laboring man by endeavoring to organize societies and +industrial unions of various sorts for their benefit. I sincerely honor +the devotion of John Orvis, continued through so many years of his life. + +But what would be the use in sketching the characters that throng +around me by the hundreds, who were associated with this new life? +Good-natured, full-faced Frederick Cabot, of Boston, whose capacities +were devoted to the bookkeeping department and who was clerk of the +corporation, who was in the vigor of young manhood, unique of face and +beard, with stout neck and low, rolling collar, when beards were absent +and collars high; and plain, unpretending Buckley Hastings, who could +work like a Trojan--were of them; and the corps of farmers and workers, +male and female, who made the body politic, all were interesting, but +they must be left out of this narrative, along with the great number of +kind and sympathetic persons whose dear hearts encouraged, and whose +dearer presence stimulated the Association in its labor. + +But it will hardly do to leave out John Cheevers from the list of +strange characters on the farm, because, though he did not belong there +as member and was as a barnacle on the body politic, he was so quaint +and queer. He was Irish and came to America as valet to Sir John +Caldwell, who died very suddenly at the Tremont House in Boston. Pity, +compassion or the like induced Mr. Ripley to befriend him, and being +introduced to the life he became, as may be said, omnipresent. His +education, his refined tastes, seemed to spring from a crude and +vigorous soil. Travel and contact with high and low made his +conversation interesting, and the mystery of a supposed relationship +with Sir John added a romance to his life. + +His affection for many of the residents was very great. He was +introduced into associative life in "Transcendental days," and many a +tale he told of the departed ones, often alluding to them as "extinct +volcanoes of Transcendental nonsense and humbuggery." + +Like many of his countrymen, he carried things to extremes. Extremes in +language were the most common, for he had all the oiliness and glibness +of an Emeraldic tongue, and in conversation, when a little excited, the +words tumbled out with headlong velocity or flowed like molten brass +into the mould of the founder, and, to carry the simile farther, some +would sputter over. He had in his storehouse of language, many queer +phrases and sayings that he brought out to embellish his conversation, +some of which were only used as a _corps de reserve_, or brought into +action when all others failed in argument. + +He prophesied that all people, no matter how high they might carry +their heads, would sooner or later "find their level." He believed in +the practical. All "folly" and "nonsense" were eschewed by him, and yet +no one was more fond of a joke than he, excepting when it was played on +himself. John professed great love for the mother church if you +attacked it; but if anyone spoke earnestly in its favor he was equally +persuaded by him not to believe in such "Jesuitical nonsense and +folly." His tunic dress, instead of being a blue one like what most of +the men wore, was made of green plaid, but on Sundays, a dark blue +"swallowtail" coat with brass buttons made its appearance, and with +shoes newly polished he was ready for church. + +Unlike the majority of the men, who wore the hair moderately long, his +was cut short to his pate, not a straggling hair protruding itself +beyond the others. In deference to the seventh day, he exchanged his +shirt of blue cotton for a white, well-starched linen one, and donned a +high black lasting neck-stock and dark vest, and shaved his face so +clean that it reflected his own sunshine if not the solar ray. In +person he was of medium height, with a head of thick, dark, almost +black hair, slightly sprinkled with gray, and his small dark eyebrows +were high above his full eyes which were set almost flush with his +forehead. The muscles of his face were prominent, and deep lines were +marked around his large mouth with its long under lip, which half the +time was on a broad grin. + +He walked with a headlong sort of gait, his body slightly bent forward, +deriving its motion from the lower portion of his frame, without that +swaying of arms and chest so common, and which gives grace to motion. +He was ever moving, bustling about; ever inquiring--now for this one, +then for another; occasionally taking from his pocket a small paper +parcel into which he thrust finger and thumb mysteriously and +guardedly, and turning half away from you would make the cabalistic +motions common to imbibers of "old Rappee"; and having satisfied the +desire of that extraordinary pug nose of his, would be off in a +twinkling to some distant part of the farm, where you may be sure that +he was edifying his hearers with a specimen of good-nature, and the +peculiar intonations of a mellow voice flavored with genuine brogue. + +There are two friends of the movement who cannot be left out, who were +often on the farm, whose characters were very unlike and almost at +antipodes; yet both were impressed with the associative theories. One +of them viewed them from a Christian and moral side, believing that +Christianity favored them, that they were productive of the earthly end +toward which the sublime doctrines of Christianity pointed; and the +other believed that scientific social organization alone would act so +powerfully as a stimulant and teacher to humanity, that mankind and +human nature would gravitate to their own sublime places at once if an +organization was presented suitable to their needs. They were Albert +Brisbane and William Henry Channing. + +Among the devoted friends there was no one for whom we had greater +admiration and esteem than Rev. William Henry Channing. He was a +Unitarian minister and a nephew of the celebrated Rev. William Ellery +Channing. His figure was tall and stately, though rather slender. He +carried himself finely, and walked with head erect. His features were +sharp cut, clean and regular. His hair was dark and curling, and worn a +trifle long for these days. His forehead was high and slightly +retreating. His eyes were sharp and piercing, deeply set, with delicate +dark eyebrows. His complexion was warm and brilliant, his beard closely +shaven. He had a pleasant smile which, when it deepened, showed a fine +set of white teeth. All of these physical signs were in his favor, but +there was about his face, so handsome at times, an earnestness that +seemed almost painful, when, devoted to the cause, he spoke with the +burning, eloquent words he so often uttered. + +In social life he was charming. His voice was soft and melodious; his +education and talents were of the finest order. He was a firm believer +in the mission of Jesus Christ to bring peace, order and justice out of +our social chaos. He was an Associationist from the Christian side, if +I may so speak. His belief in Christ was so thorough that it made him +think all things possible that were Christlike, and he believed that +associated life contained more of the spirit of Christ in it than any +other form of society, ancient or modern. + +He desired to join the organization with his wife and young children, +but Mrs. Channing did not, and we were deprived of his union with us, +as well as of the company of a charming woman and her family. But he +was around us like a protecting spirit. He spoke on social occasions to +us. He was full of inspiration and full of hope, though his education +was not of a practical sort after a worldly standard. He couldn't +calculate market values. Neither could he organize a workshop or build +a barn. His thoughts were for greater things; for everything that +elevated large numbers of people--education, morals, faith, peace, +anti-slavery and the good government of his country. + +One Sabbath afternoon we were invited to meet with him in the near-by +beautiful pine woods, for religious services; and like the Pilgrims and +reformers of old, we there raised our voices in hymns of praise, and +listened to a sermon of hopefulness from his eloquent lips. Would we +had a picture of that marked company as they were seated around on the +pine leaves that covered the ground, following their "attractions" by +joining in groups with those they most admired or most sympathized +with--young and fair, bright and cheerful, as they mostly were, with +the warm sunlight glinting through the sighing pines; hearts and eyes +illuminated with great thoughts; hands and faces browned with working +for great, world-wide ideas. Memory is the only photograph of it, and +be assured the picture is a beautiful one. + +The church was Channing's first love, but he found it bound with +creeds, and not broad enough to cover all humanity, as his great +bounding heart did. After music and an inspiring address under the +trees, and the arches of Nature's temple, looking heavenward, he said, +"Let us all join hands and make a circle, the symbol of universal +unity, and of the _at-one-ment_ of all men and women, and here form the +Church of Humanity that shall cover the men and women of every nation +and every clime." + +Who shall say that it was not so?--that then and there was not formed +one of the impulses of life, one of the branches of the spiritual +church that shall live forever! Their daily toil, the thousand and one +annoyances they had to submit to from uncomfortable surroundings and +private discords--for no one need think that all the persons and those +connected with them who came to Brook Farm were equally inspired and +interested--and the risk of personal losses, were part of their pledge +and baptism of earnestness. + +Mr. Albert Brisbane, of New York, was equally tall with Mr. Channing, +but of a type of features that was ordinarily less pleasing; wearing a +full beard closely trimmed, intellectual in forehead and face, with a +voice one could hardly call musical; a rapid, earnest talker; the +travelled son of a wealthy man, who had spent some years abroad and in +France, where he became acquainted personally with Fourier and with his +doctrines of association, which had deeply impressed him. On his return +to America he advocated them in the New York _Tribune_, and by the +publication of two or more volumes, by active interest in a society, +and by various writings for papers and magazines. + +I do not know whether Mr. Brisbane owned stock in the Brook Farm +Association or not. Certainly he never gained any dividend by his labor +there, but was an interested observer who boarded at the farm at +intervals, sometimes passing a few days only, and finally residing some +months, occupied in the study and translation of Fourier's works. + +He was an enthusiast, but his over enthusiastic moods influenced the +Brook Farmers, it seemed to me, often-times unwisely. He saw the +full-blown phalanstery coming like a comet and expected every moment. +We shortly would be in a blaze of glory! He loved to talk of the good +things to be--of social problems worked out by science and by harmonic +modes; to flatter himself that without great self-sacrifice, devotion +and untiring industry, the world was to be regenerated. It seemed to +his mind, that it could be done all at once by organization and +enthusiasm, and it was only necessary to create enough of them to carry +everything before them as in a bayonet charge. + +He labored hard with the society to change its name to Phalanx, and to +push the movement as far as possible into the formulas and organization +described by Fourier, which did not advance it a single step in +material or spiritual progress, and acted, as in the case of the +constitution, as a dead weight, owing to the burdensomeness of its +details, which called for too much labor to keep the accounts of so +complex an organization. + +Having described a few of the many persons who were members of the +Association, I must speak of three noted persons who are very often +accredited as belonging to the West Roxbury Community; they are Miss +Margaret Fuller (afterwards Countess D'Ossoli), Ralph Waldo Emerson and +Theodore Parker. They were all personal friends of Mr. and Mrs. Ripley, +and belonged to the Transcendental Club. In the first period of the +experiment the two former made lengthy visits at the farm, but during +the Industrial Period only one of them, Mr. Parker, that I remember +visited the place. I must except a single visit from Miss Fuller, whom +I recall as plain-looking, and plainly to old-fashionedly dressed, with +a crane-like neck and a long gold chain around it, which reached to her +waist. She talked quite easily and freely, and the impression of the +blue-stocking was left perhaps unfortunately on my mind. + +Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson--for he had been an ordained minister--wrote +for the _Dial_, furnished it with queer poems, wrote articles on the +wrongs of labor, and agreed fully with Mr. Ripley on so many points +that he has been mistaken many times for a Brook Farmer. + +Concord, Massachusetts, Mr. Emerson's home, contained a marked radical +centre, and some of the Concord people were affiliated by kinship and +by sympathy with the Brook Farm people from first to last during the +entire experiment. Mr. Ripley invited Mr. Emerson to join it, but he +declined in a letter which may be found in Mr. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," Appendix, page 315. I make the following extract:-- + + * * * * * + +"My Dear Sir: It is quite time that I made an answer to your +proposition that I should venture into your new community. The design +appears to me noble and generous, proceeding as I plainly see, from +nothing covert or selfish or ambitious, but from a manly heart and +mind. So it makes all men its friends and debtors. It becomes a matter +to entertain it in a friendly spirit, and examine what it has for us. + +"I have decided not to join it, yet very slowly, and I may almost say +with penitence. I am greatly relieved by learning that your coadjutors +are now so many that you will no longer attach that importance to the +defection of individuals which you hinted, in your letter to me, I or +others might possess--the painful power, I mean, of preventing the +execution of the plan." + + * * * * * + +Rev. Theodore Parker, the noted liberal Unitarian preacher, of whose +close personal relations with Mr. Ripley much might be said, lived two +miles away, at West Roxbury, where he preached in the village church, +and his afternoon walk every few days was over to the Farm and back for +exercise, and to meet and converse with Mr. Ripley at the Eyry. At the +close of their chat you would see them coming down the hill together +towards the barn, where Mr. Ripley's duties as milkman took him at that +time of day, when they would part--Mr. Parker for his long walk home. + +One afternoon they were seen as usual coming down the hill. Theodore +Parker had not then become famous, but preached in a little square, +wooden church, to his small country congregation, and once on a time, +being on a visit to a friend at a distance (we will call the friend's +name Smith, for convenience sake), Mr. Smith asked Mr. Parker how Mr. +Ripley was getting along with his "Community." "Oh," said the faithless +Parker, "Mr. Ripley reminds me, in that connection, of a new and +splendid locomotive dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +Soon after Mr. Ripley heard what Mr. Parker had said of him, and +resolved to pay him in his own coin. So he held him that day in +pleasant, lively conversation until he reached the farmyard by the barn +at the Hive, and the unsprung joke was running all around the pleasant +lines of his face and twinkling in the corners of his brilliant eyes. +Towards the close of the conversation, as Mr. Parker was about to +leave, Mr. Ripley casually said that he had met Mr. Smith, and he had +spoken of Mr. Parker and his church. + +"Indeed," said Mr. Parker, "and what did he say of me?" + +"Well, if you must know," Mr. Ripley replied, "he said that you and +your little country church over there in West Roxbury, with its few +dozen of farmers, reminded him of a new and splendid locomotive +dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +It would have been worth a month of an ordinary lifetime to be there +when Mr. Ripley exploded his joke, to hear his merry peal of laughter, +whilst his sides shook again, and his reverend friend stood confounded. + +But such little jokes did nothing towards rupturing the sincere +confidence and friendship of these two brave men, and soon after this +Mr. Parker was writing pleasant notes to the "Archon," as Mr. Ripley +was often called. By good fortune, I am the possessor of one of them, +and as it shows the playful side of a great man, the side often +withheld from the public, I give it here. It is charming. It is without +date and reads:-- + + * * * * * + +"Archonite Illustrissimo: I have just received a letter from the +Secretary of the Navy, who informs me that he has jurisdiction over the +_waters_ of the U. S. A., and accordingly over _Brook_ Farm. He +therefore requests me to investigate your proceedings and report to the +department. He thinks of appointing yourself to the command of the +fleet destined against Texas, and wishes me to _Sound_ you on that +point. (How would Little John do for California?) + +"I am to come over tomorrow P. M. and make investigations, so have the +chips picked up, and the pigs shut up in the library. Now hold yourself +in readiness to receive _Blanco_ White, who thinks you were one of the +greatest men who had appeared since Balaam the son of Beor. Pray reward +him for the honor he has done you. + + "Yours, T." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK. + + +The departure from the ordinary mode of living initiated at the farm +seemed to stir up every curious, investigating and odd mortal, from one +end of the country to the other, and they all wanted to visit the +place. At first they were made welcome to the table, and to what there +was to spare of the members' time, but when their name was "legion" the +Board of Government found it necessary to exact a fee for meals. This +did not diminish them; the cry was "Still they come!" Men, women and +children were passing from Hive to Eyry on every pleasant day from May +to November, and over the farm, back to the Hive, where they took +private carriage or public coach for their departure. Among these +people were some of the oddest of the odd; those who rode every +conceivable hobby; some of all religions; bond and free; transcendental +and occidental; antislavery and proslavery; come-outers, communists, +fruitists and flutists; dreamers and schemers of all sorts. + +The number of notable persons who visited the farm at this period was +large. I was too young to appreciate the positions they held, in +literature, the church or the nation, but append a list of names, +selected almost at random, mostly of distinguished persons who were +occasional visitors. Horace Greeley, Parke Godwin, Henry James, Freeman +Hunt, Charles Kraitsir, Henry Giles, S. P. Andrews, all of New York; +Rev. O. A. Brownson, Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Rev. Henry A. Miles, +Rev. Edward E. Hale, Rev. Samuel Osgood, Rev. Frederick T. Gray, Rev. +A. B. Green, Rev. C. A. Greenleaf, Hon. John G. Palfrey, Hon. E. +Rockwood Hoar, Hon. George H. Calvert, of Newport, R. I.; Hon. Charles +Sumner, Judge Ellis Gray Loring, Judge Wells, Dr. W. F. Channing, R. H. +Dana, A. Bronson Alcott, George B. Emerson, Samuel G. Ward,--Marcus +Spring and Edmund Tweedy, of New York; James A. Kay, of Philadelphia. +W. W. Story, C. P. Cranch, E. Hicks, Joseph and Thomas Carew, John +Sartain, John A. Ordway and Benjamin Champney, were among the many +artists who came; the major portion of all the above named persons were +from New England. + +It will not do to forget young and curly-headed John A. Andrew, who +became the war governor of Massachusetts, or Robert Owen, the English +communist, well known for his social experiments at New Harmony, Ind., +who, at this time, was a ruddy-faced, almost white-haired person, with +a large nose, and carrying well his seventy years on a vigorous frame. + +George R. Russell, Francis G. Shaw and Theodore Parker, with their +wives and members of their families, were very friendly visitors. + +There were numerous ladies, also, who came. I remember Miss A. P. +Peabody, Pauline Wright, Mary Gove and sweet Lydia Maria Child, of New +York. + +The old record book that lay in the reception room at the Hive would +reveal a list of four thousand names, registered in one year, to select +from, but alas! it is lost forever. + +A. Bronson Alcott came one day and brought his friend Lane, who was +anxious to visit the "Community," but Lane was opposed to eating +anything that was killed or had died, so he ate neither fish nor flesh. +Neither would he wear wool, because it was an animal product, for he +did not like animal products. Neither would he wear cotton nor use +sugar nor rice, because they were the products of slave labor. And +finally, he walked from Boston in a linen suit, because he would avoid +using a horse, for his argument was that the value of time spent in +providing food, lodging and care of animals, was not returned to the +owners for the outlay. Lane came from England, and was not a "Yankee +crank," as some might possibly think. + +Miss Louisa M. Alcott wrote of him in connection with her father and +herself, in an article entitled "A Journey to Fruitlands." Judging from +my remembrance of all the characters, the picture is faithfully drawn. + +Among the odd visitors the climax was reached, when a man came to pass +a day and a night, who announced, that he had no need of sleep and had +not slept for a year. The statement was passed by as a mere whim, we +thinking of course that when night came he would not refuse a bed, but +he did. After spending the evening at the Eyry, where the visitors were +more especially entertained, he was notified that an attendant would +show him to his bed, but he politely declined one, and as there seemed +to be no other way, he was allowed to remain in an easy chair, with a +lamp burning, after the household had retired. + +It was late when Irish John Cheevers, _our_ odd genius, prowling about +the premises on his way to his room at the Cottage, saw the light in +the Eyry parlor, and supposing some of the household were awake, went +softly up and looked in at the window. There sat the visitor in the +chair, _asleep_. He then went in, but his noise aroused the sleeper, +and as John couldn't possibly keep his tongue still a minute, he said, +"I beg your pardon, sir, I did not intend to disturb your sleep--not in +the least, sir," in his palavering way, at which the stranger protested +strongly that he hadn't been disturbed, as he had been awake all the +time. + +In the morning the stranger was there, still sitting in his chair, and +declared he had passed the night pleasantly, but had not been asleep. +Of course the improbability of the thing made, as the newspapers say, a +"sensation." "By gad," said John, "I caught him asleep in the Eyry +parlor. I did, upon my word; I did, my very self." + +John wasn't inclined to be profane, but when anyone pretended to be +what they were not, it aroused his combative spirit, and it was the +"blank humbuggery of the thing" that mightily displeased him. But the +time came when the laugh was against him. He had been in bed and slept +some hours one summer night; it was the time of the full moon, when its +transcendent beauty led the young folks to wander over the farm from +house to house, to sit a while on the doorsteps or on the knoll at the +Hive; to sing "_Das Klinket_" or such part songs as "Row gently here, +my gondolier," or "The lone starry hours give me Love, when calm is the +beautiful night," or anything else to let out the joyousness of their +hearts. They were not wild, for they labored enough to take away the +wildness that indolence brings, and to sober them down to the cheerful +mood; and cheerily would talk to one another of the people around them, +and of the hundred little excitements the novel life led them into, +that were wanting elsewhere, and often it was an hour or two later than +the usual time for rest, before they were in bed. + +John had been to his couch, and when he awoke it was broad daylight. He +dressed and went down to the Hive, and as some one was going away early +to Boston, concluded to get the wagon ready. But first he looked into +the kitchen; the door was unlocked, as it always was, day and night; +there was no one there, and it was surely time some one should be up. +He drew out the light wagon from under the shed, and went for the +harness. All the time the universal stillness surprised him. Where +could all the people be? He thought he would see how high the sun was, +and looking up into the sky, beheld the full face of the most beautiful +moon that ever shone on God's fair acres, when a new thought struck +him, that he had mistaken moonshine for daylight. He wheeled the wagon +into the shed, and then went for another long nap; but some of the +young men, who hadn't been in bed a great while, overheard the +movements, and had their laugh and fun out of it! + +During the first spring and summer of my stay my hours were largely +spent in the Farming Series, working in the various groups. I assisted +at planting, hoeing and driving or leading the horses at the plough. I +also helped the gardener, who arrived with plants, in the care of them +and in the ornamentation of the place. + +According to the science of Fourier, everything is naturally arranged +in groups and series. A group consists of three or more individuals or +things, and a number of similar groups together make a series. To have +harmony in society requires the application of this law or arrangement +to all the relations of daily life; or in other words, it is natural to +be thus arranged in industrial and social life. The Brook Farmers, +being ambitious to introduce a resemblance to such an organization--for +it could be but very faintly shadowed by their few members--and also +desirous to indoctrinate all into the idea of this natural arrangement, +organized "groups and series" in the following manner as proposed in +the new constitution. "Three or more persons combined for some object +or labor" made a group; harmonic numbers for groups--three, five, +seven, twelve, etc. A series consisted of three or more groups for a +similar object, joined under one head or chief. + +To illustrate the system we will suppose it to be the spring of the +year. The Farming Series will then consist of the following groups: +First, a Cattle Group, Which attends to the feeding, grooming and +general care of the cattle--horses, cows, oxen, pigs, etc. It may +include the milking of the cows, or that may be a group in itself under +the name of the Milking Group. Second, a Plowing Group, who attend to +the plowing of the fields. Third, a Nursery Group, who have the care of +the young trees, grafting, budding, etc. Fourth, a Planting Group, +which may later in the season change into a Hoeing Group, or into a +Weeding Group, or into a Haying Group, or a separate organization for +each may continue till the end of the season. Each chief of a group +recorded the hours expended in labor in his group, so that it was +possible to tell, at the end of a season, how many hours had been spent +in a given occupation, as hoeing, weeding, planting, etc. These groups, +each having a chief, formed the aforenamed series, and the heads, or +"chiefs" of all the groups together elected the head of the series, who +kept a record and had general charge of the work done under his +management. + +The Mechanical Series, consisting of shoemaking, carpentering, sash and +blind-makers' groups, were usually the same persons the year around. +If, however, the shoemaker was tired of his group, and could be spared, +he took his hoe and rake, and went into some group in the Farming +Series for a change of occupation; the hours he spent there were put to +his credit on the book of the group in which he labored in that series. + +The Domestic Series had care of the houses and all domestic work, and +was divided into Consistory, Dormitory and Kitchen Groups. There were +also Washing, Ironing and Mending Groups, and perhaps some others. The +beds, rooms, halls and lamps had to be attended to every day, water and +towels provided, and the "Dormitory" and "Consistory Groups," situated +as the Brook Farmers were, were obliged to go from house to house to +attend to these duties. + +There were independent groups on the farm, not connected with any +series, as the Teachers' Group, and the Miscellaneous Group, who did a +variety of miscellaneous work; and there was a Commercial Agent who +bought and sold goods for the Association. There was also a group +called "The Sacred Legion," who did exceptionally disagreeable labors, +not from the love of them but from the sacred principle of duty. Only +occasionally some repugnant task had to be undertaken, and be it to the +honor of the leaders, not one of them, even the most fastidious or +cultivated, shirked the responsibility of it. + +The industrial system of Fourier has often been objected to as a +mechanical arrangement, by which persons were fixed, automaton-like, +and expected to work where they were placed, and has been opposed with +the criticism that human beings are not automatic--that they have the +restlessness of human nature and will constantly rebel at such +conditions. + +Another and a greater criticism has been that the levelling tendency, +as is supposed, of the Fourieristic doctrines, is inimical to every-day +experience, and that the natural differences of characters, ambitions +and mental conditions were not recognized in the system, consequently +there would be no place for all these varied human attributes to work +and progress in. + +These are very great errors, and are entirely attributable to the +superficial knowledge of the man and his works. If ever there was a man +in this universe who had faith in the Supreme Power, Fourier was that +man. His theology covered the _absolute wisdom_ and _absolute goodness_ +of God. Starting from these two fixed standpoints, he believed that the +Creator wisely planned the universe and laid out the destiny of the +human race from its inception, as a wise and beneficent being, fixing +its beginning and its end and all of the intermediate stages between +them as parts of the plan. Creating man as a social being, he must, +therefore, have created from the first the form of society under which +he should, finally, as a race, pass the greatest portion of his sojourn +here, and, being an _absolutely good_ Creator, he must have created +absolutely good social conditions as the destiny towards which all +mankind is now tending, and which will finally be reached. + +Having also created man with many varied talents, the society or the +social order in which he intends him to live, must have room in it for +the use and development of the variety he has created: a place for the +strong, a place for the weak; a place for the proud, a place for the +lowly; a place for the penurious, a place for the lavish; a place for +the sober and a place for the gay. Moreover, if the Creator is wise, he +has created just the number and variety of mental and physical +personages to fill the otherwise empty places, and no others; for, if +he has created a surplus of them, he is unwise, and they must be in +discord with the rest. If the movements of the heavenly bodies are not +left to chance, neither is the destiny nor the place of any human being +in creation left to chance, either here or hereafter. + +Far from any levelling tendency in Fourier's system, far from any +communism, it contains, in itself, room for the completest aristocracy +there ever was, the natural and the true aristocracy, ordained by the +logical mind of the Creator, implanted in our natures, and which we +intuitively admit and admire. But having given man freedom of will, not +having made him to associate automatically, as he has, apparently, made +the honey-bee, the beaver, the ant, and various social creatures, it is +necessary for him to go through a period of ignorance, and, +consequently, of some suffering, whilst he is learning by experience to +find his powers and his position in creation, even as the little child +does, who reaches out its hand for the moon, and stumbles over trifles +lying in its way that were easily removed, could it, in its undeveloped +condition, have sense enough to do it. But the two conditions are not +possible, together. Both ignorance and knowledge of a subject cannot +dwell in one person at the same time; therefore it is only slowly and +painfully that we find, by degrees, our wonderful powers, the bountiful +provision for happiness, and the grand destiny that so peacefully lies +in the arms of the future, awaiting our embrace and caress. + +Fourier discovered the arrangement in nature of the "Serial Order" or +the law of the Groups and Series, which on paper seems formal, but is +simply one of the mathematical rules of society, and which, under right +conditions, does not intrude itself, any more than the rules of +arithmetic do when we are buying a few apples, but are nevertheless +ever present. The writer does not wish to impose a dissertation on his +readers, but felt impelled to answer, in this place, these objections +made by many worthy people. + +The workshop, which was being built at the time of my arrival, was two +stories in height, sixty by forty feet in size, with a pitched roof; +well lighted with windows, and situated some three hundred yards behind +the Hive, in a northwesterly direction. At its further end, in the +cellar, was placed a horse-mill, afterwards exchanged for a +steam-engine, that carried the machinery for all the departments of +labor. Our engineer, Jean M. Pallisse, a worthy Swiss, a very +intelligent man, had a calm face that fitted well with the quiet +wreaths of smoke he sent up on the air, from his almost ever-present +cigar. It was our delight to coax him to bring out his violin on dance +nights, and give us a charming waltz or two. You would hardly associate +his intelligent and pleasant face with the dull work of an engine room, +but he was there day by day, faithful and regular as a clock, for he +was in earnest. He had the sublime faith in him, and in later years +held a responsible position in a wealthy importing house in New York +City. + +The shop was partitioned off, according to the needs of business, and +in the time of our greatest numbers, when crowded with members and +visitors, no other place being found to stow people in, beds were +placed in its upper story. + +The general impression of my first summer at Brook Farm is that it was +one of great activity and great hopes. Everywhere the ambition was to +enlarge--to increase the number of members, to increase the +occupations, to increase the tillage by turning over the grass-grown +meadows and "laying down" more land; to increase the nursery for young +trees and plants, to increase the hay crop by clearing the brushwood +and mowing the stubble close. Everywhere were busy people with ploughs +and cultivators, hoes and rakes, and I was with them wherever there was +work to be done. + +The glory of the summer was the hay field. On the fair meadows we +turned and gathered the hay. It was a large crop; although the hay was +not all of the best, it was mostly of fair quality. And when the +hoeing, weeding and haying were done, the farmers dug meadow-muck for +compost. + +Ready and willing as I was to try my hand at whatever came along, I +went into the meadow and followed the plough with a bogging hoe, and +one day tried digging muck but the chief of the group thought the labor +was too heavy for me; I would have to wait until I grew stronger. + +Coming home one day I was told that one of our number had passed away. +She had been sick at the Hive a long while before my arrival. I could +scarcely be called acquainted with her, though I had been into her room +and called with others. In health she had been a brave worker, and in +sickness bore her severe suffering patiently. Messrs. Chiswell and +Tirrell of the Carpenters' Group were called on for their help, whilst +Mrs. Pratt and others prepared the body for its final sleep. Members of +the Direction selected a lovely spot in a little pine grove beyond the +Pilgrim House for a grave, and we gathered for a last service. + +I expected to hear Mr. Ripley speak, but true to a sensitive instinct +of propriety he did not, for though he was at the head of the +Association, she had her own faith and creed which he deemed sacred. +She was an Episcopalian, and after the service was read by one of our +number a solemn procession was formed which followed her body, borne on +our light wagon, to the grave, where, singing a hymn, we left her +quietly in peace. + +Soon after the gardener planted some young evergreens, and placed +flowering shrubs and a little fence around the sacred spot. If one must +die, must surrender life, oh, where can it be done better than under +such circumstances? From first to last no stranger's hand had aught to +do with this sister either in life or in death. No idle or curiously +intrusive person came near, and all the surroundings, though simple, +were in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. There was no pomp +or rivalry of show, no gaudy deckings, that we in our hearts despise, +but which an unhallowed custom forces upon us; but all was done +decently, lovingly, peacefully and well. It was a simple name she +bore--Mary Ann Williams. + +There was an amusement group, the members of which did not receive +pecuniary compensation. Its duty was to provide amusement for the +people and the scholars, as often as could be afforded, without +trespassing on school and daily duties. + +Miss Amelia Russell, a little, plump woman, with a pleasant smile, +dimpled cheeks, round, laughing eyes, cultivated and easy manners, was +chief of this group for a long period. Her title was "the mistress of +the revels." Under her direction there were various plays, games, +dances and tableaux. + +Besides the walks in the fields and woods there was an occasional +"children's festival," in the grove of pines, in which a large portion +of the elders joined. There were plenty of amusements, for although the +amusement group took general charge of them, there was nothing to +prevent any person or number of persons from amusing themselves to any +extent, and in any way, not interfering with the business of the place. + +Being among the minors, the pleasures of dancing and roaming over the +diversified country, were most attractive to me; for the young people +danced without expense--as we were, anywhere, any time, for five or ten +minutes, an hour or an evening, and it never became a dissipation; it +was too natural and common to be a dissipation. There were never late +hours. There was no dancing for show, or to display handsome clothes, +but simply for the love of it, its harmony and love of one another's +society and companionship. + +When the cares and lessons of the day were laid aside, and the evening +meal was over, we sauntered up the hill to the Eyry, and passing near +the Cottage, would perhaps find some one at the piano in the music +room, and if we numbered four or five, would waltz or dance to one or +the other's playing, the players and dancers taking turns until it was +time to stop. It might be there was a class in history or in reading at +eight, or maybe singing school would soon commence. If so, that +terminated the matter. Perhaps there was to be music at the +Eyry,--there was no formality, we went without ceremony to hear it. + +There were times when there was a regular "dance at the Hive." The +mistress of the revels was kind enough to assist young or old, whose +"education had been neglected," and who had never been taught their +"steps," by forming a dancing class and including all in it; and it +would have done your heart good to see the old fogies try for the first +time in their lives to put on grace. Grace it was, but often of the +oddest kind. Imagine the tall, spare figure of "the General," turned of +forty, full six feet in height and stooping in the shoulders, all legs +and arms--who could sit in a chair and wind his legs around each other +until the feet changed places, and sit comfortably so--as pupil of the +plump, little woman, straight as an arrow, and only (at a guess) four +feet six in height, and looking shorter for her plumpness, taking his +"one, two, three," and "forward and back steps." + +Imagine, also, all hands seated at the supper tables, with the rattle +of knives, forks, mugs and plates, and the full buzz of conversation; +waiters crowding up and down, supplying the fast vanishing food, and +everything cheerful, when a rapping on one of the tables arrests the +attention of all. One of the gentlemen, arising, announces, "There will +be a dance in this hall this evening, at eight o'clock, to which all +are invited." This is received with applause by the young people. +Perhaps it is a surprise to them; for some of the pupils who have a +little pocket money, have gained permission of the authorities, and +have sent for the Dedham "feedler," as our Dane used to call him, to +play the violin and call the dances. + +As for music, our orchestra was not very large. I am almost ashamed to +say that one violin, solitary and alone, or a piano brought down from +the Cottage, was often the only solace and cheer. But then the room was +not large, and certainly it was not high, so that nothing was lost in +its expanse, and truly the young man played very well, and I remember +there were some brass instruments used on an especial occasion. + +You should have been standing outside, looking in at the window just +the time that supper was over. Wouldn't you have seen some busy young +folks, clearing the tables and washing the dining-room ware! And you +would have seen the clean, white mugs and plates put up in huge piles +in the dining-room closet. Wouldn't the benches and tables disappear +quickly, and the floor be swept, and the lamps lighted, and everything +put in "apple-pie order"! And then the young women workers would +disappear, and in a few minutes reappear dressed in their best, like +magic pictures of youth and beauty, adorned in simple garments, with a +rose bud or a wreath of partridge vine (Mitchella) with its bright red +berries, woven into their tresses, or with some simple adornments; and +then for an hour or two of enjoyment! + +The dance would commence. One by one, after the young persons were in +the midst of the revelry, the older persons would come in, and the +non-dancers would range around as spectators; and now and then you +would distinguish our leader by the curly locks, the gleaming eyes and +gold-bowed spectacles, his glowing face expressing satisfaction in our +enjoyment. + +At ten o'clock, the dance ceased; immediately the tables and dishes +would reappear, as if by enchantment, and in a twinkling the dining +room was arranged for the morning. We had had our pleasure, and were +ready to pay for it by restoring things to immediate order. Besides, +what young man could leave the young ladies to set the tables alone, +after having danced with them all the evening? After this there were +hours enough left for sound sleep, and there were no headaches in the +morning. The result was, all the young people grew strong, graceful and +healthy. + +My peculiar temperament and strong love of nature made the walks and +wanderings in the fields dear to me. I recall them with the greatest +pleasure, and think that some others among the living must do the same. +There were no stated, regular hours for walking. The teachers went when +their classes for the day were over; the young folks when their tasks +were completed, or at twilight, in the long summer days, and often the +larger parties were on Sunday afternoons, for then there was greater +freedom from care. Some went to West Roxbury to church in the morning, +some, maybe, to the Eyry to read Swedenborg or other writers, and +unless Mr. Channing or some other minister who desired to preach was +present, there were no set services; and even if there were, a walk +might be arranged for a later hour in the summer afternoons. + +The tall, slim figure of the wife of our president, wearing a Leghorn +shade hat, with one or two graceful lady pupils by her side, was often +present and leading the procession; then perhaps the manly form of our +head farmer, and his stout wife, and his boys and girl; our "poet," +always beside some fair maiden, in cheerful conversation; a visitor and +the visited; groups of young people together, with muslin dresses, blue +tunics and straw hats intermingled; children; and maybe the stately +form of William Henry Channing, with his regular profile, and his head +carried high, looking upward and off, as into far, pleasant and dreamy +distances, walking beside a tall, black haired woman, with a spiritual +face of high type,--in all some thirty to forty in number, making a +delightfully picturesque group. + +Such parties would generally make the large and beautiful pine woods +that were near us the _ultimatum_ of their walk. Others would take a +longer walk, to the thicker woods of "Cow Island" (now covered with +houses), or to the Charles River. Leaving the farm they dived into the +young oak woods, by a small path in the rear of the Cottage, and +entering the magnificent grove of pines after a short walk, found a +grassy wood path that led a long distance through them. Soon the party +would begin to straggle and divide, some to gather wild flowers and +berries, and more to find materials for wreaths, or ferns and mosses +for decorations. + +The walks ended where walks do that have no definite plan--anywhere in +the woods, sitting on the boulders or the pine leaves, or in some shady +nook where a topic would be found for discussion, or a pleasant book +would be read. When the supper horn sounded, you found the absent ones +together again, with bright, rosy faces and good appetites; and only a +few of the younger folks would be late, who had strayed farther or +walked slower, to enjoy the companionship of those of the same age; to +listen to their sweet voices, and to linger, as only young folks love +to linger. + +The summer came on with joy and beauty. I recall the long waves of +nodding grass, that swayed in the June wind and were chasing each +other, fugue-like on the broad meadows. How beautiful it was, tipped +with its various hues of green, yellow, red and purple, bending and +rising as each breath of wind passed over it! The crops looked well, +and the table was supplied with varieties of garden produce. + +If you approached the farm in the middle of the forenoon, you wondered +where all the people were, but at the sound of the first horn, half an +hour before dinner, "from bush and briar and greensward shade" they +would begin to start out like Robin Hood's men, and when the second +horn was sounding, the daily, the tri-daily procession was fairly on +the move, approaching the Hive from all sides. It was a very pretty and +novel sight. + +The men had been in the field planting, hoeing or weeding--the farmer's +triad of duties in the vegetable field--and as they worked side by +side, the questions of the day were discussed with freedom and with +partisanship, but with good nature. The one who had a bias for art +brought forward his art hobbies; the dress reformer aired his and the +vegetarian argued his cause. Personal questions often came to the +front--as how Smith probably voted in the Association meeting in the +case of the admission of some mooted person; he was so sly you could +not find out! And they quizzed one another, and they laughed and +rivalled one another in speed of work, which they did faithfully and +interestedly. It was a good school of human nature, and sooner or later +each one was sized up with a deal of exactness. With the sounding of +the horn the hoes were left in the field or put on the shoulder for the +march to the barn, where, in its little room, the toilet for meals was +made. + +When I think under what disadvantages these toilers worked for five +years, I wonder at their patience and firmness. What would our city +families say to all going out from their apartments, male and female, +young and old, and walking from an eighth to a quarter of a mile--often +making their own path through the deep snow of our severe New England +winters--three times each day, for the simple meals we had there to +eat? What would they say to living in crowded rooms, without private +parlors, and the public one at the Hive not much better than an office +in a back country hotel, and the other disadvantages heretofore named +and many more, simply for the principle of the thing? + +Of course there was enthusiasm, and that sweetens many dull dishes; but +for those used to home comforts, to be sandwiched in with comparative +strangers--squeezed down, as it were, into a press--oftentimes having +the family separated into various and disunited parts of the mansion or +into different houses, was decidedly uncomfortable to bear. + +These disadvantages could not but make the Association quite early +decide that the one thing above all others needed was a new building +with suites of rooms, where families could have the comforts and +privacy of homes, which with a large kitchen, bakery, dining rooms, +parlors, etc., would make a "unitary dwelling"; approximating to an +apartment house of more modern days in many of its details, and +improving on it as regards unitary cooking, dining and social +conveniences. + +The autumn fled rapidly away, and things had to be hurried up and put +into shape for the winter. The gardener had no greenhouse, and was +growling for fear the early frost might take a fancy to his plants. So +the Association built him a temporary one in the "sand bank" by the +side of the farm road, and the plan was to bend their energies towards +getting the new dwelling started as early as possible in the spring, +and to build a permanent greenhouse near it. + +I do not know what passed in the General Direction during the winter. +They were undoubtedly busy in endeavoring to obtain money for +constructing the new building, preparing plans for its interior +arrangement, and personally lecturing in various places, to aid in +awakening the public to the new ideas, hoping also that some benefit +might accrue to their organization, as well as to the cause, from their +efforts. + +The winter was mild, and it passed rapidly. There were coasting parties +of young and old, but it was not often that the snow was favorable. +There were literary societies, and we admired "the General" when he +recited the part of the lean and hungry Cassius. He didn't stammer +then, and he received the additional title of "Shakespeare's hero." +These things, with reading, dancing and singing classes, an occasional +"social" at the Hive, with private gatherings and chats around the +kitchen fire by "Hiveites" (i.e., those living at the Hive), found us +with spring at hand before we could realize it. + +Among other matters in progress in the spring was the garden. The +gardener was urging upon the Association the usefulness and +profitableness of the growth and sale of garden and greenhouse plants +and flowers; the great benefit they would be in adding attractiveness +to the place, and also the importance of starting plants so that they +might be growing into sizable shrubs, to return an early profit for +their outlay. These facts decided the Association to commence a flower +garden, and they located it on a partially level piece of ground behind +the Cottage, covering perhaps a half acre, with a chance of future +extension by cutting the wood adjoining and cultivating the untilled +ground. + +There was much labor put on this piece of land, as it was first reduced +to a level by removing the soil and subsoil, and levelling the gravelly +bottom; then returning the subsoil and soil to the top. Walks were next +laid out with great care, and flower beds made. A border was also dug +for the expected new greenhouse, and filled with rich soil and compost, +and the end of the summer saw it erected. + +But the most important step taken in the spring was the establishment +of a journal devoted to the interests of Association and Associative +life. + +It is easy to see how naturally, independent of the need of an organ +for a new movement, the Brook Farmers took to the idea of publishing a +journal. In the first place there were at hand men who were abundant in +talent; who were used to writing, and well up in literature and fine +arts, to whom the idea was grateful as water to young ducks, And, +second, there were at least two or three printers and compositors +residing on the farm, who were as able in their department as the first +named were in theirs. There was in this connection, also, the +possibility at some future time of obtaining printing for the Printers' +Group, should that branch of labor be well established. + +The scheme cannot be better introduced than by giving here the +prospectus of the _Harbinger_, the beautiful name of the new weekly +paper. You will find in its brave words some of the ideas that the +leaders of this movement developed, but more particularly the broad +faith they had in human nature and in great principles applied to +social life, and the greater trust they had that the Providence under +which we live had ordained man for a sublime destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER" AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS. + + +The following is the prospectus of + +THE "HARBINGER." + +Devoted to the Social and Political progress. Published simultaneously +at New York and Boston, by the Brook Farm Phalanx. "All things, at the +present day, stand provided and prepared, and await the light." + +Under this title it is proposed to publish a weekly newspaper, for the +examination, and discussion of the great questions in social science, +politics, literature and the arts, which command the attention of all +believers in the progress and elevation of humanity. + +In politics, the _Harbinger_ will be democratic in its principles and +tendencies; cherishing the deepest interest in the advancement and +happiness of the masses; warring against all exclusive privilege in +legislation, political arrangements and social customs; and striving +with the zeal of earnest conviction, to promote the triumph of the high +democratic faith, which is the chief mission of the nineteenth century +to realize in society. + +Our devotion to the democratic principle will lead us to take the +ground of fearless and absolute independence in regard to all political +parties, whether professing attachment to that principle or hostility +to it. We know that fidelity to an idea can never be reassured by +adherence to a name; and hence we shall criticise all parties with +equal severity, though we trust that the sternness of truth will always +be blended with the temperance of impartial candor. With tolerance for +all opinions, we have no patience with hypocrisy and pretense; least of +all with that specious fraud which would make a glorious principle the +apology for personal ends. It will therefore be a leading object of the +_Harbinger_ to strip the disguise from the prevailing parties, to show +them in their true light, to give them due honor, to tender them our +grateful reverence whenever we see them true to a noble principle; but +at all times, and on every occasion, to expose false professions, to +hold up hollow-heartedness and duplicity to just indignation, to warn +the people against the demagogue, who would cajole them by honeyed +flatteries, no less than against the devotee of mammon who would make +them his slaves. + +The _Harbinger_ will be devoted to the cause of a radical, organic +social reform, as essential to the highest development of man's nature, +to the production of those elevated and beautiful forms of character of +which he is capable, and to the diffusion of happiness, excellence and +universal harmony upon the earth. The principles of universal unity as +taught by Charles Fourier, in their application to society, we believe +are at the foundation of all genuine social progress, and it will ever +be our aim to discuss and defend these principles, without any +sectarian bigotry, and in the catholic and comprehensive spirit of +their great discoverer. While we bow to no man as an authoritative, +infallible master, we revere the genius of Fourier too highly not to +accept, with joyful welcome, the light which he has shed on the most +intricate problems of human destiny. The social reform of whose advent +the signs are everywhere visible, comprehends all others, and in +laboring for its speedy accomplishment, we are conscious that we are +devoting our best ability to the removal of oppression and injustice +among men, to the complete emancipation of the enslaved, to the +promotion of genuine temperance, and to the elevation of the toiling +and down-trodden masses to the inborn rights of humanity. + +In literature the _Harbinger_ will exercise a firm and impartial +criticism, without respect of persons or parties. It will be made a +vehicle for the freest thought, though not of random speculations; and +with a generous appreciation of the various forms of truth and beauty, +it will not fail to expose such instances of false sentiment, perverted +taste and erroneous opinion, as may tend to vitiate the public mind or +degrade the individual character. Nor will the literary department of +the _Harbinger_ be limited to criticism alone. It will receive +contributions from various pens, in different spheres of thought, and, +free from dogmatic exclusiveness, will accept all that in any way +indicates the unity of man with man, with nature, and with God. +Consequently all true science, all poetry and arts, all sincere +literature, all religion that is from the soul, all wise analyses of +mind and character, will come within its province. + +We appeal for aid in our enterprise to the earnest and hopeful spirits +in all classes of society. We appeal to all who, suffering from a +resistless discontent in the present order of things, with faith in man +and trust in God are striving for the establishment of universal +justice, harmony and love. We appeal to the thoughtful, the aspiring, +the generous everywhere, who wish to see the reign of heavenly truth +triumphant, by supplanting the infernal discords and falsehoods on +which modern society is built--for their sympathy, friendship and +practical cooperation in the undertaking which we announce to-day. + +The _Harbinger_ was launched, and it weathered the, storm for four +years, until its editors sought other and wider fields for their +genius. Besides the motto on the prospectus, they took the following +from Rev. William Ellery Channing: "Of modern civilization, the natural +fruits are, contempt for others' rights, fraud, oppression, a gambling +spirit in trade, reckless adventure and commercial convulsions, all +tending to impoverish the laborer and render every condition insecure. +Relief is to come, and can only come from the new application of +Christian principles, of universal justice and universal love, to +social institutions, to commerce, to business, to active life." + +It was printed in quarto form, sixteen pages to every number, with +clear type and in excellent style. The index of the first volume bears +a list of twenty-two names as contributors, and it contains many worthy +ones. The New York names were as follows:-- + +Albert Brisbane. William Henry Channing. Christopher P. Cranch. George +William Curtis. George G. Foster. Parke Godwin. Horace Greeley. Osborne +MacDaniel. + +The New England names were:-- + +Otis Clapp, Boston, Mass. William W. Story, Boston, Mass. T. Wentworth +Higginson, Boston, Mass. James Russell Lowell, Cambridge, Mass. J. A. +Saxton, Deerfield, Mass. Francis George Shaw, West Roxbury, Mass. John +G. Whittier, Amesbury, Mass. + +Other contributors were:-- + +E. P. Grant of Ohio. A. J. H. Duganne of Philadelphia. + +The Brook Farm writers were:-- + +George Ripley. John S. Dwight. Charles A. Dana. Lewis K. Ryckman. + +In the second volume are two more of the Channing family as +contributors, Dr. William F. and Walter, and also the name of James +Freeman Clarke, of Boston, with an additional writer from Brook +Farm--John Orvis. + +Mr. Ripley and Mr. Dana wrote most of the editorial Associative +articles. Mr. Dana was the principal reviewer, and noticed the new +books. Mr. Dwight wrote an occasional article on Association, reviewed, +and attended to the musical and poetical department. He also earnestly +advocated the doctrines of social and industrial life suggested by +Fourier. Translations in prose and poetry were common. Parke Godwin and +W. H. Channing assisted in translations or selections from Fourier's +writings. George William Curtis wrote the musical correspondence from +New York, and among the poetical contributions in the first volume, is +one from J. G. Whittier, "To My Friend on the Death of His Sister," and +five poems by Cranch, Higginson, Story, Lowell and Duganne; also poetic +translations from the German by Dwight and Dana, as well as original +poems by them. + +The paper was not local. It aimed high as a purely literary and +critical as well as progressive journal, and I must ever consider it a +fault that it did not chronicle more of Brook Farm life. We look almost +in vain through its pages for one word of its situation, finding none +except in some allusions to it in the correspondence from abroad. +Occasionally the school was advertised in a corner, but for the rest it +might as well have been published elsewhere as at Brook Farm. The +leaders, feeling that the life there was an experiment, and perhaps a +doubtful one, were not disposed to gratify a curiosity which they +probably considered morbid, by yielding to it. This was a mistake. It +was a mistake, as much as it would be for us to leave out of our +letters to our friends the petty incidents of daily life, and describe +only grand principles and outside events. It is only to those loved +most by us that we recite the trivial things, for we know that those +trivialities link us closer than anything else, filling all the chinks +in our friendship or love. It was a disappointment to those who desired +to know often of the spirit of the workers, and of the little events +that happened there, not to find more notices of them. + +In many other respects the _Harbinger_ was a grand success. In all that +pertained to music, criticism, poetry and progress no journal stood +higher. I cannot tell of its pecuniary success for I do not find any +memorandum of its finances. The first number commenced with a story +translated from the French of George Sand (Madame Dudevant) entitled +"Consuelo"--in some respects the sweetest story she ever wrote. It was +translated by our neighbor, Mr. Francis G. Shaw, who would oftentimes +mount his horse, and, with his little boy, a tiny fellow, on a pony by +his side, gallop over to see us. How hard it is for me to realize that +afterward the same little fellow, as Col. Robert G. Shaw, led his +colored regiment through fire and smoke and the whizzing bullets up to +the cannon's mouth of bloody Fort Wagner, and there laid down his life +for his country. + +Francis George Shaw was of a Boston family and a gentleman of means. He +took great interest in our experiment and its hoped-for results. I have +not words to praise his kindness, and his gentlemanly manner and +bearing towards us all. He looked on life from a high standpoint. +Wealth did not corrupt him. He was a Christian in large heartedness and +philanthropy. He recognized his Maker's image in all men; the garment +he saw through; the color he saw through; and he desired above all +things the education, progress and culture of all the human family. + +Appended is an additional list of all the advertised contributors of +the _Harbinger_, during its publication at Brook Farm, not including +those already mentioned:-- + +John Allen, Brook Farm. Jean M. Pallisse, Brook Farm. S. P. Andrews, +New York, N. Y. William Ellery Channing, Concord, Mass. Joseph J. +Cooke, Providence, R. I. Fred. Henry Hedge, Bangor, Me. Mark E. +Lazarus, Wilmington, N. C. E. W. Parkman, Boston, Mass. J. H. Pulte, +Cincinnati, Ohio. Samuel D. Robbins, Chelsea, Mass. Miss E. H. Starr, +Deerfield, Mass. C. Neidhart, Philadelphia, Pa. + +The presence of a weekly journal on the farm, with its varieties of +current literature, poetry and music, could not but awaken in many of +the colaborers most pleasurable emotions. Prose articles and poetry +from it were discussed by daylight and by the fireside, by the +roadside, in the shops, on the farm--in fact, everywhere. The "Admiral" +was wild over Hood's "Bridge of Sighs." It was so quaint; the rhythm +was so unique; it was so full of sentiment; it was so tender; it +displayed so touchingly the sorrows of a young heart, and was so in +harmony with the humanitarian sentiment of our lives, that he and +others could but repeat it over and over, and the poet's rhymes kept +ringing both in our physical and mental ears. The lines-- + + + "One more unfortunate, + Rashly importunate + Gone to her death. + + * * * * * + + Take her up tenderly, + Fashioned so slenderly + Young and so fair." + +were repeated times without number. Cranch's, Story's and Duganne's +poems were favorably criticised, the authors being friendly to the +Association, and the verses of our own members touched tender spots. + +When Mr. Emerson's poems were published, there was quite a desire to +know what his sonnet to our friend William H. Channing was like. The +disappointment was great when, instead of a grand, glowing sonnet to a +great-souled man, it took up only an exceptional point of feeling in +his mind on the Abolition question, on which they were not quite +agreed. Quite a little discussion took place between two young persons +as to the propriety of the lines, + + "What boots thy zeal, O glowing friend, + That would indignant rend + The Northland from the South?" + +The one party contended that "boots" was entirely inadmissible in +poetic phrase. "What boots? Cowhides or patent leathers?" said he, +whilst the other contended that the whole scope of the meaning made the +poetry. But still the first stuck to his point, that a grand sentiment +needed grand words as well as grand ideas, and "boots" was a homely and +inadmissible word with which to express a high sentiment. + +Among the many volumes noticed, "Festus," by Philip James Bailey, was a +constant source of admiration and criticism in some of our circles, and +we had many varied ones. Listen to what Mr. Dwight said of it at the +time in the _Harbinger_: "There are more original and magnificent +images on a single page of Festus than would endow a dozen of the +handsome volumes most in vogue. The conclusion you come to as you read +on, is that his wealth of imagination is illimitable, and that you +might as well cut a cloud out of the purple sunset atmosphere, as a +figure from the boundless atmospheric beauty of this poem." + +"Festus" still retains its charm for me. + +The _Harbinger_, as may be seen, was to be published by the Brook Farm +_Phalanx_, not _Association_. The reason why the name was changed was +because "Association" was not a definite one, conveying distinct +impressions to the public mind, like "Community"; and the name +"Phalanx," although to American ears, new in its connection, was +expressive, and was also adopted by a number of social experiments just +starting, and it was desirable to have them all associated in name as +well as in general doctrine. The name "Community" was rejected because +all the societies organized under that name held their property in +common, which the "Association" distinctly did not. + +There were other changes made at this time, more important in idea than +in practice. The name "Areopagus" was applied to an enlarged general +council, and our leader got in this connection, without warrant, the +name of "the Archon." + +"Come!" said jocose Drew to him one day, as he sat on the wagon-seat +ready to start for the city, "we are waiting for you!" + +"Ah!" was Mr. Ripley's reply, "I see you have the _wag_-on, and are now +waiting for the Archon!" + +The government was vested in a General Council consisting of four +branches: First, a Council of Industry, composed of five members; +second, a Council of Finance, of four members; third, a Council of +Science, of three members, and fourth a President, who, with the +chairmen of the other three councils, constituted a "Central Council." +The Council of Industry was appointed by the chiefs of the several +series devoted to manual industry; the Council of Finance, by the +stockholders; the Council of Science, by chiefs of the series devoted +to educational, literary and scientific matters, and the President by +the concurrent vote of the three series. + +The Areopagus, whose duty was advisory, consisted of the General +Council; the chiefs of the several groups and series; stockholders +holding stock to the amount of one thousand dollars or more; all +members of the Phalanx over the age of forty-five who had resided on +the place for two years or longer; and of such other persons as might +be elected by this Council on account of their superior wisdom, merit +or devotion to the interests of the Association; no person voting who +was not a member of the Phalanx. + +There was a curious and interesting addition to the constitution in the +"Council of Arbiters," which was to consist of seven persons, "the +majority of whom shall be women." To this council individuals and +departments were to bring all complaints, charges and grievances not +provided for in other ways. They were to take cognizance of all matters +relating to morals and manners, and to report to the General Council +all cases wherein their decision was not complied with. The reader can +judge by this that there were men and women who understood "woman's +sphere," and were ready to assist her to it quietly and naturally, long +years ago in this little band. + +A considerable number of arrangements were made to secure what was +considered justice in the relation of capital to the Phalanx, its +members and its stockholders. The capital stock was divided into three +classes, namely: loan stock, or that which received a fixed percentage +for use; partnership stock, depending on the general product of the +Phalanx for its dividend; and labor stock, that represented the +dividend to labor. + +The arrangements for the dividends on stock of the several kinds were +quite complicated, and, under the light of after events, seem farcical; +but the constitution makers believed they were arranging matters not +only for the Brook Farm experiment, but for all who might adopt the +social life of the Phalanxes, present and future. Looking at it in this +light, the constitution might deserve more thought than can be given to +it now. + +There was a preliminary article, written and signed by George Ripley, +President, from which the following extracts are made:-- + +"At the last session of the Legislature of Massachusetts, our +Association was incorporated under the name which it now assumes, with +the right to hold real estate to the amount of one hundred thousand +dollars. This confers upon us all the usual powers and privileges of +chartered companies. We have introduced several branches of profitable +industry, and established a market for their products; and finally, in +the constitution which follows, we have applied the principles of +social justice to the distribution of profits in such a manner that the +best results are to be expected. + +"Nothing is now necessary to the greatest possible measure of success +but capital to furnish sufficient means to enable us to develop every +department to advantage. This capital we can now apply profitably and +without danger of loss. We are well aware that there must be risk in +investing money in an infant association as well as in any other +untried business, but with the labors of nearly four years, we have +arrived at a point where this risk hardly exists. Not that we have +surmounted all the difficulties of the enterprise; these are still +sufficiently abundant. But we have, by no means with ease, laid the +foundation, and now stand ready to do our part in rearing a +superstructure, which approaches more nearly to the ideal of human +society than any that has as yet existed--a society which shall +establish justice between all interests and all men; which shall +guarantee education, the right to labor, and the rights of property to +all, and which by actual demonstration of a state of things every way +better and more advantageous, will put an end to the great evils which +at present burden even the most fortunate classes. + +"What we have already been able to accomplish ought to give weight to +our words. We speak not from abstract conviction, but from experience; +not as mere enthusiasts, but as men of practical common sense, holding +in our hands the means of escape from the present condition of society, +and from that still more frightful state to which in all civilized +countries it is hurrying. + +"Accordingly, we calmly and earnestly invite the aid of those who +perceive how little security existing institutions offer against the +growth of commercial feudalism on the one hand, and pauperism on the +other--of those whose sympathies are with the unfortunate and +uneducated masses; of those who long for the establishment of more true +and genial conditions of life, as well as of those who are made +restless and fiery-souled by the universal necessities of reform. + +"But by the increasing number, whose most ardent desire is to see the +experiment of Association fairly tried, we are confident that the +appeal we now make will not be received without the most generous +response in their power. As far as their means and their utmost +exertions can go, they will not suffer so favorable an opportunity for +the realization of their hopes to pass unimproved." + +I cannot say that I think all parties in the Association were pleased +with the changes in the constitution. They were not simple enough to be +easily applied and quickly comprehended, and were too weighty and +cumbersome for the little society. + +Early in the second spring (1844) of my sojourn at the farm it was +decided to build a large unitary building on the high ground, almost +directly in front of the Eyry, though at some distance from it, on the +eastern verge of the slope facing the meadow, and nearly in line with +the distant town road. It was late when the preparations were concluded +and the work was commenced. There was not money enough in the treasury +to pay for it, but it was thought that means would come. The result of +the season's work was that the foundation walls were laid, the first +floor was boarded, and thus it was left for the winter. + +It was to be an oblong, wooden building, with an entrance on a level +with the earth terrace. The lower floor was divided into some five or +six apartments, with parlors, a reading room, reception rooms, large +dining hall, with an adjoining kitchen and bakery. From the main hall +or entry, which was on the left of the centre of the building, arose a +flight of stairs which led out on to a corridor or piazza which +extended across the whole front of the building. This corridor was +duplicated by one above it, and the roof jutted out to a line with the +lower story and covered them both. Pillars supported the roof, and were +attached to and supported the corridors. On the lower corridor or +piazza were the entrances to the suites. There were seven doorways that +entered seven houses, as distinct as any other seven houses, except in +being connected by the corridors and being under one roof, each house +containing two suites. Thus could privacy be maintained and sociability +increased. + +The building would add wonderfully to the advantages of the +Association, and being near the centre of the domain, would diminish +the travel which consumed a great deal of time. It would give room for +increased numbers; would furnish a suitable assembly room, and more +especially would it give to the larger families a chance to place their +members together in the natural family order. It would also allow the +other buildings to be used exclusively for family purposes, and if +success increased the resources of the Association, the main building +would be enlarged by adding wings to it. + +The proportion of unmarried persons in the Association was large, and +young men predominated. They had, in a general sense, a good home in +the Association, but there was lacking the family circle to draw around +at night, and a good deal of motherly care and sympathy. They were +reliable young men, and many of the families would not have objected to +having them joined to their evening circles, had they not been crowded +themselves; to having a sympathizing care over them, and to looking +after many of those trifling things that make the difference between +comfort and discomfort. + +It was a theory that all should have a home--that the Association, as a +general home, should not take the place of the private family; and it +was also considered a duty by many to join to their family circles one +or more of these single persons. It was proposed in the apportionment +of the rooms in the new building, to place a family in each house and +proportionately distribute the young men, when desirable to do so, +among them. This would give all a more equal chance, and not doom the +young and productive members to reside in attics, or in groups in any +place convenient for the Association, in its crowded state, to put them. + +Extracts from the Financial Report to the Association. + +"The Direction of Finance respectfully submit their annual report for +the year ending Oct. 31, 1844:-- + + The income of the Association during the year from + all sources whatever has been . . . . . . .$11,854.41 + and its expenditures for all purposes, + including interest, losses by bad debts, + and damage of buildings, tools and + furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,409.14 + + leaving a balance of . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,445.27 + from which deducting the amount of + doubtful debts contracted this year . . . . 284.43 + -------- + we have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,160.84 + +which is to be divided according to the Constitution. + +"By the last yearly report of this Direction it appears that the +Association has been a loser up to November 1, 1843, to the amount of +$2,748.83. In this amount was included sundry debts against associates +amounting to $924.38 which should not have been included. There were +also some small discrepancies which were afterwards discovered, so that +on settling the books, the entire deficit appeared to be $1,837.00. + +"To this amount should be added the proportion of the damage done to +the tools, furniture and general fixtures and depreciation in the live +stock, by the use of the two years which the Association has been in +operation previous to that time. The whole damage of this property by +the use of these years has been ascertained by inventory to be $365.54, +according to the estimates and statements prepared by Messrs. Ryckman +and Hastings, which are herewith submitted. + +"Of this sum, $365.54, we have charged one third, $121.85, to the +account of the current year, and two thirds, $243.69, to the account of +the two preceding years. To the same amount should also be added sundry +debts which have since proved to be bad, amounting in all to $678.08, +and also an error in favor of I. Morton amounting to $17.74, which has +since been discovered in his account, so that the total deficit of the +preceding years will appear to be as follows:-- + + Deficit on settling the books..... $1,837.00 + Damage on furniture and fixtures..... 243.69 + Bad debts, including debts of + associates considered doubtful....... 678.08 + I. Morton............................ 17.74 + + Total.............................. $2,776.51 + +"From this amount is to be deducted the value of the farm produce +consisting of hay, roots, manures, etc., on hand November 1, 1843, +which was not taken into the amount of last year, but which has been +ascertained to be $762.50, as well as the value, $49.13, of the family +stores which were on hand at the same time, but were also omitted from +the amount. + +"Deducting these two amounts ($762.50+$49.13= $811.63) from the deficit +as above stated we have: + + Deficit.......... $2,776.51 + Farm produce and + family stores....... 811.63 + + Real deficit for + 1842 and 1843.... $1,964.88 + +"It was the opinion of a majority at least of this Board that this sum +must be chargeable upon the future industry of the Association, and +that no dividend could be declared until it had been made up. +Accordingly the quarterly statement for the quarter ending August 1, +1844, was based upon this opinion, and a deficit of $526.78 declared to +exist at that time. It is but justice to say that that statement was +made up in the absence of one of the members of the Direction, Mr. +Ryckman, who on seeing it objected entirely to the principle which it +embodied. Subsequent consideration has convinced the Direction that the +statement was in that respect erroneous, and that the transactions of +previous years ought not to affect the operations of this, in the way +proposed in the statement. It should be borne in mind that the deficit +before spoken of is not a debt in itself, but is the difference between +the amount of our debts and our joint stock, and the nominal value of +our assets. The Association is not bound to pay the sum or to make it +good in any way. It pays interest upon it, but can never be called on +to pay the principal. The sum total of the actual liabilities of the +Association, that is, of debts and obligations which it is bound at +some time or other to pay, is much exceeded by the cost value of its +property. Its joint stock, which it is not bound to pay, much exceeds +the deficit we are speaking of, so that clearly the deficit is not to +be paid, but only the interest upon it, that is, five per cent per +annum forever. So that it is evident that the principal is by no means +chargeable upon the industry of the present or of future years, but +only the interest. And even if the said deficit were a debt to be paid +it would still, as we conceive, be perfectly just and legitimate to +issue stock for its amount to those members by whose labors it was made +up. Because in that case we should merely, in consideration of such +labor, bind the Association to the yearly payment of the interest +aforesaid according to the terms of our joint stock compact. + +"This is, as we are persuaded, the only way whereby labor can receive +justice. If a hundred dollars in money is invested in our stock, we +issue certificates for that amount, and why must we not do the same +with an investment of a hundred dollars' worth of labor? The claim in +the latter case seems to us even more imperative than in the former. +The dividend of each year ought, as we are convinced, to be made with +reference solely to the difference between its gains on the one hand, +and its expenditures and losses on the other. + +"The earlier losses of the establishment must be regarded as the price +of much valuable experience, and as inevitable in starting such an +institution. Almost every business fails to pay its expenses at the +commencement--it always costs something to set the wheels in operation; +this is not, however, to be regarded as absolute loss. This is the view +which is to be taken of the condition of the Association at the +beginning of the present year. + +"The true value of any property is precisely the sum on which, in the +use for which it was designed or which it may be put to, it pays the +requisite interest. The price of railroad stock, for example, is not +regulated, either by its original cost or by the present intrinsic +worth of the property it represents, but by the dividend it pays and by +the condition and durability of the railroad. For any other use than as +a railroad the property of the road is of course comparatively +worthless, but that consideration has no effect upon its value. + +"The case is entirely the same with the property of this Association. +As long as it is able, in the use and under the management of the +Association, to pay the stipulated interest--five per cent per +annum--upon the stock shares by which it is represented, so long those +stock shares will be worth par, whatever may be the nominal cost of the +property, or its value for any other purposes than those of the +Association. + +"In accordance with these views and for other considerations which we +shall hereafter allude to, this Direction is altogether of opinion that +the results of this year's industry ought to be divided irrespective of +the results of former years, and certificates of stock issued to those +persons who are entitled to such dividends. + +"To some persons it may perhaps seem remarkable that a dividend should +be declared when the Association is so much in want of ready money as +at present, but a little reflection will show anyone that it is a +perfectly legitimate proceeding. A very large part of our industry has +been engaged in the production of permanent property such as the shop, +the Phalanstery and the improvements upon the farm. These are of even +more value to the Association than so much money, and a dividend may as +justly be based upon them as upon cash in the treasury. + +"As soon as the Phalanstery shall be completed it will become necessary +to establish different rates of room rent. It is a matter of doubt +whether such an arrangement is not already desirable. In our present +crowded condition, indeed, the general inconveniences are distributed +with tolerable equality, but still it is impossible to avoid some +exceptions, and it might contribute to the harmony of the Association +if a just graduation of rates for different apartments should now be +established. As far as possible no member should be the recipient of +peculiar favors, but when all are charged at an equal rate for unequal +accommodations, this is unavoidable. For the same reason a difference +should be made between the price of board at the Graham tables, and +those which are furnished with a different kind of food. It is only by +this means that justice can be done and differences prevented. + + "C. A. D." + + +The first thought that will arrest the attention of some in reading +this report is the smallness of the figures. It does not appear to-day +that the corporation was much of a financial affair, for there are +thousands of persons in our land now who could easily sustain such an +institution and pocket its yearly losses; but we must bear in mind that +the intervening years have changed the value of money, and its relation +to property. A fair price for a mechanic's labor then was a dollar for +a day of ten to twelve hours; the same persons would now receive three +to four times as much for less hours. We should remember also that the +colossal fortunes of to-day were not in existence then. The means at +the command of the Association were very small, and the wonder is that +with so little money capital the enterprise should have attracted the +wide notice it did. + +In this report was an allusion to the Graham table. In the dining room +there was always, at the time of which I write, one table of +vegetarians--those who used no flesh meats, and generally no tea or +coffee. They passed under the name of "Grahamities," from the founder +of the vegetarian system in America, Dr. Sylvester Graham, whose name +is still connected with bread made of unbolted wheat because it was by +him considered the very perfection of human food. These persons were of +both sexes, different ages and occupations. They worked on the farms, +in the schools, the houses and the shops. They had the diet of the +place, minus the meat and sometimes the tea and coffee. Little +attention was paid at first to this departure from common habits, but +by degrees the numbers increased until they began to be a power. Their +constancy, their earnest belief, soon swept away all ridicule, and the +proof that they could do their share of daily work was not wanting. +Among the number were many very devoted and cheerful persons. + +Dispensing with meat, with the restricted diet, led some to say: "Our +table does not cost as much as the others, for we eat no meat, saving +the expense of it to the Association, and we drink no tea or coffee, +saving that cost also. Let us have the money we have economized, spent +for us in things that we want, in additional fruit and vegetables, or +in some articles of diet that we need to replace the food we do not +use." The answer to it was that the Association furnished certain +things, and if the members did not eat them it was their loss, as it +could not be expected that the Association could cater to individual +tastes. But after a while the injustice was made apparent, and it led +to the notice we have just read in the report. + +I have been requested to give my personal testimony as to the effect of +a vegetarian diet as seen at Brook Farm. I willingly do so. For two or +three years the farmers, mechanics and others worked side by side, and +no one could conscientiously say that in ability to work in any field +of labor, physical or mental, the vegetarians were out-matched by their +companions. Their health was fully maintained and their mental +cheerfulness was surpassed by none. + +From this report it can easily be learned that no important financial +progress had been made at Brook Farm, and that any accumulation of +wealth was yet in the future. The Brook Farmers were working in hope. +It was still an experiment, and as an experiment it will be necessary +for me to point out by-and-by the defects which will answer the often +asked question, "Why did Brook Farm fail?" But it is well to bear in +mind the starting point. Most men of business go into trade with a +capital, some reserved fund, but the Brook Farmers had none, and as +they progressed, the want of it was more and more felt. "It is the +first step that costs," as the French proverb says, and the Brook +Farmers had a great many first steps to take, steps that no others had +taken, and inevitable costs and losses must occur. But we pass on into +the second spring of my Brook Farm life. + +And here another character came into our circle, and joined in work on +the farm. He was very enthusiastic. His wife had lately died, and he +brought her body to Brook Farm as to Holy Land and buried it in the +little grove by the side of our first and only grave, so that there +were now two mounds that the gardener ornamented with sods, shrubbery +and flowers. + +I do not think this new friend had a fine face. His features were not +large, and, if we except the full forehead, not very attractive. His +mouth was small, and his dark brown hair asserted its rights in spite +of brush and comb, and would not lie gracefully down over his brow, and +it added to the look of determination there was in the little man's +countenance, shown by the lines in his face and the rigid and spare +muscles, a "hold on" expression which so well coincided with his +character. + +New England at this time put its fingers in its ears and stifled the +beatings of its heart that kept time with justice, in order that the +peace of our country should not be disturbed by men who thought slavery +a curse, and proclaimed it so. Rev. John Allen was then in a pulpit, +and dared to speak his mind to his people, at which they rebelled and +would not hearken. "Speak I must; speak I will," said he, "or we part! +Let me but preach a sermon once a quarter on the subject of slavery!" +But the church said, "No." "Let me then but preach once in six months," +and the church said, "No." Finally he said he would continue with them +if they would allow him to preach one sermon a year on the subject--I +doubt not that that _one_ would have carried flint and steel enough to +set fire to all the tinder in the congregation--but the church would +not listen, and they parted. + +He had one little child, an infant a year or two old, who, deprived of +his mother, was brought to the farm and had a great deal of attention +and pity bestowed upon it. This little boy brought a misfortune which +threatened the lives of the members, the business and life of the +Association. He was the pet of his father, who took him to Boston on +his lecture tours and brought him back, for Mr. Allen was engaged to +lecture for the cause. The child had never been vaccinated, and being +ill at the Hive, it was discovered that he had symptoms of small-pox, +which disease he had taken somewhere in the city. Imagine the commotion +among the persons who had handled and fondled the young darling, and in +the Association in general! But the bravery of men and women who had +dared to leave their homes and share the fortune and fate of this young +Community was everywhere displayed. + +The child was isolated and cared for, but in due time backaches and +headaches foretold the coming of the dreaded disease, and preparations +were made for anticipated results. The Cottage was vacated, and the +sick were conveyed thither. The disease took a variety of forms. There +were those who had nothing but the symptoms, or a pustule or two; some +had a few dozen on them, scattered from head to foot; they were almost +absolutely well; they refused to be made invalids of; they kept at work +on the farm or were only disabled for a day or two when the disease was +at its height. The lighter cases increased in number, and finally the +Direction saw it was useless to try to isolate all, and that the +disease must have its run, and they must trust to fate for final +results. The worst cases were in the improvised hospital, under the +care of kindly nurses. "Hired," say you? No; not a bit of it! but dear, +kind women and men volunteered to attend to this sacred duty, and after +weeks of imprisonment, came out with the glory of having protected +every life, and the Associated family lost not a member. There were +more than thirty cases. The simple diet, the pure air and the healthy +mental stimulus of cheerful lives, with the knowledge that they were +something more than in name a united body, must have had its effect, +for the whole trouble passed away like a summer shower, and left no +permanent impression on the society. There were three or four extreme +cases, but only one or two persons who bore scars that were +defacements, and there was no panic in our midst. The members took the +whole matter with wonderful coolness. + +Like a shower it wiped out the army of visitors! When any persons came, +an attendant warned them of our condition ere they reached the Hive +door, and they precipitately retreated. Occasionally only, a carriage +or a few persons travelled the accustomed ways. Not until the epidemic +had passed did the interminable throng resume its accustomed walk, or +strange faces appear at the "visitors' table," and our many constant +and cheerful friends greet us again as of yore. The labor of the +Association was much disarranged, and there was loss in many ways, but +it was truly to be congratulated that it escaped from such an unusual +danger as comfortably as it did. From the first days of the Community +until its close, there was only one death on the farm, and that of the +person described in a former chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING. + + +All through the spring the talk was of the new building, the +"Phalanstery," as we called it. Everybody was thinking what great +progress could be made when we should live in it. One day, passing by, +I found the carpenters had resumed work, and from thenceforth it +progressed until it assumed the resemblance of a mammoth house. + +The round of daily life this season was little varied from that of the +past, but there was more activity and more crowding. A great many +makeshifts were had to enable persons who wished to visit the place to +get even lodging for a night, for no one knew who or how many were +coming before the evening coach arrived. Oftentimes it came full, when +it seemed there was not a sleeping place to be found on the domain. The +Association buildings overflowed, and a neighboring house was leased +and occupied just across the road, by the Hive. It was sometimes called +the "Nest," and had been hired in the first days of the "Community." +Even then every corner was filled. + +There was some income from this crowd of visitors, and at the same time +the work and system of the place were much retarded, for as carriage +after carriage and vehicle after vehicle came, each one would require +an attendant, who was taken from labor, and when the regular attendants +were all occupied the horn would be sounded to see if anyone of the +shoemakers or printers or farmers or teachers would leave his work and +volunteer for this duty. + +Frequently all these visitors would leave as suddenly as they came, and +would only give their thanks, not even being of a single cent's +immediate value to the place for the outlay of time taken from +productive labor. Sometimes a growl would be heard because a trifle was +taken for the expense of meals, or about the absence of feathers in the +beds, by some visitor who intruded himself uninvited. I pitied the +Dormitory Group, running from house to house at edge of evening to find +a stray corner to lodge a guest; seeking out the rooms of absent +members, and hunting up towels, furnishings and fittings, through all +the pleasant summer weather. But this was cheerfully done for "the +cause," and much more had to be done. + +Our lecturers were wanted--men who were in practical associative life, +and they were taken from remunerative work to speak to the public. Thus +we entered into the summer, and the beautiful grass waved again on the +meadow; the pleasant lights gleamed again from the Eyry windows; the +pure moon looked down on the summer fields; the merry voices of the +young and happy folks were heard as the farmers came up from the +fields, and the horn sounded its "_toot-toot_" as a signal for all to +join at meals. + +I was in the gardener's department, assisting him in the care of the +greenhouse plants and making flower beds, but our especial work was +laying out and planting a large garden which should be a permanent +addition to the beauty of the place, and a future source of income. On +the farm was a fine imported bull who did not seem to be doing his +share of work in our very industrious place, so a ring was put in his +nose and he was my especial charge in the way of a team. It appears +cruel to one who for the first time sees a bull led by the nose, but +there seems to be no reason why a bull should complain, when there are +so many humans continually led through life in the same fashion. + +In fact the bull throve and had in some ways considerable sense. He was +harnessed into a tipcart and we made him work for us. He was a strong, +powerful fellow, and has carried his eighty loads of gravel a day, from +one part of the garden to the other. At noon I would relieve him of his +harness and mount his back for a ride to the barn. I would then be the +"observed of all observers." Sometimes, for the frolic, I would load my +cart with young misses and dump them at the Hive door, backing up to it +in the most approved style of an old "gee-haw" farmer. + +"Prince Albert," the bull, was a gem. He worked admirably. He never +gave me any trouble, or anyone else human, but when stalled near the +oxen he had a peculiar fancy to poke his horns into them. Early one +morning, by some mischance, he got loose in the barn, and "going" for +one of them frightened him so much that he also broke loose, and in +trying to make his escape from the bull, backed into the barn-room. +There was a large trap door in it, and the ox ventured on it, breaking +it, and fell through. The bull was so close behind that he could not +escape, and they dropped together into the little room below, the door +of which was open. The ox escaped into the yard, and ran for dear life +around the front of the Hive, pursued by the bull. Whether the jar of +the fall, his escape, or his quiet disposition sobered him I know not, +but he soon fell into a jog-trot pursuit, and was caught and returned +by a neighboring farmer. + +There was great roaring and noise in the fracas, which was of short +duration, but long enough to bring out the men from the Hive to witness +the affair. The General, who had been sleeping a little late--probably +he had been baking bread the night before--made his appearance from his +little room on the ground floor, with boot on one foot and shoe on the +other, just as it was all over, with the impatient inquiry, "W-w-what +is it all about?" On an explanation of the affair being made, the next +question he asked, in all earnestness, soberness and simplicity, was +"W-h-o-i-c-h came out ahead?" The personal appearance and manner of the +General, and the absurd question, uttered in a vehement and stammering +way, touched a ludicrous spot in the minds of the spectators so +permanently that should you ask one of them to-day, "Which came out +ahead?" he will smile or give you a shout of laughter in return. + +It took but little to amuse, sometimes, for on one of the beautiful +summer days at nooning time, a group of men were resting in the shade +of the arbor that was on an island artificially made in the brook below +the terraces in front of the Hive, breathing the pure, balmy air of +outdoors instead of the indoor air of the workshop, reclining on the +thick greensward, when some two or three essayed the not very difficult +feat of jumping the merrily running brook, from embankment to +embankment, and dared Tirrell, one of the number, to follow. He was the +oldest and a little less supple than the others; and in trying the jump +deliberately landed about three inches short of the opposite bank, knee +deep in the water. It was, as the young people say, "too funny for +anything," but equally funny to the lookers-on to see the amused +Chiswell, one of his mates, roll over and over on the greensward in +repeated convulsions of side-splitting laughter, whilst the others, +standing up, had hard work to keep their perpendicular and writhed in +awful shapes as they joined in chorus with him, as Tirrell was slowly +wading out of the water up the embankment. + +Trouble in financial affairs still existed. Cash in large amount was +not received, and it was perilous times with the Direction. When the +fall of the year came, it was announced that we must retrench our +meagre diet, to enable us to go on until our labor could pay us +better--until we could improve our employments and enlarge the +institution so that there could be more producers--and it was submitted +to without much complaint. + +The work on the new building ceased, so that all hope of entering into +it before the coming spring was abandoned. There was one motto, +"Retrenchment," and it was echoed from all sides with all manner of fun +and mock solemnity; but those who were in the inner circle doubtless +felt, more than the youngsters did, the seriousness of matters. A more +strict account of everything was kept; indeed it seemed that the time +spent in keeping all the various items, was out of proportion to the +work done. I shall not soon forget, in this connection, the joke of +"the Parson," E. Capen, who, holding up a pair of pantaloons that he +had just received from the Mending Group, said sharply, "I have just +gotten a _reseat in full_ for these pantaloons!" + +It will not be necessary to go into details of changes made to secure +more prosperity. I was undisturbed by them. I could go with crust of +good bread all day and be satisfied, growing strong and healthy. I +could endure the cold and heat without trouble, and have often braved +the winter wind, taking no pains to keep it from being blown on my bare +chest, and without discomfort. + +The new greenhouse was built in the autumn, just in time to save the +plants from frost. It was situated back of the cottage and garden, +almost parallel with our boundary wall, and about fifteen feet from it. +There was a little sleeping room connected with it, where I lodged +summer and winter. Above me in the gable, a variety of beautiful doves, +consisting of Pouters, Tumblers, Ruffs, Carriers and Fantails, was +installed. They were very tame, and were much admired by our family and +visitors. They came at my call, alighted on my hands, head and +shoulders, and picked corn from out my hands and from between my lips. + +We planted grape vines that bore promises, but were too young for +fruit, and we made bouquets and sold them to Boston and West Roxbury +parties. + +Peter N. Klienstrup, the gardener, was under the spell of the powerful +weed, tobacco, and he tried time and again to break from the habit of +using it, but as often returned to its enchantment and its witchery. + +"Dis is my last piece," I have heard him say many times, showing me the +fragment of a "hand," and when that was gone and for some two or three +weeks afterwards everything soured him. He was as cross as a bear, but +after that time his nerves would gradually become calmer and his +complexion clearer. + +The gardener would persevere in the disuse of tobacco until the +enchanter's spell seemed broken, when some disturbing thing would upset +him, and he would turn his pockets inside out, and fumble with his +thumb and finger in their extreme corners for the least particle of the +"luxury." "John, I _must_ have some tobacco," he would say, and in a +day or two would be again under the full influence of the weed. I +pitied the old man, as I do the thousands of younger men who are to-day +under the same enchantment. + +Swept into this little nook in the industries of the place, I left the +Farming Group forever. + +It is often stated that the home circle is the sphere of women, but at +times it is a very narrow circle--a very narrowing circle to its +occupants. There are thousands who enter it as brilliant young ladies, +and come from it at the end of a few years morbid, harassed, depressed; +sunk in all the graces and powers that make a woman's life beautiful +and distinct from a man's. The circle in many cases is so narrow that +there is no room for growth. The humdrum toils, the petty cares and +rude contact with hired help, sink many a charming woman into a +domestic drudge and scold. + +It has been asserted that Associations and Communities may do well for +men, but that women can never get along in them. The experience of +Brook Farm testifies against the assertion. If ever there was a clear +record of faithfulness and devotion, of sacrifice, of love of +principle, and earnest, unselfish work for unselfish ends, the women +toilers of Brook Farm can claim it and secure it without cavil. Morning +and evening, in season and out of season, in heat and cold, they were +ever at their posts. And the self-imposed toil made them grow great. It +opened their hearts as they daily saw the devotion of others. + +It was for the meanest a life above humdrum, and for the greatest +something far, infinitely far beyond. They looked into the gates of +life and saw beyond charming visions, and hopes springing up for all. +They saw protection for all, even to the meanest of God's creatures; a +life beyond cold charity, up among the attributes of the Creator's +justice; an even garment for all, protecting the weak children of life +against the strong, the strong against the machinations of the weak. +How could they grow otherwise than great? + +Wherever woman's hands were wanted to work, wherever woman's head was +wanted to plan, and wherever woman's care and sympathy were needed, +they were always forthcoming. Some were witty, too. One of our ladies, +with her hands full of apple blossoms and her eyes bright as stars, was +met by Mr. Ripley, who said to her, "You have been foraging, I see!" +"Oh, no," she said, with an arch smile, "I do not go _foraging_." + +The pupils of the school took the infection of labor. At first often +haughty and distant, they soon mellowed, and were ready to assist the +young associative friends, with whom they became acquainted, in various +little works, and enjoyed the labor. The prevailing tone was health. +Sickness was a rarity to either sex. The pupils mingled with the games +and sporty, walks, rides and parties, and many seemed as devoted as +though belonging to the body, and when they returned from vacations, it +was with happy greetings to all and from all, and like returning home, +rather than to tasks. + +Separate and distinct from the school was a room for the young at the +Hive, where mothers could leave their children in the care of the +Nursery Group whilst they were engaged in industrial work, or as a +kindly relief to themselves when fatigued by the care of them; for a +primary doctrine was "alternation of employments." It was believed that +more and better work could be done by not being confined to one +employment all the day of labor; that it was better for the mental as +well as the physical system to have a change--in theory as often as +once in two hours. In practice, under the conditions which governed our +life, an attempt only could be made to alternate labor and to relieve +the mothers from the excess of burden that the care of young children +often is. Some very sweet and choice ladies attended to this +employment, choosing it from their attraction towards it; thus +inaugurating the day nursery system, now coming into vogue in our large +cities. + +In the matter of dress, the women who chose, had made for themselves a +short gown with an under garment, bound at the ankles and of the same +material. With this dress they could walk well and work well. It was +somewhat similar to the dress worn by Mrs. Bloomer and called by her +name years after this date. + +The question of the "right to vote" for women was not one that troubled +the politicians of Brook Farm. At all of the meetings for the +acceptance or rejection of applicants and other purposes, women cast +their votes without criticism, for were they not mutually interested? +And now, nearly half a century since, we are asked to form a party to +secure similar rights. Why, men and women, the party was formed when a +majority of persons now living was not born; only it was a very small +party, and, need I add--select! + +Only once did we have a wedding ceremony at the farm, though the +friendships commenced outlasted the Association. The financial +conditions for marriage were not inviting. One pleasant evening, later +than this date as I remember it, we were all invited to the Pilgrim +House to a wedding of one of Mr. Dwight's sisters. Our friend Rev. W. +H. Channing officiated. + +It was a homelike affair, and after the ceremony "the Poet" (J. S. +Dwight) was invited to speak to us; but no, he was not in the mood. He +was urged--for all liked to hear his kindly voice, and we thought this +a particularly pleasant subject--so he at last arose from his seat and +commenced with these words: "I like this making one." It seemed to +touch various chords in the minds of the hearers, for the applause and +laughter that followed silenced the rest of the speech and it was never +finished. Then some one proposed that all should join hands and make a +circle, as the symbol of universal unity, and a pledge to one another +that all were united in effort to continue and carry on the great work +of harmonizing society on a true and just basis of unity of interests, +attractive industry, mutual guarantees, etc. + + "Come, let us join hands! let our two flames mingle + In one more pure; + Since there is truth in nothing that is single + Be love, love's cure," + +sang our Poet after this time in the _Harbinger_, and some said with +double meaning. I have a list of names of fourteen married couples +whose mutual friendship was begun or continued through Brook Farm life, +and I have yet to know of an unhappy marriage among them all. + +The question was often debated whether such a life as was led in +Association would have a tendency to favor early marriages or not, but +like a great many other questions of importance, it was debated without +settlement. One party claimed that from the freedom of social +intercourse and facility of acquaintance, an intimacy would spring up +that would result in early marriages; and the other party maintained +that with the certainty of true friendship from woman, and pleasant +social relations, marriages would not be hurried, but delayed until the +parties' thoughts and temperaments were well harmonized and all proper +and natural arrangements of support and comfort thoroughly secured. + +There was with us a variety of female characters. We had our Marthas +who were troubled with much serving, and our Marys who loved to sit at +our leader's feet and hear the glad tidings and the new doctrines; and +now and then we had an uncomfortable woman, fully out of place and +consequently unhappy. Such an one was usually the wife of some man +whose whole energies were devoted to his work and who was happy in +himself, on his half shell, and was to be pitied that his other half +lived not in his shadow, but cast a shadow on him. + +All Brook Farmers recollect with pleasure, among special cases of +devotion, the little, straight, light-haired, smiling woman, who was so +long chief of the Dormitory Group, who was at nightfall wandering about +with stray towels, sheets and pillows, always making arrangements in +the shifting population for every one who came; hunting places for +stray visitors, when we were crowded; puzzled and wearied oft--for no +one knew at what hour of the day or evening visitors might come and we +had oftentimes almost to make a Box and Cox affair of it, for there was +no hotel within a long distance. This little woman was at her post +again in the morning doing dormitory work, never tired, going from +house to house, ever with a smile on her face; and this position she +voluntarily occupied more than two years. Sweet Lizzie Curson! + +Then the young folks--the young misses--were full of devotion. Commend +me to the young for unselfish work, or was it that the life awoke in +them a devoted spirit? This I know, that the sympathy and friendship +which sprung up in those days has lasted all these years, and will +remain as long as life. But it was not personal beauty that held me in +sway, and still holds me after so many long years--years that have +transformed most of those beautiful girls into old matrons and weeping +widows, plain and homely--but because it seems to me that there never +was a more gentle, kind, amiable, trusting, self-respecting, loving set +of young folks anywhere assembled. + +And oh, how they learned! How they grew in grace and in education, both +of the practical and the ornamental! How fine in health and figure, +from the free life, from the grace learned in dancing, the repose at +early hours, the simple diet and the mind filled every day with +pleasant thoughts and ideas. I do not know of any one who was not in +fine, robust health. They all, without exception, developed into +healthy men and women; or, to be a little more exact, as long as they +remained on the farm they continued to develop in health, strength, +grace and beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA, AND IMPORTANT LETTERS. + + +The need of especial amusements was not particularly felt at the farm, +but sometimes a set, inspired by an active mind, would venture out of +the common course and try to do a "big thing," which, like many big +things, would prove a failure. There was no hall for performances +except the dining hall, and it could not be taken possession of until +after supper; consequently, for a dramatic performance where it was +important to have the hall prepared before hand, it was useless, and so +the Amusement Group secured the lower floor of the shop for a special +occasion, and Chiswell, the carpenter, made a portable stage which +could be arranged for rehearsals and taken down easily, and all hands +went to work, some to learn their parts and others to make dresses, +properties and scenery. + +The influence of a strong, active mind and persuasive tongue like that +of Drew, was felt on this occasion, for he induced the Amusement Group +to allow a portion of his favorite poem, Byron's "Corsair," to be +acted. With pencil and scissors he went to work, cutting and slashing +the "Corsair" with these ungodly weapons until I fear he could not, had +he been in the flesh, have fought a brave fight. + +I cannot at this late day describe the dresses worn on the occasion; +but Glover was the corsair, and burnt cork had to suffer, and I know +that there was quite a pretty Miss whom he had no especial objection to +embracing as Medora. When he said, "My own Medora!" it was quite +pathetic--enough to cause a titter among the younger portion of the +audience. + +_Apropos_ of the audience, it was noised abroad that there was to be a +performance at the farm, and there was more than the usual number of +outsiders present. Even the Reverend Theodore, who never ventured out +in our vicinity in the evening, was tempted to come over for this +"great occasion." Some round-faced, pretty daughters of a well-to-do +neighboring farmer from "Spring Street" were there also, and with +friends and neighbors, the shop was full; for us a large audience. + +Well, the "Corsair," clipped as it was, dragged its slow length along +to an end. We then ventured to start our great drama, "Pizarro," or the +death of Rolla. But here again I am foiled in my remembrance. I know it +took the "whole strength of the company" to fill out the many +characters needed. Carpenters, shoemakers and farmers were turned into +Spanish chieftains and Peruvians; our young maidens were changed into +sun-worshippers, and our musical man adapted a portion of one of +Mozart's masses, to sing to these words, "The _sun_ is in his holy +temple," etc., at which some of our people cavilled; but which portion, +sung by the maidens, in white, was perhaps the best of all the +performance. + +I remember, however, that "the Admiral," or some one else, was +stationed behind the scenes with a gun to fire at Holla when he runs +away with Alonzo's child; that one of the great points made was, "By +Heaven, it is Alonzo's child!" and that rushing over scenic rocks he +should in imagination be shot; but the pesky gun behind the scenes +would not go off until many desperate attempts were made--no report +being heard until the play had further progressed, when all of a sudden +the gun was fired, and frightened individuals had the temerity to ask +"what that gun was for." + +I remember this also, that long before the play was ended, the Reverend +Theodore and others of the visitors had departed, thinking their own +thoughts, and that the curative effects of that performance lasted so +long the like was never attempted again; and although some were a +trifle disheartened by the failure to reach the summit of their hopes, +yet it was a source of merriment to others, and there are those whose +eyes may meet these pages, who will still smile if you quote these +lines to them: "O'er the glad waters of the deep, blue sea." "List, +'tis the bugle!" (I can vouch that it was nothing but the old trumpet +we blew for dinner.) "Ha! it sure cannot be day! What star, what sun is +bursting on the bay?" (It was only the barn lantern that was raised +outside the window, and an awful poor light at that!). + +"Well, how was Drew's play?" said one wag. "All blood and thunder, eh?" + +"No; all thud and blunder," was the rejoinder. + +The associative movement had now touched thousands of hearts in this +country. The Brook Farm Community, at its formation, was the only +community founded in America on the principle of freedom in religion +and social life--all others being founded on special religious creeds. +The agitation of social questions, the doctrines of Fourier and others, +brought many societies into existence; but like enthusiasts in other +schemes, the founders of them preached unity, but did not unite. The +leaders of Brook Farm urged upon the prominent men in the social +belief, to take part with them in their already established society, +with all the power they could command; but Mr. Greeley and the New York +men joined hands with the North American Phalanx, an association +founded at Red Bank, New Jersey, and lent their influence and means to +its development. Mr. Greeley thought the land at Brook Farm was of too +poor quality; that the debts of the organization were heavier than they +should be for a beginning, and that by starting anew, a better chance +for thrift could be had--especially if a location could be selected +with an excellent soil--and he desired it should be located near the +great market of New York. This departure from a true idea--the idea of +concentration--was certainly a great mistake, and the end proved that +the young societies, with little means, and needing much, should all +have joined together for financial success. + +At a very early date in the movement, there was a Community formed at +Hopedale, Milford, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Rev. Adin +Ballou, a man of considerable ability, whose tenets were those of peace +in absolute distinction to those of war. The Community was pledged by +its members not to enter into any hostile act, and to use its influence +for universal peace, they being all of a sect called "Non-Resistants." +Our leader, wisely, I think, made overtures to them to unite with the +West Roxbury Community, but the proposition was declined in the +following letter:-- + +"MENDON, MASS., Nov. 3, 1842. + +"DEAR BROTHER RIPLEY: Since our last interview I have met our brethren +and had a full consultation with them on the points of difficulty on +which we are at issue with your friends. We are unanimous in the solemn +conviction that we could not enlist for the formation of a community +not based on the distinguishing principles of the standard of Practical +Christianity so called, especially _non-resistance_, etc. We trust you +will do us the justice to think that we are conscientious and not +_bigoted_. The temptation is strong to severe, but we dare not hazard +the cause we have espoused by yielding our scruples. + +"We love you all, and shall be happy to see you go on and prosper, +though we fear the final issue. We are few and poor, and therefore you +can do without us better than we without you--your means and your +learning! But we shall try to do something in our humble way if God +favor us. We beseech you and your friends not to think us unkind or +unfriendly on account of our stiff notions, as they may seem, and to +regard us always as ready to rejoice in your good success. Let me hear +from you occasionally, and believe me and those for whom I speak, +sincerely your brethren in every good work. + +"Affectionately yours, + +"ADIN BALLOU." + +I remember that the Association, through its leaders, urged upon all +the principal men who came within their sphere, with considerable zeal, +to unite in their movement. This is a matter of record that should be +placed to their credit. + +A little later than this I find a letter from Mr. Brisbane, who showed +his characteristics so well in it, that I present all its important +parts for reading:-- + +"NEW YORK, the 9th December, 1845. + +"MY DEAR RIPLEY:--Yours of the 3d just received, the 5th came to hand +yesterday. I note all its contents in relation to your views upon the +necessity of developing Brook Farm. The reason why I have spoken in +some of my last letters of the best means of bringing Brook Farm to a +close, and making preparations for a trial under more favorable +circumstances, is this. In the middle of November I received a letter +from Charles in which, in speaking of the varioloid, he stated the +difficulties you have to contend with, and expressed fears for the +future in such a way that I decided you had made up your minds to bring +things to a close. I feared that Morton might be foreclosing his +mortgage, which would be a most serious affair. This is the cause of my +adverting to a possible dissolution and the necessity of looking ahead +to meet in the best and most proper manner such a contingency. + +"As to any opinion of what is to be done, it is easily explained. + +"First, we must raise a sufficient amount of capital, and the amount +must not be small. + +"Second, when that is secured we must prepare and work out a plan of +scientific organization sufficiently complete in its details to serve +as a guide in organizing an Association. For my own part, I feel no +capability whatever of directing an Association by discipline, by ideas +of duty, moral suasion and any other similar means. I want +organization; I want a mechanism suited and adapted to human nature, so +that human nature can follow its laws and attractions and go rightly, +and be its own guide. I might do something in directing such an +organization, but would be useless in any other way. As we all like to +be active, I would like exceedingly to take part in and help construct +a scientific organization. + +"How can we raise the capital necessary to do something effectual? I +see but two ways. The first is for C. and I--and if he will not do it, +then for you and I, if you would possibly engage in it--to lecture +patiently and perseveringly in various parts of the country, having the +translation of Fourier with us, _and continue at the work_ until we +have enlisted and interested men enough who will subscribe each a +certain sum sufficient to form the fund we deem necessary. Patience and +perseverance would do this. One hundred men who would subscribe one +thousand dollars cash, would give us a fine capital. Something +effectual, I think, might be done with such an amount; less than that +would, I fear, be patchwork. + +"Second, if C. or you cannot engage in this enterprise, then I shall +see what I can do alone. I shall make first the trial of the steel +business--that will now soon be determined, probably in a few weeks. +There are chances that it may be a great thing; if that turns out +nothing, then I shall take Fourier's work and do something of what I +propose you or C. and I should do together. + +"If the capital can be had, where shall we organize, you will ask? That +is a thing to be carefully considered, and which we cannot decide at +present. + +"Placed under the circumstances you are, all these speculations will +appear foreign to the subject that interests you, and useless. You want +capital, and immediately, for Brook Farm. Now it seems to me a problem +as perplexing to get fifteen thousand dollars for Brook Farm as it does +to raise one hundred thousand dollars. Where can it be had? The New +Yorkers who have money, G., T., S., etc., are all interested in and +pledged to raise ten thousand dollars for the North American Phalanx, +to pay off its mortgage. You might as well undertake to raise dead men, +as to attain any considerable amount of capital from the people here; I +have tried it so often that I know the difficulties. + +"The fact is, we have a great work to accomplish, that of organizing an +Association, and to do it we must have the means adequate to the task, +and to get these means we must make the most persevering and Herculean +efforts. We must go at the thing in earnest, and labor until we have +secured the means. I really see no other way or avenue to success; if +you do, I should be glad to hear your explanation of it. Fifteen +thousand dollars might do a great deal at Brook Farm, but would it do +the thing effectually--would it make a trial that would impress the +public? And for anything short of that, none of us, I suppose, would +labor. + +"We are surrounded by great difficulties. I see no immediate chance of +obtaining a capital sufficient for a good experiment, and until we have +the capital to organize upon quite a complete scale, I should say that +it would be a very great misfortune to dissolve Brook Farm. No +uncertain prospects should exercise any influence; the means must be +had in hand before we made any decisive movement towards a removal or +organizing in a more favorable location, even if you were perfectly +willing to leave New England and the neighborhood of Boston. As I said +I spoke of it, and should be urged to make at once the greatest efforts +to obtain capital only under the fear that circumstances might force a +crisis upon you. + +"I have touched merely upon generalities to-day; after further +correspondence I will write you more in detail. I will also come on and +see you if you deem it advisable. The other experiment keeps me here at +present; I think that next week I shall test it. I am greatly rejoiced +to hear that you are getting on well with the translation. + +"A. BRISBANE." + +I present in contrast, the draft of a letter by Mr. Ripley, showing the +difference in the ideas of the two men. Among the social organizations +at this date, was the Community founded by Mr. John A. Collins, at +Skaneateles, New York, to whose friend the letter was addressed. This +movement was based on "community of property" which was denounced by +the school of Fourier as a fallacy. I commend the letter to careful +perusal. It is beautiful in language; its spirit is transcendent. + +"BROOK FARM, MASS. + +"MY DEAR SIR:--I thank you for sending me the circular, calling a +convention at Skaneateles for the promotion of the community movement. + +"I had just enjoyed a short visit from Mr. Collins, who explained to me +very fully the purposes of the enterprise, and described the advantages +of the situation which had been selected as the scene of the initiatory +experiment. I hardly need to say that the movers in this noble effort +have my warmest sympathy, and that if circumstances permitted, I could +not deprive myself of the privilege of being present at their +deliberations. I am, however, just now so involved in cares and labors +that I could not be absent for so long a time without neglect of duty. + +"Although my present strong convictions are in, favor of cooperative +Association rather than of communities of property, I look with an +indescribable interest on every attempt to redeem society from its +corruptions, and establish the intercourse of men on a basis of love +instead of competition. The evils arising from trade and money, it +appears to me, grow out of the defects of our social organization, not +an intrinsic vice in themselves; and the abolition of private property, +I fear, would so far destroy the independence of the individual, as to +interfere with the great object of all social reform, namely, the +development of humanity, the substitution of a race of free, noble, +holy men and women, instead of the dwarfish and mutilated specimens +which now cover the earth. + +"The great problem is to guarantee individualism against the masses, on +the one hand, and the masses against the individual, on the other. In +society as now organized, the many are slaves to a few favored +individuals in a community. I should dread the bondage of individuals +to the power of the mass, while Association, by identifying the +interests of the many and the few--the less gifted and the highly +gifted--secures the sacred personality of all, gives to each individual +the largest liberty of the children of God. + +"Such are my present views, subject to any modification which farther +light may produce. Still I consider the great question of the means of +human regeneration still open, indeed, hardly touched as yet, and +Heaven forbid that I should not at least give you my best wishes for +the success of your important enterprise. + +"In our own little Association we practically adopt many community +elements. We are eclectics and learners, but day by day increases our +faith and joy in the principle of combined industry and of bearing each +other's burdens, instead of seeking every man his own. + +"It will give me great pleasure to hear from you whenever you have +anything to communicate interesting to the general movement. I feel +that all who are seeking the emancipation of man are brothers, though +differing in the measures which they may adopt for that purpose; and +from our different points of view it is not, perhaps, presumptuous to +hope that we may aid each other, by faithfully reporting the aspects of +earth and sky as they pass before our field of vision. + +"One danger, of which no doubt you are aware, proceeds from the growing +interest in the subject, and that is the crowds of converts who desire +to help themselves rather than to help the movement. It is as true now +as it was of old, that he who follows this new Messiah must deny +himself and take up his cross daily, or he cannot enter the promised +kingdom. The path of transition is always covered with thorns and +marked with the bleeding feet of the faithful. This truth must not be +covered up in describing the paradise for which we hope. We must drink +the waters of Marah in the desert, that others may feed on the grapes +of Eshcol. We must depend on the power of self-sacrifice in man, not on +appeals to his selfish nature, for the success of our efforts. We +should hardly be willing to accept of men or money for this enterprise, +unless called forth by earnest conviction that they are summoned by a +divine voice. I wish to hear less said to capitalists about a +profitable investment of their funds, as if the holy cause of humanity +were to be speeded onward by the same force which conducts railroads +and ships of war. Rather preach to the rich, 'Sell all that you have +and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven.' + +"GEORGE RIPLEY." + +Although the working condition of the Association was never better than +now; although its organization was complete as it could well be under +its disadvantages, it was with sorrow that the Direction heard that one +of the earliest members with his family--our head farmer--had decided +to leave the Brook Farm life. It was true that he could be spared, that +his three children were unproductive and that there was talent enough +on the farm to run the Farming Series well; but it seemed a break in +the established order, showing, perhaps, that things were not as +successful as they appeared to be, and that maybe the event was a +raindrop predicting a storm. + +I think no one blamed him, but all were sorry to part with one whom +they loved so well. That his interest in the cause and the Association +had not waned is apparent from the following letter, April 3, 1845:-- + +"Dear Sir:--In withdrawing from the Association I cannot believe it +necessary for me to say to you that I do not cease to feel an interest, +a very deep interest, in the success of the cause in which I have in my +humble way labored with you for the last few years. The final success +of this attempt to live out the great and holy idea of association for +brotherly cooperation, will be to me a greater cause for joy than any +merely personal benefit to myself could be. + +"I wished, but could not do it, to say to you and others how much I +love and esteem you, and how painful it is for me to leave those to +whom I am so much indebted for personal kindnesses. You know me well +enough to believe that I feel, more deeply than I can express, pained +by this separation. God bless you. God bless and prosper the +Association individually and collectively. + +"Yours truly, + +"MINOT PRATT." + +It was about this time that a "party" was given by the "Great Apostle," +as Mr. Brisbane was called by us. I made a memorandum of it at the +time, which aids my memory in presenting it. + +The day had been pleasant; it was one of the last in March. The farm +work had progressed as usual. Old Kate was at the plough and Cyclops at +the wagon. Who was Cyclops? She was a large, raw-boned, gray-white +mare, whose feeding did not show well; the more oats and meal and hay +she had, the more ribs we counted in her sides--you have seen such an +animal! But she was wonderful, because she stepped longer, than any +other of the horses; worked harder without showing fatigue, and made +the nine miles to Boston in a practical if not a graceful way. + +She had a fault, and horsemen had to admit it (you know they seldom +admit a fault but what is very visible). This was a visible fault, and +yet at the same time it was a want of visibility. She had but one eye. +And so Glover it was, I am quite sure, named her Cyclops. + +By the by, she had one other fault that I had almost forgotten, and +that was of elevating her heels against the dashers of wagons, when she +had an ugly fit, which took place semi-occasionally, and the +peculiarity of it was that she was not particular as to time or place +where she made her exhibitions. It might be in Dock Square or State +Street, or it might be on the farm, just as all were starting out. It +was not over pleasant to be near her when she flung those long hind +legs some six feet in air, and the dash-board was flying in pieces. + +The "General," with some others, was about to take a ride one day, when +she put a hind foot over the dasher, which caused him to dismount +precipitately. "For," he said he, when speaking of it, "I thought if +she was g-going to _g-get_ in, it was time for _me_ to get out!" + +The horn, as usual, rang out its cheerful tones for meals. There were +but few notes of preparation shown outside the rooms, for the event of +the evening. Up in the greenhouse the gardener and myself were busy +picking out choice flowering plants, and clipping off a stray dead leaf +or twig, and scouring the pots until they shone; and as the other teams +were busy, I harnessed my "Prince" to his cart and carried them to the +Hive where we made the best display of them we could in the dining room. + +We had some mottoes on the walls, as "The Series distribute the +Harmonics of the Universe," "Attractive Industry," "Universal Unity," +etc. + +At half past eight o'clock everything was in order. Side tables were +spread with a simple repast, and around the room were flowering plants, +azaleas, camellias, heaths, geraniums, etc. When the company had +assembled, the choir sang some glees, after which Mr. Brisbane made a +speech, and gave as a sentiment, "Unity of the Passions." Let me here +explain a little of what is meant by this sentiment. The twelve +passions are what are generally called "the human feelings or +sentiments." They are divided into the intellectual ones, the social +ones and the sensitive ones or those pertaining to the five senses. + +There are three intellectual ones, viz., Analysis, Synthesis and the +Composite. These exhaust the powers of the intellect; or, in other +words, the mind separates things, puts things together and compounds +things, and that is all that it can do in its primary intellectual +capacity. + +There are four social "passions," viz., Friendship, Love, Familism (i. +e., the family sentiment) and Ambition; and all our social life is +based on one or more of these four sentiments. + +Then there are five sensitive passions, which are aids and attendants +of the body--"sight, smelling, hearing, touch and taste." + +"The five sensitive passions tend to material riches, refinement and +harmonies. The four affective passions govern social relations and +those of individuals. Friendship tends to social equality and to the +levelling of ranks. Love regulates the relations of the sexes, +Paternity those of ages and generations; Ambition produces hierarchy of +ranks and distinctions among individuals; it establishes in society +gradations of all kinds based upon skill, merit, talent, etc.; it is +opposite in its effects from friendship."--"Social Destiny of Man," +page 453. + +The four social passions correspond to the four primary prismatic +colors of the Newtonian system, to the common chord in music and to +various other natural things. The three intellectual passions +correspond to the other three notes of the musical scale and to three +other prismatic colors; and the five sensitive passions correspond to +the five semi-tones, and also to five intermediate colors of the prism. +Now this at first sight looks very much like a scheme or a notion, but +the founder of this doctrine lays his claim to a higher judgment. He +says practically, "These are facts founded in nature by God himself." +Let me give you his own words, often reiterated: "I give no theory of +my own, I deduce. If I have deduced erroneously let others establish +the true deduction." Can words be more simple or more modest? + +These "passions," or "faculties," if you like the last word better, as +taught in the general schools of theology, are all at war with one +another, but as taught by the school of Fourier will all work +harmoniously together when right material conditions exist. Or in other +words, there is no inherent discord among these twelve sister faculties +residing in the nature of man. It is the duty of man on this earth, and +his destiny also, to bring them into harmonious relations, first by +organizing industry, and bringing man into right relation with nature +and his fellows, so that they can commence their natural action; and +this is what is meant by the "Unity of the Passions," and is the first +step towards universal happiness. Let me give a quotation from the same +author:-- + +"The impulses (passions) have a right and a wrong development. The +right development produces harmony, good, justice, unity. The wrong +development produces selfishness, injustice, duplicity." + +I have no memorandum of what was said by the speaker, but I remember he +was enthusiastic beyond bounds, and that he went in fancy from this +earth up into the starry vault of spheres that he fancied were peopled +by living beings----Jupiter and Saturn being in harmony--and in his +enthusiasm cried out, "I _love_ those great worlds up there!" looking +upwards with outstretched arms and uplifted hands; and it was telling, +for he was eloquent as well as enthusiastic. + +After this warm gush of rapture came quiet Dwight in one of those +sweet, calm, choice, dignified, exact speeches for which he was noted, +and gave as a sentiment, "The marriage of love and wisdom," the idea +being that present society, however much it may be filled with +love--love for the poor, the needy, the slave and the outcast--can +never avail much towards universal happiness until it marries itself to +wisdom: wisdom to do justice, to adapt means to ends, to exchange +charity, which is a curse to him that gives and him that takes, for +even-handed justice, divine law and social order; so that pauperism and +its kindred vices may be done away with forever, and in its place the +reign of peace and harmony prevail. + +Mr. Dwight was an admirer of Swedenborg's poetic fancies. He thought +many of them more than fancies. He believed that he gained through +unknown sources some glimpses of a higher life; and some of his +doctrines, as that of "correspondences" bore so strong a resemblance to +Fourier's "universal analogy" that it was quite striking; but his +claims to special theological inspiration, he did not admit. I speak of +this because some one might accuse him of plagiarism, the phrase of Mr. +Dwight's sentiment being similar to Swedenborg's words. Pardon this +digression, and we will return to our party. + +Mr. Ripley followed in his free and graceful style, and brought things +slowly down to our own door with pleasant word and wit (Ripley was a +punster with the rest; one of our wags one day called him a +Pumpkin--Pun-King--a paraphrase on New England pronunciation of the +word), and in conclusion gave us a sentiment: "The Hive! May it be a +hive, full of working bees, who make a little noise, a great deal of +honey, and sting not at all." + +Mr. Dana, the youngest of the four, then followed with a glowing +speech, in earnest, clear and chosen words. Not as fluent as either of +the other speakers, he yet commanded full attention, and we all knew he +meant what he said; there was no doubt about it--the frank manner, the +natural gesture, the glowing face, proved it. He gave as a sentiment, +"Ambition, the greatest of the four social passions!" He admired it! It +was that which carried life onward and made youth able and strong; the +ambition for higher things, for higher life and higher opportunities. +It was that which brought this little band together--an ambition to +better social life; and it was this passion that would lead them +onwards through discords into a higher unity and harmony. But in the +present social order a misplaced ambition led men to do a thousand +wrongs; it produced war, misery and discord, but when placed on the +side of humanity it tended upwards towards God and the heavenly +accords. True ambition was the unsatisfied thing that never ends except +in something higher, nobler, grander. + +Here let me explain again. The four social passions before named +correspond to the common, chord in music, but ambition corresponds to +the seventh note on which no music ever ends. It is always incomplete +without the eighth note, the first of the octave above; it runs into +it; it is restless, it must never be left alone, but always has an +object--the higher unity. Such is true ambition, and such are its +results in the natural order. + +Applause followed Mr. Dana's speech, and after his remarks the +sentiment of the evening turned towards, home life. The orators spoke +of the earnest endeavors of the men and women by whom they were +surrounded; of their constant daily labor to produce harmony and higher +social development, and more particularly of their years of personal +toil and devotion, and of their own earnest affection for one another, +until tears started in some eyes. + +Mr. Ripley spoke of the devotion of the persons about to leave the +Association to found "a little colony of their own," for whom he had +the highest personal esteem, cemented by years of friendship, counsel +and labor together; his sorrow for their departure; his good wishes for +them, and his hopes for their present and future welfare, and closed +with a sentiment, "The late chief of the Farming Series, Minot Pratt +and his family--they can not remain long in _Concord_ without returning +to _harmony_" (Concord, Massachusetts, was where our farmer was going), +for which the modest gentleman returned thanks for himself and wife in +a few kind and earnest words. + +One after another joined in pleasant remarks, and the simple feast, the +music and the conversation were kept up. The ever-present fun and +frolic abounded in some corners, but the joke of the evening was +perhaps that of the Parson--him of the sharp face and nose, who read so +late by the light of the lamp in "Attica"--who commenced his remarks by +saying that he desired to offer a sentiment, and must be pardoned if it +was of a personal nature. Now the reason why this gentleman got the +title of "the Parson" was not from his reading, his gravity or want of +gravity, but from the fact of his having been educated for the +ministry, which in those days required a great deal more preaching +damnation to sinners than now. His unwillingness to do so was the means +of his leaving the pulpit, and this gave the pith of the toast or +sentiment offered. + +Parson Capen's speech was sharp. He did not spill over on every +occasion. He had no little spurts of wit like a spatter of water on a +hot stove, but when he let out his joke it went off like a percussion +cap. The attention of the company being secured, he alluded to his +present position as a change, he believed, for the better--from his +former relation to society when he was preaching against, to the +present time when he was working for, humanity; and gave as a toast, +"Ephraim Capen--_thrust into_ the pulpit to _damn_ mankind, _thrust +out_ of the pulpit to _bless_ mankind." + +Laughter followed this sharp witticism, and the hours passed quickly on +until it was near midnight, when it was suggested that "Old Hundred" be +sung, and all joined in the anthem. As the last note died away, the +stroke of the clock announced the hour of twelve, and all departed to +their houses to sleep, and dream of the pleasant time they had enjoyed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL AND PARLOR LIFE. + + +We now pass over some months of the life with few words. I have tried +to portray it on the farm as it appeared to me, and leave you to think +that it continues on and on, ever in the same general current, through +the long, clear days and moonlight nights of summer, and the cooler +days and misty evenings of the later season, to the time when the +warning comes to the farmer to gather in the ripened products of his +labor. + +I pass over the later autumn--when the fields are cleared of all but +the remains of vegetation, and we hear no more the songs of the +crickets and the multitudinous insect life that fills the air of the +August and September nights, as the full moon looks down on the fields +and meadow rich in foliage--to the time when the thought of the farmer +is for wood for the winter, for the preservation of the farming +implements, for making all things "taut and trig" about the barn and +houses to secure their warmth for the coming cold weather and snow; +past the day of the New England Thanksgiving, along to Christmas time, +saying only in passing that the leaders were much engaged in lecturing, +as well as with other duties. + +One evening in autumn a party from the farm, myself the youngest of +them, started for Boston to hear one of a course of lectures. Mr. +Ripley was the chairman, and the ever bounteous joyousness of his +nature sparkled out in wit and mirth. These meetings were free, and +discussion was invited, but there was present an excitable woman who +had a habit of rising at any moment, no matter who was speaking, to +make odd remarks and inquiries. She was considered a great nuisance, +especially at the meetings of the antislavery societies, where she was +often found, and I more than once saw her "suppressed" by police +officers. On this occasion, whilst Mr. Brisbane was speaking, she arose +to propound questions. + +Immediate excitement was visible in the audience, and cries of "Put her +out," arose. Mr. Ripley was on his feet in an instant. He declared the +meeting to be a free one, and that it was ever the faith and duty of +those engaged in this liberal movement to give the largest liberty to +all inquirers; he appealed to all to be quiet and hear what the lady +had to say, for she would, as well as all others, give them credit for +having paid respectful attention to whoever wished to make inquiries, +and whenever Miss F. had spoken, she could not but acknowledge that +they had always and at all times listened to her with the utmost--and +he hesitated as if seeking carefully for the exact word, which he +uttered slowly and with the utmost gravity--_patience_. At this queer +termination the audience laughed loudly, and gave her a hearing, and +shortly, pleased at her conquest, she sat down, and disturbed no future +meeting of the Associationists. + +Again during the discussion Mr. Ripley announced that a contribution +would be taken to defray expenses, "but as the speaking was to be +continued during the time the box was passing round," the audience was +requested to _"put in as many bills as possible so as not to disturb +the speaker by the rattling of small change."_ After the meeting +closed, the wagon in which we rode to town was deserted by some half +dozen of its male passengers who, with the speed of Indian runners, +started for the farm on foot. Being slight of build and not over +strong, I would have been left behind, had it not been for the +friendship of the Admiral, who awaited my movements, but we still sped +on with rapidity, overtaking some, and neared the farm in time to hear +the bark of our dog Carlo announce the arrival of the team only a few +minutes before us. + +The autumn and early winter were very mild. The ground was not frozen +on the twenty-fourth day of December, and the gardener had many crocus +bulbs unplanted, owing to too much labor in and around the new +greenhouse and garden, and being desirous of saving them, commenced to +plant them on the Hive terraces in "her majesty's garden." There were +hundreds of them. In the morning we prepared our beds and dug our holes +for planting. The sky was lowery, and it was afternoon when we +commenced to plant. + +Shortly the raindrops began to fall, but we continued our work. It +rained harder and harder. I had on only ordinary woollen clothing, +cotton shirt, no undershirt, and wore over it only an old green baize +jacket. Wet to the skin; the rain ran off of me in streams. With my wet +hands I assorted and handed the bulbs, four or five at a time, to the +gardener, and as they touched the ground or his fingers, the earth +stuck to them and mixed mud and plants together. The rain began to grow +colder and colder, and our work was not done, but as the shades of +night began to fall we finished it. Chilled and cold we wended our way +towards the greenhouse, where I changed wet clothes for dry ones. The +night came on cold; the wind howled; the rain turned into snow and on +Christmas morning the ground was covered with a rough, hard +conglomerate of snow and ice. + +But the next day neither chill nor cold resulted from the long +exposure. Was it because our lives were more in harmony with nature +than is usual? + +At the Eyry all through the winter, in its cosy little parlor, reigned +our queens and kings of art and music. I was partial to the room and +the company, yet neither felt nor understood the deep music. It is true +that I sang songs of my own and made my own harmonies as I wandered +over the fields and meadows. The mystic measure of the sunny waltz +haunted me happily at times, and my heart kept time to its rhythm even +as my feet had kept time in the merry dance; but it seemed to me as +though there was a lack of sense in the jingle, and a depth of feeling +untouched in me that the music of the parlor had not or could not +reach--I did not appreciate it. + +It was a pleasure for Mr. Dwight to secure a quartette of singers from +the city. I could mention names, but I forbear, yet there are two faces +so indelibly linked with those most happy hours, that I must, in order +to be true to this sketch of Brook Farm life, twine them into my +narrative. + +The first face was serene, charming and dignified. Its cheeks were +round and gracefully full, and colored with delicious pink, and a +dimple rounded in them when the kindly face smiled. Above them reigned +a queenly forehead, and over the brown eyes a fine brow. The nose was +straight, the upper lip short, and the features were regular. The owner +of this face was tall and graceful, and her dark, glossy hair was +combed plainly back. She was ever neatly dressed, and her favorite +decoration was a wreath of the wild partridge vine, rich with its red +berries, which added to her graceful presence. It was her sweet voice, +soft and low, that chimed in, in our quartette. She came and went and +seemed one of us, as in spirit she was, though in fact only a friendly +visitor. + +The other face was different and not as pretty, yet it grew upon you +more and more. + +There was no blue like those eyes of blue, if they were delicately +small, and if there was a little drooping expression as though the sun +above was a trifle too powerful for them. This was no detriment, +however; it lent them a mildness, a soft haze, like that we so much +admire in a landscape, and made them more in keeping with the mild, +tranquil countenance. + +The eyebrows were softly penciled--not bold, not prominent--and were +not much arched, and the nose, that was Grecian, was full between the +eyes. The lips were of good size as well as the mouth, and the upper +lip long enough to indicate strength of character. The chin was finely +drawn, and the throat rather large and full. About the mouth, even in +repose, seemed to rest the faint semblance of a smile, as though it +could not leave its pleasant dwelling place; as though it was akin to +the features themselves, as the color of the eyes or hair. The forehead +was pure, womanly; intellectual enough, full enough, high enough, but +toned down to the sweet, womanly features. It was a fine face; a +vigorous, womanly one, unmarked with a single manly symptom, but +independent, pure and serene. + +And what could set off this face better than that soft, light, blonde +hair, that wound into full, large ringlets, looped up in Grecian style? +In vain it is for me to describe the tints of it. It seemed as though +the Divine Artist had taken the beautiful colors from his palette and +mixed them for this especial head. There was a touch of sunshine in it +also, and it seems but yesterday that I saw the old gardener take a +stray one from the sleeve of his baize jacket, where by chance it had +strayed and caught--for the fair owner liked to visit the +greenhouse--and hold it admiringly and enthusiastically up in the +morning sunlight, and I remember the golden shimmer it had in it, for +he called my attention to it. A French writer's words seem to meet its +description better than my own: "Non pas rouges--Mais blonde avec des +reflets dorés, on delicatement se jouait la lumière du soleil." + +In distinction to the lady named before, the present one was short, of +fairly full figure, and not above the average grace. You might even say +that the large head was carried a little too far forward for elegance. +In distinction also to the calm, quiet manner of the other, she was +vivacious, quick and spritely; was fond of conversation, but no matter +how trivial the subject of discourse, it grew into earnestness in her +mind unless she was wholly playful. But her chief distinction was her +love and talent for music, and in the capacity of beautiful singer she +was first introduced to us. + +I cannot tell how this pure soul first took to the sublime idea of +society founded on justice to all, the Christianity of the idea, and +the truths of industry, or how the idea came to her that in this one +way and only in this one way could the kingdom of God prayed for for +eighteen centuries, come to us on earth; but I think it was born in her +as jewels are born in the earth, and sparkle when they come to the sun. +But this I know, that when they took possession of her she could not +withstand their power, more than Saint Paul could the heavenly +influences that brought his Jewish heart to love all, and live and die +for all the races of God's humanity. Friends, relatives, companions, +were opposed to her visits among the Brook Farmers. It was intimated to +her that there were suspicious persons residing there. She bravely +pinned her informers to facts; she made searching inquiries, and, +convincing herself, boldly stood by the idea and the Brook Farmers as +living symbols of a better and more Christian life, and triumphed over +all in her sublime truthfulness and dignity. + +How willing and ready she was to acknowledge her trivial failures! How +ready to do for all such kindness as came in her sphere to do, and how +quick she was to comprehend great truths. Untied from the dead letter +that killeth, she was overflowing with its pure spirit that gave its +abundant life, rich, full and charming, to all around her. + +One of the young poets of the farm many years ago paid this graceful +tribute to her charms:-- + + OF MARY BULLARD. + + Dearly love I to be near her-- + Though thought of her is not dearer + Than friendship may say. + Yet around will I hover; + Bringing joy like a lover, + To brighten her day. + + Ever am I lingering near her-- + Her whole soul seems to me clearer + Than others that are. + And her love-lighted blue eye, + When an aching heart is nigh, + Beams forth like a star. + It's good for me to be near her-- + Should she e'er sorrow, to cheer her + Out of her sad moods; + Her dark path to make lighter, + And behold it grow brighter + Like sunlight through woods. + + Still stay I lovingly near her, + Enraptured--sometimes I fear her + Soul is on its wings-- + And ask will it yet return?-- + Seems it so pure, so lost and gone, + Whenever she sings. + + Lingering and waiting near her-- + The words that she speaks are dearer + Than birds' songs in May. + With sweet thoughts will I surround her, + As on the day I first found her, + Forever--for aye. + +I have been particular in my description of this lady and friend, +because they became the encouragers of the later movement in Boston, +where those who remained true to the Brook Farm ideas formed themselves +into a society of zealots to propagate the faith, she giving her +splendid talents and her warm enthusiasm freely to the movement, and +because they were as truly united with us as if enrolled as members on +the farm. + +It was in the latter part of the month of January that we had the +fulfilment of a promise of a long visit from the fair singer. The +winter had grown cold and stormy; the white snow covered the fields, +and at times we gleefully slid down the hills over its frozen crust on +sleds and improvised vehicles. And there were days of transcendent +beauty. I remember especially, a solitary visit to the pine woods after +a deep snow storm, and the lifelong impression of it remains. + +The evergreens were bowed heavily with the weight of the snow, and +across the wood path birches and various trees bent as if in prayer, +obstructing the way. The clear air, which was not very cold--for it was +one of those subdued days of winter, when the glare of the sun was +obstructed by a cloudy mantle--the intense quiet, the strong contrasts +of the dark trunks of trees with the heavy evergreens, and the +immaculate purity of whiteness laid on by the greatest and sublimest +painter were so marked and so lovely that I seemed to be drinking the +nectar of the god of beauty, and was soul-subdued. + +Up to the Eyry in the evening, I went with others to hear the singing, +when Mary, "the nightingale,"--as we sometimes called her--came. I went +often and stayed long. Some were at the Hive, reading; some were, +perhaps, engaged in Shakespeare; some in their rooms with their +families; some at the Cottage practising the piano, and all "following +their attractions," to use our common phrase, in their own little +sphere--whether it was reading the papers and journals of the day in +the improvised reading-room at the Hive, or commenting on the last +articles in the _Harbinger,_ or doing a little work out of hours for +amusement or profit, or attending one of the interminable number of +meetings for consultation and arrangement held almost nightly. + +There the quartette sang the "Kyrie," and "Gloria in Excelsis" from the +masses of Mozart and Haydn. An edition had just been published and +forwarded from London, and by degrees they became familiar to us as +household words. Did it not seem strange, you may ask, that these +radical thinkers and "come-outers" from ordinary forms of society, +should turn with pleasure to the emanations of a profoundly +conservative church? I answer that, having freed their minds from +sectarian prejudices, they recognized beauty and genius wherever found, +and did not care what church or creed they had served, so that they +found the gift of beauty from the infinite Father to man in them. With +one glorious soprano voice and boundless talent, how much of joy was +added to the circle! How we revelled in the choice creations of the +masters of harmony, and how, slowly but surely, the missing link that +was wanting in my mind to realize that music could cover the void that +separated sound from feeling, came to its place--I am tempted to tell. + +The sweet songstress was asked to sing. Did she make excuses? Of course +she would do so to follow traditional usage. She must have a slight +cold, she must think she won't, must be coaxed, and then--why, do it +with a grace. But here was a woman so touched with the divine fire of +genius and truth, that no excuse came from her lips. She was always +ready if you desired it. In her I first learned that music was not a +put-on art, an accomplishment, but the outpouring of soul. + +One evening when our little party was being filled with music, and the +quartette had bravely sung Rossini's "Prayer in Egypt," with the grand +vigor and expression that the soprano put into it, she exclaimed with +feeling, "How beautiful that is!" From that moment I understood what +music meant. She had translated it for me. But instead of inspiring me +with joy, it made me sad. It aroused that terrible feeling, +"consciousness of self." It waked me to new ideas of duty and destiny, +to wondrous thoughts and aspirations; and they would not down at my +bidding. Over and over again I tried to banish them, but the inward and +spiritual ear was open, and the sad strains of Schubert's "Elegy of +Tears," and "The Wanderer," and the "Ave Maria," seemed my sorrow, my +wanderings and my prayers. Sadness was not my nature; I was as cheerful +as the bird that sings, save a mighty something which clung to me and +overshadowed me like the enormous wings of a terrible genius. + +One day it began again to snow; a million feathers from the frost +king's fleece were flying in the air. It snowed all day, and in the +evening it snowed and whirled and blew around the Eyry, with its little +party of choice spirits in its cosy parlor making merry and singing. +Perhaps it was the "Wood Robin," or the "Skylark," or one of Colcott's +glees, or one of Mendelssohn's two-part songs, or Schubert's +"Serenade," or Beethoven's "Adelaide"; or maybe an interlude of piano, +one of Mozart's Sonatas, or "Der Freyschutz," and then a Kyrie, Dona +Nobis, Gloria, or Agnus Dei, one or all, until it was time to retire. +And still it snowed and snowed. + +From the Eyry parlor I would go to my quarters in the greenhouse, and +there the old man would be anxious for the flowers, that the fire be +neither too hot nor too cold, and with a long story to tell me of +manners and customs of his youth in Denmark--some of them quaint and +strange enough--would slowly finish out the evening, and it was often +midnight before we retired. + +All the next day it snowed, and piled up its pure whiteness over every +projecting thing, whirling and tossing its feathers about, unlike +anything else in nature, and at night it snowed still. It snowed +steadily for three days and nights, but when the fourth morning broke, +it was on one of the clearest and most beautiful days ever known and to +my surprise I awoke full of renewed cheerfulness and physically like my +former self. The youthful storm of my life was over. + +But the "Ego" had changed. I was living in a poetic atmosphere and +imbibing its qualities and its stimulants. Born with artistic tastes, I +had imagined an artistic future; but as the procession of realistic +lives passed before me, I seemed to see the inward side of the real and +the ideal. An artistic life!--a triumph after long years of labor, +awarded by the hand-clapping of a few admirers, most of whom had no +appreciation of the work, and no sympathy with its higher motives. +Would it not be cold? Would it not slowly freeze my heart to the warm +love of human beings, with every one of whom I had now something in +common? A real life, taking part in active work, in plain, daily toil; +touching the great, full, seething heart of humanity on its warm side; +working for them; working with them; being one with many--one with her. +Which was best? Which was the supremest ideal? I think the latter. + +There were other visitors who came, attracted by the little group of +singers. There was a young lady, Miss Graubtner from Boston, who +touched the piano with the grace of a master. Her German name indicated +the stock from whence she sprung, and the training she received from +her musical father. There were tenors and basses who were attracted +also, but they came and went; the sweetest songstress remained, and the +cold days of winter were beginning to give way to the warm March sun +when the visit was completed, and we reluctantly gave her back to +"civilization." + +Among the pleasant occasional visitors was a gentleman who joined in +the circle with his flute, who had the reputation, well deserved, of +having written some fine verses--some of them are in the +_Harbinger_--and who was in very friendly sympathy with our music man, +as an old and, I think, college acquaintance. His accomplishments were +varied. He had graced a pulpit, and afterwards made his mark with his +pen, pallet and brush. He had a very pleasant gift of imitation, and, +with his modest and gentlemanly bearing, made quite an impression on me. + +I fancy I see him now, with his tall, graceful, upright figure, his +wealth of dark, curling hair, and his young manhood, with his sober, +dignified face and large forehead, just retiring from our crowded Eyry +parlor to the hall, where under cover, he can more readily introduce +his menagerie--menagerie or barnyard you certainly would think it was; +for from behind the door comes the imitation of the cow with its young +calf; a sow and its pigs are squealing; the lambs and sheep are +bleating; the rooster begins to crow, and near by the house dog is +heard; soon all is still except his persistent, hoarse bark; then from +a distance we hear the bark of another dog awakened by the first; soon +another, nearer still, wakes up and tunes his note; presently we hear +all the dogs of the village who are now awake. Then the sound of the +starting up of the locomotive drowns all other noises, and when it has +passed away we hear nothing but far in the dim distance some one +solitary dog still barking. The frogs begin to peep, and the turtles +whistle, and the doves coo, until you are carried away from the circle, +its lights and its pleasant, laughing faces into the bosom of nature. +It is needless to say that all these sounds came from the throat of +Christopher P. Cranch, the poet-artist, and were clever imitations +which were hugely appreciated by the young folks. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE. + + +A lady said to me not long since, knowing it from experience, "There +was a great deal of fun at Brook Farm." This was true, and I deem it +worthy of particular mention, as I can scarce believe that there ever +was in New England a body of men and women who for so long a time, +maintained such friendly and intimate relations, and yet kept up such +an interminable fire of small fun and joke, puns and _bon-mots,_ +inoffensively shooting them off right and left at all times and places. +Being of an evanescent nature they have mostly vanished from my mind, +but the spirit of them remains. + +There were "All-Fool's" day tricks played by the young people on such +smart, independent geniuses as Irish John; the sending of a letter to +him from a supposable lady friend, with a post-mark painted on it by +one of the young ladies; putting parsnip ends into his study lamp for +wicks, etc. But these are not to be classed with the fun that was +present of the genuine sort. There were a few live wits who were Tom +Hoods on a small scale, seeing everything with a double meaning, and +"double-enders" (_double entendres_) were for breakfast, dinner and +supper every day in the week. + +Some little children were chasing one another one very warm day. "Why," +queried one, "are those children like native Africans?" "Because they +belong to the 'hot' and 'tot' race!" + +"Is Mr. ---- much of a carpenter?" "Not a bit of one, that's _plain_," +was the reply. + +"What sort of a man is that long-haired fellow opposite?" said one. "He +is good in the _main_," replied the other. + +"These Grahamites will never make their ends _meet_," said one. "You +may _stake_ your reputation on that," said the other. + +"Mrs. ---- is a regular steamboat," said A. "Yes, I know it; she goes +by steam----_self 'steam_," said B.----which was smart, but cutting! + +If, for instance, Miss Kettell was to be married, one would ask if she +was a "_tin_" kettle, and another would "_go bail_" she was, and the +next would say that "the larger the kettle the more tin it would have." +"And the more _iron in (g)_, too!" some one would ejaculate. Then +another would say that "after she was married there would be none of +the _Kettle_ left," and the next wit would say, "And none of the +'_tin_' either," and so the badinage would pass about. + +It made no difference what the subject was, it was always suggestive. +If it was a dog, they would ask, "What kind of a _bark_ he had on him?" +If it was a pump, "Is it _well_ with it?" If it was a shepherd, they +would like to inquire "if he was not a _baa_-keeper?" and the first +would reply that he would have to "ruminate" on it before he made his +answer; and the second would hope his reply would be "_spirited_; if +not he had better be _punched_ up." + +"Have you seen my umbrella?" asked one. "What sort of an umbrella was +it?" was the inquiry. "It had a hooked end," said number one. "I have +not seen it," was the reply, "but _I_ had a nice one once, and the end +was _exactly_ like yours; it was _hooked!_" + +Passing a rosy-cheeked, unkempt boy, Miss--remarked to her friend, +"Isn't he a little honey?" "Yes," she replied, struck by his traits, +"honey without a _comb!_" + +"Do you not think Miss B. is beautiful? She bows to perfection." "Yes; +but she hasn't bowed to me. Has she to _you?_" + +"Who are those girls out in the boat with the old man?" (The name of +the boat was "the Dart.") "Why, his _darters_, of course," was the +reply. + +And how could any one do differently when the great Archon himself was +first and foremost in the fray, poking fun at all? "Don't do that," he +said one day to me when I put something unusual in the swine's mess, +"the hogs will all _die_ after it!" with a most serious look on his +pleasant face. In my seat at the table, looking down the hall to where +the Archon was, I saw him full of frolic, and oftentimes wondered what +he could joke so much about. + +There was one occasion when he quoted Watts in a comical way to an +offending member which brought him to terms. It was at the Eyry. There +was a meeting of the Industrial Council. It was necessary to have a +quorum to pass certain important votes, and one of the members, being a +trifle weary of business, had stepped out to converse with a friend in +the vestibule. After a while, hearing some one coming, he slipped +behind the vestibule door. It was the "Archon," who came for the member +to make a quorum. Presently, discovering his retreat, he hailed him--as +he remembered it--thus:-- + + "'And are you there, you sinner d--d, + And do you fare so well! + Were it not for redeeming grace + You'd long since been in hell.'" + +The unworthy member succumbed and returned to the meeting, wondering +whether the verse was an impromptu or whether it was part of one of the +inspiring Sunday hymns our grandfathers sang in their cheerless, +unwarmed meeting-houses. In a version of Watts' Hymns this verse is +found:-- + + "And are we wretches still alive, + And do we yet rebel? + 'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love + That bears us up from hell." + +It might have been the one Mr. Ripley quoted. + +I have heard it said that a prominent literary man "could not +understand the condition of mind it required to make a pun." It would +be out of place here to try to explain that condition to him or to any +one else. It is certainly not an unhappy frame of mind, and I am not +aware that it indicates any depraved condition. I don't know of any +very bad men who make puns, but I have known of many good men who make +bad puns. It is not an avaricious state of the mind, for who ever heard +of "puns for sale or manufactured to order," or of a man getting rich +in the wholesale or retail pun trade! + +In fact, a pun is like an egg--the moment you crack it the meat is out. +Some men carry things to extremes; I wouldn't myself like to be a +punster _in toto_, but only now and then to have a finger in one. But +really, the condition of mind seems to be the same as that of some of +our criminals who profess they committed the deed because they +"couldn't help it," or the boy who was asked angrily "why he whistled?" +"He didn't," he replied, "it whistled itself." I imagine our literary +friend thinks that a punster draws the steel blade of his intellect, +discovers some close-mouthed, hard-fisted sort of a word or sentence +doubled up like an oyster and deliberately splits it apart, one shell +on one side, one on the other and the soft thing drops out between. I +could only despise the sort of brain that would do such a deed. + +A pun is a part of the sunshine of words. It gives a sparkle and a glow +to language. It is a big pendulum that swings from torrid to frigid +zone quicker than a telegram goes. If you hold on to it, you will find +yourself in both places in a jiffy, and back again to the spot where +you start from without being hurt, and the jog to your intellect, if +you happen to have any, is only of an agreeable nature. + +But it was not alone in puns and conundrums that the social life of +Brook Farm was rich. It was rich in cheerful buzz. The bumble-bees had +no more melodious hum than the Brook Farmers. They had thrown aside the +forms that bind outside humanity. They were sailing on a voyage of +discovery, seeking a modern El Dorado, but they did not carry with them +the lust for gold. They were seeking something which, had they found +the realization of, would have carried peace to troubled hearts, +contentment and joy to all conditions and classes. They were builders, +not destroyers. They proposed to begin again the social structure with +new foundations. They were at war with none personally; as high-toned, +large-souled men and women they were ready with their expressions of +hatred and contempt for the unchristian social life of our generation, +but they were never ranters. + +In general little was said on the farm of these matters, except in +private discussions; all were too busy with the active work. We felt +that we had put our ears down to the earth and heard nature's +whisperings of harmony; that we had gone back from the uncertain and +flimsy foundations of present society, and placed our corner stone on +the eternal rock of science and justice; that the social laws God +ordained from the beginning had been discovered; there could be no +possibility of a mistake, and therefore, we felt that our feet were on +eternal foundations, and our souls growing more and more in harmony +with man and God. + +Imagine, indifferent reader of my story, the state of mind you would be +in if you could feel that you were placed in a position of positive +harmony with all your race; that you carried with you a balm that could +heal every earthly wound; an earthly gospel, even as the church thinks +it has a heavenly gospel--a remedy for poverty, crime, outrage and +over-taxed hand, heart and brain. And every night as you laid your head +on your pillow, you could say: "I have this day wronged no man. I have +this day worked for my race, I have let all my little plans go and have +worked on the grand plan that the Eternal Father has intended shall +sometime be completed. I feel that I am in harmony with Him. Now I know +He _is_ truly our Father. With an unending list of crimes and social +wrongs staring me in the face I doubted, and my heart was cast down. +Now the light is given me by which I see the way through the labyrinth! +It is our Father's beautiful garden in which we are. I have learned +that all is intended for order and beauty, but as children we cannot +yet walk so as not to stumble. Natural science has explained a thousand +mysteries. Social science--understand the word; not schemes, plans or +guessing, but genuine science, as far from guess or scheme as astronomy +or chemistry is--will reveal to us as many truths and beauties as ever +any other science has done. I now see clearly! Blessed be God for the +light!" + +And after sound sleep, waking in the rosy morning, with the fresh air +from balmy fields blowing into your window, penetrated still with the +afflatus of last night's thoughts and reveries, wouldn't you be +cheerful? Wouldn't the unity of all things come to you, and wouldn't +you chirrup like a bird, and buzz like a bee, and turn imaginary +somersaults and dance and sing, and feel like cutting up "didoes," and +talk a little high strung, and be chipper with the lowliest and level +with the highest? Wouldn't your heart flow over with ever so much love +and gratitude? Wouldn't it infuse so much spirit into your poor, weak +life that your words would sparkle with cheeriness, frolic and wit? I +believe so! I know so! + +Such was to me the secret of the fun, wit and frolic of the Brook +Farmers. The jokes were, it is true, largely superficial, but they were +inseparable from the position. The bottom fact was, _the associates +there were leading a just life_, and could go to their labor, hard beds +and simple fare--down to plain bread and sometimes mythical +butter--with cheerfulness just in proportion as they were penetrated by +these great ideas. They could make merry with their friends over a cup +of coffee, and sought not the stimulants that college days and college +habits might have allowed. + +It was with one of our little social groups of friends, that Mr. Dwight +gave the toast, "Here's to the coffeepot! If it is not _spiritual_, +it's not _material_!" + +There was a gentleman who resided with us who had promised, on a +certain day, to assist a department of our industry with a loan of +cash, and had taken the light wagon to Boston for the purpose of +securing the funds and bringing them home for use. Somewhere about nine +o'clock in the evening the dwellers at the "Hive" were disturbed by the +approach of a team and the groans of a person. Going out, they +discovered that it was our team, and our member, who had apparently +fallen into the back part of the wagon in a helpless state. They +assisted him out and conveyed him to his chamber. + +He did not seem to be much hurt; but he stated that in passing through +the little patch of woods on the "back road," some one came out and +knocked him off his seat and then robbed him. He had lain in the wagon, +unable to rise, and the horse had come home of his own accord. This is +the outline of the story. Parties went out on the road with lanterns, +but found no lost pocket-book. The news of the robbery spread. It was +the common talk the next day. There were suspicious circumstances. It +might have been a _ruse_ to cover a personal loss of the money, or to +deceive us in the pretended loan. Who could tell? + +A few days later a stranger called at the Hive door. He had an +announcement to make; he had seen a mystery--doubtless it had something +to do with the robbery. He had been travelling that morning through +Muddy Pond woods, in a thick part of which he had seen--what? Why, a +shirt hanging on the bushes to dry; and had heard voices in the woods +near. He had no doubt marauders were encamped there. We might find +there the man who committed the assault and robbery. His manner was +excited, but he seemed to believe his own story. + +It was Sunday. Work would not prevent us. We would hunt for the +robbers. We would go to Muddy Pond woods and investigate. We were not +over sanguine, but there was mystery in it, and we were bound to solve +it. I don't think anyone of us thought there was any danger in the +affair. A party of volunteers, consisting of some six or eight, was +formed, and the valuable Glover placed himself at our head. "By the +by," said he, as we were about to start, "I'll go and borrow Mr. Shaw's +pistols." What insane idea entered his head at that moment who can +tell. Did he have the thousandth part of an idea that he was going to +put a bullet into a man's body? I don't think he had! Returning soon +with the pistols, we started on our way. + +It would be worth a thousand dollars now if we had a picture of that +party on their tramp. As I remember it, there were some four of us who +were of the "young group" and had not quite attained our legal majority. + +"The Admiral" and "the Hero," with "Glover," made the older portion of +the party, and as we strayed along with our clear, sun-browned, young +faces, our classic locks and natural beards--those who had any--with +our unique tunics or blouses, with a certain regular quaintness running +through them, were picturesque enough. The idea of arming ourselves, +suggested by Glover's pistols, soon developed into the improvising of +canes and walking sticks from the wayside. + +"Glover" paired off with the curly headed Hero, I with the curly headed +Admiral, for Glover loved the Hero, and I admired the Admiral's honest, +sincere, pleasant ways and heart. The city life we all had tasted, had +given new zest to country life. We straggled by the roadside; we sought +wild berries; we observed the varieties of foliage and flower, and +conversation never flagged. Glover and Hero were ever in earnest talk. +There was with them a never-ending story, and I am reminded of the +everlasting confidences of school girls when I recall their being +together, excepting only that they did not put their arms around each +other's waists. + +The Admiral's heart was full of music. He could talk of music, poetry +and love, and there was a tender spot in him that I did not venture on, +although I knew it was there. He was also a deep admirer of nature. +Truly we could sing together, "A life in the woods for me!" + +It was three miles to the robbers' rendezvous, but what cared we? We +dwelt in the bosom of nature, and three miles was but a pastime. We +only wanted an excuse of the most feeble kind to start on a tramp, day +or night. All along the way we breathed health and vitality; the air +was full of singing birds, and our hearts were crying out, "What is so +rare as a day in June?" In fact, our June days lasted longer than they +did elsewhere--they ran into September, October and November. It is the +harmony of our hearts that makes the force of poetry, and not the mere +words; and the June feeling may be present in December. + +The entrance to Muddy Pond woods was on high ground, and as we +approached it we were a little cautious, for near by was the appointed +place to find the haunt of the robbers. Filing along singly, we peered +into the underbush. Lo, and behold, I see it! It is a white thing +hanging on a bush! Yes! And listen, I hear voices! It is the robbers! +Why, no, these are only children's voices! They are picking berries, +the dear things. Poor children! Don't you know that you may be robbed +and murdered by some of these infernal rascals who beat innocent men, +take their money and come out here into this wilderness and wash the +blood off their garments and hang them on these berry bushes to dry? + +Slowly we approached the white garment. Why, this is only an old white +rag that has hung here for months, all mildewed and half rotten. Come, +boys, we are sold! What an old goose that fellow was to get us out here +for such a thing as this! I am going home! I am hungry! Feelings of +disgust and mirth took possession of us. Were these the robbers, and +was this the bloody raiment? Ha! ha! + +There was no use of going further. The exciting problem was solved, and +we turned our feet homeward over the hills, across the fields and by +stone walls; shying a stone now and then into some gnarled apple tree, +just to knock down a wild apple or two, to try if they contained, as +Emerson has said of one of them, "a pint of cider and a barrel of +wind"; whipping off the heads of the wild daisies with our canes and +switches; pulling sprigs of sweet fern and bayberry; mocking the crows +and the cat-birds; finding choice flowers, and trying to fill the +aching void within us with blackberries and whortleberries, and +reaching the farm after the dinner was over. + +All but one corner of the dining-room was deserted, and there a +solitary waiter was placing plates for the "Waiting Group," who had not +been served with dinner. The "Waiting Group" was one of the most +cheerful, lively, witty and jolly groups on the place. In fact it +contained some of the most eminent persons in our midst, and at dinner +the waiters were of the masculine gender solely. + +We found there would be room for us to join their table, and that our +company was welcome. Alas! alas! How can I describe the dinner? I do +not mean the things we had to eat--fine eating was of little +consequence if we could satisfy hunger; but the merry cheer was +indescribable. It was the Professor (Dana) who sat at the head of the +board. It was the brilliant and witty "Timekeeper" (Cabot) who was at +one side, and when our party was added to them--"the Hero" +(Butterfield), with his full, hearty and musical laugh; Glover (Drew) +with his funny and apt quotations, and with the other four to six +clear-headed fellows, not a dull one among them--the gamut of merriment +ran to its highest notes. + +Of course the Professor couldn't help making a few remarks about the +"object of our journey" and inquiries about the "success of the +enterprise," and of course our party didn't answer in parliamentary +language, but parried wit with wit, fun with fun, joke with joke. The +story had to be told and embellished. The shirt, it was nothing but a +rag, and the children were probably ragamuffins, and hot muffins at +that! The robber, where could he be! Probably dead, for there was +_berrying_ going on, and the children were continually _turning pail_. + +But the borrowing of the pistols was the occasion of the most +absurdities. Was Glover _half cocked_ when he borrowed them? Did he +_bear-ill_ against any man? Was he going to _brace_ up his courage? He +wanted a little more _stock_ in hand, eh? It was the only way he had of +getting a little "_pop_"! And if he had "popped" the robber would there +have been any _pop-bier_ (beer) there? "If I had killed him," he said, +"there wouldn't have been any _sham pain_." Pooh, pooh, you could only +have _hocked_ him! "I would have made him _whine_ anyhow." You might +have made him whine but--"_Wine butt_," did you say? (Interrupting). +"Glover didn't intend to make any excitement, for where he took the +pistols he left the _wholestir_ behind." "But when he took them," +another said, "he thought he was going to _Needham_ (need 'um)." "Ah, +no," said another, "when he took them he felt sure he was going to +_Dedham_" (dead 'um). + +You will appreciate the difficulty I have in making any one realize the +snap, the vivacity and the quickness of the repartees. Things that seem +frivolous when written down----separate from all their connections, +with the personality dropped out of them----with the connection +unbroken; with youth, friendship and love to join them together, and +all the surroundings in keeping, were lively and bright, and added a +glow to the toil that made all the difficult surroundings easier to +bear. The affair acted over to-day in sober earnest would hardly +provoke a smile, but there most trivial incidents were worked up and +the result was an increase of happiness for all. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE. + + +Things were looking up in the Phalanx at this time, for money was +coming from some sources to finish a portion of the "Phalanstery." Not +that it resembled one, but more out of deference to the idea of one did +it receive its name. This would admit of additional membership, as +well-to-do and able families were to embark in the enterprise, who +could not and would not join it in the crowded state of the houses. The +feeling among all was particularly hopeful and cheerful at the +prospect, as we knew it was the cramped condition of the finances that +had prevented the finishing of the building before this time. + +Monday, March 2, 1846, was the day of recommencement of labor on it. On +the Saturday previous carpenters had put a stove into the building for +the purpose of drying it, as it had gathered dampness all through the +severe winter. It was now Tuesday, the day after our sweet singer left +us, and as we were all cheerful in our new hopes, it was proposed that +we should celebrate our good luck with a social dance at the Hive. I +shall call on my imagination to people the hall with those who were +Brook Farmers, though not all of them were there in person on that +occasion, in order to give the effective picture of such an assembly; +the realization of it to the mind, rather than the absolute facts. + +The first usually to occupy the hall were the young folks living at the +Hive, whose labors ended early. The dance commenced without ceremony +when one or two sets were ready. The pupils of the school from the Eyry +soon arrived, with the young Spanish boys and the well-dressed maidens. +Then the "Pilgrims" came, and the few who resided at the Cottage +completed the assembly. It was later when the members of the Direction +were seen looking in the room. They had been to some of the +interminable meetings. + +The cotillion was the ruling dance; the plain waltz and hop waltz came +in for their share of favor. The polka was new, and hardly yet danced. +What fun, what pleasure was there then in that old dining hall among +the blue tunics! There the General loomed above the rest, not in tunic, +however, but staggering about with his new acquirement, interested and +ungraceful; and the old gardener entertained us with a Danish waltz +with his fair-haired, plump, round-shouldered daughter. Now they cling +together, then swing apart, holding each other by the fingers' ends; +now they whirl and twirl in and out, and then come together and waltz +around the hall, as all gaze and wonder at the old man's suppleness. +Now the spirit of fun takes possession of all as we see Irish John +sitting quietly conversing with "Dora," and he must dance a jig! By +some chance there may be a girl of his nationality on the place to +dance with him; if not, he goes it alone--forward and back, shuffling +backward and around; then dancing up as to his partner, and having gone +through all the varied motions in grand heel-and-toe style, sits down +again or rushes out of the hall door with his giggling laugh, and a +loud round of applause for his reward. + +I might go on painting various characters and personages, but could not +paint the enthusiasm that was catching--how one after another of the +older ones put on again the youthful habit long since laid off. There +was no selfishness either, in the dancing, because there was plenty of +it, and when one of the older persons essayed the graces of youth, +instead of its being looked on as an intrusion, it was applauded. I +have seen five men whose education was for the ministry enjoying +themselves on that small floor at one time. + +It was the old courtliness over again. It was the spirit of chivalry +revived under a new form, and it was chivalry with interior pride +instead of exterior pride--pride of character instead of pride of +birth. Did any of these accomplished men and women deem that they +lowered themselves by dancing with those who did manual labor? If they +had, they would not have been there to do it. And did the "producers of +wealth" think that there were those who danced in their company as a +favor to them? If they had, it would have been a favor they would not +have accepted. The atmosphere was that of mutual respect and mutual +good-will. + +There was no dancing of clothes-pins from the pockets of the dancers, +as Emerson has said, or if it once happened it was probably the +intentional freak of a happy schoolboy--a bit of farcical fun, too +unworthy even to be mentioned by the "Sage of Concord" in his "Historic +Notes." It was poor history and undignified in its connection. + +But the reader wishes to know if certain men whose names he has seen +and whose reputations he knows took part in these amusements! He may be +sure that the "Professor" (Dana) was there, for those charming black +eyes and raven hair, and the quick, nervous, volatile, lovely owner of +them, with her southern accent, was there to charm him. And he may be +sure that the "Poet" (Dwight) was there, for the man of music and song +could not despise the poetry of motion, neither could his social soul +neglect the opportunity of seeing so much enjoyment, and feasting his +eyes on those developing buds of womanhood, those fair-haired, +clear-eyed, joyous young girls who were present. And the curly-headed, +witty "Time-Keeper" (Cabot) was there because he enjoyed dancing and +fun. And the tall, manly, handsome-faced, clear-complexioned "Hero" +(Butterfield), whose curls more than rivalled the other, looking for a +dark-eyed girl who afterwards became his faithful and loving wife. And +the little, thin-faced shoemaker (Colson), with his amiable spouse was +there, as also that other one, with head and forehead large enough for +Daniel Webster (Hosmer), with his wife. + +And that quiet man, whose near-sightedness obliged him to wear glasses, +and whose very soul was penetrated with a joke, if you could judge from +the internal convulsions and the mounting of the red blood to his face +at every good one--"Grandpa" (Treadwell) so different from his +light-complexioned wife, who smiled all over her face and indulged in a +merry laugh so easily. And John (Orvis) was there--surnamed "the +Almighty"--for certain eyes projected their glances on him, which was +not unpleasing to his senses. And Chiswell, the man who desired to be +chief of the Amusement Group, was there, of course; and Miss Ripley, +"her perpendicular Majesty," came to look on because she enjoyed doing +so; and the "Mistress of the Revels" (Miss Russell) was looking after +her young nieces, the Misses Foord, who, with all the other young +misses, were there. And stout "Old Solidarity" (Eaton) was there, and +"Monday (Munday) the tailor's wife"; Jean (Pallisse) with his "Madame," +"Homer the Sweet" (Doucet), "Chrysalis" (Christopher List), "Chorles" +and Stella (Salisbury), John and Mary (Sawyer), and all the titled +nobility of the place; with Edgar and Martin, Harry and George, Dan and +Willard, John and Charles--all lads of an age to drink deep of the +fountain of life and pleasure. + +But stop! On this occasion the dance was not fairly under way; it was +yet quite early in the evening, and though in the "full tide of +successful experiment," to quote an old expression, it had not worked +itself up to high pitch, when an unexpected interruption took place. +Ah, fatal hour! Why was it not delayed? Why did it ever come? It was +this: one of the older members came in and announced, "The Phalanstery +is on fire!" I remember the loud, derisive laugh that came from the +announcement, and was echoed through the room. I knew better than all +from the sober face and earnest look of the person who said it--for he +was one of my kin--that the statement must be correct, and I +immediately said, "This is no joke, it is true!" + +A thing so easily verified needed not argument, and all rushed for the +doors. I hastily changed slippers for boots and ran out. The barn hid +the "Phalanstery" from sight. Passing to the other side of it I saw the +flames pouring out of the front, surmounted by a heavy cloud of black +smoke. Without definiteness of purpose we all started for the building, +and all saw that there was no chance of saving it. Ere long the flames +were chasing one another in mad riot over the structure; running across +the long corridors and up and down the supporting columns of wood, +until the huge edifice was a mass of firework, every part painted in +glowing, living color, yet retaining its distinctive form. + +It was a grand and magnificent sight! The whole heaven was illuminated +with its rosy light, and the earth was as red as the sky, for the +fields, deep covered with white snow from the long storm, were +brilliant from the reflection of the fire. Miles and miles away was the +illumination seen. Men in Boston thought it was near by, it was so +bright, and one man came from the city across the fields, thinking at +every moment he would reach the object of his search, finding it and +himself at last nine miles in the country. + +There was a pile of lumber near the building that we worked hard to +save, but the flames were so hot we had to desist, and some cried out +"Save the Eyry!" Turning on my heel I went to the greenhouse for water +buckets, and entering saw the flowers lighted up with a heavenly glow +of color, and so startlingly beautiful that in spite of my haste I +lingered a moment to look at them. Roses and camellias, heaths and +azaleas--whatever flowers there were in bloom looked superbly glorified +in the transcendent light, and I uttered an exclamation of surprise at +the lovely display. + +A moment after, armed with buckets, I started for the Eyry, and at the +post of duty worked with a will to forward water to those above who +were wetting the front of the house and roof to preserve it from the +heat. It was not long before it was seen that danger to that building +was past, and I returned to watch the fire fiend eat up the remains of +our great edifice. + +Engines with firemen slowly arrived, but the building was entirely +burned, for there was a difficulty in getting any water, as three feet +of snow covered the ground, and little was done but to extinguish some +of the embers of the burning, blackened main timbers that had fallen +into the cellar. + +I pause here to give the account of the fire published in the +_Harbinger_ of March 14, 1846. There is little to add to the clear +statement there made:-- + +"FIRE AT BROOK FARM. + +"Our readers have no doubt been informed before this of the severe +calamity with which the Brook Farm Association has been visited, by the +destruction of the large unitary edifice which it has been for some +time erecting on its domain. Just as our last paper was going through +the press, on Tuesday evening the 3d inst., the alarm of fire was given +at about a quarter before nine, and it was found to proceed from the +'Phalanstery.' In a few minutes the flames were bursting through the +doors and windows of the second story; the fire spread with almost +incredible rapidity throughout the building, and in about an hour and a +half the whole edifice was burned to the ground. The members of the +Association were on the spot in a few moments, and made some attempts +to save a quantity of lumber that was in the basement story; but so +rapid was the progress of the fire, that this was found to be +impossible and they succeeded only in rescuing a couple of tool chests +that had been in use by the carpenters. + +"The neighboring dwelling house, called the 'Eyry,' was in imminent +danger while the fire was at its height, and nothing but the stillness +of the night and the vigilance and activity of those who were stationed +on its roof, preserved it from destruction. The vigorous efforts of our +nearest neighbors, Mr. T. J. Orange and Messrs. Thomas and George +Palmer, were of great service in protecting this building, as a part of +our force were engaged in another direction, watching the workshops, +barn and principal dwelling house. + +"In a short time our neighbors from the village of West Roxbury, a mile +and a half distant, arrived in great numbers with their engine, which +together with the engines from Jamaica Plain, Newton and Brookline, +rendered valuable assistance in subduing the flaming ruins, although it +was impossible to check the progress of the fire until the building was +completely destroyed. We are under the deepest obligations to the fire +companies which came, some of them five or six miles, through deep +snow, on cross roads, and did everything in the power of skill or +energy to preserve our other buildings from ruin. Many of the engines +from Boston came four or five miles from the city, but finding the fire +going down, returned without reaching the spot. The engines from +Dedham, we understood, made an unsuccessful attempt to come to our aid, +but were obliged to turn back on account of the condition of the roads. +No efforts, however, would have probably been successful in arresting +the progress of the flames. The building was divided into nearly a +hundred rooms in the upper stories, most of which had been lathed for +several months without plaster, and being almost as dry as tinder, the +fire flashed through them with terrific rapidity. + +"There had been no work performed on the building during the winter +months, and arrangements had just been made to complete four out of the +fourteen distinct suites of apartments into which it was divided, by +the first of May. It was hoped that the remainder would be finished +during the summer, and that by the first of October the edifice would +be prepared for the reception of a hundred and fifty persons, with +ample accommodations for families, and spacious and convenient public +halls and saloons. A portion of the second story had been set apart for +a church or chapel, which was to be finished in a style of simplicity +and elegance, by private subscription, and in which it was expected +that religious services would be performed by our friend William H. +Channing, whose presence with us, until obliged to retire on account of +ill health, had been a source of unmingled satisfaction and benefit. + +"On the Saturday previous to the fire, a stove was put up in the +basement story, for the accommodation of the carpenters, who were to +work on the outside; a fire was kindled in it on Tuesday morning, which +burned till four o'clock in the afternoon; at half past eight in the +evening the building was visited by the night watch, who found +everything apparently safe, and at about a quarter before nine a faint +light was discovered in the second story, which was supposed at first +to have proceeded from a lamp, but on entering, to ascertain the fact, +the smoke at once showed that the interior was on fire. The alarm was +immediately given, but almost before the people had time to assemble, +the whole edifice was wrapped in flames. From a defect in the +construction of the chimney, a spark from the stovepipe had probably +communicated with the surrounding wood work, and from the combustible +nature of the materials, the flames spread with a celerity that made +every effort to arrest their violence without effect. + +"This edifice was commenced in the summer of 1844, and has been in +progress from that time until November last, when the work was +suspended for the winter, and resumed, as before stated, on the day in +which it was consumed. It was built of wood; one hundred and +seventy-five feet long, three stories high, with spacious attics, +divided into pleasant and convenient roams for single persons. The +second and third stories were divided into fourteen houses, independent +of each other, with a parlor and three sleeping rooms in each, +connected by piazzas which ran the whole length of the building on both +stories. The basement contained a large and commodious kitchen, a +dining hall capable of seating from three to four hundred persons, two +public saloons, and a spacious hall and lecture room. Although by no +means a model for the Phalanstery, or unitary edifice of a Phalanx, it +was well adapted for our purposes at present, situated on a delightful +eminence which commanded a most extensive and picturesque view, and +affording accommodations and conveniences in the combined order, which +in many respects would gratify even a fastidious taste. The actual +expenditures upon the building, including the labor performed by the +Associates, amounted to about seven thousand dollars, and three +thousand dollars more, it was estimated, would be sufficient for its +completion. As it was not yet in use by the Association, and, until the +day of its destruction, not exposed to fire, no insurance had been +effected. It was built by investments in our loan stock, and the loss +falls upon the holders of partnership stock and the members of the +Association. + +"It is some alleviation of the great calamity which we have sustained +that it came upon us at this time, rather than at a later period. The +house was not endeared to us by any grateful recollections; the tender +and hallowed associations of home had not yet begun to cluster around +it, and although we looked upon it with joy and hope as destined to +occupy an important sphere in the social movement to which it was +consecrated, its destruction does not rend asunder those sacred ties +which bind us to the dwellings that have thus far been the scene of our +toils and of our satisfactions. We could not part with either of the +houses in which we have lived at Brook Farm, without a sadness like +that which we should feel at the departure of a bosom friend. The +destruction of our edifice makes no essential change in our pursuits. +It leaves no family destitute of a home; it disturbs no domestic +arrangements; it puts us to no immediate inconvenience. The morning +after the disaster, if a stranger had not seen the smoking pile of +ruins, he would not have suspected that anything extraordinary had +taken place. Our schools were attended as usual, our industry in full +operation, and not a look or expression of despondency could have been +perceived. The calamity is felt to be great; we do not attempt to +conceal from ourselves its consequences, but it has been met with a +calmness and high trust, which gives us a new proof of the power of +associated life to quicken the best elements of character, and to +prepare men for every emergency. + +"We shall be pardoned for entering into these almost personal details, +for we know that the numerous friends of Association, in every part of +our land, will feel our misfortune as if it were a private grief of +their own. We have received nothing but expressions of the most +generous sympathy from every quarter, even from those who might be +supposed to take the least interest in our purposes; and we are sure +that our friends in the cause of social unity will share with us the +affliction that has visited a branch of their own fraternity. + +"We have no wish to keep out of sight the magnitude of our loss. In our +present infant state it is a severe trial of our strength. We cannot +now calculate its ultimate effect. It may prove more than we are able +to bear; or like other previous calamities, it may serve to bind us +more closely to each other, and to the holy cause to which we are +devoted. We await the result with calm hope, sustained by our faith in +the Universal Providence, whose social laws we have endeavored to +ascertain and embody in our daily lives. + +"It may not be improper to state, as we are speaking of our own affairs +more fully than we have felt at liberty to do before in the columns of +our paper, that, whatever be our trials of an external character, we +have every reason to rejoice in the internal condition of our +Association. For the few last months it has more nearly than ever +approached the idea of a true social order. The greatest harmony +prevails among us; not a discordant note is heard; a spirit of +friendship, of brotherly kindness, of charity, dwells with us and +blesses us; our social resources have been greatly multiplied, and our +devotion to the cause which has brought us together receives new +strength every day. Whatever may be in reserve for us, we have an +infinite satisfaction in the true relations which have united us, and +the assurance that our enterprise has sprung from a desire to obey the +divine law. We feel assured that no outward disappointment or calamity +can chill our zeal for the realization of a divine order of society, or +abate our efforts in the sphere which may be pointed out by our best +judgment as most favorable to the cause which we have at heart." + +There was no wind. The building was entirely consumed; and the hungry +firemen, on their homeward way, were invited to lunch at the Hive. +Peter, the baker, had just turned out from the oven a fine batch of +bread. We made coffee for them. The bread was for our morrow's +breakfast; they ate it all, and Peter worked all night to supply the +deficiency. In the midst of the lunch Mr. Ripley mounted a bench and +spoke a few pleasant words of thanks to them, and you would not have +guessed that a great misfortune had fallen on our scheme from the +serene, cheerful look on his fine face. He thanked the firemen kindly +for coming to our aid. Their visit, he said, "was _very unexpected_ to +us," but he was glad to give them the poor hospitality we had. "But had +we _known_," he said, in that bright, pleasant way of his, "or even +_suspected_ you were coming, we would have been better prepared to +receive you, and given you worthier, if not a _warmer_ reception." +"Good enough, good enough!" shouted the firemen. + +This calamity did not affect any belief that the Brook Farmers had in +social science, and it did not break up the Association. Certainly no +one departed from the place at once in fear of disorganization. It +called forth kindly letters from all parts of the country, and our +immediate friends gathered around us as if to shield us from further +harm. The sweet singer returned to pass a few days with us, and our +noble friend Channing spoke earnest words to all. + +It was Sunday; the Direction broke its rule and decided to call the +Association together in the evening to talk over everything connected +with its prospects. There was one reason for doing so, and that was, +one of our prominent members was going next day to New York to deliver +a course of lectures on music, and they desired he should be present at +the consultation. I do not remember that the meeting talked facts and +figures, but that it was a meeting of goodwill and resolution, where +all expressed their sympathies or convictions regarding the life then +and there led; their desire for its continuance, and their hopes and +wishes for the future prosperity of the little band. + +I make an extract from an article written by our president, as showing +the state of feeling among the leaders at this time. After speaking of +the various letters received, he says he has selected one for +publication for its practical suggestions, and continues:-- + +"We do not altogether agree with the writer in the importance which he +attaches to the special movement at Brook Farm. We have never professed +to be able to represent the idea of Association with the scanty +resources at our command; nor would the discontinuance of our +establishment, or of any of the partial attempts now in progress, in +the slightest degree weaken our faith in the associative system or our +conviction that it will sooner or later be adopted as the only form of +society suited to the nature of man, and in accordance with the divine +will. We have never attempted anything more than to prepare the way for +Association by demonstrating some of the leading ideas on which the +theory is founded. In this we have had the most gratifying success; but +we have regarded ourselves only as the humble pioneers in a work which +would be carried on by others to its magnificent consummation, and have +been content to wait and toil for the development of the cause and the +completion of our hope. + +"Still we have established a centre of influence here for the +associative movement which we shall spare no effort to sustain; we are +fully aware of the importance of this; and nothing but the most +inexorable necessity will withdraw the congenial spirits that are +gathered in social union here, from the work which has always called +forth their most earnest devotedness and enthusiasm. Since our disaster +occurred there has not been an expression or symptom of despondency +among our number. All are resolute and calm; determined to stand by +each other and the cause; ready to encounter still greater sacrifices +than have yet been demanded of them, and desirous only to adopt the +course which may be presented by the clearest dictates of duty. The +loss we have sustained occasions us no immediate inconvenience; does +not interfere with any of our present operations, although it is a +total destruction of resources on which we had confidently relied, and +must inevitably derange our plans for the enlargement of the +Association and the extension of our industry. We have a firm and +cheerful hope, however, of being able to do much for the illustration +of the cause, with the materials that remain. They are far too valuable +to be dispersed or applied to any other object, and with favorable +circumstances will be able to accomplish much for the realization of +social unity. + +"We are not so blind as to lose sight of the fact that this enterprise, +as well as all others that leave the beaten path of custom and +tradition, must experience more or less misrepresentation and +consequent hostility. But we rejoice to say that in Boston and its +vicinity, where our institution and its members are the best known, we +have met with nothing since the occurrence of our disaster but the most +cordial and almost enthusiastic sympathy. Our labors for five year's +have not been in vain in disarming reproach and winning esteem. A +universal desire is expressed for the continuance of our establishment, +and the success of our experiment; the most friendly hands have been +extended to us from all quarters; and if the expression of respect for +ourselves and wishes for our prosperity could be of any avail, we might +regard our future welfare as certain. If there has been any exception +to these remarks it has not come to our knowledge. The truth is, our +wisest and best men are deeply sensible, under the pressure of existing +evils, of the need of social reform, and they cannot but welcome those +whose perseverance and devotion in this work prove them to be in +earnest." + +These words of our leader expressed clearly the general feeling and +hope of the Association, and are worthy of close attention. I will not +copy the letter referred to, but put in its place the following shorter +one, the writer of whom was an entire stranger to our people:-- + +"NEW YORK, March 17, 1846. + +"GENTLEMEN:--With the greatest sorrow I heard of the destruction of a +building of the Brook Farm Association by fire. As an expression of my +sympathy please accept the trifle enclosed towards its reconstruction. +I am rejoiced at the spirit with which you met this calamity, and think +it augurs most favorably for the successful result of your great +enterprise. + +"The light which some knowledge of the science of Association has +poured upon my mind has changed despondency into hope, gloom into +cheerfulness. My religious feelings I trust have been purified. I can +more intelligently and confidently trust in God, and the reflection +that we are all 'members of one another' excites benevolent feelings in +my heart. I trust I may live to do something towards spreading the +knowledge of this divine science, and that when I die the condition and +prospects of the human race may be greatly improved. E." + +This great disaster stirred the little commonwealth to its centre. In +the hearts of the dwellers were sad spots, were serious thoughts. They +felt a deep disappointment, and when the fun and the _bon-mot_ were +off, that ever sparkled at Brook Farm on the surface of its life of +toil and devotion, they met each other in frank, plain talk. I have a +great admiration for the simple, straightforward, honest way in which +the people, male and female, spoke to each other. There was no beating +of the bush; there was no need of it; there was a common interest that +united them--a unity, as far as it went--not perfect, it is true, but +much higher than I have ever seen it elsewhere. + +As we met the morning after the fire at breakfast, which was later than +usual, and all through the following days, the talk was about the +catastrophe. Each one had his story to tell. Some had been watching the +other houses, fearing chance sparks might reach them, but the night was +so quiet they did not scatter much. Our Englishman with a spicy name +(Peppercorn), cheerful, lively fellow as he was, is said to have +observed that "many hanxious heyes were fixed hon that 'ole in the barn +when hour 'ouse was hon fire." (It was a square place left open in the +gable for ventilation.) Little knots of people gathered together to +talk over and over again the same important subject, and foremost among +them, tallest among them, was the General, with his disputatious tongue +and his occasional unfortunate stammer. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES. + + +Brook Farm was in an exceptionally good position when the associative +movement broke out, like a fever, all over the country. It was no new +organization. It had started two or three years before the rest. It had +fixed itself in the minds of the thinking part of the community as a +gathering of able, upright, conscientious men and women. There were no +slurs on their moral characters. There were no vices at which to point +the finger of scorn. They were not driven or urged forward by poverty +to take the position they did, and the "Community" or Association, had +sprung up so silently and in such a natural manner, that it seemed a +vital outgrowth from the tree of society. Notices appeared in various +prints pleasantly alluding to it. + +It was a curious and unique life. It deserved to be kindly noticed, and +not until after the "Fourierite" doctrines were preached and accepted +did there appear anything in the journals of a defamatory character +relating to it. Truth compels me to say that Brook Farm and its +Associates were singularly free from the rude comments and public +assaults that reformers of all kinds are apt to receive. But while +Brook Farm was thus free, it had to bear its share in the general +assaults upon the doctrines of associative life and "Fourierism" that +were made elsewhere. + +Mr. Greeley, in the _Tribune_, had gone into the work manfully, +striking heavy blows for the organization of labor; announcing himself +as an advocate of the doctrines of Associated Industry, with the +freedom of manner and boldness of pen and purpose for which he was +noted. The _Tribune_ was the leading journal of the country as well as +of the Whig party, and the associative idea came into immediate +prominence. Mr. Greeley was a man who was not ruled by any party. He +had too much of genuine independence to allow himself to follow strict +party lines. He was ambitious. He had political enemies ready to strike +him in any way that they could to reduce his political power, who did +not dare to attack him or his party openly, and they went about seeking +flaws in his honest coat of mail, into which they could thrust their +lances, caring not how envenomed they were if they could but wound him, +thinking by this means to reduce his hold on his party and the public. + +I am satisfied that this was the reason of the commencement of the +principal attacks on the associative doctrines; but having commenced +them, many may finally have believed they were doing justice to society +by continuing in their unjust course. The principal ground of attack +was that the "Fourierites" were "disorganizers," that they were +unsettling the foundations of society and that they wished to make +their Associations entering wedges to disrupt the marriage relation and +produce promiscuity and general anarchy. Their opponents even went so +far as to call the leaders infidels, and made other outrageous and +absurd charges against them. The New York _Express_ was early in the +field. The _Courier and Enquirer_ and the Buffalo _Advertiser_ soon +made themselves conspicuous, and finally the New York _Observer_, "a +religious newspaper of the Calvinistic school, of large circulation and +great influence, actuated in the present case, as must be hoped, by +other motives than those that envenomed its associates," says a writer +in the _Harbinger_, "added its ability and its power to crush the +social reformers." + +These attacks, long continued, created great distrust and produced +strong suspicions in the public mind derogatory to the morality of the +movement. + +The Associationists on their part denied that they were Fourierists, or +that they had advocated or proposed any change in the marriage +relation; they were united for the organization of industry, and had +nothing to do or propose in relation to the marriage system. This +denial was not enough for their opponents. They declared that the +doctrines of Association led to certain results, and in proof of it +cited Fourier's speculations on the subject, which had about as much to +do with the social objects of the Associationists as his cosmogony, his +speculations about the Arabian deserts, or his ocean of "lemonade" that +had amused so many. In the study of human nature, Fourier believed he +discovered inherently inconstant natures, exceptional men and women, +who cannot be constant to one idea, one hope or one love; and believing +that this inconstancy was a normal trait of character with some +persons, who are the exceptions to the general rule, simply and +honestly acknowledged the fact, and speculated on the result and the +position such persons would have in the future ideal societies. + +Fourier said, "The man has no claim as discoverer, or to the confidence +of the world, who advocates such absurdities as community of property, +absence of divine worship and rash abolition of marriage." + +The Associationists of America made no proposal of any change in the +marriage relation. They had no occasion to do so. They considered it +one of the best and purest arrangements of present society, and that if +there were in that relation oftentimes grave mistakes and errors, there +were other greater and more glaring evils and universal wrongs to set +right. + +"Accordingly our position is that the existing institution is to be +maintained in its greatest possible dignity and purity. We believe that +with the establishment of _truth_ and _justice_ in the practical +affairs of society; with the guarantee of pecuniary independence to all +persons, the most fatal temptations to debase and profane this relation +will be removed.... But to purer and nobler generations more upright, +honorable and generous, we leave all legislation on this subject. It is +for us to maintain the institution inviolable." + +The above quoted words are taken from a statement made by all the +officers of the "American Union of Associationists," for at this time +an outside movement of that name had commenced, whose object was to +propagate doctrines, and stimulate the various organizations that were +forming, to actualize the new social order in various parts of the +country. + +At a convention in Boston, held May 27,1846, where the American Union +of Associationists was formed, this resolution was passed:--"Resolved, +That we hold it our duty, as seekers of the practical unity of the +race, to accept every light afforded by the providential men whom God +has raised up, without committing ourselves blindly to the guidance of +any _one_, or speaking or acting in the name of any man; that we +recognize the invaluable worth of the discoveries of Charles Fourier in +the science of society, the harmony of that science with all the vital +truths of Christianity, and the promise it holds out of a material +condition of life wherein alone the spirit of Christ can dwell in all +its fulness; but _Fourierists_ we are not and cannot consent to be +called, because Fourier is only _one_ among the great teachers of +mankind; because many of his assertions are concerning spheres of +thought which exceed our present ability to test, and of which it would +be presumption for us to affirm with confidence; and because we regard +this as a holy and providential movement, independent of every merely +_individual_ influence or guidance, the sure and gradual evolving of +man's great unitary destiny in the ages." + +After the excitement of the fire and after the enthusiastic meeting for +the holy cause, the voice of reason, pure and cold, went forth in +whispers over the face of Brook Farm. Inquiries began to be made about +prospects. It was considered a great piece of good fortune to have been +enabled to commence the first "Phalanstery." Would any one invest in a +second one, and was there prospect enough for the success of the +industry on the place to secure a livelihood? If not, what must be +done? These were important questions. Retrenchment had gone far. The +table was too poor to attract visitors; too poor, some thought, for +health, but I observed that all kept well. + +I am not sure in my details of all the industry on the place just at +this time, but I believe that Britannia ware was made by one or two +workmen, principally oil hand lamps and teapots; but sales were +limited, the market being dull or glutted, and the Brook Farmers had +not the capital to manufacture and keep on hand a supply of goods for +better times. + +Some six to ten were engaged in making shoes and pots. There goods were +sold at fair profit, though it was not a particularly remunerative +business, and sometimes the group was not full of orders. + +There was also the "sash and blind" business, which included the making +of doors. I believe that this business could have been made profitable, +but here again the inevitable want was capital. In order to make these +articles of good quality, it is of the first importance that all stock +in them shall be well seasoned, for if it is not, changes of +temperature will produce shrinkage and warping. The wood should be +either kiln-dried--a novelty then--or dried by long keeping in sheds, +and it was important to buy largely when there was a good source, and +store for future use. These things the Brook Farmers could not do, and +consequently some of the doors and sashes shrank, much to the disgust +of everybody. + +The _Harbinger_ was the principal work done in the printing line as no +outside business, such as job or book work, was secured. I have not +found out whether the _Harbinger_ paid its expenses or not, but it was +considered that it aided Brook Farm by advertising the work in its +columns. Certainly there was not much profit in it, for it is well +known that the expense of issuing a few copies of a publication is +nearly as large as when the number is doubled. + +And the farming! Was it paying? A little, of course. Great labor and +devotion are needed on a farm at special seasons: I am of the opinion +it was a mistaken idea that no day's labor should consist of more than +ten hours. Our kind-hearted leader, who had not known the necessity for +great personal, physical toil, long-continued, in order to produce +special results, frowned on long hours, and did not lend his magnetism +to induce persons to toil out of regular time, except possibly in the +haying field; and therefore the days were clipped to stated hours, when +it would have been better to have extended them occasionally beyond the +regular time. + +A large crop was hay. Near the main farm was a lot of some fifteen +acres of grass land that was a part of the original purchase, but +entirely independent of contact, and at some distance towards West +Roxbury village. It was called the "Keith Lot" and was the best hay +field. All the meadows grew heavy crops of grass; it was not all +"herd's grass," but consisted of a variety of species, and went under +the name of "meadow hay," which was considered second in quality. + +There were the mistakes of beginners made. Some crops were lost that +might have been saved and made profitable. Of apples there were not +many. The farm could not supply the Association's wants, and we had at +times to buy both fruits and vegetables. Besides the cows a few swine +were kept. Occasionally a "beef critter" would be killed for home use, +either by our stout neighbor with a fruitful name (Orange), or by our +little Englishman. + +Our practical neighbor's advice and assistance were of use to us. His +occupation was especially farming, but he had a "slant" towards killing +animals, really liking the business. He could do the butchering of a +hog with the best of grace, and had killed, first and last, so many, +that I imagine he could tell the number of squeals, or wrigglings of +the porcine tail it took to terminate the life of the animal, after he +had given it the _coup de grace_. Once, when remonstrated with by a +lady for his cruel position towards the race of swine, the +"professional" love of his occupation arose above all other +considerations. + +"Where do you expect to go when you die," said she to him, "if you are +so cruel to animals?" + +"Well, I don't know," he replied, "but I hope I shall go where there +are _plenty of hogs!_" + +In the progress of the institution much work was done to increase the +amount of grass land and tillage, and where the meadows bordered on the +bush and stubble, the bush scythe was freely used. Muck was dug and +spread in quantities. Mr. Ripley rather prided himself on the knowledge +of the composition and improvement of soils, and when the experiment +ceased, the farm had improved in amount of tillable surface and +capacity of production. This progress was, much of it, to the +Association's cost, and added but little to the immediate income. + +I have alluded to the tree-nursery. There were thousands of young trees +bought and transplanted for a nursery, and seedlings raised that had to +be budded or grafted, and this was faithfully and carefully done by an +experienced man, assisted by the Professor and other native talent, and +the grounds kept continually in order. There was no immediate return +for this outlay, which needed a year or two more of growth and +investment, to bring back the first cost and make a profit from the +business. + +Let me here call attention to the nature of the various occupations +started. They contained in general, I am satisfied, as good chances for +profitable return as most occupations, and with time, and a market not +overstocked, would finally have paid well. Once only were we caught +with the _ignis fatuus_ of genius, a washing machine--patented, of +course--that came to an untimely end with a few gasps. + +The greenhouse business was an outgo from first to last. It was a +business in prospective. It took two persons from other and more +productive labor, and quantities of fuel were consumed through the long +winter days and nights with a very meagre return. It had its bright +side--it was attractive--and if persevered in would have paid in the +end. The garden was still more of an outgo than the greenhouse. The +soil was very poor, and the manure for high culture was not +forthcoming, for it was all needed on the farm. + +The large number of visitors did at times return more than the cash +outlay, but in reckoning the incomes of the Association this must be +left out, or set down as uncertain. Some boarders were almost always on +the place; either interested parties, or members' friends, but this +income also was slight, as the table was meagre and the price in +proportion. What, then, was there beside these occupations to support +and increase the organization? Three things: Income from new members +who came with property; income from regular investors, who took stock +in the Association, and income from the school. + +There was a prospective income from persons who were expected to come +and try the new mode of life. There were those who had been promised an +opportunity to join us. They were selected from a mass of applicants, +and one object in the selection was to secure persons of good standing +and means. Such persons represented a desirable class. But now the +"Phalanstery" was burned that hope was destroyed, for all the available +rooms were occupied with those living on the domain; and if there was +to be no progress in material things, who would wish to invest in stock +that had not paid a cent and in which there was but a slight chance of +profitable return--nay, more, which stood ten chances to one of being +entirely lost? Of course no one unless he had money to give away. The +persuasive eloquence of the gifted leaders could not secure investors +for the reasons I have given, and for other reasons of which I shall +speak. + +The "Associationists" were not united. The centre of the movement was +at New York, and from there great stories of the advancement of the +North American Phalanx at Red Bank, New Jersey, went forth. It was +Greeley's pet. It was the favorite at the centre and mostly with the +_doctrinaires_. It was an excellent domain, with water power, splendid +fruit-growing land, sufficiently near New York market for an undoubted +sale of all its products. Greeley admired the talent and the social +life at Brook Farm, but he thought that the leaders engaged at the +North American Phalanx had a more practical turn, and their soil was +wonderfully better fitted for farming, which always seems to be the +hobby of reformers. It was near to him; he could visit it often, and he +invested money in it. + +It was intimated that the Brook Farm experiment had better stop, and +that all the material that was good should be transferred to the North +American. But it is easily seen that this was impossible, and that the +experiment must go on. The leaders and members had pledged themselves +too faithfully to carry out the Association's ideas, and none among +them would be bold enough to announce such a project. It would seem +like selling out to another organization. Who would dare to propose to +break into the charmed circle by such discordant words? And so it went +on. + +Much talent was used in the school. As the Association took to itself a +variety of industries; as it added shoemakers, carpenters and farmers +to its original stock of intellectual workers, a change took place in +the selectness of its society. Although the members were chosen by the +organization, yet "practical" farmers, and "practical" shoemakers, with +their wives and children, are not supposed to have the easy grace of +manners, the elegant language and the fluency and charm of cultivated +and scholarly men and women. The little, scarcely organized Community +had increased into a goodly number, so that its dining room was like a +small hotel; and it was no longer held by the "Transcendentalists," but +had become a portion of a large and increasing body of men who followed +the wild ideas of a Frenchman named Fourier, and called itself the +Brook Farm Phalanx. + +And who was this Fourier? It was just at this time; it was just as this +question was asked by anxious mothers, that the slanders of the New +York Press, copied into other papers, far and wide, worked mischief to +the Brook Farm School. I never knew a pupil who was not pleased and +delighted with the school; but the mother who sends a child away from +home to an educational institution, especially if the child is a girl, +will send it where there are no intimations connected with it of the +character of those brought so prominently forward by the New York +newspapers. It matters not so much to her that she believes the stories +are slanders; her duty seems plain to take no risks. + +The "Association" or "Phalanx" now overlapped the school, and it could +no longer have the prominence as an industry that it did at first. The +school, from being so intimately connected with the Association, began +to lose caste. Although conducted with as much talent as ever, and with +as much devotion on the part of its teachers, from the fact of the +unfortunate odium cast on it, and its peculiar surroundings, was +declining, and the high talent, the culture and the knowledge of its +teachers, could not retain it in its proud position. + +Thus I have gathered together, as in a bouquet, the sources of all the +income of the once famous "Brook Farm." How slight they were! + +It has often been stated that Brook Farm was a well chosen location for +the experiment made there. It was nine miles from Boston. There were no +surrounding industries. There was no water power at hand, the little +brook being too small for any purpose but ornament. There was no +available railroad station--the nearest was four miles away. This +necessitated the teaming of lumber, fertilizers, coal, family stores +and all stock for manufacturing purposes, from Boston, as it was not +practical to send part way by rail and transfer it to teams. A portion +of the time we were obliged to go to the city by the way of West +Roxbury Village, as the nearest way--over the hills--was blocked by +snow during our long New England winters, and this increased the +distance. One or two teams, with men, were ever on the road. This was +expensive and tedious. + +After the manufacturing stock had been teamed thus far into the +country, it was carted back in the shape of goods over the same road. I +must praise the men who were engaged in this business, for they were +not only teamsters, but errand boys--expressmen we would call them +now--as well as purchasers of provender and general commercial agents +of the Association; and their combined tasks were hard and difficult. +Busy, driving Glover Drew and Buckley Hastings filled this office +faithfully and long. + +For the original purpose of an industrial school the farm was +attractive, but for an experiment such as was foreshadowed by the name +Phalanx, the place was not at all fitted, and the good sense of Mr. +Greeley saw that the domain of the North American Phalanx was vastly +superior. + +In this connection I am reminded that there was but little machinery +invented and employed on farms at the date of my narrative; and +although our agriculturists, in spite of the stale jokes that have been +fathered on them, were in the advance in this department as in others, +it was only in the third or fourth year of their occupancy of the farm +that they deemed it wise or prudent to purchase a horse rake, and I +recall no other modern implement used, unless it was a seed drill, +taken on trial. It was the same in the domestic department; there was +not even a dish washer or a clothes wringer, and the most extensive and +valuable aid in the laundry was a pounding barrel in which the soiled +clothes were placed and put under discipline. + +There was enough reason and brave common sense among the people to +ponder on the condition of things as I have presented them to you. The +outlook was not encouraging. I cannot remember the order in which some +of the events came to pass which I am to narrate, but the order is +unimportant. Certainly there were Association meetings in which +prospects were talked over and counsel was demanded and taken from one +and another. Unfortunately for this story I was not at them. Doubtless +I was in the quiet of the Eyry, dreaming daylight dreams, musing and +listening to Fanny Dwight's deft piano playing, while she was filling +me with the mysteries of Schubert and Mendelssohn and Beethoven, or +else wandering about the farm, with no special aim but to find rest and +enjoyment in my leisure hours. These meetings were serious, grave and +often protracted. There were some who thought matters could be better +managed. This is not strange, for it is always so. There were those who +thought that some, particularly among the earlier members, though not +absolutely non-producers, should be turned off or made more productive; +but this was difficult to do. Expansion was the only true policy, and +the fates seemed to be against it. Outside of the meetings and in daily +life all seemed to be in harmony. + +I had now lived more than two years at the farm. I, the pale city lad, +had grown brown under the sun's warm kisses. I fancy I was not rosy, +but the bright eyes and the clear complexion, free from speck or +blemish, gave the certain indications of health. I had tasted of the +actual farm work. I had planted beans, potatoes and melons. I had hoed +corn, and on my knees weeded, in the broiling sun, the young onions. I +had driven horse to plough, and side by side with others, trying to hoe +my row with them, disputed, discussed social questions and ideas, and +chaffed one another on our personal gifts and peculiarities while +working together in the different groups. I had not hewed wood, but I +had chopped brush. I had yoked and driven the oxen, and the first time +had a difficulty with them because I tried to yoke the off ox on the +nigh side; and when I graduated into the greenhouse group I learned all +the mysteries of the care of plants, potting, transplanting, making +leaf-mould and doing spade and rake work to perfection; and in the +laying out of beds and walks did a full share of shovel-work on the +sandy and gravelly soil, and drove the dump-cart. + +Oh, the independence of it! To be able to do everything, and with love +of it, knowing no high or low of work--all of it honor, and no shame in +any of it! It is the surroundings that develop the manhood. Was I +working for myself? Was I working for any other man or person? No, it +was for all of us that I did it. Did I and we not have the example of +great minds and greater hearts? We did. One day whilst the shop was +erecting, our mason, who was on the roof building the chimney, was +waiting for his helper, who had not returned from his dinner or had +been called away; and as he wanted bricks very much, I carried some +hodsful up the ladder to him in the genuine Emeraldic fashion. + +(Arise not from shades profound, to frown on me, Abraham, thou honest +"_Rail Splitter_!" Arise not, warlike, Ulysses, thou "_Tanner_." Hide +thyself away! Shake not thy cottony locks at me, thou pale-faced +"_Bobbin Boy_!" Be not too jealous of your unique titles. I shall never +aspire to so glorious a one as "_Hod Carrier_." I have not earned it. I +did it but once, and shall never do it again! Rest easy!) + +And now, at eventide, whilst the Solons of the little commonwealth were +making laws, solving problems and building defences against the common +enemy--the wolf of penury and hunger--I was sitting on the steps or on +the low window-sills at the Eyry, meditating and thinking ever of the +beautiful things with which I was surrounded; thinking of the glowworms +I found in the path to Cow Island, their wonderful beauty, and how like +illuminated pearls were their tiny lamps, and when I touched them how +they rolled themselves into a coil that resembled the pin of pearls my +mother wore on her bosom, only they were more beautiful; thinking that +their lights translated into words were even more beautiful than their +phosphorescent hues, for they said, "Come to me, my love!" + +I was thinking of the bobolinks that twittered and sung, and seemed to +tumble upward as well as downward in the air over the waving grass on +the meadow; or I heard behind in the dim oak woods the whip-lash sound +of the notes of the whippoorwill, repeated a hundred times on the air, +while the round face of the moon looked down and made the shadows of +the trees and the forest grow deeper and darker. Now and then I heard, +when all was still, from his nesting-place, the brave yet delicate +notes of the song sparrow, singing in his dreams from out a happy, +overflowing heart. Dear little fluff of feathers! + +I was thinking of the brood of young partridges I scared in the woods, +and how like a flash, mysteriously and totally, they disappeared in the +underbrush. I was thinking of the tiny newts and wonderful creatures I +found in the shallow water in the meadow ditch. I was thinking that if +the saracenas were in bloom I would go to find some of them on the +morrow; or if the brilliant cardinals were, I would hunt for them at +the brookside; or if there were any yellow violets to be had I wanted +to find them, as I had found many varieties. + +Then I turned my head and listened more earnestly to the music or to +the conversation in the parlor, of inspired men and women, talking in +low, conversational tones, with now and then a spice of wit, on art, +religion, science or the lives of great painters, musicians, artists +and reformers. Or I was looking to see if the "Northern Cross" had +appeared among the constellations above the horizon. Or maybe I heard +George W. Curtis, who had come to visit his old teachers, singing the +"Erl King" or "Good-night to Julia" or plaintive "Kathleen Mavourneen" +in his inimitable way. Perhaps I was deep in social science or +restudyiug some of Fourier's pleasant fancies, such as the rivalries of +groups of nice children with his little hordes of brats and +"rushers"--to use a modern word--and how in nature's scheme their +different talents so balanced one another as to make complete harmony. + +I was thinking of the big boulders that join and make a hole we called +"the cave," over which Hawthorne's fancy made the apostle Eliot preach +to the Indians, giving it the name of "Eliot's Pulpit," and describing +it afterward so prettily in his "Blithedale Romance"; a book of which +Emerson speaks, and truly, as "that disagreeable story," and of some of +the sketches in it as "quite unworthy of his genius." And I was +thinking of the retired little dell in the far "Wisconsin Lot," where +doubtless he and others have taken their volumes and note-books, +writing and reading to the music of the hum of the bees, the sighing +pines and the redbreasts. + +I was thinking of the unfortunate humanity who lived outside of our +charmed circle, and how little they knew of the magnificent future the +infinite Father has prepared for them and their descendants, and how +from the beginning the plan has been coördinate with man's help to his +brother man and his sister woman; and my whole soul was penetrated, +even as it is now, with pity for the blindness, mental and physical, +that cannot see how to use the gifts the Infinite holds out, patiently +waiting for us to take from his indulgent hands. I was thinking how +much, how very much, of all our suffering comes from human ignorance +only. + +I heard all the songs of nature beside the birds. In the spring I heard +the toads and frogs and turtles making merriment in their little +sitting-rooms in the pools of water in low places. In the summer I +heard the locusts sing and the lazy croak of bullfrog, bearing the +relation of trombone in the orchestra of nature to the other musicians, +whilst the fireflies were dancing in mid-air all around him--he winking +at them with those wondrous projecting eyes. In the autumn the cricket +was my favorite, and he was kind enough at times to come into our +musical parlor to rival Mary and Jennie and Helen. But in the winter it +was only the kindly birds that came to us--sweet chickadee and the +talkative crows. None of us injured the birds. I do not remember ever +seeing a gun on the place. Thus went the seasons--spring, summer, +autumn, winter. + +I loved the daily round of life. All were kind to me. I was well +mentally and physically. I was in the bud of youth. I was like the pink +rhodoras in spring, callow of leaf or fruit but brightly covered with +promising blossoms. There remained one thing for me--to know I was +happy. Did I know it? Yes, I did. I realized it then as now. I was not +a victim of unconscious joy, to awaken to it at some future period. It +was not to me a dream. The cup was full! I was truly happy! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK. + + +I do not know when or where it was first announced, but the +announcement came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. Some one was +going to leave us! Who? Was it the "Archon" or the "Professor"? +Certainly this was not expected; but would it be strange if some of the +leaders, feeling too much the pressure and the burden of the financial +and executive business of the society, should grow weary, depart, and +leave their places unfilled forever? Was it any one of the grumblers or +the known discontented or disconcerted ones? No, it was no less than +Peter, the "General"! Why, if the elm tree in the yard of the Hive had +walked off in the night it would not have caused more talk or greater +consternation. Could it be possible? + +From that day to this I have wondered how that man could have had such +a hold on our hearts. There was not a handsome feature in him. He had a +large but uneven forehead. His eyes were small, grayish-blue and +deepset. His nose was homely, his teeth were discolored, and he was +ungainly and awkward. His best feature was his height, but he stooped +in his shoulders, and his dress when about his work was of the plainest +description. His baize jacket and slipshod shoes did not become him. + +Ever since then I have believed in the effect of virtue and kindness. +He was a living sermon--nay, a hundred sermons to me. He was "patient, +long-suffering and kind." + +A spontaneous regret came from all. Some of the women, who certainly +could not be accused of any amatory love for him, shed tears to think +that he should go, for he was full of kindness to them. Constantly in +contact with their department, he was as gentle as a child, never +complaining and yet full of work. Industrious as the day was long, he +seemed so like a portion of the very atmosphere of the house, and of +the life, that it did not seem that he could be away and the +Association be as it was. + +The _morale_ to the fact of the General's departure also disturbed our +people. He was discouraged at the attempt at realization of the new +order at Brook Farm. As long as all clung together there seemed to be +hope; but the first break was dangerous to our well-being, dangerous to +our existence. + +Mr. Dwight had gone to New York to deliver lectures on music. When he +went away all was enthusiasm, all was harmony. The great loss by fire +had shaken no one's faith in the principles or the organization, and as +yet the balance of probabilities had not been made or adjusted in men's +minds. The word was then to go on at all cost. When he returned he +found discussion of means, doubts and fears, uppermost everywhere. As a +truth the Association had not prospered financially. Beginning with no +real capital, and mortgaged to the debts of the former "Community," it +had come to a point where without more means or more money in ready +cash it was very difficult to see how it could go on. + +The change of social atmosphere in so short a time grated on the +sensitive soul of the man of music, and it was my fortune to be present +at a general meeting of all the Association where I heard his remarks. +He began by stating, as I have done, that when he went away all was +harmony and peace. All seemed united by bonds deep and strong; by a +common purpose and for a common end. We were all striving for a worthy +object, a higher, nobler life than that which surrounded us. + +He had been away from this quiet, cheerful, peaceful and just life, +among the noise, dust and discord of a great, unwieldy city, and when +there he had looked forward to his coming home to this devoted little +band with the greatest possible pleasure. He had expected to find them +as harmonious and as united as when he left. He trod the precious soil +and found all external things glowing in beauty. He mounted the hill, +and there came two beautiful white doves flying close to him as he +walked on, circling around and around his head and seeming to rejoice +in his coming. He regarded it as a symbol of the unity and peace that +were with us, as well as a token of welcome. + +But when he came to talk with the members, all was doubt, all was +distrust. What could it mean? It filled his heart with sad forebodings! +Why could we not be as before? Why doubt? why distrust? why not push +on? Certainly there would be a way opened for us! It could not be that +the years of devotion to one another and to this just cause and just +life could end thus! And in pleading tones born out of the depths of +his heart, and living sentences to which I can do no manner of justice, +he waxed eloquent, and all could not but be touched and moved with his +words. + +How beautiful it is in looking back to this time, when coming events +were casting their sad shadows before them, to think that no one took +the opposite side, and that none among all the number argued before us +that we had met with a miserable failure; that no one was ready with a +rude word to break the bonds of friendship and to use his eloquence to +destroy our habit of life, our trust in one another, our faith in God +and the eternal justice of His providence, or to hasten in any way the +disruption of the institution; and that in those trying hours the +strong ties of friendship, love and daily communion were uppermost. All +felt that we wished to keep on with our labor, and that Mr. Dwight only +spoke the wishes of all hearts. But the inevitable mathematics of +finance were against us. + +The "Poet," as the young folks called Mr. Dwight, wished that we could +manage it somehow, in some manner. He himself would go away. He would +go where his services could command higher fees. He would give them to +the Association for the privilege only of being sometimes on the +domain, and finding there others whom he loved, working still for their +sublime purposes. + +These well-expressed desires, though availing nothing in the way of +adding money to the treasury, stimulated the hearts anew to good +fellowship, and helped to keep up the activity of the place to the +last. It seems a wonder to me that, in spite of all the changes that +took place after this time, as one and another departed, the industry +of the place was still kept in decent working order. + +It was on the third of March that the fire took place, and the spring +and summer were fast passing away; the beautiful summer--beautiful ever +with its fields of waving grass and its wild flowers, its sunlight and +moonlight glow, its varied charms of growth and verdure; especially +beautiful to us, the young, who watched one another's countenances +glowing with health, innocence and pleasure; who clasped hands together +and danced with nimble feet; and saw the lithe young forms grow fairer +and more womanly and more manly. With the frank outpourings of +friendship and confidence; with the lavishness of mutual praise in +youth, we enjoyed and joined in merry badinage, in miffs and flattery. +The starry nights echoed our young voices singing in the clear air. +There was a burden of care taken from us, for was not the Association +our god-father? Had it not also taken from our parents the dread +anxieties that fall to most of common lot? And while we were there we +would be happy, and when the Association broke up, if it ever did, +would we not unite somewhere again? + +Certainly I never heard any one of us doubt, whether young or old, gray +of beard or smooth of face, that associated life and doctrines would +succeed: of this I am sure. We reasoned that if Brook Farm Association +failed, some other would not. Some new ones would be formed. The +partings were all temporary; and when we parted, it was with cheerful +hearts. It was like the going forth of a family in the morning to meet +again in the evening; no sad farewells, no heart-breakings. + +In a few years all of those engaged in this most interesting experiment +will be gathered to their fathers. No one may ever write as consecutive +a story of the farm life as I have done; and, with the much that is +superficial in my narrative, let me add my convictions of the leading +men and women in this movement. They were, in the highest sense, +Christians--not technically bound to creeds, but their hearts and +intellects were filled to overflowing with the good precepts that are +proclaimed as the foundation, aside from technical beliefs, of the +Christian doctrine; to love their neighbors as themselves; to do good +to all; to seek first righteousness in life; to uphold honesty and +honest dealing in _all_ earthly relations; to do unto others as we +would they should do unto us; to teach honor to parents; to make all +men love one another; to inspire a trust in God as a provident Father +who stands ready to reconcile all conflicts, with the way open and +plain for us, thus doing away with infidelity, unbelief, narrowness of +mind and spirit. + +The doctrine they taught above all others was the _solidarity of the +race_. This was ever repeated. It was their religion that the human +race was one creation, bound together by indissoluble ties, links +stronger than iron and unbreakable. It was one body. It should be of +one heart, one brain, one purpose. Whenever one of its members suffered +all suffered. When there was a criminal all had part in his crime; when +there was a debauchee, all partook in his debasement; when there was +one diseased all were affected by it; when one was poor, all bore some +of the sting of his poverty. If any one took shelter behind his +possessions, wretchedness, poverty and disease found him out. + +Ever is Lazarus at the king's gate haunting him, and he cannot avoid +it. At his banquets the ghosts of the wronged appear to him. +Hollow-eyed women and children point the finger of scorn at him, and +phantoms in his dreams shriek out at him, "Where is thy brother?" And +he has no excuse but the cowardly question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" +His children inherit the emanations from his cowardly soul and will not +rise up to call him blessed. His mind is not at ease, because the +atmosphere of envy is all around him; he knows _he_ is the cause of +evil thoughts, and that he holds his position by keeping comfort away +from many around him, and his fine surroundings become to him as tinsel +and dross. Dyspepsia, _ennui_ and weariness of spirit claim him. He is +a poverty-haunted coward, ashamed that he is so; and, saddest of all, +he is not a Christian. He does not believe that if he seeks the kingdom +of God, which means only to do aright, all things of material beauty +will be added to him, purifying, comforting, sustaining him, +strengthening him, glorifying him beyond his present power to dream of. + +But the Brook Farmers did. They believed that the Infinite Power +ordained social laws so universal and equitable that the fulfilment of +them would make all unqualifiedly happy, and that it is the mission of +this race of beings to be attached to this earth, to this universe, +until their happy human destiny is accomplished, which destiny must be +for _all_, otherwise the Infinite would be partially and not wholly +good and just. + +I do not say that all men are conscious of this as I have pictured it; +but the burdens are lying heavily on their souls and bodies, and they +can be truly happy only when they are taken off from them. Human nature +is too buoyant, too elastic, to be conscious of their pressure all of +the time; but often, in every soul, is the keen perception that there +must be an accounting somewhere, sometime, for all the injustice and +wrong done to any one and to every one, and it brings the "dread +hereafter" uncomfortably close to their daily lives. + +It is too early yet to judge of the result of the work of the Brook +Farm socialists. They were progressively ahead of their race. They +lived before their time. They existed in the future as well as in the +present and the future will be their judge; but these are my +conclusions justified by actual contact, seeing these men and women +under every variety of circumstances of daily life, for the full two +and a half years of my actual sojourn at the Farm. The high ideal they +carried as their standard lifted them over many of the littlenesses and +annoyances of daily life without a disturbing thought. + +I find in the _Harbinger_ of December 20, 1845, one of the very few +special allusions to Brook Farm life, and it is so much to the point +that I copy it entire:-- + +"We speak no less for the whole associative movement in this country +than for ourselves when we beseech our friends who are looking upon our +operations not to judge of our principles or our purposes by any +immediate results which they may have witnessed. The question is often +asked of us whether our present mode of life answers our +expectations--whether Association is found to be valuable in practice +as it seems to be correct in theory, and the like. But all such +inquiries betray an ignorance of the actual condition of the +enterprise. They suppose the organizations which have gone into effect +in different parts of the country are true specimens of the plans of +Association. This is far from being the case. We do not profess to be +able to present a true picture of associative life. We cannot give the +remotest idea of the advantages which the combined order possesses over +the ordinary arrangements of society. + +"The benefits we now actually enjoy are of another character. The life +we now lead, though, to a hasty and superficial observer surrounded +with so great imperfections and embarrassments, is far superior to what +we have been able to attain under the most favorable circumstances in +civilization. There is a freedom from the frivolities of fashion, from +arbitrary restrictions, and from the frenzy of competition: we meet our +fellow-men in more hearty, sincere and genial relations; kindred +spirits are not separated by artificial conventional barriers; there is +more personal independence and a wider sphere for its exercise; the +soul is warmed in the sunshine of a true social equality; we are not +brought into the rough and disgusting contact with uncongenial persons +which is such a genuine source of misery in the common intercourse of +society; there is a greater variety, of employment, a more constant +demand for the exertion of all the faculties, and a more exquisite +pleasure in effort, from the consciousness that we are not working for +personal ends, but for a holy principle. + +"And even the external sacrifices, which the pioneers in every +enterprise are obliged to make, are not without a sort of romantic +charm, which effectually prevents us from enjoying the luxuries of +Egypt, though we should be blessed with neither the manna nor the +quails which once cheered a table in the desert So that for ourselves +we have reason to be content. We are conscious of a happiness we never +knew until we embarked in this career. A new strength is given to our +arms, a new fire enkindles our souls. + +"But great as may be our satisfactions of this nature, they do not +proceed from the actual application of associative principles to +outward arrangements. The time has not yet come for that. The means +have not been brought together to attempt the realization of the +associative theory, even on the humblest scale. At present, then, we +are only preparing the way for a better order; we are gathering +materials that we hope one day we may use with effect; if otherwise, +they will not be lost; they will help those who come after us, and +accomplish what they were intended for in the designs of Providence. No +association as yet has the number of persons, or the amount of capital, +to make a fair experiment of the principles of attractive industry. +They are all deficient in material resources, in edifices, in +machinery, and, above all, in floating capital; and although in their +present state they may prove a blessing to the individuals concerned in +them, such as the whole earth has not to give, they are not prepared to +exhibit that demonstration of the superior benefits of associative life +which will at once introduce a new era and install humanity in the +position for which it was created. + +"But, brothers, patience and hope! We know what we are working for, we +know that the truth of God is on our side, that he has no attributes +that can favor the existing order of fraud, oppression, carnage and +consequent wretchedness. We may be sure of the triumph of our cause. +The grass may grow over our graves before it will be accomplished; but +as certain as God reigns, will the dominion of justice and truth be +established in the order of society. Every plant which the Heavenly +Father has not planted will be plucked up, and the earth will yet +rejoice in the greenness and beauty of the garden of God." + +These are George Ripley's words. Could any one add a word to improve +these splendid paragraphs! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES, AND AFTER LIVES OF MEMBERS. + + +I am now to chronicle the last scene in our history, and I know not how +to do it, for of all the events of the life it is to me the most dreamy +and unreal. The figures of our drama flit before me like shadows. It +was like a knotted skein slowly unravelling. It was as the ice becomes +water, and runs silently away. It was as the gorgeous, roseate cloud +lifts itself up, and then changes in color and hides beyond the +horizon. It was as a carriage and traveller fade from sight on the +distant road. It was like the coming of sundown and twilight in a clear +day. It was like the apple blossoms dropping from the trees. It was as +the herds wind out to pasture. It was like a thousand and one changing +and fading things in nature. + +"It was not discord, it was music stopped." + +Who was next to break away from the charm of the life I know not; but +when the autumnal season came I was summoned to a family council and +advised that I should begin a new occupation where I could at least +earn my subsistence. As in duty bound, I acquiesced, and in a few days +bade farewell to the Brook Farm life. + +I saw no tears shed when I left, but I was sorry to leave my blue tunic +behind, it was so comfortable. I left, but it was only my outward self +that was gone, not my sympathies or hopes. Behind were family and +devoted friends. It was still my home to return to, as it would be for +an indefinite period. + +For two years and a half I had worn the tunic of the community, and the +"swallow tail" and "civilized rig" I put on for my departure transposed +my appearance so much that some of the society did not at first know +me. With my parents' blessing, I entered on the rudiments of the +professional life I have ever since followed, and took the West Roxbury +omnibus for Boston, the same I had taken two years and a half before to +go to the farm. + +The succeeding Saturday night found me at home again. How pleasant the +greeting from Willard, Katie and Louise; from Charlie, Abby and Edgar; +from Anna and Dolly--from all, old and young! The "Archon" almost +screamed when he saw me, I was so "stunning" in his eyes, and poked +some of his fun at me. No marked change had taken place. The +_Harbinger_ was printed as usual, and only one or two persons had gone. + +Every Saturday night I returned to the "Phalanx," but soon the +shoemakers found occupation elsewhere and their seats were empty. Then +the printers went, as the _Harbinger_ was transferred to New York. At +last the shop was closed, the cattle were sold, and all the industry +ceased. I came and went but did not see the actors go, and am glad I +did not see the "Archon"'. take his leave, or the many bright faces I +had loved so well. + +The Poet lingered near. In Boston he started the _Journal of Music_, +and at the Eyry lingered for a while a sweet enchantress, and the +spirits of song and music held their revels there. So, also, lingered +at "the Hive" some sweet faces and loving hearts besides those of my +kin. The greenhouse, where I had spent so much of my time, was +closed--the plants all gone. Up the rafters ran the vines I helped to +plant, but when the winter came, drear and cold, only a few persons +remained on the domain. The dining hall echoed to my voice in its +emptiness, and the little reading room at the Hive was where we now +assembled at meals. + +I wandered around and looked into the empty rooms. I cannot say I felt +as sad as I would to-day. Every spot was connected with some little +event, but the events were usually of such a cheerful and pleasant +nature that I could not be depressed, and a large portion of my +intimates were still near me in the city or neighborhood. We could +muster a goodly number at call and we tried to keep alive the good work +for the "cause" with meetings, social and theoretical. But no longer +the stage brought its loads of visitors to the Hive door. Over the +hills and the meadows no more resounded the morning horn echoing far +and far away, or Miss Ripley's high voice calling "Alfred! Alfred!" who +acted as major-domo in the absent General's place. + +No more came down from the distant houses school lads and lasses, and +the long, tridaily procession of young and old had ceased forever. The +din of the kitchen was stopped, and the merry brogue of Irish John was +silenced. No more rushed the blue tunics for the mail when the coach +came in--alas, it came no more! The fields remained as when last +cropped, and if we went to the Cottage no merry sound of music came +from the school room. We mounted the stairs without meeting the classic +face or the elastic step and figure of the Professor or his fair +sister, and in vain did we look for the concourse of books where once +he wielded his modest pen and translated his German "_lieder_" + +No more mounted in air the beautiful doves that circled and tumbled in +their flight--_my_ doves, that would come at my call and alight on my +hands, head and shoulders, and scramble for the corn I held out to them +in my palms. Sunday after Sunday, week after week, I spent in the Hive. +I looked out of the window but ventured not to go to the Eyry, for +there the music had finally ceased; or if the spirits sang their dirges +in those classic walls, my dim ears did not hear them. + +Mr. Ripley's books had gone to swell Rev. Theodore Parker's library. +Were they surrendered without a pang? I will tell you. "Fanny," said +Mr. Ripley, seeing his valued books departing, "I can now understand +how a man would feel if he could attend his own funeral." They have +been placed in the Boston City Library by the death and last testament +of the later proprietor. The flowers I had watered and tended passed +into the hands and greenhouse of the translator of "Consuelo." Those +who owned any private effects or furniture took them away. + +The Pilgrim House, never beautiful, and barren in its immediate +surroundings, was entirely deserted. The Hive was my home; and when the +warm sun, looking through the barren grape vine into the dining room +window, melted the light snow of early spring, and awoke the tender +grass into new growth and verdancy, and the remaining poultry warmed +themselves by its rays, nestling together by the doorways, as the +melting snow dripped drop by drop from the house top--the farm looked +beautiful still. + +In some of our young hearts, with the coming of early summer, awoke a +yearning for one more meeting at the old place; and so we gathered the +young people from far and near for one more good time, for one more +communion. With what pleasure I recall those few hours. How happy we +were! How social and loving and dear we were to one another! In the +many years passed since then, there is no red-letter day like that one. +We were about twenty in number. There were fourteen of us between the +ages of fifteen and twenty-one years. The remainder were older. We +filled a table in the reading room. Little we cared if we sat crowded +close together, for we chose our mates. Some were pupils of the school, +the rest were youths of the Association. + +In the afternoon we wandered once more in the beautiful pine woods. We +sang once more the "Silver Moon" together as we roved about, or sat on +the big boulder on the knoll at the foot of the lightning-struck tree. +We recounted old times and seasons; we cracked our merry jokes and ate +our simple treat, and then parted. In a few days the wide world was +between us, and forever. Some went East, and some West, one to +Port-au-Prince, and others to different villages and towns in New +England. Of the number, four remained in Boston; I was one of them. + +Reader, my reminiscences are told, but not all told! They are like the +sultan's story that was to last a thousand years. To all but the one +interested there was an unending sameness in it, but to that one, it +was his life. + +It is natural to wish to know of the writer what became of the persons +who formed this little band of devotees. I can but give a meagre sketch +in reply, for want of room. + +When Mr. Ripley left Brook Farm he was poor. The experiment had cost +him money, years of toil and made debts for which he felt responsible. +He determined to pay them. As yet the way was not open. The _Harbinger_ +was changed in form and lived less than two years in its new location, +and during a temporary illness of the editor its publication was +suspended. Mr. Ripley and wife taught school at Flatbush, L.I. + +At the termination of the _Harbinger_ he immediately commenced writing +for the New York _Tribune_. Its pay roll indicates what he received May +5, 1849; it was $5 for the previous week's work. In July, same year, he +was paid $10 per week; April 6, 1850, $15; Sept. 21, 1851, $25 per +week. He wrote articles on all the living topics of the day, from the +arrival of the last new singer to the death of the last criminal. +Things trivial and non-important, grave and gay, of lasting import and +the most ephemeral, all came under his pen. + +He also wrote, either occasionally or regularly, for a dozen other +periodicals. He was an early contributor to _Putnam's_ and from its +commencement wrote for _Harper's New Monthly_. As editor associated +with Mr. C.A. Dana he gave his time and best thought to the New +American Cyclopedia, and the first two or three volumes of the series +were edited solely by them. In 1871 his salary was raised to $75 per +week. When the Cyclopedia was revised he was paid $250 per month for +extra work on it. More than a million four hundred and sixty thousand +volumes of the two editions have been sold, and a small royalty secured +to the editors on each volume. + +With prosperity Mr. Ripley never forgot his obligations. The old score +of debt was wiped out and paid. He was free, and as a man of letters +revelled in that which had been his youthful ideal. + +When a student at Harvard College he wrote to his father, "I know that +my peculiar habits of mind, imperfect as they are, strongly impel me to +the path of intellectual effort; and if I am to be at any time of use +to society or a satisfaction to myself or my friends, it will be in the +way of some retired literary situation where a fondness for books will +be more requisite than the busy, calculating mind of a man in the +business part of the community." Thus was one of his youthful dreams +fulfilled. His capacity for work seemed unbounded. "He gave all his +time and all his energy to literary criticism, and spending on it, too, +the full resources of a richly furnished mind and infusing into it the +spirit of a broad and noble training." + +He passed away July 4, 1880. A great concourse of people attended the +obsequies. Distinguished men, divines, critics, scholars, editors, +architects, scientists, journalists, publicists, artists and men of +affairs were in the assembly. The pall-bearers were the president of +Columbia College, the editor of _Harper's Weekly_, an Italian +professor, the editor of the _Popular Science Monthly_, the editor of +the New York _Observer_, an eminent German lawyer, a distinguished +college professor, a popular poet and the editor of the _Tribune_. + +His wife Sophia passed from this life nineteen years before him. The +story of his romantic after marriage, and many details of his career +from birth to death, will be found in Mr. O. B. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," told by his kindly biographer. + +Deeply interested in his daily toil, thoroughly immersed in it body and +brain, yet cheerfully responding to all calls on his unbounded stock of +information and good nature, no one knows how often his mind wandered +over the intervening distance and saw the old farm with its mingled +incidents of pathos, philosophy and heroism, or what regrets were +covered up; but the joking allusions he sometimes made to it when +speaking of it to those who came to quiz him, were more than repaid to +his few intimate friends when he opened his heart to them, and the +earnestness of his spirit and the solemnity of his faith in the +brotherhood of humanity shone forth. He unveiled to them that he did +with undying faith still see in its ideas the elements of the true and +heavenly society; that he carried deep down in his bosom intense love +for those who were associated with him, and that if it had been founded +at this later period, so much has the interest in, social problems +increased, all the financial support needed would have been freely +given. + +His friend William Henry Channing urged him to write the story of Brook +Farm, saying, "When _will_ you tell it?" + +His joking reply was, "When I reach my years of indiscretion!" He knew +that the life wrote its own story. + +Of the many dear ones I have known whose lives have added to my life +faith and trust in the Divine Father and his plans for the good future +of the human race; after years of thought and years of life, I give to +Mr. Ripley--the leader, the daring man, the brave Christian heart, the +torch bearer, himself the harbinger of the bright future of social +justice--the first place, the highest seat, the noblest position among +them all. + +Mr. Ripley paid off the debts of the Community. I do not know all of +them. There was an amount due to Hawthorne at one time, probably his +original investment, which he growled about, and there was another due +to one of the Brothers Morton, who built the Pilgrim House. I am +indebted to his daughter, Miss Morton, for the statement that her +father received from Mr. Ripley a check in payment of the Community +debt to him. Calling her to his side and showing it to her, he said, +"There, Hannah, there is an honest man!" + +After the institution was incorporated the debts and responsibilities +were shared by the incorporators and stock holders. + +It has often been stated that it was the influence of Rev. William +Ellery Channing that started the West Roxbury Community. His nephew, +William Henry Channing, alluding to this in a letter to Rev. J. H.. +Noyes, author of the "History of American Socialisms," contradicts the +statement as follows:-- + +"Of course my uncle deeply sympathized with his younger friend's heroic +effort, and wished all success to the movement, but he did not +encourage it, so far as I can understand, for in his judgment he +distrusted the prudence of the enterprise," etc. "But it was George +Ripley, aided by his noble wife Sophia--it was George Ripley, and +Ripley alone, who truly originated Brook Farm; and his should be the +honor through all time. And a very high honor it will be sooner or +later." + +The head farmer, with his wife and family, who were so early in the +experiment, spent many years in the quiet town of Concord, +Massachusetts. It was he who gave Mr. Ripley courage in his work. He +was practical, honest, brave, and had enough of poetry in his +composition to take the dry edge off of his daily routine of toil. When +ploughing the fields it was with regret he turned under the lovely wild +flowers and the wild-rose bushes, and it often struck his fancy to +transplant them from the fields to the roadside where they blessed the +eyes of the wayfarer. Finally the heavenly voice called him and he went +thitherward, deeply loved, honored and respected by all. Minot Pratt's +name was a synonym of all that was pure, good and lovely. His wife +survived him many years, but in May, 1891, she passed away at an +advanced age, the last of the signers to the original agreement. + +The ambitious "Professor" lives. The trenchant blade of his intellect +is still keen. Sometimes it seems that to overcome obstacles is all +with him. His wife was one of the "dear girls" of the Association. +Method in business and masterly activity have wrung from fate a +fortune, and the editorial and governmental offices he has held have +been more than ably filled. Blessed with a charming family, deeply +immersed in political as well as other writing, it would almost seem as +if the olden days were forgotten by him, were it not that now and then +he writes as he did shortly after Mr. Ripley's decease, as follows:-- + +"It is not too much to say that every person who was at Brook Farm for +any length of time has ever since looked back to it with a feeling of +satisfaction. The healthy mixture of manual and intellectual labor, the +kindly and unaffected social relations, the absence of everything like +assumptions or servility, the amusements, the discussions, the +friendships, the ideal and poetical atmosphere which gave a charm to +life--all these continue to create a picture toward which the mind +turns back with pleasure as to something distant and beautiful not +elsewhere met with amid the routine of this world." + +Whatever may be said of the tone of the articles that come from his +pen, their ability is unquestioned, and it is not a secret that in Mr. +Ripley's judgment Charles A. Dana, of the New York _Sun_, was the +ablest editor in the world. + +The "Poet," as we called him, as editor of Dwight's _Journal of Music_, +and also as critic, was deserving of especial credit for his services +in musical culture. Earnest, refined, always endeavoring to do right, +but strict in his pleasant criticisms, he pointed upward to higher +ideals. Living alone in his latter years like a bachelor, he sought +solace in his refined tastes with cultivated people. Married to Mary +Bullard, the sweet singer of my story, kindred sympathies united them +more firmly than marriage vows, but her early death deprived the world +of one of the noblest and choicest of womanhood, and his life of its +sweetest charm. He went abroad for a short trip, leaving her in full +health and beauty; he returned--she had passed from mortal sight. + +A number of the members, male and female, joined the Association in New +Jersey near Red Bank--the North American Phalanx. There they renewed +the social life and experiment, with such result as some other pen can +tell. + +It was about the time of the closing of the Brook Farm experiment that +the "California fever" broke out, or the rush for the gold mines. Some +of our theorists argued that the country was too poor for the +establishment of the social organizations proposed, and that more +wealth was needed. A number of the Brook Farmers went to the new +country for gold. The gardener, Peter Klienstrup, was one. I am sorry +to say that disappointment awaited him. A foreigner, and sensitive, +partly deaf and past middle life, he was not the man for the country or +the life. He died there poor. His charming, tuneful daughter, with the +beautiful complexion and lovely rounded shoulders, did not long survive +him. His wife survived, but one day I stood with only a few who knew +her, at the door of an open tomb, and a strange thrill passed over me +when one by my side said, as her body was placed within, "This is the +last of her race--the family is extinct!" + +The good, kind-hearted "General" sleeps within sound of the Pacific +waves, for he, too, was one of the early Californians. And the Admiral, +the pure-hearted, high-minded and keen-eyed Admiral, has long since +laid down his burdens and his aspirations. And so also with many, too +many for me here to recount. The two sisters that I have described with +flowing hair, grew in loveliness to full womanly beauty and then passed +to the angelic world. + +Mr. Ryckman, surnamed the "Omniarch," reigns no more in this sphere. +Peace to his memory. + +The downfall of the Association was the wrecking of Irish John. He +seemed homeless and aimless. The constant smiles on that remarkable +face gave way to soberness profound. Old habits crept back upon him. He +had a friend, one of our number, who took a kindly interest in him, but +could not follow all his waywardness. He departed for New York, +ostensibly for business. Not long after this his friend received a note +from there in John's handwriting, saying that if he would send to a +certain number and street he would find something for him. It was a +trunk, and appeared to contain all of John's effects except the suit of +clothes he had on. What end he made no one knows. + +How grand it would be if the social fabric could keep and guard all its +weak ones, surround them by influences that could prevent them from +falling into evil ways, and bear them up until the end comes peacefully +and naturally! + +Marianne Ripley, Mr. Ripley's sister, the devoted soul who reigned over +the Kitchen Group and cultivated the flowers on the terraces, spent her +later hours in the West, and passed away at Madison, Wisconsin. John +Allen, the firm preacher, has gone also. His little boy, who conveyed +the small-pox to the farm, grew to manhood, and at an early age fought +with Grant at Vicksburg, where he received the wound that caused his +death. + +The dear girl with the loud laugh is still here, but tears and sorrow +have been in her cup. Her kind husband, one of our number, and some +children are with the shadows; and the dimpled face of the black-haired +girl with the Irish name, whose beauty took my young fancy, long ago +joined the larger realm of beauty. + +The house dog, Carlo, whom everybody knew, grew rapidly old when the +Association broke up. I never saw such a change. It seemed as though +regretful remembrances of former times clung to him. There was no more +the _music_ of "the sounding horn" to awaken him from his drowse, and +he passed much of his time under the woodshed. But he was not the sleek +and canny dog of yore. He grew thin and weak. Long locks of indifferent +colored brown hair grew out of his sides, and hung loosely down. His +gait was slow and feeble, and it was not pleasant to look at him. +Finally, one cold day, at least a year after the general departure, he +was missing, and I could find nothing of him. Inquiries were in vain. +It was in the following spring that his bones were found where either +he himself had dug a burrow, or the hand of charity had laid him. Good +Carlo! + +Some very happy marriages sprang from the acquaintance at Brook Farm. +There, in a few weeks or months, a better knowledge could be formed, a +truer and more absolute and certain estimate of character, than by +years of fashionable flirtation. And here let me add, that the women +were always well dressed: there were no party dresses, all shine, lace +and glitter, and household wrappers all slouched, torn and drabbled. +The situation of woman was such as to stimulate her ever to neatness in +personal appearance, even if the material was but a "ninepenny" calico; +and the same may be said to a marked extent of the men. + +And many others who stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks have shared +the common lot. Scattered through the country, in city, town and +hamlet, those who survive are doing their humble duties, and filling +their stations honorably. There are those among them who have gained +wealth, and none whom I know that are in poverty. In the circles they +occupy, their influence has been felt towards a liberal judgment in all +matters pertaining to government, religion and society. + +Our friend Rev. William Henry Channing spent the major portion of his +after life abroad. The war brought him back to America. He was at one +time chaplain of the House of Representatives of the United States, and +served the country at the front; but he returned to Liverpool, England, +where he preached and educated his family, passing away beloved by +members of all the prominent churches both conservative and radical. + +There were some four and possibly more, who joined the Catholic Church. +This created at the time many remarks, but it is only an episode for a +class of minds to find themselves at the other end, at the opposite +side, at the bottom instead of the top when they have swung themselves, +pendulum-like, far away from ordinary moorings. The "Community" people +were at the extreme of society, unorganized, without creeds, without +science, and only morality and faith to guide them, and having given +the lie to ordinary social forms; having lost their faith and trust in +society as it was, is it strange that some should swing to the extreme +of conservatism, that they should try a new departure when met by +seeming failure in their radical moves? + +But why continue the list? The very boys have become gray-haired men, +but proud to say, each one of them, "I was one of the Brook Farmers." + +In closing this picturesque drama, it would not be strange if someone +should ask if this is all that is left of the life. Has it been only a +failure and a dream that I have chronicled, or has it resulted in +something worthy of the aspiration that preceded it? Has it added +strength to the lives of individuals, and has it done something for +society? As chronicler, I stand in the shade and let my readers judge; +but the few words of comment that follow, from well-known individuals, +bear strong testimony to an effect that must have been duplicated in a +great many other instances: and, indeed, if its influence had gone no +farther than to a few persons, that alone would justify the laudable +attempt of this "venture in philanthropy." My conviction is that it +reached farther than to single individuals, and that it still reaches +into and influences more or less all the deep undercurrents of society. + +I am confirmed in this opinion by the following statement made by Mr. +George P. Bradford in the _Century Magazine_ for May, 1892:-- + +"I cannot but think that the brief and imperfect experiment, with the +theory and discussion that grew out of it, had no small influence in +teaching more impressively the relation of universal brotherhood and +the ties that bind us to all; a deeper feeling of the rights and claims +of others, and so in diffusing, enlarging, deepening and giving +emphasis to the growing spirit of true democracy." + +But if I were to leave my position as narrator, and speak from my +individual standpoint, I would say Brook Farm and what it stood for was +to world-benighted travellers, seeking for sustenance, like a city set +on a hill. It was a small, glimmering light of social truth, shining +amid universal darkness. It was a dim foregleam of the great sun of +social life and science, that will yet rise and shine gloriously on our +earth. It was a spark of that divine justice that, like electricity, +has been stored for humanity from the beginning of things--abundant in +quantity and power to bless all men--stowed away by the hand of God for +us, awaiting only our awakening from the sleep of ignorance and +childishness, to use and cherish it. It was an example of trust, a +tribute to faith. It was a realization of poetry. It was in touch with +the wishes, hopes and prayers of millions of humanity; of untold +numbers of saints and martyrs of all nations and climes, and its +mission was the highest on earth--universal justice to all mankind. + +Albert Brisbane, the _doctrinaire_, has departed also. Although +allusion has been made to him in the former pages of this book somewhat +in contrast with Mr. Ripley's spiritual gifts, let no person think that +I underestimate the mission he undertook or the work he accomplished in +his devotion to the master, Fourier. Certainly he deserves very great +credit, and there are those who, deep in their hearts, cherish most +profound gratitude to him and his memory. + +Whatever any one may believe of the feasibility of the carrying out of +Fourier's doctrines of united industry or the practicality of any of +his theories, they must stand amazed at the bold and often extremely +beautiful conceptions of his brain; such as the actual forecasting of +the development theory before Darwin, Spencer and Huxley were +born--though not exactly in detail with them; his bolder conception +still of the destiny of man, and his Cosmogony; of the progress of +present civilization towards an oligarchy of capital, foretold so +exactly,--as is now seen by thinking minds, three quarters of a century +ago; his profound analysis of the human springs of action; his +discovery of the divine laws applicable to the future as well as to the +present wants of the human race. For the presentation of all this to +the American people; for all these things and more, we are first +indebted to Albert Brisbane, and it is a great debt which the future +will certainly appreciate and pay. + +My work would not be finished without alluding more fully to the +wonderful genius whose works and life made such an impression on the +Brook Farmers as to induce them to brave all the misconception, sarcasm +and obloquy that they must have felt would be heaped on them when they +concluded to follow his formulas, and bowed their intellects to him in +acknowledgment of his leadership in the field of social science. + +The reader will decide, if I have portrayed truly the men and the +principles actuating them, that whoever they thus acknowledged as +worthy of that sublime place must have been endowed with intellectual, +moral and spiritual capacities, and intuitions of the highest order. +Should it have been the fortune of any one to come across an occasional +allusion to Fourier, it will be apt to be of such a forbidding nature +that there will be no strong temptation to follow the subject further; +and all through the literature of our country, in the writings of men +whose reading, if not their knowledge, should have taught them better, +will be found intimations that "Fourierism" was a system of life based +on a plane hardly worthy of being rated higher than mere sensualism. + +Against this accusation I place the record of the man whom especially +spiritual minded and liberally educated men like George Ripley, John S. +Dwight, William Henry Channing and many others delighted to know and to +honor. + +Charles Fourier was born at Bezancon, France, April 7, 1772. The son of +a merchant, he had a collegiate education, and took prizes for French +and Latin themes and verses. He was found of geography but more fond of +cultivating flowers, and of music. At eighteen years he entered into +commercial pursuits. By the siege of Lyons he lost the fortune his +father left him, and was forced into the army, where he served two +years. This portion of his life was involved in the romance of war and +revolution, during which he was doomed to death, but made a fortunate +escape from it. + +He was always noted for the avidity with which he sought knowledge, and +his honesty was outraged at an early age, being punished by his father +for telling the truth of goods on sale, thereby losing a purchaser. +Again his soul revolted when at Marseilles in 1799, where he was +employed, for he was selected to superintend a body of men who secretly +cast an immense quantity of rice into the sea, which monopolists had +allowed to spoil in a time of famine rather than to sell at a +reasonable profit. This last action was to him a crime of so deep a +nature that he entered with more enthusiasm on his studies for +preventing the like. + +In capacity of agent he travelled in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland +and Switzerland. He had a prodigious memory, and in his journeys when a +building struck his attention, he took the measurement of it with his +walking stick, which was notched off in feet and inches; and, one of +his biographers says:-- + +"He was profoundly acquainted with every branch of science, +particularly the exact sciences. For forty years he labored with +patience and perseverance at the Herculean task of discovering and +developing the theory and practical details of the system which he has +given to the world." + +Says a writer in the London _Phalanx_:-- + +"The principal features of Fourier's private character were morality +and the love of truth. He had a character both grave and dignified, +religious and poetic, friendly and polite, indulgent and sincere, which +never allowed truth to be profaned by libertine frivolity, nor faith to +be confounded with austere duplicity. He was a man of dignified +simplicity, a child of Heaven, loving God with all his heart, all his +soul, and all his mind, also loving as himself his neighbor--the whole +human family." + +Fourier's own words translated read:-- + +"God sees in the human race only one family, all the members of which +have a right to his favors. He designs that they shall all be happy +together, or else no one people shall enjoy happiness. . . . The love +of God will become in this new order the most ardent love among men." + +The closing words of an exhaustive review of Fourier's writings, by Mr. +John S. Dwight, in the _Harbinger_, are these:--"There is a Titanic +strength in all the workings of that wonderful intellect. He walks as +one who knows his ground. His step is firm, his eye is clear and +unflinching, and he is acknowledged where he passes, for there is no +littleness or weakness, no halting or duplicity, in his movement. He is +in earnest; he has taken up his cross to fulfil a mighty mission. He +doubts not, desponds not; he speaks always with certainty, and though +he suffers from impatience of postponement, yet he ceases not to insist +upon the truth. He expostulates, perhaps, with deceived and degraded +humanity in too much bitterness of sarcasm; but how profound his +reverence for Christ and for humanity, how pure his love for man, and +how sublime his contemplation of the destiny of man in the scale of +higher and higher beings up to God!" + +Fourier passed from earth in 1837. His body was buried at Pere la +Chaise Cemetery, Paris, France. + +The idea of living in combined families is no new thing. From the +earliest times to the present, it has cropped out under various +circumstances and with various changes. Ever with dawning of new light +and the increase of universal education comes the desire--sometimes in +great waves--for more united interests, and a truer, more Christian +brotherhood; for closer unity in life and for the enlargement of home +with all the joy, comfort and peace that word contains. + +In this country various outgrowths from the social body have taken +positions on this plane. The masses of our people are not now in +sympathy with them. They believe that these little social homes or +"communities" are dull and monotonous, and are bound so tightly by +creeds as to be obnoxious to freedom of life and ideas. My belief is +that the creeds adopted and thrown around them, though often adding to +their financial protection, and possibly often being their only +safeguards from fraud and knavery, have covered from the public the +great dignity, worthiness and beauty of this mode of life; when, +therefore, Mr. Ripley formed his society free from any pledges or +creeds, it touched a deeper bottom in men's hearts than any like +organization had ever sounded. + +Whatever of failure there was in their actualization, Brook Farm ideas +remain. They charm philosophers, poets and statesmen. They work +quietly, leavening the social mass. One must be in sympathy with them +to know how potent is their action and how with a touch of the old +enthusiasm they will be found breaking out again in larger and larger +circles of humanity, for in view of the progress of mechanism, science +and art in the last fifty years, to form the phalanstery in its +material shape would be an easy task. + +Rev. William Henry Channing expressed himself in this wise to his +mother, years after the breaking up of the Association:-- + +"My dearest mother, I assure you that did I see my way clear to an +honorable independence for my family, so as to be just, while kind to +them, I should joyfully die in attesting my fixed faith in Association, +and I predict that when, years hence, we meet in the spiritual world, +you will smilingly bless me and say, 'My son, your personal limitations +excepted, you were right.' You will feel proud of my seeming earthly +failures then; at least I humbly hope so. If this is all romance it is +of that earnest, living strain which I trust ever more and more to be +quickened by." + +At a final visit to Brook Farm he said: "Most beautiful was that last +day and all its memories; and never did I feel so calmly, humbly, +devoutly thankful that it had been my privilege to fail in this +grandest, sublimest, surest of all human movements. Were Thermopylae +and Bunker Hill considered successes in their day and generation?" + +Lying before me is a letter not intended for publication, showing how +one member of the Association affectionately regarded his old home. It +is as follows:-- + +PROVIDENCE, R. I., 1871. + +"My Dear Friend:--I herewith return the letters you so kindly sent me. +I have derived much pleasure in their perusal, and have looked on them +with affectionate regard as a mode of greeting from old friends from +whom I have been separated for more than a quarter of a century. I do +not think any one who was at Brook Farm has that deep and sincere +affection for it and its memory that I have. It was my mother by +adoption, and what little I have of education, refinement, or culture +and taste for matters above things material, I owe to her and the +heroic and self-sacrificing men and women who composed its body, social +and scholastic. I was but a cipher there, among them by accident, and I +was much the gainer even if they were not the losers. What I saw there, +and what I learned there, have been of great value to me, and if I have +made any progress in material matters or have attained any social +position, I am frank enough to confess that I owe it all to dear old +Brook Farm. God bless its memory. What I have, and what I am, is the +outgrowth of a two years' life at my first real home. . . . + +"When I commenced this I intended to write but a half dozen lines, +simply making my acknowledgment of your kindness, but my purpose soon +changed, and I now find that I have not enough room on this sheet to +say one tithe of what comes rushing in my mind 'as a river' about Brook +Farm, and I can now only say that I wish you to convey my kindest +regards to all of our dear old acquaintances whenever you see them or +write to them. All Brook Farmers are to me as brothers and sisters, and +I so esteem them. + + "WILLIAM H. TEEL." + +I am tempted also to add the following extract from a letter written +years ago by a friend of the movement in his eightieth year to his +son:-- + +"To many, Brook Farm may have been a dream that ended with the +scattering of that little band of workers. That special form of the +dream vanished, but the seed was planted, and my confidence in the +dream is vivid still. In the past these ideas have been the crude +visions of the few, but now they are the absorbing subjects of +speculation of the many, and all our best literature is full of them. +The highest problems of man and society are the common subjects of +discussion. So will it continue to be, by the tiller of the soil, the +workman at the bench, as well as the poet and philosopher, until order +and harmony are evolved out of this chaos. The good time is surely +coming. 'The world,' as Whittier wrote, 'is gray with its dawning +light.' + + "J. A. SAXTON. + + "Deerfield, Mass." + +Well, the Brook Farm experiment died! There can be only one reason why +its friends should rejoice, and it is the same that touched the great +mind of Saint Paul, nearly two thousand years ago, when he said, "Thou +fool! that which thou sowest is not _quickened_ except it _die!_" + +FINIS. + + + + +APPENDIX + + I. Students' and Inquirers' Letters + II. Applicants' Letters and Mr. Ripley's Replies + III. An Outside View of Brook Farm Associative Articles + + + + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS. + + +_Student Life_. + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Oct. 27, 1842. + +My Dear Friend:--Pardon my delay in writing you in reply to yours of +the 15th ult., but there have been matters of interest that have +occupied my leisure, and so much so that only now do I find myself free +to exchange good wishes with you and to answer the important questions +you put to me as to what I think of, and how I like, the Brook Farm +life. + +To reply to these questions I might write a long dissertation +explaining what I like and what I do not like, or I could answer them +by a few brief words; but my inclination is to do neither, and to give +you in place of both a little sketch of the proceedings here and make +you the judge of what my feelings would be likely to be under the +circumstances that I shall narrate. + +I am still a student, and most of my time has been spent in studies of +various sorts; the languages--ancient and modern--attracting me a great +deal, but the German and the French the most. I do not "burn the +midnight oil," and yet I think I am progressing well. Our teachers are +all very approachable men and really seem in dead earnest. You might +suppose from rumors that reach you that they would be very notional +people, but they are not so, or, to say the least, if they are they +keep their notions to themselves. Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Dwight +are particularly kind to me, and all the teachers go out of the way to +explain points that come up in the lessons. + +After hours, we have had many interesting conversations, class +readings, dramatic readings, etc., and visitors come who entertain us +in various ways. Miss Frances Ostenelli, for one, who has a wonderful +soprano voice, and Miss S. Margaret Fuller from Concord--there is no +end to her talk--and also Mr. Emerson from Concord, to whom a good many +pay deference. + +Whilst he was here there was a masquerading wood party. It was quite a +bright idea. Miss Amelia Russell was one of the persons who planned it. +Her father has been minister to Sweden and was one of the commissioners +who signed the Treaty of Ghent. It was an open-air masquerade in the +pine woods, and the affair was worked up splendidly. Masquerades have +been, in New England, of a private nature and held indoors. To hold one +out "in the garish light of day" was a new sensation, and attracted +some of the friends of the Community. The day was lovely and in the +woods the privacy was complete. Barring one or two friendly neighbors +of farmer stock who looked on, it was truly a select party. One of the +ladies personated Diana, and any one entering her wooded precincts was +liable to be shot with one of her arrows. Further in the woods a gipsy, +personated by Miss 'Ora Gannett, niece to Rev. Ezra Gannett, was ready +to tell your fortune. Miss "Georgie" Bruce was an Indian squaw, and +"George William" Curtis, a young man, carried off the palm as "Fanny +Elssler" the dancer. There was a mixed variety of characters that made +up the _tout ensemble_--a Tyrolean songster, sailors, Africans, +lackeys, backwoodsmen and the like. The children enjoyed the day much. +A large portion of the dresses were home-made. Dances and conversation +by the elders filled the day and evening. + +Sometimes we have the serious business. Some of the singular persons +here affect vagaries and discuss pruderies or church matters, ethics +and the like. Or we have some of the Concord people who give us parlor +talks. Once in a while they arouse the gifted brothers, and then we +have a genuine treat; Mr. Dwight and Mr. Bradford, Mr. Ripley, Mr. +Capen, Burton and all hands get dragged in, and in the earnest +discussion that follows one cannot but be edified and often very much +instructed. Subjects relating to a more rational life and education for +the poor and unlearned interest me and arouse my enthusiasm. There are +some fine lady as well as gentlemen readers, who show their ability in +poetry and prose, and, for the amusement of the young people, some +devote their talents on occasions to tableaux, which are delightful and +display fine historic scenes and characters. + +I rise in the morning at six to half-past; breakfast at seven; chat +with the people; get to my studies at eight; work an hour in the +garden; recite; dine at noon; take an hour in the afternoon on the +farm; drive team; cut hay in the barn; study or recite; walk; dress up +for tea at six. In long days the sunsets and twilights are delightful +and pass pleasantly with a set of us who chum together. I am so near +Boston that I go to concerts and lectures with others, or to the +theatres, or to the conventions, the antislavery ones being most +exciting. In summer I join the hay-makers. In winter we coast, boys and +girls, down the steep though not high hills, in the afternoons, or by +moonlight, or by the light of the clear sky and the bright stars; or we +drive one of the horses for a ride, or we skate on the frozen meadow or +brook to the Charles River where its broad surface gives plenty of room. + +One thing I like here--everything but in my lessons I have perfect +freedom to come or go and to join in and be one with the good people or +not. I am not hampered. I go to church or not, as I desire, and I can +do anything that does not violate the rules of good breeding; but I am +expected to be in my room at a seasonable hour at night--ten o'clock, +sure. + +Thus have I given you my programme. Can you think I would do better +elsewhere? I might have more style, a better table, and more room to +see my friends in, though the parlors here are good enough, but where +could I have more genuine comfort? I expect to go home by New Year's, +returning, if I can, by March, and am so in love with the life I may +try to attach myself to it permanently. In the meantime I will see you, +and hope to enjoy with you many hours of conversation after the oldtime +way at our house. As ever, + +Your student brother, + +CHARLES. + + +_Explanations and Answers to Objections._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Dec. 11, 1845. + +FRIEND HARRIS:--As you are a stranger to the associative ideas, and +have but little knowledge of our life here, no doubt many questions +arise in your mind that you wish answered, and might be answered by me +if I knew what they were; but knowing what questions usually appear +most prominent to the average mind, I will try my hand at a few of them +as they present themselves to me. Number one is, What were my first +impressions of the idea of associative life; that is, did the idea +strike me pleasantly or not? I frankly reply to this that the idea was +decidedly unpleasant. It so connected itself in my mind with some sort +of an "institution," as a great hospital or infirmary or "Dotheboys" +school, where Smikes or incipient Smikes went daily to a restricted +routine, and thrice daily, with the rest of imprisoned souls, to the +special amount of grub and rations provided by some personal or +impersonal Squeers, that I could not but at once reply to the person +speaking of it that I should not like any such institution. + +The next question is, How did my mind change on this subject? I answer, +by reflection and continued conversation with those who were intimate +with the ideas. Mark this: _There is nothing so absurd as the first +presentation of great facts to the mind;_ the greater the fact, the +greater its apparent absurdity, and the greater will be our hate or +want of welcome to it if it runs contrary to our preconceived ideas. + +Every visible thing is presented to the retina of the eye, the +looking-glass of the brain, upside down, and it is by study that begins +at birth, and is finished ere remembrance commences, that the child of +God and man is able to detect the true relation of material things to +himself. We have not yet learned the importance or significance of this +arrangement, but why may not we find in future investigations that the +mental vision is governed by the same law, and that thoughts strike the +brain or mental sensorium in the same inverted way? So universally do +law and life differ from their semblances, that it appears to me to be +one of our _supreme duties_ to learn to _reverse primitive ideas._ + +A question also comes to you in this wise: How could one make up his +mind to associate with all sorts of people that they might meet in one +of these "Communities"? A man in the ordinary chances of life has to +meet all sorts of persons, does he not? Ignorant dependents are in your +house, sleeping under your roof. Your tradesmen may be rude, unkind and +unlettered. Passing from your door you jostle, it may be, the murderer +and highwayman on the street; you enter a car, and the driver's breath +is perhaps reeking from his last night's debauch; you sit, possibly, +between the pickpocket on one side and the patient yet uncured from +some epidemic on the other. You pass to your business through a street +full of roughs, and in your own store are men wishing you to die that +they may take your place, seeking every opportunity to overreach you; +and then wonder if I smile when you ask me how _I_ could "mix up." + +In reply to me, you may say that the relation is different; that you do +not take these persons to your table and associate with them as one is +obliged to in one of your "Associations." It is true that you may not +sit at meat with these especial persons; but how many live at hotels +where the next neighbor at table, to whom, if you are a gentleman, you +show politeness, is entirely unknown to you, and may be a swindler, +cheat or knave. But you associate with him only as much as it is +_necessary_ for you to do; and that is just as much as you are obliged +to do in an Association, and no more. It does not follow because I sit +at meat here at Brook Farm with a hundred, I have intimate social +relations with all of them. On the contrary, there are those to whom I +seldom speak unless to give them a passing salutation, and some who are +civilly disposed, who do no more, or as much, to me. + +In a society of which you might be a member, with a full privilege to +assist in its organization, you will be better able to choose those of +congenial qualities for associates than you ever can in your present +position, so that your life, after a while, may be select in its chosen +companions, and a great deal more so in its general social features +than now. + +Since I came here I find my ideas all changed in relation to this +subject. Instead of the yoke that I felt would be on me, I find +freedom--freedom to speak, to act, and a truly self-imposed government. +The yoke I expected to find _is_ very easy and the burden is light. I +enjoy my life and home. We have not much of worldly goods, but we are +united and we look high up--some say to cloud-land; but I assure you +that on the average there is nowhere a clearer-headed set of persons on +social questions than here, and association is now to me the most +beautiful thing on earth. The life and ideas are all one with harmony. +Surely is it not better for me to begin life this way than with doubt +and distrust of my fellows? Doubt begets doubt; faith begets faith; +action begets action. If we can get enough persons to follow us, we can +prove whether our ideas are true or not. Surely the dull, monotonous +life of "religious communities" like the Moravians, Shakers, Rappites +and others find followers; why not this bright, happy, cheering, frank +life of ours? + +We are expecting a visit from Horace Greeley soon; I have never seen +him, but we have heaps of strangers coming every day, some quite +distinguished and some plain folks, but the average are wide-awake +people. + +Truly your friend, + +JOHN C. FOSTER. + + +_Letter on Social Equality._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Sept. 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR SISTER: Do not think that the great minds here teach _social +equality_, as many seem to think they do. To hear outsiders talk one +would imagine that the leaders want that all should be of the same +pattern; that the tall geniuses should be cut down to an average, and +the dwarfs set up on stilts to make them of the same height as the +others. How far from it! + +Added to this indignity, outsiders appear to think that rations are +served as in the army, and that it is an absolute necessity in order to +fulfil some absurd law, that every man, woman and child should sit down +together at the same exact time, and eat the aforesaid rations +together; and also, there being some good and able men here, that they +court connection with weak people of any complexion so as to make a +fair average: and they feel that such conditions, to say the least, are +unnatural; and so would I, if there was truth in the position, but +there is not a particle. It oftentimes seems to me that people take a +sort of pleasure in misrepresenting facts, or seem to have a +satisfaction in thinking that they know about as much as the average +person, and that it would be a sin to know a little more. They are +pardoned for their ignorance because nearly, if not all, the social +organizations that have departed from the common customs of society and +have formed "communities" have striven for equality of property rights +and society rights, and often for sameness in dress and religious +ceremonies. This is the nut that all persons who look superficially at +us and at the community system, find hard to crack. They feel that if a +person has an ambition to be more than another, to desire more, to +desire to wear a different garment and pray differently or worship +differently, they should have the inherent right to do so. + +And this is the feeling that these common-sense people, these +intelligent people of Brook Farm who organized this society, have and +believe in, and they have tried to arrange all their laws and customs +to conform to these evident truths. And also, they never would have +adopted any of the formulas or ideas of Fourier, had they not believed +his Industrial Phalanxes allowed all the variety of social conditions +that make a true society or social order. No attempts ever undertaken +had the sanction of Fourier, because they had not the proper number of +persons to make a start with. "By no means," said Fourier, "attempt to +organize a phalanx with less than four hundred persons; that is the +very least number you can have and have a sufficient number of +characters to produce anything like harmony." His idea was, that from +fifteen to eighteen hundred persons would be the true number. + +The Brook Farmers have never preached social _equality_, but social +_rights_. Social _equality_ is a thing that comes from individual +ability, and is never positively fixed, but relative, because there are +talents superior and inferior mingled in each human being, and the king +may wonder how the cook put the apples in the dumplings. With the +larger number of individuals stated, a greater chance is given to find +"mates" and "chums," and the less likelihood there would be in the +imperfectly organized societies of rude contact--for who could doubt +that all such societies, even the very best, would be imperfect for +generations to come? + +I take it that this is the gist of the reason why the so-called social +equality is so repulsive to theorists who have not comprehended the +great difference between social _equality_ and social _rights_. Once +and for all, I do not believe, we do not believe, in social equality; +but we do believe that societies can be established in such a manner as +to secure in a large degree the rights of all, and be perfectly +practicable, and that in time they will develop into true harmony. + +As ever your sincere + +BROTHER CHARLIE. + + + + +_Religious Views._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., June 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR FRIEND:--In reply to your question as to what the religious +views of the Brook Farmers are, I might, if I wished to be curt, say +that they are such as you see by their lives. I am aware, however, that +such a reply will not exactly suit you, and that you really mean what +are their creeds, as, are they all Baptists, Trinitarians, Unitarians, +or what not? And I answer you that I find here those who were brought +up in every kind of belief; some who are from the Roman Catholic +Church; some from the Jewish; some Trinitarians; some Unitarians; some +from the Swedenborgian Church; some who are Liberals; some who are +called "Come-Outers," and Mr. P., who professes to be, and is more like +an infidel than any other man I ever saw. + +They call some of the residents here "Transcendentalists." You may +judge from the name that they must be either very good or very bad +people, but they represent people of education who are a little "high +stilted" in their religious views, and do not take in all the wonderful +Mosaic traditions. At least, this is as near as I can explain it to +you. It is the fashion to call every one who has any independent +notions a Transcendentalist, but I do not know who invented the name or +first applied it. + +The people here do not dispute on religious creeds; they are too busy. +They work together, dine and sup together year in and year out in +intimate social relation, and do not either have angry disputes, or +quarrels about creeds or anything else. On the contrary, I am much +surprised at the earnest inquiry that is often made into the beliefs of +others, or rather into the groundwork or foundation from which the +churches sprung which have different tenets from their own. + +But the majority are Unitarian in their belief. Mr. Ripley, Mr. Dwight, +Mr. Dana and Mr. Cabot, with a majority of the ladies, lean that way. +Dr. Lazarus and his handsome sister are of or from the Jewish faith, +whilst Mr. Hastings leans towards Romanism and Jean Pallisse is +Catholic; and by the way, I never until I came here had any sympathy +with the symbols of that church, but the intelligent persons by whom I +have been surrounded have explained the great beauty of them to +me--persons who are not and never can be Romanists any more than +myself. Dr. Lazarus has posted me on the Jewish symbols, and Fanny M. +and her mother have brought forward the great beauty of the +Swedenborgian doctrines. + +All Mr. Ripleys's writings on social subjects breathe a religious air. +It is true they are not creedal, but his idea is that every act of life +should be from a true and earnest spirit, and that this is the +substance of all creeds; and strange to say to you, who believe that +Associations like ours have a levelling effect, those who have their +faiths fixed, say, "I think more of the symbols of my church than ever, +since I came here." + +"I am a Jew, but a liberal, understanding Jew," says one. + +"I am a Catholic, but I am a liberalized Catholic," says another. + +"I am a Swedenborgian, but my belief liberates me from the crudities of +Swedenborg," say others. + +"I look from the centre outward as never before. We all see how the +forms of our churches were intended for good, and we all see how many +of them have been prostituted. When I go from here I shall respect your +forms and ceremonies because you have taught me the meanings of them." + +Is this definite enough for a hasty answer? The lesson I have most +taken to heart is that by examining with respect the many different +faiths, we gain a higher idea of a Being who has an exhaustless variety +in his attributes. + +As ever yours, + +C. J. THOMAS. + + + + +APPENDIX. + +PART II. + + +APPLICANTS' LETTERS AND MR. RIPLEY'S REPLIES. + +[Copies of some of these letters and other documents from the originals +were used by permission, in preparing the "Life of George Ripley."] + +_From a Theological Student._. + +LONGMEADOW, Feb. 25, 1845. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Probably you have forgotten the Andover student who spent +Thanksgiving with you a year ago, and who made you a short call last +September. But he has not forgotten Brook Farm. I write now for the +purpose of asking a single question. Are you so full that it will be +impossible for you to take one more in the course of a few weeks? + +I recollect you asked me last fall if I intended to go to preaching +against sin in the church. I agree with you, sir, that there is +emphatically sin in the church that ought to be preached against, if +anywhere. But the truth is I do not see as much sin either in the +church or out of it as my theological teachers have endeavored to +persuade me there is. Besides, I think that preaching against it has +been proved to be a very ineffectual way of rooting out what sin there +is. Indeed, from the very nature of the case, it seems to me that +telling men once a week, at arm's length, that they are doing very +wrong and will be eternally punished unless they do differently, is not +quite what is needed for improving their character and condition. For +this reason, and because my faith in other respects also is not +sufficiently orthodox, I have braced myself as well as I could against +the urgent importunities of my friends, and refused to take a license. + +My strongest sympathies are with the cause in which you are laboring, +and I am not wholly without hope that I shall yet find something to do +in it. I am utterly alone here. I think often of what Carlyle says, +"Invisible yet impenetrable walls as of enchantment divided me from all +living." + +Will you do me the kindness, sir, to answer the inquiry I have made of +you as soon as convenient? + +Yours most respectfully, + +D. B. COLTON. + + +_Letter from a Young Man._ + +COLCHESTER, CT., Nov. 1, 1843. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +SIR: My ideas of the principles of Industrial Association have been +obtained by reading the New York _Tribune_. I am convinced that these +principles are the elements out of which may be constructed that true +social order which shall develop man's physical well-being, and call +forth the mental and moral faculties of the soul. + +My intention is to join some association of the kind now forming or +already in operation. Your Community has been spoken of as one of the +first and best in the country. My object in writing to you is to +ascertain the peculiar nature of this organization and management, the +terms of membership--the amount of capital required, or whether one +without capital would be received--and whether a young man of the +following description would find opportunity to _work_ and receive a +_fair_ remuneration for his labor. + +What I can _do_ you can judge. I am twenty-five years of age, have +lived eight years in New York, six years in one of the best wholesale +dry goods houses there. Brought up at this place a mechanic and farmer, +and am now engaged in wagon making and blacksmithing, for which I don't +get a red cent beyond a good living. + +The capital that I intended to invest in Association gone to Davy +Jones' locker in the wreck of the commercial world. + +An answer to these few inquiries would much oblige + +Your obedient servant, + +HORATIO N. OTIS. + + +_Reply to Preceding Letter._ + +[The preceding letter has the following draft of a reply to it on a +letter sheet in the handwriting of Mr. Ripley.] + +MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 1st inst. is this day received. I dare say +that you have received a correct impression of our establishment from +the article in the _Tribune_. We are laboring with cheerfulness and +hope, in the midst of great obstacles, for the organization of society +and the benefit of man. Whoever wishes to join us must be willing to +make great sacrifices; to endure severe toil patiently; to live in +comparative poverty; to suffer many deprivations for the sake of +realizing justice and charity in the social state. + +We are at present on a small scale, but we are making arrangements to +enlarge our number and our branches of industry. We should like to +establish your branch of business, and could do so to advantage with an +efficient and skilful workman and a small increase of capital. An +answer to the following questions will decide whether we can have any +further negotiations with you:---- + +1. Are you ready from an interest in the cause of Association to endure +the sacrifices which all persons must suffer? + +2. Could you by yourself, or your friends, command a few hundred +dollars sufficient to start your business? + +3. Could you, without help, make and iron off ox carts, horse carts, +one horse wagons, etc., in a style that would ensure their sale in the +neighborhood of Boston? Can you shoe horses and oxen? + +4. Are you single or married? + +5. In fine, have you confidence that by your manual labor in the +branches you have mentioned, you could do more than earn your living in +Association? + +I shall be happy to hear from you as soon as convenient. I am + +Yours truly, + +GEORGE RIPLEY. + + +_A Model Questioner--a Woman._ + +UTICA, Jan. 18, 1844. SIR: I have the happiness of being acquainted +with a lady who has some knowledge of you; from whose representations I +am encouraged to hope that you will not only excuse the liberty I +(being a stranger) thus take in addressing you, but will also kindly +answer a number of questions I am desirous of being informed upon +relative to the society for social reform to which you belong. + +I have a daughter (having five children) who, with her husband, much +wishes to join a society of this kind. They have had thoughts of +engaging with a society now forming in Rochester, but their friends +advise them to go to one that has been some time in operation, because +those connected with it will be able to speak with certainty as to +whether the working of the system in any way realizes the theory. The +first question I would put is,---- + +1. Have you room in your association to admit the above family? + +2. And if so, upon what terms would they be received? + +3. Would a piano-forte, which two years ago cost three hundred and +fifty dollars, be taken at its present value in payment for shares? + +4. Would any household furniture be taken in the same way? + +5. Do you carry out Mr. Fourier's idea of diversity of employment? + +6. How many members have you at this time? + +7. Do the people (generally speaking) appear happy? + +8. Does the system work well with the children? + +9. Would a young man (mechanic of unexceptionable character) be +received having no capital? + +10. Have you more than one church, and if so what are its tenets? + +11. Have parties opportunities of enjoying any other religion? + +12. What number of hours generally employed in labor? + +13. What chance for study? + +14. Do you meet with society suitable to _your taste?_ + +Although my questions are so numerous that I fear tiring you, yet I +still feel that I may have omitted some inquiry of importance. If so +will you do me the favor to _supply the deficiency?_ + +Please to answer my questions by number, as they are put. + +Hoping you will write as soon as possible, and do me the kindness I ask, + +I remain, + +Yours respectfully, + +A. HUDSON. + + +_From a Minister._ + +NORTH BRAMFORD, CONN., June 1, 1843. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR:--I have an earnest and well matured desire to join your +community, with my family, if I can do it under satisfactory +circumstances--I mean satisfactory to all parties. + +I am pastor of the First Congregational Church in this town. My +congregation is quiet, and in many respects very pleasant; but I have +felt that my views of late are not sufficiently in accordance with the +forms under which I have undertaken to conduct the ministry of +Christian truth. This want of accordance increases, and I feel that a +crisis is at hand. I must follow the light that guides me, or renounce +it to become false and dead. The latter I cannot do. + +I have thought of joining your association ever since its commencement. +Is it possible for me to do so under satisfactory circumstances? I have +deep and, I believe, an intelligent sympathy with your idea. I have a +wife and four children--the oldest ten, the youngest seven years old. +Our habits of life are very simple, very independent of slavery to the +common forms of "gig-manity," and our bodies have not been made to +waste and pine by the fashionable follies of this generation. It is our +creed that life is greater than all forms, and that the soul's life is +diviner than _convenances_ of fashion. + +As to property, we can bring you little more than ourselves. But we can +bring a hearty good-will to work, and in work we have some skill. I +have unimpaired health, and an amount of muscular strength beyond what +ordinarily falls to the lot of mortals. In the early part of my life I +labored on a farm, filling up my leisure time with study, until I +entered my present profession. My hands have some skill for many +things, and if I join you I wish to live a true life. + +My selfish aims are two: first, I wish to be under circumstances where +I may live truly; and second, and chiefly, I wish to do the best thing +I can for my children. + +Be so good as to reply to this at your earliest convenience. + +Yours sincerely, + +JOHN D. BALDWIN. + +_From an Ohioan._ + +CHEVIOT, HAMILTON CO., O., SEPT. 23,1845. + +_Mr. Ripley_, + +MY DEAR SIR:--I have been looking somewhat into your plan of +Association, and have read carefully Godwin's "Popular View of the +Doctrines of Charles Fourier." I see much that I admire and some things +that I disapprove in Fourier's views. His views on marriage and his +ideas of a future state may do harm to his system of Association: +first, in exciting prejudice against it, and so preventing a fair +experiment; and secondly, in being adopted by friends of Association in +their admiration of their great master. + +His views in respect to love are, to my mind, exceedingly +exceptionable, and the idea of making provision in Association for +those whose love is inconstant, _appears to me contrary to all sound +philosophy._ A vicious constitution ought never to be fostered by +indulgence. But I really hope that your Association, which I presume +will be the model one for this country, will be careful to reject the +exceptionable morality of the French teacher, and while you adopt his +practical scheme in its worthy features, will also make it manifest +that you esteem Jesus Christ as the true Master. + +I may say that the more I compare the principles of Association adopted +by you, with the general state of society, the more I admire the former +and become dissatisfied with the latter. I feel great anxiety for your +success. I feel deeply anxious that the friends of Association should +be students of the gospel of Christ, that care might be taken to carry +out the glorious doctrines of the Son of God. I do not mean +sectarianism. I mean that religion, that pure morality, that +spirituality which Jesus Christ exhibited in his own life; not the +religion of the _ascetic_, but the social, the benevolent, the +philanthropic, the Godward aspirations of the spiritual man. + +My wife and myself often converse about the propriety of uniting with +you. We become disgusted with the social arrangements with which we are +connected. In worldly society we mourn over the outbreaking vices not +only of the low, but of those who are highest in rank; and when we seek +satisfaction of mind and heart in the church, lo! even there +selfishness rules supreme, and a profession of religion covers up the +meanest propensities of the sanctimonious worshipper. I cry out, "Help, +Lord! for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the +children of men." + +We desire to know through your own candid view of your prospects, as +well as present condition, whether we may be justified in so disposing +our affairs as to ultimately join your Association. At present I am +laboring on my farm, near Cincinnati, having no definite plan of future +action. + +Please write me definitely upon what terms we may join you, how much I +must put into the Association to secure the support of my family and +myself--it being understood that we take hold as the rest of you do. +Besides my wife I have a son sixteen years of age, another eleven, a +third seven and a daughter four. We are all healthy, and I believe are +about as well disposed as most families to live by our own personal +exertions. + +Yours very respectfully, + +WILLIAM H. BRISBANE. + +_Verbatim Letter._ + +BOSTON MASS. Feb. 23 1844. + +_Mr. Ripley_ DIR SIR I was requsted to pit the following on paper for +the consideration of your society. R. H. wife and four children the +oldest ten the youngest thre the two eldest boys, the two youngest +girles. Furniture wile consist of thre beds and bedding one bedstead +one tabel and workstand six or eight chairs crockery ware &c. Tooles +and machinery as follows 1 planing machine 1 upright boaring machine 1 +circular saw, irons for an upright saw morticing machine 1 turning +lathe and belting 1 doz of hand screws 1 copper pot to make varnish in, +two dimejons 3-5 gls. each for varnish and oil tooles for cutting bench +screws &c likewise 1 cow 3 cosset sheep 1 yew & 2 wethers the cow 11 +years old and little lame in one foot otherways a veryry good cow, also +a verry light handcart. There are other articles not mentioned perhaps +that might be usful to the Association that would be thrown in for the +benefit of all. + +The Association can consider the above articles and select wat articles +would be usful or beneficial and let me know their action thereon at +the next meeting of the Association If I should be called to visit my +family before the next meeting you will pleas direct a line to me. + +Yours-- + +ROBERT DAY. + +The Brook Farm wits would say that the writer of the above letter +should go to college "for a _spell_." + +_Seeking Success in Life._ + +LOCKPORT, Oct. 28, 1842. + +DEAR FRIENDS, if I may so call you: I read in the New York _Tribune_ a +piece taken from the _Dial_, headed "The West Roxbury Community." Now +what I want to know is, can I and my children be admitted into your +society, _and be better off than we are here?_ I have enough of the +plainest kind to eat and wear. I have no _home_ but what we hire from +year to year. I have _no property_ but movables, and not a cent to +spare when the year comes round. I have _three children_, two boys and +one girl: the oldest fourteen, the youngest nine. Now I want to educate +them. How shall I do it in the country? There is no chance but ordinary +schools. To move into the village I could not bring the year round, and +the danger they would be exposed to without a father to restrain their +wanderings, would be an undertaking more than I dare attempt. + +Now if you should presume to let me come, where can I live? Can our +industry and economy clothe us for the year? Can I keep a cow? How can +I be supplied with fire in that _dear place?_ How can I _pay my school +bills?_ How can I find all the necessary requisites for my children to +advance in learning? If I should wish to leave in two or three or five +years, could I and mine, if I paid my way whilst there? If you should +let me come, and I _think best to go, how shall I get there?_ What +would be my _best and cheapest route?_ + +How should I proceed with what I have here, sell all off or bring a +part? I have three beds and bedding, one cow and ordinary things enough +to keep house. My children are all called tolerable scholars. My +daughter is the youngest; _the neighbors call her an interesting +child._ I have no pretensions to make; my only object is to _enjoy the +good of the society_ and have my children _educated and accomplished._ + +Am I to send my boys off to work alone, or will they have a _kind +person_ to say, "_Come boys_," and _relieve me from the heavy task of +bringing up my boys_ with nothing to _do it with?_ + +If your religion has a name I should like well enough to know it; if +not, and the substance is love to God and good-will to men, my mind is +well enough satisfied. I have reflected on this subject ever since I +read the article alluded to, and now I want you to write me _every +particular;_ then if you and I think best, in the spring I will come to +you. We are none of us what may be called weakly. I am forty-six years +old; able to do as much every day as to spin what is called a day's +work--not that I expect you spin much there, only that is the amount of +my strength as it now holds out. + +I should wish to seek _intelligence_, as you must know 1 lack greatly, +and I _cannot endure the thought_ my children must lack as greatly, +whilst multitudes are going so far in advance, no better qualified by +nature than they. I want you to _send me quite a number of names of +your leading characters_. If it should seem strange to you that I make +the demand, I will explain it to you when I get there. I want you to +answer _every item_ of this letter and as much more as _can have any +bearing on my mind_, either way, whether you accept this letter _kindly +or not_. I want you to write an answer without delay! Are there +meetings for _us to attend?_ Do you have singing schools? + +I do thus far feel friendly to your society. + +Direct your letter to, etc. + +M. R. JOHNSON. + +_A Southern Applicant._ + +ALEXANDRIA, BENTON CO., ALA., July 13, 1845. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Will you step aside for a moment from the many duties, the +interesting cares and soul-stirring pleasures of your enviable +situation, and read a few lines from a stranger? They come to you, not +from the cold and sterile regions of the North, nor from the luxuriant +yet untamed wilds of the West, but from the bright and sunny land where +cotton flowers bloom, where nature has placed her signet of beauty and +fertility. Yes, sir; the science that the immortal Fourier brought to +light has reached the far South, and I trust has warmed many hearts, +and interested many minds; but of ours alone will I write. + +It is to me the dawn of a brighter day than has ever yet risen upon the +world--a day when man shall be redeemed from his more than "Egyptian +bondage" and stand erect in moral, intellectual and physical beauty. + +I have lived forty years in the world, and divided that time between +the eastern, middle and southern states--have seen life as exhibited, +in city and country, have mingled with the most intelligent and with +the unlettered rustic--have marked society in a variety of phases, and +find, amid all, that selfishness has warped the judgment, chilled the +affections and blunted all the finer feelings of the soul. I am weary +and worn with the heartless folly, the wicked vanity and shameless +iniquity which the civilized world everywhere presents. Long have I +sighed for something higher, nobler, holier than aught found in this +world, and have sometimes longed to lay my body down where the weary +rest, that my spirit might dwell in perfect harmony. But since the +beautiful science of unity has dawned upon my mind, my heart has loved +to cherish the bright anticipations of hope, and I see in the dim +distance the realization of all my wishes. I see a generation coming on +the arena of action bearing on their brows the impress of their noble +origin, and cultivating in their hearts the pure and exalted feelings +that should ever distinguish those who bear the image of their Maker. +Association is destined to do much for poor, suffering humanity--to +elevate, refine, redeem the race and restore the purity and love that +made the bowers of Eden so surpassingly beautiful. You, sir, and your +associates are pioneers in a noble reform. May the blessing of God +attend you. + +I am anxious to be with you for various reasons. The first is: I have +two little daughters whom I wish to bring up amid healthful influences, +with healthful and untrammelled bodies, pure minds and all their young +affections and sympathies clustering around their hearts. I never wish +their minds to be under the influence of the god of this +generation--fashion--nor their hearts to become callous to the +sufferings of their fellows. I never wish them to regard labor as +degrading, nor poverty as a crime. Situated as I am I cannot rear them +in health and purity, and, therefore, I am anxious to remove them from +the baneful influences that surround them. Again: I look upon labor as +a blessing, and feel that every man and woman should spend some portion +of each day in healthful employment. It is absolutely necessary to +health, and is also a source of enjoyment, even in isolation; how much +would that pleasure be increased could I have several kindred spirits +around me with whom I could interchange thought, and whose feelings and +desires flow in the same channel as my own! O, sir! I must live, labor +and _die_ in Association. + +Again: my heart is pained with the woes of my fellows--with the +distressing poverty and excessive labor which are bearing to the grave +a portion of the human family. Gladly would I bear my part in raising +them to a higher and happier condition; and how can I better do this +than by uniting myself with the noble reformers of Brook Farm, where +caste is thrown aside, and rich and poor constitute one family. I have +not a large fortune, but sufficient to live comfortable anywhere. A +large part of it is now invested in houses and lands in Georgia. Such +is the low price of cotton that real estate cannot be sold at this time +without a serious sacrifice. Most of my Georgia property rents for more +than the interest of its cost at 8 per cent. I have also houses and +land in this state, but cannot for the above named reason find a +purchaser. Therefore, if I go into Association I shall be obliged to +leave some of my possessions unsold, and be content to receive the rent +until I can effect a sale. + +I have no negroes--thank God. Now if you are not full at Brook Farm, +and do not object to myself, wife and two daughters, one four years and +the other six months old, presenting ourselves as candidates for +admission, and $2500 or $3000 will be sufficient for an initiation fee, +I shall, as soon as I can arrange my affairs, be with you. + +I will thank you to write to me, informing me with how much ready cash, +with an income of $500 or $600 per year, I can be received. Mrs. Clarke +and myself will wish to engage daily in labor. We both labored in our +youth--we wish to resume it again. + +Very respectfully, + +John Clarke. + + +The following letter is in manuscript without date and is + +_One of Mr. Ripley's Replies_. + +Dear Sir:--It gives me the most sincere pleasure to reply to the +inquiries proposed in your favor of the 3d inst. I welcome the extended +and increasing interest which is manifested in our apparently humble +enterprise, as a proof that it is founded in nature and truth, and as a +cheering omen of its ultimate success. Like yourself, we are seekers of +universal truth. We worship only reality. We are striving to establish +a mode of life which shall combine the enchantments of poetry with the +facts of daily experience. This we believe can be done by a rigid +adherence to justice, by fidelity to human rights, by loving and +honoring man as man, and rejecting all arbitrary, factitious +distinctions. + +We are not in the interest of any sect, party or coterie; we have faith +in the soul of man, in the universal soul of things, and trusting to +the might of a benignant Providence which is over all, we are here +sowing in weakness a seed which will be raised in power. But I need not +dwell on these general considerations with which you are doubtless +familiar. + +In regard to the connection of a family with us, our arrangements are +liberal and comprehensive. We are not bound by fixed rules which apply +to all cases. The general principle we are obliged to adhere to rigidly +is not to receive any persons who would increase the expenses more than +the revenue of the establishment. Within the limits of this principle +we can make any arrangement which shall suit particular cases. + +A family with resources sufficient for self-support, independent of the +exertion of its members, would find a favorable situation with us for +the education of its children, and for social enjoyment. An annual +payment of $1000 would probably cover the expenses of board and +instruction, supposing that no services were rendered to diminish the +expense. An investment of $5000 would more than meet the original +outlay required for a family of eight persons; but in that case an +additional appropriation would be needed, either of productive labor or +cash, to meet the current expenditures. I forward you herewith a copy +of our Prospectus, from which you will perceive that the whole expense +of a pupil, without including board in vacations, is $250 per annum; +but in case of one or more pupils remaining with us for a term of +years, and assisting in the labor of the establishment, a deduction of +$1 or $2 per week would be made, according to the services rendered, +until such time as their education being so far completed, they might +defray all their expenses by their labor. + +In the case of your son fifteen years of age, it would be necessary for +him to reside with us for three months at least, and if at the end of +that time his services should be found useful, he might continue by +paying $150 or $200 per annum, according to the value of his labor, and +if he should prove to have a gift for active industry, in process of +time, he might defray his whole expenses, complete his education and be +fitted for practical life. + +With the intelligent zeal which you manifest in our enterprise, I need +not say that we highly value your sympathy. I should rejoice in any +arrangement which might bring us into closer relations. It is only from +the faith and love of those whose hearts are filled with the hopes of a +better future for humanity, that we look for the building up of our +"City of God." So far we have been prospered in our highest +expectations. We are more and more convinced of the beauty and justice +of our mode of life. We love to breathe this pure, healthy atmosphere; +we feel that we are living in the bosom of nature, and all things seem +to expand under the freedom and truth which we worship in our hearts. + +I should regret to think that this was to be our last communication +with each other. May I not hope to hear from you again--and with the +sincere wish that your views of the philosophy of life may bring you +still nearer to us, I am, with great respect, + +Sincerely your friend, + +Geo. Ripley. + + +_From a Lady Teacher_. + +New York, March 18, 1843. + +Dear Sir: For the last ten years I have been employed as a teacher in a +boarding school in this city. A year ago the lady with whom I was +associated died, and though I do not love business as such, there were +many and weighty reasons why it seemed right for me to commence a +school of my own. I have had during the winter past a school of +twenty-three pupils consisting of children and youth. My success +hitherto in teaching, in my own judgment, has been dependent on an +earnestness of manner, a sincere love of knowledge and a deep interest +in the welfare of the young. I know how to work and would not fear to +undertake any kind of household occupation which devolves upon woman. + +Early in life I embraced a religious faith, and, seeking to obey God +according to my light, connected myself with a church. Years have +passed away; experience, reflection and light from other minds have +produced a radical change in my views. I stand in the eye of the world +as one of a sect, but my spirit does not recognize the union. I am, +from my position, subject to painful restraints. I cannot be just to +the truth which is in me. The alternative, I need not say, with me is +to hold fast to the popular faith or give up my bread. + +I am much interested in those ideas which your Association is +attempting to find a realization of. The state of things resulting from +a full expansion of the principles upon which your society is based +would seem to meet many spiritual wants. I can understand that so high +an aim can be reached only through lowliness of life. The prospect of +becoming one day a co-worker in your cause is very agreeable to me. I +should like to know that I may be permitted to cherish the idea. + +With much respect, + +R. Prentiss. + + +_Application for an Unfortunate_. + +[The person who indited the following was a friend of the organization, +and probably saw as well as anyone the absurdity of making a +reformatory institution of the great experiment, but from kindly and +personal considerations put the question and the best face on the +matter that he could.] + + +New York, Sept. 14, 1845. + +My Dear Friend: I have been applied to by a very respectable widow lady +of this city, at the instance of Dr. ---- (who it seems is fast getting +over his want of sympathy for Fourier and his disciples), to see +whether you will not convert Brook Farm into a sort of hospital for the +cure of young men who won't mind their mothers. But, as the case is a +serious one, I must treat it seriously as it deserves. + +The lady is a Mrs. ----, who is connected with one or two of our +wealthiest families, and who has a son about twenty-five years of age +whom she desires to get a place with you. + +He is said to be a person of the most kind and amiable disposition, and +willing to do the hardest kind of work, but unfortunately he is +surrounded by evil companions in this city, who draw him into bad +habits. His mother is exceedingly distressed by his weakness, and has +been counselled to send him to sea, but Dr. ---- has advised her to +come to me and ask whether he could not be taken on trial at Brook +Farm, in order to ascertain what might be the effect of good +influences. The young man is well educated, a good accountant, has +worked considerably on a farm, and is exceedingly anxious to escape +from his present position, where his _infirmity of will_ betrays him +under temptation. His general disposition and deportment are excellent, +and under proper circumstances would make an estimable member of +society. + +If you have room for him, and are willing to undertake his case, his +mother can contribute a few dollars a week toward paying his board, +until it shall have been determined whether his longer stay would be +mutually satisfactory. Should he be able to stay, no doubt his friends +here would raise an amount of capital for him which might be an object +worth considering. + +Very sincerely yours, + +P. Godwin. + + +_Wanted to Speak against Slavery_. + +Collinsville, CT., March 22, 1844. + +Friends: I call all people friends who have for their object the +elevation of the human race and are opposed to all oppression in any +form, who do not wish to build up one class at the expense of the other. + +I have been reading on the subject of Association for the last six +months all the publications I could find, which has pleased me much. I +think it is just such a system that is wanted. Massachusetts being my +native state, and also being acquainted with the vicinity of Roxbury, +which I think is a delightful place, especially in the summer, I +thought that I would write you to inquire if you have an opening for +any more this spring providing I can bring recommendations to your +satisfaction. + +I was brought up a farmer; the last twelve years I have been to work in +a scythe shop. I have a wife--no children. My wife is a tailoress, +makes all kinds of men's clothing and is acquainted with all kinds of +housework. We are both forty-two years of age. I shall want to buy four +hundred dollars' worth of stock and pay for it when I join. If I am +rightly informed of your system, it does not interfere with anyone's +religion or his politics. Being an abolitionist, I shall want the +privilege of voting and speaking against slavery in every respect. +Please write me as soon as you receive this and inform me what +recommendations will be required and all other particulars. + +Respectfully yours, James C. Smith. + + +_From a Wesleyan_. + +Trinity, Newfoundland, June 30, 1845. + +Sir: Having been informed by Mr. Brisbane that an establishment on the +united interest principle has been commenced near Boston, I hasten to +address you to inform you that for some years I have felt impressed +with its superiority to the individual system; and have been, and still +am, anxious to engage heart and soul in so good a cause. I have been in +this country between four and five years, and have a comfortable +situation; but feeling confident of the ultimate advantage of an +Association, and feeling assured that I could render myself valuable in +such an establishment, I prefer casting my lot with those who feel +desirous of acting for the restoration of man. + +I have to inform you that from my youth I have chiefly engaged in the +dry goods business, ironmongery, grocery, etc., and have a general +knowledge of trade. I am of industrious habits and with an active turn +of mind, and together with my wife, I may justly say, few will be found +more useful and desirous of acting for the general good. I am about +forty-two years of age, and my wife is a little older; my son is +fourteen, and we are fully prepared for active life. I have no +knowledge of any mechanical trade, but am fond of it as well as +agriculture and gardening; I possess a fair share of health; am fond of +writing and bookkeeping; only occasionally disposed to gaiety, but +rather for scientific relaxation; not fanatical in religion, but a +regarder of the great commandments and charitable for the feelings and +the convictions of others. + +I have, sir, given you an unvarnished statement with regard to myself, +and I should feel obliged by your informing me at your earliest +convenience if myself, wife and son can be admitted by my investing two +hundred dollars for the furnishing of the apartment assigned to us. Are +there any Wesleyans with you, and what is the distance to the Wesleyan +chapel?--as my wife is a member of that body. From what I have learned +from Mr. Brisbane's letter and newspaper he was kind enough to send me, +I should judge your establishment to be such as we could safely and +comfortably join, and I trust you will give me in your answer +additional reason to think so. + +I remain, sir, + +Your obedient servant, + +H. Gawler. + + +_From a Printer_. + +Bangor, ME., Jan. 1, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Dear Sir: While on a visit to Brook Farm Association last August, it +was intimated to me that it was probable, on the completion of the +arrangements then in progress for the accommodation of an additional +number of members, that a printing press might be introduced, a weekly +paper published and something done at the printing business generally; +further, that though there were two or three practical printers in the +Association, yet others in all likelihood would also be required; in +which case, a selection from the number of candidates would be made. +Should it be the intention to adopt the plan, which was then in doubt, +I beg most respectfully to present myself as a candidate for the +acceptance of the Association. + +I am at present situated as foreman of a daily paper in Bangor, and +previous to this time, have had a somewhat varied experience in other +branches of the business. Though now rather favorably located, in the +ordinary acceptation of the term, yet I would prefer a thousand times +mingling even in the struggles of an infant Association, founded upon +what I deem to be substantial principles, than the most desirable +possession in an overgrown and distorted civilization. + +Touching the requisite of character, I believe I can make out a case in +my favor; but with respect to capital--when I say I am a _printer_, I +say also that I am in the predicament of the most of my profession, +with nothing to recommend us but a willing heart and a ready hand; +albeit, if the taking of one share of a hundred dollars will entitle me +to membership, the amount may be forthcoming. + +With sentiment of great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Yours +most obediently, etc., + +George Bayne, Jr. + + +_A Wife's Eloquent Appeal._ + +Kingston, Sept. 5, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Sir: After taking the _Phalanx_ and the _Harbinger_ and visiting Brook +Farm, our attachment and love for associated life has become so strong, +and the idea of our present life so cold and to a benevolent mind so +difficult, that I very much doubt of remaining any longer happy in our +present state. For these reasons I write to inform you that we wish to +make an application to be received as members of--so it looks to +us--your happy Association; and, "delays being dangerous," we would ask +an answer soon to it, as, living on a farm, it is necessary to know +whether we shall dispose of our crops, cattle, etc., in the market, or +store them in barn and cellar for another _lonely_ winter--so my +husband expresses it; though I assure you it is not lonely for lack of +numbers, but he is doubtless expressing the feeling many of us have +experienced of solitude in the midst of a crowd of uncongenial spirits. + +As it is a busy time--we have to work from 5 A.M. until late at night, +with scarce a moment to rest our weary limbs--it is not convenient to +visit you personally; we wish you to return us a written letter stating +whether we can have any encouragement and what are the requirements. +Being strangers to you we would probably need recommendation. + +Thus far I have acted as amanuensis for my husband. Hoping that it may +not offend, I now address you of and from myself. + +Elizabeth Brewster, _for Elisha Brewster._ + + +_Mr. Ripley,_ + +Dear Sir: In the cause my husband urges I would plead. Had I skill I +would do so with all the eloquence ascribed to woman's tongue; nay, +more, had I an angel's tongue tipped with burning eloquence, I would +exert its utmost efforts to urge my husband's suit. I feel deeply that +his present and future earthly happiness depends on what answer may be +received from you. That is saying much, but I believe it is strictly +true. And if his happiness depends on it, surely that of the rest must, +for what happiness does a woman desire but that of those connected with +her? Husband has been for three years a devoted associationist; his +whole heart and mind have been with them and he has ardently desired +the associative life. + +Not so myself. I was willing, it is true, to go anywhere he desired and +would be happy where he was happy, but I dreaded to leave such a +beautiful home, for the place we would leave is no ordinary one. The +prospect from it is considered as almost without a parallel. We have +plenty of fruit, flowers, fine grove and shade trees, in fact +everything to make rural life agreeable and we know how to appreciate a +beautiful location and prospect. Then I have had a fear of being a +pioneer, lest there should be too heavy work or duties imposed or +required of me. Such ideas combined, prevented me from seeing unitary +life as one ought who knows that it is in the form of a heavenly +society, and that as we desire perfection here on earth we must imitate +the heavenly model. + +Since visiting you my fears have given place to an ardent desire to +become one of your Community, not to come as an alien and a stranger +but as a sister in full communion, with a heart full of love and +affection and with a strong desire to act my part fully and to do all +required of me. + +You will find I have great skill and ingenuity in work, understanding +almost all kinds, and have, I am told, a good faculty to plan and +perform it, so I hope that I shall be of real use to you. You will not +think I am trying to flatter you or myself. Husband's idea is this: he +says when people trade they place their commodities in the best light +and speak of their desirable qualities, and this is so much like +trading ourselves off that we have a right to give some idea of +ourselves as an offset for what we expect to receive. + +Mr. Brewster has sound, unbroken health, untiring strength and great +skill and ability to work. He often says he would not go where he could +not work--but he would like more time to read than he gets here. He has +great power and skill in doing heavy work and great patience and +industry in doing small and light work; talents not often combined in +one individual. He is just as handy and skilful in planting and weeding +and planning a flower garden, or in potting plants and tending them, as +in doing the heaviest work. He loves birds and flowers, but _bees_ are +his _hobby_; he loves them as a mother loves her children. If he comes +among you, you must let him have a hive of bees or I fear he would tire +of Association. Ah! a new thought just strikes me. Bees are +_associationists_ and that accounts for his great love of them. + +I cannot believe that you will ever regret the possession of such a +working man. Furthermore, you will rarely find two united with more +willing hearts and hands and more cheerful tempers. We have never been, +so far, either of us unhappy in any situation. Our family is not large; +it consists of three daughters, one of eleven, one eight and the last +three years of age, twenty-fifth of May last--they all have one +birthday. We shall probably bring with us, if you make no objection, a +girl who is bound to us, and there remains three years of unexpired +service--a very stout, strong girl, who loves coarse work and who is +Mr. Brewster's mesmeric subject. + +Mr. Brewster is a lineal descendant of old Elder Brewster, of the fifth +generation on the paternal side and a lateral descendant on the +maternal side. He thinks that accounts for his being so ardent an +associationist, as Elder Brewster started his colony on that plan and +failed--and perhaps this E. Brewster will do the same thing. But +seriously, because the first failed it is no reason that the second +should, for the world was not as well prepared for unitary life then as +now. Mr. Brewster thinks he would rather help you provide for winter +than to be doing the same here. + +May the blessing of Heaven attend you all at Brook Farm. + +E. B. B. BREWSTER. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +PART III. + + +AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF BROOK FARM. + +_From the Dial of January, 1844._ + +Wherever we recognize the principle of progress our sympathies and +affections are engaged. However small may be the innovation, however +limited the effort towards the attainment of pure good, that effort is +worthy of our best encouragement and succor. The institution at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, though sufficiently extensive in respect to number +of persons, perhaps is not to be considered an experiment of large +intent. Its aims are moderate; too humble, indeed, to satisfy the +extreme demands of the age; yet for that reason, probably, the effort +is more valuable, as likely to exhibit a larger share of actual success. + +Though familiarly designated a "Community," it is only so in the +process of eating in commons; a practice at least as antiquated as the +collegiate halls of old England, where it still continues without +producing, as far as we can learn, any of the Spartan virtues. A +residence at Brook Farm does not involve either a community of money, +of opinions or of sympathy. The motives which bring individuals there, +may be as various as their numbers. In fact, the present residents are +divisible into three distinct classes; and if the majority in numbers +were considered, it is possible that a vote in favor of self-sacrifice +for the common good would not be very strongly carried. + +The leading portion of the adult inmates, they whose presence imparts +the greatest peculiarity and the fraternal tone to the household, +believe that an improved state of existence would be developed in +Association, and are therefore anxious to promote it. Another class +consists of those who join with the view of bettering their condition, +by being exempt from some portion of worldly strife. The third portion +comprises those who have their own development or education for their +principal object. + +Practically, too, the institution manifests a threefold improvement +over the world at large, corresponding to these three motives. In +consequence of the first, the companionship, the personal intercourse, +the social bearing, are of a marked and very superior character. There +may possibly to some minds, long accustomed to other modes, appear a +want of homeness and of the private fireside; but all observers must +acknowledge a brotherly and softening condition, highly conducive to +the permanent and pleasant growth of all the better human qualities. If +the life is not of a deeply religious cast, it is at least not inferior +to that which is exemplified elsewhere, and there is the advantage of +an entire absence of assumption and pretence. The moral atmosphere, so +far, is pure; and there is found a strong desire to walk ever on the +mountain tops of life; though taste, rather than piety, is the aspect +presented to the eye. + +In the second class of motives we have enumerated there is a strong +tendency to an important improvement in meeting the terrestrial +necessities of humanity. The banishment of servitude, the renouncement +of hireling labor and the elevation of all unavoidable work to its true +station, are problems whose solution seems to be charged upon +Association; for the dissociate systems have in vain sought remedies +for this unfavorable portion of human condition. It is impossible to +introduce into separate families even one half of the economies which +the present state of science furnishes to man. In that particular, it +is probable that even the feudal system is superior to the civic; for +its combinations permit many domestic arrangements of an economic +character, which are impracticable in small households. In order to +economize labor, and dignify the laborer, it is absolutely necessary +that men should cease to work in the present isolated, competitive +mode, and adopt that of coöperative union or Association. It is as +false and as ruinous to call any man "master," in secular business, as +it is in theological opinion. Those persons, therefore, who congregate +for the purpose, as it is called, of bettering their outward relations, +on principles so high and universal as we have endeavored to describe, +are not engaged in a petty design, bounded by their own selfish or +temporary improvement. Everyone who is here found giving up the usual +chances of individual aggrandizement, may not be thus influenced; but +whether it be so or not, the outward demonstration will probably be +equally certain. + +In education Brook Farm appears to present greater mental freedom than +most other institutions. The tuition being more heart-rendered, is in +its effects more heart-stirring. The younger pupils, as well as the +more advanced students, are held mostly, if not wholly, by the power of +love. In this particular, Brook Farm is a much improved model for the +oft-praised schools of New England. It is time that the imitative and +book-learned systems of the latter should be superseded or liberalized, +by some plan better calculated to excite originality of thought and the +native energies of the mind. The deeper, kindly sympathies of the +heart, too, should not be forgotten; but the germination of these must +be despaired of under a rigid hireling system. Hence Brook Farm, with +its spontaneous teachers, presents the unusual and cheering condition +of a really "free school." + +By watchful and diligent economy, there can be no doubt that a +community would attain greater pecuniary success than is within the +hope of honest individuals working separately. But Brook Farm is not a +community, and in the variety of motives with which persons associate +there, a double diligence and a watchfulness perhaps, too costly will +be needful to preserve financial prosperity. While, however, this +security is an essential element in success, riches would, on the other +hand, be as fatal as poverty, to the true progress of such an +institution. Even in the case of those foundations which have assumed a +religious character, all history proves the fatality of wealth. The +just and happy mean between riches and poverty is, indeed, more likely +to be attained when, as in this instance, all thought of acquiring +great wealth in a brief time is necessarily abandoned, as a condition +of membership. On the other hand, the presence of many persons, who +congregate merely for the attainment of some individual end, must weigh +heavily and unfairly upon those whose hearts are really expanded to +universal results. + +As a whole, even the initiative powers of Brook Farm have, as is found +almost everywhere, the design of a life much too objective, too much +derived from objects in the exterior world. The subjective life, that +in which the soul finds the living source and the true communion within +itself, is not sufficiently prevalent to impart to the establishment +the permanent and sedate character it should enjoy. Undeniably, many +devoted individuals are there; several who have, as generously as +wisely, relinquished what are considered great social and pecuniary +advantages, and, by throwing their skill and energies into a course of +the most ordinary labors, at once prove their disinterestedness, and +lay the foundation for industrial nobility. + +An assemblage of persons, not brought together by the principles of +community, will necessarily be subject to many of the inconveniences of +ordinary life, as well as to burdens peculiar to such a condition. Now +Brook Farm is at present such an institution. It is not a community; it +is not truly an association; it is merely an aggregation of persons, +and lacks that oneness of spirit, which is probably needful to make it +of deep and lasting value to mankind. It seems, after three years' +continuance, uncertain whether it is to be resolved more into an +educational or an industrial institution, or into one combined of both. + +Placed so near a large city, and in a populous neighborhood, the +original liability for land, etc., was so large as still to leave a +considerable burden of debt. This state of things seems fairly to +entitle the establishment to re-draw from the old world in fees for +education, or in the sale of produce, sufficient to pay the annual +interest of such liabilities. Hence the necessity for a more intimate +intercourse with the trading world, and a deeper involvement in money +affairs than would have attended a more retired effort of the like +kind. To enter into the corrupting modes of the world, with the view of +diminishing or destroying them, is a delusive hope. It will, +notwithstanding, be a labor of no little worth, to induce improvements +in the two grand departments of industry and education. We say +_improvement_ as distinct from _progress_; for with any association +short of community, we do not see how it is possible for an institution +to stand so high above the present world as to conduct its affairs on +principles entirely different from those which now influence men in +general. + +There are other considerations also suggested by a glance at Brook +Farm, which are worthy the attention of the many minds now attracted by +the deeply interesting subject of human association. We are gratified +by observing several external improvements during the past year; such +as a larger and more convenient dining room, a labor saving cooking +apparatus, a purer diet, a more orderly and quiet attendance at the +refections, superior arrangements for industry, and generally an +increased seriousness in respect to the value of the example which +those who are there assembled may constitute to their fellow beings. + +Of about seventy persons now assembled there, about thirty are +children, sent thither for education; some adult persons also place +themselves there chiefly for mental assistance; and in the society +there are only four married couples. With such materials it is almost +certain that the sensitive and vital points of communication cannot +well be tested. A joint-stock company, working with some of its own +members and with others as agents, cannot bring to issue the great +question whether the existence of the individual family is compatible +with the universal family, which the term "Community" signifies. This +is now the grand problem. By mothers it has ever been felt to be so. +The maternal instinct, as hitherto educated, has declared itself so +strongly in favor of the separate fireside, that the association, which +appears so beautiful to the young and unattached soul, has yet +accomplished little progress in the affections of that important +section of the human race--the mothers. With fathers, the feeling in +favor of the separate family is certainly less strong; but there is an +undefinable tie, a sort of magnetic _rapport_, an invisible, +inseverable umbilical cord between the mother and child, which in most +cases circumscribes her desires and ambition to her own immediate +family. + +All the accepted adages and wise saws of society, all the precepts of +morality, all the sanctions of theology, have for ages been employed to +confirm this feeling. This is the chief corner stone of present +society; and to this maternal instinct have, till very lately, our most +heartfelt appeals been made for the progress of the human race, by +means of a deeper and more vital education. Pestalozzi and his most +enlightened disciples are distinguished by this sentiment. And are we +all at once to abandon, to deny, to destroy this supposed stronghold of +virtue? Is it questioned whether the family arrangement of mankind is +to be preserved? Is it discovered that the sanctuary, till now deemed +the holiest on earth, is to be invaded by intermeddling scepticism, and +its altars sacrilegiously destroyed by the rude hands of innovating +progress? + +Here "social science" must be brought to issue. The question of +Association and marriage are one. If, as we have been popularly led to +believe, the individual or separate family is the true order of +Providence, then the associate life is a false effort. If the associate +life is true, then is the separate family a false arrangement. By the +maternal feeling it appears to be decided that the coëxistence of both +is incompatible--is impossible. So also say some religious sects. +Social science ventures to assert their harmony. This is the grand +problem now remaining to be solved, for at least the enlightening, if +not for the vital elevation, of humanity. That the affections can be +divided, or bent with equal ardor on two objects so opposed as +universal and individual love, may at least be rationally doubted. +History has not yet exhibited such phenomena in an associate body, and +scarcely, perhaps, in any individual. + +The monasteries and convents, which have existed in all ages, have been +maintained solely by the annihilation of that peculiar affection on +which the separate family is based. The Shaker families, in which the +two sexes are not entirely dissociated, can yet only maintain their +union by forbidding and preventing the growth of personal affection +other than that of a spiritual character. And this, in fact, is not +personal in the sense of individual, but ever a manifestation of +universal affection. Spite of the speculations of hopeful bachelors and +aesthetic spinsters, there is somewhat in the marriage bond which is +found to counteract the universal nature of the affections to a degree +tending at least to make considerable pause, before they can be blended +into one harmony. + +The general condition of married persons at this time is some evidence +of the existence of such doubt in their minds. Were they as convinced +as the unmarried of the beauty and truth of associate life, the +demonstration would be now presented. But might it not be enforced that +the two family ideas really neutralize one another? It is not quite +certain that the human heart cannot be set in two places; that man +cannot worship at two altars? It is only the determination to do what +parents consider the best for themselves and their families, which +renders the o'er populous world such a wilderness of selfhood as it is. +Destroy this feeling, they say, and you prohibit every motive for +exertion. Much truth is there in this affirmation. For to them no other +motive remains, nor indeed to any one else, save that of the universal +good, which does not permit the building up of supposed self-good, and, +therefore, forecloses all possibility of an individual family. + +These observations, of course, equally apply to all the associative +attempts, now attracting so much public attention; and perhaps most +especially to such as have more of Fourier's designs than are +observable at Brook Farm. The slight allusion in all the writers of the +"Phalansterian" class, to the subject of marriage, is rather +remarkable. They are acute and eloquent in deploring woman's oppressed +and degraded position in past and present times, but are almost silent +as to the future. In the meanwhile, it is gratifying to observe the +success which in some departments attend every effort, and that Brook +Farm is likely to become comparatively eminent in the highly important +and praiseworthy attempts to render labor of the hands more dignified +and noble, and mental education more free and loveful. C. L. + + +ASSOCIATIVE ARTICLES. + +_"Association the Body of Christianity" by John S. Dwight._ + +The world has been divided between infidels and bigots. In Association +there will be neither, for it will remove their causes. The framework +of society is false which drives to such extremities. For most +assuredly these opposites proceeded from one common centre, and will +most gladly gravitate back again to that, so soon as the general order +becomes just and genial to the real character and purpose of each +individual soul. + +Unbelief is torment, as much as any obstinate refusing of food, and no +one courts it because he will, but only accepts it because he must. On +the other hand, exclusive religionism has too much consciousness of +secret sympathy with its avowed antipodes, to enjoy itself much better. +They are only opposite forms of the same denial; opposite feelings from +the same great central wrong. They seem to hate each other; it is only +because they are not permitted to embrace: let them transfer their hate +to that which separates them. And what is that? + +It is the want of unity and of all recognition of unity in the material +interests of men. If the material interest of each harmonized with the +material interest of all, as fully as their spiritual interests do, the +immediate result would be that the material and spiritual would +harmonize with one another. Then religion would not have to renounce +the world to save its very life; nor would the believer in natural +reason and the lover of justice cry, "Away with all religion, since it +leaves the world so bad!" + +There are certain instincts and convictions in every human soul which +call for love and truth and justice. There is a revelation from God +which confirms them all. One noble life was all made up of these high +qualities, a present incarnation of these seemingly almost unattainable +ideals, and freely gave itself for man. Some say it was very God; all +acknowledge that such virtue is the divinest thing known, that such +love stands for the Most High, and that to reverence and obey it, is to +obey the very saving principle of human nature; that such obedience, in +fact, is perfect freedom. So that, leaving intellectual dogmas and +theories out of the question, the essence of what is called +Christianity is the natural faith of the human heart, and all men do in +their heart of hearts long to have a Christian spirit and to have that +prevail throughout the world. + +But while the spirit of Christ is unity, the material interests of men +are without unity. In the whole body politic of life, the unity of the +human race is not at all implied. On the contrary, everything +contradicts the idea. Every man in seeking his material interests +becomes the rival and antagonist of every other man. To gain his bread +he must sacrifice friendship, generosity and even honor. He must keep +his convictions of nobleness and justice for a beautiful and holiday +idea; he must consign them to the keeping of religion; and she, like +the gentle wife at home, has careful instructions not to show her +beautiful face in the market place. It is hard; since in the market +place mankind are doomed to spend the most part of their life; and very +many men and women and children _all_ their life, except what nature +claims for sleep. + +If there be no way, then, of realizing the unity of man with man, of +growing into the beauty of Christian love and fellowship, by the very +act which earns us bread; if there be no reconciling of religion with +this worldliness; if there be no possibility of raising in the very +market place the song, "The Lord is in his temple"; if religion calls +us one way and necessity another; if business is to be based on +principles which render ineffectual every prayer for the spirit of love +and charity; if work is the dissevering of all the bonds which thought +and speech and sentiment and blessed dreams and holy influences, with +all the help, too, of God's Holy Spirit, strive to weave;--then is +Christianity impotent, a heavenly voice that mocks mankind. + +But no! As surely as Christ taught the love of God and of the neighbor, +so surely did his prediction imply a change in the material +organization of society which should fit it to be the container of this +heavenly spirit. Did he think to "put new wine into old bottles"? Must +not the spirit of Christianity create unto itself a _body_? It is a +fruitless abstraction until it does. And this, if we read the signs +aright, is the demand of this age. This is the tendency of all social +movements. The material basis of our life, our social and industrial +system, is entirely incompatible with the moral conviction and duties +of this age. Our social economy all represents and preaches +selfishness; but the idea of Christian love, the vision of unity and +brotherhood, is born in the mind, and makes terrible and unendurable +contrast with this state of things. The world is nearly ripe for the +kingdom of heaven--the organization of society precludes it. + +ASSOCIATION is the word that solves the problem. The earnest and +believing hearts of this day everywhere have certain hopeful lookings +towards that; and at this providential moment science comes and offers +us the key which shall unlock the whole sphere of material interests to +its true lord, the spirit of religious love and unity. The organization +of attractive industry will be the reconciliation of spirit and matter, +of religion and the world; it will be the admission of Christ into all +our spheres; it will make all nature holy, and clothe religion in the +garb of nature. + +_Extract from a lecture on Association in its Connection with Religion, +by Charles A. Dana._ + +It is now more than eighteen hundred years since that annunciation of +the coming of peace on earth and good-will to men, at which the world +might well have trembled with a new and mighty hope. The Divine Infant, +whose birth the celestial choirs thus celebrated, grew up to man's +estate, still bearing within him that blessed promise; he went about on +earth, imparting new life to the broken-hearted and forlorn, and +uttering words of such heavenly significance, that to this day there is +nothing that thrills the hearts of men with so true a power. At last he +gave his life a testimony to those eternal truths, and died in great +bodily agony, still publishing the prophecy that welcomed his birth, +still announcing the kingdom of peace and love, the kingdom of God on +earth. + +His followers have since grown to cover great continents; whole nations +acknowledge those few words of his as their most sacred possession; +great temples are built in which his life and death are solemnly +commemorated, and men gladly yield their hard-won treasure to carry his +history to distant regions that his name has never reached. And yet, my +friends, where is that kingdom of peace and love; where, where in the +whole wide world is the will of God done as it is in heaven? Is it even +thought of as anything but a dream, an impossibility? Does not a +sceptical smile steal over the faces of men, when an earnest and +enthusiastic person speaks of it as a thing yet actually to be? + +And yet it is only what Christ taught us to hope for and pray for. We +are not deceived; no one of us is mistaken in the vision that in +innocent and blessed moments visits us all. No man who utters that +sacred petition prays in vain. For the kingdom of God, the reign of +peace and good-will among men, shall surely come. Not in mystical +raptures, not in feverish trances, not in imagination, but in +reality--in actual outward peace and beauty, and in the abiding spirit +of love, filling humanity and sanctifying the earth to be the worthy +temple of so divine a presence. + +And yet, who that beholds only the present condition of the Christian +church, to which these sacred ideas have been especially entrusted; who +that sees the body of Christ thus torn and discordant, would imagine +that a consummation of this imperishable hope was any longer possible? +Might we not despair, seeing these centuries of terror, of revolution, +of injustice and of perpetual hatred, and seeing that the very +disciples of the spirit of love have lost the memory of their +Master--might we not despair, and cry out with them, that the earth was +given over to evil, and that the kingdom of God would never come? + +No, my friends, we may not so despair, we cannot if we would. That old +prophecy, however long delayed, still finds an involuntary echo in our +souls. And now, in this hope of a true and brotherly society, its +fulfilment seems at hand. Say it is enthusiasm, say it is a mistake, +say it is irreligion, if you will, and still I reply that the time is +not distant. It is in the combined order, where men are held together +by inward laws only, and not by outward constraint and outward +necessities, that the kingdom of God is to come down and possess the +earth. + +It is in Association, then, that the promise of Christianity is to be +fulfilled--fulfilled by making the incarnation of the great law of love +an actual and universal fact. Hitherto Christianity has been in the +world a spirit pining and dying for want of a body. She has wandered up +and down on the earth, possessing here and there an individual, but +never obtaining her birthright, which is the whole of humanity, never +able to exercise her prerogative, which is to bathe the earth in the +aroma of harmony and peace. The forms of selfish and egoistical +society, the forms of society here in Boston, and throughout the +civilized world, are not of Christianity, but of the primeval curse, +which they perpetuate. Into them Christianity cannot fully enter, any +more than light can dwell in the midst of darkness. + +The relations which Christianity seeks to establish between man and +man, are indicated in these words, "Love one another." But how is this +possible in a competitive society, where the interests of all are +hostile? How can vital and true love operate between me and my +neighbor, when his misfortune is my advantage, and my loss is his gain? +What does it avail that on Sundays the better spirit is feebly +awakened; what does it avail that then I aspire and long to love all +men, if on the other six days in the week my hand is of necessity set +against them all? + +Do you tell me that if my love is deep and pure enough, it will modify +my whole life, and of itself, without hindrance from circumstances, +appear perfectly in all my actions and relations? This is the old +heresy, this is the error of the individualism and egoism which has +hindered us so long. Let us meet it fully and fairly. + +In all results there are two elements, namely, that which acts and that +which is acted upon. The character of the individual never does and +never can form his circumstances, but can only modify them. No man is +an artist or a poet by virtue of inward genius alone. No matter how +great his gifts, unless he find a congenial atmosphere and favorable +conditions, his high office is not fulfilled. Precisely so is it with +that sacred energy which we call love. It can act entirely and +sincerely only in circumstances that harmonize and correspond with +itself. In order to carry Christianity into my daily life, the forms of +my daily life, all my relations to others, my household and my +business, must be in harmony with it. + +If these forms are contrary to Christianity, the first thing for me, as +a Christian, to do, is to change them, to put them off, to be free from +them at whatever cost. If I am indeed filled and impelled by that +divine injunction, "Love one another," I cannot rest, I shall give +myself no peace, until it be possible for me to do so, not in my inward +spirit only, but in all my outward actions also. But how is this to be +done? How are the ultimate forms of my life to be brought into +correspondence with its central impulse? Plainly not by any spontaneous +and unconscious power, but by intellectual inquiry and voluntary +action. _Inspiration can discharge its whole mission only by the aid of +science._ + +Besides, the end of Christianity is not the salvation of individuals, +but the transfiguration of humanity; it cannot be accomplished in you +and me, but only in the whole race. It promises the kingdom of peace +and love, not to a few solitary souls, but to man. He is indeed a +servant of Christianity, who has learned its universal purpose and +labors therefor; who does not so much seek to be saved himself, as to +bring salvation to all the world, who sees that his own private life +and development are forever involved in the universal progress. He is +ignorant of the true idea of Christianity, who has not understood that +it demands not so much that one should be careful about his own +spiritual perfection, that he should watch himself, and by private +remorse and tears seek a far-off heaven, as by a generous +self-forgetfulness and self-devotion, seek to build up the kingdom of +peace and love among men, and make heaven a reality here, and not the +hope only of a distant future and a different sphere of existence. + +It is time, my friends, that this long divorce between the natural and +spiritual worlds should be broken off, and that we should know that +even now we may breathe the celestial ether, and have our common life +transformed and illumined by infinite spiritual glories. + +We have said that the end of Christianity is not the salvation of +individuals; but do not let it be thought that we overlook the worth of +individual character. For heroism and holiness we have an unspeakable +reverence. The saints and poets and sages of all time are the choicest +gifts of God. The virtue, the beauty and the devotion that now shine in +the lives of private men and women, still assure us that all is not and +cannot be a failure. The ultimate result of the life of humanity will +doubtless be found in symmetrical and harmonious individuals; and in a +perfect Christianity we shall look to see an angelic love radiant from +every face. But while there is disease and imperfection in any part of +the human body, there cannot be perfect health in any other part; just +so while there is disease and imperfection in humanity, of which the +human body is an image, there cannot be perfect health in any +individual. Perfect men and women are possible only in a perfect +society. + +Finally, the sum of our remarks on the relation of Association to +Christianity, is briefly this: Association fulfils the promise of +Christianity; it shows the means whereby peace on earth and goodwill +among men are to be realized. It harmonizes the forms and relations of +society with the spirit of Christianity; in a word, it makes them forms +and relations of brotherly love, and not of selfishness and discord, +and thereby renders possible the accomplishment of the final aim of +Christianity, which is the salvation and spiritual life of universal +humanity. + + +THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS, FROM THE HARBINGER, BY WILLIAM HENRY +CHANNING. + +A prophecy in the spirit of this age announces that a new era in +humanity is opening, and sounds forth more fully than ever before the +venerable yet new gospel, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. + +Doubtless, in all generations, the seers and the seekers--who are +usually one and the same--have felt that their times were the +culminating points of history, the mountain of vision, the border +overlooking the promised land. Doubtless, the great of all nations and +ages have felt that they were a peculiar people, called to a peculiar +work, inspired and led by divine guidance to sublime ends. No age, no +people, have wholly wanted such signs of providential commission. + +And doubtless, too, the works, bravely attempted from such high +promptings, have always in actual results seemed fruitless. Yes! +compared with his vision, the gains of the martyr's labors seem +tantalizing--a dropping shower upon the droughty earth. Always the +ideal entering the soul of man, like a god descending to the embrace of +a mortal, seems to engender a son but half divine. Yet this +disappointment is a delusion of the moment. + +Quite opposite are the facts. No man yet upon earth ever boldly +aspired, and faithfully obeyed his clear convictions of good without +transmitting through his race an all but omnipotent energy. Winds waft, +streams scatter, birds of the air carry in their beaks, each seed that +drops in ripeness from the tree of life. The failures of man have been +from infidelity to his faith. Infinitely grander consequences than the +doer could estimate, have followed every executed purpose of heroism +and humanity and holy hope. Each age has been right in feeling that its +mission was all-important. Each prophet has chanted, as if for very +life, his warning and cheering, for God spoke through him in the +language of his land and era. + +The Infinite Being, who through generation upon generation, +progressively incarnates himself in the human race, and so manifests +his glory upon earth, calls this age to its heavenly mission, and +speaks through it with an eloquent longing, that cannot be uttered, his +welcome and promise. The word whispers through the nations: "Man made +One; a World at Peace; Humanity, the Earth round." At the nativity of +this great hope, of this present Immanuel, the angels of our highest +aspirations bend from their cloudy thrones,-- + +"Harping in loud and solemn choir, With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's +newborn heir." + +And the burden of the song that interprets their symphony is this:-- + + "Justice and Truth again Shall down return to men. + Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, + Mercy will sit between, + Throned in celestial sheen, + With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering, + And Heaven, as at some festival, + Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall." + +The hope of universal unity has been born, cradled in the rude manger +of labor; nurtured by charity, ever virgin; worshipped by shepherds, +guarding humble, humane thoughts, like flocks in the fold of their +hearts; it has sat with the doctors in the temple, unsullied by +timidity and prudence, and has astonished them at its profound doctrine +of unbounded love; it has grown in favor with God and man, and answered +to its half doubting, half hoping parents of the church and state, +"Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" and now is it +driven away into the wilderness of poverty and hard toil, of loneliness +and mortification, to be tempted of the devil. + +Let us first consider awhile these temptations; then review the forty +days' meditation upon the divine mission of this principle of perfect +love; and so be ready to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is +at hand." + +To the scattered band who, few and weak, are here and there withdrawn +from the thoroughfares of life, to commune together and to cöoperate in +the grand movement of the age, the world comes in with scarce +dissembled sneer, and ironically says, "_If_ Association is really this +Messiah to the ages, this pledge of universal prosperity, of +overflowing wealth, then let it make these barren fields into gardens, +these thick growing woods into palaces, these stones into bread." + +And all the while the shrewd, the rosy, sleek and full-fed world, with +title deeds in pocket and scrip and stock in hand, thinks of its +factories on rapid streams; its warehouses of three thousand dollars' +rent; its dividends at seven per cent half yearly; its iron-limbed and +tireless steeds, hurrying with the spoils of myriads of acres; its +carpeted, curtained, glowing, shining, pictured, sculptured, perfumed +homes. The victorious world, so confident and easy and jocular, so +beautiful in its own right, so wrapped about in kingly purple--how +strangely is it metamorphosed to the eyes of the child of God! Its +factories change into brothels; its rents to distress warrants; its +railroads to mighty fetters, binding industry in an inextricable net of +feudalism; from under the showy robes of its success, flutter the +unseemly rags of an ever-growing beggary; from garret and cellar of its +luxurious habitations, stare out the gaunt forms of haggard want; the +lash of the jailer, the gleam of swords, the glitter of bayonets, are +its garters and stars of nobility. + +If Association has been elated by the thought of its miraculous power, +or meditated to use it for selfish ends, it deserves the taunt of the +yet more selfish world. And it is reason for great rejoicing, that the +difficulties of transition from the isolated to the harmonic mode of +life are so great. God thus _sifts_ his people. None are worthy to +enter upon this work who are not _dusted_. We need to hunger. We need +to feel dependence, in order that we may judge competition in contrast. +We need to know actually how pinching is necessity; how deep it ploughs +its furrows into brow and brain; how tight it knots up the muscles and +cramps back and limbs, by exhausting toil. + +Association must be in its very essence disinterested; holding power as +something given from above, to be used not for self alone, or chiefly, +but for universal good; consecrating itself as a servant. And its +answer to the boasting world is, "Man liveth not by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We are learning, +in these trial times, the beauty of reciprocation, the wealth of +sharing all; we are studying experimentally the law of cooperation; we +are estimating the value of justice by its practical application; above +all, are we opening our hearts to the glad conviction that it is +possible, ay, easy, for men to grow more kindly by adversity, and to +love each other better for each other's wants. + +The word which is proceeding out of the mouth of God to Associationists +now, to all the true-hearted and brave and devoted and hopeful of them +is, "Union with fellow beings by usefulness is the very life of life." +Let patience have its perfect work. Let no man be so mean as to +emphasize the "If thou be," etc. Let no doubt enter from present +humiliation. Association is the divine form of humanity. So ends in +piety the first temptation. + +Then the Satan of selfishness takes counsel of his cunning, and subtly +states a new suggestion. If Association is this glorious truth to +renovate the nations, then glorious should be its announcement; loud, +wide, startling, should be its call; sudden, as from the skies, its +appearing. Here on the pinnacle of the temple of peace (or of Salem), +shalt thou stand, and cast thyself down among the multitudes like an +angel. Some splendid boldness should introduce thy reign. Take no heed +of care and caution; count not the cost; risk all in a providential +career. Surely thou shalt be guided safe. God's angels will bear thee +up, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone. + +O bragging, advertising, placarding, circular-scattering, +auctioneering, humbuging world! And you would thus prove Association to +be also a windbag and a lie! Just in so far as Association has been +rash and precipitate, and swollen with promises and dizzy in its +towering pretensions, it has been truly carried to the pinnacle. + +The child of God waits for opportunities. There will be occasions soon +enough for manifestation. According to the hour is the duty; and the +duty now is performance. Calm, wise, large and balanced plans, +discriminate selection of persons, discreet preparations of industry, a +sober estimate of the greatness of the undertaking, and a summoning of +all energies to its fulfilment, is the vocation just now of +Association. Enough for the day it is, honestly, honorably, humanely, +to lay the foundation in the earth unseen for the glorious fabric which +the future shall rear in light. + +In so far as the inculcation of principles, the instruction of the +national mind, the calling out of enthusiasm and courage, of hope and +heroism, demand publicity, of course Association must not be backward. +It must no more be behind than before the time. But the special call +to-day is, in practical endeavor to prepare the way for a future gospel +preaching. We need complete science, clear understanding, solid +judgment. We need to solve innumerable problems, to comprehend +principles exactly by their detailed development in practice. We need +inward concentration, to gain singleness and unity of purpose. + +"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," either by anticipation or by +tardiness. If Association is the salvation of mankind, there will be +time enough to let mankind know it. Meanwhile, let us give ourselves +wholly up to God, to be filled with his love, inspired with his wisdom, +strengthened with his might, and so made ready for the sublime work of +manifesting man made one in a perfect society. We will humbly wait the +opening of opportunities by Providence. And so ends the second +temptation in patience. + +Thus baffled twice, the Prince of this world gathers up his routed +forces for the final charge:-- + +"Surely the power of united effect is irresistible. What has it not +already accomplished?--tunnelling mountains, bridging oceans with +boats, wringing from the gnomes of the mines their wealth long buried +in sparry palaces of salt and diamond, of gold and silver,--preparing +to sever the bond that unites twin continents, summoning storms and +staying them, making the desert yield an hundred fold, using the +lightning for post boy, giving iron weavers coal for bread and fire for +drink, that they may spin garments for the nations,--prodigious power +of combined effort, what may it not do! + +"We will appeal to the rich and mighty. We will show them how they can +multiply their means seventy times seven. We will unite the race in one +grand effort of prolific production and unlimited voluptuousness. We +will be kings upon earth. All these things that thou seest from this +high mountain of exceeding enterprise, all these kingdoms and their +glory shall be thine, if thou wilt but give thyself up, O Association! +body, soul, spirit, to the worship of worldly power and splendor and +enjoyment." + +Ah, Satan! that was thy wiliest web. What! no poor, all nobles, all +fat, all glittering in court raiment, all surfeited with sweets, all +bathing in Johannisberg and champagne, all tended by houries, all +pillowed on orange-scented beds, and covered with gauze or eider down, +according to the season? Charming Satan! Selfishness made universal +will be selfishness no more. Thou art an angel of light! + +Just in so far as Association, using the tact of worldly training, has +in its plannings and pleadings, lowered itself to exaltation of the +outward, by merging the inward, it has permitted the magic of sin to +dazzle its vision. + +It is indeed a splendid prospect, this of a world reclaimed, of +overflowing plenty. And it shall be realized. Perfect beauty shall one +day enwreath this earth with its clustering vines. The long folded +petals of this little planet flower on the tree of the sun, shall open +and distil sweetness; its gorgeous fruit of consummate joy shall swell +and ripen. Far more than all the voluptuaries of all ages have dreamed +of shall exist, heightened by a purity they could not conceive of. + +Yes! O devil, the kingdoms and the glory of them are there before us. +But know this--they do not belong unto thee to give. Thou poor devil, +always mocked and always mocking. Have not six thousand years taught +thee yet, that self-love is always a suicide? Thou wilt give the +kingdoms of the world as thou always hast, first by stealing them for +thy slaves, and then stealing them from thy slaves? No! thou forlorn +devil, thy rule is ended, thy sceptre snapped into shivers; henceforth +thou art so wholly accursed, that God and man will heartily forgive +thee, whenever thou canst forgive thyself. + +"_Duty of Associationists to the Cause," by Horace Greeley. From the +Harbinger of Oct. 25, 1845._ + +Through the last four or five years, the doctrine of Association has +been widely disseminated through the country. The labors of its ardent +advocates, few but faithful, have been ably seconded by some portion of +the press, and both have been immensely aided by the course of events. +The great themes of political discussion in our day--the tariff and the +currency--lead directly to a consideration of the conditions of labor, +of the relations between producers and products, of mutual rights and +respective interests of employers and employed. The existence of +extreme destitution and consequent misery in the midst of general +prosperity and plenty, of willing hands vainly seeking employment amid +unsurpassed industrial activity and thrift, cannot have escaped +attention. The disasters resulting from industrial anarchy, from +"strikes" of operatives for higher wages or fewer hours of labor, the +stoppage of work by combinations if not by outright violence, arrest +general attention. + +Truly the remedy for these errors and evils has yet been perceived and +embraced by comparatively few, but the conviction that the present +organization of industry cannot be advantageously maintained, and some +radical change is at hand, must have already forced itself upon very +many intelligent and candid minds. The readjustment of the relations of +capital and labor on a basis of harmony and mutual advantage, is +manifestly the great problem of the age. But that a change is at hand +is evident: the practical question regards not its probability or +certainty, but its character. + +The more intelligent and wealthy class have it in their power so to +mould this change as to render it peaceful, gradual and universally +beneficent; or they can turn a deaf ear to the calls of humanity, and +let the demagogue, the envious, the selfishly discontented, pervert it +into an engine of convulsion, destruction and desolation. As in the +days of King John, the barons laid the foundations of English political +liberty, so in our day the intellectual and philanthropic may guide the +car of progress, and in establishing industrial harmony may secure to +all but the stubbornly vicious or incurably afflicted, true +independence and ample means of subsistence and development; or they +can indolently leave all to the benighted and malignant, and see +reproduced a war of classes, different indeed in its weapons and its +physical aspects, but not different in its essential character from the +ravages of France by the _Jacquerie_ or the butcheries of the reign of +terror. + +In this crisis of events, with an industrial war plainly threatened and +partially commenced, the doctrine of Association appears as a mediator +and reconciler. Its bow of promise shines broadly in the lurid sky; it +irradiates the murky visage of the gathering, muttering tempest. It +awakens a hope, and the only well grounded hope, of averting the +miseries of an insane struggle between those who ought to be the +closest allies, to see which can the more injure the other. Need I urge +that in this crisis the friends of Association ought to be most earnest +and untiring in the promulgation and advocacy of their faith; that they +ought to improve the opportunities which are daily presented of +commending the truth to others whose minds are but newly prepared to +receive it? What Associationist so dull that he cannot improve every +"strike," every collision respecting the hours or the wages of labor, +to the advancement of the good cause? + +To do this with effect, we must be, in the true sense of an abused +term, catholic. We must not suffer Association to be merged in mere +partisanship for any class or calling, or blind hostility to any abuse +or oppression. We are not the champions of the slave or the hired +servant, the factory girl or the housemaid, the seamstress or the +washerwoman. We are not the advocates merely of labor against capital, +of the employers as opposed to the employed. Ours is the cause of all +classes and vocations, and our success is the triumph of all. We are in +danger of becoming partial and one-sided; let us take special care to +overcome it. + +But it is not enough that we give our testimony in behalf of this +benign truth; it behooves us to be doers of the work as well as hearers +and commenders. Friends of Association! scattered over the face of our +wide country! do you realize this? Do you feel that your works ought to +justify and fortify your words? We are surrounded by a world full of +want, vice and misery, which Association realized would greatly modify +and ultimately cure. But those who know nothing of this truth will +never cause it to be realized; it would be absurd to expect anything of +the kind. The work must be accomplished by us, and by those whom our +acts rather than words shall win over to a knowledge of the truth. Is +not the work of sufficient importance to incite you to embark heartily +in its furtherance? + +But, says one, how can I engage practically in realizing Association? +My family and friends are vehemently adverse to it; I am engrossed by +responsibilities and duties of various kinds which I cannot uprightly +escape, and which confine me where I am. I am not yet prepared, if I +ever should be, to embark in Association. + +Very well, you are not required to embark in it in the way your +objection contemplates. You are urged only to contribute to the great +work according to your ability and in a mode not inconsistent with the +proper discharge of all your duties. But many who cannot personally +enlist in the pioneer groups who for the next ten years will be engaged +in preparing the ground on which Associations are ultimately to arise, +are yet able to contribute something of their time and means to the +cause of humanity's emancipation from brutal drudgery. + +And this something is eminently needed by that cause. The great work of +disseminating and defending the principles of social science needs +pecuniary aid; who will offer it? The secondary work of founding and +sustaining pioneer Associations also languishes for want of means. +Ought it to do so? I say founding, not that I would encourage the +commencement of any new undertaking, but because I consider no +Association founded as yet. We have a few beginning to clear the ground +for the work, and that is all. + +But in this work noble men and women are engaged; to it they have +consecrated their energies; for it they suffer hardship and privations, +and are willing to suffer. But they cannot make their labor truly +effective without a large increase of capital, in every instance within +my knowledge. They commenced with little means, in no case sufficient +to pay for their land and buildings, and generally not half enough. +They were in need of everything, even of experience and skill to render +their labor effective, and for a long time two out of every three blows +they strike are ill-directed or render no immediate return. Thus they +toil on, needing machinery, power, buildings, everything, to give them +a chance for rapid progress; and even Associationists stand ready to +wonder at their snail-paced advance, or reproach their occasional +failures! + +As one Associationist who has given his efforts and means freely to the +cause, I feel that I have a right to speak frankly. I know that the +great number of our believers are far from wealthy; yet I know that +there is wealth enough in our ranks, if it were but devoted to it, to +give an instant and resistless influence to the cause. A few thousand +dollars subscribed to the stock of each existing Association would in +most cases extinguish the mortgages on its property, provide it with +machinery and materials, and render its industry immediately productive +and profitable. Then manufacturing invention and skill would fearlessly +take up their abode with our infant colonies; labor and thrift would +flow thither, and a new and brighter era would dawn upon them. + +Fellow Associationists! I shall do whatever I can for the promotion of +our common cause; to it whatever I have or may hereafter acquire of +pecuniary ability is devoted; may I not hope for a like devotion from +you? + + _A Prophecy. From the Introduction to Fourier's + "Theory of Social Organization" translated + by Albert Brisbane._ + +"Among the influences tending to restrict man's industrial rights, I +will mention the formation of privileged corporations which, +monopolizing a given branch of industry, arbitrarily close the doors of +labor against whomsoever they please. These corporations will become +dangerous, and lead to new convulsions on being extended to the whole +industrial and commercial system. This event is not far distant and it +will be brought about all the more easily as it is not apprehended. The +greatest evils have often sprung from imperceptible germs, as for +instance, Jacobism, and if our civilization has engendered this and so +many other calamities, may it not engender others which we do not now +foresee? The most imminent of these is the birth of a commercial +feudalism or the monopoly of commerce and industry by joint-stock +companies, leagued together for the purpose of usurping and controlling +all branches of industrial organizations. Extremes meet, and the +greater the extent to which anarchical competition is carried, the +nearer is the approach to _universal monopoly_, which is the opposite +excess. Circumstances are tending towards the organization of the +commercial and industrial classes into federal companies or affiliated +monopolies, which, operating in conjunction with the great landed +interest, will reduce the middle and laboring classes to a state of +commercial vassalage, and by the influence of combined action become +the masters of the productive industry of entire nations. The small +operators will be reduced to the position of mere agents working for +the mercantile coalition. We shall then see the reappearance of +feudalism in an inverse order, founded on mercantile leagues and +answering to the baronial leagues of the middle ages. + +"Everything is concurring to produce this result. The spirit of +commercial speculation and financial monopoly has extended to all +classes. Public opinion prostrates itself before the bankers and +financiers who share authority with the governments and devise every +day new means for the monopoly and control of industry. + +"We are marching with rapid strides towards a commercial feudalism and +to the fourth phase of our civilization. The economists accustomed to +reverence everything which comes in the name and under the sanction of +commerce, will see this new order spring up without alarm, and will +consecrate their servile pens to the celebration of its praises. Its +_debut_ will be one of brilliant promise, but the result will be an +industrial inquisition, subordinating the whole people to the interests +of the affiliated monopolists." + +Albert Brisbane prefaces this wonderful prophecy by these remarks: "In +1805 or 6, amid the preoccupation of war and military politics, he +[Fourier] foresaw and described with accuracy the future formation of +vast joint-stock companies destined to monopolize and control all +branches of industry, commerce and finance, and establish what he +called 'An industrial or commercial feudalism'--a feudalism that would +control society by the power of capital, as did the old baronial or +military feudalism by the power of the sword, and as despotically. +Under the dominion of the great barons who leagued together to control +the social world there was a monopoly of the then existing wealth, +namely, the land and the laboring classes. Now, society having passed +out of the military _regime_, and entered the industrial and +commercial, it is threatened with another vast system of monopoly." + +He concludes as follows: "This was written seventy years ago [it is now +almost ninety years] when public attention was absorbed in military +conquests and glory. To-day advanced thinkers on social questions are +beginning to see the conquest of the industrial and commercial worlds +by the power of associated capital. To-day the new feudalism has more +than half entangled society in its meshes, and its complete +establishment stares us in the face. What perspicuity to have foreseen +so clearly what is now being realized! If prescience is a test of +science--if the foretelling of future events is a test of the laws that +govern them and from which they are deducible, then Fourier must have +discovered at least some of the laws which govern social evolution. + +"A vague opinion prevails among men that society is moving onward to +its appointed state by what is variously termed the 'force of +circumstances,' 'the instinct of the race,' 'the general law of +progress,' 'Divine guidance.' These loose opinions are speculative +fancies adopted in the absence of real knowledge; whereas the fact is, +that society can only reach its true state by the conscious and +calculated efforts of human reason under the direction of an exact +social science. Men act on this principle when they try to organize any +part of the social system. When, from necessity, they are forced to +frame political institutions and organize governments, as they often +are after revolutions, they do so by conscious calculation and +reasoning. True, being without a scientific guide, their institutions +are imperfect and arbitrary; yet these efforts show that man recognizes +the necessity of calculation and thought in one branch, at least, of +the social organism. He knows that to have a government, he must think, +plan and devise; but he does not know that the other branches of the +social organism are subject to the same conditions, and can only be +normally constituted by the exercise of conscious reason guided by +scientific principles. Construction and organization--the same in +principle in all departments of creation--can only be the work of mind, +conscious of its operations, planning with forethought; analyzing, +comparing and combining; adapting means to ends and calculating the +relations of cause and effect. Instinct cannot organize; Divine +Providence does not interfere to do the work of reason; no science is +revealed to man; no constructions or other means are furnished him by +nature. + +"When the human mind shall rise to the conception of the possibility of +a scientific organization of society, it will at once undertake, as the +work of paramount importance, the elaboration of a system of exact +social science. First, however, the laws on which the science is to be +based must be discovered and combined into a system that will enable +the mind clearly to comprehend and apply them." + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brook Farm, by John Thomas Codman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + +***** This file should be named 7932-8.txt or 7932-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/9/3/7932/ + +Produced by Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brook Farm + +Author: John Thomas Codman + +Posting Date: October 14, 2012 [EBook #7932] +Release Date: April, 2005 +First Posted: June 2, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + + + + +Produced by Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +BROOK FARM + +HISTORIC AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +BY + +JOHN THOMAS CODMAN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT + +Transcendentalism; Explained by Mr. Ripley,--The Proposition,--Members +of the Transcendental Club--The first Persons at the +Community--Constitution and Laws; Articles of Agreement--Description of +Mr. Ripley, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Dwight, Mrs. Ripley, Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford, +Hawthorne and Others. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT + +Thoughts on Reorganization--Fourier on Social Code--Mr. Ripley's +Action--Progress of Society--Theories by Fourier, etc.--Closing of the +Transcendental Period--Reorganization, and the Industrial Period. + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS + +Departure from Boston, and Arrival at the Farm--Description of the +Place--Attica--Personal Occupations, etc.--The Wild Flowers. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD + +Descriptions of Members: The "General,"; Ryckman, Blake, Drew, Orvis, +Cheevers--William H. Charming, and Albert Brisbane,--S. Margaret +Fuller--Ralph W. Emerson--Theodore Parker and Mr. Ripley's Joke. + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK + +Many Visitors--An Odd Visitor--The Groups and Series, etc.--The +Workshop--My first Spring--Death and Funeral--The Amusement Group, +Dances, Walks and first Summer. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER," AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS + +The _Harbinger_ Published; Editors and Contributors, Its +Characteristics and Effect--The Industrial Phalanx--The Phalanstery--A +Financial Report--The Grahamites, and their Table--John Allen and +Boy--The Visitation of Small-pox. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING + +Resumption of Building--The Crowded Conditions--Gardener's +Department--Prince Albert--Jumping the Brook--Retrenchment--The +Doves--The Gardener--The Position of Woman in Association--The Right to +Vote--The Wedding--Lizzie Curson--Our Young Folks. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA AND IMPORTANT LETTERS + +The Play in the Shop--The Associative Movement--Rev. Adin Ballou's +Letter--Mr. Brisbane's, and Mr. Ripley's Letters--Mr. Pratt's +Departure--The Great Party--Cyclops. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL, AND PARLOR LIFE + +Meetings in Boston, etc.--Two Lady Friends--Music at the +Eyry--Consciousness of Self--The Great Snow Storm--C. P. Cranch's +Imitations. + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE + +Fun at the Phalanx--Ripley's Quotation--On Punning--The Robbery, and +the Waiting Group. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE + +The Last Dance, and the Fire--The _Harbinger's_ Account of It--Feeding +the Firemen--The Morning after the Fire. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES + +The Bearings of the Association and its Occupations--Slanders of the +New York Press--Definition of the Associationists Position toward +Fourier--Forebodings at the Farm--Personal Reveries. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK + +Peter's Departure--Mr. Dwight at the Association Meeting--Practical +Christians--The Solidarity of the Race--Mr. Ripley's _Harbinger_ +Article. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES AND AFTER LIVES OF THE MEMBERS + +Breaking up--Ripley's Poverty, after Life and Death--Mr. Pratt; Mr. +Dana; Mr. Dwight, and various Persons--William H. Charming--A. +Brisbane--C. Fourier--Letters of Approval. + + +APPENDIX. + +PART I. + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS + +Student Life--Explanations and Answers to Objections--Letter on Social +Equality--Religious Views. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +There were two distinct phases in the Associated life at Brook Farm. +The first was inaugurated by the pioneers, who introduced a school, and +combined it with farm and household labors. The second phase began with +an attempt to introduce methods of social science and to add mechanical +and other industries to those already commenced. These different phases +have been called the Transcendental and the Industrial periods. + +Each individual had his special experiences of the life. The writer +chronicles it from his standpoint. None, perhaps, was more interested +in it than he, young as he was, but many were more able to elaborate it +and write it in details, and did he not feel that it was an important +duty neglected by all, these memoirs would have remained unwritten. + +The record books of the institution are missing, and are doubtless long +ago destroyed. These chapters have been compiled and written from few +memoranda, at various times, very often after the arduous duties of +days of professional life, and with a desire only to present the +subject truthfully, faithfully and simply; and also, not wholly to +gratify curiosity, or to record the doings of the noble men and women +who were wise before their time, but to whisper courage to those who, +like their predecessors, are seeking some solution of the social +problems that involves neither the too sudden surrender of acquired +rights, the reckless abandon of old ideas to untried and crude +radicalism, or the more to-be-dreaded feuds between classes, that mean +desperation on one side and war on the other; but to aid, if possible, +in inspiring a belief that a peaceful adjustment of our surroundings +will, in time, bring order out of chaos and harmony out of discord. + +The reader will have observed long before he lays down this book, that +the Brook Farm life and ideals were purely cooeperative and +philosophical, that all the elements of true society were recognized, +and that the attempt was for the better adjustment of them to the +changing and changed relations of their fellow-men, brought about by +the pervading moral, scientific and social growth of the past and +present centuries. + +The nation is older, richer and wiser, since the Brook Farm experiment +began. It is more tolerant of one another's opinions, more +enterprising, progressive and liberal, and surely a few weak trials +made half a century ago, are not enough to solve the majestic problem +of right living and how to shape the outward forms of society, so that +within their environments all interests may be harmonized, and the +golden rule begin to be, in a practical way, the measure of all human +lives. + +The author, in closing, will confide to his readers the wish of his +heart, that this sketch of his early days may inspire some who can +command influence and means with an interest to continue the +experiments in social science, along lines laid out with more or less +clearness by the Brook Farmers. + + J. T. C. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT. + + +Early in the present century, New England was the centre of progressive +religious thought in America. A morbid theology had reigned supreme, +but its forms were too cold, harsh and forbidding to attract or even +retain the liberal-minded, educated and philosophic students of the +rising generation, or hold in check the ardent humanitarian spirit, +that embodied itself in ideals that were greater than the existing +creeds. + +Yet nowhere prevailed a more religious spirit. It showed itself in +tender care of masses of the people, in public schools and seminaries, +in lectures, sermons, libraries and in acts of general benevolence. + +From these conditions developed the idea of greater freedom from social +trammels; from African slavery, which had not then been abolished; from +domestic slavery, which still exists; from the exploitations of trade +and commerce; from the vicious round of unpaid labor, vice and +brutality. Protestations were heard against all of these evils, not +always coming from the poor and unlearned, but oftener from the +educated and refined, who had pride that the republic should stand +foremost among the nations for justice, culture and righteousness. + +The old theology was crumbling. A new church was springing from its +vitals based on freer thought, in which the intellect and heart had +more share in determining righteousness. The fatherhood of God and the +brotherhood of man became the themes of discourse, oftener than those +of the vengeance of an offended Deity; and pity and forgiveness, +oftener than those on everlasting punishment. + +In truth, the new departure which had begun, soon attracted to itself +the most cultivated persons of the time, some of whom, Sept. 19, 1836, +formed a club that met at one another's houses and discussed all the +important social and religious topics of the day. They were mostly +young people, college-bred, learned, artistic and thoughtful, and of +high ideals in intellectual acquirement, religion and social life. They +were all agreed that there were many evils to be eradicated from +society; in what way--individualistic, governmental or socialistic, or +by a combination of ways--few were agreed. + +The problem was an open one. The theories proposed and the discussions +were extremely interesting, but no record of them is at hand, except a +few essays published in the _Dial_, a quarterly magazine which was +edited by members of the organization, which finally took the name of +"The Transcendental Club." One of the _Dial_ editors, as well as one of +the founders of the Club, and at whose house it had its first meeting, +was Rev. George Ripley, a Unitarian minister who was born at +Greenfield, Mass., in the beautiful valley of the Connecticut River. He +was of good farmer stock and had a fine physical presence, though of +medium stature. He was a lover of books, a graduate of Harvard college, +and a well trained and religious scholar. He was then settled over a +Unitarian church worshipping on Purchase Street, in Boston, and +faithfully fulfilled his duties. Above all things his head and heart +sought righteousness for all men. He believed in the justice of God and +the divine nature of man His best creation. He believed man to be +involved in an intricate and un-Christian social labyrinth, and with +deep earnestness of purpose and thorough convictions of his personal +duty in the case, set himself at work to evolve a way to extricate at +least some of humanity from their vicious surroundings; and finally +proposed to the Club a plan which he urged with his customary vigor and +eloquence. + +This plan was, in short, to locate on a farm where agriculture and +education should be made the foundation of a new system of social life. +Labor should be honored. All would take part in it. There should be no +religious creeds adopted. The old, feeble and sick were to be cared +for, the strong and able bearing the greater burden of the labor. There +would be no rank, to entitle the owner of it to superior considerations +because of the rank; and truth, justice and order were to be the +governing principles of the society. + +The theologians and philosophers of Europe, with whose writings and +logic Mr. Ripley was well acquainted, had impressed him with the truth +of the divinity of man's nature, or had convinced him more thoroughly +that his own ideas of it were right. He had wrestled with progressively +conservative giants, professors of colleges--notably Andrews +Norton--and had won well-earned laurels. Norton was professor of sacred +literature at Harvard, one of his own professors, sixteen years his +senior, and made a point that the miracles of Christ and the writings +of the gospel were the only sure proofs existing of spiritual truths. + +The Transcendental philosophy to which Mr. Ripley had become a convert, +claimed that there was in human nature an intuitive faculty which +clearly discerned spiritual truths, which idea was in contradistinction +to the beliefs of the day, which declared that spiritual knowledge came +by special grace, and was proven by the divine miracles; this latter +belief being largely joined to the doctrine of the innate depravity of +man. Mr. Ripley's own words to his church on Purchase Street, declared +that + + +"There is a class of persons who desire a reform in the prevailing +philosophy of the day. These are called Transcendentalists, because +they believe in an order of truth that transcends the sphere of the +external senses. Their leading idea is the supremacy of mind over +matter. Hence they maintain that the truth of religion does not depend +on tradition nor historical facts, but has an unswerving witness in the +soul. There is a light, they believe, which enlighteneth every man who +cometh into the world. There is a faculty in all--the most degraded, +the most ignorant, the most obscure--to perceive spiritual truth when +distinctly presented; and the ultimate appeal on all moral questions is +not to a jury of scholars, a hierarchy of divines or the prescriptions +of a creed, but to the common sense of the human race. + +"There is another class of persons who are devoted to the removal of +the abuses that prevail in modern society. They witness the oppressions +done under the sun and they cannot keep silence. They have faith that +God governs man; they believe in a better future than the past; their +daily prayer is for the coming of the kingdom of righteousness, truth +and love; they look forward to a more pure, more lovely, more divine +state of society than was ever realized on earth. With these views I +rejoice to say I strongly and entirely sympathize." + + +The prevailing tone of New England life was Calvinistic. Its doctrines +may be said to have entered every household, penetrated every sanctuary +and influenced all the leaders of society. The new departure was not a +going away from religious thought, but it joined intellect and heart. +It ignored unreasonable extravagances of statement wherever found. It +ignored faith alone. It did not believe that faith stood above works. +It pointed always towards action. It summed up the lesson and meaning +of all good doctrines, that man should _lead a better life here_, where +the duties to our fellows should not be passed by as now, but +fulfilled. It was a newer way of thinking, to be logical with religion +and put it to the test of every-day life. If the new departure meant +anything then, if it means anything to-day, its object is to accomplish +a better life here on this earth. In his soul, penetrated by divine +aspirations, Mr. Ripley heard these words ringing out: "A truer life, a +more honest life, a juster life--accomplish it!" + +It was at the Club that he again urged the realization of his plan. +There gathered together were the brightest intellects, the highest +minded, the most sympathetic, thoughtful and talented young men that +New England contained. Preaching was good, but more than preaching was +wanted--the Christian life; could it not be commenced? Could they not +educate the young in practical duties as well as in books, and by their +own good example so surround them that the interior life could be +awakened--the soul's inward goodness and the power to discern the true +destiny of man? + +Encouraged by the sympathy of his wife, sister and a few earnest +spirits, Mr. Ripley started on his project. He was in his fortieth +year. He was neither too young nor too old. A few years of life he +could possibly spare for the experiment. He would then be only in his +prime. He had no children to embarrass his movements. He could give all +his strength of body and mind to it. He loved the country life. It was +to be the fulfilling of what he had preached so long and what is, alas, +still preached to-day with not much attempt to realize it--the +Christian life. People would laugh at him! I doubt if that gave him one +disturbing thought. It _was right_; as it was right he would do it. But +maybe in his secret heart he thought that more of those who seemed to +have been awakened, as he had been, to the divine call, would follow +and join with him than did; for, singularly enough, not one of the +members of the Transcendental Club, who first met together, joined Mr. +Ripley's movement. They were all radical to the prevailing theology, +stiff, rigid as it was, and never, in America, was there a group +assembled who aimed higher, or did more, first and last, to elevate +humanity; for the Club contained a galaxy of mental talent. + +Mr. Ripley led them all in practical endeavor to form the Christian +commonwealth that many of them had preached. + +William Ellery Channing, in whose veins ran the blood of one of the +signers of the Declaration of American Independence, a beloved +preacher, was there, full of earnestness, tenderness, faith and love. +With vigor he poured out his eloquence to awaken thoughts for an +enlarged theology, and with a sympathizing heart criticised chattel +slavery, social slavery and domestic servitude, and afterward became +one of the acknowledged leaders of liberal Christendom. + +Young Ralph Waldo Emerson was there, very late from the ministry, known +better as poet, philosopher and essayist; and James Freeman Clarke, +talented writer and preacher; and faithful and independent Rev. Cyrus +A. Bartol. Rev. Theodore Parker, son of a Lexington hero, doughty, bold +and brave, on whose head fell the anathemas of the orthodox and the +curses of the slaveholders at a later day, showed his ever calm, +pleasant and earnest face at the board. + +Rev. F. H. Hedge, Convers Francis, Thomas H. Stone, Samuel D. Robbins, +Samuel J. May and another Channing--William Henry--were there; +Christopher P. Cranch, divinity graduate, but now well known as +painter, poet and story teller; and beloved John S. Dwight, famed +mostly as writer on music, and musical critic; and Orestes A. Brownson, +prominent essayist, who was, by turns, a Radical, Unitarian, +Universalist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. + +All these above named persons were attached to the clergy. There were +others who, like A. Bronson Alcott, were teachers, and sometimes +lecturers. There was Henry D. Thoreau, a charming writer who spent two +years in a hut in Walden woods; and Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer of +many familiar romances; also George Bancroft, the historian, Dr. +Charles T. Follen, Samuel G. Ward, Caleb Stetson, William Russell, +Jones Very, Robert Bartlett and S. V. Clevenger, sculptor. As an +innovation in clubs there were lady members, among whom were Elizabeth +P. Peabody, and her sister Sophia, who became the wife of Hawthorne; +Miss S. Margaret Fuller, remarkable for her intellectual capacity, and +who became the wife of Count D'Ossoli, of Italy; Miss Marianne Ripley, +sister, and Mrs. Sophia Ripley, wife, of Rev. George Ripley. + +Or if those persons were not all members of the Club, of which there +seems to be no list extant, nearly every one was, and they can all be +classed as belonging to the coterie or Transcendental circle; all at +times attended the meetings, participated in the discussions, and wrote +articles for the _Dial_ and for what in those days were called the +radical journals and magazines. + +The winter of 1840 had been the time of talk. Early in the spring of +the year 1841 it was announced that a location was chosen at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, nine miles from Boston, Mass. Mr. Ripley selected +it. He and his wife had boarded there the former summer. It was retired +and pretty. Mr. Ellis owned it; Mr. Parker, Mr. Russell and Mr. Shaw +lived not far away, and a small amount of cash paid down would secure +the place for an immediate commencement of the effort. The party who +went earliest to settle at Brook Farm consisted of Mr. George Ripley; +Sophia Willard Ripley, his wife; Miss Marianne Ripley, his elder +sister; Mr. George P. Bradford, Mr. Warren Burton, Mrs. Minot Pratt +with three children, Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne and several others. Mr. +William Allen acted as head farmer. There were in all about twenty +persons. Doubtless there were blisters on the palms and aching bones, +in the first raw days of labor, and the poetry of life was often lost +in the fatigue of the body. + +Of the men of the Transcendental Club only Hawthorne and Dwight joined +what was called "Mr. Ripley's community"; and though Mr. Emerson talked +favorably of it he finally declined to join when asked to do so by Mr. +Ripley. + +The farmhouse, the only dwelling there was on the place, must have +resounded with remarkable echoes as the pioneers of the new social +order alighted on its threshold. They were of cultivated families, and +were nearly all from the city and neighborhood of Boston. Their hearts +were open to the tender influence of buds and blossoms, the fresh +springing grass and the bubbling brook. They watched the birds of +various plumage; the oriole, who hung his basket nest from the pendant +branches of the elm, the robin redbreast who built close in the thick +branches of the firs, and the sparrow who was contented with a less +prominent nest, as he picked up hairs from the stable or from +underneath the windows. + +They were fond of cows, pigs and poultry. There was a flower garden to +work in. There was a plenty of wild flowers in the fields and in the +woods near by. There was delightful solitude and delightful society, +and there was a wonderful novelty in all. There were contrasts of +character, deep, strong natures to reason with, cheerful hearts to talk +with, and great hopes everywhere. What wonder that they laughed, +frolicked and sang, and got up little parties and masquerades to +entertain the wonderful, wonderstruck and remarkable visitors who came +to see them? The place was a "milk farm" when the "Transcendentalists," +as they were often called, entered on it. The surroundings were +picturesque. Some one of the party started at an early hour in the +morning with the milk for Boston, nine miles away. + +All was new and had to be done by many for the first time. There was +much hard work for the women, as it was not a well-proportioned family; +pupils and visitors added to the labor, but poetry and enthusiasm +changed plain names into elegance, as Deborah into "Ora," and +beautified the laundry and kitchen with hopes and glories. + +Immediately the school was set in operation. There were some promising +pupils. The young and talented Dwight, whose heart was too full to +preach what he might better practise in this ideal society, soon left +his pastorate in Northampton, Mass., and joined as instructor, and was +shortly followed by the capable Dana, who gained power for himself as +well as gave it to the Association. + +The following persons were nominated for positions in the Brook Farm +School, fall term, 1842:-- + + George Ripley, Instructor in Intellectual and Natural Philosophy and + Mathematics. + George P. Bradford, Instructor in Belles Lettres. + John S. Dwight, Instructor in Latin and Music. + Charles A. Dana, Instructor in Greek and German. + John S. Brown, Instructor in Theosophical and Practical Agriculture. + Sophia W. Ripley, Instructor in History and Modern Languages. + Marianne Ripley, Teacher of Primary School. + Abigail Morton, Teacher of Infant School. + Georgiana Bruce, Teacher of Infant School. + Hannah B. Ripley, Instructor in Drawing. + +The infant school was for children under six years of age; the primary +school, for children under ten; the preparatory school for pupils over +ten years of age, intending to pursue the higher branches of study in +the institution. + +A six years' course prepared a young man to enter college. A three +years' course in theoretical and practical agriculture was also laid +out. The studies were elective, and pupils could enter any department +for which they were qualified. + +There were various other details, the most striking of which was that +every pupil was expected to spend from one to two hours daily in manual +labor. + +Before the Association started from Boston, a constitution was drawn +up. The following is a copy of the original:-- + +_Articles of Agreement and Association between the members of the +Institute for Agriculture and Education._ + +In order more effectually to promote the great purposes of human +culture; to establish the external relations of life on a basis of +wisdom and purity; to apply the principles of justice and love to our +social organization in accordance with the laws of Divine Providence; +to substitute a system of brotherly cooperation for one of selfish +competition; to secure to our children, and to those who may be +entrusted to our care, the benefits of the highest physical, +intellectual and moral education in the present state of human +knowledge, the resources at our command will permit; to institute an +attractive, efficient and productive system of industry; to prevent the +exercise of worldly anxiety by the competent supply of our necessary +wants; to diminish the desire of excessive accumulation by making the +acquisition of individual property subservient to upright and +disinterested uses; to guarantee to each other the means of physical +support and of spiritual progress, and thus to impart a greater +freedom, simplicity, truthfulness, refinement and moral dignity to our +mode of life,-- + +We, the undersigned, do unite in a Voluntary Association, to wit:-- + +ARTICLE 1. The name and style of the Association shall be "(The Brook +Farm) Institute of Agriculture and Education." All persons who shall +hold one or more shares in the stock of the Association, and shall sign +the articles of agreement, or who shall hereafter be admitted by the +pleasure of the Association, shall be members thereof. + +ART. 2. No religious test shall ever be required of any member of the +Association; no authority assumed over individual freedom of opinion by +the Association, nor by any member over another; nor shall anyone be +held accountable to the Association except for such acts as violate +rights of the members, and the essential principles on which the +Association is founded; and in such cases the relation of any member +may be suspended, or discontinued, at the pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 3. The members of this Association shall own and manage such real +and personal estate, in joint stock proprietorship, as may, from time +to time, be agreed on, and establish such branches of industry as may +be deemed expedient and desirable. + +ART. 4. The Association shall provide such employment for all of its +members as shall be adapted to their capacities, habits and tastes, and +each member shall select and perform such operation of labor, whether +corporal or mental, as he shall deem best suited to his own endowments, +and the benefit of the Association. + +ART. 5. The members of this Association shall be paid for all labor +performed under its direction and for its advantage, at a fixed and +equal rate, both for men and women. This rate shall not exceed one +dollar per day, nor shall more than ten hours in the day be paid for as +a day's labor. + +ART. 6. The Association shall furnish to all its members, their +children and family dependents, house-rent, fuel, food and clothing, +and all other comforts and advantages possible, at the actual cost, as +nearly as the same can be ascertained; but no charge shall be made for +education, medical or nursing attendance, or the use of the library, +public rooms or baths to the members; nor shall any charge be paid for +food, rent or fuel by those deprived of labor by sickness, nor for food +of children under ten years of age, nor for anything on members over +seventy years of age, unless at the special request of the individual +by whom the charges are paid, or unless the credits in his favor +exceed, or equal, the amount of such charges. + +ART. 7. All labor performed for the Association shall be duly credited, +and all articles furnished shall be charged, and a full settlement made +with every member once every year. + +ART. 8. Every child over ten years of age shall be charged for food, +clothing, and articles furnished at cost, and shall be credited for his +labor, not exceeding fifty cents per day, and on the completion of his +education in the Association at the age of twenty, shall be entitled to +a certificate of stock, to the amount of credits in his favor, and may +be admitted a member of the Association. + +ART. 9. Every share-holder in the joint-stock proprietorship of the +Association, shall be paid on such stock, at the rate of five per cent, +annually. + +ART. 10. The net profits of the Association remaining in the treasury +after the payments of all demands for interest on stock, labor +performed, and necessary repairs, and improvements, shall be divided +into a number of shares corresponding with the number of days' labor, +and every member shall be entitled to one share for every day's labor +performed by him. + +ART. 11. All payments may be made in certificates of stock at the +option of the Association; but in any case of need, to be decided by +himself, every member may be permitted to draw on the funds of the +treasury to an amount not exceeding the credits in his favor. + +ART. 12. The Association shall hold an annual meeting for the choice of +officers, and such other necessary business as shall come before them. + +ART. 13. The officers of the Association shall be twelve directors, +divided into four departments, as follows: first, General Direction; +second, Direction of Agriculture; third, Direction of Education; +fourth, Direction of Finance; consisting of three persons each, +provided that the same persons may be a member of each Direction at the +pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 14. The Chairman of the General Direction shall be presiding +officer in the Association, and together with the Direction of Finance, +shall constitute a Board of Trustees, by whom the property of the +Association shall be managed. + +ART. 15. The General Direction shall oversee and manage the affairs of +the Association so that every department shall be carried on in an +orderly and efficient manner. Each department shall be under the +general supervision of its own Direction, which shall select, and, in +accordance with the General Direction, shall appoint, all such +overseers, directors and agents, as shall be necessary to the complete +and systematic organization of the department, and shall have full +authority to appoint such persons to these stations as they shall judge +best qualified for the same. + +ART. 16. No Directors shall be deemed to possess any rank superior to +the other members of the Association, nor shall be chosen in reference +to any other consideration than their capacity to serve the +Association; nor shall they be paid for their official service except +at the rate of one dollar for ten hours in a day, actually employed in +official duties. + +ART. 17. The Association may, from time to time, adopt such rules and +regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the +Articles of Agreement, as shall be found expedient and necessary. + +[_This was signed by_] + +GEO. RIPLEY, WARREN BURTON, SOPHIA W. RIPLEY, MINOT PRATT, SAML. D. +ROBBINS, MARIA J. PRATT, D. MACK, GEO. C. LEACH, NATH. HAWTHORNE, +MARIANNE RIPLEY, LEML. CAPEN, MARY ROBBINS. + +Not all who signed this document entered on the work. Mr. David Mack, +whose name is attached, for some reason did not, neither did Mr. and +Mrs. Samuel D. Robbins. Mr. Mack afterward founded the Northampton +Association at Northampton, Mass. + +It would be interesting to give a history of and describe all the +persons who signed this original document, but room will not permit it. +Mr. Ripley's biography is published; I refer the reader to that book +for particulars of his life, but cannot refrain from selecting one +pen-picture of him by the author, Rev. O. B. Frothingham, who writes:-- + +"He was no unbeliever, no sceptic, no innovator in matters of opinion +or observance, but a quiet student, a scholar, a man of books, a calm, +bright-minded, whole-souled thinker, believing, hopeful, social, sunny, +but absorbed in philosophical pursuits. Well does the writer of these +lines recall the vision of a slender figure wearing in summer the +flowing silk robe, in winter the long, dark blue cloak of the +profession, walking with measured step from his residence in Rowe +Street towards the meeting house in Purchase Street. The face was +shaven clean, the brown hair curled in close, crisp ringlets; the face +was pale as if in thought; the gold-rimmed spectacles concealed black +eyes; the head was alternately bent and raised. No one could have +guessed that the man had in him the fund of humor in which his friends +delighted, or the heroism in social reform which a few years later +amazed the community. He seemed a sober, devoted minister of the +gospel, formal, punctilious, ascetic, a trifle forbidding to the +stranger. But even then the new thoughts of the age were at work within +him." + +Minot Pratt was at one time foreman printer at the office of the +_Christian Register_--a finely formed, large, graceful-featured, modest +man. His voice was low, soft and calm. His presence inspired confidence +and respect. Whatever he touched was well done. He was faithful and +dignified, and the serenity of his nature welled up in genial smiles. +In farm work he was Mr. Ripley's right hand. He was not far from him in +age. They agreed in practical matters; indeed, Mr. Ripley deferred to +him. His wife was an earnest, strong, faithful worker. They entered +into the scheme with fervor, and it was often said of him that he was +first to give Mr. Ripley the hand of fellowship in the practical work +of organizing the society. + +John Sullivan Dwight was born in Boston, and was keenly sensitive to +harmony of all kinds; amiable, thoughtful, kind. Touched with the +divine desire to do good to all, he entered into the work with his +whole earnest soul. Modest to a fault, but singularly persistent in +what he felt to be his duty, he never flinched or failed to act when +occasion required it. His tastes were of the most refined order. He +shrank from coarse contact with an unusual degree of sensitiveness, but +his great heart embraced all mankind in brotherhood. He graduated at +Harvard College, and rumor says that he had more than ordinarily the +goodwill of his classmates. He studied and made some fine translations +from French and German authors, and was ordained to the ministry. He +soon left the pulpit, feeling that it was better to try to actualize a +Christian life, preaching it by deeds himself, than to preach it by +words to others. He was supremely musical, though his musical feeling +sometimes showed itself in verse, and he stamped Brook Farm with his +musical influence. Short in stature, delicate in physical organization, +the school claimed the major part of his services. + +Mrs. Ripley was born under favorable stars and had superior mental +talent and training, with hosts of friends and relatives. Her devotion +to the "Community" caused a great flutter in her social circle. Her +relatives were noted for their position, their personal dignity, and +generally for a haughtiness of manner unknown in these days. In person +she was tall, slender and graceful, with rather light, smooth hair, +worn in the plain style of the day. Being near-sighted she was obliged +to use a glass when looking at a distant person or thing. Her manner +was vivacious and she was a good conversationalist. Mr. Ripley had +changed since the description given of his appearance in earlier days, +and had grown stouter; had lost his pallor and gained a good, healthy +color. He had allowed a vigorous beard to grow, and shaved only his +upper lip. + +A young man of education, culture and marked ability was Charles +Anderson Dana when from Harvard College he presented himself at the +farm. He was strong of purpose and lithe of frame, and it was not long +before Mr. Ripley found it out and gave him a place at the front. He +was about four and twenty years of age, and he took to books, language +and literature. Social, good-natured and animated, he readily pleased +all with whom he came in contact. He was above medium height; his +complexion was light, and his beard, which he wore full but well +trimmed, was vigorous and of auburn hue, and his thick head of hair was +well cut to moderate shortness. His features were quite regular; his +forehead high and full, and his head large. His face was pleasant and +animated, and he had a genial smile and greeting for all. His voice was +musical and clear, and his language remarkably correct. He loved to +spend a portion of his time in work on the farm and in the tree +nursery, and you might be sure of finding him there when not otherwise +occupied. Enjoying fun and social life, there was always a dignity +remaining which gave him influence and commanded respect. If you looked +into his room you saw pleasant volumes in various languages peeping at +you from the table, chair, bookcase, and even from the floor, and they +gave one the impression that for so young a person he was remarkably +studious and well informed. + +George P. Bradford had the department of Belle Lettres. Of him, after +his decease, his former friend and pupil, George William Curtis, wrote +as follows in _Harper's Monthly_ for May, 1890:-- + +"The recollection of George Bradford is that of a long life as serene +and happy as it was blameless and delightful to others. It was a life +of affection and many interests and friendly devotion; but it was not +that of a recluse scholar like Edward Fitzgerald, with the pensive +consciousness of something desired but undone. George Bradford was in +full sympathy with the best spirit of his time. He had all the +distinctive American interest in public affairs. His conscience was as +sensitive to public wrongs and perilous tendencies as to private and +personal conduct. He voted with strong convictions, and wondered +sometimes that the course so plain to him was not equally plain to +others. + +"It was a life with nothing of what we call achievement, and yet a life +beneficent to every other life that it touched, like a summer wind +laden with a thousand invisible seeds that, dropping everywhere, spring +up into flowers and fruit. It is a name which to most readers of these +words is wholly unknown, and which will not be written, like that of so +many of the friends of him who bore it, in our literature and upon the +memory of his countrymen. But to those who knew him well, and who +therefore loved him, it recalls the most essential human worth and +purest charm of character, the truest manhood, the most affectionate +fidelity. To those who hear of him now, and perhaps never again, these +words may suggest that the personal influences which most envelop and +sweeten life may escape fame, but live immortal in the best part of +other lives." + +Among the signers was also Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer, and it may +not be out of place to make here a few comments on his relation to the +Brook Farm life, so often alluded to by writers. + +Hawthorne was an idealist in its broad sense. The idea of a juster and +more rational social state pleased him. He felt himself honored, and +was very grateful for the appreciation of the men and women by whom he +was surrounded in the literary circle of the Transcendental Club, but +he never surrendered the well-matured plan of his youth, to be a writer +of stories. + +When, he went to Brook Farm he thought that his manual labors might in +a small way do a trifle towards aiding the formation of the ideal +state, and evidently felt that in his leisure hours he could compose, +write for magazines, and the like; but the hard, unwonted though +self-imposed labor, the peculiar surroundings, the buzz and hum of the +large family in which he could not fail to take an interest, distracted +him from his purpose. James T. Fields, the publisher, said of him, "He +was a man who had, so to speak, a physical affinity with solitude." He +could not put his mind to his special work. The seclusion in which he +had worked before, he could not find, and though "no one intruded on +him," as he says, yet he was not in his best element. + +Had he stayed longer, this newness of situation would doubtless have +worn off, and he would have found a seclusion little dreamed of at +first acquaintance with the life. He was in haste to be at his writing; +so after a few months of manual labor, bidding adieu to the farm, he +found himself back in Boston. There were other interests that carried +him there, for we find that in the next year he married Sophia Peabody +of Salem, Mass. Critics have said that the Brook Farm life was hurtful +to his genius. He never once intimated it, but said afterwards to +Emerson that he was "almost sorry he did not stay with the Brook +Farmers and see it out to the finish." + +The most ingenuous, the most simple-minded of all men in matters of +ordinary business, in relative values and exchanges, and unwilling to +act as teacher, he could only be counted as an ordinary day-laborer, +except where he could use the twin gifts of intellect and imagination +with which he was so highly endowed. His allusion to his "having had +the good fortune, for a time, to be personally connected with it," and +"his old and affectionately remembered home at Brook Farm" speak +volumes, as does also this little passage from "Blithedale Romance":-- + +"Often in these years that are darkening around me, I remember our +beautiful scheme of a noble and unselfish life, and how fair in that +first summer appeared the prospect that it might endure for +generations, and be perfected, as the ages rolled by, into the system +of a people and a world. Were my former associates now there--were +there only three or four of those true-hearted men still laboring in +the sun--I sometimes fancy that I should direct my world-weary +footsteps thitherward, and entreat them to receive me for old +friendship's sake. More and more I feel we struck upon what ought to be +a truth. Posterity may dig it up and profit by it." + +In "Years of Experience" the writer, Georgiana (Bruce) Kirby, one of +the early associates, says:-- + +"Hawthorne, after spending a year at the Community, had now left. No +one could have been more out of place than he in a mixed company, no +matter how cultivated, worthy and individualized each member of it +might be. He was morbidly shy and reserved, needing to be shielded from +his fellows, and obtaining the fruits of observation at second-hand. He +was therefore not amenable to the democratic influences at the +Community which enriched the others, and made them declare, in after +years, that the years or months spent there had been the most valuable +ones in their lives." + +Messrs. W. B. Allen, Minot Pratt, Warren Burton, Charles Hosmer, Isaac +Hecker and George C. Leach, with Mr. Hawthorne, devoted most of their +time to outdoor farm work. + +Many of the pupils became interested in the new life with which they +came in contact. It influenced them for good, and in after years they +were full of gratitude and praise for the help and moral tone it +imparted to them. An extract from a letter from Mr. Richard F. Fuller, +the father of Margaret Fuller, to Mr. Ripley at this time reads as +follows:-- + +"A lady asked me not long since where she should send her daughter to +school. I said at once, to the _Community_, for there she would learn +for the first time, perhaps, that all these matters of creed and morals +are not quite so well settled as to make thinking nowadays a piece of +supererogation, and would learn to distinguish between truth and the +'sense sublime,' and the dead dogmas of the past. This is the great +benefit I believe you confer upon the young." + +The pupil who became most prominent was George William Curtis, who +always acknowledged the beneficial effect it had upon all his future +career. + +New England and New York sent in their share of pupils until the +accommodations were crowded. The school flourished. It was not large, +but select. It was necessary to have more room, and a neighbor's +cottage was hired. Enthusiasts wished to build on the place. Plans of +procedure for the Association were indefinite. The central idea of +justice to all men and women was ever uppermost. Mrs. Olvord, a lady of +means, built a small gabled cottage of wood, which, owing to ill +health, she was able to occupy but a short time. At the highest point +of the domain, on a ledge of "pudding-stone," the Association erected a +small, square, wooden building which was named "the Eyrie," and at +another period a large double or twin house was built to be conjointly +occupied by two brothers from Plymouth, Mass., of the name of Morton; +it was called "the Pilgrim House." The original farmhouse was +christened "the Hive." The cultivation of the farm proceeded, and some +ornamentation in the shape of flower-beds was done around the houses. +It was soon found that much milk was needed at home, and the sale of it +was discontinued. + +A few individuals making a common family on a farm near a city, would +seem to be too unimportant a matter to excite much comment now, even +though the people who did it were superior in attainments, of high +purpose, and above criticism in their moral and social standing; but at +this date of our country's history, all thoughtful people in New +England seemed to be gaping at them with curiosity and wonder, and +comments were unlimited. As they were neither dogmatists, nor active +fanatics who brandished anathemas of terror and destruction at those +who followed not in their ways, but simply and unostentatiously +attended to their own business, and seemed to care very little for what +anyone said derogatory to their proceedings, the conditions appeared so +unique, that interest in their doings increased day by day. + +Mr. Ripley wrote of it a few months after its commencement: "We are now +in full operation as a family of workers, teachers and students. We +feel the deepest convictions that, for us, our mode of life is the true +one, and no attraction would tempt any one of us to exchange it for +that we have quitted lately." And it would be an impertinence now to +penetrate into its private circles and bring its members and doings to +the gaze of an investigating and curious public, were it not that its +doings and its members have become, from their relation to social +science, a part of public history. + +The pressure of life was off at Brook Farm, for the nonce. What anyone +did that was out of the common, might cause smiles and laughter but no +frowns or scoldings. Each felt and believed in the demonstration of his +or her own individuality, and, as a first consequence, there was +something that was often mistaken, by strangers, for rudeness and want +of order. Some forgot that it was especially work they came for, and +were anxious to have their theories discussed. Independence in dress +was universal. The Mrs. Grandys were all away, and if the young ladies +thought it was prettier to exhibit the grace of flowing tresses than to +bind them up in "pugs" behind their heads, who should, who could, +object? + +Prim Margaret Fuller, who was a visitor--and never a member of the +community as has often been stated--professed herself disturbed, at +first, by the easy and perhaps indifferent manner in which they +listened to her long conversations, as they sat on the floor or on +crickets; but on a later visit, she expressed herself as better +pleased. Doubtless some of the individual angularities had been rubbed +off, by this time, by the pleasant but close contact of the Community +life--and some of hers as well. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT. + + +Two years of the experimental and "idyllic" life, ran rapidly away, and +the Community had gained something of position and name in the outward +world. Personal contact had modified the extreme views of many of the +founders. Changes had taken place in the Individuals composing it; some +had departed. Six of the original stockholders remained. The number had +increased to about seventy, including some thirty who were pupils. The +financial success had not been all that was desired. Everything else +was getting more settled. The social life was charming. Improvements in +material matters, in comforts, in discipline and in grace of manners +were visible. But what was to be developed next among all the things +desirable? Was it to push the school still further in progress, to +attach mechanical industries to the organization, to work up the farm +life into more prominence, or what? + +It could not be expected that this large number of persons, whose early +surroundings and ideas had been so varied, could at once agree as to +what next steps were necessary to take, or to what definite end the +Community should be shaped. There was need, certainly, of some central +purpose strong enough for all to unite upon to inspire permanence. + +Neither Mr. Ripley nor any of his co-workers had heard of Charles +Fourier--the French exponent of industrial association--or his +doctrines, unless in a most casual way, and certainly they had not +studied them when they started the Community. They were independent +workers in a field of social science; but when they became acquainted +with his ideas, especially his ideas of industry made attractive by +organized labor, and its relation to the higher standard of work and +liberal belief they had adopted and maintained thus far, their +enthusiasm was awakened for them and they resolved to graft some of his +formulas on their institution. The little Community, with its bright, +cheerful school and its happy members, was not paying its way. There +were philosophers enough in it. There were plenty of sweet, charming +characters and amateur workmen in it, but the hard-fisted toilers and +the brave financiers were absent. + +Still, it was not entirely absence of financial success that led the +responsible men of the Community to make the change in the organization +that they did, but truly because the grand and reasonable ideas of the +distinguished Frenchman bore such internal evidences of harmony with +human nature and with God's providence and laws that they carried +conviction to the great and sympathetic minds of Brook Farm. Fourier +argued that there was a sublime destiny for mankind on this earth, that +the Creator was infinitely good, that all the instincts of our nature, +when not subverted by bad conditions, pointed towards that destiny, and +that humanity was on its way upward--that the past progress argued what +the future might be. + +I give as illustrations, a few extracts from "The Social Destiny of +Man," by Albert Brisbane, page 269:--"Four societies have existed on +the earth--the savage, patriarchal, barbarian and civilized. Under +these general heads may be classed the various social forms through +which man has progressed up to the present day. _If four have existed +may not a fifth, or even a sixth, be discovered and organized?_ Common +sense would dictate that there could, although the world has +entertained a different opinion." + +Page 293: "If the barbarian asserts that the lash is the only means of +forcing the slave to labor, the civilized is not far behind him in his +reasoning, for he will assert with equal confidence that necessity and +want are necessary stimulants to industry. The barbarian is as ignorant +of the levers which civilization puts in play as is the civilized of +the powerful incentives to action which the groups and series will call +forth." + +Page 464: "If He [God] has not known how or has not wished to give us a +social code productive of justice, industrial attraction and passional +harmony;--_if he has not known how_, how could he have supposed our +weak reason would succeed in a task in which he himself doubted of +success? _If he has not wished_, how can our legislators hope to +organize a society which would lead to the results above mentioned, and +of which he wished to deprive us.... What motive could he have had to +refuse us such a code? Six views may be taken on the subject of this +omission. + +"_First--either he has not known how_ to give us a social code +guaranteeing truth, justice and industrial attraction; in this case why +create in us the want of it, without having the means of satisfying +that want which he satisfies in creatures inferior to us, to which he +assigns a mode of existence adapted to their attractions and instincts: + +"Second--_or he has not wished_ to give us this code; which thus +supposes the Creator to be the persecutor of mankind, creating in us +wants which it is impossible to satisfy, inasmuch as none of our codes +can extirpate our permanent scourges: + +"Third--_or he has known how and has not wished_; in which case the +Creator becomes a malignant being, knowing how to do good, but +preferring the reign of evil: + +"Fourth--_or he has wished and has not known how_; in this case he is +incapable of governing us, knowing and wishing the good which he cannot +realize, and which we still less can attain: + +"Fifth--_or he has neither wished nor known how_; and we must attribute +to him both want of genius and evil intention: + +"Sixth--_or he has known how and has wished_; in this case the code +exists, and he must have provided a mode for its revelation--for of +what use would it be if it were to remain hidden from men for whom it +is destined?" + +Page 468: "If the human race were at the commencement of their social +career--in the first ages of civilization--they would perhaps be +excusable for founding some hope of social good upon human science, +upon the legislation of man; but long experience has proved the +impotency of human legislation, and shown clearly that the world has +nothing to hope from human laws and civilized constitutions." + +Page 260: "Either the passions _are_ bad or the social mechanism _is +false_, for evil prevails, and to a melancholy extent. If the former be +true, then there is no hope of a better state of things, for every +means of repression and constraint that human ingenuity could invent +has been applied to regulate their action; but all in vain--they have +remained unchanged, and in the eyes of the moralist as perverse as +ever. If, however, the latter be true--that is, if the social mechanism +be false--then there is a chance for a better future; for our +incoherent and absurd societies are changing more or less with every +century. They are at the mercy or whim of a tyrant, or of a revolution +of the mass; they may therefore be reformed or done away with entirely." + +These grand words and this powerful logic, if even too strong for some +of the readers of this book, were not so for the brave hearts of the +leaders of Brook Farm, and for Mr. Ripley in particular. The tentative +feeling, the search for science to back up the social impulses, seemed +at last to have found something solid in a society conceived by the +Creator; the man created by him, fitted to it by him; the society +fitted to the man; the one the counterpart of the other. Albert +Brisbane, Parke Godwin and Horace Greeley, with the _Tribune_, were +arousing the thinkers in New York; Gerritt Smith was agitating the land +question and giving away to actual settlers vast tracts of land owned +by him. The works of the communist Owen and others were read. +Antislavery, anti-war and non-resistance societies were vigorously +prosecuting their claims. It was an era of great social activity. +Thousands were aroused. "Communities," "Associations" and "Phalanxes" +were springing up in various quarters. It seemed that the tide of +change from social chaos to order was fast rising. A great wave of +reform was sweeping over the land. Should the Community moor itself +where it was, or be borne on with the flood? + +This was the question of moment; and while the young danced or played, +acted in charade or masquerade, and the youths wove garlands of green +around their straw hats, and amused themselves by wearing long tresses +and tunics, the sedater heads were solving this important question. And +they must decide it, but first of all Mr. Ripley's wishes must be +consulted: the key to the situation was in his hands. What would he do? +Would he, and should they, take among them men and women endowed only +with practical, everyday talents, able to be honest and make shoes and +sew garments; to strike with a sledge and a blacksmith's arm; to be +adepts, maybe, in all the cares for the outward wants of the body, but +who had never read Goethe or Schiller, and, possibly, neither +Shakespeare, Scott nor Robert Burns; and might not care to read or +study Latin, French, German or philosophy! It was for Mr. Ripley to +decide. + +Did he then think of the little church in Purchase Street, and of what +he had solemnly said to the listening congregation? Had he not told +them that in every soul was a divine fire that aspired to the right no +matter how deeply it had been covered from sight or buried by the +troubling cares and surroundings that environed it: that there was a +divine equality of spirit at the base of all human lives? + +Did he not hear reverberating in his soul the sublime passage, "If I be +lifted up, I will lift all others up to me"? Had he not been lifted up? +Had he not been supremely blest with health, strength, education, +talent, friends, companionship with the great and his cup filled full +of the sweet and sublime accords of the Christian faith? Had he not +been lifted up, not in crucifixion, but by myriads of silent blessings, +and was it not Christ-like to aid in lifting all others up also? + +Alas for those who speak of Mr. Ripley's action at this time as +"Ripley's fall"! These were the moments when he achieved his glory, +when the greatness of his character arose, almost without exception, +above all others of the Transcendental School, who hovered around, and +wished to claim him as a bright example of a man separated from the +common herd of humanity, as a leader of a select group of men and +women, cultivated intellectually and socially. Then, as before, when he +saw what he deemed right, or, rather, when the intuitions of his soul +told him his duty, he did not hesitate. + +Soon he was practically deserted by Emerson and his coterie, by some of +the associates and pupils of the school, and boarders, who were scared +out of their propriety by the fear of losing social caste, and they +showed their disfavor by leaving him alone; but, intrenched as he was, +and surrounded by a multitude of friends, new and old, and many +secretly admiring his intrepid spirit, they could only vent their +disfavor in sly sneers and hints that Mr. Ripley, and, of course, his +followers with him, had fallen from their high estate. Yes, they who +sat near by on the fences and crowed reform the loudest--they who had +never soiled their ink-stained fingers with the grass-green sod of old +Brook Farm in practical example of work--found most fault with him, +because he chose to remain and risk his social standing still more than +he had already done, in his magnificent work and experiment. + +In order to show more clearly some of the philosophy under which the +leaders of Brook Farm based the changes in their theories and +organization, let us pause a few moments to give a slight sketch of the +growth of human society from its primitive formation to the present +time, trusting that the time spent on it may not be unworthily used, +and the patience of those to whom these ideas are old is asked for the +benefit of others to whom they are new. + +It is evident that, at some time, there was a beginning of social life. +To those who have full faith in the Mosaic record it was in the Garden +of Eden; but that may be considered as before society, as such, was +fairly begun. It was the very dawn of the childhood of our race. To +those who recognize the fact that the primitive man was a weak, +unskilled, uncultivated savage, the conclusion must come that the first +social life of the race was very crude; that men lived in trees or in +caves and rude huts, and that they formed societies or hordes for +protection from the huge and formidable wild animals that roamed the +uncultivated earth. + +Upon the slain beasts, wild fruits and grains they existed. They hunted +and fished, and although the passions of friendship, love and ambition +implanted in their souls by their Creator shone out at times, at other +times they quarrelled like the brutes they slaughtered. This state of +crude society is named _savagism_. + +But as the beasts became less formidable foes, and were much diminished +in numbers by being slain and possibly from other causes, it is +probable that at times the race suffered hunger, and finding that the +ground readily produced from seed, the primitive race or races began to +plant, and finding also that they had slain so many of the wild animals +that they could keep herds of cattle without great danger of their +destruction by them, the life of the herdsman began. But as the herds +began to be numerous, it was found necessary to travel with them in +order to give them new pasturage, and then the nomadic or wandering +life was fully installed. + +With their cattle and their wives, and their limited knowledge of +cultivation, the patriarchal tribe moved from place to place; sometimes +to find water, sometimes to find pasture for their horses and cattle, +and at harvest time they returned to their fields to harvest the grain +which had been planted for all. This, as you see, describes crudely the +second state of society, which is the "_patriarchal_" state. + +As population increased, the difficulty of constantly changing the +place of residence was more and more apparent; and as some arts had +sprung up, such as the manufacture of pottery, farming implements and +defensive weapons, which could not be equally well carried on in all +places, towns, and afterwards cities, sprang up, where the artisans +resided; and being often liable to marauders, especially when the +outside population or tribes were wandering away from them, they +enclosed them with walls. By industry some wealth was acquired; some +luxury and comparative splendor were introduced. Prominent and +naturally ambitious individuals and families raised themselves into +power, and, placing themselves at the head of armies, with the newest +weapons of war, made by their own hands, went forth to conquer. Thus +the third, or what is called the "_barbaric_" state was established. + +Still moving on in the same direction, a great variety of class +distinction was made. Woman arose steadily from a condition of almost +hopeless slavery to be the one companion of man, and direct slavery of +man to man was abolished. Invention was stimulated, and means of +dissemination of knowledge, such as the printing press and the +university, came to light. Kings and princes reign by law, which is +fully established, and commerce and trade flourish. These things +inaugurate the advent of civilization; but perhaps the most marked +types of civilization are the _independence of the individual, +monogamic marriage_ and _free competition_. Thus was established the +fourth societary condition. + +Society having progressed so far, and gone through so many changes, is +it reasonable that it must now stop at what we call "_civilization_" as +the _ultimatum_ of its progress? With a little thought it will be seen +how surely man has, through all these changes, emancipated himself from +physical surroundings until he stands forth free and independent, but +without, however, any positive relation or duty binding him to maintain +the independence of all the human brotherhood. His independence is for +himself alone, and in that relation he is forced by _conditions of his +surroundings_ to neglect and trespass on the rights of his fellow-man +to keep his individual supremacy, and to develop various promptings of +his soul, which are ofttimes good, great and noble. + +In the early days of civilization, free competition develops the +resources of man. The prospect of wealth, and the power it brings with +it, encourages trade to seek the ends of the earth, and from its +products vast enterprises are built up. As every fruit has in it that +which causes its final dissolution, and within it also the germs of a +future and higher life, so civilized society carries in it the germs of +its decay and dissolution, society being a natural product, as fruit +is, of God's providence. _Free competition_ is the destructive agent, +or one of the most important agents in its dissolution. Observe that +the power which ripens a natural fruit causes, in the end, its +destruction. Observe also that free competition, which in the early +stages of civilization glorifies and typifies it, by continuing at its +work will finally destroy it. + +There is another element which is called capital. In savage life there +is hardly anything which can be called capital. The amount of capital +depends on the wealth of the community. As society advances, wealth +increases; from savagism to civilization, from early civilization to +the present time. This wealth, this capital comes from the reserved +products of labor; "dried labor," it has been called, for labor is its +only source of production. This wealth belongs to the community that +has earned it, saved it and inherited it. It is the grand moving power +of society as it now stands, and without it we would return to the +savage state. Society can never be too wealthy, any more than it can be +too powerful, and the one is the synonym, to a great extent, of the +other. + +But capital with interest, as the agent and assistant of competition, +is destructive. Capital joined with labor builds manufactories, +railroads, towns, and is the great moving power of civilization; but in +the growth of civilization vast amounts of it have accumulated, and +being unevenly distributed, there are those who are constantly seeking +its use to help them to business and to elevation, and have been ready +to pay a royalty, which we call interest, for the use of it. This has +made capital a commodity. + +The progress of arts and inventions has been, in modern days, in such +increased ratio to the increase of capital that it has created so great +a demand that a monopoly has been made of it; more is paid for the use +of it than its real worth, so that wealth, even in this democratic +country, is piling up in colossal fortunes by being drawn from the +great body of society. Consequently, classes of people grow relatively +poorer as fast as other bodies of people or individuals grow richer; +the extremes of riches and poverty constantly increasing. + +Every advance in the producing capacity of machinery gives organized +capital a better hold on labor, because capital owns the machinery, +and, in homely phrase, labor "is the under dog in the fight" all of the +time. It makes no practical difference to it whether the laborer +becomes capitalist or no, for the moment he becomes so he is engaged in +the same crusade. He is no better nor worse than the one whom we called +capitalist yesterday. It is the _unnatural position_ or _relation_ of +_capital and labor_ that makes him what he is. To change this relation +to a more just one was among the grandest ideas of the Brook Farmers, +and the only way it could possibly be done, in their estimation, was by +reorganizing society on a new basis; by combining the capital of the +workers and others interested and using it so as finally to control +machinery for the benefit of labor, and to reduce its hours of toil so +that the laborer could have time for self-improvement. + +Having traced the progress of society from its earliest forms to our +present civilization, it can be easily shown how the supreme or +governing power is first in the hands of the most powerful physically; +then passes to the one most able by prowess to sway a tribe or people; +then passes into the hierarchy of the church, that rules by swaying +mental terrors; next into the hierarchy of the state, that rules by +both mental and physical terrors; and, in our present civilization, has +passed or is passing rapidly into the hands of a moneyed class ruling +with powers according to the amount of capital swayed; and it can be +proved that these changes are but the natural result of forces that are +as sure and constant as sunlight and electricity. + +This present form of social power, it is argued, is transient, and like +the others, will pass away and be replaced, and can only be replaced by +anarchy, or by a hierarchy of organized talent arranged in serial order +from the most talented down to the humblest laborer, and this was +another of the grand ideas of the Brook Farmers. From the seeds of this +civilization will spring--is springing--a higher order. It is an order +that the teacher Fourier called "_guaranteeism_." It is an order in +which the _governing power_ passes from the moneyed aristocracy into +the hands of _organized bodies_. It is an order in which the spiritual +and material truths are incorporated into organic societies and +governments which guarantee to everyone support in sickness and +protection from dangers of various sorts; an order which, in fact, +abounds in mutual guarantees covering by degrees all the numerous +necessities and wants of life--hence its name; and finally, in the +process of time, placing all the material wants of the people under +protective guarantees. + +This fifth condition of society must pass into the sixth order, which +is the _associative order_, or the cooeperative phase of society in +which it will be proven by practical works that, by adherence to +principles and proper organizations, we may avoid a large share of the +miseries we have in the past so unsparingly laid to the charge of the +Deity as discipline for us, but which are the results of our own +ignorance. The "_harmonic order_" is associated life of a high type, +and includes association of families, economy of means, unity of +interests, labor made attractive, equitable distribution of profits, +integral justice, etc., in such a way as to bring about very great +happiness among _all_ people, thus deserving its grand name. From the +commencement of the age of harmony, which is a higher octave of life, +society begins a new era, the beauties and accords of which no one can +do more than speculate upon. + +This sketch of the progress of the human race may seem trite to many +readers. It may have a familiar sound, but it is necessary to our +narrative. It was promulgated many years before our modern writers came +into the field with their evolutionary theories, and it is at least a +theoretic base for social scientists to build their hopes of present +and future progress on. To the Brook Farm leaders it was new; it was +sensible; it was reasonable. Communism they did not favor, for their +motto was, "Community of property is the grave of individual liberty." +Instinctively they rebelled against it. + +The organized communities held everything in common--houses, lands, +moneys and goods; even prescribing what garments should be worn, and +also electing a religious creed for their members. It was not +compatible with the greater ideas of freedom held at Brook Farm. It was +not a free life and it could not be a true life, for they all believed +in the motto, "The _truth_ shall make you _free_," and instead of +freedom, the "Communities" used mental constraint and tyranny to hold +themselves together. + +The Brook Farmers believed that the laborer owned the value of his +labor; if it was used, it was credited to him, and a part of the +increased value of the domain belonged to him. It never belonged to the +organization;--that is, the value of it--but by mutual consent might be +retained, invested and added to the laborer's stock. Theoretically the +result would show that the person who was the most capable, active and +industrious would in time own the most accrued capital. This the Brook +Farmers claimed was right and according to nature, and, combined with +_yearly diminishing interest_, could not be destructive, as capital is +now. + +They had fallen unwittingly, it may be said, on ideas that coincided +with those of Charles Fourier. There was an agreement between them, +unknown at the start. Their idea that certain mutual guarantees were to +be in the constitution, such as immunity from labor in extreme age and +youth, care in sickness--a certain "minimum" of rights according to the +prosperity or wealth of the institution--and that an "integral +education" was a duty of the Association--an education not of the mind +alone, but of the hands, heart and affections--coincided exactly with +Fourier, and it was easy to adopt his motto of "_cooeperative labor_," +for they had already adopted the principle; also "_association of +families_," for that had been agreed on. It was easy to adopt his +formula of "_honors according to usefulness_"; they believed in it. + +Usefulness, not wealth, station or any artificial distinction, was to +receive the highest rank and the greatest honors and favors from the +body politic. It might be an invention of the mind; it might be some +Herculean or disagreeable labor of the body, or it might be some +enthusiasm imparted from some brilliant soul, that would win the honor; +but it could be given to none except those who had won it by superior +usefulness, whether that usefulness came from doing the work in the +"sacred legion"--who were a body of persons who did unattractive work +from a sense of duty--or in any other body or group. + +It was easy to adopt "_attractive industry_," another of Fourier's +mottoes, for were they not trying mind and body to make it so? And +finally, it was easy to adopt the aphorism that the attractions of life +in the universe are in proportion to the destinies they assist in +accomplishing--"_attractions are proportionate to destinies_," as it is +translated. Certainly it was simple and easy to grasp and believe, when +explained so well as it had been by Fourier, and by Brisbane and +Godwin, his American translators. And lastly, if all these things were +true, why not say so and adopt them? They were outside and free from +modern society. They had one of their own. They were happy in it. They +had adopted truth as their guide--truth as they saw it, and whenever +and wherever they saw it. + +Thus closed the first chapter in the history of this little society. +They had gathered together without any idea of scientific organization, +but from profound convictions of the present wrong relations of the +human brotherhood, from religious convictions of duty, and in the +belief that they would increase in love to one another, and draw to +themselves by their example the good and wise; believing also that if +they planted the seeds of truth and unity they would be watered with +deeds of faith, and by degrees overtop and destroy the evil undergrowth +that abounded in the so-called civilization all around them. + +Now came to the leaders a new revelation! It was of science applied to +society. Mr. Ripley had great faith in scientific agriculture. Was +there to be science applied to society? Was it true that the actual +laws applicable to social life had been discovered? Were they immutable +as the laws of earthly bodies--of the sun, the stars and the universe? +And did they actually agree with the laws of music, color and +mathematics? It seemed so. They could but try them. And with a faith +for which, during all these succeeding years, they have been, laughed +at by cynical philosophers, they went to work to apply them, as far as +possible, to the actual life they were then leading. All honor to them! + +When the resolution was finally taken to join with the movements that +seemed to be, as it were, a new impulse for humanity's sake--an +outpouring of spirit upon the children of men, instanced by the very +great and sudden interest taken by numerous bodies, societies and +individuals along the line of social reform--it was not entirely +palatable to all who had looked on the little Community as their pet +property, their ideal home; for the sainted individualists, for +cultivated book-worms, for theorists who could read Latin and Greek but +whose ideas of labor extended only to planting flowers or washing with +care a few muslins to adorn their beautiful selves; and fearing a loss +of selectness some departed. The motive extended to the school, and, +although many of the former pupils left, their places were soon filled +by others. + +The responsible men looked at the matter from another standpoint. They +felt that the labor on the farm had been the least success of anything, +and that to organize and improve it was one thing important, if not +_the_ one thing needful. Many good men stood at the outer gates waiting +for entrance. The members of the "Direction" were firm, and brave. They +felt that the experience of the first two years was a permanent +advantage to them, and they reorganized under the same name as before. +With the new constitution was published a preliminary statement from +which the following is extracted:-- + +"All persons who are not familiar with the purposes of Association, +will understand from this document that we propose a radical and +universal reform rather than to redress any particular wrong, or to +remove the sufferings of any single class of human beings. We do this +in the light of universal principles in which all differences, whether +of religion, or politics, or philosophy, are reconciled, and the +dearest and most private hope of every man has the promise of +fulfilment. Herein, let it be understood, we would remove nothing that +is truly beautiful or venerable; we reverence the religious sentiment +in all its forms, the family and whatever else has its foundation +either in human nature or Divine Providence. The work we are engaged in +is not destruction, but true conservation; it is not a mere resolution, +but, as we are assured, a necessary step in the progress which no one +can be blind enough to think has yet reached its limit. + +"We believe that humanity, trained by these long centuries of suffering +and struggle, led on by so many saints and heroes and sages, is at +length prepared to enter into that universal order toward which it has +perpetually moved. Thus we recognize the worth of the whole past, and +of every doctrine and institution it has bequeathed us; thus also we +perceive that the present has its own high mission, and we shall only +say what is beginning to be seen by all sincere thinkers, when we +declare that the imperative duty of this time and this country, nay, +more, that its only salvation and the salvation of civilized countries, +lies in the reorganization of society according to the unchanging laws +of human nature, and of universal harmony. + +"We look, then, to the generous and helpful of all classes for +sympathy, for encouragement and for actual aid; not to ourselves only, +but to all who are engaged in this great work. And whatever may be the +result of any special efforts, we can never doubt that the object we +have in view will be finally attained; that human life shall yet be +developed, not in discord and misery, but in harmony and joy, and that +the perfected earth shall at last bear on her bosom a race of men +worthy of the name." + +[_Signed by the Directors_.] GEORGE RIPLEY. MINOT PRATT. CHARLES A. +DANA. + +Brook Farm, Mass., Jan. 18, 1844. + +This constitution was largely like the first one, but varied from it in +the following particulars:-- + +"The department of Industry shall be managed in groups and series as +far as is practicable, and shall consist of three primary series, to +wit: Agricultural, Mechanical and Domestic Industry. The chief of each +group to be elected weekly, and the chief of each series once in two +months by the members thereof, subject to the approval of the General +Direction." + +"Persons wishing to become members must first reside on the place as +applicants for one month." + +"Applicants who have passed acceptably through their term may become +candidates, and remain in this new relation a month more, when they may +be admitted as Associates." + +"Personal property may be received as stock by the Direction of Finance +when it shall be deemed advantageous to the Association." + +"Persons shall, on becoming residents on the domain, deliver an exact +inventory of all the furniture and implements which they may retain as +private property, to be filed for reference in the office of the +Direction." + +"New groups and series may be formed from time to time for the +prosecution of different and new branches of industry." + +"Three hundred days shall be considered a year's labor. The hours of +labor shall be from the first of October to the first of April at least +eight hours daily, and from the first of April to the first of October +at least ten hours daily, and no person shall be credited for labor +beyond that time." + +"No debt shall be contracted in behalf of the Association by any person +whatever." + +"Articles furnished to the Associates shall be charged at cost as +nearly as the same can be ascertained." + +"The period of education shall extend from birth to the age of twenty +years, and shall be divided into three stages: Infancy to six years, +Pupilage from six to sixteen years, and Probation from sixteen to +twenty. The education during probation shall be in the practical duties +of Associates." + +"No public meeting for business or amusement shall be protracted beyond +the hour of ten P. M." + + * * * * * + +Many persons who have heard of the Community life at Brook Farm have +idealized it into a little coterie of choice spirits who sat around the +study lamp at early eve, after the light toil of the day had ceased, +and discussed the intellectual problems of the German philosophers who +had given much of the impulse to the Transcendental Club, and brought +so many young men forward as leaders of thought; but this was only +partially true. + +Mr. Ripley at first endeavored to instruct the assembly and impart to +them some of his own intellectual enthusiasm. Evening classes were +formed; readings took place from some of the prominent poets--Goethe, +Schiller, Shakespeare; from Carlyle and Cousin as well as Emanuel Kant; +but when the industrial period began, he had more than his hands full, +and he laid his books on the shelf. They were his tools--they were the +ladders on which he had mounted to his high estate. Why should he +worship them? They had taught him, as had the Hebrew writers, faith in +the Creator; faith in His best creation, man; faith in reason, faith in +right, faith, in a magnificent human destiny. Why should he spend his +life in singing praises of them? To work! To begin to shape society to +higher ends! That was indeed the worthiest end in life, and his +worthiest homage to the writers and their books. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS. + + +It was a pleasant afternoon in March, 1843, when I left Boston, in a +small omnibus, that started from Brattle Street for West Roxbury +Village and Brook Farm. My father's family of three had preceded me, he +remaining behind to close his business; it was a question of but a few +days when we should be all embarked in the new and untried life to +which we were looking forward with pleasurable emotions. + +The nine miles of interval was passed, riding through an undulating +country, by pleasant farms surrounded with the stone walls so common in +Massachusetts and the eastern states, and by pretty white houses, with +green window blinds and little front flower gardens, with fruit and +shade trees standing sentinels on their borders. Here and there a ledge +of "pudding-stone" cropped out, and the scenery grew more primitive as +we neared the vicinity of the farm. Slowly we rode on, leaving +passengers and parcels by the way until it showed signs of deepening +twilight, when we reached by a slight acclivity the door of the +farmhouse that was at the entrance of the place, where I was soon +joined by my relatives who took me in charge and made me presentable +for supper; but I was too late to join with the family, and took my +first meal with them the following day. + +Looking out of the window the next morning, I found it overlooked the +farm-yard and the broad meadow that lay south of the house. What +awakened me was the sound of a trumpet or horn, blown by some one for +rising or breakfast. I dressed leisurely, as I found it was the first +or "rising horn," and went out of the front door for a survey. Before +me was the driveway. A wooden fence, and a row of mulberry and spruce +trees stood guarding the two embankments that were terraced down to the +brook and meadow. On the embankments were shrubs and flower beds. A +couple of rods to the right stood a graceful elm, beside a gateway that +opened on a pathway to the garden and fields. + +Passing by the front of the house I found that two wings had been added +to it in the rear, leaving shed and carriage room beneath. Directly in +front of me, and facing due east, was a large barn raised upon stone +posts, which was open on the south side to the large barnyard, and +between the barn and house was a driveway or road, leading over the +premises. + +In the kitchen, which was directly in the rear of the dining room, +there was a clatter of dishes, and a few persons were going from place +to place outside. + +Some one was in the barn attending to the cattle. He had on a tarpaulin +straw hat, and a farmer's frock of blue mixture that hung down below +the tops of his cowhide boots. I looked sharply at the man, and found +it was Mr. George Ripley. The "second horn" sounded; it aroused the +dog, who howled pitifully or musically--in bad unison with it. Soon the +persons from the other houses came to breakfast, strolling leisurely +along. + +I found that all the people, unless ill, took their meals at the +farmhouse dining room. A little quaintness of dress, some picturesque +costumes--such as the blue tunics with black belts of leather, that the +men wore; the full beards, that were not common then as now; the broad +hats and graceful, flowing hair of the young ladies; the varied style +of garments of the students and the boarders--all interested me. + +The long, low dining room had rows of tables, some six in number, +seating on an average fourteen persons each. White painted benches +supplied the place of chairs. The tables were neatly set in white ware; +white mugs served for both cups and drinking glasses. There were white +linen table cloths, and everything was scrupulously neat. + +At the farther end of the room sat Mr. Ripley. The garments of the +husbandman and farmer had all been laid aside, and, neatly dressed, he +was smiling and laughing, his gleaming eyes seeming to reflect their +brilliancy on the golden bows of his spectacles. At his right sat his +wife, and near by his sister, who poured the morning libation of tea or +coffee. Most of the pupils were at this table. Mrs. Ripley, tall, +graceful and slim, was, like her husband, near-sighted, but only on +occasions would she raise a gold-bowed eye-glass to look at some +distant object or person. The fare at the table was plain; good bread, +butter and milk from the farm were present. It is hardly necessary to +say that I looked around with peculiar interest on those who were to be +my new friends and companions. It was not a dismal or sober meal. There +was a happy buzz that indicated to me a probability of great future +happiness. + +How well do I remember the old dining-room with its familiar forms and +faces--too many to describe now! There were the young and pretty Misses +Foord; the one a dimpled blonde, lovely, rosy-complexioned, with large, +wonderful blue eyes; and her sister with her clear skin and dark hair +and eyebrows, both wearing their contrasted and unbound tresses flowing +over their graceful shoulders. And hark! 'tis Dolly, dear Dolly Hosmer, +with her rollicking, noisy laugh. And pretty Mary Donnelly--oh, how +pretty! with the dimples and the peach-bloom on her face, her white +teeth and coal-black hair--ever pretty whether she was smiling at you +or peeling potatoes. And Charles Newcomb, the mysterious and profound, +with his long, dark, straight locks of hair, one of which was +continually being brushed away from his forehead as it continually +fell; with his gold-bowed eye-glass, his large nose and peculiar blue +eyes, his spasmodic expressions of nervous horror, and his +cachinnatious laugh. There were sturdy Teel, and heavy Eaton, and +frisky Burnham, and bluff Rykman, with round-eyed Fanny Dwight and +another graceful Fanny, and oh! so many more men and women, friends and +workers striving for a sublime idea. I could describe very many of them +and the minute details of all the houses and surroundings, but it would +unwisely overcrowd these pages. + +Mounting the central and highest portion of the farm I found it was +beautifully situated in an amphitheatre surrounded by hills on all +sides, and formed a charming picture. There was a young orchard of +apple trees, and here and there stood a few shade trees by the walls +and roadside. There were fields, or rather patches, where corn and +vegetables were grown for family use. Some of them were exposed on the +southern faces of the hills, and some were in the hollows. In front was +the broad, meadow, like a pleasant sea of green, stretching far away. + +From the first house, the old farmhouse called now "the Hive"--a pretty +and well-chosen name--the driveway led to the other houses. It +descended nearly to the level of the meadow, and did not rise again +until it neared the "Pilgrim House," the most distant one. From that it +turned on itself on the high ground toward the "Cottage" and "Eyry," +the remaining houses. + +The "Pilgrim House," an oblong double house, occupying a commanding +position, was plain and white, without ornamentation, and squarely +built like most of the New England country houses of its date. There +were no trees around it, and it was the least attractive house on the +place. + +The "Cottage" had four gables, and was also plain and unpretending; it +had only some half-a-dozen rooms and was painted a dark brown color. It +was situated on a little knoll, with flower beds in the rear, and +greensward all around it. + +Beyond and nearer to the "Hive," in the centre of the domain, was the +"Eyry" (this is the way Mr. Ripley spelled it; some spelled it "Eyrie" +and some "Aerie"). It had for its base a ledge of Roxbury conglomerate +called "pudding-stone," and it was banked up with two greensward +terraces. It had the highest and finest location, with a background of +oak and maple woods, and looked out on the orchard, commanding a fine +view. It was a square, smooth, wooden structure painted a light gray, +sandstone color. It was made of smooth, matched boards, and had a +large, flat cornice or flange that surrounded it near the top, which +saved it from extreme plainness. Yet it was pleasing to the eye, and it +had low, French windows that open like doors out on to the upper +terrace. + +As I looked in it for the first time I saw that a few pictures adorned +the walls: pressed fern leaves filled the mantel vases, and the bright +remnants of last autumn's foliage were in some places fastened to the +walls. There was also a piano, over which hung an oil painting, and in +the opposite room was a large array of Mr. Ripley's books. It was "the +library," and many of the works were in German. In particular, there +was a set of fourteen volumes, "Specimens of Foreign Literature," +edited by Mr. Ripley, that attracted my attention. + +At the Cottage were the school-rooms principally for the younger +children; and the Pilgrim House was used mostly for family lodgings. + +For a time my sleeping apartment was with others in the upper room of +the rear wing of the farmhouse, dignified by the name "Attica." My +companions were all single men; good, reliable fellows who were working +for a principle and would ordinarily have declined such a +lodging-place, but under the circumstances were not apt to grumble, but +made the best of it. It was like camping out, and all its mischances +were turned into fun. My roommates were called "the Admiral," "the +Dutchman," "the General" and "the Parson,"--nicknames given each one of +them for some personal peculiarity. + +There were advantages as well as disadvantages in living in "Attica." +It was nearest the centre of the life and business of the place. In the +winter mornings there was no long walk to meals, as those had who lived +at the other houses. We were near the warm kitchen; and when the house +was still and work suspended--all save the baking of bread, which often +proceeded in the evening in the range ovens--a group would gather +around the fire and talk and gossip--for we were not beyond the last; +speculation, theory and argument went pleasantly on until bed-time. + +No, Attica! I have not forgotten the days spent inside thy walls, thy +strange inhabitants, or the mysteries that surrounded thee on my first +entrance into thy domain! I have not forgotten the long, low roof and +projecting beams, or the half dozen bedsteads that were standing +around; the two large chimneys that arose in the centre and the number +of stove-pipes that came from below and entered them; or the skylights +that were thy only means of illumination save the window at "the +Parson's" end, which looked out on the pleasant fields and the houses +beyond; or the plain, uncarpeted floor, the washstands by the chimneys +and the clothing hung up around. + +Neither have I forgotten the nights when lying in bed I have heard the +rain pouring and pattering above thee and me; or when I saw by the dim +light of a single oil lamp, as I lifted myself on my elbow in bed, one +of the occupants moving his cot bedstead from some gentle leak that was +getting too familiar with his bedclothes; or when in the dreary winter +the Storm King howled around and bore some fleecy flakes on his windy +gusts through a stray hole in the roof, and morning showed us a +miniature white mountain on the floor. + +No, to this day a vision of the "Parson" (Capen) comes to me, reading +by the light of an oil lamp placed on a shelf at the head of his +bedstead, long after others were asleep; lying in bed at the +furthermost portion of thy space; now chuckling to himself, then +drowsily reading on and on, with his spectacles dropped down on to the +point of his long nose--as the passage was either witty or dry; or +visions of the early risers, waking betimes and disturbing the dreams +of the later ones by the preparations of the toilet; or the sound of +the morning horn as it rose from beneath us on the clear air! + +I was seventeen years of age, and having passed the time when I could +have been by right a pupil in the day school, was assigned to manual +labor. You will see by the Constitution that I was a "Probationer." It +was fortunate that I loved the grass and trees, and the routine of farm +life. My youth excused and deprived me of the council meetings and the +right to vote, so that many hours spent by some, though but a little +older than myself, in meetings, were absolutely mine to rove in, or to +use as I liked. Though born to city life and work I dearly loved the +country and a farm, but did not know its duties, nor had I the strength +for heavy labor, so I assisted in work in and about the houses in the +early hours of the day, and in some of the lighter farming, as +planting, hoeing, weeding and driving the oxen, horses and cows; in +fact, taking a lad's place in the farm and house employments. + +Owing to the amount of labor and the disproportion of female help, some +of the young men under age oftentimes assisted after meals in wiping +dishes and supplying hot and cold water. It was a matter of rivalry +between parties to see which could beat in a match, the washer or +wipers. Two lads of near my own age supplied dishes and hot water as +fast as it was needed, and one young lady washed the plates, saucers, +mugs and the like, the same young men doing the wiping. + +There was plenty of plain crockery piled up and it was rushed into a +capacious receptacle and washed with great dexterity. Then wipe, young +men, wipe! Will you allow a young lady to wash faster than two can +wipe? _Never_, _boys_, never! and with incredible speed the surface of +the plates and dishes was changed into mirrors. There was one young +lady who was hard to beat; often when the parties thought they had +nearly succeeded she would cry out for "hot water"! and one would have +to supply her with it, and by that time his partner would be +overwhelmed with a stock of unwiped crockery. Need I say that at times +I was one of those boys? + +There were none of the modern conveniences for water, and the pump had +to do its share of work. The rooms were supplied daily by a water +carrier who went from house to house filling the pails and pitchers in +the rooms and halls. + +I was willing and tractable. The fresh air, the simple diet and the +free life began at once to tone up my organization. I soon found that +the Eyry steps and the Eyry embankments were where the air was freshest +of an evening, and the tones of the piano presided over by the "poet's +sister," Fanny Dwight, attracted me more and more. The pupils and those +of their ages grouped naturally together. I did not care to go among +the arguers and the disputants who talked anti-this and anti-that, the +new sciences of medicine--the water cure and homoeopathy; who disputed +the doctrines of community of property, western lands, politics, +approaching war with Mexico, etc., etc. Nor did I care to group with +the few who played euchre and smoked "conchas," and the book of nature +had very often more charms for me than any other. + +Our family rooms were small, and as stated I was sandwiched in with +others, in rather unpromising quarters. But I almost only slept there. +My interested parents often spent the evenings as well as the days in +domestic duties, so I was much alone. I cared not. I could thoughtfully +contemplate the climbing constellations, and sometimes one of the many +who grew friendly to me would point out the planets and name the stars +for me, and I would watch the moon rise slowly above the horizon. The +beautiful meadow was below me, and above and around the whole eastern +hemisphere of sky. Or I would wander around the houses to see what was +going on, meeting groups of promenaders by the way. At the cottage the +piano would be playing, and likely as not Lucas and Jose or Willard and +Charles were waltzing with Anna and Abbie or Katie and Agnes to +Louisa's playing. Or it was singing school, and all joined it; or Mrs. +Ripley was going to read "Margaret"; or the "Professor" (Dana) wanted +me in his German class; or it was full moon and we would walk a mile or +two down the highway, or make a moonlight visit to the pines. Otherwise +I was dreaming day-dreams to Fanny's piano playing. + +Ah! do you think I was indolent? Not so! In my meditations I was +working out social problems and solving theories of life and religion. +I was nursing kindliness of heart, love to all men. I was awakening a +crushed nature, and absorbing influences that made the mottoes of +"Unity of man with man," "Unity of man with God," "Unity of man with +the universe," seem like real, tangible things. But who can say how +much was also due to the low, soothing harmonies that floated out of +those graceful windows with parting sashes that opened like doors down +to the windowsills? + +In time I explored every cranny and hollow of ground. I wandered in the +woods, found every wild flower, knew every tree; knew where the +trailing evergreens grew; could go to the spot where I could find what +I wanted for bouquets, and surprised the Community with their ample +size and beauty. I came in with wreaths and garlands; gathered +varieties of grasses untold; picked rhodoras in early spring, saracenas +and orchids in summer, asters and gentians in the late fall, and +innumerable flowers in various places of a neighborhood wonderfully +rich in botanical specimens. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD. + + +When I arrived, Hawthorne, Bradford, Hosmer, Hecker, Burton, Leach and +Allen had gone; as had also the Curtis brothers, George and Burrill, +the Bancroft boys, sons of the historian, and Barlow (since General +Barlow)--all pupils; as well as some of the ladies--Miss Dora Gannett, +niece of Rev. Ezra S. Gannett, Miss Georgianna Bruce, (afterwards Mrs. +Kirby), Miss Allen, Miss Sarah Stearns; and the phase of the Brook Farm +life jocosely or seriously alluded to by the after-comers as the +"Transcendental Days" or "Community Times," gave place to the +"Associative or Industrial Period." + +In the place of the Transcendentalists came other men and women, new +and untried, with not so much of Greek and Latin, not so much suavity +of manners, not so much "cultivation," but warm of heart and brave of +purpose. The magnificent idea was a revelation of truth to some but +also a great temptation for many shivering poor and impatient +outsiders. They could thrive on it. They felt it was their right, their +destiny, having failed in the civilized fight for bread and butter and +comfort, to have from some source food, shelter and protection; and it +struck them that Brook Farm was just the place to go for it. So the +Association was inundated with applications of all kinds by person and +by letter. + +It is my fortune to possess the originals of a number of these +interesting letters, specimens of which may be found in the appendix. +The replies by Mr. Ripley were drafts of the letters sent; they are all +in his fine handwriting and _bona fide_ documents which the writer +personally secured at Brook Farm many years ago, after the organization +had broken up. + +The Directors used discretionary power, and if there was any +probability that the applicant would be useful, his case was presented +for action at a general meeting of the Association. + +I was not long on the farm before I became acquainted with many of the +Associates besides those before mentioned--those who belonged entirely +to the Associative period; and among the unique figures there was no +one that struck my young fancy more than that of Peter, or, in familiar +talk, "the General." + +Peter M. Baldwin was about his work when I was introduced to him, and +as he put forth his hand I saw that his arms extended no little way +through the sleeves of a common green baize jacket; and that his large +feet, which were encased in an old pair of slippers, had descended some +six inches below a pair of blue overalls before they touched the +ground. If he had been inclined to corpulency, his frame was ample to +build upon for a man of Websterian proportions, but he was not so +inclined; on the contrary, he simulated other great men in his +personality--Jackson, or our modern Abraham Lincoln. He was spare, +bony, nervous. His heavy eyebrows, his dark hair well sprinkled with +gray, which arose straight upward from his high, indented forehead, and +his large, half Roman nose, prominent cheek-bones and thin cheeks +reminded one so forcibly of the pictures of General Jackson that he was +by unanimous consent nicknamed "the General." + +He shook me by the hand warmly and asked me a few questions, and it was +not until after this first interview that I discovered he had an +impediment in his speech. A rapid talker, he would rattle on in +conversation and then stop as suddenly as though you had put your hand +over his mouth. You would look up in astonishment, and then find by the +contortions of his face that he was trying to speak some troublesome +word but could not. The word once recovered, his speech flowed on as +before and perhaps for a long while, until he stumbled upon another +fence-like one; when he would dismount, take down the bars, or jump it, +and proceed as before. + +This impediment, strange to say, never troubled the General when he had +prepared a piece for recitation, for he would then speak with dignity +and precision, and made the very beau ideal of "the lean and hungry +Cassius." + +He was a universal favorite, on account of the kindness and benevolence +of his disposition. This generosity was superabundant, for if any of +the younger portion of the family wished for the sweets of the +storeroom, over which he presided, they had only "to coax the General" +to succeed in obtaining their wishes. + +"The General" was the baker and made the bread, cake and some of the +pastry. He also assisted the "kitchen group" in domestic cookery. +Beyond this he was particularly fond of three things--disputation, the +newspapers and a cigar. He was thoroughly devoted to the doctrines of +"United industry" and to Brook Farm. He was among the first up in the +morning and last at night, attending to his ovens and his bread. + +Peter's room was at first in Attica with others, where I saw him often, +and his favorite pastime was a game of euchre, which had not then +worked itself into general favor. I did not care to play it then, or +any cards; I was too much charmed with the life of the place, with the +society of the young, with social games under the inspiration of the +hostess, with love of dance and music and the ever-changing face of +nature, to care for such dull solace as the pasteboard games. + +But the General did; he conversed, he smoked, he read the newspapers, +he argued, stuttered and talked the "water cure," and one day I was +surprised on going into the room to find him fully embarked for the +cure of a desperate headache. What had he done? Why, taken the +wash-bowl and filled it with water, placed it on the floor, stretched +himself out at full length on the floor also, and, with a pillow at his +shoulders, laid the back of his head into the wash-bowl. But being of +an active temperament he could not be quiet and idle long, so, calling +for a newspaper and lighting a cigar, he gently puffed the weed and +read the news, lying still in position while the "cure" was +progressing. It was a funny sight! + +My attention was soon drawn to a large, portly gentleman who carried +his head erect and had an easy, familiar way about him; for he was +acting as host, being charged with the reception of guests and +strangers who came to visit or to look about the place. He walked with +the grandeur of a Falstaff and the dignity of a sachem. His capacious +gray coat and broad-brimmed hat might suggest to a stranger that he had +been at some time a member of a Shaker community, but his closely cut +gray hair and his heavy, o'erhanging eyebrows and brave visage gave the +lie to any such suggestion. Aye, aye, every hair that stood bristling +up on that front of his seemed to stand in rebellion against such a +charge, seemed saying, and growing more bristly every moment, "I, a +Shaker? Not I!" A large mouth was an appropriate companion to a +ponderous throat and chin, which were daily shaven with scrupulous +adherence to the first principles of warm water, soap and a sharp +razor, and a practice of thirty years gave a polish to his face unknown +to those less adept in the art. + +On one occasion, some of the members fled from the tyranny of the +brutal blade and let their beards grow in uncut stubble, not, however, +without criticism from our host, who said in answer to their argument +that it was natural for the beard to grow, "Art is the perfection of +nature! Look at this garden!" It was after dinner, and some were taking +a few moments' rest in front of the Hive, lounging on the fence and +looking down the terrace into what was called "her majesty's garden" +and toward the bubbling brook. "What would it be without its walks, +flower-beds and arrangement?" he continued. "And these fields--what +would they be without the art of cultivation? You see it is art that +perfects nature." + +Then some wag suggested that he was trying to cultivate "the field of +his face," but nothing could disturb the imperturbable gravity of his +composition. Gravity, solid gravity, was one of the basic elements of +his nature. When, however, he lighted his enthusiastic lamp, and his +warm heart gushed forth in song or story--I think I hear him singing +now, "A man's a man for a' that!"--he carried his audience with him. + +The "Omniarch," as Mr. Ryckman was called, was a man of family, his +short, sprightly, nervous little wife acting as hostess and attending +to the lady visitors. + +Many visitors asked the question of him, "Mr. Ryckman, do the Brook +Farmers hold all their property in common?" + +With a bland smile he would say to them: "Certainly not; the idea of a +Community, as it is generally understood, is a society that owns or +holds all the property or capital of its members as its own, in its own +corporate right--that no one can remove, but everyone can use portions +of at will, or in turn. If the ideas of the first projectors were not +all definite on this point, we now stand boldly as champions of +individual property. It is one of our watchwords. For what is property? +It is but the extension of the individual; wings to fly with; hands to +work with; dried labor; labor's product laid away for future use, to +bless oneself with. It is the bottom and foundation of material +society, for none exists without it, and the greater the amount, +distributed fairly and justly, the greater the power and strength of +the society that holds it. We take human nature as it is--as God made +it. We do not propose to remake it; that is the folly of reformers and +theorists, and more especially moralists in and out of the church. The +desire, the personal desire, to acquire property is a fundamental trait +of character more or less strong in every individual. If a society +cannot be adjusted to that trait it will fail. We think one can be. We +think ours is so, as fairly as the nature of our transitory conditions +will allow. We want capital here. That we can make it here in time, +there is no doubt, but we must labor long to secure a plus of labor +that we can dry and store for future use. Meanwhile we want to build a +suitable unitary building, which is almost an absolute necessity; +farming implements and various appliances are wanted to suit the new +conditions under which we live, and many things for comfort, too +numerous to mention." + +The host was not sparing of his words, especially when stimulated by +charming questioners, in ways like these: "Tell me more, Mr. Ryckman." +"What are you living here for?" "Can you expect anything from this +life?" + +"Yes, madam, we expect a great deal. The theory of our life is that a +great saving can be made over ordinary ways of living. It now takes one +hundred houses for one hundred families, and one hundred housekeepers, +and probably, on the average, one hundred servants, one hundred +kitchens, one hundred fires, and as many cooking stoves or ranges, and +everything in proportion. Now by combining together the saving on the +cost of all these houses and cooks, kitchens, coal and wood, dispensing +with all unnecessary servants and labor, a house of magnificent +proportions adapted to the wants of the combined families could be +built, with elegant parlors for lectures, assemblies and music; +dining-rooms, kitchens and laundries which would not cost as much as +the separate households full of inconvenience and discomfort. + +"This economic side of our life is easily seen, but there are many +other sides or phases that are not as readily comprehended. We are here +as a protest to the unnatural life of our crowded cities. We are here +to build society anew on juster principles, believing that if we once +get a fair foothold, the institution will be self-supporting, and so +attractive that we shall have no need to seek for true, earnest +workers; they will seek us, rather than we seek them, and we shall be +able to choose of the best material for an eternal city where all will +be rich in the fulness of the surrounding life, and the children will +be educated from the start to industry, goodness and justice." + +Among the pleasant pictures of memory is that of Thomas Blake as he +appeared after he had changed his civilized clothes for a Brook Farm +tunic of blue plaid, a "tarpaulin" straw hat and a neat broad rolling +shirt collar of large dimensions that gracefully tended towards his +square shoulders. I see again his dark, manly countenance lighted up by +his keen brown eyes; his Roman features; his closely curling hair; his +intellectual forehead and pleasant smile, and his very neat, "trig" +appearance. The new life seemed to fill him full of pleasure, and he +was always ready for his share of work, study or enjoyment. His short, +nautical figure and his name, Blake, soon earned him the complimentary +title, which with one accord we gave him, "the Admiral." A nearness of +age brought us together, and a strong sympathy of tastes cemented our +friendship. We worked, played, danced and sung together, and wandered +up and down the paths and roads discussing social problems and all +sorts of subjects, ever returning in our talks to our home life, its +pleasures, aims and duties. + +I thought that there was a little of the dapper look about John Glover +Drew who arrived the same day with the Admiral, as I met him for the +first time near the corner of the Hive. He seemed stiff and formal in +dress and manner, and his face had in it the cool, matter-of-fact +element which did not attract me; in fact he looked too "civilized." +His clothes were of fine materials; dress coat, silk vest and dark +pantaloons. His stylish and plump person filled them out thoroughly. A +tall silk hat set a trifle back on his head exposed his large forehead; +a fob and seal that hung below his vest, in contrast to the Brook Farm +dress, made an added conspicuousness to his appearance. I can see him +now, in my mind's eye, lift his watch out of its secret enclosure and +examine it to secure promptness of his engagements. + +His large head was covered with dark, slightly curling hair. His smooth +face, toned by a delicate beard and fine arching eyebrows, reminded one +of the portraits of Shakespeare. His nose was short and round and his +nostrils dilated when in animated conversation. The muscles of his firm +mouth were ever on the play and gave life to his countenance, which +when in repose assumed a heavy and somewhat stern appearance. The union +between his head and body was made, apparently, by a high, stiff, black +neck-stock. + +He was fully of medium height, and healthy, but if one in his presence +tried the blowing of a flute or the tuning of a violin it would set him +in agonies, and the of his wrath was not forthcoming. He was wholly +alive. There was not a point where you could touch him and not +appreciate that the nerves of sensation vibrated and quivered. Droll +and jocose in manner, he was constantly quoting from Shakespeare or the +poets, of whom he had been a constant reader. He was witty, too, and +did not disdain a pun, or repartee. + +He had the elements of a good mercantile training, and was therefore +just the man needed in the young Association, and soon arose from one +position to another, winning the meaner laurels of "chief of group" and +"head of series," and in time became the "commercial agent" and member +of the "Industrial Council." Thenceforth and ever after, he was more +bustling than before, both in and out of doors; hovering around the +barn with its horses and wagons; ever tackling up teams and starting +for the city; unpacking boxes, bales and barrels; ever in conference +with the chiefs, inquiring what was needed--anyone could see that +almost everything was needed--and showing by his exterior the busy +brain that worked within. Mr. Drew was an especial admirer of some of +Byron's poems, and it was rumored around that the corners of newspapers +had occasionally been garnished with the fruits of his pen. + +Here let me say that first impressions in this case gave no index to +the manly, brave spirit that was in him, which, true as steel, bore to +the end witness to his belief in the truth and the divinity of the +associative and cooeperative ideas. + +There was in the farming group a healthy-looking young man, of ruddy +countenance and fair skin, with brown hair and beard that grew +luxuriantly, who soon made himself conspicuous by his individuality, +his good nature and cheerfulness. There was a positive side to his +character; he was in earnest, and he put himself by his earnestness +into a positive way that to the superficial seemed to savor of the +important, so that Irish John nicknamed him "John Almighty," and it +stuck to him, as an old simile says, "like a burdock to a boy's +trousers." His devotion was rewarded by chances to lecture. He became +one of the faithful, and faithful he has always remained. Amid all the +changes of life that have come to him since, and notwithstanding the +many persons indoctrinated with Fourier's ideas, he has been for years +almost the only man among them broadly advocating them and directly +working for the laboring man by endeavoring to organize societies and +industrial unions of various sorts for their benefit. I sincerely honor +the devotion of John Orvis, continued through so many years of his life. + +But what would be the use in sketching the characters that throng +around me by the hundreds, who were associated with this new life? +Good-natured, full-faced Frederick Cabot, of Boston, whose capacities +were devoted to the bookkeeping department and who was clerk of the +corporation, who was in the vigor of young manhood, unique of face and +beard, with stout neck and low, rolling collar, when beards were absent +and collars high; and plain, unpretending Buckley Hastings, who could +work like a Trojan--were of them; and the corps of farmers and workers, +male and female, who made the body politic, all were interesting, but +they must be left out of this narrative, along with the great number of +kind and sympathetic persons whose dear hearts encouraged, and whose +dearer presence stimulated the Association in its labor. + +But it will hardly do to leave out John Cheevers from the list of +strange characters on the farm, because, though he did not belong there +as member and was as a barnacle on the body politic, he was so quaint +and queer. He was Irish and came to America as valet to Sir John +Caldwell, who died very suddenly at the Tremont House in Boston. Pity, +compassion or the like induced Mr. Ripley to befriend him, and being +introduced to the life he became, as may be said, omnipresent. His +education, his refined tastes, seemed to spring from a crude and +vigorous soil. Travel and contact with high and low made his +conversation interesting, and the mystery of a supposed relationship +with Sir John added a romance to his life. + +His affection for many of the residents was very great. He was +introduced into associative life in "Transcendental days," and many a +tale he told of the departed ones, often alluding to them as "extinct +volcanoes of Transcendental nonsense and humbuggery." + +Like many of his countrymen, he carried things to extremes. Extremes in +language were the most common, for he had all the oiliness and glibness +of an Emeraldic tongue, and in conversation, when a little excited, the +words tumbled out with headlong velocity or flowed like molten brass +into the mould of the founder, and, to carry the simile farther, some +would sputter over. He had in his storehouse of language, many queer +phrases and sayings that he brought out to embellish his conversation, +some of which were only used as a _corps de reserve_, or brought into +action when all others failed in argument. + +He prophesied that all people, no matter how high they might carry +their heads, would sooner or later "find their level." He believed in +the practical. All "folly" and "nonsense" were eschewed by him, and yet +no one was more fond of a joke than he, excepting when it was played on +himself. John professed great love for the mother church if you +attacked it; but if anyone spoke earnestly in its favor he was equally +persuaded by him not to believe in such "Jesuitical nonsense and +folly." His tunic dress, instead of being a blue one like what most of +the men wore, was made of green plaid, but on Sundays, a dark blue +"swallowtail" coat with brass buttons made its appearance, and with +shoes newly polished he was ready for church. + +Unlike the majority of the men, who wore the hair moderately long, his +was cut short to his pate, not a straggling hair protruding itself +beyond the others. In deference to the seventh day, he exchanged his +shirt of blue cotton for a white, well-starched linen one, and donned a +high black lasting neck-stock and dark vest, and shaved his face so +clean that it reflected his own sunshine if not the solar ray. In +person he was of medium height, with a head of thick, dark, almost +black hair, slightly sprinkled with gray, and his small dark eyebrows +were high above his full eyes which were set almost flush with his +forehead. The muscles of his face were prominent, and deep lines were +marked around his large mouth with its long under lip, which half the +time was on a broad grin. + +He walked with a headlong sort of gait, his body slightly bent forward, +deriving its motion from the lower portion of his frame, without that +swaying of arms and chest so common, and which gives grace to motion. +He was ever moving, bustling about; ever inquiring--now for this one, +then for another; occasionally taking from his pocket a small paper +parcel into which he thrust finger and thumb mysteriously and +guardedly, and turning half away from you would make the cabalistic +motions common to imbibers of "old Rappee"; and having satisfied the +desire of that extraordinary pug nose of his, would be off in a +twinkling to some distant part of the farm, where you may be sure that +he was edifying his hearers with a specimen of good-nature, and the +peculiar intonations of a mellow voice flavored with genuine brogue. + +There are two friends of the movement who cannot be left out, who were +often on the farm, whose characters were very unlike and almost at +antipodes; yet both were impressed with the associative theories. One +of them viewed them from a Christian and moral side, believing that +Christianity favored them, that they were productive of the earthly end +toward which the sublime doctrines of Christianity pointed; and the +other believed that scientific social organization alone would act so +powerfully as a stimulant and teacher to humanity, that mankind and +human nature would gravitate to their own sublime places at once if an +organization was presented suitable to their needs. They were Albert +Brisbane and William Henry Channing. + +Among the devoted friends there was no one for whom we had greater +admiration and esteem than Rev. William Henry Channing. He was a +Unitarian minister and a nephew of the celebrated Rev. William Ellery +Channing. His figure was tall and stately, though rather slender. He +carried himself finely, and walked with head erect. His features were +sharp cut, clean and regular. His hair was dark and curling, and worn a +trifle long for these days. His forehead was high and slightly +retreating. His eyes were sharp and piercing, deeply set, with delicate +dark eyebrows. His complexion was warm and brilliant, his beard closely +shaven. He had a pleasant smile which, when it deepened, showed a fine +set of white teeth. All of these physical signs were in his favor, but +there was about his face, so handsome at times, an earnestness that +seemed almost painful, when, devoted to the cause, he spoke with the +burning, eloquent words he so often uttered. + +In social life he was charming. His voice was soft and melodious; his +education and talents were of the finest order. He was a firm believer +in the mission of Jesus Christ to bring peace, order and justice out of +our social chaos. He was an Associationist from the Christian side, if +I may so speak. His belief in Christ was so thorough that it made him +think all things possible that were Christlike, and he believed that +associated life contained more of the spirit of Christ in it than any +other form of society, ancient or modern. + +He desired to join the organization with his wife and young children, +but Mrs. Channing did not, and we were deprived of his union with us, +as well as of the company of a charming woman and her family. But he +was around us like a protecting spirit. He spoke on social occasions to +us. He was full of inspiration and full of hope, though his education +was not of a practical sort after a worldly standard. He couldn't +calculate market values. Neither could he organize a workshop or build +a barn. His thoughts were for greater things; for everything that +elevated large numbers of people--education, morals, faith, peace, +anti-slavery and the good government of his country. + +One Sabbath afternoon we were invited to meet with him in the near-by +beautiful pine woods, for religious services; and like the Pilgrims and +reformers of old, we there raised our voices in hymns of praise, and +listened to a sermon of hopefulness from his eloquent lips. Would we +had a picture of that marked company as they were seated around on the +pine leaves that covered the ground, following their "attractions" by +joining in groups with those they most admired or most sympathized +with--young and fair, bright and cheerful, as they mostly were, with +the warm sunlight glinting through the sighing pines; hearts and eyes +illuminated with great thoughts; hands and faces browned with working +for great, world-wide ideas. Memory is the only photograph of it, and +be assured the picture is a beautiful one. + +The church was Channing's first love, but he found it bound with +creeds, and not broad enough to cover all humanity, as his great +bounding heart did. After music and an inspiring address under the +trees, and the arches of Nature's temple, looking heavenward, he said, +"Let us all join hands and make a circle, the symbol of universal +unity, and of the _at-one-ment_ of all men and women, and here form the +Church of Humanity that shall cover the men and women of every nation +and every clime." + +Who shall say that it was not so?--that then and there was not formed +one of the impulses of life, one of the branches of the spiritual +church that shall live forever! Their daily toil, the thousand and one +annoyances they had to submit to from uncomfortable surroundings and +private discords--for no one need think that all the persons and those +connected with them who came to Brook Farm were equally inspired and +interested--and the risk of personal losses, were part of their pledge +and baptism of earnestness. + +Mr. Albert Brisbane, of New York, was equally tall with Mr. Channing, +but of a type of features that was ordinarily less pleasing; wearing a +full beard closely trimmed, intellectual in forehead and face, with a +voice one could hardly call musical; a rapid, earnest talker; the +travelled son of a wealthy man, who had spent some years abroad and in +France, where he became acquainted personally with Fourier and with his +doctrines of association, which had deeply impressed him. On his return +to America he advocated them in the New York _Tribune_, and by the +publication of two or more volumes, by active interest in a society, +and by various writings for papers and magazines. + +I do not know whether Mr. Brisbane owned stock in the Brook Farm +Association or not. Certainly he never gained any dividend by his labor +there, but was an interested observer who boarded at the farm at +intervals, sometimes passing a few days only, and finally residing some +months, occupied in the study and translation of Fourier's works. + +He was an enthusiast, but his over enthusiastic moods influenced the +Brook Farmers, it seemed to me, often-times unwisely. He saw the +full-blown phalanstery coming like a comet and expected every moment. +We shortly would be in a blaze of glory! He loved to talk of the good +things to be--of social problems worked out by science and by harmonic +modes; to flatter himself that without great self-sacrifice, devotion +and untiring industry, the world was to be regenerated. It seemed to +his mind, that it could be done all at once by organization and +enthusiasm, and it was only necessary to create enough of them to carry +everything before them as in a bayonet charge. + +He labored hard with the society to change its name to Phalanx, and to +push the movement as far as possible into the formulas and organization +described by Fourier, which did not advance it a single step in +material or spiritual progress, and acted, as in the case of the +constitution, as a dead weight, owing to the burdensomeness of its +details, which called for too much labor to keep the accounts of so +complex an organization. + +Having described a few of the many persons who were members of the +Association, I must speak of three noted persons who are very often +accredited as belonging to the West Roxbury Community; they are Miss +Margaret Fuller (afterwards Countess D'Ossoli), Ralph Waldo Emerson and +Theodore Parker. They were all personal friends of Mr. and Mrs. Ripley, +and belonged to the Transcendental Club. In the first period of the +experiment the two former made lengthy visits at the farm, but during +the Industrial Period only one of them, Mr. Parker, that I remember +visited the place. I must except a single visit from Miss Fuller, whom +I recall as plain-looking, and plainly to old-fashionedly dressed, with +a crane-like neck and a long gold chain around it, which reached to her +waist. She talked quite easily and freely, and the impression of the +blue-stocking was left perhaps unfortunately on my mind. + +Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson--for he had been an ordained minister--wrote +for the _Dial_, furnished it with queer poems, wrote articles on the +wrongs of labor, and agreed fully with Mr. Ripley on so many points +that he has been mistaken many times for a Brook Farmer. + +Concord, Massachusetts, Mr. Emerson's home, contained a marked radical +centre, and some of the Concord people were affiliated by kinship and +by sympathy with the Brook Farm people from first to last during the +entire experiment. Mr. Ripley invited Mr. Emerson to join it, but he +declined in a letter which may be found in Mr. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," Appendix, page 315. I make the following extract:-- + + * * * * * + +"My Dear Sir: It is quite time that I made an answer to your +proposition that I should venture into your new community. The design +appears to me noble and generous, proceeding as I plainly see, from +nothing covert or selfish or ambitious, but from a manly heart and +mind. So it makes all men its friends and debtors. It becomes a matter +to entertain it in a friendly spirit, and examine what it has for us. + +"I have decided not to join it, yet very slowly, and I may almost say +with penitence. I am greatly relieved by learning that your coadjutors +are now so many that you will no longer attach that importance to the +defection of individuals which you hinted, in your letter to me, I or +others might possess--the painful power, I mean, of preventing the +execution of the plan." + + * * * * * + +Rev. Theodore Parker, the noted liberal Unitarian preacher, of whose +close personal relations with Mr. Ripley much might be said, lived two +miles away, at West Roxbury, where he preached in the village church, +and his afternoon walk every few days was over to the Farm and back for +exercise, and to meet and converse with Mr. Ripley at the Eyry. At the +close of their chat you would see them coming down the hill together +towards the barn, where Mr. Ripley's duties as milkman took him at that +time of day, when they would part--Mr. Parker for his long walk home. + +One afternoon they were seen as usual coming down the hill. Theodore +Parker had not then become famous, but preached in a little square, +wooden church, to his small country congregation, and once on a time, +being on a visit to a friend at a distance (we will call the friend's +name Smith, for convenience sake), Mr. Smith asked Mr. Parker how Mr. +Ripley was getting along with his "Community." "Oh," said the faithless +Parker, "Mr. Ripley reminds me, in that connection, of a new and +splendid locomotive dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +Soon after Mr. Ripley heard what Mr. Parker had said of him, and +resolved to pay him in his own coin. So he held him that day in +pleasant, lively conversation until he reached the farmyard by the barn +at the Hive, and the unsprung joke was running all around the pleasant +lines of his face and twinkling in the corners of his brilliant eyes. +Towards the close of the conversation, as Mr. Parker was about to +leave, Mr. Ripley casually said that he had met Mr. Smith, and he had +spoken of Mr. Parker and his church. + +"Indeed," said Mr. Parker, "and what did he say of me?" + +"Well, if you must know," Mr. Ripley replied, "he said that you and +your little country church over there in West Roxbury, with its few +dozen of farmers, reminded him of a new and splendid locomotive +dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +It would have been worth a month of an ordinary lifetime to be there +when Mr. Ripley exploded his joke, to hear his merry peal of laughter, +whilst his sides shook again, and his reverend friend stood confounded. + +But such little jokes did nothing towards rupturing the sincere +confidence and friendship of these two brave men, and soon after this +Mr. Parker was writing pleasant notes to the "Archon," as Mr. Ripley +was often called. By good fortune, I am the possessor of one of them, +and as it shows the playful side of a great man, the side often +withheld from the public, I give it here. It is charming. It is without +date and reads:-- + + * * * * * + +"Archonite Illustrissimo: I have just received a letter from the +Secretary of the Navy, who informs me that he has jurisdiction over the +_waters_ of the U. S. A., and accordingly over _Brook_ Farm. He +therefore requests me to investigate your proceedings and report to the +department. He thinks of appointing yourself to the command of the +fleet destined against Texas, and wishes me to _Sound_ you on that +point. (How would Little John do for California?) + +"I am to come over tomorrow P. M. and make investigations, so have the +chips picked up, and the pigs shut up in the library. Now hold yourself +in readiness to receive _Blanco_ White, who thinks you were one of the +greatest men who had appeared since Balaam the son of Beor. Pray reward +him for the honor he has done you. + + "Yours, T." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK. + + +The departure from the ordinary mode of living initiated at the farm +seemed to stir up every curious, investigating and odd mortal, from one +end of the country to the other, and they all wanted to visit the +place. At first they were made welcome to the table, and to what there +was to spare of the members' time, but when their name was "legion" the +Board of Government found it necessary to exact a fee for meals. This +did not diminish them; the cry was "Still they come!" Men, women and +children were passing from Hive to Eyry on every pleasant day from May +to November, and over the farm, back to the Hive, where they took +private carriage or public coach for their departure. Among these +people were some of the oddest of the odd; those who rode every +conceivable hobby; some of all religions; bond and free; transcendental +and occidental; antislavery and proslavery; come-outers, communists, +fruitists and flutists; dreamers and schemers of all sorts. + +The number of notable persons who visited the farm at this period was +large. I was too young to appreciate the positions they held, in +literature, the church or the nation, but append a list of names, +selected almost at random, mostly of distinguished persons who were +occasional visitors. Horace Greeley, Parke Godwin, Henry James, Freeman +Hunt, Charles Kraitsir, Henry Giles, S. P. Andrews, all of New York; +Rev. O. A. Brownson, Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Rev. Henry A. Miles, +Rev. Edward E. Hale, Rev. Samuel Osgood, Rev. Frederick T. Gray, Rev. +A. B. Green, Rev. C. A. Greenleaf, Hon. John G. Palfrey, Hon. E. +Rockwood Hoar, Hon. George H. Calvert, of Newport, R. I.; Hon. Charles +Sumner, Judge Ellis Gray Loring, Judge Wells, Dr. W. F. Channing, R. H. +Dana, A. Bronson Alcott, George B. Emerson, Samuel G. Ward,--Marcus +Spring and Edmund Tweedy, of New York; James A. Kay, of Philadelphia. +W. W. Story, C. P. Cranch, E. Hicks, Joseph and Thomas Carew, John +Sartain, John A. Ordway and Benjamin Champney, were among the many +artists who came; the major portion of all the above named persons were +from New England. + +It will not do to forget young and curly-headed John A. Andrew, who +became the war governor of Massachusetts, or Robert Owen, the English +communist, well known for his social experiments at New Harmony, Ind., +who, at this time, was a ruddy-faced, almost white-haired person, with +a large nose, and carrying well his seventy years on a vigorous frame. + +George R. Russell, Francis G. Shaw and Theodore Parker, with their +wives and members of their families, were very friendly visitors. + +There were numerous ladies, also, who came. I remember Miss A. P. +Peabody, Pauline Wright, Mary Gove and sweet Lydia Maria Child, of New +York. + +The old record book that lay in the reception room at the Hive would +reveal a list of four thousand names, registered in one year, to select +from, but alas! it is lost forever. + +A. Bronson Alcott came one day and brought his friend Lane, who was +anxious to visit the "Community," but Lane was opposed to eating +anything that was killed or had died, so he ate neither fish nor flesh. +Neither would he wear wool, because it was an animal product, for he +did not like animal products. Neither would he wear cotton nor use +sugar nor rice, because they were the products of slave labor. And +finally, he walked from Boston in a linen suit, because he would avoid +using a horse, for his argument was that the value of time spent in +providing food, lodging and care of animals, was not returned to the +owners for the outlay. Lane came from England, and was not a "Yankee +crank," as some might possibly think. + +Miss Louisa M. Alcott wrote of him in connection with her father and +herself, in an article entitled "A Journey to Fruitlands." Judging from +my remembrance of all the characters, the picture is faithfully drawn. + +Among the odd visitors the climax was reached, when a man came to pass +a day and a night, who announced, that he had no need of sleep and had +not slept for a year. The statement was passed by as a mere whim, we +thinking of course that when night came he would not refuse a bed, but +he did. After spending the evening at the Eyry, where the visitors were +more especially entertained, he was notified that an attendant would +show him to his bed, but he politely declined one, and as there seemed +to be no other way, he was allowed to remain in an easy chair, with a +lamp burning, after the household had retired. + +It was late when Irish John Cheevers, _our_ odd genius, prowling about +the premises on his way to his room at the Cottage, saw the light in +the Eyry parlor, and supposing some of the household were awake, went +softly up and looked in at the window. There sat the visitor in the +chair, _asleep_. He then went in, but his noise aroused the sleeper, +and as John couldn't possibly keep his tongue still a minute, he said, +"I beg your pardon, sir, I did not intend to disturb your sleep--not in +the least, sir," in his palavering way, at which the stranger protested +strongly that he hadn't been disturbed, as he had been awake all the +time. + +In the morning the stranger was there, still sitting in his chair, and +declared he had passed the night pleasantly, but had not been asleep. +Of course the improbability of the thing made, as the newspapers say, a +"sensation." "By gad," said John, "I caught him asleep in the Eyry +parlor. I did, upon my word; I did, my very self." + +John wasn't inclined to be profane, but when anyone pretended to be +what they were not, it aroused his combative spirit, and it was the +"blank humbuggery of the thing" that mightily displeased him. But the +time came when the laugh was against him. He had been in bed and slept +some hours one summer night; it was the time of the full moon, when its +transcendent beauty led the young folks to wander over the farm from +house to house, to sit a while on the doorsteps or on the knoll at the +Hive; to sing "_Das Klinket_" or such part songs as "Row gently here, +my gondolier," or "The lone starry hours give me Love, when calm is the +beautiful night," or anything else to let out the joyousness of their +hearts. They were not wild, for they labored enough to take away the +wildness that indolence brings, and to sober them down to the cheerful +mood; and cheerily would talk to one another of the people around them, +and of the hundred little excitements the novel life led them into, +that were wanting elsewhere, and often it was an hour or two later than +the usual time for rest, before they were in bed. + +John had been to his couch, and when he awoke it was broad daylight. He +dressed and went down to the Hive, and as some one was going away early +to Boston, concluded to get the wagon ready. But first he looked into +the kitchen; the door was unlocked, as it always was, day and night; +there was no one there, and it was surely time some one should be up. +He drew out the light wagon from under the shed, and went for the +harness. All the time the universal stillness surprised him. Where +could all the people be? He thought he would see how high the sun was, +and looking up into the sky, beheld the full face of the most beautiful +moon that ever shone on God's fair acres, when a new thought struck +him, that he had mistaken moonshine for daylight. He wheeled the wagon +into the shed, and then went for another long nap; but some of the +young men, who hadn't been in bed a great while, overheard the +movements, and had their laugh and fun out of it! + +During the first spring and summer of my stay my hours were largely +spent in the Farming Series, working in the various groups. I assisted +at planting, hoeing and driving or leading the horses at the plough. I +also helped the gardener, who arrived with plants, in the care of them +and in the ornamentation of the place. + +According to the science of Fourier, everything is naturally arranged +in groups and series. A group consists of three or more individuals or +things, and a number of similar groups together make a series. To have +harmony in society requires the application of this law or arrangement +to all the relations of daily life; or in other words, it is natural to +be thus arranged in industrial and social life. The Brook Farmers, +being ambitious to introduce a resemblance to such an organization--for +it could be but very faintly shadowed by their few members--and also +desirous to indoctrinate all into the idea of this natural arrangement, +organized "groups and series" in the following manner as proposed in +the new constitution. "Three or more persons combined for some object +or labor" made a group; harmonic numbers for groups--three, five, +seven, twelve, etc. A series consisted of three or more groups for a +similar object, joined under one head or chief. + +To illustrate the system we will suppose it to be the spring of the +year. The Farming Series will then consist of the following groups: +First, a Cattle Group, Which attends to the feeding, grooming and +general care of the cattle--horses, cows, oxen, pigs, etc. It may +include the milking of the cows, or that may be a group in itself under +the name of the Milking Group. Second, a Plowing Group, who attend to +the plowing of the fields. Third, a Nursery Group, who have the care of +the young trees, grafting, budding, etc. Fourth, a Planting Group, +which may later in the season change into a Hoeing Group, or into a +Weeding Group, or into a Haying Group, or a separate organization for +each may continue till the end of the season. Each chief of a group +recorded the hours expended in labor in his group, so that it was +possible to tell, at the end of a season, how many hours had been spent +in a given occupation, as hoeing, weeding, planting, etc. These groups, +each having a chief, formed the aforenamed series, and the heads, or +"chiefs" of all the groups together elected the head of the series, who +kept a record and had general charge of the work done under his +management. + +The Mechanical Series, consisting of shoemaking, carpentering, sash and +blind-makers' groups, were usually the same persons the year around. +If, however, the shoemaker was tired of his group, and could be spared, +he took his hoe and rake, and went into some group in the Farming +Series for a change of occupation; the hours he spent there were put to +his credit on the book of the group in which he labored in that series. + +The Domestic Series had care of the houses and all domestic work, and +was divided into Consistory, Dormitory and Kitchen Groups. There were +also Washing, Ironing and Mending Groups, and perhaps some others. The +beds, rooms, halls and lamps had to be attended to every day, water and +towels provided, and the "Dormitory" and "Consistory Groups," situated +as the Brook Farmers were, were obliged to go from house to house to +attend to these duties. + +There were independent groups on the farm, not connected with any +series, as the Teachers' Group, and the Miscellaneous Group, who did a +variety of miscellaneous work; and there was a Commercial Agent who +bought and sold goods for the Association. There was also a group +called "The Sacred Legion," who did exceptionally disagreeable labors, +not from the love of them but from the sacred principle of duty. Only +occasionally some repugnant task had to be undertaken, and be it to the +honor of the leaders, not one of them, even the most fastidious or +cultivated, shirked the responsibility of it. + +The industrial system of Fourier has often been objected to as a +mechanical arrangement, by which persons were fixed, automaton-like, +and expected to work where they were placed, and has been opposed with +the criticism that human beings are not automatic--that they have the +restlessness of human nature and will constantly rebel at such +conditions. + +Another and a greater criticism has been that the levelling tendency, +as is supposed, of the Fourieristic doctrines, is inimical to every-day +experience, and that the natural differences of characters, ambitions +and mental conditions were not recognized in the system, consequently +there would be no place for all these varied human attributes to work +and progress in. + +These are very great errors, and are entirely attributable to the +superficial knowledge of the man and his works. If ever there was a man +in this universe who had faith in the Supreme Power, Fourier was that +man. His theology covered the _absolute wisdom_ and _absolute goodness_ +of God. Starting from these two fixed standpoints, he believed that the +Creator wisely planned the universe and laid out the destiny of the +human race from its inception, as a wise and beneficent being, fixing +its beginning and its end and all of the intermediate stages between +them as parts of the plan. Creating man as a social being, he must, +therefore, have created from the first the form of society under which +he should, finally, as a race, pass the greatest portion of his sojourn +here, and, being an _absolutely good_ Creator, he must have created +absolutely good social conditions as the destiny towards which all +mankind is now tending, and which will finally be reached. + +Having also created man with many varied talents, the society or the +social order in which he intends him to live, must have room in it for +the use and development of the variety he has created: a place for the +strong, a place for the weak; a place for the proud, a place for the +lowly; a place for the penurious, a place for the lavish; a place for +the sober and a place for the gay. Moreover, if the Creator is wise, he +has created just the number and variety of mental and physical +personages to fill the otherwise empty places, and no others; for, if +he has created a surplus of them, he is unwise, and they must be in +discord with the rest. If the movements of the heavenly bodies are not +left to chance, neither is the destiny nor the place of any human being +in creation left to chance, either here or hereafter. + +Far from any levelling tendency in Fourier's system, far from any +communism, it contains, in itself, room for the completest aristocracy +there ever was, the natural and the true aristocracy, ordained by the +logical mind of the Creator, implanted in our natures, and which we +intuitively admit and admire. But having given man freedom of will, not +having made him to associate automatically, as he has, apparently, made +the honey-bee, the beaver, the ant, and various social creatures, it is +necessary for him to go through a period of ignorance, and, +consequently, of some suffering, whilst he is learning by experience to +find his powers and his position in creation, even as the little child +does, who reaches out its hand for the moon, and stumbles over trifles +lying in its way that were easily removed, could it, in its undeveloped +condition, have sense enough to do it. But the two conditions are not +possible, together. Both ignorance and knowledge of a subject cannot +dwell in one person at the same time; therefore it is only slowly and +painfully that we find, by degrees, our wonderful powers, the bountiful +provision for happiness, and the grand destiny that so peacefully lies +in the arms of the future, awaiting our embrace and caress. + +Fourier discovered the arrangement in nature of the "Serial Order" or +the law of the Groups and Series, which on paper seems formal, but is +simply one of the mathematical rules of society, and which, under right +conditions, does not intrude itself, any more than the rules of +arithmetic do when we are buying a few apples, but are nevertheless +ever present. The writer does not wish to impose a dissertation on his +readers, but felt impelled to answer, in this place, these objections +made by many worthy people. + +The workshop, which was being built at the time of my arrival, was two +stories in height, sixty by forty feet in size, with a pitched roof; +well lighted with windows, and situated some three hundred yards behind +the Hive, in a northwesterly direction. At its further end, in the +cellar, was placed a horse-mill, afterwards exchanged for a +steam-engine, that carried the machinery for all the departments of +labor. Our engineer, Jean M. Pallisse, a worthy Swiss, a very +intelligent man, had a calm face that fitted well with the quiet +wreaths of smoke he sent up on the air, from his almost ever-present +cigar. It was our delight to coax him to bring out his violin on dance +nights, and give us a charming waltz or two. You would hardly associate +his intelligent and pleasant face with the dull work of an engine room, +but he was there day by day, faithful and regular as a clock, for he +was in earnest. He had the sublime faith in him, and in later years +held a responsible position in a wealthy importing house in New York +City. + +The shop was partitioned off, according to the needs of business, and +in the time of our greatest numbers, when crowded with members and +visitors, no other place being found to stow people in, beds were +placed in its upper story. + +The general impression of my first summer at Brook Farm is that it was +one of great activity and great hopes. Everywhere the ambition was to +enlarge--to increase the number of members, to increase the +occupations, to increase the tillage by turning over the grass-grown +meadows and "laying down" more land; to increase the nursery for young +trees and plants, to increase the hay crop by clearing the brushwood +and mowing the stubble close. Everywhere were busy people with ploughs +and cultivators, hoes and rakes, and I was with them wherever there was +work to be done. + +The glory of the summer was the hay field. On the fair meadows we +turned and gathered the hay. It was a large crop; although the hay was +not all of the best, it was mostly of fair quality. And when the +hoeing, weeding and haying were done, the farmers dug meadow-muck for +compost. + +Ready and willing as I was to try my hand at whatever came along, I +went into the meadow and followed the plough with a bogging hoe, and +one day tried digging muck but the chief of the group thought the labor +was too heavy for me; I would have to wait until I grew stronger. + +Coming home one day I was told that one of our number had passed away. +She had been sick at the Hive a long while before my arrival. I could +scarcely be called acquainted with her, though I had been into her room +and called with others. In health she had been a brave worker, and in +sickness bore her severe suffering patiently. Messrs. Chiswell and +Tirrell of the Carpenters' Group were called on for their help, whilst +Mrs. Pratt and others prepared the body for its final sleep. Members of +the Direction selected a lovely spot in a little pine grove beyond the +Pilgrim House for a grave, and we gathered for a last service. + +I expected to hear Mr. Ripley speak, but true to a sensitive instinct +of propriety he did not, for though he was at the head of the +Association, she had her own faith and creed which he deemed sacred. +She was an Episcopalian, and after the service was read by one of our +number a solemn procession was formed which followed her body, borne on +our light wagon, to the grave, where, singing a hymn, we left her +quietly in peace. + +Soon after the gardener planted some young evergreens, and placed +flowering shrubs and a little fence around the sacred spot. If one must +die, must surrender life, oh, where can it be done better than under +such circumstances? From first to last no stranger's hand had aught to +do with this sister either in life or in death. No idle or curiously +intrusive person came near, and all the surroundings, though simple, +were in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. There was no pomp +or rivalry of show, no gaudy deckings, that we in our hearts despise, +but which an unhallowed custom forces upon us; but all was done +decently, lovingly, peacefully and well. It was a simple name she +bore--Mary Ann Williams. + +There was an amusement group, the members of which did not receive +pecuniary compensation. Its duty was to provide amusement for the +people and the scholars, as often as could be afforded, without +trespassing on school and daily duties. + +Miss Amelia Russell, a little, plump woman, with a pleasant smile, +dimpled cheeks, round, laughing eyes, cultivated and easy manners, was +chief of this group for a long period. Her title was "the mistress of +the revels." Under her direction there were various plays, games, +dances and tableaux. + +Besides the walks in the fields and woods there was an occasional +"children's festival," in the grove of pines, in which a large portion +of the elders joined. There were plenty of amusements, for although the +amusement group took general charge of them, there was nothing to +prevent any person or number of persons from amusing themselves to any +extent, and in any way, not interfering with the business of the place. + +Being among the minors, the pleasures of dancing and roaming over the +diversified country, were most attractive to me; for the young people +danced without expense--as we were, anywhere, any time, for five or ten +minutes, an hour or an evening, and it never became a dissipation; it +was too natural and common to be a dissipation. There were never late +hours. There was no dancing for show, or to display handsome clothes, +but simply for the love of it, its harmony and love of one another's +society and companionship. + +When the cares and lessons of the day were laid aside, and the evening +meal was over, we sauntered up the hill to the Eyry, and passing near +the Cottage, would perhaps find some one at the piano in the music +room, and if we numbered four or five, would waltz or dance to one or +the other's playing, the players and dancers taking turns until it was +time to stop. It might be there was a class in history or in reading at +eight, or maybe singing school would soon commence. If so, that +terminated the matter. Perhaps there was to be music at the +Eyry,--there was no formality, we went without ceremony to hear it. + +There were times when there was a regular "dance at the Hive." The +mistress of the revels was kind enough to assist young or old, whose +"education had been neglected," and who had never been taught their +"steps," by forming a dancing class and including all in it; and it +would have done your heart good to see the old fogies try for the first +time in their lives to put on grace. Grace it was, but often of the +oddest kind. Imagine the tall, spare figure of "the General," turned of +forty, full six feet in height and stooping in the shoulders, all legs +and arms--who could sit in a chair and wind his legs around each other +until the feet changed places, and sit comfortably so--as pupil of the +plump, little woman, straight as an arrow, and only (at a guess) four +feet six in height, and looking shorter for her plumpness, taking his +"one, two, three," and "forward and back steps." + +Imagine, also, all hands seated at the supper tables, with the rattle +of knives, forks, mugs and plates, and the full buzz of conversation; +waiters crowding up and down, supplying the fast vanishing food, and +everything cheerful, when a rapping on one of the tables arrests the +attention of all. One of the gentlemen, arising, announces, "There will +be a dance in this hall this evening, at eight o'clock, to which all +are invited." This is received with applause by the young people. +Perhaps it is a surprise to them; for some of the pupils who have a +little pocket money, have gained permission of the authorities, and +have sent for the Dedham "feedler," as our Dane used to call him, to +play the violin and call the dances. + +As for music, our orchestra was not very large. I am almost ashamed to +say that one violin, solitary and alone, or a piano brought down from +the Cottage, was often the only solace and cheer. But then the room was +not large, and certainly it was not high, so that nothing was lost in +its expanse, and truly the young man played very well, and I remember +there were some brass instruments used on an especial occasion. + +You should have been standing outside, looking in at the window just +the time that supper was over. Wouldn't you have seen some busy young +folks, clearing the tables and washing the dining-room ware! And you +would have seen the clean, white mugs and plates put up in huge piles +in the dining-room closet. Wouldn't the benches and tables disappear +quickly, and the floor be swept, and the lamps lighted, and everything +put in "apple-pie order"! And then the young women workers would +disappear, and in a few minutes reappear dressed in their best, like +magic pictures of youth and beauty, adorned in simple garments, with a +rose bud or a wreath of partridge vine (Mitchella) with its bright red +berries, woven into their tresses, or with some simple adornments; and +then for an hour or two of enjoyment! + +The dance would commence. One by one, after the young persons were in +the midst of the revelry, the older persons would come in, and the +non-dancers would range around as spectators; and now and then you +would distinguish our leader by the curly locks, the gleaming eyes and +gold-bowed spectacles, his glowing face expressing satisfaction in our +enjoyment. + +At ten o'clock, the dance ceased; immediately the tables and dishes +would reappear, as if by enchantment, and in a twinkling the dining +room was arranged for the morning. We had had our pleasure, and were +ready to pay for it by restoring things to immediate order. Besides, +what young man could leave the young ladies to set the tables alone, +after having danced with them all the evening? After this there were +hours enough left for sound sleep, and there were no headaches in the +morning. The result was, all the young people grew strong, graceful and +healthy. + +My peculiar temperament and strong love of nature made the walks and +wanderings in the fields dear to me. I recall them with the greatest +pleasure, and think that some others among the living must do the same. +There were no stated, regular hours for walking. The teachers went when +their classes for the day were over; the young folks when their tasks +were completed, or at twilight, in the long summer days, and often the +larger parties were on Sunday afternoons, for then there was greater +freedom from care. Some went to West Roxbury to church in the morning, +some, maybe, to the Eyry to read Swedenborg or other writers, and +unless Mr. Channing or some other minister who desired to preach was +present, there were no set services; and even if there were, a walk +might be arranged for a later hour in the summer afternoons. + +The tall, slim figure of the wife of our president, wearing a Leghorn +shade hat, with one or two graceful lady pupils by her side, was often +present and leading the procession; then perhaps the manly form of our +head farmer, and his stout wife, and his boys and girl; our "poet," +always beside some fair maiden, in cheerful conversation; a visitor and +the visited; groups of young people together, with muslin dresses, blue +tunics and straw hats intermingled; children; and maybe the stately +form of William Henry Channing, with his regular profile, and his head +carried high, looking upward and off, as into far, pleasant and dreamy +distances, walking beside a tall, black haired woman, with a spiritual +face of high type,--in all some thirty to forty in number, making a +delightfully picturesque group. + +Such parties would generally make the large and beautiful pine woods +that were near us the _ultimatum_ of their walk. Others would take a +longer walk, to the thicker woods of "Cow Island" (now covered with +houses), or to the Charles River. Leaving the farm they dived into the +young oak woods, by a small path in the rear of the Cottage, and +entering the magnificent grove of pines after a short walk, found a +grassy wood path that led a long distance through them. Soon the party +would begin to straggle and divide, some to gather wild flowers and +berries, and more to find materials for wreaths, or ferns and mosses +for decorations. + +The walks ended where walks do that have no definite plan--anywhere in +the woods, sitting on the boulders or the pine leaves, or in some shady +nook where a topic would be found for discussion, or a pleasant book +would be read. When the supper horn sounded, you found the absent ones +together again, with bright, rosy faces and good appetites; and only a +few of the younger folks would be late, who had strayed farther or +walked slower, to enjoy the companionship of those of the same age; to +listen to their sweet voices, and to linger, as only young folks love +to linger. + +The summer came on with joy and beauty. I recall the long waves of +nodding grass, that swayed in the June wind and were chasing each +other, fugue-like on the broad meadows. How beautiful it was, tipped +with its various hues of green, yellow, red and purple, bending and +rising as each breath of wind passed over it! The crops looked well, +and the table was supplied with varieties of garden produce. + +If you approached the farm in the middle of the forenoon, you wondered +where all the people were, but at the sound of the first horn, half an +hour before dinner, "from bush and briar and greensward shade" they +would begin to start out like Robin Hood's men, and when the second +horn was sounding, the daily, the tri-daily procession was fairly on +the move, approaching the Hive from all sides. It was a very pretty and +novel sight. + +The men had been in the field planting, hoeing or weeding--the farmer's +triad of duties in the vegetable field--and as they worked side by +side, the questions of the day were discussed with freedom and with +partisanship, but with good nature. The one who had a bias for art +brought forward his art hobbies; the dress reformer aired his and the +vegetarian argued his cause. Personal questions often came to the +front--as how Smith probably voted in the Association meeting in the +case of the admission of some mooted person; he was so sly you could +not find out! And they quizzed one another, and they laughed and +rivalled one another in speed of work, which they did faithfully and +interestedly. It was a good school of human nature, and sooner or later +each one was sized up with a deal of exactness. With the sounding of +the horn the hoes were left in the field or put on the shoulder for the +march to the barn, where, in its little room, the toilet for meals was +made. + +When I think under what disadvantages these toilers worked for five +years, I wonder at their patience and firmness. What would our city +families say to all going out from their apartments, male and female, +young and old, and walking from an eighth to a quarter of a mile--often +making their own path through the deep snow of our severe New England +winters--three times each day, for the simple meals we had there to +eat? What would they say to living in crowded rooms, without private +parlors, and the public one at the Hive not much better than an office +in a back country hotel, and the other disadvantages heretofore named +and many more, simply for the principle of the thing? + +Of course there was enthusiasm, and that sweetens many dull dishes; but +for those used to home comforts, to be sandwiched in with comparative +strangers--squeezed down, as it were, into a press--oftentimes having +the family separated into various and disunited parts of the mansion or +into different houses, was decidedly uncomfortable to bear. + +These disadvantages could not but make the Association quite early +decide that the one thing above all others needed was a new building +with suites of rooms, where families could have the comforts and +privacy of homes, which with a large kitchen, bakery, dining rooms, +parlors, etc., would make a "unitary dwelling"; approximating to an +apartment house of more modern days in many of its details, and +improving on it as regards unitary cooking, dining and social +conveniences. + +The autumn fled rapidly away, and things had to be hurried up and put +into shape for the winter. The gardener had no greenhouse, and was +growling for fear the early frost might take a fancy to his plants. So +the Association built him a temporary one in the "sand bank" by the +side of the farm road, and the plan was to bend their energies towards +getting the new dwelling started as early as possible in the spring, +and to build a permanent greenhouse near it. + +I do not know what passed in the General Direction during the winter. +They were undoubtedly busy in endeavoring to obtain money for +constructing the new building, preparing plans for its interior +arrangement, and personally lecturing in various places, to aid in +awakening the public to the new ideas, hoping also that some benefit +might accrue to their organization, as well as to the cause, from their +efforts. + +The winter was mild, and it passed rapidly. There were coasting parties +of young and old, but it was not often that the snow was favorable. +There were literary societies, and we admired "the General" when he +recited the part of the lean and hungry Cassius. He didn't stammer +then, and he received the additional title of "Shakespeare's hero." +These things, with reading, dancing and singing classes, an occasional +"social" at the Hive, with private gatherings and chats around the +kitchen fire by "Hiveites" (i.e., those living at the Hive), found us +with spring at hand before we could realize it. + +Among other matters in progress in the spring was the garden. The +gardener was urging upon the Association the usefulness and +profitableness of the growth and sale of garden and greenhouse plants +and flowers; the great benefit they would be in adding attractiveness +to the place, and also the importance of starting plants so that they +might be growing into sizable shrubs, to return an early profit for +their outlay. These facts decided the Association to commence a flower +garden, and they located it on a partially level piece of ground behind +the Cottage, covering perhaps a half acre, with a chance of future +extension by cutting the wood adjoining and cultivating the untilled +ground. + +There was much labor put on this piece of land, as it was first reduced +to a level by removing the soil and subsoil, and levelling the gravelly +bottom; then returning the subsoil and soil to the top. Walks were next +laid out with great care, and flower beds made. A border was also dug +for the expected new greenhouse, and filled with rich soil and compost, +and the end of the summer saw it erected. + +But the most important step taken in the spring was the establishment +of a journal devoted to the interests of Association and Associative +life. + +It is easy to see how naturally, independent of the need of an organ +for a new movement, the Brook Farmers took to the idea of publishing a +journal. In the first place there were at hand men who were abundant in +talent; who were used to writing, and well up in literature and fine +arts, to whom the idea was grateful as water to young ducks, And, +second, there were at least two or three printers and compositors +residing on the farm, who were as able in their department as the first +named were in theirs. There was in this connection, also, the +possibility at some future time of obtaining printing for the Printers' +Group, should that branch of labor be well established. + +The scheme cannot be better introduced than by giving here the +prospectus of the _Harbinger_, the beautiful name of the new weekly +paper. You will find in its brave words some of the ideas that the +leaders of this movement developed, but more particularly the broad +faith they had in human nature and in great principles applied to +social life, and the greater trust they had that the Providence under +which we live had ordained man for a sublime destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER" AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS. + + +The following is the prospectus of + +THE "HARBINGER." + +Devoted to the Social and Political progress. Published simultaneously +at New York and Boston, by the Brook Farm Phalanx. "All things, at the +present day, stand provided and prepared, and await the light." + +Under this title it is proposed to publish a weekly newspaper, for the +examination, and discussion of the great questions in social science, +politics, literature and the arts, which command the attention of all +believers in the progress and elevation of humanity. + +In politics, the _Harbinger_ will be democratic in its principles and +tendencies; cherishing the deepest interest in the advancement and +happiness of the masses; warring against all exclusive privilege in +legislation, political arrangements and social customs; and striving +with the zeal of earnest conviction, to promote the triumph of the high +democratic faith, which is the chief mission of the nineteenth century +to realize in society. + +Our devotion to the democratic principle will lead us to take the +ground of fearless and absolute independence in regard to all political +parties, whether professing attachment to that principle or hostility +to it. We know that fidelity to an idea can never be reassured by +adherence to a name; and hence we shall criticise all parties with +equal severity, though we trust that the sternness of truth will always +be blended with the temperance of impartial candor. With tolerance for +all opinions, we have no patience with hypocrisy and pretense; least of +all with that specious fraud which would make a glorious principle the +apology for personal ends. It will therefore be a leading object of the +_Harbinger_ to strip the disguise from the prevailing parties, to show +them in their true light, to give them due honor, to tender them our +grateful reverence whenever we see them true to a noble principle; but +at all times, and on every occasion, to expose false professions, to +hold up hollow-heartedness and duplicity to just indignation, to warn +the people against the demagogue, who would cajole them by honeyed +flatteries, no less than against the devotee of mammon who would make +them his slaves. + +The _Harbinger_ will be devoted to the cause of a radical, organic +social reform, as essential to the highest development of man's nature, +to the production of those elevated and beautiful forms of character of +which he is capable, and to the diffusion of happiness, excellence and +universal harmony upon the earth. The principles of universal unity as +taught by Charles Fourier, in their application to society, we believe +are at the foundation of all genuine social progress, and it will ever +be our aim to discuss and defend these principles, without any +sectarian bigotry, and in the catholic and comprehensive spirit of +their great discoverer. While we bow to no man as an authoritative, +infallible master, we revere the genius of Fourier too highly not to +accept, with joyful welcome, the light which he has shed on the most +intricate problems of human destiny. The social reform of whose advent +the signs are everywhere visible, comprehends all others, and in +laboring for its speedy accomplishment, we are conscious that we are +devoting our best ability to the removal of oppression and injustice +among men, to the complete emancipation of the enslaved, to the +promotion of genuine temperance, and to the elevation of the toiling +and down-trodden masses to the inborn rights of humanity. + +In literature the _Harbinger_ will exercise a firm and impartial +criticism, without respect of persons or parties. It will be made a +vehicle for the freest thought, though not of random speculations; and +with a generous appreciation of the various forms of truth and beauty, +it will not fail to expose such instances of false sentiment, perverted +taste and erroneous opinion, as may tend to vitiate the public mind or +degrade the individual character. Nor will the literary department of +the _Harbinger_ be limited to criticism alone. It will receive +contributions from various pens, in different spheres of thought, and, +free from dogmatic exclusiveness, will accept all that in any way +indicates the unity of man with man, with nature, and with God. +Consequently all true science, all poetry and arts, all sincere +literature, all religion that is from the soul, all wise analyses of +mind and character, will come within its province. + +We appeal for aid in our enterprise to the earnest and hopeful spirits +in all classes of society. We appeal to all who, suffering from a +resistless discontent in the present order of things, with faith in man +and trust in God are striving for the establishment of universal +justice, harmony and love. We appeal to the thoughtful, the aspiring, +the generous everywhere, who wish to see the reign of heavenly truth +triumphant, by supplanting the infernal discords and falsehoods on +which modern society is built--for their sympathy, friendship and +practical cooperation in the undertaking which we announce to-day. + +The _Harbinger_ was launched, and it weathered the, storm for four +years, until its editors sought other and wider fields for their +genius. Besides the motto on the prospectus, they took the following +from Rev. William Ellery Channing: "Of modern civilization, the natural +fruits are, contempt for others' rights, fraud, oppression, a gambling +spirit in trade, reckless adventure and commercial convulsions, all +tending to impoverish the laborer and render every condition insecure. +Relief is to come, and can only come from the new application of +Christian principles, of universal justice and universal love, to +social institutions, to commerce, to business, to active life." + +It was printed in quarto form, sixteen pages to every number, with +clear type and in excellent style. The index of the first volume bears +a list of twenty-two names as contributors, and it contains many worthy +ones. The New York names were as follows:-- + +Albert Brisbane. William Henry Channing. Christopher P. Cranch. George +William Curtis. George G. Foster. Parke Godwin. Horace Greeley. Osborne +MacDaniel. + +The New England names were:-- + +Otis Clapp, Boston, Mass. William W. Story, Boston, Mass. T. Wentworth +Higginson, Boston, Mass. James Russell Lowell, Cambridge, Mass. J. A. +Saxton, Deerfield, Mass. Francis George Shaw, West Roxbury, Mass. John +G. Whittier, Amesbury, Mass. + +Other contributors were:-- + +E. P. Grant of Ohio. A. J. H. Duganne of Philadelphia. + +The Brook Farm writers were:-- + +George Ripley. John S. Dwight. Charles A. Dana. Lewis K. Ryckman. + +In the second volume are two more of the Channing family as +contributors, Dr. William F. and Walter, and also the name of James +Freeman Clarke, of Boston, with an additional writer from Brook +Farm--John Orvis. + +Mr. Ripley and Mr. Dana wrote most of the editorial Associative +articles. Mr. Dana was the principal reviewer, and noticed the new +books. Mr. Dwight wrote an occasional article on Association, reviewed, +and attended to the musical and poetical department. He also earnestly +advocated the doctrines of social and industrial life suggested by +Fourier. Translations in prose and poetry were common. Parke Godwin and +W. H. Channing assisted in translations or selections from Fourier's +writings. George William Curtis wrote the musical correspondence from +New York, and among the poetical contributions in the first volume, is +one from J. G. Whittier, "To My Friend on the Death of His Sister," and +five poems by Cranch, Higginson, Story, Lowell and Duganne; also poetic +translations from the German by Dwight and Dana, as well as original +poems by them. + +The paper was not local. It aimed high as a purely literary and +critical as well as progressive journal, and I must ever consider it a +fault that it did not chronicle more of Brook Farm life. We look almost +in vain through its pages for one word of its situation, finding none +except in some allusions to it in the correspondence from abroad. +Occasionally the school was advertised in a corner, but for the rest it +might as well have been published elsewhere as at Brook Farm. The +leaders, feeling that the life there was an experiment, and perhaps a +doubtful one, were not disposed to gratify a curiosity which they +probably considered morbid, by yielding to it. This was a mistake. It +was a mistake, as much as it would be for us to leave out of our +letters to our friends the petty incidents of daily life, and describe +only grand principles and outside events. It is only to those loved +most by us that we recite the trivial things, for we know that those +trivialities link us closer than anything else, filling all the chinks +in our friendship or love. It was a disappointment to those who desired +to know often of the spirit of the workers, and of the little events +that happened there, not to find more notices of them. + +In many other respects the _Harbinger_ was a grand success. In all that +pertained to music, criticism, poetry and progress no journal stood +higher. I cannot tell of its pecuniary success for I do not find any +memorandum of its finances. The first number commenced with a story +translated from the French of George Sand (Madame Dudevant) entitled +"Consuelo"--in some respects the sweetest story she ever wrote. It was +translated by our neighbor, Mr. Francis G. Shaw, who would oftentimes +mount his horse, and, with his little boy, a tiny fellow, on a pony by +his side, gallop over to see us. How hard it is for me to realize that +afterward the same little fellow, as Col. Robert G. Shaw, led his +colored regiment through fire and smoke and the whizzing bullets up to +the cannon's mouth of bloody Fort Wagner, and there laid down his life +for his country. + +Francis George Shaw was of a Boston family and a gentleman of means. He +took great interest in our experiment and its hoped-for results. I have +not words to praise his kindness, and his gentlemanly manner and +bearing towards us all. He looked on life from a high standpoint. +Wealth did not corrupt him. He was a Christian in large heartedness and +philanthropy. He recognized his Maker's image in all men; the garment +he saw through; the color he saw through; and he desired above all +things the education, progress and culture of all the human family. + +Appended is an additional list of all the advertised contributors of +the _Harbinger_, during its publication at Brook Farm, not including +those already mentioned:-- + +John Allen, Brook Farm. Jean M. Pallisse, Brook Farm. S. P. Andrews, +New York, N. Y. William Ellery Channing, Concord, Mass. Joseph J. +Cooke, Providence, R. I. Fred. Henry Hedge, Bangor, Me. Mark E. +Lazarus, Wilmington, N. C. E. W. Parkman, Boston, Mass. J. H. Pulte, +Cincinnati, Ohio. Samuel D. Robbins, Chelsea, Mass. Miss E. H. Starr, +Deerfield, Mass. C. Neidhart, Philadelphia, Pa. + +The presence of a weekly journal on the farm, with its varieties of +current literature, poetry and music, could not but awaken in many of +the colaborers most pleasurable emotions. Prose articles and poetry +from it were discussed by daylight and by the fireside, by the +roadside, in the shops, on the farm--in fact, everywhere. The "Admiral" +was wild over Hood's "Bridge of Sighs." It was so quaint; the rhythm +was so unique; it was so full of sentiment; it was so tender; it +displayed so touchingly the sorrows of a young heart, and was so in +harmony with the humanitarian sentiment of our lives, that he and +others could but repeat it over and over, and the poet's rhymes kept +ringing both in our physical and mental ears. The lines-- + + + "One more unfortunate, + Rashly importunate + Gone to her death. + + * * * * * + + Take her up tenderly, + Fashioned so slenderly + Young and so fair." + +were repeated times without number. Cranch's, Story's and Duganne's +poems were favorably criticised, the authors being friendly to the +Association, and the verses of our own members touched tender spots. + +When Mr. Emerson's poems were published, there was quite a desire to +know what his sonnet to our friend William H. Channing was like. The +disappointment was great when, instead of a grand, glowing sonnet to a +great-souled man, it took up only an exceptional point of feeling in +his mind on the Abolition question, on which they were not quite +agreed. Quite a little discussion took place between two young persons +as to the propriety of the lines, + + "What boots thy zeal, O glowing friend, + That would indignant rend + The Northland from the South?" + +The one party contended that "boots" was entirely inadmissible in +poetic phrase. "What boots? Cowhides or patent leathers?" said he, +whilst the other contended that the whole scope of the meaning made the +poetry. But still the first stuck to his point, that a grand sentiment +needed grand words as well as grand ideas, and "boots" was a homely and +inadmissible word with which to express a high sentiment. + +Among the many volumes noticed, "Festus," by Philip James Bailey, was a +constant source of admiration and criticism in some of our circles, and +we had many varied ones. Listen to what Mr. Dwight said of it at the +time in the _Harbinger_: "There are more original and magnificent +images on a single page of Festus than would endow a dozen of the +handsome volumes most in vogue. The conclusion you come to as you read +on, is that his wealth of imagination is illimitable, and that you +might as well cut a cloud out of the purple sunset atmosphere, as a +figure from the boundless atmospheric beauty of this poem." + +"Festus" still retains its charm for me. + +The _Harbinger_, as may be seen, was to be published by the Brook Farm +_Phalanx_, not _Association_. The reason why the name was changed was +because "Association" was not a definite one, conveying distinct +impressions to the public mind, like "Community"; and the name +"Phalanx," although to American ears, new in its connection, was +expressive, and was also adopted by a number of social experiments just +starting, and it was desirable to have them all associated in name as +well as in general doctrine. The name "Community" was rejected because +all the societies organized under that name held their property in +common, which the "Association" distinctly did not. + +There were other changes made at this time, more important in idea than +in practice. The name "Areopagus" was applied to an enlarged general +council, and our leader got in this connection, without warrant, the +name of "the Archon." + +"Come!" said jocose Drew to him one day, as he sat on the wagon-seat +ready to start for the city, "we are waiting for you!" + +"Ah!" was Mr. Ripley's reply, "I see you have the _wag_-on, and are now +waiting for the Archon!" + +The government was vested in a General Council consisting of four +branches: First, a Council of Industry, composed of five members; +second, a Council of Finance, of four members; third, a Council of +Science, of three members, and fourth a President, who, with the +chairmen of the other three councils, constituted a "Central Council." +The Council of Industry was appointed by the chiefs of the several +series devoted to manual industry; the Council of Finance, by the +stockholders; the Council of Science, by chiefs of the series devoted +to educational, literary and scientific matters, and the President by +the concurrent vote of the three series. + +The Areopagus, whose duty was advisory, consisted of the General +Council; the chiefs of the several groups and series; stockholders +holding stock to the amount of one thousand dollars or more; all +members of the Phalanx over the age of forty-five who had resided on +the place for two years or longer; and of such other persons as might +be elected by this Council on account of their superior wisdom, merit +or devotion to the interests of the Association; no person voting who +was not a member of the Phalanx. + +There was a curious and interesting addition to the constitution in the +"Council of Arbiters," which was to consist of seven persons, "the +majority of whom shall be women." To this council individuals and +departments were to bring all complaints, charges and grievances not +provided for in other ways. They were to take cognizance of all matters +relating to morals and manners, and to report to the General Council +all cases wherein their decision was not complied with. The reader can +judge by this that there were men and women who understood "woman's +sphere," and were ready to assist her to it quietly and naturally, long +years ago in this little band. + +A considerable number of arrangements were made to secure what was +considered justice in the relation of capital to the Phalanx, its +members and its stockholders. The capital stock was divided into three +classes, namely: loan stock, or that which received a fixed percentage +for use; partnership stock, depending on the general product of the +Phalanx for its dividend; and labor stock, that represented the +dividend to labor. + +The arrangements for the dividends on stock of the several kinds were +quite complicated, and, under the light of after events, seem farcical; +but the constitution makers believed they were arranging matters not +only for the Brook Farm experiment, but for all who might adopt the +social life of the Phalanxes, present and future. Looking at it in this +light, the constitution might deserve more thought than can be given to +it now. + +There was a preliminary article, written and signed by George Ripley, +President, from which the following extracts are made:-- + +"At the last session of the Legislature of Massachusetts, our +Association was incorporated under the name which it now assumes, with +the right to hold real estate to the amount of one hundred thousand +dollars. This confers upon us all the usual powers and privileges of +chartered companies. We have introduced several branches of profitable +industry, and established a market for their products; and finally, in +the constitution which follows, we have applied the principles of +social justice to the distribution of profits in such a manner that the +best results are to be expected. + +"Nothing is now necessary to the greatest possible measure of success +but capital to furnish sufficient means to enable us to develop every +department to advantage. This capital we can now apply profitably and +without danger of loss. We are well aware that there must be risk in +investing money in an infant association as well as in any other +untried business, but with the labors of nearly four years, we have +arrived at a point where this risk hardly exists. Not that we have +surmounted all the difficulties of the enterprise; these are still +sufficiently abundant. But we have, by no means with ease, laid the +foundation, and now stand ready to do our part in rearing a +superstructure, which approaches more nearly to the ideal of human +society than any that has as yet existed--a society which shall +establish justice between all interests and all men; which shall +guarantee education, the right to labor, and the rights of property to +all, and which by actual demonstration of a state of things every way +better and more advantageous, will put an end to the great evils which +at present burden even the most fortunate classes. + +"What we have already been able to accomplish ought to give weight to +our words. We speak not from abstract conviction, but from experience; +not as mere enthusiasts, but as men of practical common sense, holding +in our hands the means of escape from the present condition of society, +and from that still more frightful state to which in all civilized +countries it is hurrying. + +"Accordingly, we calmly and earnestly invite the aid of those who +perceive how little security existing institutions offer against the +growth of commercial feudalism on the one hand, and pauperism on the +other--of those whose sympathies are with the unfortunate and +uneducated masses; of those who long for the establishment of more true +and genial conditions of life, as well as of those who are made +restless and fiery-souled by the universal necessities of reform. + +"But by the increasing number, whose most ardent desire is to see the +experiment of Association fairly tried, we are confident that the +appeal we now make will not be received without the most generous +response in their power. As far as their means and their utmost +exertions can go, they will not suffer so favorable an opportunity for +the realization of their hopes to pass unimproved." + +I cannot say that I think all parties in the Association were pleased +with the changes in the constitution. They were not simple enough to be +easily applied and quickly comprehended, and were too weighty and +cumbersome for the little society. + +Early in the second spring (1844) of my sojourn at the farm it was +decided to build a large unitary building on the high ground, almost +directly in front of the Eyry, though at some distance from it, on the +eastern verge of the slope facing the meadow, and nearly in line with +the distant town road. It was late when the preparations were concluded +and the work was commenced. There was not money enough in the treasury +to pay for it, but it was thought that means would come. The result of +the season's work was that the foundation walls were laid, the first +floor was boarded, and thus it was left for the winter. + +It was to be an oblong, wooden building, with an entrance on a level +with the earth terrace. The lower floor was divided into some five or +six apartments, with parlors, a reading room, reception rooms, large +dining hall, with an adjoining kitchen and bakery. From the main hall +or entry, which was on the left of the centre of the building, arose a +flight of stairs which led out on to a corridor or piazza which +extended across the whole front of the building. This corridor was +duplicated by one above it, and the roof jutted out to a line with the +lower story and covered them both. Pillars supported the roof, and were +attached to and supported the corridors. On the lower corridor or +piazza were the entrances to the suites. There were seven doorways that +entered seven houses, as distinct as any other seven houses, except in +being connected by the corridors and being under one roof, each house +containing two suites. Thus could privacy be maintained and sociability +increased. + +The building would add wonderfully to the advantages of the +Association, and being near the centre of the domain, would diminish +the travel which consumed a great deal of time. It would give room for +increased numbers; would furnish a suitable assembly room, and more +especially would it give to the larger families a chance to place their +members together in the natural family order. It would also allow the +other buildings to be used exclusively for family purposes, and if +success increased the resources of the Association, the main building +would be enlarged by adding wings to it. + +The proportion of unmarried persons in the Association was large, and +young men predominated. They had, in a general sense, a good home in +the Association, but there was lacking the family circle to draw around +at night, and a good deal of motherly care and sympathy. They were +reliable young men, and many of the families would not have objected to +having them joined to their evening circles, had they not been crowded +themselves; to having a sympathizing care over them, and to looking +after many of those trifling things that make the difference between +comfort and discomfort. + +It was a theory that all should have a home--that the Association, as a +general home, should not take the place of the private family; and it +was also considered a duty by many to join to their family circles one +or more of these single persons. It was proposed in the apportionment +of the rooms in the new building, to place a family in each house and +proportionately distribute the young men, when desirable to do so, +among them. This would give all a more equal chance, and not doom the +young and productive members to reside in attics, or in groups in any +place convenient for the Association, in its crowded state, to put them. + +Extracts from the Financial Report to the Association. + +"The Direction of Finance respectfully submit their annual report for +the year ending Oct. 31, 1844:-- + + The income of the Association during the year from + all sources whatever has been . . . . . . .$11,854.41 + and its expenditures for all purposes, + including interest, losses by bad debts, + and damage of buildings, tools and + furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,409.14 + + leaving a balance of . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,445.27 + from which deducting the amount of + doubtful debts contracted this year . . . . 284.43 + -------- + we have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,160.84 + +which is to be divided according to the Constitution. + +"By the last yearly report of this Direction it appears that the +Association has been a loser up to November 1, 1843, to the amount of +$2,748.83. In this amount was included sundry debts against associates +amounting to $924.38 which should not have been included. There were +also some small discrepancies which were afterwards discovered, so that +on settling the books, the entire deficit appeared to be $1,837.00. + +"To this amount should be added the proportion of the damage done to +the tools, furniture and general fixtures and depreciation in the live +stock, by the use of the two years which the Association has been in +operation previous to that time. The whole damage of this property by +the use of these years has been ascertained by inventory to be $365.54, +according to the estimates and statements prepared by Messrs. Ryckman +and Hastings, which are herewith submitted. + +"Of this sum, $365.54, we have charged one third, $121.85, to the +account of the current year, and two thirds, $243.69, to the account of +the two preceding years. To the same amount should also be added sundry +debts which have since proved to be bad, amounting in all to $678.08, +and also an error in favor of I. Morton amounting to $17.74, which has +since been discovered in his account, so that the total deficit of the +preceding years will appear to be as follows:-- + + Deficit on settling the books..... $1,837.00 + Damage on furniture and fixtures..... 243.69 + Bad debts, including debts of + associates considered doubtful....... 678.08 + I. Morton............................ 17.74 + + Total.............................. $2,776.51 + +"From this amount is to be deducted the value of the farm produce +consisting of hay, roots, manures, etc., on hand November 1, 1843, +which was not taken into the amount of last year, but which has been +ascertained to be $762.50, as well as the value, $49.13, of the family +stores which were on hand at the same time, but were also omitted from +the amount. + +"Deducting these two amounts ($762.50+$49.13= $811.63) from the deficit +as above stated we have: + + Deficit.......... $2,776.51 + Farm produce and + family stores....... 811.63 + + Real deficit for + 1842 and 1843.... $1,964.88 + +"It was the opinion of a majority at least of this Board that this sum +must be chargeable upon the future industry of the Association, and +that no dividend could be declared until it had been made up. +Accordingly the quarterly statement for the quarter ending August 1, +1844, was based upon this opinion, and a deficit of $526.78 declared to +exist at that time. It is but justice to say that that statement was +made up in the absence of one of the members of the Direction, Mr. +Ryckman, who on seeing it objected entirely to the principle which it +embodied. Subsequent consideration has convinced the Direction that the +statement was in that respect erroneous, and that the transactions of +previous years ought not to affect the operations of this, in the way +proposed in the statement. It should be borne in mind that the deficit +before spoken of is not a debt in itself, but is the difference between +the amount of our debts and our joint stock, and the nominal value of +our assets. The Association is not bound to pay the sum or to make it +good in any way. It pays interest upon it, but can never be called on +to pay the principal. The sum total of the actual liabilities of the +Association, that is, of debts and obligations which it is bound at +some time or other to pay, is much exceeded by the cost value of its +property. Its joint stock, which it is not bound to pay, much exceeds +the deficit we are speaking of, so that clearly the deficit is not to +be paid, but only the interest upon it, that is, five per cent per +annum forever. So that it is evident that the principal is by no means +chargeable upon the industry of the present or of future years, but +only the interest. And even if the said deficit were a debt to be paid +it would still, as we conceive, be perfectly just and legitimate to +issue stock for its amount to those members by whose labors it was made +up. Because in that case we should merely, in consideration of such +labor, bind the Association to the yearly payment of the interest +aforesaid according to the terms of our joint stock compact. + +"This is, as we are persuaded, the only way whereby labor can receive +justice. If a hundred dollars in money is invested in our stock, we +issue certificates for that amount, and why must we not do the same +with an investment of a hundred dollars' worth of labor? The claim in +the latter case seems to us even more imperative than in the former. +The dividend of each year ought, as we are convinced, to be made with +reference solely to the difference between its gains on the one hand, +and its expenditures and losses on the other. + +"The earlier losses of the establishment must be regarded as the price +of much valuable experience, and as inevitable in starting such an +institution. Almost every business fails to pay its expenses at the +commencement--it always costs something to set the wheels in operation; +this is not, however, to be regarded as absolute loss. This is the view +which is to be taken of the condition of the Association at the +beginning of the present year. + +"The true value of any property is precisely the sum on which, in the +use for which it was designed or which it may be put to, it pays the +requisite interest. The price of railroad stock, for example, is not +regulated, either by its original cost or by the present intrinsic +worth of the property it represents, but by the dividend it pays and by +the condition and durability of the railroad. For any other use than as +a railroad the property of the road is of course comparatively +worthless, but that consideration has no effect upon its value. + +"The case is entirely the same with the property of this Association. +As long as it is able, in the use and under the management of the +Association, to pay the stipulated interest--five per cent per +annum--upon the stock shares by which it is represented, so long those +stock shares will be worth par, whatever may be the nominal cost of the +property, or its value for any other purposes than those of the +Association. + +"In accordance with these views and for other considerations which we +shall hereafter allude to, this Direction is altogether of opinion that +the results of this year's industry ought to be divided irrespective of +the results of former years, and certificates of stock issued to those +persons who are entitled to such dividends. + +"To some persons it may perhaps seem remarkable that a dividend should +be declared when the Association is so much in want of ready money as +at present, but a little reflection will show anyone that it is a +perfectly legitimate proceeding. A very large part of our industry has +been engaged in the production of permanent property such as the shop, +the Phalanstery and the improvements upon the farm. These are of even +more value to the Association than so much money, and a dividend may as +justly be based upon them as upon cash in the treasury. + +"As soon as the Phalanstery shall be completed it will become necessary +to establish different rates of room rent. It is a matter of doubt +whether such an arrangement is not already desirable. In our present +crowded condition, indeed, the general inconveniences are distributed +with tolerable equality, but still it is impossible to avoid some +exceptions, and it might contribute to the harmony of the Association +if a just graduation of rates for different apartments should now be +established. As far as possible no member should be the recipient of +peculiar favors, but when all are charged at an equal rate for unequal +accommodations, this is unavoidable. For the same reason a difference +should be made between the price of board at the Graham tables, and +those which are furnished with a different kind of food. It is only by +this means that justice can be done and differences prevented. + + "C. A. D." + + +The first thought that will arrest the attention of some in reading +this report is the smallness of the figures. It does not appear to-day +that the corporation was much of a financial affair, for there are +thousands of persons in our land now who could easily sustain such an +institution and pocket its yearly losses; but we must bear in mind that +the intervening years have changed the value of money, and its relation +to property. A fair price for a mechanic's labor then was a dollar for +a day of ten to twelve hours; the same persons would now receive three +to four times as much for less hours. We should remember also that the +colossal fortunes of to-day were not in existence then. The means at +the command of the Association were very small, and the wonder is that +with so little money capital the enterprise should have attracted the +wide notice it did. + +In this report was an allusion to the Graham table. In the dining room +there was always, at the time of which I write, one table of +vegetarians--those who used no flesh meats, and generally no tea or +coffee. They passed under the name of "Grahamities," from the founder +of the vegetarian system in America, Dr. Sylvester Graham, whose name +is still connected with bread made of unbolted wheat because it was by +him considered the very perfection of human food. These persons were of +both sexes, different ages and occupations. They worked on the farms, +in the schools, the houses and the shops. They had the diet of the +place, minus the meat and sometimes the tea and coffee. Little +attention was paid at first to this departure from common habits, but +by degrees the numbers increased until they began to be a power. Their +constancy, their earnest belief, soon swept away all ridicule, and the +proof that they could do their share of daily work was not wanting. +Among the number were many very devoted and cheerful persons. + +Dispensing with meat, with the restricted diet, led some to say: "Our +table does not cost as much as the others, for we eat no meat, saving +the expense of it to the Association, and we drink no tea or coffee, +saving that cost also. Let us have the money we have economized, spent +for us in things that we want, in additional fruit and vegetables, or +in some articles of diet that we need to replace the food we do not +use." The answer to it was that the Association furnished certain +things, and if the members did not eat them it was their loss, as it +could not be expected that the Association could cater to individual +tastes. But after a while the injustice was made apparent, and it led +to the notice we have just read in the report. + +I have been requested to give my personal testimony as to the effect of +a vegetarian diet as seen at Brook Farm. I willingly do so. For two or +three years the farmers, mechanics and others worked side by side, and +no one could conscientiously say that in ability to work in any field +of labor, physical or mental, the vegetarians were out-matched by their +companions. Their health was fully maintained and their mental +cheerfulness was surpassed by none. + +From this report it can easily be learned that no important financial +progress had been made at Brook Farm, and that any accumulation of +wealth was yet in the future. The Brook Farmers were working in hope. +It was still an experiment, and as an experiment it will be necessary +for me to point out by-and-by the defects which will answer the often +asked question, "Why did Brook Farm fail?" But it is well to bear in +mind the starting point. Most men of business go into trade with a +capital, some reserved fund, but the Brook Farmers had none, and as +they progressed, the want of it was more and more felt. "It is the +first step that costs," as the French proverb says, and the Brook +Farmers had a great many first steps to take, steps that no others had +taken, and inevitable costs and losses must occur. But we pass on into +the second spring of my Brook Farm life. + +And here another character came into our circle, and joined in work on +the farm. He was very enthusiastic. His wife had lately died, and he +brought her body to Brook Farm as to Holy Land and buried it in the +little grove by the side of our first and only grave, so that there +were now two mounds that the gardener ornamented with sods, shrubbery +and flowers. + +I do not think this new friend had a fine face. His features were not +large, and, if we except the full forehead, not very attractive. His +mouth was small, and his dark brown hair asserted its rights in spite +of brush and comb, and would not lie gracefully down over his brow, and +it added to the look of determination there was in the little man's +countenance, shown by the lines in his face and the rigid and spare +muscles, a "hold on" expression which so well coincided with his +character. + +New England at this time put its fingers in its ears and stifled the +beatings of its heart that kept time with justice, in order that the +peace of our country should not be disturbed by men who thought slavery +a curse, and proclaimed it so. Rev. John Allen was then in a pulpit, +and dared to speak his mind to his people, at which they rebelled and +would not hearken. "Speak I must; speak I will," said he, "or we part! +Let me but preach a sermon once a quarter on the subject of slavery!" +But the church said, "No." "Let me then but preach once in six months," +and the church said, "No." Finally he said he would continue with them +if they would allow him to preach one sermon a year on the subject--I +doubt not that that _one_ would have carried flint and steel enough to +set fire to all the tinder in the congregation--but the church would +not listen, and they parted. + +He had one little child, an infant a year or two old, who, deprived of +his mother, was brought to the farm and had a great deal of attention +and pity bestowed upon it. This little boy brought a misfortune which +threatened the lives of the members, the business and life of the +Association. He was the pet of his father, who took him to Boston on +his lecture tours and brought him back, for Mr. Allen was engaged to +lecture for the cause. The child had never been vaccinated, and being +ill at the Hive, it was discovered that he had symptoms of small-pox, +which disease he had taken somewhere in the city. Imagine the commotion +among the persons who had handled and fondled the young darling, and in +the Association in general! But the bravery of men and women who had +dared to leave their homes and share the fortune and fate of this young +Community was everywhere displayed. + +The child was isolated and cared for, but in due time backaches and +headaches foretold the coming of the dreaded disease, and preparations +were made for anticipated results. The Cottage was vacated, and the +sick were conveyed thither. The disease took a variety of forms. There +were those who had nothing but the symptoms, or a pustule or two; some +had a few dozen on them, scattered from head to foot; they were almost +absolutely well; they refused to be made invalids of; they kept at work +on the farm or were only disabled for a day or two when the disease was +at its height. The lighter cases increased in number, and finally the +Direction saw it was useless to try to isolate all, and that the +disease must have its run, and they must trust to fate for final +results. The worst cases were in the improvised hospital, under the +care of kindly nurses. "Hired," say you? No; not a bit of it! but dear, +kind women and men volunteered to attend to this sacred duty, and after +weeks of imprisonment, came out with the glory of having protected +every life, and the Associated family lost not a member. There were +more than thirty cases. The simple diet, the pure air and the healthy +mental stimulus of cheerful lives, with the knowledge that they were +something more than in name a united body, must have had its effect, +for the whole trouble passed away like a summer shower, and left no +permanent impression on the society. There were three or four extreme +cases, but only one or two persons who bore scars that were +defacements, and there was no panic in our midst. The members took the +whole matter with wonderful coolness. + +Like a shower it wiped out the army of visitors! When any persons came, +an attendant warned them of our condition ere they reached the Hive +door, and they precipitately retreated. Occasionally only, a carriage +or a few persons travelled the accustomed ways. Not until the epidemic +had passed did the interminable throng resume its accustomed walk, or +strange faces appear at the "visitors' table," and our many constant +and cheerful friends greet us again as of yore. The labor of the +Association was much disarranged, and there was loss in many ways, but +it was truly to be congratulated that it escaped from such an unusual +danger as comfortably as it did. From the first days of the Community +until its close, there was only one death on the farm, and that of the +person described in a former chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING. + + +All through the spring the talk was of the new building, the +"Phalanstery," as we called it. Everybody was thinking what great +progress could be made when we should live in it. One day, passing by, +I found the carpenters had resumed work, and from thenceforth it +progressed until it assumed the resemblance of a mammoth house. + +The round of daily life this season was little varied from that of the +past, but there was more activity and more crowding. A great many +makeshifts were had to enable persons who wished to visit the place to +get even lodging for a night, for no one knew who or how many were +coming before the evening coach arrived. Oftentimes it came full, when +it seemed there was not a sleeping place to be found on the domain. The +Association buildings overflowed, and a neighboring house was leased +and occupied just across the road, by the Hive. It was sometimes called +the "Nest," and had been hired in the first days of the "Community." +Even then every corner was filled. + +There was some income from this crowd of visitors, and at the same time +the work and system of the place were much retarded, for as carriage +after carriage and vehicle after vehicle came, each one would require +an attendant, who was taken from labor, and when the regular attendants +were all occupied the horn would be sounded to see if anyone of the +shoemakers or printers or farmers or teachers would leave his work and +volunteer for this duty. + +Frequently all these visitors would leave as suddenly as they came, and +would only give their thanks, not even being of a single cent's +immediate value to the place for the outlay of time taken from +productive labor. Sometimes a growl would be heard because a trifle was +taken for the expense of meals, or about the absence of feathers in the +beds, by some visitor who intruded himself uninvited. I pitied the +Dormitory Group, running from house to house at edge of evening to find +a stray corner to lodge a guest; seeking out the rooms of absent +members, and hunting up towels, furnishings and fittings, through all +the pleasant summer weather. But this was cheerfully done for "the +cause," and much more had to be done. + +Our lecturers were wanted--men who were in practical associative life, +and they were taken from remunerative work to speak to the public. Thus +we entered into the summer, and the beautiful grass waved again on the +meadow; the pleasant lights gleamed again from the Eyry windows; the +pure moon looked down on the summer fields; the merry voices of the +young and happy folks were heard as the farmers came up from the +fields, and the horn sounded its "_toot-toot_" as a signal for all to +join at meals. + +I was in the gardener's department, assisting him in the care of the +greenhouse plants and making flower beds, but our especial work was +laying out and planting a large garden which should be a permanent +addition to the beauty of the place, and a future source of income. On +the farm was a fine imported bull who did not seem to be doing his +share of work in our very industrious place, so a ring was put in his +nose and he was my especial charge in the way of a team. It appears +cruel to one who for the first time sees a bull led by the nose, but +there seems to be no reason why a bull should complain, when there are +so many humans continually led through life in the same fashion. + +In fact the bull throve and had in some ways considerable sense. He was +harnessed into a tipcart and we made him work for us. He was a strong, +powerful fellow, and has carried his eighty loads of gravel a day, from +one part of the garden to the other. At noon I would relieve him of his +harness and mount his back for a ride to the barn. I would then be the +"observed of all observers." Sometimes, for the frolic, I would load my +cart with young misses and dump them at the Hive door, backing up to it +in the most approved style of an old "gee-haw" farmer. + +"Prince Albert," the bull, was a gem. He worked admirably. He never +gave me any trouble, or anyone else human, but when stalled near the +oxen he had a peculiar fancy to poke his horns into them. Early one +morning, by some mischance, he got loose in the barn, and "going" for +one of them frightened him so much that he also broke loose, and in +trying to make his escape from the bull, backed into the barn-room. +There was a large trap door in it, and the ox ventured on it, breaking +it, and fell through. The bull was so close behind that he could not +escape, and they dropped together into the little room below, the door +of which was open. The ox escaped into the yard, and ran for dear life +around the front of the Hive, pursued by the bull. Whether the jar of +the fall, his escape, or his quiet disposition sobered him I know not, +but he soon fell into a jog-trot pursuit, and was caught and returned +by a neighboring farmer. + +There was great roaring and noise in the fracas, which was of short +duration, but long enough to bring out the men from the Hive to witness +the affair. The General, who had been sleeping a little late--probably +he had been baking bread the night before--made his appearance from his +little room on the ground floor, with boot on one foot and shoe on the +other, just as it was all over, with the impatient inquiry, "W-w-what +is it all about?" On an explanation of the affair being made, the next +question he asked, in all earnestness, soberness and simplicity, was +"W-h-o-i-c-h came out ahead?" The personal appearance and manner of the +General, and the absurd question, uttered in a vehement and stammering +way, touched a ludicrous spot in the minds of the spectators so +permanently that should you ask one of them to-day, "Which came out +ahead?" he will smile or give you a shout of laughter in return. + +It took but little to amuse, sometimes, for on one of the beautiful +summer days at nooning time, a group of men were resting in the shade +of the arbor that was on an island artificially made in the brook below +the terraces in front of the Hive, breathing the pure, balmy air of +outdoors instead of the indoor air of the workshop, reclining on the +thick greensward, when some two or three essayed the not very difficult +feat of jumping the merrily running brook, from embankment to +embankment, and dared Tirrell, one of the number, to follow. He was the +oldest and a little less supple than the others; and in trying the jump +deliberately landed about three inches short of the opposite bank, knee +deep in the water. It was, as the young people say, "too funny for +anything," but equally funny to the lookers-on to see the amused +Chiswell, one of his mates, roll over and over on the greensward in +repeated convulsions of side-splitting laughter, whilst the others, +standing up, had hard work to keep their perpendicular and writhed in +awful shapes as they joined in chorus with him, as Tirrell was slowly +wading out of the water up the embankment. + +Trouble in financial affairs still existed. Cash in large amount was +not received, and it was perilous times with the Direction. When the +fall of the year came, it was announced that we must retrench our +meagre diet, to enable us to go on until our labor could pay us +better--until we could improve our employments and enlarge the +institution so that there could be more producers--and it was submitted +to without much complaint. + +The work on the new building ceased, so that all hope of entering into +it before the coming spring was abandoned. There was one motto, +"Retrenchment," and it was echoed from all sides with all manner of fun +and mock solemnity; but those who were in the inner circle doubtless +felt, more than the youngsters did, the seriousness of matters. A more +strict account of everything was kept; indeed it seemed that the time +spent in keeping all the various items, was out of proportion to the +work done. I shall not soon forget, in this connection, the joke of +"the Parson," E. Capen, who, holding up a pair of pantaloons that he +had just received from the Mending Group, said sharply, "I have just +gotten a _reseat in full_ for these pantaloons!" + +It will not be necessary to go into details of changes made to secure +more prosperity. I was undisturbed by them. I could go with crust of +good bread all day and be satisfied, growing strong and healthy. I +could endure the cold and heat without trouble, and have often braved +the winter wind, taking no pains to keep it from being blown on my bare +chest, and without discomfort. + +The new greenhouse was built in the autumn, just in time to save the +plants from frost. It was situated back of the cottage and garden, +almost parallel with our boundary wall, and about fifteen feet from it. +There was a little sleeping room connected with it, where I lodged +summer and winter. Above me in the gable, a variety of beautiful doves, +consisting of Pouters, Tumblers, Ruffs, Carriers and Fantails, was +installed. They were very tame, and were much admired by our family and +visitors. They came at my call, alighted on my hands, head and +shoulders, and picked corn from out my hands and from between my lips. + +We planted grape vines that bore promises, but were too young for +fruit, and we made bouquets and sold them to Boston and West Roxbury +parties. + +Peter N. Klienstrup, the gardener, was under the spell of the powerful +weed, tobacco, and he tried time and again to break from the habit of +using it, but as often returned to its enchantment and its witchery. + +"Dis is my last piece," I have heard him say many times, showing me the +fragment of a "hand," and when that was gone and for some two or three +weeks afterwards everything soured him. He was as cross as a bear, but +after that time his nerves would gradually become calmer and his +complexion clearer. + +The gardener would persevere in the disuse of tobacco until the +enchanter's spell seemed broken, when some disturbing thing would upset +him, and he would turn his pockets inside out, and fumble with his +thumb and finger in their extreme corners for the least particle of the +"luxury." "John, I _must_ have some tobacco," he would say, and in a +day or two would be again under the full influence of the weed. I +pitied the old man, as I do the thousands of younger men who are to-day +under the same enchantment. + +Swept into this little nook in the industries of the place, I left the +Farming Group forever. + +It is often stated that the home circle is the sphere of women, but at +times it is a very narrow circle--a very narrowing circle to its +occupants. There are thousands who enter it as brilliant young ladies, +and come from it at the end of a few years morbid, harassed, depressed; +sunk in all the graces and powers that make a woman's life beautiful +and distinct from a man's. The circle in many cases is so narrow that +there is no room for growth. The humdrum toils, the petty cares and +rude contact with hired help, sink many a charming woman into a +domestic drudge and scold. + +It has been asserted that Associations and Communities may do well for +men, but that women can never get along in them. The experience of +Brook Farm testifies against the assertion. If ever there was a clear +record of faithfulness and devotion, of sacrifice, of love of +principle, and earnest, unselfish work for unselfish ends, the women +toilers of Brook Farm can claim it and secure it without cavil. Morning +and evening, in season and out of season, in heat and cold, they were +ever at their posts. And the self-imposed toil made them grow great. It +opened their hearts as they daily saw the devotion of others. + +It was for the meanest a life above humdrum, and for the greatest +something far, infinitely far beyond. They looked into the gates of +life and saw beyond charming visions, and hopes springing up for all. +They saw protection for all, even to the meanest of God's creatures; a +life beyond cold charity, up among the attributes of the Creator's +justice; an even garment for all, protecting the weak children of life +against the strong, the strong against the machinations of the weak. +How could they grow otherwise than great? + +Wherever woman's hands were wanted to work, wherever woman's head was +wanted to plan, and wherever woman's care and sympathy were needed, +they were always forthcoming. Some were witty, too. One of our ladies, +with her hands full of apple blossoms and her eyes bright as stars, was +met by Mr. Ripley, who said to her, "You have been foraging, I see!" +"Oh, no," she said, with an arch smile, "I do not go _foraging_." + +The pupils of the school took the infection of labor. At first often +haughty and distant, they soon mellowed, and were ready to assist the +young associative friends, with whom they became acquainted, in various +little works, and enjoyed the labor. The prevailing tone was health. +Sickness was a rarity to either sex. The pupils mingled with the games +and sporty, walks, rides and parties, and many seemed as devoted as +though belonging to the body, and when they returned from vacations, it +was with happy greetings to all and from all, and like returning home, +rather than to tasks. + +Separate and distinct from the school was a room for the young at the +Hive, where mothers could leave their children in the care of the +Nursery Group whilst they were engaged in industrial work, or as a +kindly relief to themselves when fatigued by the care of them; for a +primary doctrine was "alternation of employments." It was believed that +more and better work could be done by not being confined to one +employment all the day of labor; that it was better for the mental as +well as the physical system to have a change--in theory as often as +once in two hours. In practice, under the conditions which governed our +life, an attempt only could be made to alternate labor and to relieve +the mothers from the excess of burden that the care of young children +often is. Some very sweet and choice ladies attended to this +employment, choosing it from their attraction towards it; thus +inaugurating the day nursery system, now coming into vogue in our large +cities. + +In the matter of dress, the women who chose, had made for themselves a +short gown with an under garment, bound at the ankles and of the same +material. With this dress they could walk well and work well. It was +somewhat similar to the dress worn by Mrs. Bloomer and called by her +name years after this date. + +The question of the "right to vote" for women was not one that troubled +the politicians of Brook Farm. At all of the meetings for the +acceptance or rejection of applicants and other purposes, women cast +their votes without criticism, for were they not mutually interested? +And now, nearly half a century since, we are asked to form a party to +secure similar rights. Why, men and women, the party was formed when a +majority of persons now living was not born; only it was a very small +party, and, need I add--select! + +Only once did we have a wedding ceremony at the farm, though the +friendships commenced outlasted the Association. The financial +conditions for marriage were not inviting. One pleasant evening, later +than this date as I remember it, we were all invited to the Pilgrim +House to a wedding of one of Mr. Dwight's sisters. Our friend Rev. W. +H. Channing officiated. + +It was a homelike affair, and after the ceremony "the Poet" (J. S. +Dwight) was invited to speak to us; but no, he was not in the mood. He +was urged--for all liked to hear his kindly voice, and we thought this +a particularly pleasant subject--so he at last arose from his seat and +commenced with these words: "I like this making one." It seemed to +touch various chords in the minds of the hearers, for the applause and +laughter that followed silenced the rest of the speech and it was never +finished. Then some one proposed that all should join hands and make a +circle, as the symbol of universal unity, and a pledge to one another +that all were united in effort to continue and carry on the great work +of harmonizing society on a true and just basis of unity of interests, +attractive industry, mutual guarantees, etc. + + "Come, let us join hands! let our two flames mingle + In one more pure; + Since there is truth in nothing that is single + Be love, love's cure," + +sang our Poet after this time in the _Harbinger_, and some said with +double meaning. I have a list of names of fourteen married couples +whose mutual friendship was begun or continued through Brook Farm life, +and I have yet to know of an unhappy marriage among them all. + +The question was often debated whether such a life as was led in +Association would have a tendency to favor early marriages or not, but +like a great many other questions of importance, it was debated without +settlement. One party claimed that from the freedom of social +intercourse and facility of acquaintance, an intimacy would spring up +that would result in early marriages; and the other party maintained +that with the certainty of true friendship from woman, and pleasant +social relations, marriages would not be hurried, but delayed until the +parties' thoughts and temperaments were well harmonized and all proper +and natural arrangements of support and comfort thoroughly secured. + +There was with us a variety of female characters. We had our Marthas +who were troubled with much serving, and our Marys who loved to sit at +our leader's feet and hear the glad tidings and the new doctrines; and +now and then we had an uncomfortable woman, fully out of place and +consequently unhappy. Such an one was usually the wife of some man +whose whole energies were devoted to his work and who was happy in +himself, on his half shell, and was to be pitied that his other half +lived not in his shadow, but cast a shadow on him. + +All Brook Farmers recollect with pleasure, among special cases of +devotion, the little, straight, light-haired, smiling woman, who was so +long chief of the Dormitory Group, who was at nightfall wandering about +with stray towels, sheets and pillows, always making arrangements in +the shifting population for every one who came; hunting places for +stray visitors, when we were crowded; puzzled and wearied oft--for no +one knew at what hour of the day or evening visitors might come and we +had oftentimes almost to make a Box and Cox affair of it, for there was +no hotel within a long distance. This little woman was at her post +again in the morning doing dormitory work, never tired, going from +house to house, ever with a smile on her face; and this position she +voluntarily occupied more than two years. Sweet Lizzie Curson! + +Then the young folks--the young misses--were full of devotion. Commend +me to the young for unselfish work, or was it that the life awoke in +them a devoted spirit? This I know, that the sympathy and friendship +which sprung up in those days has lasted all these years, and will +remain as long as life. But it was not personal beauty that held me in +sway, and still holds me after so many long years--years that have +transformed most of those beautiful girls into old matrons and weeping +widows, plain and homely--but because it seems to me that there never +was a more gentle, kind, amiable, trusting, self-respecting, loving set +of young folks anywhere assembled. + +And oh, how they learned! How they grew in grace and in education, both +of the practical and the ornamental! How fine in health and figure, +from the free life, from the grace learned in dancing, the repose at +early hours, the simple diet and the mind filled every day with +pleasant thoughts and ideas. I do not know of any one who was not in +fine, robust health. They all, without exception, developed into +healthy men and women; or, to be a little more exact, as long as they +remained on the farm they continued to develop in health, strength, +grace and beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA, AND IMPORTANT LETTERS. + + +The need of especial amusements was not particularly felt at the farm, +but sometimes a set, inspired by an active mind, would venture out of +the common course and try to do a "big thing," which, like many big +things, would prove a failure. There was no hall for performances +except the dining hall, and it could not be taken possession of until +after supper; consequently, for a dramatic performance where it was +important to have the hall prepared before hand, it was useless, and so +the Amusement Group secured the lower floor of the shop for a special +occasion, and Chiswell, the carpenter, made a portable stage which +could be arranged for rehearsals and taken down easily, and all hands +went to work, some to learn their parts and others to make dresses, +properties and scenery. + +The influence of a strong, active mind and persuasive tongue like that +of Drew, was felt on this occasion, for he induced the Amusement Group +to allow a portion of his favorite poem, Byron's "Corsair," to be +acted. With pencil and scissors he went to work, cutting and slashing +the "Corsair" with these ungodly weapons until I fear he could not, had +he been in the flesh, have fought a brave fight. + +I cannot at this late day describe the dresses worn on the occasion; +but Glover was the corsair, and burnt cork had to suffer, and I know +that there was quite a pretty Miss whom he had no especial objection to +embracing as Medora. When he said, "My own Medora!" it was quite +pathetic--enough to cause a titter among the younger portion of the +audience. + +_Apropos_ of the audience, it was noised abroad that there was to be a +performance at the farm, and there was more than the usual number of +outsiders present. Even the Reverend Theodore, who never ventured out +in our vicinity in the evening, was tempted to come over for this +"great occasion." Some round-faced, pretty daughters of a well-to-do +neighboring farmer from "Spring Street" were there also, and with +friends and neighbors, the shop was full; for us a large audience. + +Well, the "Corsair," clipped as it was, dragged its slow length along +to an end. We then ventured to start our great drama, "Pizarro," or the +death of Rolla. But here again I am foiled in my remembrance. I know it +took the "whole strength of the company" to fill out the many +characters needed. Carpenters, shoemakers and farmers were turned into +Spanish chieftains and Peruvians; our young maidens were changed into +sun-worshippers, and our musical man adapted a portion of one of +Mozart's masses, to sing to these words, "The _sun_ is in his holy +temple," etc., at which some of our people cavilled; but which portion, +sung by the maidens, in white, was perhaps the best of all the +performance. + +I remember, however, that "the Admiral," or some one else, was +stationed behind the scenes with a gun to fire at Holla when he runs +away with Alonzo's child; that one of the great points made was, "By +Heaven, it is Alonzo's child!" and that rushing over scenic rocks he +should in imagination be shot; but the pesky gun behind the scenes +would not go off until many desperate attempts were made--no report +being heard until the play had further progressed, when all of a sudden +the gun was fired, and frightened individuals had the temerity to ask +"what that gun was for." + +I remember this also, that long before the play was ended, the Reverend +Theodore and others of the visitors had departed, thinking their own +thoughts, and that the curative effects of that performance lasted so +long the like was never attempted again; and although some were a +trifle disheartened by the failure to reach the summit of their hopes, +yet it was a source of merriment to others, and there are those whose +eyes may meet these pages, who will still smile if you quote these +lines to them: "O'er the glad waters of the deep, blue sea." "List, +'tis the bugle!" (I can vouch that it was nothing but the old trumpet +we blew for dinner.) "Ha! it sure cannot be day! What star, what sun is +bursting on the bay?" (It was only the barn lantern that was raised +outside the window, and an awful poor light at that!). + +"Well, how was Drew's play?" said one wag. "All blood and thunder, eh?" + +"No; all thud and blunder," was the rejoinder. + +The associative movement had now touched thousands of hearts in this +country. The Brook Farm Community, at its formation, was the only +community founded in America on the principle of freedom in religion +and social life--all others being founded on special religious creeds. +The agitation of social questions, the doctrines of Fourier and others, +brought many societies into existence; but like enthusiasts in other +schemes, the founders of them preached unity, but did not unite. The +leaders of Brook Farm urged upon the prominent men in the social +belief, to take part with them in their already established society, +with all the power they could command; but Mr. Greeley and the New York +men joined hands with the North American Phalanx, an association +founded at Red Bank, New Jersey, and lent their influence and means to +its development. Mr. Greeley thought the land at Brook Farm was of too +poor quality; that the debts of the organization were heavier than they +should be for a beginning, and that by starting anew, a better chance +for thrift could be had--especially if a location could be selected +with an excellent soil--and he desired it should be located near the +great market of New York. This departure from a true idea--the idea of +concentration--was certainly a great mistake, and the end proved that +the young societies, with little means, and needing much, should all +have joined together for financial success. + +At a very early date in the movement, there was a Community formed at +Hopedale, Milford, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Rev. Adin +Ballou, a man of considerable ability, whose tenets were those of peace +in absolute distinction to those of war. The Community was pledged by +its members not to enter into any hostile act, and to use its influence +for universal peace, they being all of a sect called "Non-Resistants." +Our leader, wisely, I think, made overtures to them to unite with the +West Roxbury Community, but the proposition was declined in the +following letter:-- + +"MENDON, MASS., Nov. 3, 1842. + +"DEAR BROTHER RIPLEY: Since our last interview I have met our brethren +and had a full consultation with them on the points of difficulty on +which we are at issue with your friends. We are unanimous in the solemn +conviction that we could not enlist for the formation of a community +not based on the distinguishing principles of the standard of Practical +Christianity so called, especially _non-resistance_, etc. We trust you +will do us the justice to think that we are conscientious and not +_bigoted_. The temptation is strong to severe, but we dare not hazard +the cause we have espoused by yielding our scruples. + +"We love you all, and shall be happy to see you go on and prosper, +though we fear the final issue. We are few and poor, and therefore you +can do without us better than we without you--your means and your +learning! But we shall try to do something in our humble way if God +favor us. We beseech you and your friends not to think us unkind or +unfriendly on account of our stiff notions, as they may seem, and to +regard us always as ready to rejoice in your good success. Let me hear +from you occasionally, and believe me and those for whom I speak, +sincerely your brethren in every good work. + +"Affectionately yours, + +"ADIN BALLOU." + +I remember that the Association, through its leaders, urged upon all +the principal men who came within their sphere, with considerable zeal, +to unite in their movement. This is a matter of record that should be +placed to their credit. + +A little later than this I find a letter from Mr. Brisbane, who showed +his characteristics so well in it, that I present all its important +parts for reading:-- + +"NEW YORK, the 9th December, 1845. + +"MY DEAR RIPLEY:--Yours of the 3d just received, the 5th came to hand +yesterday. I note all its contents in relation to your views upon the +necessity of developing Brook Farm. The reason why I have spoken in +some of my last letters of the best means of bringing Brook Farm to a +close, and making preparations for a trial under more favorable +circumstances, is this. In the middle of November I received a letter +from Charles in which, in speaking of the varioloid, he stated the +difficulties you have to contend with, and expressed fears for the +future in such a way that I decided you had made up your minds to bring +things to a close. I feared that Morton might be foreclosing his +mortgage, which would be a most serious affair. This is the cause of my +adverting to a possible dissolution and the necessity of looking ahead +to meet in the best and most proper manner such a contingency. + +"As to any opinion of what is to be done, it is easily explained. + +"First, we must raise a sufficient amount of capital, and the amount +must not be small. + +"Second, when that is secured we must prepare and work out a plan of +scientific organization sufficiently complete in its details to serve +as a guide in organizing an Association. For my own part, I feel no +capability whatever of directing an Association by discipline, by ideas +of duty, moral suasion and any other similar means. I want +organization; I want a mechanism suited and adapted to human nature, so +that human nature can follow its laws and attractions and go rightly, +and be its own guide. I might do something in directing such an +organization, but would be useless in any other way. As we all like to +be active, I would like exceedingly to take part in and help construct +a scientific organization. + +"How can we raise the capital necessary to do something effectual? I +see but two ways. The first is for C. and I--and if he will not do it, +then for you and I, if you would possibly engage in it--to lecture +patiently and perseveringly in various parts of the country, having the +translation of Fourier with us, _and continue at the work_ until we +have enlisted and interested men enough who will subscribe each a +certain sum sufficient to form the fund we deem necessary. Patience and +perseverance would do this. One hundred men who would subscribe one +thousand dollars cash, would give us a fine capital. Something +effectual, I think, might be done with such an amount; less than that +would, I fear, be patchwork. + +"Second, if C. or you cannot engage in this enterprise, then I shall +see what I can do alone. I shall make first the trial of the steel +business--that will now soon be determined, probably in a few weeks. +There are chances that it may be a great thing; if that turns out +nothing, then I shall take Fourier's work and do something of what I +propose you or C. and I should do together. + +"If the capital can be had, where shall we organize, you will ask? That +is a thing to be carefully considered, and which we cannot decide at +present. + +"Placed under the circumstances you are, all these speculations will +appear foreign to the subject that interests you, and useless. You want +capital, and immediately, for Brook Farm. Now it seems to me a problem +as perplexing to get fifteen thousand dollars for Brook Farm as it does +to raise one hundred thousand dollars. Where can it be had? The New +Yorkers who have money, G., T., S., etc., are all interested in and +pledged to raise ten thousand dollars for the North American Phalanx, +to pay off its mortgage. You might as well undertake to raise dead men, +as to attain any considerable amount of capital from the people here; I +have tried it so often that I know the difficulties. + +"The fact is, we have a great work to accomplish, that of organizing an +Association, and to do it we must have the means adequate to the task, +and to get these means we must make the most persevering and Herculean +efforts. We must go at the thing in earnest, and labor until we have +secured the means. I really see no other way or avenue to success; if +you do, I should be glad to hear your explanation of it. Fifteen +thousand dollars might do a great deal at Brook Farm, but would it do +the thing effectually--would it make a trial that would impress the +public? And for anything short of that, none of us, I suppose, would +labor. + +"We are surrounded by great difficulties. I see no immediate chance of +obtaining a capital sufficient for a good experiment, and until we have +the capital to organize upon quite a complete scale, I should say that +it would be a very great misfortune to dissolve Brook Farm. No +uncertain prospects should exercise any influence; the means must be +had in hand before we made any decisive movement towards a removal or +organizing in a more favorable location, even if you were perfectly +willing to leave New England and the neighborhood of Boston. As I said +I spoke of it, and should be urged to make at once the greatest efforts +to obtain capital only under the fear that circumstances might force a +crisis upon you. + +"I have touched merely upon generalities to-day; after further +correspondence I will write you more in detail. I will also come on and +see you if you deem it advisable. The other experiment keeps me here at +present; I think that next week I shall test it. I am greatly rejoiced +to hear that you are getting on well with the translation. + +"A. BRISBANE." + +I present in contrast, the draft of a letter by Mr. Ripley, showing the +difference in the ideas of the two men. Among the social organizations +at this date, was the Community founded by Mr. John A. Collins, at +Skaneateles, New York, to whose friend the letter was addressed. This +movement was based on "community of property" which was denounced by +the school of Fourier as a fallacy. I commend the letter to careful +perusal. It is beautiful in language; its spirit is transcendent. + +"BROOK FARM, MASS. + +"MY DEAR SIR:--I thank you for sending me the circular, calling a +convention at Skaneateles for the promotion of the community movement. + +"I had just enjoyed a short visit from Mr. Collins, who explained to me +very fully the purposes of the enterprise, and described the advantages +of the situation which had been selected as the scene of the initiatory +experiment. I hardly need to say that the movers in this noble effort +have my warmest sympathy, and that if circumstances permitted, I could +not deprive myself of the privilege of being present at their +deliberations. I am, however, just now so involved in cares and labors +that I could not be absent for so long a time without neglect of duty. + +"Although my present strong convictions are in, favor of cooperative +Association rather than of communities of property, I look with an +indescribable interest on every attempt to redeem society from its +corruptions, and establish the intercourse of men on a basis of love +instead of competition. The evils arising from trade and money, it +appears to me, grow out of the defects of our social organization, not +an intrinsic vice in themselves; and the abolition of private property, +I fear, would so far destroy the independence of the individual, as to +interfere with the great object of all social reform, namely, the +development of humanity, the substitution of a race of free, noble, +holy men and women, instead of the dwarfish and mutilated specimens +which now cover the earth. + +"The great problem is to guarantee individualism against the masses, on +the one hand, and the masses against the individual, on the other. In +society as now organized, the many are slaves to a few favored +individuals in a community. I should dread the bondage of individuals +to the power of the mass, while Association, by identifying the +interests of the many and the few--the less gifted and the highly +gifted--secures the sacred personality of all, gives to each individual +the largest liberty of the children of God. + +"Such are my present views, subject to any modification which farther +light may produce. Still I consider the great question of the means of +human regeneration still open, indeed, hardly touched as yet, and +Heaven forbid that I should not at least give you my best wishes for +the success of your important enterprise. + +"In our own little Association we practically adopt many community +elements. We are eclectics and learners, but day by day increases our +faith and joy in the principle of combined industry and of bearing each +other's burdens, instead of seeking every man his own. + +"It will give me great pleasure to hear from you whenever you have +anything to communicate interesting to the general movement. I feel +that all who are seeking the emancipation of man are brothers, though +differing in the measures which they may adopt for that purpose; and +from our different points of view it is not, perhaps, presumptuous to +hope that we may aid each other, by faithfully reporting the aspects of +earth and sky as they pass before our field of vision. + +"One danger, of which no doubt you are aware, proceeds from the growing +interest in the subject, and that is the crowds of converts who desire +to help themselves rather than to help the movement. It is as true now +as it was of old, that he who follows this new Messiah must deny +himself and take up his cross daily, or he cannot enter the promised +kingdom. The path of transition is always covered with thorns and +marked with the bleeding feet of the faithful. This truth must not be +covered up in describing the paradise for which we hope. We must drink +the waters of Marah in the desert, that others may feed on the grapes +of Eshcol. We must depend on the power of self-sacrifice in man, not on +appeals to his selfish nature, for the success of our efforts. We +should hardly be willing to accept of men or money for this enterprise, +unless called forth by earnest conviction that they are summoned by a +divine voice. I wish to hear less said to capitalists about a +profitable investment of their funds, as if the holy cause of humanity +were to be speeded onward by the same force which conducts railroads +and ships of war. Rather preach to the rich, 'Sell all that you have +and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven.' + +"GEORGE RIPLEY." + +Although the working condition of the Association was never better than +now; although its organization was complete as it could well be under +its disadvantages, it was with sorrow that the Direction heard that one +of the earliest members with his family--our head farmer--had decided +to leave the Brook Farm life. It was true that he could be spared, that +his three children were unproductive and that there was talent enough +on the farm to run the Farming Series well; but it seemed a break in +the established order, showing, perhaps, that things were not as +successful as they appeared to be, and that maybe the event was a +raindrop predicting a storm. + +I think no one blamed him, but all were sorry to part with one whom +they loved so well. That his interest in the cause and the Association +had not waned is apparent from the following letter, April 3, 1845:-- + +"Dear Sir:--In withdrawing from the Association I cannot believe it +necessary for me to say to you that I do not cease to feel an interest, +a very deep interest, in the success of the cause in which I have in my +humble way labored with you for the last few years. The final success +of this attempt to live out the great and holy idea of association for +brotherly cooperation, will be to me a greater cause for joy than any +merely personal benefit to myself could be. + +"I wished, but could not do it, to say to you and others how much I +love and esteem you, and how painful it is for me to leave those to +whom I am so much indebted for personal kindnesses. You know me well +enough to believe that I feel, more deeply than I can express, pained +by this separation. God bless you. God bless and prosper the +Association individually and collectively. + +"Yours truly, + +"MINOT PRATT." + +It was about this time that a "party" was given by the "Great Apostle," +as Mr. Brisbane was called by us. I made a memorandum of it at the +time, which aids my memory in presenting it. + +The day had been pleasant; it was one of the last in March. The farm +work had progressed as usual. Old Kate was at the plough and Cyclops at +the wagon. Who was Cyclops? She was a large, raw-boned, gray-white +mare, whose feeding did not show well; the more oats and meal and hay +she had, the more ribs we counted in her sides--you have seen such an +animal! But she was wonderful, because she stepped longer, than any +other of the horses; worked harder without showing fatigue, and made +the nine miles to Boston in a practical if not a graceful way. + +She had a fault, and horsemen had to admit it (you know they seldom +admit a fault but what is very visible). This was a visible fault, and +yet at the same time it was a want of visibility. She had but one eye. +And so Glover it was, I am quite sure, named her Cyclops. + +By the by, she had one other fault that I had almost forgotten, and +that was of elevating her heels against the dashers of wagons, when she +had an ugly fit, which took place semi-occasionally, and the +peculiarity of it was that she was not particular as to time or place +where she made her exhibitions. It might be in Dock Square or State +Street, or it might be on the farm, just as all were starting out. It +was not over pleasant to be near her when she flung those long hind +legs some six feet in air, and the dash-board was flying in pieces. + +The "General," with some others, was about to take a ride one day, when +she put a hind foot over the dasher, which caused him to dismount +precipitately. "For," he said he, when speaking of it, "I thought if +she was g-going to _g-get_ in, it was time for _me_ to get out!" + +The horn, as usual, rang out its cheerful tones for meals. There were +but few notes of preparation shown outside the rooms, for the event of +the evening. Up in the greenhouse the gardener and myself were busy +picking out choice flowering plants, and clipping off a stray dead leaf +or twig, and scouring the pots until they shone; and as the other teams +were busy, I harnessed my "Prince" to his cart and carried them to the +Hive where we made the best display of them we could in the dining room. + +We had some mottoes on the walls, as "The Series distribute the +Harmonics of the Universe," "Attractive Industry," "Universal Unity," +etc. + +At half past eight o'clock everything was in order. Side tables were +spread with a simple repast, and around the room were flowering plants, +azaleas, camellias, heaths, geraniums, etc. When the company had +assembled, the choir sang some glees, after which Mr. Brisbane made a +speech, and gave as a sentiment, "Unity of the Passions." Let me here +explain a little of what is meant by this sentiment. The twelve +passions are what are generally called "the human feelings or +sentiments." They are divided into the intellectual ones, the social +ones and the sensitive ones or those pertaining to the five senses. + +There are three intellectual ones, viz., Analysis, Synthesis and the +Composite. These exhaust the powers of the intellect; or, in other +words, the mind separates things, puts things together and compounds +things, and that is all that it can do in its primary intellectual +capacity. + +There are four social "passions," viz., Friendship, Love, Familism (i. +e., the family sentiment) and Ambition; and all our social life is +based on one or more of these four sentiments. + +Then there are five sensitive passions, which are aids and attendants +of the body--"sight, smelling, hearing, touch and taste." + +"The five sensitive passions tend to material riches, refinement and +harmonies. The four affective passions govern social relations and +those of individuals. Friendship tends to social equality and to the +levelling of ranks. Love regulates the relations of the sexes, +Paternity those of ages and generations; Ambition produces hierarchy of +ranks and distinctions among individuals; it establishes in society +gradations of all kinds based upon skill, merit, talent, etc.; it is +opposite in its effects from friendship."--"Social Destiny of Man," +page 453. + +The four social passions correspond to the four primary prismatic +colors of the Newtonian system, to the common chord in music and to +various other natural things. The three intellectual passions +correspond to the other three notes of the musical scale and to three +other prismatic colors; and the five sensitive passions correspond to +the five semi-tones, and also to five intermediate colors of the prism. +Now this at first sight looks very much like a scheme or a notion, but +the founder of this doctrine lays his claim to a higher judgment. He +says practically, "These are facts founded in nature by God himself." +Let me give you his own words, often reiterated: "I give no theory of +my own, I deduce. If I have deduced erroneously let others establish +the true deduction." Can words be more simple or more modest? + +These "passions," or "faculties," if you like the last word better, as +taught in the general schools of theology, are all at war with one +another, but as taught by the school of Fourier will all work +harmoniously together when right material conditions exist. Or in other +words, there is no inherent discord among these twelve sister faculties +residing in the nature of man. It is the duty of man on this earth, and +his destiny also, to bring them into harmonious relations, first by +organizing industry, and bringing man into right relation with nature +and his fellows, so that they can commence their natural action; and +this is what is meant by the "Unity of the Passions," and is the first +step towards universal happiness. Let me give a quotation from the same +author:-- + +"The impulses (passions) have a right and a wrong development. The +right development produces harmony, good, justice, unity. The wrong +development produces selfishness, injustice, duplicity." + +I have no memorandum of what was said by the speaker, but I remember he +was enthusiastic beyond bounds, and that he went in fancy from this +earth up into the starry vault of spheres that he fancied were peopled +by living beings----Jupiter and Saturn being in harmony--and in his +enthusiasm cried out, "I _love_ those great worlds up there!" looking +upwards with outstretched arms and uplifted hands; and it was telling, +for he was eloquent as well as enthusiastic. + +After this warm gush of rapture came quiet Dwight in one of those +sweet, calm, choice, dignified, exact speeches for which he was noted, +and gave as a sentiment, "The marriage of love and wisdom," the idea +being that present society, however much it may be filled with +love--love for the poor, the needy, the slave and the outcast--can +never avail much towards universal happiness until it marries itself to +wisdom: wisdom to do justice, to adapt means to ends, to exchange +charity, which is a curse to him that gives and him that takes, for +even-handed justice, divine law and social order; so that pauperism and +its kindred vices may be done away with forever, and in its place the +reign of peace and harmony prevail. + +Mr. Dwight was an admirer of Swedenborg's poetic fancies. He thought +many of them more than fancies. He believed that he gained through +unknown sources some glimpses of a higher life; and some of his +doctrines, as that of "correspondences" bore so strong a resemblance to +Fourier's "universal analogy" that it was quite striking; but his +claims to special theological inspiration, he did not admit. I speak of +this because some one might accuse him of plagiarism, the phrase of Mr. +Dwight's sentiment being similar to Swedenborg's words. Pardon this +digression, and we will return to our party. + +Mr. Ripley followed in his free and graceful style, and brought things +slowly down to our own door with pleasant word and wit (Ripley was a +punster with the rest; one of our wags one day called him a +Pumpkin--Pun-King--a paraphrase on New England pronunciation of the +word), and in conclusion gave us a sentiment: "The Hive! May it be a +hive, full of working bees, who make a little noise, a great deal of +honey, and sting not at all." + +Mr. Dana, the youngest of the four, then followed with a glowing +speech, in earnest, clear and chosen words. Not as fluent as either of +the other speakers, he yet commanded full attention, and we all knew he +meant what he said; there was no doubt about it--the frank manner, the +natural gesture, the glowing face, proved it. He gave as a sentiment, +"Ambition, the greatest of the four social passions!" He admired it! It +was that which carried life onward and made youth able and strong; the +ambition for higher things, for higher life and higher opportunities. +It was that which brought this little band together--an ambition to +better social life; and it was this passion that would lead them +onwards through discords into a higher unity and harmony. But in the +present social order a misplaced ambition led men to do a thousand +wrongs; it produced war, misery and discord, but when placed on the +side of humanity it tended upwards towards God and the heavenly +accords. True ambition was the unsatisfied thing that never ends except +in something higher, nobler, grander. + +Here let me explain again. The four social passions before named +correspond to the common, chord in music, but ambition corresponds to +the seventh note on which no music ever ends. It is always incomplete +without the eighth note, the first of the octave above; it runs into +it; it is restless, it must never be left alone, but always has an +object--the higher unity. Such is true ambition, and such are its +results in the natural order. + +Applause followed Mr. Dana's speech, and after his remarks the +sentiment of the evening turned towards, home life. The orators spoke +of the earnest endeavors of the men and women by whom they were +surrounded; of their constant daily labor to produce harmony and higher +social development, and more particularly of their years of personal +toil and devotion, and of their own earnest affection for one another, +until tears started in some eyes. + +Mr. Ripley spoke of the devotion of the persons about to leave the +Association to found "a little colony of their own," for whom he had +the highest personal esteem, cemented by years of friendship, counsel +and labor together; his sorrow for their departure; his good wishes for +them, and his hopes for their present and future welfare, and closed +with a sentiment, "The late chief of the Farming Series, Minot Pratt +and his family--they can not remain long in _Concord_ without returning +to _harmony_" (Concord, Massachusetts, was where our farmer was going), +for which the modest gentleman returned thanks for himself and wife in +a few kind and earnest words. + +One after another joined in pleasant remarks, and the simple feast, the +music and the conversation were kept up. The ever-present fun and +frolic abounded in some corners, but the joke of the evening was +perhaps that of the Parson--him of the sharp face and nose, who read so +late by the light of the lamp in "Attica"--who commenced his remarks by +saying that he desired to offer a sentiment, and must be pardoned if it +was of a personal nature. Now the reason why this gentleman got the +title of "the Parson" was not from his reading, his gravity or want of +gravity, but from the fact of his having been educated for the +ministry, which in those days required a great deal more preaching +damnation to sinners than now. His unwillingness to do so was the means +of his leaving the pulpit, and this gave the pith of the toast or +sentiment offered. + +Parson Capen's speech was sharp. He did not spill over on every +occasion. He had no little spurts of wit like a spatter of water on a +hot stove, but when he let out his joke it went off like a percussion +cap. The attention of the company being secured, he alluded to his +present position as a change, he believed, for the better--from his +former relation to society when he was preaching against, to the +present time when he was working for, humanity; and gave as a toast, +"Ephraim Capen--_thrust into_ the pulpit to _damn_ mankind, _thrust +out_ of the pulpit to _bless_ mankind." + +Laughter followed this sharp witticism, and the hours passed quickly on +until it was near midnight, when it was suggested that "Old Hundred" be +sung, and all joined in the anthem. As the last note died away, the +stroke of the clock announced the hour of twelve, and all departed to +their houses to sleep, and dream of the pleasant time they had enjoyed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL AND PARLOR LIFE. + + +We now pass over some months of the life with few words. I have tried +to portray it on the farm as it appeared to me, and leave you to think +that it continues on and on, ever in the same general current, through +the long, clear days and moonlight nights of summer, and the cooler +days and misty evenings of the later season, to the time when the +warning comes to the farmer to gather in the ripened products of his +labor. + +I pass over the later autumn--when the fields are cleared of all but +the remains of vegetation, and we hear no more the songs of the +crickets and the multitudinous insect life that fills the air of the +August and September nights, as the full moon looks down on the fields +and meadow rich in foliage--to the time when the thought of the farmer +is for wood for the winter, for the preservation of the farming +implements, for making all things "taut and trig" about the barn and +houses to secure their warmth for the coming cold weather and snow; +past the day of the New England Thanksgiving, along to Christmas time, +saying only in passing that the leaders were much engaged in lecturing, +as well as with other duties. + +One evening in autumn a party from the farm, myself the youngest of +them, started for Boston to hear one of a course of lectures. Mr. +Ripley was the chairman, and the ever bounteous joyousness of his +nature sparkled out in wit and mirth. These meetings were free, and +discussion was invited, but there was present an excitable woman who +had a habit of rising at any moment, no matter who was speaking, to +make odd remarks and inquiries. She was considered a great nuisance, +especially at the meetings of the antislavery societies, where she was +often found, and I more than once saw her "suppressed" by police +officers. On this occasion, whilst Mr. Brisbane was speaking, she arose +to propound questions. + +Immediate excitement was visible in the audience, and cries of "Put her +out," arose. Mr. Ripley was on his feet in an instant. He declared the +meeting to be a free one, and that it was ever the faith and duty of +those engaged in this liberal movement to give the largest liberty to +all inquirers; he appealed to all to be quiet and hear what the lady +had to say, for she would, as well as all others, give them credit for +having paid respectful attention to whoever wished to make inquiries, +and whenever Miss F. had spoken, she could not but acknowledge that +they had always and at all times listened to her with the utmost--and +he hesitated as if seeking carefully for the exact word, which he +uttered slowly and with the utmost gravity--_patience_. At this queer +termination the audience laughed loudly, and gave her a hearing, and +shortly, pleased at her conquest, she sat down, and disturbed no future +meeting of the Associationists. + +Again during the discussion Mr. Ripley announced that a contribution +would be taken to defray expenses, "but as the speaking was to be +continued during the time the box was passing round," the audience was +requested to _"put in as many bills as possible so as not to disturb +the speaker by the rattling of small change."_ After the meeting +closed, the wagon in which we rode to town was deserted by some half +dozen of its male passengers who, with the speed of Indian runners, +started for the farm on foot. Being slight of build and not over +strong, I would have been left behind, had it not been for the +friendship of the Admiral, who awaited my movements, but we still sped +on with rapidity, overtaking some, and neared the farm in time to hear +the bark of our dog Carlo announce the arrival of the team only a few +minutes before us. + +The autumn and early winter were very mild. The ground was not frozen +on the twenty-fourth day of December, and the gardener had many crocus +bulbs unplanted, owing to too much labor in and around the new +greenhouse and garden, and being desirous of saving them, commenced to +plant them on the Hive terraces in "her majesty's garden." There were +hundreds of them. In the morning we prepared our beds and dug our holes +for planting. The sky was lowery, and it was afternoon when we +commenced to plant. + +Shortly the raindrops began to fall, but we continued our work. It +rained harder and harder. I had on only ordinary woollen clothing, +cotton shirt, no undershirt, and wore over it only an old green baize +jacket. Wet to the skin; the rain ran off of me in streams. With my wet +hands I assorted and handed the bulbs, four or five at a time, to the +gardener, and as they touched the ground or his fingers, the earth +stuck to them and mixed mud and plants together. The rain began to grow +colder and colder, and our work was not done, but as the shades of +night began to fall we finished it. Chilled and cold we wended our way +towards the greenhouse, where I changed wet clothes for dry ones. The +night came on cold; the wind howled; the rain turned into snow and on +Christmas morning the ground was covered with a rough, hard +conglomerate of snow and ice. + +But the next day neither chill nor cold resulted from the long +exposure. Was it because our lives were more in harmony with nature +than is usual? + +At the Eyry all through the winter, in its cosy little parlor, reigned +our queens and kings of art and music. I was partial to the room and +the company, yet neither felt nor understood the deep music. It is true +that I sang songs of my own and made my own harmonies as I wandered +over the fields and meadows. The mystic measure of the sunny waltz +haunted me happily at times, and my heart kept time to its rhythm even +as my feet had kept time in the merry dance; but it seemed to me as +though there was a lack of sense in the jingle, and a depth of feeling +untouched in me that the music of the parlor had not or could not +reach--I did not appreciate it. + +It was a pleasure for Mr. Dwight to secure a quartette of singers from +the city. I could mention names, but I forbear, yet there are two faces +so indelibly linked with those most happy hours, that I must, in order +to be true to this sketch of Brook Farm life, twine them into my +narrative. + +The first face was serene, charming and dignified. Its cheeks were +round and gracefully full, and colored with delicious pink, and a +dimple rounded in them when the kindly face smiled. Above them reigned +a queenly forehead, and over the brown eyes a fine brow. The nose was +straight, the upper lip short, and the features were regular. The owner +of this face was tall and graceful, and her dark, glossy hair was +combed plainly back. She was ever neatly dressed, and her favorite +decoration was a wreath of the wild partridge vine, rich with its red +berries, which added to her graceful presence. It was her sweet voice, +soft and low, that chimed in, in our quartette. She came and went and +seemed one of us, as in spirit she was, though in fact only a friendly +visitor. + +The other face was different and not as pretty, yet it grew upon you +more and more. + +There was no blue like those eyes of blue, if they were delicately +small, and if there was a little drooping expression as though the sun +above was a trifle too powerful for them. This was no detriment, +however; it lent them a mildness, a soft haze, like that we so much +admire in a landscape, and made them more in keeping with the mild, +tranquil countenance. + +The eyebrows were softly penciled--not bold, not prominent--and were +not much arched, and the nose, that was Grecian, was full between the +eyes. The lips were of good size as well as the mouth, and the upper +lip long enough to indicate strength of character. The chin was finely +drawn, and the throat rather large and full. About the mouth, even in +repose, seemed to rest the faint semblance of a smile, as though it +could not leave its pleasant dwelling place; as though it was akin to +the features themselves, as the color of the eyes or hair. The forehead +was pure, womanly; intellectual enough, full enough, high enough, but +toned down to the sweet, womanly features. It was a fine face; a +vigorous, womanly one, unmarked with a single manly symptom, but +independent, pure and serene. + +And what could set off this face better than that soft, light, blonde +hair, that wound into full, large ringlets, looped up in Grecian style? +In vain it is for me to describe the tints of it. It seemed as though +the Divine Artist had taken the beautiful colors from his palette and +mixed them for this especial head. There was a touch of sunshine in it +also, and it seems but yesterday that I saw the old gardener take a +stray one from the sleeve of his baize jacket, where by chance it had +strayed and caught--for the fair owner liked to visit the +greenhouse--and hold it admiringly and enthusiastically up in the +morning sunlight, and I remember the golden shimmer it had in it, for +he called my attention to it. A French writer's words seem to meet its +description better than my own: "Non pas rouges--Mais blonde avec des +reflets dores, on delicatement se jouait la lumiere du soleil." + +In distinction to the lady named before, the present one was short, of +fairly full figure, and not above the average grace. You might even say +that the large head was carried a little too far forward for elegance. +In distinction also to the calm, quiet manner of the other, she was +vivacious, quick and spritely; was fond of conversation, but no matter +how trivial the subject of discourse, it grew into earnestness in her +mind unless she was wholly playful. But her chief distinction was her +love and talent for music, and in the capacity of beautiful singer she +was first introduced to us. + +I cannot tell how this pure soul first took to the sublime idea of +society founded on justice to all, the Christianity of the idea, and +the truths of industry, or how the idea came to her that in this one +way and only in this one way could the kingdom of God prayed for for +eighteen centuries, come to us on earth; but I think it was born in her +as jewels are born in the earth, and sparkle when they come to the sun. +But this I know, that when they took possession of her she could not +withstand their power, more than Saint Paul could the heavenly +influences that brought his Jewish heart to love all, and live and die +for all the races of God's humanity. Friends, relatives, companions, +were opposed to her visits among the Brook Farmers. It was intimated to +her that there were suspicious persons residing there. She bravely +pinned her informers to facts; she made searching inquiries, and, +convincing herself, boldly stood by the idea and the Brook Farmers as +living symbols of a better and more Christian life, and triumphed over +all in her sublime truthfulness and dignity. + +How willing and ready she was to acknowledge her trivial failures! How +ready to do for all such kindness as came in her sphere to do, and how +quick she was to comprehend great truths. Untied from the dead letter +that killeth, she was overflowing with its pure spirit that gave its +abundant life, rich, full and charming, to all around her. + +One of the young poets of the farm many years ago paid this graceful +tribute to her charms:-- + + OF MARY BULLARD. + + Dearly love I to be near her-- + Though thought of her is not dearer + Than friendship may say. + Yet around will I hover; + Bringing joy like a lover, + To brighten her day. + + Ever am I lingering near her-- + Her whole soul seems to me clearer + Than others that are. + And her love-lighted blue eye, + When an aching heart is nigh, + Beams forth like a star. + It's good for me to be near her-- + Should she e'er sorrow, to cheer her + Out of her sad moods; + Her dark path to make lighter, + And behold it grow brighter + Like sunlight through woods. + + Still stay I lovingly near her, + Enraptured--sometimes I fear her + Soul is on its wings-- + And ask will it yet return?-- + Seems it so pure, so lost and gone, + Whenever she sings. + + Lingering and waiting near her-- + The words that she speaks are dearer + Than birds' songs in May. + With sweet thoughts will I surround her, + As on the day I first found her, + Forever--for aye. + +I have been particular in my description of this lady and friend, +because they became the encouragers of the later movement in Boston, +where those who remained true to the Brook Farm ideas formed themselves +into a society of zealots to propagate the faith, she giving her +splendid talents and her warm enthusiasm freely to the movement, and +because they were as truly united with us as if enrolled as members on +the farm. + +It was in the latter part of the month of January that we had the +fulfilment of a promise of a long visit from the fair singer. The +winter had grown cold and stormy; the white snow covered the fields, +and at times we gleefully slid down the hills over its frozen crust on +sleds and improvised vehicles. And there were days of transcendent +beauty. I remember especially, a solitary visit to the pine woods after +a deep snow storm, and the lifelong impression of it remains. + +The evergreens were bowed heavily with the weight of the snow, and +across the wood path birches and various trees bent as if in prayer, +obstructing the way. The clear air, which was not very cold--for it was +one of those subdued days of winter, when the glare of the sun was +obstructed by a cloudy mantle--the intense quiet, the strong contrasts +of the dark trunks of trees with the heavy evergreens, and the +immaculate purity of whiteness laid on by the greatest and sublimest +painter were so marked and so lovely that I seemed to be drinking the +nectar of the god of beauty, and was soul-subdued. + +Up to the Eyry in the evening, I went with others to hear the singing, +when Mary, "the nightingale,"--as we sometimes called her--came. I went +often and stayed long. Some were at the Hive, reading; some were, +perhaps, engaged in Shakespeare; some in their rooms with their +families; some at the Cottage practising the piano, and all "following +their attractions," to use our common phrase, in their own little +sphere--whether it was reading the papers and journals of the day in +the improvised reading-room at the Hive, or commenting on the last +articles in the _Harbinger,_ or doing a little work out of hours for +amusement or profit, or attending one of the interminable number of +meetings for consultation and arrangement held almost nightly. + +There the quartette sang the "Kyrie," and "Gloria in Excelsis" from the +masses of Mozart and Haydn. An edition had just been published and +forwarded from London, and by degrees they became familiar to us as +household words. Did it not seem strange, you may ask, that these +radical thinkers and "come-outers" from ordinary forms of society, +should turn with pleasure to the emanations of a profoundly +conservative church? I answer that, having freed their minds from +sectarian prejudices, they recognized beauty and genius wherever found, +and did not care what church or creed they had served, so that they +found the gift of beauty from the infinite Father to man in them. With +one glorious soprano voice and boundless talent, how much of joy was +added to the circle! How we revelled in the choice creations of the +masters of harmony, and how, slowly but surely, the missing link that +was wanting in my mind to realize that music could cover the void that +separated sound from feeling, came to its place--I am tempted to tell. + +The sweet songstress was asked to sing. Did she make excuses? Of course +she would do so to follow traditional usage. She must have a slight +cold, she must think she won't, must be coaxed, and then--why, do it +with a grace. But here was a woman so touched with the divine fire of +genius and truth, that no excuse came from her lips. She was always +ready if you desired it. In her I first learned that music was not a +put-on art, an accomplishment, but the outpouring of soul. + +One evening when our little party was being filled with music, and the +quartette had bravely sung Rossini's "Prayer in Egypt," with the grand +vigor and expression that the soprano put into it, she exclaimed with +feeling, "How beautiful that is!" From that moment I understood what +music meant. She had translated it for me. But instead of inspiring me +with joy, it made me sad. It aroused that terrible feeling, +"consciousness of self." It waked me to new ideas of duty and destiny, +to wondrous thoughts and aspirations; and they would not down at my +bidding. Over and over again I tried to banish them, but the inward and +spiritual ear was open, and the sad strains of Schubert's "Elegy of +Tears," and "The Wanderer," and the "Ave Maria," seemed my sorrow, my +wanderings and my prayers. Sadness was not my nature; I was as cheerful +as the bird that sings, save a mighty something which clung to me and +overshadowed me like the enormous wings of a terrible genius. + +One day it began again to snow; a million feathers from the frost +king's fleece were flying in the air. It snowed all day, and in the +evening it snowed and whirled and blew around the Eyry, with its little +party of choice spirits in its cosy parlor making merry and singing. +Perhaps it was the "Wood Robin," or the "Skylark," or one of Colcott's +glees, or one of Mendelssohn's two-part songs, or Schubert's +"Serenade," or Beethoven's "Adelaide"; or maybe an interlude of piano, +one of Mozart's Sonatas, or "Der Freyschutz," and then a Kyrie, Dona +Nobis, Gloria, or Agnus Dei, one or all, until it was time to retire. +And still it snowed and snowed. + +From the Eyry parlor I would go to my quarters in the greenhouse, and +there the old man would be anxious for the flowers, that the fire be +neither too hot nor too cold, and with a long story to tell me of +manners and customs of his youth in Denmark--some of them quaint and +strange enough--would slowly finish out the evening, and it was often +midnight before we retired. + +All the next day it snowed, and piled up its pure whiteness over every +projecting thing, whirling and tossing its feathers about, unlike +anything else in nature, and at night it snowed still. It snowed +steadily for three days and nights, but when the fourth morning broke, +it was on one of the clearest and most beautiful days ever known and to +my surprise I awoke full of renewed cheerfulness and physically like my +former self. The youthful storm of my life was over. + +But the "Ego" had changed. I was living in a poetic atmosphere and +imbibing its qualities and its stimulants. Born with artistic tastes, I +had imagined an artistic future; but as the procession of realistic +lives passed before me, I seemed to see the inward side of the real and +the ideal. An artistic life!--a triumph after long years of labor, +awarded by the hand-clapping of a few admirers, most of whom had no +appreciation of the work, and no sympathy with its higher motives. +Would it not be cold? Would it not slowly freeze my heart to the warm +love of human beings, with every one of whom I had now something in +common? A real life, taking part in active work, in plain, daily toil; +touching the great, full, seething heart of humanity on its warm side; +working for them; working with them; being one with many--one with her. +Which was best? Which was the supremest ideal? I think the latter. + +There were other visitors who came, attracted by the little group of +singers. There was a young lady, Miss Graubtner from Boston, who +touched the piano with the grace of a master. Her German name indicated +the stock from whence she sprung, and the training she received from +her musical father. There were tenors and basses who were attracted +also, but they came and went; the sweetest songstress remained, and the +cold days of winter were beginning to give way to the warm March sun +when the visit was completed, and we reluctantly gave her back to +"civilization." + +Among the pleasant occasional visitors was a gentleman who joined in +the circle with his flute, who had the reputation, well deserved, of +having written some fine verses--some of them are in the +_Harbinger_--and who was in very friendly sympathy with our music man, +as an old and, I think, college acquaintance. His accomplishments were +varied. He had graced a pulpit, and afterwards made his mark with his +pen, pallet and brush. He had a very pleasant gift of imitation, and, +with his modest and gentlemanly bearing, made quite an impression on me. + +I fancy I see him now, with his tall, graceful, upright figure, his +wealth of dark, curling hair, and his young manhood, with his sober, +dignified face and large forehead, just retiring from our crowded Eyry +parlor to the hall, where under cover, he can more readily introduce +his menagerie--menagerie or barnyard you certainly would think it was; +for from behind the door comes the imitation of the cow with its young +calf; a sow and its pigs are squealing; the lambs and sheep are +bleating; the rooster begins to crow, and near by the house dog is +heard; soon all is still except his persistent, hoarse bark; then from +a distance we hear the bark of another dog awakened by the first; soon +another, nearer still, wakes up and tunes his note; presently we hear +all the dogs of the village who are now awake. Then the sound of the +starting up of the locomotive drowns all other noises, and when it has +passed away we hear nothing but far in the dim distance some one +solitary dog still barking. The frogs begin to peep, and the turtles +whistle, and the doves coo, until you are carried away from the circle, +its lights and its pleasant, laughing faces into the bosom of nature. +It is needless to say that all these sounds came from the throat of +Christopher P. Cranch, the poet-artist, and were clever imitations +which were hugely appreciated by the young folks. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE. + + +A lady said to me not long since, knowing it from experience, "There +was a great deal of fun at Brook Farm." This was true, and I deem it +worthy of particular mention, as I can scarce believe that there ever +was in New England a body of men and women who for so long a time, +maintained such friendly and intimate relations, and yet kept up such +an interminable fire of small fun and joke, puns and _bon-mots,_ +inoffensively shooting them off right and left at all times and places. +Being of an evanescent nature they have mostly vanished from my mind, +but the spirit of them remains. + +There were "All-Fool's" day tricks played by the young people on such +smart, independent geniuses as Irish John; the sending of a letter to +him from a supposable lady friend, with a post-mark painted on it by +one of the young ladies; putting parsnip ends into his study lamp for +wicks, etc. But these are not to be classed with the fun that was +present of the genuine sort. There were a few live wits who were Tom +Hoods on a small scale, seeing everything with a double meaning, and +"double-enders" (_double entendres_) were for breakfast, dinner and +supper every day in the week. + +Some little children were chasing one another one very warm day. "Why," +queried one, "are those children like native Africans?" "Because they +belong to the 'hot' and 'tot' race!" + +"Is Mr. ---- much of a carpenter?" "Not a bit of one, that's _plain_," +was the reply. + +"What sort of a man is that long-haired fellow opposite?" said one. "He +is good in the _main_," replied the other. + +"These Grahamites will never make their ends _meet_," said one. "You +may _stake_ your reputation on that," said the other. + +"Mrs. ---- is a regular steamboat," said A. "Yes, I know it; she goes +by steam----_self 'steam_," said B.----which was smart, but cutting! + +If, for instance, Miss Kettell was to be married, one would ask if she +was a "_tin_" kettle, and another would "_go bail_" she was, and the +next would say that "the larger the kettle the more tin it would have." +"And the more _iron in (g)_, too!" some one would ejaculate. Then +another would say that "after she was married there would be none of +the _Kettle_ left," and the next wit would say, "And none of the +'_tin_' either," and so the badinage would pass about. + +It made no difference what the subject was, it was always suggestive. +If it was a dog, they would ask, "What kind of a _bark_ he had on him?" +If it was a pump, "Is it _well_ with it?" If it was a shepherd, they +would like to inquire "if he was not a _baa_-keeper?" and the first +would reply that he would have to "ruminate" on it before he made his +answer; and the second would hope his reply would be "_spirited_; if +not he had better be _punched_ up." + +"Have you seen my umbrella?" asked one. "What sort of an umbrella was +it?" was the inquiry. "It had a hooked end," said number one. "I have +not seen it," was the reply, "but _I_ had a nice one once, and the end +was _exactly_ like yours; it was _hooked!_" + +Passing a rosy-cheeked, unkempt boy, Miss--remarked to her friend, +"Isn't he a little honey?" "Yes," she replied, struck by his traits, +"honey without a _comb!_" + +"Do you not think Miss B. is beautiful? She bows to perfection." "Yes; +but she hasn't bowed to me. Has she to _you?_" + +"Who are those girls out in the boat with the old man?" (The name of +the boat was "the Dart.") "Why, his _darters_, of course," was the +reply. + +And how could any one do differently when the great Archon himself was +first and foremost in the fray, poking fun at all? "Don't do that," he +said one day to me when I put something unusual in the swine's mess, +"the hogs will all _die_ after it!" with a most serious look on his +pleasant face. In my seat at the table, looking down the hall to where +the Archon was, I saw him full of frolic, and oftentimes wondered what +he could joke so much about. + +There was one occasion when he quoted Watts in a comical way to an +offending member which brought him to terms. It was at the Eyry. There +was a meeting of the Industrial Council. It was necessary to have a +quorum to pass certain important votes, and one of the members, being a +trifle weary of business, had stepped out to converse with a friend in +the vestibule. After a while, hearing some one coming, he slipped +behind the vestibule door. It was the "Archon," who came for the member +to make a quorum. Presently, discovering his retreat, he hailed him--as +he remembered it--thus:-- + + "'And are you there, you sinner d--d, + And do you fare so well! + Were it not for redeeming grace + You'd long since been in hell.'" + +The unworthy member succumbed and returned to the meeting, wondering +whether the verse was an impromptu or whether it was part of one of the +inspiring Sunday hymns our grandfathers sang in their cheerless, +unwarmed meeting-houses. In a version of Watts' Hymns this verse is +found:-- + + "And are we wretches still alive, + And do we yet rebel? + 'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love + That bears us up from hell." + +It might have been the one Mr. Ripley quoted. + +I have heard it said that a prominent literary man "could not +understand the condition of mind it required to make a pun." It would +be out of place here to try to explain that condition to him or to any +one else. It is certainly not an unhappy frame of mind, and I am not +aware that it indicates any depraved condition. I don't know of any +very bad men who make puns, but I have known of many good men who make +bad puns. It is not an avaricious state of the mind, for who ever heard +of "puns for sale or manufactured to order," or of a man getting rich +in the wholesale or retail pun trade! + +In fact, a pun is like an egg--the moment you crack it the meat is out. +Some men carry things to extremes; I wouldn't myself like to be a +punster _in toto_, but only now and then to have a finger in one. But +really, the condition of mind seems to be the same as that of some of +our criminals who profess they committed the deed because they +"couldn't help it," or the boy who was asked angrily "why he whistled?" +"He didn't," he replied, "it whistled itself." I imagine our literary +friend thinks that a punster draws the steel blade of his intellect, +discovers some close-mouthed, hard-fisted sort of a word or sentence +doubled up like an oyster and deliberately splits it apart, one shell +on one side, one on the other and the soft thing drops out between. I +could only despise the sort of brain that would do such a deed. + +A pun is a part of the sunshine of words. It gives a sparkle and a glow +to language. It is a big pendulum that swings from torrid to frigid +zone quicker than a telegram goes. If you hold on to it, you will find +yourself in both places in a jiffy, and back again to the spot where +you start from without being hurt, and the jog to your intellect, if +you happen to have any, is only of an agreeable nature. + +But it was not alone in puns and conundrums that the social life of +Brook Farm was rich. It was rich in cheerful buzz. The bumble-bees had +no more melodious hum than the Brook Farmers. They had thrown aside the +forms that bind outside humanity. They were sailing on a voyage of +discovery, seeking a modern El Dorado, but they did not carry with them +the lust for gold. They were seeking something which, had they found +the realization of, would have carried peace to troubled hearts, +contentment and joy to all conditions and classes. They were builders, +not destroyers. They proposed to begin again the social structure with +new foundations. They were at war with none personally; as high-toned, +large-souled men and women they were ready with their expressions of +hatred and contempt for the unchristian social life of our generation, +but they were never ranters. + +In general little was said on the farm of these matters, except in +private discussions; all were too busy with the active work. We felt +that we had put our ears down to the earth and heard nature's +whisperings of harmony; that we had gone back from the uncertain and +flimsy foundations of present society, and placed our corner stone on +the eternal rock of science and justice; that the social laws God +ordained from the beginning had been discovered; there could be no +possibility of a mistake, and therefore, we felt that our feet were on +eternal foundations, and our souls growing more and more in harmony +with man and God. + +Imagine, indifferent reader of my story, the state of mind you would be +in if you could feel that you were placed in a position of positive +harmony with all your race; that you carried with you a balm that could +heal every earthly wound; an earthly gospel, even as the church thinks +it has a heavenly gospel--a remedy for poverty, crime, outrage and +over-taxed hand, heart and brain. And every night as you laid your head +on your pillow, you could say: "I have this day wronged no man. I have +this day worked for my race, I have let all my little plans go and have +worked on the grand plan that the Eternal Father has intended shall +sometime be completed. I feel that I am in harmony with Him. Now I know +He _is_ truly our Father. With an unending list of crimes and social +wrongs staring me in the face I doubted, and my heart was cast down. +Now the light is given me by which I see the way through the labyrinth! +It is our Father's beautiful garden in which we are. I have learned +that all is intended for order and beauty, but as children we cannot +yet walk so as not to stumble. Natural science has explained a thousand +mysteries. Social science--understand the word; not schemes, plans or +guessing, but genuine science, as far from guess or scheme as astronomy +or chemistry is--will reveal to us as many truths and beauties as ever +any other science has done. I now see clearly! Blessed be God for the +light!" + +And after sound sleep, waking in the rosy morning, with the fresh air +from balmy fields blowing into your window, penetrated still with the +afflatus of last night's thoughts and reveries, wouldn't you be +cheerful? Wouldn't the unity of all things come to you, and wouldn't +you chirrup like a bird, and buzz like a bee, and turn imaginary +somersaults and dance and sing, and feel like cutting up "didoes," and +talk a little high strung, and be chipper with the lowliest and level +with the highest? Wouldn't your heart flow over with ever so much love +and gratitude? Wouldn't it infuse so much spirit into your poor, weak +life that your words would sparkle with cheeriness, frolic and wit? I +believe so! I know so! + +Such was to me the secret of the fun, wit and frolic of the Brook +Farmers. The jokes were, it is true, largely superficial, but they were +inseparable from the position. The bottom fact was, _the associates +there were leading a just life_, and could go to their labor, hard beds +and simple fare--down to plain bread and sometimes mythical +butter--with cheerfulness just in proportion as they were penetrated by +these great ideas. They could make merry with their friends over a cup +of coffee, and sought not the stimulants that college days and college +habits might have allowed. + +It was with one of our little social groups of friends, that Mr. Dwight +gave the toast, "Here's to the coffeepot! If it is not _spiritual_, +it's not _material_!" + +There was a gentleman who resided with us who had promised, on a +certain day, to assist a department of our industry with a loan of +cash, and had taken the light wagon to Boston for the purpose of +securing the funds and bringing them home for use. Somewhere about nine +o'clock in the evening the dwellers at the "Hive" were disturbed by the +approach of a team and the groans of a person. Going out, they +discovered that it was our team, and our member, who had apparently +fallen into the back part of the wagon in a helpless state. They +assisted him out and conveyed him to his chamber. + +He did not seem to be much hurt; but he stated that in passing through +the little patch of woods on the "back road," some one came out and +knocked him off his seat and then robbed him. He had lain in the wagon, +unable to rise, and the horse had come home of his own accord. This is +the outline of the story. Parties went out on the road with lanterns, +but found no lost pocket-book. The news of the robbery spread. It was +the common talk the next day. There were suspicious circumstances. It +might have been a _ruse_ to cover a personal loss of the money, or to +deceive us in the pretended loan. Who could tell? + +A few days later a stranger called at the Hive door. He had an +announcement to make; he had seen a mystery--doubtless it had something +to do with the robbery. He had been travelling that morning through +Muddy Pond woods, in a thick part of which he had seen--what? Why, a +shirt hanging on the bushes to dry; and had heard voices in the woods +near. He had no doubt marauders were encamped there. We might find +there the man who committed the assault and robbery. His manner was +excited, but he seemed to believe his own story. + +It was Sunday. Work would not prevent us. We would hunt for the +robbers. We would go to Muddy Pond woods and investigate. We were not +over sanguine, but there was mystery in it, and we were bound to solve +it. I don't think anyone of us thought there was any danger in the +affair. A party of volunteers, consisting of some six or eight, was +formed, and the valuable Glover placed himself at our head. "By the +by," said he, as we were about to start, "I'll go and borrow Mr. Shaw's +pistols." What insane idea entered his head at that moment who can +tell. Did he have the thousandth part of an idea that he was going to +put a bullet into a man's body? I don't think he had! Returning soon +with the pistols, we started on our way. + +It would be worth a thousand dollars now if we had a picture of that +party on their tramp. As I remember it, there were some four of us who +were of the "young group" and had not quite attained our legal majority. + +"The Admiral" and "the Hero," with "Glover," made the older portion of +the party, and as we strayed along with our clear, sun-browned, young +faces, our classic locks and natural beards--those who had any--with +our unique tunics or blouses, with a certain regular quaintness running +through them, were picturesque enough. The idea of arming ourselves, +suggested by Glover's pistols, soon developed into the improvising of +canes and walking sticks from the wayside. + +"Glover" paired off with the curly headed Hero, I with the curly headed +Admiral, for Glover loved the Hero, and I admired the Admiral's honest, +sincere, pleasant ways and heart. The city life we all had tasted, had +given new zest to country life. We straggled by the roadside; we sought +wild berries; we observed the varieties of foliage and flower, and +conversation never flagged. Glover and Hero were ever in earnest talk. +There was with them a never-ending story, and I am reminded of the +everlasting confidences of school girls when I recall their being +together, excepting only that they did not put their arms around each +other's waists. + +The Admiral's heart was full of music. He could talk of music, poetry +and love, and there was a tender spot in him that I did not venture on, +although I knew it was there. He was also a deep admirer of nature. +Truly we could sing together, "A life in the woods for me!" + +It was three miles to the robbers' rendezvous, but what cared we? We +dwelt in the bosom of nature, and three miles was but a pastime. We +only wanted an excuse of the most feeble kind to start on a tramp, day +or night. All along the way we breathed health and vitality; the air +was full of singing birds, and our hearts were crying out, "What is so +rare as a day in June?" In fact, our June days lasted longer than they +did elsewhere--they ran into September, October and November. It is the +harmony of our hearts that makes the force of poetry, and not the mere +words; and the June feeling may be present in December. + +The entrance to Muddy Pond woods was on high ground, and as we +approached it we were a little cautious, for near by was the appointed +place to find the haunt of the robbers. Filing along singly, we peered +into the underbush. Lo, and behold, I see it! It is a white thing +hanging on a bush! Yes! And listen, I hear voices! It is the robbers! +Why, no, these are only children's voices! They are picking berries, +the dear things. Poor children! Don't you know that you may be robbed +and murdered by some of these infernal rascals who beat innocent men, +take their money and come out here into this wilderness and wash the +blood off their garments and hang them on these berry bushes to dry? + +Slowly we approached the white garment. Why, this is only an old white +rag that has hung here for months, all mildewed and half rotten. Come, +boys, we are sold! What an old goose that fellow was to get us out here +for such a thing as this! I am going home! I am hungry! Feelings of +disgust and mirth took possession of us. Were these the robbers, and +was this the bloody raiment? Ha! ha! + +There was no use of going further. The exciting problem was solved, and +we turned our feet homeward over the hills, across the fields and by +stone walls; shying a stone now and then into some gnarled apple tree, +just to knock down a wild apple or two, to try if they contained, as +Emerson has said of one of them, "a pint of cider and a barrel of +wind"; whipping off the heads of the wild daisies with our canes and +switches; pulling sprigs of sweet fern and bayberry; mocking the crows +and the cat-birds; finding choice flowers, and trying to fill the +aching void within us with blackberries and whortleberries, and +reaching the farm after the dinner was over. + +All but one corner of the dining-room was deserted, and there a +solitary waiter was placing plates for the "Waiting Group," who had not +been served with dinner. The "Waiting Group" was one of the most +cheerful, lively, witty and jolly groups on the place. In fact it +contained some of the most eminent persons in our midst, and at dinner +the waiters were of the masculine gender solely. + +We found there would be room for us to join their table, and that our +company was welcome. Alas! alas! How can I describe the dinner? I do +not mean the things we had to eat--fine eating was of little +consequence if we could satisfy hunger; but the merry cheer was +indescribable. It was the Professor (Dana) who sat at the head of the +board. It was the brilliant and witty "Timekeeper" (Cabot) who was at +one side, and when our party was added to them--"the Hero" +(Butterfield), with his full, hearty and musical laugh; Glover (Drew) +with his funny and apt quotations, and with the other four to six +clear-headed fellows, not a dull one among them--the gamut of merriment +ran to its highest notes. + +Of course the Professor couldn't help making a few remarks about the +"object of our journey" and inquiries about the "success of the +enterprise," and of course our party didn't answer in parliamentary +language, but parried wit with wit, fun with fun, joke with joke. The +story had to be told and embellished. The shirt, it was nothing but a +rag, and the children were probably ragamuffins, and hot muffins at +that! The robber, where could he be! Probably dead, for there was +_berrying_ going on, and the children were continually _turning pail_. + +But the borrowing of the pistols was the occasion of the most +absurdities. Was Glover _half cocked_ when he borrowed them? Did he +_bear-ill_ against any man? Was he going to _brace_ up his courage? He +wanted a little more _stock_ in hand, eh? It was the only way he had of +getting a little "_pop_"! And if he had "popped" the robber would there +have been any _pop-bier_ (beer) there? "If I had killed him," he said, +"there wouldn't have been any _sham pain_." Pooh, pooh, you could only +have _hocked_ him! "I would have made him _whine_ anyhow." You might +have made him whine but--"_Wine butt_," did you say? (Interrupting). +"Glover didn't intend to make any excitement, for where he took the +pistols he left the _wholestir_ behind." "But when he took them," +another said, "he thought he was going to _Needham_ (need 'um)." "Ah, +no," said another, "when he took them he felt sure he was going to +_Dedham_" (dead 'um). + +You will appreciate the difficulty I have in making any one realize the +snap, the vivacity and the quickness of the repartees. Things that seem +frivolous when written down----separate from all their connections, +with the personality dropped out of them----with the connection +unbroken; with youth, friendship and love to join them together, and +all the surroundings in keeping, were lively and bright, and added a +glow to the toil that made all the difficult surroundings easier to +bear. The affair acted over to-day in sober earnest would hardly +provoke a smile, but there most trivial incidents were worked up and +the result was an increase of happiness for all. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE. + + +Things were looking up in the Phalanx at this time, for money was +coming from some sources to finish a portion of the "Phalanstery." Not +that it resembled one, but more out of deference to the idea of one did +it receive its name. This would admit of additional membership, as +well-to-do and able families were to embark in the enterprise, who +could not and would not join it in the crowded state of the houses. The +feeling among all was particularly hopeful and cheerful at the +prospect, as we knew it was the cramped condition of the finances that +had prevented the finishing of the building before this time. + +Monday, March 2, 1846, was the day of recommencement of labor on it. On +the Saturday previous carpenters had put a stove into the building for +the purpose of drying it, as it had gathered dampness all through the +severe winter. It was now Tuesday, the day after our sweet singer left +us, and as we were all cheerful in our new hopes, it was proposed that +we should celebrate our good luck with a social dance at the Hive. I +shall call on my imagination to people the hall with those who were +Brook Farmers, though not all of them were there in person on that +occasion, in order to give the effective picture of such an assembly; +the realization of it to the mind, rather than the absolute facts. + +The first usually to occupy the hall were the young folks living at the +Hive, whose labors ended early. The dance commenced without ceremony +when one or two sets were ready. The pupils of the school from the Eyry +soon arrived, with the young Spanish boys and the well-dressed maidens. +Then the "Pilgrims" came, and the few who resided at the Cottage +completed the assembly. It was later when the members of the Direction +were seen looking in the room. They had been to some of the +interminable meetings. + +The cotillion was the ruling dance; the plain waltz and hop waltz came +in for their share of favor. The polka was new, and hardly yet danced. +What fun, what pleasure was there then in that old dining hall among +the blue tunics! There the General loomed above the rest, not in tunic, +however, but staggering about with his new acquirement, interested and +ungraceful; and the old gardener entertained us with a Danish waltz +with his fair-haired, plump, round-shouldered daughter. Now they cling +together, then swing apart, holding each other by the fingers' ends; +now they whirl and twirl in and out, and then come together and waltz +around the hall, as all gaze and wonder at the old man's suppleness. +Now the spirit of fun takes possession of all as we see Irish John +sitting quietly conversing with "Dora," and he must dance a jig! By +some chance there may be a girl of his nationality on the place to +dance with him; if not, he goes it alone--forward and back, shuffling +backward and around; then dancing up as to his partner, and having gone +through all the varied motions in grand heel-and-toe style, sits down +again or rushes out of the hall door with his giggling laugh, and a +loud round of applause for his reward. + +I might go on painting various characters and personages, but could not +paint the enthusiasm that was catching--how one after another of the +older ones put on again the youthful habit long since laid off. There +was no selfishness either, in the dancing, because there was plenty of +it, and when one of the older persons essayed the graces of youth, +instead of its being looked on as an intrusion, it was applauded. I +have seen five men whose education was for the ministry enjoying +themselves on that small floor at one time. + +It was the old courtliness over again. It was the spirit of chivalry +revived under a new form, and it was chivalry with interior pride +instead of exterior pride--pride of character instead of pride of +birth. Did any of these accomplished men and women deem that they +lowered themselves by dancing with those who did manual labor? If they +had, they would not have been there to do it. And did the "producers of +wealth" think that there were those who danced in their company as a +favor to them? If they had, it would have been a favor they would not +have accepted. The atmosphere was that of mutual respect and mutual +good-will. + +There was no dancing of clothes-pins from the pockets of the dancers, +as Emerson has said, or if it once happened it was probably the +intentional freak of a happy schoolboy--a bit of farcical fun, too +unworthy even to be mentioned by the "Sage of Concord" in his "Historic +Notes." It was poor history and undignified in its connection. + +But the reader wishes to know if certain men whose names he has seen +and whose reputations he knows took part in these amusements! He may be +sure that the "Professor" (Dana) was there, for those charming black +eyes and raven hair, and the quick, nervous, volatile, lovely owner of +them, with her southern accent, was there to charm him. And he may be +sure that the "Poet" (Dwight) was there, for the man of music and song +could not despise the poetry of motion, neither could his social soul +neglect the opportunity of seeing so much enjoyment, and feasting his +eyes on those developing buds of womanhood, those fair-haired, +clear-eyed, joyous young girls who were present. And the curly-headed, +witty "Time-Keeper" (Cabot) was there because he enjoyed dancing and +fun. And the tall, manly, handsome-faced, clear-complexioned "Hero" +(Butterfield), whose curls more than rivalled the other, looking for a +dark-eyed girl who afterwards became his faithful and loving wife. And +the little, thin-faced shoemaker (Colson), with his amiable spouse was +there, as also that other one, with head and forehead large enough for +Daniel Webster (Hosmer), with his wife. + +And that quiet man, whose near-sightedness obliged him to wear glasses, +and whose very soul was penetrated with a joke, if you could judge from +the internal convulsions and the mounting of the red blood to his face +at every good one--"Grandpa" (Treadwell) so different from his +light-complexioned wife, who smiled all over her face and indulged in a +merry laugh so easily. And John (Orvis) was there--surnamed "the +Almighty"--for certain eyes projected their glances on him, which was +not unpleasing to his senses. And Chiswell, the man who desired to be +chief of the Amusement Group, was there, of course; and Miss Ripley, +"her perpendicular Majesty," came to look on because she enjoyed doing +so; and the "Mistress of the Revels" (Miss Russell) was looking after +her young nieces, the Misses Foord, who, with all the other young +misses, were there. And stout "Old Solidarity" (Eaton) was there, and +"Monday (Munday) the tailor's wife"; Jean (Pallisse) with his "Madame," +"Homer the Sweet" (Doucet), "Chrysalis" (Christopher List), "Chorles" +and Stella (Salisbury), John and Mary (Sawyer), and all the titled +nobility of the place; with Edgar and Martin, Harry and George, Dan and +Willard, John and Charles--all lads of an age to drink deep of the +fountain of life and pleasure. + +But stop! On this occasion the dance was not fairly under way; it was +yet quite early in the evening, and though in the "full tide of +successful experiment," to quote an old expression, it had not worked +itself up to high pitch, when an unexpected interruption took place. +Ah, fatal hour! Why was it not delayed? Why did it ever come? It was +this: one of the older members came in and announced, "The Phalanstery +is on fire!" I remember the loud, derisive laugh that came from the +announcement, and was echoed through the room. I knew better than all +from the sober face and earnest look of the person who said it--for he +was one of my kin--that the statement must be correct, and I +immediately said, "This is no joke, it is true!" + +A thing so easily verified needed not argument, and all rushed for the +doors. I hastily changed slippers for boots and ran out. The barn hid +the "Phalanstery" from sight. Passing to the other side of it I saw the +flames pouring out of the front, surmounted by a heavy cloud of black +smoke. Without definiteness of purpose we all started for the building, +and all saw that there was no chance of saving it. Ere long the flames +were chasing one another in mad riot over the structure; running across +the long corridors and up and down the supporting columns of wood, +until the huge edifice was a mass of firework, every part painted in +glowing, living color, yet retaining its distinctive form. + +It was a grand and magnificent sight! The whole heaven was illuminated +with its rosy light, and the earth was as red as the sky, for the +fields, deep covered with white snow from the long storm, were +brilliant from the reflection of the fire. Miles and miles away was the +illumination seen. Men in Boston thought it was near by, it was so +bright, and one man came from the city across the fields, thinking at +every moment he would reach the object of his search, finding it and +himself at last nine miles in the country. + +There was a pile of lumber near the building that we worked hard to +save, but the flames were so hot we had to desist, and some cried out +"Save the Eyry!" Turning on my heel I went to the greenhouse for water +buckets, and entering saw the flowers lighted up with a heavenly glow +of color, and so startlingly beautiful that in spite of my haste I +lingered a moment to look at them. Roses and camellias, heaths and +azaleas--whatever flowers there were in bloom looked superbly glorified +in the transcendent light, and I uttered an exclamation of surprise at +the lovely display. + +A moment after, armed with buckets, I started for the Eyry, and at the +post of duty worked with a will to forward water to those above who +were wetting the front of the house and roof to preserve it from the +heat. It was not long before it was seen that danger to that building +was past, and I returned to watch the fire fiend eat up the remains of +our great edifice. + +Engines with firemen slowly arrived, but the building was entirely +burned, for there was a difficulty in getting any water, as three feet +of snow covered the ground, and little was done but to extinguish some +of the embers of the burning, blackened main timbers that had fallen +into the cellar. + +I pause here to give the account of the fire published in the +_Harbinger_ of March 14, 1846. There is little to add to the clear +statement there made:-- + +"FIRE AT BROOK FARM. + +"Our readers have no doubt been informed before this of the severe +calamity with which the Brook Farm Association has been visited, by the +destruction of the large unitary edifice which it has been for some +time erecting on its domain. Just as our last paper was going through +the press, on Tuesday evening the 3d inst., the alarm of fire was given +at about a quarter before nine, and it was found to proceed from the +'Phalanstery.' In a few minutes the flames were bursting through the +doors and windows of the second story; the fire spread with almost +incredible rapidity throughout the building, and in about an hour and a +half the whole edifice was burned to the ground. The members of the +Association were on the spot in a few moments, and made some attempts +to save a quantity of lumber that was in the basement story; but so +rapid was the progress of the fire, that this was found to be +impossible and they succeeded only in rescuing a couple of tool chests +that had been in use by the carpenters. + +"The neighboring dwelling house, called the 'Eyry,' was in imminent +danger while the fire was at its height, and nothing but the stillness +of the night and the vigilance and activity of those who were stationed +on its roof, preserved it from destruction. The vigorous efforts of our +nearest neighbors, Mr. T. J. Orange and Messrs. Thomas and George +Palmer, were of great service in protecting this building, as a part of +our force were engaged in another direction, watching the workshops, +barn and principal dwelling house. + +"In a short time our neighbors from the village of West Roxbury, a mile +and a half distant, arrived in great numbers with their engine, which +together with the engines from Jamaica Plain, Newton and Brookline, +rendered valuable assistance in subduing the flaming ruins, although it +was impossible to check the progress of the fire until the building was +completely destroyed. We are under the deepest obligations to the fire +companies which came, some of them five or six miles, through deep +snow, on cross roads, and did everything in the power of skill or +energy to preserve our other buildings from ruin. Many of the engines +from Boston came four or five miles from the city, but finding the fire +going down, returned without reaching the spot. The engines from +Dedham, we understood, made an unsuccessful attempt to come to our aid, +but were obliged to turn back on account of the condition of the roads. +No efforts, however, would have probably been successful in arresting +the progress of the flames. The building was divided into nearly a +hundred rooms in the upper stories, most of which had been lathed for +several months without plaster, and being almost as dry as tinder, the +fire flashed through them with terrific rapidity. + +"There had been no work performed on the building during the winter +months, and arrangements had just been made to complete four out of the +fourteen distinct suites of apartments into which it was divided, by +the first of May. It was hoped that the remainder would be finished +during the summer, and that by the first of October the edifice would +be prepared for the reception of a hundred and fifty persons, with +ample accommodations for families, and spacious and convenient public +halls and saloons. A portion of the second story had been set apart for +a church or chapel, which was to be finished in a style of simplicity +and elegance, by private subscription, and in which it was expected +that religious services would be performed by our friend William H. +Channing, whose presence with us, until obliged to retire on account of +ill health, had been a source of unmingled satisfaction and benefit. + +"On the Saturday previous to the fire, a stove was put up in the +basement story, for the accommodation of the carpenters, who were to +work on the outside; a fire was kindled in it on Tuesday morning, which +burned till four o'clock in the afternoon; at half past eight in the +evening the building was visited by the night watch, who found +everything apparently safe, and at about a quarter before nine a faint +light was discovered in the second story, which was supposed at first +to have proceeded from a lamp, but on entering, to ascertain the fact, +the smoke at once showed that the interior was on fire. The alarm was +immediately given, but almost before the people had time to assemble, +the whole edifice was wrapped in flames. From a defect in the +construction of the chimney, a spark from the stovepipe had probably +communicated with the surrounding wood work, and from the combustible +nature of the materials, the flames spread with a celerity that made +every effort to arrest their violence without effect. + +"This edifice was commenced in the summer of 1844, and has been in +progress from that time until November last, when the work was +suspended for the winter, and resumed, as before stated, on the day in +which it was consumed. It was built of wood; one hundred and +seventy-five feet long, three stories high, with spacious attics, +divided into pleasant and convenient roams for single persons. The +second and third stories were divided into fourteen houses, independent +of each other, with a parlor and three sleeping rooms in each, +connected by piazzas which ran the whole length of the building on both +stories. The basement contained a large and commodious kitchen, a +dining hall capable of seating from three to four hundred persons, two +public saloons, and a spacious hall and lecture room. Although by no +means a model for the Phalanstery, or unitary edifice of a Phalanx, it +was well adapted for our purposes at present, situated on a delightful +eminence which commanded a most extensive and picturesque view, and +affording accommodations and conveniences in the combined order, which +in many respects would gratify even a fastidious taste. The actual +expenditures upon the building, including the labor performed by the +Associates, amounted to about seven thousand dollars, and three +thousand dollars more, it was estimated, would be sufficient for its +completion. As it was not yet in use by the Association, and, until the +day of its destruction, not exposed to fire, no insurance had been +effected. It was built by investments in our loan stock, and the loss +falls upon the holders of partnership stock and the members of the +Association. + +"It is some alleviation of the great calamity which we have sustained +that it came upon us at this time, rather than at a later period. The +house was not endeared to us by any grateful recollections; the tender +and hallowed associations of home had not yet begun to cluster around +it, and although we looked upon it with joy and hope as destined to +occupy an important sphere in the social movement to which it was +consecrated, its destruction does not rend asunder those sacred ties +which bind us to the dwellings that have thus far been the scene of our +toils and of our satisfactions. We could not part with either of the +houses in which we have lived at Brook Farm, without a sadness like +that which we should feel at the departure of a bosom friend. The +destruction of our edifice makes no essential change in our pursuits. +It leaves no family destitute of a home; it disturbs no domestic +arrangements; it puts us to no immediate inconvenience. The morning +after the disaster, if a stranger had not seen the smoking pile of +ruins, he would not have suspected that anything extraordinary had +taken place. Our schools were attended as usual, our industry in full +operation, and not a look or expression of despondency could have been +perceived. The calamity is felt to be great; we do not attempt to +conceal from ourselves its consequences, but it has been met with a +calmness and high trust, which gives us a new proof of the power of +associated life to quicken the best elements of character, and to +prepare men for every emergency. + +"We shall be pardoned for entering into these almost personal details, +for we know that the numerous friends of Association, in every part of +our land, will feel our misfortune as if it were a private grief of +their own. We have received nothing but expressions of the most +generous sympathy from every quarter, even from those who might be +supposed to take the least interest in our purposes; and we are sure +that our friends in the cause of social unity will share with us the +affliction that has visited a branch of their own fraternity. + +"We have no wish to keep out of sight the magnitude of our loss. In our +present infant state it is a severe trial of our strength. We cannot +now calculate its ultimate effect. It may prove more than we are able +to bear; or like other previous calamities, it may serve to bind us +more closely to each other, and to the holy cause to which we are +devoted. We await the result with calm hope, sustained by our faith in +the Universal Providence, whose social laws we have endeavored to +ascertain and embody in our daily lives. + +"It may not be improper to state, as we are speaking of our own affairs +more fully than we have felt at liberty to do before in the columns of +our paper, that, whatever be our trials of an external character, we +have every reason to rejoice in the internal condition of our +Association. For the few last months it has more nearly than ever +approached the idea of a true social order. The greatest harmony +prevails among us; not a discordant note is heard; a spirit of +friendship, of brotherly kindness, of charity, dwells with us and +blesses us; our social resources have been greatly multiplied, and our +devotion to the cause which has brought us together receives new +strength every day. Whatever may be in reserve for us, we have an +infinite satisfaction in the true relations which have united us, and +the assurance that our enterprise has sprung from a desire to obey the +divine law. We feel assured that no outward disappointment or calamity +can chill our zeal for the realization of a divine order of society, or +abate our efforts in the sphere which may be pointed out by our best +judgment as most favorable to the cause which we have at heart." + +There was no wind. The building was entirely consumed; and the hungry +firemen, on their homeward way, were invited to lunch at the Hive. +Peter, the baker, had just turned out from the oven a fine batch of +bread. We made coffee for them. The bread was for our morrow's +breakfast; they ate it all, and Peter worked all night to supply the +deficiency. In the midst of the lunch Mr. Ripley mounted a bench and +spoke a few pleasant words of thanks to them, and you would not have +guessed that a great misfortune had fallen on our scheme from the +serene, cheerful look on his fine face. He thanked the firemen kindly +for coming to our aid. Their visit, he said, "was _very unexpected_ to +us," but he was glad to give them the poor hospitality we had. "But had +we _known_," he said, in that bright, pleasant way of his, "or even +_suspected_ you were coming, we would have been better prepared to +receive you, and given you worthier, if not a _warmer_ reception." +"Good enough, good enough!" shouted the firemen. + +This calamity did not affect any belief that the Brook Farmers had in +social science, and it did not break up the Association. Certainly no +one departed from the place at once in fear of disorganization. It +called forth kindly letters from all parts of the country, and our +immediate friends gathered around us as if to shield us from further +harm. The sweet singer returned to pass a few days with us, and our +noble friend Channing spoke earnest words to all. + +It was Sunday; the Direction broke its rule and decided to call the +Association together in the evening to talk over everything connected +with its prospects. There was one reason for doing so, and that was, +one of our prominent members was going next day to New York to deliver +a course of lectures on music, and they desired he should be present at +the consultation. I do not remember that the meeting talked facts and +figures, but that it was a meeting of goodwill and resolution, where +all expressed their sympathies or convictions regarding the life then +and there led; their desire for its continuance, and their hopes and +wishes for the future prosperity of the little band. + +I make an extract from an article written by our president, as showing +the state of feeling among the leaders at this time. After speaking of +the various letters received, he says he has selected one for +publication for its practical suggestions, and continues:-- + +"We do not altogether agree with the writer in the importance which he +attaches to the special movement at Brook Farm. We have never professed +to be able to represent the idea of Association with the scanty +resources at our command; nor would the discontinuance of our +establishment, or of any of the partial attempts now in progress, in +the slightest degree weaken our faith in the associative system or our +conviction that it will sooner or later be adopted as the only form of +society suited to the nature of man, and in accordance with the divine +will. We have never attempted anything more than to prepare the way for +Association by demonstrating some of the leading ideas on which the +theory is founded. In this we have had the most gratifying success; but +we have regarded ourselves only as the humble pioneers in a work which +would be carried on by others to its magnificent consummation, and have +been content to wait and toil for the development of the cause and the +completion of our hope. + +"Still we have established a centre of influence here for the +associative movement which we shall spare no effort to sustain; we are +fully aware of the importance of this; and nothing but the most +inexorable necessity will withdraw the congenial spirits that are +gathered in social union here, from the work which has always called +forth their most earnest devotedness and enthusiasm. Since our disaster +occurred there has not been an expression or symptom of despondency +among our number. All are resolute and calm; determined to stand by +each other and the cause; ready to encounter still greater sacrifices +than have yet been demanded of them, and desirous only to adopt the +course which may be presented by the clearest dictates of duty. The +loss we have sustained occasions us no immediate inconvenience; does +not interfere with any of our present operations, although it is a +total destruction of resources on which we had confidently relied, and +must inevitably derange our plans for the enlargement of the +Association and the extension of our industry. We have a firm and +cheerful hope, however, of being able to do much for the illustration +of the cause, with the materials that remain. They are far too valuable +to be dispersed or applied to any other object, and with favorable +circumstances will be able to accomplish much for the realization of +social unity. + +"We are not so blind as to lose sight of the fact that this enterprise, +as well as all others that leave the beaten path of custom and +tradition, must experience more or less misrepresentation and +consequent hostility. But we rejoice to say that in Boston and its +vicinity, where our institution and its members are the best known, we +have met with nothing since the occurrence of our disaster but the most +cordial and almost enthusiastic sympathy. Our labors for five year's +have not been in vain in disarming reproach and winning esteem. A +universal desire is expressed for the continuance of our establishment, +and the success of our experiment; the most friendly hands have been +extended to us from all quarters; and if the expression of respect for +ourselves and wishes for our prosperity could be of any avail, we might +regard our future welfare as certain. If there has been any exception +to these remarks it has not come to our knowledge. The truth is, our +wisest and best men are deeply sensible, under the pressure of existing +evils, of the need of social reform, and they cannot but welcome those +whose perseverance and devotion in this work prove them to be in +earnest." + +These words of our leader expressed clearly the general feeling and +hope of the Association, and are worthy of close attention. I will not +copy the letter referred to, but put in its place the following shorter +one, the writer of whom was an entire stranger to our people:-- + +"NEW YORK, March 17, 1846. + +"GENTLEMEN:--With the greatest sorrow I heard of the destruction of a +building of the Brook Farm Association by fire. As an expression of my +sympathy please accept the trifle enclosed towards its reconstruction. +I am rejoiced at the spirit with which you met this calamity, and think +it augurs most favorably for the successful result of your great +enterprise. + +"The light which some knowledge of the science of Association has +poured upon my mind has changed despondency into hope, gloom into +cheerfulness. My religious feelings I trust have been purified. I can +more intelligently and confidently trust in God, and the reflection +that we are all 'members of one another' excites benevolent feelings in +my heart. I trust I may live to do something towards spreading the +knowledge of this divine science, and that when I die the condition and +prospects of the human race may be greatly improved. E." + +This great disaster stirred the little commonwealth to its centre. In +the hearts of the dwellers were sad spots, were serious thoughts. They +felt a deep disappointment, and when the fun and the _bon-mot_ were +off, that ever sparkled at Brook Farm on the surface of its life of +toil and devotion, they met each other in frank, plain talk. I have a +great admiration for the simple, straightforward, honest way in which +the people, male and female, spoke to each other. There was no beating +of the bush; there was no need of it; there was a common interest that +united them--a unity, as far as it went--not perfect, it is true, but +much higher than I have ever seen it elsewhere. + +As we met the morning after the fire at breakfast, which was later than +usual, and all through the following days, the talk was about the +catastrophe. Each one had his story to tell. Some had been watching the +other houses, fearing chance sparks might reach them, but the night was +so quiet they did not scatter much. Our Englishman with a spicy name +(Peppercorn), cheerful, lively fellow as he was, is said to have +observed that "many hanxious heyes were fixed hon that 'ole in the barn +when hour 'ouse was hon fire." (It was a square place left open in the +gable for ventilation.) Little knots of people gathered together to +talk over and over again the same important subject, and foremost among +them, tallest among them, was the General, with his disputatious tongue +and his occasional unfortunate stammer. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES. + + +Brook Farm was in an exceptionally good position when the associative +movement broke out, like a fever, all over the country. It was no new +organization. It had started two or three years before the rest. It had +fixed itself in the minds of the thinking part of the community as a +gathering of able, upright, conscientious men and women. There were no +slurs on their moral characters. There were no vices at which to point +the finger of scorn. They were not driven or urged forward by poverty +to take the position they did, and the "Community" or Association, had +sprung up so silently and in such a natural manner, that it seemed a +vital outgrowth from the tree of society. Notices appeared in various +prints pleasantly alluding to it. + +It was a curious and unique life. It deserved to be kindly noticed, and +not until after the "Fourierite" doctrines were preached and accepted +did there appear anything in the journals of a defamatory character +relating to it. Truth compels me to say that Brook Farm and its +Associates were singularly free from the rude comments and public +assaults that reformers of all kinds are apt to receive. But while +Brook Farm was thus free, it had to bear its share in the general +assaults upon the doctrines of associative life and "Fourierism" that +were made elsewhere. + +Mr. Greeley, in the _Tribune_, had gone into the work manfully, +striking heavy blows for the organization of labor; announcing himself +as an advocate of the doctrines of Associated Industry, with the +freedom of manner and boldness of pen and purpose for which he was +noted. The _Tribune_ was the leading journal of the country as well as +of the Whig party, and the associative idea came into immediate +prominence. Mr. Greeley was a man who was not ruled by any party. He +had too much of genuine independence to allow himself to follow strict +party lines. He was ambitious. He had political enemies ready to strike +him in any way that they could to reduce his political power, who did +not dare to attack him or his party openly, and they went about seeking +flaws in his honest coat of mail, into which they could thrust their +lances, caring not how envenomed they were if they could but wound him, +thinking by this means to reduce his hold on his party and the public. + +I am satisfied that this was the reason of the commencement of the +principal attacks on the associative doctrines; but having commenced +them, many may finally have believed they were doing justice to society +by continuing in their unjust course. The principal ground of attack +was that the "Fourierites" were "disorganizers," that they were +unsettling the foundations of society and that they wished to make +their Associations entering wedges to disrupt the marriage relation and +produce promiscuity and general anarchy. Their opponents even went so +far as to call the leaders infidels, and made other outrageous and +absurd charges against them. The New York _Express_ was early in the +field. The _Courier and Enquirer_ and the Buffalo _Advertiser_ soon +made themselves conspicuous, and finally the New York _Observer_, "a +religious newspaper of the Calvinistic school, of large circulation and +great influence, actuated in the present case, as must be hoped, by +other motives than those that envenomed its associates," says a writer +in the _Harbinger_, "added its ability and its power to crush the +social reformers." + +These attacks, long continued, created great distrust and produced +strong suspicions in the public mind derogatory to the morality of the +movement. + +The Associationists on their part denied that they were Fourierists, or +that they had advocated or proposed any change in the marriage +relation; they were united for the organization of industry, and had +nothing to do or propose in relation to the marriage system. This +denial was not enough for their opponents. They declared that the +doctrines of Association led to certain results, and in proof of it +cited Fourier's speculations on the subject, which had about as much to +do with the social objects of the Associationists as his cosmogony, his +speculations about the Arabian deserts, or his ocean of "lemonade" that +had amused so many. In the study of human nature, Fourier believed he +discovered inherently inconstant natures, exceptional men and women, +who cannot be constant to one idea, one hope or one love; and believing +that this inconstancy was a normal trait of character with some +persons, who are the exceptions to the general rule, simply and +honestly acknowledged the fact, and speculated on the result and the +position such persons would have in the future ideal societies. + +Fourier said, "The man has no claim as discoverer, or to the confidence +of the world, who advocates such absurdities as community of property, +absence of divine worship and rash abolition of marriage." + +The Associationists of America made no proposal of any change in the +marriage relation. They had no occasion to do so. They considered it +one of the best and purest arrangements of present society, and that if +there were in that relation oftentimes grave mistakes and errors, there +were other greater and more glaring evils and universal wrongs to set +right. + +"Accordingly our position is that the existing institution is to be +maintained in its greatest possible dignity and purity. We believe that +with the establishment of _truth_ and _justice_ in the practical +affairs of society; with the guarantee of pecuniary independence to all +persons, the most fatal temptations to debase and profane this relation +will be removed.... But to purer and nobler generations more upright, +honorable and generous, we leave all legislation on this subject. It is +for us to maintain the institution inviolable." + +The above quoted words are taken from a statement made by all the +officers of the "American Union of Associationists," for at this time +an outside movement of that name had commenced, whose object was to +propagate doctrines, and stimulate the various organizations that were +forming, to actualize the new social order in various parts of the +country. + +At a convention in Boston, held May 27,1846, where the American Union +of Associationists was formed, this resolution was passed:--"Resolved, +That we hold it our duty, as seekers of the practical unity of the +race, to accept every light afforded by the providential men whom God +has raised up, without committing ourselves blindly to the guidance of +any _one_, or speaking or acting in the name of any man; that we +recognize the invaluable worth of the discoveries of Charles Fourier in +the science of society, the harmony of that science with all the vital +truths of Christianity, and the promise it holds out of a material +condition of life wherein alone the spirit of Christ can dwell in all +its fulness; but _Fourierists_ we are not and cannot consent to be +called, because Fourier is only _one_ among the great teachers of +mankind; because many of his assertions are concerning spheres of +thought which exceed our present ability to test, and of which it would +be presumption for us to affirm with confidence; and because we regard +this as a holy and providential movement, independent of every merely +_individual_ influence or guidance, the sure and gradual evolving of +man's great unitary destiny in the ages." + +After the excitement of the fire and after the enthusiastic meeting for +the holy cause, the voice of reason, pure and cold, went forth in +whispers over the face of Brook Farm. Inquiries began to be made about +prospects. It was considered a great piece of good fortune to have been +enabled to commence the first "Phalanstery." Would any one invest in a +second one, and was there prospect enough for the success of the +industry on the place to secure a livelihood? If not, what must be +done? These were important questions. Retrenchment had gone far. The +table was too poor to attract visitors; too poor, some thought, for +health, but I observed that all kept well. + +I am not sure in my details of all the industry on the place just at +this time, but I believe that Britannia ware was made by one or two +workmen, principally oil hand lamps and teapots; but sales were +limited, the market being dull or glutted, and the Brook Farmers had +not the capital to manufacture and keep on hand a supply of goods for +better times. + +Some six to ten were engaged in making shoes and pots. There goods were +sold at fair profit, though it was not a particularly remunerative +business, and sometimes the group was not full of orders. + +There was also the "sash and blind" business, which included the making +of doors. I believe that this business could have been made profitable, +but here again the inevitable want was capital. In order to make these +articles of good quality, it is of the first importance that all stock +in them shall be well seasoned, for if it is not, changes of +temperature will produce shrinkage and warping. The wood should be +either kiln-dried--a novelty then--or dried by long keeping in sheds, +and it was important to buy largely when there was a good source, and +store for future use. These things the Brook Farmers could not do, and +consequently some of the doors and sashes shrank, much to the disgust +of everybody. + +The _Harbinger_ was the principal work done in the printing line as no +outside business, such as job or book work, was secured. I have not +found out whether the _Harbinger_ paid its expenses or not, but it was +considered that it aided Brook Farm by advertising the work in its +columns. Certainly there was not much profit in it, for it is well +known that the expense of issuing a few copies of a publication is +nearly as large as when the number is doubled. + +And the farming! Was it paying? A little, of course. Great labor and +devotion are needed on a farm at special seasons: I am of the opinion +it was a mistaken idea that no day's labor should consist of more than +ten hours. Our kind-hearted leader, who had not known the necessity for +great personal, physical toil, long-continued, in order to produce +special results, frowned on long hours, and did not lend his magnetism +to induce persons to toil out of regular time, except possibly in the +haying field; and therefore the days were clipped to stated hours, when +it would have been better to have extended them occasionally beyond the +regular time. + +A large crop was hay. Near the main farm was a lot of some fifteen +acres of grass land that was a part of the original purchase, but +entirely independent of contact, and at some distance towards West +Roxbury village. It was called the "Keith Lot" and was the best hay +field. All the meadows grew heavy crops of grass; it was not all +"herd's grass," but consisted of a variety of species, and went under +the name of "meadow hay," which was considered second in quality. + +There were the mistakes of beginners made. Some crops were lost that +might have been saved and made profitable. Of apples there were not +many. The farm could not supply the Association's wants, and we had at +times to buy both fruits and vegetables. Besides the cows a few swine +were kept. Occasionally a "beef critter" would be killed for home use, +either by our stout neighbor with a fruitful name (Orange), or by our +little Englishman. + +Our practical neighbor's advice and assistance were of use to us. His +occupation was especially farming, but he had a "slant" towards killing +animals, really liking the business. He could do the butchering of a +hog with the best of grace, and had killed, first and last, so many, +that I imagine he could tell the number of squeals, or wrigglings of +the porcine tail it took to terminate the life of the animal, after he +had given it the _coup de grace_. Once, when remonstrated with by a +lady for his cruel position towards the race of swine, the +"professional" love of his occupation arose above all other +considerations. + +"Where do you expect to go when you die," said she to him, "if you are +so cruel to animals?" + +"Well, I don't know," he replied, "but I hope I shall go where there +are _plenty of hogs!_" + +In the progress of the institution much work was done to increase the +amount of grass land and tillage, and where the meadows bordered on the +bush and stubble, the bush scythe was freely used. Muck was dug and +spread in quantities. Mr. Ripley rather prided himself on the knowledge +of the composition and improvement of soils, and when the experiment +ceased, the farm had improved in amount of tillable surface and +capacity of production. This progress was, much of it, to the +Association's cost, and added but little to the immediate income. + +I have alluded to the tree-nursery. There were thousands of young trees +bought and transplanted for a nursery, and seedlings raised that had to +be budded or grafted, and this was faithfully and carefully done by an +experienced man, assisted by the Professor and other native talent, and +the grounds kept continually in order. There was no immediate return +for this outlay, which needed a year or two more of growth and +investment, to bring back the first cost and make a profit from the +business. + +Let me here call attention to the nature of the various occupations +started. They contained in general, I am satisfied, as good chances for +profitable return as most occupations, and with time, and a market not +overstocked, would finally have paid well. Once only were we caught +with the _ignis fatuus_ of genius, a washing machine--patented, of +course--that came to an untimely end with a few gasps. + +The greenhouse business was an outgo from first to last. It was a +business in prospective. It took two persons from other and more +productive labor, and quantities of fuel were consumed through the long +winter days and nights with a very meagre return. It had its bright +side--it was attractive--and if persevered in would have paid in the +end. The garden was still more of an outgo than the greenhouse. The +soil was very poor, and the manure for high culture was not +forthcoming, for it was all needed on the farm. + +The large number of visitors did at times return more than the cash +outlay, but in reckoning the incomes of the Association this must be +left out, or set down as uncertain. Some boarders were almost always on +the place; either interested parties, or members' friends, but this +income also was slight, as the table was meagre and the price in +proportion. What, then, was there beside these occupations to support +and increase the organization? Three things: Income from new members +who came with property; income from regular investors, who took stock +in the Association, and income from the school. + +There was a prospective income from persons who were expected to come +and try the new mode of life. There were those who had been promised an +opportunity to join us. They were selected from a mass of applicants, +and one object in the selection was to secure persons of good standing +and means. Such persons represented a desirable class. But now the +"Phalanstery" was burned that hope was destroyed, for all the available +rooms were occupied with those living on the domain; and if there was +to be no progress in material things, who would wish to invest in stock +that had not paid a cent and in which there was but a slight chance of +profitable return--nay, more, which stood ten chances to one of being +entirely lost? Of course no one unless he had money to give away. The +persuasive eloquence of the gifted leaders could not secure investors +for the reasons I have given, and for other reasons of which I shall +speak. + +The "Associationists" were not united. The centre of the movement was +at New York, and from there great stories of the advancement of the +North American Phalanx at Red Bank, New Jersey, went forth. It was +Greeley's pet. It was the favorite at the centre and mostly with the +_doctrinaires_. It was an excellent domain, with water power, splendid +fruit-growing land, sufficiently near New York market for an undoubted +sale of all its products. Greeley admired the talent and the social +life at Brook Farm, but he thought that the leaders engaged at the +North American Phalanx had a more practical turn, and their soil was +wonderfully better fitted for farming, which always seems to be the +hobby of reformers. It was near to him; he could visit it often, and he +invested money in it. + +It was intimated that the Brook Farm experiment had better stop, and +that all the material that was good should be transferred to the North +American. But it is easily seen that this was impossible, and that the +experiment must go on. The leaders and members had pledged themselves +too faithfully to carry out the Association's ideas, and none among +them would be bold enough to announce such a project. It would seem +like selling out to another organization. Who would dare to propose to +break into the charmed circle by such discordant words? And so it went +on. + +Much talent was used in the school. As the Association took to itself a +variety of industries; as it added shoemakers, carpenters and farmers +to its original stock of intellectual workers, a change took place in +the selectness of its society. Although the members were chosen by the +organization, yet "practical" farmers, and "practical" shoemakers, with +their wives and children, are not supposed to have the easy grace of +manners, the elegant language and the fluency and charm of cultivated +and scholarly men and women. The little, scarcely organized Community +had increased into a goodly number, so that its dining room was like a +small hotel; and it was no longer held by the "Transcendentalists," but +had become a portion of a large and increasing body of men who followed +the wild ideas of a Frenchman named Fourier, and called itself the +Brook Farm Phalanx. + +And who was this Fourier? It was just at this time; it was just as this +question was asked by anxious mothers, that the slanders of the New +York Press, copied into other papers, far and wide, worked mischief to +the Brook Farm School. I never knew a pupil who was not pleased and +delighted with the school; but the mother who sends a child away from +home to an educational institution, especially if the child is a girl, +will send it where there are no intimations connected with it of the +character of those brought so prominently forward by the New York +newspapers. It matters not so much to her that she believes the stories +are slanders; her duty seems plain to take no risks. + +The "Association" or "Phalanx" now overlapped the school, and it could +no longer have the prominence as an industry that it did at first. The +school, from being so intimately connected with the Association, began +to lose caste. Although conducted with as much talent as ever, and with +as much devotion on the part of its teachers, from the fact of the +unfortunate odium cast on it, and its peculiar surroundings, was +declining, and the high talent, the culture and the knowledge of its +teachers, could not retain it in its proud position. + +Thus I have gathered together, as in a bouquet, the sources of all the +income of the once famous "Brook Farm." How slight they were! + +It has often been stated that Brook Farm was a well chosen location for +the experiment made there. It was nine miles from Boston. There were no +surrounding industries. There was no water power at hand, the little +brook being too small for any purpose but ornament. There was no +available railroad station--the nearest was four miles away. This +necessitated the teaming of lumber, fertilizers, coal, family stores +and all stock for manufacturing purposes, from Boston, as it was not +practical to send part way by rail and transfer it to teams. A portion +of the time we were obliged to go to the city by the way of West +Roxbury Village, as the nearest way--over the hills--was blocked by +snow during our long New England winters, and this increased the +distance. One or two teams, with men, were ever on the road. This was +expensive and tedious. + +After the manufacturing stock had been teamed thus far into the +country, it was carted back in the shape of goods over the same road. I +must praise the men who were engaged in this business, for they were +not only teamsters, but errand boys--expressmen we would call them +now--as well as purchasers of provender and general commercial agents +of the Association; and their combined tasks were hard and difficult. +Busy, driving Glover Drew and Buckley Hastings filled this office +faithfully and long. + +For the original purpose of an industrial school the farm was +attractive, but for an experiment such as was foreshadowed by the name +Phalanx, the place was not at all fitted, and the good sense of Mr. +Greeley saw that the domain of the North American Phalanx was vastly +superior. + +In this connection I am reminded that there was but little machinery +invented and employed on farms at the date of my narrative; and +although our agriculturists, in spite of the stale jokes that have been +fathered on them, were in the advance in this department as in others, +it was only in the third or fourth year of their occupancy of the farm +that they deemed it wise or prudent to purchase a horse rake, and I +recall no other modern implement used, unless it was a seed drill, +taken on trial. It was the same in the domestic department; there was +not even a dish washer or a clothes wringer, and the most extensive and +valuable aid in the laundry was a pounding barrel in which the soiled +clothes were placed and put under discipline. + +There was enough reason and brave common sense among the people to +ponder on the condition of things as I have presented them to you. The +outlook was not encouraging. I cannot remember the order in which some +of the events came to pass which I am to narrate, but the order is +unimportant. Certainly there were Association meetings in which +prospects were talked over and counsel was demanded and taken from one +and another. Unfortunately for this story I was not at them. Doubtless +I was in the quiet of the Eyry, dreaming daylight dreams, musing and +listening to Fanny Dwight's deft piano playing, while she was filling +me with the mysteries of Schubert and Mendelssohn and Beethoven, or +else wandering about the farm, with no special aim but to find rest and +enjoyment in my leisure hours. These meetings were serious, grave and +often protracted. There were some who thought matters could be better +managed. This is not strange, for it is always so. There were those who +thought that some, particularly among the earlier members, though not +absolutely non-producers, should be turned off or made more productive; +but this was difficult to do. Expansion was the only true policy, and +the fates seemed to be against it. Outside of the meetings and in daily +life all seemed to be in harmony. + +I had now lived more than two years at the farm. I, the pale city lad, +had grown brown under the sun's warm kisses. I fancy I was not rosy, +but the bright eyes and the clear complexion, free from speck or +blemish, gave the certain indications of health. I had tasted of the +actual farm work. I had planted beans, potatoes and melons. I had hoed +corn, and on my knees weeded, in the broiling sun, the young onions. I +had driven horse to plough, and side by side with others, trying to hoe +my row with them, disputed, discussed social questions and ideas, and +chaffed one another on our personal gifts and peculiarities while +working together in the different groups. I had not hewed wood, but I +had chopped brush. I had yoked and driven the oxen, and the first time +had a difficulty with them because I tried to yoke the off ox on the +nigh side; and when I graduated into the greenhouse group I learned all +the mysteries of the care of plants, potting, transplanting, making +leaf-mould and doing spade and rake work to perfection; and in the +laying out of beds and walks did a full share of shovel-work on the +sandy and gravelly soil, and drove the dump-cart. + +Oh, the independence of it! To be able to do everything, and with love +of it, knowing no high or low of work--all of it honor, and no shame in +any of it! It is the surroundings that develop the manhood. Was I +working for myself? Was I working for any other man or person? No, it +was for all of us that I did it. Did I and we not have the example of +great minds and greater hearts? We did. One day whilst the shop was +erecting, our mason, who was on the roof building the chimney, was +waiting for his helper, who had not returned from his dinner or had +been called away; and as he wanted bricks very much, I carried some +hodsful up the ladder to him in the genuine Emeraldic fashion. + +(Arise not from shades profound, to frown on me, Abraham, thou honest +"_Rail Splitter_!" Arise not, warlike, Ulysses, thou "_Tanner_." Hide +thyself away! Shake not thy cottony locks at me, thou pale-faced +"_Bobbin Boy_!" Be not too jealous of your unique titles. I shall never +aspire to so glorious a one as "_Hod Carrier_." I have not earned it. I +did it but once, and shall never do it again! Rest easy!) + +And now, at eventide, whilst the Solons of the little commonwealth were +making laws, solving problems and building defences against the common +enemy--the wolf of penury and hunger--I was sitting on the steps or on +the low window-sills at the Eyry, meditating and thinking ever of the +beautiful things with which I was surrounded; thinking of the glowworms +I found in the path to Cow Island, their wonderful beauty, and how like +illuminated pearls were their tiny lamps, and when I touched them how +they rolled themselves into a coil that resembled the pin of pearls my +mother wore on her bosom, only they were more beautiful; thinking that +their lights translated into words were even more beautiful than their +phosphorescent hues, for they said, "Come to me, my love!" + +I was thinking of the bobolinks that twittered and sung, and seemed to +tumble upward as well as downward in the air over the waving grass on +the meadow; or I heard behind in the dim oak woods the whip-lash sound +of the notes of the whippoorwill, repeated a hundred times on the air, +while the round face of the moon looked down and made the shadows of +the trees and the forest grow deeper and darker. Now and then I heard, +when all was still, from his nesting-place, the brave yet delicate +notes of the song sparrow, singing in his dreams from out a happy, +overflowing heart. Dear little fluff of feathers! + +I was thinking of the brood of young partridges I scared in the woods, +and how like a flash, mysteriously and totally, they disappeared in the +underbrush. I was thinking of the tiny newts and wonderful creatures I +found in the shallow water in the meadow ditch. I was thinking that if +the saracenas were in bloom I would go to find some of them on the +morrow; or if the brilliant cardinals were, I would hunt for them at +the brookside; or if there were any yellow violets to be had I wanted +to find them, as I had found many varieties. + +Then I turned my head and listened more earnestly to the music or to +the conversation in the parlor, of inspired men and women, talking in +low, conversational tones, with now and then a spice of wit, on art, +religion, science or the lives of great painters, musicians, artists +and reformers. Or I was looking to see if the "Northern Cross" had +appeared among the constellations above the horizon. Or maybe I heard +George W. Curtis, who had come to visit his old teachers, singing the +"Erl King" or "Good-night to Julia" or plaintive "Kathleen Mavourneen" +in his inimitable way. Perhaps I was deep in social science or +restudyiug some of Fourier's pleasant fancies, such as the rivalries of +groups of nice children with his little hordes of brats and +"rushers"--to use a modern word--and how in nature's scheme their +different talents so balanced one another as to make complete harmony. + +I was thinking of the big boulders that join and make a hole we called +"the cave," over which Hawthorne's fancy made the apostle Eliot preach +to the Indians, giving it the name of "Eliot's Pulpit," and describing +it afterward so prettily in his "Blithedale Romance"; a book of which +Emerson speaks, and truly, as "that disagreeable story," and of some of +the sketches in it as "quite unworthy of his genius." And I was +thinking of the retired little dell in the far "Wisconsin Lot," where +doubtless he and others have taken their volumes and note-books, +writing and reading to the music of the hum of the bees, the sighing +pines and the redbreasts. + +I was thinking of the unfortunate humanity who lived outside of our +charmed circle, and how little they knew of the magnificent future the +infinite Father has prepared for them and their descendants, and how +from the beginning the plan has been cooerdinate with man's help to his +brother man and his sister woman; and my whole soul was penetrated, +even as it is now, with pity for the blindness, mental and physical, +that cannot see how to use the gifts the Infinite holds out, patiently +waiting for us to take from his indulgent hands. I was thinking how +much, how very much, of all our suffering comes from human ignorance +only. + +I heard all the songs of nature beside the birds. In the spring I heard +the toads and frogs and turtles making merriment in their little +sitting-rooms in the pools of water in low places. In the summer I +heard the locusts sing and the lazy croak of bullfrog, bearing the +relation of trombone in the orchestra of nature to the other musicians, +whilst the fireflies were dancing in mid-air all around him--he winking +at them with those wondrous projecting eyes. In the autumn the cricket +was my favorite, and he was kind enough at times to come into our +musical parlor to rival Mary and Jennie and Helen. But in the winter it +was only the kindly birds that came to us--sweet chickadee and the +talkative crows. None of us injured the birds. I do not remember ever +seeing a gun on the place. Thus went the seasons--spring, summer, +autumn, winter. + +I loved the daily round of life. All were kind to me. I was well +mentally and physically. I was in the bud of youth. I was like the pink +rhodoras in spring, callow of leaf or fruit but brightly covered with +promising blossoms. There remained one thing for me--to know I was +happy. Did I know it? Yes, I did. I realized it then as now. I was not +a victim of unconscious joy, to awaken to it at some future period. It +was not to me a dream. The cup was full! I was truly happy! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK. + + +I do not know when or where it was first announced, but the +announcement came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. Some one was +going to leave us! Who? Was it the "Archon" or the "Professor"? +Certainly this was not expected; but would it be strange if some of the +leaders, feeling too much the pressure and the burden of the financial +and executive business of the society, should grow weary, depart, and +leave their places unfilled forever? Was it any one of the grumblers or +the known discontented or disconcerted ones? No, it was no less than +Peter, the "General"! Why, if the elm tree in the yard of the Hive had +walked off in the night it would not have caused more talk or greater +consternation. Could it be possible? + +From that day to this I have wondered how that man could have had such +a hold on our hearts. There was not a handsome feature in him. He had a +large but uneven forehead. His eyes were small, grayish-blue and +deepset. His nose was homely, his teeth were discolored, and he was +ungainly and awkward. His best feature was his height, but he stooped +in his shoulders, and his dress when about his work was of the plainest +description. His baize jacket and slipshod shoes did not become him. + +Ever since then I have believed in the effect of virtue and kindness. +He was a living sermon--nay, a hundred sermons to me. He was "patient, +long-suffering and kind." + +A spontaneous regret came from all. Some of the women, who certainly +could not be accused of any amatory love for him, shed tears to think +that he should go, for he was full of kindness to them. Constantly in +contact with their department, he was as gentle as a child, never +complaining and yet full of work. Industrious as the day was long, he +seemed so like a portion of the very atmosphere of the house, and of +the life, that it did not seem that he could be away and the +Association be as it was. + +The _morale_ to the fact of the General's departure also disturbed our +people. He was discouraged at the attempt at realization of the new +order at Brook Farm. As long as all clung together there seemed to be +hope; but the first break was dangerous to our well-being, dangerous to +our existence. + +Mr. Dwight had gone to New York to deliver lectures on music. When he +went away all was enthusiasm, all was harmony. The great loss by fire +had shaken no one's faith in the principles or the organization, and as +yet the balance of probabilities had not been made or adjusted in men's +minds. The word was then to go on at all cost. When he returned he +found discussion of means, doubts and fears, uppermost everywhere. As a +truth the Association had not prospered financially. Beginning with no +real capital, and mortgaged to the debts of the former "Community," it +had come to a point where without more means or more money in ready +cash it was very difficult to see how it could go on. + +The change of social atmosphere in so short a time grated on the +sensitive soul of the man of music, and it was my fortune to be present +at a general meeting of all the Association where I heard his remarks. +He began by stating, as I have done, that when he went away all was +harmony and peace. All seemed united by bonds deep and strong; by a +common purpose and for a common end. We were all striving for a worthy +object, a higher, nobler life than that which surrounded us. + +He had been away from this quiet, cheerful, peaceful and just life, +among the noise, dust and discord of a great, unwieldy city, and when +there he had looked forward to his coming home to this devoted little +band with the greatest possible pleasure. He had expected to find them +as harmonious and as united as when he left. He trod the precious soil +and found all external things glowing in beauty. He mounted the hill, +and there came two beautiful white doves flying close to him as he +walked on, circling around and around his head and seeming to rejoice +in his coming. He regarded it as a symbol of the unity and peace that +were with us, as well as a token of welcome. + +But when he came to talk with the members, all was doubt, all was +distrust. What could it mean? It filled his heart with sad forebodings! +Why could we not be as before? Why doubt? why distrust? why not push +on? Certainly there would be a way opened for us! It could not be that +the years of devotion to one another and to this just cause and just +life could end thus! And in pleading tones born out of the depths of +his heart, and living sentences to which I can do no manner of justice, +he waxed eloquent, and all could not but be touched and moved with his +words. + +How beautiful it is in looking back to this time, when coming events +were casting their sad shadows before them, to think that no one took +the opposite side, and that none among all the number argued before us +that we had met with a miserable failure; that no one was ready with a +rude word to break the bonds of friendship and to use his eloquence to +destroy our habit of life, our trust in one another, our faith in God +and the eternal justice of His providence, or to hasten in any way the +disruption of the institution; and that in those trying hours the +strong ties of friendship, love and daily communion were uppermost. All +felt that we wished to keep on with our labor, and that Mr. Dwight only +spoke the wishes of all hearts. But the inevitable mathematics of +finance were against us. + +The "Poet," as the young folks called Mr. Dwight, wished that we could +manage it somehow, in some manner. He himself would go away. He would +go where his services could command higher fees. He would give them to +the Association for the privilege only of being sometimes on the +domain, and finding there others whom he loved, working still for their +sublime purposes. + +These well-expressed desires, though availing nothing in the way of +adding money to the treasury, stimulated the hearts anew to good +fellowship, and helped to keep up the activity of the place to the +last. It seems a wonder to me that, in spite of all the changes that +took place after this time, as one and another departed, the industry +of the place was still kept in decent working order. + +It was on the third of March that the fire took place, and the spring +and summer were fast passing away; the beautiful summer--beautiful ever +with its fields of waving grass and its wild flowers, its sunlight and +moonlight glow, its varied charms of growth and verdure; especially +beautiful to us, the young, who watched one another's countenances +glowing with health, innocence and pleasure; who clasped hands together +and danced with nimble feet; and saw the lithe young forms grow fairer +and more womanly and more manly. With the frank outpourings of +friendship and confidence; with the lavishness of mutual praise in +youth, we enjoyed and joined in merry badinage, in miffs and flattery. +The starry nights echoed our young voices singing in the clear air. +There was a burden of care taken from us, for was not the Association +our god-father? Had it not also taken from our parents the dread +anxieties that fall to most of common lot? And while we were there we +would be happy, and when the Association broke up, if it ever did, +would we not unite somewhere again? + +Certainly I never heard any one of us doubt, whether young or old, gray +of beard or smooth of face, that associated life and doctrines would +succeed: of this I am sure. We reasoned that if Brook Farm Association +failed, some other would not. Some new ones would be formed. The +partings were all temporary; and when we parted, it was with cheerful +hearts. It was like the going forth of a family in the morning to meet +again in the evening; no sad farewells, no heart-breakings. + +In a few years all of those engaged in this most interesting experiment +will be gathered to their fathers. No one may ever write as consecutive +a story of the farm life as I have done; and, with the much that is +superficial in my narrative, let me add my convictions of the leading +men and women in this movement. They were, in the highest sense, +Christians--not technically bound to creeds, but their hearts and +intellects were filled to overflowing with the good precepts that are +proclaimed as the foundation, aside from technical beliefs, of the +Christian doctrine; to love their neighbors as themselves; to do good +to all; to seek first righteousness in life; to uphold honesty and +honest dealing in _all_ earthly relations; to do unto others as we +would they should do unto us; to teach honor to parents; to make all +men love one another; to inspire a trust in God as a provident Father +who stands ready to reconcile all conflicts, with the way open and +plain for us, thus doing away with infidelity, unbelief, narrowness of +mind and spirit. + +The doctrine they taught above all others was the _solidarity of the +race_. This was ever repeated. It was their religion that the human +race was one creation, bound together by indissoluble ties, links +stronger than iron and unbreakable. It was one body. It should be of +one heart, one brain, one purpose. Whenever one of its members suffered +all suffered. When there was a criminal all had part in his crime; when +there was a debauchee, all partook in his debasement; when there was +one diseased all were affected by it; when one was poor, all bore some +of the sting of his poverty. If any one took shelter behind his +possessions, wretchedness, poverty and disease found him out. + +Ever is Lazarus at the king's gate haunting him, and he cannot avoid +it. At his banquets the ghosts of the wronged appear to him. +Hollow-eyed women and children point the finger of scorn at him, and +phantoms in his dreams shriek out at him, "Where is thy brother?" And +he has no excuse but the cowardly question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" +His children inherit the emanations from his cowardly soul and will not +rise up to call him blessed. His mind is not at ease, because the +atmosphere of envy is all around him; he knows _he_ is the cause of +evil thoughts, and that he holds his position by keeping comfort away +from many around him, and his fine surroundings become to him as tinsel +and dross. Dyspepsia, _ennui_ and weariness of spirit claim him. He is +a poverty-haunted coward, ashamed that he is so; and, saddest of all, +he is not a Christian. He does not believe that if he seeks the kingdom +of God, which means only to do aright, all things of material beauty +will be added to him, purifying, comforting, sustaining him, +strengthening him, glorifying him beyond his present power to dream of. + +But the Brook Farmers did. They believed that the Infinite Power +ordained social laws so universal and equitable that the fulfilment of +them would make all unqualifiedly happy, and that it is the mission of +this race of beings to be attached to this earth, to this universe, +until their happy human destiny is accomplished, which destiny must be +for _all_, otherwise the Infinite would be partially and not wholly +good and just. + +I do not say that all men are conscious of this as I have pictured it; +but the burdens are lying heavily on their souls and bodies, and they +can be truly happy only when they are taken off from them. Human nature +is too buoyant, too elastic, to be conscious of their pressure all of +the time; but often, in every soul, is the keen perception that there +must be an accounting somewhere, sometime, for all the injustice and +wrong done to any one and to every one, and it brings the "dread +hereafter" uncomfortably close to their daily lives. + +It is too early yet to judge of the result of the work of the Brook +Farm socialists. They were progressively ahead of their race. They +lived before their time. They existed in the future as well as in the +present and the future will be their judge; but these are my +conclusions justified by actual contact, seeing these men and women +under every variety of circumstances of daily life, for the full two +and a half years of my actual sojourn at the Farm. The high ideal they +carried as their standard lifted them over many of the littlenesses and +annoyances of daily life without a disturbing thought. + +I find in the _Harbinger_ of December 20, 1845, one of the very few +special allusions to Brook Farm life, and it is so much to the point +that I copy it entire:-- + +"We speak no less for the whole associative movement in this country +than for ourselves when we beseech our friends who are looking upon our +operations not to judge of our principles or our purposes by any +immediate results which they may have witnessed. The question is often +asked of us whether our present mode of life answers our +expectations--whether Association is found to be valuable in practice +as it seems to be correct in theory, and the like. But all such +inquiries betray an ignorance of the actual condition of the +enterprise. They suppose the organizations which have gone into effect +in different parts of the country are true specimens of the plans of +Association. This is far from being the case. We do not profess to be +able to present a true picture of associative life. We cannot give the +remotest idea of the advantages which the combined order possesses over +the ordinary arrangements of society. + +"The benefits we now actually enjoy are of another character. The life +we now lead, though, to a hasty and superficial observer surrounded +with so great imperfections and embarrassments, is far superior to what +we have been able to attain under the most favorable circumstances in +civilization. There is a freedom from the frivolities of fashion, from +arbitrary restrictions, and from the frenzy of competition: we meet our +fellow-men in more hearty, sincere and genial relations; kindred +spirits are not separated by artificial conventional barriers; there is +more personal independence and a wider sphere for its exercise; the +soul is warmed in the sunshine of a true social equality; we are not +brought into the rough and disgusting contact with uncongenial persons +which is such a genuine source of misery in the common intercourse of +society; there is a greater variety, of employment, a more constant +demand for the exertion of all the faculties, and a more exquisite +pleasure in effort, from the consciousness that we are not working for +personal ends, but for a holy principle. + +"And even the external sacrifices, which the pioneers in every +enterprise are obliged to make, are not without a sort of romantic +charm, which effectually prevents us from enjoying the luxuries of +Egypt, though we should be blessed with neither the manna nor the +quails which once cheered a table in the desert So that for ourselves +we have reason to be content. We are conscious of a happiness we never +knew until we embarked in this career. A new strength is given to our +arms, a new fire enkindles our souls. + +"But great as may be our satisfactions of this nature, they do not +proceed from the actual application of associative principles to +outward arrangements. The time has not yet come for that. The means +have not been brought together to attempt the realization of the +associative theory, even on the humblest scale. At present, then, we +are only preparing the way for a better order; we are gathering +materials that we hope one day we may use with effect; if otherwise, +they will not be lost; they will help those who come after us, and +accomplish what they were intended for in the designs of Providence. No +association as yet has the number of persons, or the amount of capital, +to make a fair experiment of the principles of attractive industry. +They are all deficient in material resources, in edifices, in +machinery, and, above all, in floating capital; and although in their +present state they may prove a blessing to the individuals concerned in +them, such as the whole earth has not to give, they are not prepared to +exhibit that demonstration of the superior benefits of associative life +which will at once introduce a new era and install humanity in the +position for which it was created. + +"But, brothers, patience and hope! We know what we are working for, we +know that the truth of God is on our side, that he has no attributes +that can favor the existing order of fraud, oppression, carnage and +consequent wretchedness. We may be sure of the triumph of our cause. +The grass may grow over our graves before it will be accomplished; but +as certain as God reigns, will the dominion of justice and truth be +established in the order of society. Every plant which the Heavenly +Father has not planted will be plucked up, and the earth will yet +rejoice in the greenness and beauty of the garden of God." + +These are George Ripley's words. Could any one add a word to improve +these splendid paragraphs! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES, AND AFTER LIVES OF MEMBERS. + + +I am now to chronicle the last scene in our history, and I know not how +to do it, for of all the events of the life it is to me the most dreamy +and unreal. The figures of our drama flit before me like shadows. It +was like a knotted skein slowly unravelling. It was as the ice becomes +water, and runs silently away. It was as the gorgeous, roseate cloud +lifts itself up, and then changes in color and hides beyond the +horizon. It was as a carriage and traveller fade from sight on the +distant road. It was like the coming of sundown and twilight in a clear +day. It was like the apple blossoms dropping from the trees. It was as +the herds wind out to pasture. It was like a thousand and one changing +and fading things in nature. + +"It was not discord, it was music stopped." + +Who was next to break away from the charm of the life I know not; but +when the autumnal season came I was summoned to a family council and +advised that I should begin a new occupation where I could at least +earn my subsistence. As in duty bound, I acquiesced, and in a few days +bade farewell to the Brook Farm life. + +I saw no tears shed when I left, but I was sorry to leave my blue tunic +behind, it was so comfortable. I left, but it was only my outward self +that was gone, not my sympathies or hopes. Behind were family and +devoted friends. It was still my home to return to, as it would be for +an indefinite period. + +For two years and a half I had worn the tunic of the community, and the +"swallow tail" and "civilized rig" I put on for my departure transposed +my appearance so much that some of the society did not at first know +me. With my parents' blessing, I entered on the rudiments of the +professional life I have ever since followed, and took the West Roxbury +omnibus for Boston, the same I had taken two years and a half before to +go to the farm. + +The succeeding Saturday night found me at home again. How pleasant the +greeting from Willard, Katie and Louise; from Charlie, Abby and Edgar; +from Anna and Dolly--from all, old and young! The "Archon" almost +screamed when he saw me, I was so "stunning" in his eyes, and poked +some of his fun at me. No marked change had taken place. The +_Harbinger_ was printed as usual, and only one or two persons had gone. + +Every Saturday night I returned to the "Phalanx," but soon the +shoemakers found occupation elsewhere and their seats were empty. Then +the printers went, as the _Harbinger_ was transferred to New York. At +last the shop was closed, the cattle were sold, and all the industry +ceased. I came and went but did not see the actors go, and am glad I +did not see the "Archon"'. take his leave, or the many bright faces I +had loved so well. + +The Poet lingered near. In Boston he started the _Journal of Music_, +and at the Eyry lingered for a while a sweet enchantress, and the +spirits of song and music held their revels there. So, also, lingered +at "the Hive" some sweet faces and loving hearts besides those of my +kin. The greenhouse, where I had spent so much of my time, was +closed--the plants all gone. Up the rafters ran the vines I helped to +plant, but when the winter came, drear and cold, only a few persons +remained on the domain. The dining hall echoed to my voice in its +emptiness, and the little reading room at the Hive was where we now +assembled at meals. + +I wandered around and looked into the empty rooms. I cannot say I felt +as sad as I would to-day. Every spot was connected with some little +event, but the events were usually of such a cheerful and pleasant +nature that I could not be depressed, and a large portion of my +intimates were still near me in the city or neighborhood. We could +muster a goodly number at call and we tried to keep alive the good work +for the "cause" with meetings, social and theoretical. But no longer +the stage brought its loads of visitors to the Hive door. Over the +hills and the meadows no more resounded the morning horn echoing far +and far away, or Miss Ripley's high voice calling "Alfred! Alfred!" who +acted as major-domo in the absent General's place. + +No more came down from the distant houses school lads and lasses, and +the long, tridaily procession of young and old had ceased forever. The +din of the kitchen was stopped, and the merry brogue of Irish John was +silenced. No more rushed the blue tunics for the mail when the coach +came in--alas, it came no more! The fields remained as when last +cropped, and if we went to the Cottage no merry sound of music came +from the school room. We mounted the stairs without meeting the classic +face or the elastic step and figure of the Professor or his fair +sister, and in vain did we look for the concourse of books where once +he wielded his modest pen and translated his German "_lieder_" + +No more mounted in air the beautiful doves that circled and tumbled in +their flight--_my_ doves, that would come at my call and alight on my +hands, head and shoulders, and scramble for the corn I held out to them +in my palms. Sunday after Sunday, week after week, I spent in the Hive. +I looked out of the window but ventured not to go to the Eyry, for +there the music had finally ceased; or if the spirits sang their dirges +in those classic walls, my dim ears did not hear them. + +Mr. Ripley's books had gone to swell Rev. Theodore Parker's library. +Were they surrendered without a pang? I will tell you. "Fanny," said +Mr. Ripley, seeing his valued books departing, "I can now understand +how a man would feel if he could attend his own funeral." They have +been placed in the Boston City Library by the death and last testament +of the later proprietor. The flowers I had watered and tended passed +into the hands and greenhouse of the translator of "Consuelo." Those +who owned any private effects or furniture took them away. + +The Pilgrim House, never beautiful, and barren in its immediate +surroundings, was entirely deserted. The Hive was my home; and when the +warm sun, looking through the barren grape vine into the dining room +window, melted the light snow of early spring, and awoke the tender +grass into new growth and verdancy, and the remaining poultry warmed +themselves by its rays, nestling together by the doorways, as the +melting snow dripped drop by drop from the house top--the farm looked +beautiful still. + +In some of our young hearts, with the coming of early summer, awoke a +yearning for one more meeting at the old place; and so we gathered the +young people from far and near for one more good time, for one more +communion. With what pleasure I recall those few hours. How happy we +were! How social and loving and dear we were to one another! In the +many years passed since then, there is no red-letter day like that one. +We were about twenty in number. There were fourteen of us between the +ages of fifteen and twenty-one years. The remainder were older. We +filled a table in the reading room. Little we cared if we sat crowded +close together, for we chose our mates. Some were pupils of the school, +the rest were youths of the Association. + +In the afternoon we wandered once more in the beautiful pine woods. We +sang once more the "Silver Moon" together as we roved about, or sat on +the big boulder on the knoll at the foot of the lightning-struck tree. +We recounted old times and seasons; we cracked our merry jokes and ate +our simple treat, and then parted. In a few days the wide world was +between us, and forever. Some went East, and some West, one to +Port-au-Prince, and others to different villages and towns in New +England. Of the number, four remained in Boston; I was one of them. + +Reader, my reminiscences are told, but not all told! They are like the +sultan's story that was to last a thousand years. To all but the one +interested there was an unending sameness in it, but to that one, it +was his life. + +It is natural to wish to know of the writer what became of the persons +who formed this little band of devotees. I can but give a meagre sketch +in reply, for want of room. + +When Mr. Ripley left Brook Farm he was poor. The experiment had cost +him money, years of toil and made debts for which he felt responsible. +He determined to pay them. As yet the way was not open. The _Harbinger_ +was changed in form and lived less than two years in its new location, +and during a temporary illness of the editor its publication was +suspended. Mr. Ripley and wife taught school at Flatbush, L.I. + +At the termination of the _Harbinger_ he immediately commenced writing +for the New York _Tribune_. Its pay roll indicates what he received May +5, 1849; it was $5 for the previous week's work. In July, same year, he +was paid $10 per week; April 6, 1850, $15; Sept. 21, 1851, $25 per +week. He wrote articles on all the living topics of the day, from the +arrival of the last new singer to the death of the last criminal. +Things trivial and non-important, grave and gay, of lasting import and +the most ephemeral, all came under his pen. + +He also wrote, either occasionally or regularly, for a dozen other +periodicals. He was an early contributor to _Putnam's_ and from its +commencement wrote for _Harper's New Monthly_. As editor associated +with Mr. C.A. Dana he gave his time and best thought to the New +American Cyclopedia, and the first two or three volumes of the series +were edited solely by them. In 1871 his salary was raised to $75 per +week. When the Cyclopedia was revised he was paid $250 per month for +extra work on it. More than a million four hundred and sixty thousand +volumes of the two editions have been sold, and a small royalty secured +to the editors on each volume. + +With prosperity Mr. Ripley never forgot his obligations. The old score +of debt was wiped out and paid. He was free, and as a man of letters +revelled in that which had been his youthful ideal. + +When a student at Harvard College he wrote to his father, "I know that +my peculiar habits of mind, imperfect as they are, strongly impel me to +the path of intellectual effort; and if I am to be at any time of use +to society or a satisfaction to myself or my friends, it will be in the +way of some retired literary situation where a fondness for books will +be more requisite than the busy, calculating mind of a man in the +business part of the community." Thus was one of his youthful dreams +fulfilled. His capacity for work seemed unbounded. "He gave all his +time and all his energy to literary criticism, and spending on it, too, +the full resources of a richly furnished mind and infusing into it the +spirit of a broad and noble training." + +He passed away July 4, 1880. A great concourse of people attended the +obsequies. Distinguished men, divines, critics, scholars, editors, +architects, scientists, journalists, publicists, artists and men of +affairs were in the assembly. The pall-bearers were the president of +Columbia College, the editor of _Harper's Weekly_, an Italian +professor, the editor of the _Popular Science Monthly_, the editor of +the New York _Observer_, an eminent German lawyer, a distinguished +college professor, a popular poet and the editor of the _Tribune_. + +His wife Sophia passed from this life nineteen years before him. The +story of his romantic after marriage, and many details of his career +from birth to death, will be found in Mr. O. B. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," told by his kindly biographer. + +Deeply interested in his daily toil, thoroughly immersed in it body and +brain, yet cheerfully responding to all calls on his unbounded stock of +information and good nature, no one knows how often his mind wandered +over the intervening distance and saw the old farm with its mingled +incidents of pathos, philosophy and heroism, or what regrets were +covered up; but the joking allusions he sometimes made to it when +speaking of it to those who came to quiz him, were more than repaid to +his few intimate friends when he opened his heart to them, and the +earnestness of his spirit and the solemnity of his faith in the +brotherhood of humanity shone forth. He unveiled to them that he did +with undying faith still see in its ideas the elements of the true and +heavenly society; that he carried deep down in his bosom intense love +for those who were associated with him, and that if it had been founded +at this later period, so much has the interest in, social problems +increased, all the financial support needed would have been freely +given. + +His friend William Henry Channing urged him to write the story of Brook +Farm, saying, "When _will_ you tell it?" + +His joking reply was, "When I reach my years of indiscretion!" He knew +that the life wrote its own story. + +Of the many dear ones I have known whose lives have added to my life +faith and trust in the Divine Father and his plans for the good future +of the human race; after years of thought and years of life, I give to +Mr. Ripley--the leader, the daring man, the brave Christian heart, the +torch bearer, himself the harbinger of the bright future of social +justice--the first place, the highest seat, the noblest position among +them all. + +Mr. Ripley paid off the debts of the Community. I do not know all of +them. There was an amount due to Hawthorne at one time, probably his +original investment, which he growled about, and there was another due +to one of the Brothers Morton, who built the Pilgrim House. I am +indebted to his daughter, Miss Morton, for the statement that her +father received from Mr. Ripley a check in payment of the Community +debt to him. Calling her to his side and showing it to her, he said, +"There, Hannah, there is an honest man!" + +After the institution was incorporated the debts and responsibilities +were shared by the incorporators and stock holders. + +It has often been stated that it was the influence of Rev. William +Ellery Channing that started the West Roxbury Community. His nephew, +William Henry Channing, alluding to this in a letter to Rev. J. H.. +Noyes, author of the "History of American Socialisms," contradicts the +statement as follows:-- + +"Of course my uncle deeply sympathized with his younger friend's heroic +effort, and wished all success to the movement, but he did not +encourage it, so far as I can understand, for in his judgment he +distrusted the prudence of the enterprise," etc. "But it was George +Ripley, aided by his noble wife Sophia--it was George Ripley, and +Ripley alone, who truly originated Brook Farm; and his should be the +honor through all time. And a very high honor it will be sooner or +later." + +The head farmer, with his wife and family, who were so early in the +experiment, spent many years in the quiet town of Concord, +Massachusetts. It was he who gave Mr. Ripley courage in his work. He +was practical, honest, brave, and had enough of poetry in his +composition to take the dry edge off of his daily routine of toil. When +ploughing the fields it was with regret he turned under the lovely wild +flowers and the wild-rose bushes, and it often struck his fancy to +transplant them from the fields to the roadside where they blessed the +eyes of the wayfarer. Finally the heavenly voice called him and he went +thitherward, deeply loved, honored and respected by all. Minot Pratt's +name was a synonym of all that was pure, good and lovely. His wife +survived him many years, but in May, 1891, she passed away at an +advanced age, the last of the signers to the original agreement. + +The ambitious "Professor" lives. The trenchant blade of his intellect +is still keen. Sometimes it seems that to overcome obstacles is all +with him. His wife was one of the "dear girls" of the Association. +Method in business and masterly activity have wrung from fate a +fortune, and the editorial and governmental offices he has held have +been more than ably filled. Blessed with a charming family, deeply +immersed in political as well as other writing, it would almost seem as +if the olden days were forgotten by him, were it not that now and then +he writes as he did shortly after Mr. Ripley's decease, as follows:-- + +"It is not too much to say that every person who was at Brook Farm for +any length of time has ever since looked back to it with a feeling of +satisfaction. The healthy mixture of manual and intellectual labor, the +kindly and unaffected social relations, the absence of everything like +assumptions or servility, the amusements, the discussions, the +friendships, the ideal and poetical atmosphere which gave a charm to +life--all these continue to create a picture toward which the mind +turns back with pleasure as to something distant and beautiful not +elsewhere met with amid the routine of this world." + +Whatever may be said of the tone of the articles that come from his +pen, their ability is unquestioned, and it is not a secret that in Mr. +Ripley's judgment Charles A. Dana, of the New York _Sun_, was the +ablest editor in the world. + +The "Poet," as we called him, as editor of Dwight's _Journal of Music_, +and also as critic, was deserving of especial credit for his services +in musical culture. Earnest, refined, always endeavoring to do right, +but strict in his pleasant criticisms, he pointed upward to higher +ideals. Living alone in his latter years like a bachelor, he sought +solace in his refined tastes with cultivated people. Married to Mary +Bullard, the sweet singer of my story, kindred sympathies united them +more firmly than marriage vows, but her early death deprived the world +of one of the noblest and choicest of womanhood, and his life of its +sweetest charm. He went abroad for a short trip, leaving her in full +health and beauty; he returned--she had passed from mortal sight. + +A number of the members, male and female, joined the Association in New +Jersey near Red Bank--the North American Phalanx. There they renewed +the social life and experiment, with such result as some other pen can +tell. + +It was about the time of the closing of the Brook Farm experiment that +the "California fever" broke out, or the rush for the gold mines. Some +of our theorists argued that the country was too poor for the +establishment of the social organizations proposed, and that more +wealth was needed. A number of the Brook Farmers went to the new +country for gold. The gardener, Peter Klienstrup, was one. I am sorry +to say that disappointment awaited him. A foreigner, and sensitive, +partly deaf and past middle life, he was not the man for the country or +the life. He died there poor. His charming, tuneful daughter, with the +beautiful complexion and lovely rounded shoulders, did not long survive +him. His wife survived, but one day I stood with only a few who knew +her, at the door of an open tomb, and a strange thrill passed over me +when one by my side said, as her body was placed within, "This is the +last of her race--the family is extinct!" + +The good, kind-hearted "General" sleeps within sound of the Pacific +waves, for he, too, was one of the early Californians. And the Admiral, +the pure-hearted, high-minded and keen-eyed Admiral, has long since +laid down his burdens and his aspirations. And so also with many, too +many for me here to recount. The two sisters that I have described with +flowing hair, grew in loveliness to full womanly beauty and then passed +to the angelic world. + +Mr. Ryckman, surnamed the "Omniarch," reigns no more in this sphere. +Peace to his memory. + +The downfall of the Association was the wrecking of Irish John. He +seemed homeless and aimless. The constant smiles on that remarkable +face gave way to soberness profound. Old habits crept back upon him. He +had a friend, one of our number, who took a kindly interest in him, but +could not follow all his waywardness. He departed for New York, +ostensibly for business. Not long after this his friend received a note +from there in John's handwriting, saying that if he would send to a +certain number and street he would find something for him. It was a +trunk, and appeared to contain all of John's effects except the suit of +clothes he had on. What end he made no one knows. + +How grand it would be if the social fabric could keep and guard all its +weak ones, surround them by influences that could prevent them from +falling into evil ways, and bear them up until the end comes peacefully +and naturally! + +Marianne Ripley, Mr. Ripley's sister, the devoted soul who reigned over +the Kitchen Group and cultivated the flowers on the terraces, spent her +later hours in the West, and passed away at Madison, Wisconsin. John +Allen, the firm preacher, has gone also. His little boy, who conveyed +the small-pox to the farm, grew to manhood, and at an early age fought +with Grant at Vicksburg, where he received the wound that caused his +death. + +The dear girl with the loud laugh is still here, but tears and sorrow +have been in her cup. Her kind husband, one of our number, and some +children are with the shadows; and the dimpled face of the black-haired +girl with the Irish name, whose beauty took my young fancy, long ago +joined the larger realm of beauty. + +The house dog, Carlo, whom everybody knew, grew rapidly old when the +Association broke up. I never saw such a change. It seemed as though +regretful remembrances of former times clung to him. There was no more +the _music_ of "the sounding horn" to awaken him from his drowse, and +he passed much of his time under the woodshed. But he was not the sleek +and canny dog of yore. He grew thin and weak. Long locks of indifferent +colored brown hair grew out of his sides, and hung loosely down. His +gait was slow and feeble, and it was not pleasant to look at him. +Finally, one cold day, at least a year after the general departure, he +was missing, and I could find nothing of him. Inquiries were in vain. +It was in the following spring that his bones were found where either +he himself had dug a burrow, or the hand of charity had laid him. Good +Carlo! + +Some very happy marriages sprang from the acquaintance at Brook Farm. +There, in a few weeks or months, a better knowledge could be formed, a +truer and more absolute and certain estimate of character, than by +years of fashionable flirtation. And here let me add, that the women +were always well dressed: there were no party dresses, all shine, lace +and glitter, and household wrappers all slouched, torn and drabbled. +The situation of woman was such as to stimulate her ever to neatness in +personal appearance, even if the material was but a "ninepenny" calico; +and the same may be said to a marked extent of the men. + +And many others who stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks have shared +the common lot. Scattered through the country, in city, town and +hamlet, those who survive are doing their humble duties, and filling +their stations honorably. There are those among them who have gained +wealth, and none whom I know that are in poverty. In the circles they +occupy, their influence has been felt towards a liberal judgment in all +matters pertaining to government, religion and society. + +Our friend Rev. William Henry Channing spent the major portion of his +after life abroad. The war brought him back to America. He was at one +time chaplain of the House of Representatives of the United States, and +served the country at the front; but he returned to Liverpool, England, +where he preached and educated his family, passing away beloved by +members of all the prominent churches both conservative and radical. + +There were some four and possibly more, who joined the Catholic Church. +This created at the time many remarks, but it is only an episode for a +class of minds to find themselves at the other end, at the opposite +side, at the bottom instead of the top when they have swung themselves, +pendulum-like, far away from ordinary moorings. The "Community" people +were at the extreme of society, unorganized, without creeds, without +science, and only morality and faith to guide them, and having given +the lie to ordinary social forms; having lost their faith and trust in +society as it was, is it strange that some should swing to the extreme +of conservatism, that they should try a new departure when met by +seeming failure in their radical moves? + +But why continue the list? The very boys have become gray-haired men, +but proud to say, each one of them, "I was one of the Brook Farmers." + +In closing this picturesque drama, it would not be strange if someone +should ask if this is all that is left of the life. Has it been only a +failure and a dream that I have chronicled, or has it resulted in +something worthy of the aspiration that preceded it? Has it added +strength to the lives of individuals, and has it done something for +society? As chronicler, I stand in the shade and let my readers judge; +but the few words of comment that follow, from well-known individuals, +bear strong testimony to an effect that must have been duplicated in a +great many other instances: and, indeed, if its influence had gone no +farther than to a few persons, that alone would justify the laudable +attempt of this "venture in philanthropy." My conviction is that it +reached farther than to single individuals, and that it still reaches +into and influences more or less all the deep undercurrents of society. + +I am confirmed in this opinion by the following statement made by Mr. +George P. Bradford in the _Century Magazine_ for May, 1892:-- + +"I cannot but think that the brief and imperfect experiment, with the +theory and discussion that grew out of it, had no small influence in +teaching more impressively the relation of universal brotherhood and +the ties that bind us to all; a deeper feeling of the rights and claims +of others, and so in diffusing, enlarging, deepening and giving +emphasis to the growing spirit of true democracy." + +But if I were to leave my position as narrator, and speak from my +individual standpoint, I would say Brook Farm and what it stood for was +to world-benighted travellers, seeking for sustenance, like a city set +on a hill. It was a small, glimmering light of social truth, shining +amid universal darkness. It was a dim foregleam of the great sun of +social life and science, that will yet rise and shine gloriously on our +earth. It was a spark of that divine justice that, like electricity, +has been stored for humanity from the beginning of things--abundant in +quantity and power to bless all men--stowed away by the hand of God for +us, awaiting only our awakening from the sleep of ignorance and +childishness, to use and cherish it. It was an example of trust, a +tribute to faith. It was a realization of poetry. It was in touch with +the wishes, hopes and prayers of millions of humanity; of untold +numbers of saints and martyrs of all nations and climes, and its +mission was the highest on earth--universal justice to all mankind. + +Albert Brisbane, the _doctrinaire_, has departed also. Although +allusion has been made to him in the former pages of this book somewhat +in contrast with Mr. Ripley's spiritual gifts, let no person think that +I underestimate the mission he undertook or the work he accomplished in +his devotion to the master, Fourier. Certainly he deserves very great +credit, and there are those who, deep in their hearts, cherish most +profound gratitude to him and his memory. + +Whatever any one may believe of the feasibility of the carrying out of +Fourier's doctrines of united industry or the practicality of any of +his theories, they must stand amazed at the bold and often extremely +beautiful conceptions of his brain; such as the actual forecasting of +the development theory before Darwin, Spencer and Huxley were +born--though not exactly in detail with them; his bolder conception +still of the destiny of man, and his Cosmogony; of the progress of +present civilization towards an oligarchy of capital, foretold so +exactly,--as is now seen by thinking minds, three quarters of a century +ago; his profound analysis of the human springs of action; his +discovery of the divine laws applicable to the future as well as to the +present wants of the human race. For the presentation of all this to +the American people; for all these things and more, we are first +indebted to Albert Brisbane, and it is a great debt which the future +will certainly appreciate and pay. + +My work would not be finished without alluding more fully to the +wonderful genius whose works and life made such an impression on the +Brook Farmers as to induce them to brave all the misconception, sarcasm +and obloquy that they must have felt would be heaped on them when they +concluded to follow his formulas, and bowed their intellects to him in +acknowledgment of his leadership in the field of social science. + +The reader will decide, if I have portrayed truly the men and the +principles actuating them, that whoever they thus acknowledged as +worthy of that sublime place must have been endowed with intellectual, +moral and spiritual capacities, and intuitions of the highest order. +Should it have been the fortune of any one to come across an occasional +allusion to Fourier, it will be apt to be of such a forbidding nature +that there will be no strong temptation to follow the subject further; +and all through the literature of our country, in the writings of men +whose reading, if not their knowledge, should have taught them better, +will be found intimations that "Fourierism" was a system of life based +on a plane hardly worthy of being rated higher than mere sensualism. + +Against this accusation I place the record of the man whom especially +spiritual minded and liberally educated men like George Ripley, John S. +Dwight, William Henry Channing and many others delighted to know and to +honor. + +Charles Fourier was born at Bezancon, France, April 7, 1772. The son of +a merchant, he had a collegiate education, and took prizes for French +and Latin themes and verses. He was found of geography but more fond of +cultivating flowers, and of music. At eighteen years he entered into +commercial pursuits. By the siege of Lyons he lost the fortune his +father left him, and was forced into the army, where he served two +years. This portion of his life was involved in the romance of war and +revolution, during which he was doomed to death, but made a fortunate +escape from it. + +He was always noted for the avidity with which he sought knowledge, and +his honesty was outraged at an early age, being punished by his father +for telling the truth of goods on sale, thereby losing a purchaser. +Again his soul revolted when at Marseilles in 1799, where he was +employed, for he was selected to superintend a body of men who secretly +cast an immense quantity of rice into the sea, which monopolists had +allowed to spoil in a time of famine rather than to sell at a +reasonable profit. This last action was to him a crime of so deep a +nature that he entered with more enthusiasm on his studies for +preventing the like. + +In capacity of agent he travelled in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland +and Switzerland. He had a prodigious memory, and in his journeys when a +building struck his attention, he took the measurement of it with his +walking stick, which was notched off in feet and inches; and, one of +his biographers says:-- + +"He was profoundly acquainted with every branch of science, +particularly the exact sciences. For forty years he labored with +patience and perseverance at the Herculean task of discovering and +developing the theory and practical details of the system which he has +given to the world." + +Says a writer in the London _Phalanx_:-- + +"The principal features of Fourier's private character were morality +and the love of truth. He had a character both grave and dignified, +religious and poetic, friendly and polite, indulgent and sincere, which +never allowed truth to be profaned by libertine frivolity, nor faith to +be confounded with austere duplicity. He was a man of dignified +simplicity, a child of Heaven, loving God with all his heart, all his +soul, and all his mind, also loving as himself his neighbor--the whole +human family." + +Fourier's own words translated read:-- + +"God sees in the human race only one family, all the members of which +have a right to his favors. He designs that they shall all be happy +together, or else no one people shall enjoy happiness. . . . The love +of God will become in this new order the most ardent love among men." + +The closing words of an exhaustive review of Fourier's writings, by Mr. +John S. Dwight, in the _Harbinger_, are these:--"There is a Titanic +strength in all the workings of that wonderful intellect. He walks as +one who knows his ground. His step is firm, his eye is clear and +unflinching, and he is acknowledged where he passes, for there is no +littleness or weakness, no halting or duplicity, in his movement. He is +in earnest; he has taken up his cross to fulfil a mighty mission. He +doubts not, desponds not; he speaks always with certainty, and though +he suffers from impatience of postponement, yet he ceases not to insist +upon the truth. He expostulates, perhaps, with deceived and degraded +humanity in too much bitterness of sarcasm; but how profound his +reverence for Christ and for humanity, how pure his love for man, and +how sublime his contemplation of the destiny of man in the scale of +higher and higher beings up to God!" + +Fourier passed from earth in 1837. His body was buried at Pere la +Chaise Cemetery, Paris, France. + +The idea of living in combined families is no new thing. From the +earliest times to the present, it has cropped out under various +circumstances and with various changes. Ever with dawning of new light +and the increase of universal education comes the desire--sometimes in +great waves--for more united interests, and a truer, more Christian +brotherhood; for closer unity in life and for the enlargement of home +with all the joy, comfort and peace that word contains. + +In this country various outgrowths from the social body have taken +positions on this plane. The masses of our people are not now in +sympathy with them. They believe that these little social homes or +"communities" are dull and monotonous, and are bound so tightly by +creeds as to be obnoxious to freedom of life and ideas. My belief is +that the creeds adopted and thrown around them, though often adding to +their financial protection, and possibly often being their only +safeguards from fraud and knavery, have covered from the public the +great dignity, worthiness and beauty of this mode of life; when, +therefore, Mr. Ripley formed his society free from any pledges or +creeds, it touched a deeper bottom in men's hearts than any like +organization had ever sounded. + +Whatever of failure there was in their actualization, Brook Farm ideas +remain. They charm philosophers, poets and statesmen. They work +quietly, leavening the social mass. One must be in sympathy with them +to know how potent is their action and how with a touch of the old +enthusiasm they will be found breaking out again in larger and larger +circles of humanity, for in view of the progress of mechanism, science +and art in the last fifty years, to form the phalanstery in its +material shape would be an easy task. + +Rev. William Henry Channing expressed himself in this wise to his +mother, years after the breaking up of the Association:-- + +"My dearest mother, I assure you that did I see my way clear to an +honorable independence for my family, so as to be just, while kind to +them, I should joyfully die in attesting my fixed faith in Association, +and I predict that when, years hence, we meet in the spiritual world, +you will smilingly bless me and say, 'My son, your personal limitations +excepted, you were right.' You will feel proud of my seeming earthly +failures then; at least I humbly hope so. If this is all romance it is +of that earnest, living strain which I trust ever more and more to be +quickened by." + +At a final visit to Brook Farm he said: "Most beautiful was that last +day and all its memories; and never did I feel so calmly, humbly, +devoutly thankful that it had been my privilege to fail in this +grandest, sublimest, surest of all human movements. Were Thermopylae +and Bunker Hill considered successes in their day and generation?" + +Lying before me is a letter not intended for publication, showing how +one member of the Association affectionately regarded his old home. It +is as follows:-- + +PROVIDENCE, R. I., 1871. + +"My Dear Friend:--I herewith return the letters you so kindly sent me. +I have derived much pleasure in their perusal, and have looked on them +with affectionate regard as a mode of greeting from old friends from +whom I have been separated for more than a quarter of a century. I do +not think any one who was at Brook Farm has that deep and sincere +affection for it and its memory that I have. It was my mother by +adoption, and what little I have of education, refinement, or culture +and taste for matters above things material, I owe to her and the +heroic and self-sacrificing men and women who composed its body, social +and scholastic. I was but a cipher there, among them by accident, and I +was much the gainer even if they were not the losers. What I saw there, +and what I learned there, have been of great value to me, and if I have +made any progress in material matters or have attained any social +position, I am frank enough to confess that I owe it all to dear old +Brook Farm. God bless its memory. What I have, and what I am, is the +outgrowth of a two years' life at my first real home. . . . + +"When I commenced this I intended to write but a half dozen lines, +simply making my acknowledgment of your kindness, but my purpose soon +changed, and I now find that I have not enough room on this sheet to +say one tithe of what comes rushing in my mind 'as a river' about Brook +Farm, and I can now only say that I wish you to convey my kindest +regards to all of our dear old acquaintances whenever you see them or +write to them. All Brook Farmers are to me as brothers and sisters, and +I so esteem them. + + "WILLIAM H. TEEL." + +I am tempted also to add the following extract from a letter written +years ago by a friend of the movement in his eightieth year to his +son:-- + +"To many, Brook Farm may have been a dream that ended with the +scattering of that little band of workers. That special form of the +dream vanished, but the seed was planted, and my confidence in the +dream is vivid still. In the past these ideas have been the crude +visions of the few, but now they are the absorbing subjects of +speculation of the many, and all our best literature is full of them. +The highest problems of man and society are the common subjects of +discussion. So will it continue to be, by the tiller of the soil, the +workman at the bench, as well as the poet and philosopher, until order +and harmony are evolved out of this chaos. The good time is surely +coming. 'The world,' as Whittier wrote, 'is gray with its dawning +light.' + + "J. A. SAXTON. + + "Deerfield, Mass." + +Well, the Brook Farm experiment died! There can be only one reason why +its friends should rejoice, and it is the same that touched the great +mind of Saint Paul, nearly two thousand years ago, when he said, "Thou +fool! that which thou sowest is not _quickened_ except it _die!_" + +FINIS. + + + + +APPENDIX + + I. Students' and Inquirers' Letters + II. Applicants' Letters and Mr. Ripley's Replies + III. An Outside View of Brook Farm Associative Articles + + + + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS. + + +_Student Life_. + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Oct. 27, 1842. + +My Dear Friend:--Pardon my delay in writing you in reply to yours of +the 15th ult., but there have been matters of interest that have +occupied my leisure, and so much so that only now do I find myself free +to exchange good wishes with you and to answer the important questions +you put to me as to what I think of, and how I like, the Brook Farm +life. + +To reply to these questions I might write a long dissertation +explaining what I like and what I do not like, or I could answer them +by a few brief words; but my inclination is to do neither, and to give +you in place of both a little sketch of the proceedings here and make +you the judge of what my feelings would be likely to be under the +circumstances that I shall narrate. + +I am still a student, and most of my time has been spent in studies of +various sorts; the languages--ancient and modern--attracting me a great +deal, but the German and the French the most. I do not "burn the +midnight oil," and yet I think I am progressing well. Our teachers are +all very approachable men and really seem in dead earnest. You might +suppose from rumors that reach you that they would be very notional +people, but they are not so, or, to say the least, if they are they +keep their notions to themselves. Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Dwight +are particularly kind to me, and all the teachers go out of the way to +explain points that come up in the lessons. + +After hours, we have had many interesting conversations, class +readings, dramatic readings, etc., and visitors come who entertain us +in various ways. Miss Frances Ostenelli, for one, who has a wonderful +soprano voice, and Miss S. Margaret Fuller from Concord--there is no +end to her talk--and also Mr. Emerson from Concord, to whom a good many +pay deference. + +Whilst he was here there was a masquerading wood party. It was quite a +bright idea. Miss Amelia Russell was one of the persons who planned it. +Her father has been minister to Sweden and was one of the commissioners +who signed the Treaty of Ghent. It was an open-air masquerade in the +pine woods, and the affair was worked up splendidly. Masquerades have +been, in New England, of a private nature and held indoors. To hold one +out "in the garish light of day" was a new sensation, and attracted +some of the friends of the Community. The day was lovely and in the +woods the privacy was complete. Barring one or two friendly neighbors +of farmer stock who looked on, it was truly a select party. One of the +ladies personated Diana, and any one entering her wooded precincts was +liable to be shot with one of her arrows. Further in the woods a gipsy, +personated by Miss 'Ora Gannett, niece to Rev. Ezra Gannett, was ready +to tell your fortune. Miss "Georgie" Bruce was an Indian squaw, and +"George William" Curtis, a young man, carried off the palm as "Fanny +Elssler" the dancer. There was a mixed variety of characters that made +up the _tout ensemble_--a Tyrolean songster, sailors, Africans, +lackeys, backwoodsmen and the like. The children enjoyed the day much. +A large portion of the dresses were home-made. Dances and conversation +by the elders filled the day and evening. + +Sometimes we have the serious business. Some of the singular persons +here affect vagaries and discuss pruderies or church matters, ethics +and the like. Or we have some of the Concord people who give us parlor +talks. Once in a while they arouse the gifted brothers, and then we +have a genuine treat; Mr. Dwight and Mr. Bradford, Mr. Ripley, Mr. +Capen, Burton and all hands get dragged in, and in the earnest +discussion that follows one cannot but be edified and often very much +instructed. Subjects relating to a more rational life and education for +the poor and unlearned interest me and arouse my enthusiasm. There are +some fine lady as well as gentlemen readers, who show their ability in +poetry and prose, and, for the amusement of the young people, some +devote their talents on occasions to tableaux, which are delightful and +display fine historic scenes and characters. + +I rise in the morning at six to half-past; breakfast at seven; chat +with the people; get to my studies at eight; work an hour in the +garden; recite; dine at noon; take an hour in the afternoon on the +farm; drive team; cut hay in the barn; study or recite; walk; dress up +for tea at six. In long days the sunsets and twilights are delightful +and pass pleasantly with a set of us who chum together. I am so near +Boston that I go to concerts and lectures with others, or to the +theatres, or to the conventions, the antislavery ones being most +exciting. In summer I join the hay-makers. In winter we coast, boys and +girls, down the steep though not high hills, in the afternoons, or by +moonlight, or by the light of the clear sky and the bright stars; or we +drive one of the horses for a ride, or we skate on the frozen meadow or +brook to the Charles River where its broad surface gives plenty of room. + +One thing I like here--everything but in my lessons I have perfect +freedom to come or go and to join in and be one with the good people or +not. I am not hampered. I go to church or not, as I desire, and I can +do anything that does not violate the rules of good breeding; but I am +expected to be in my room at a seasonable hour at night--ten o'clock, +sure. + +Thus have I given you my programme. Can you think I would do better +elsewhere? I might have more style, a better table, and more room to +see my friends in, though the parlors here are good enough, but where +could I have more genuine comfort? I expect to go home by New Year's, +returning, if I can, by March, and am so in love with the life I may +try to attach myself to it permanently. In the meantime I will see you, +and hope to enjoy with you many hours of conversation after the oldtime +way at our house. As ever, + +Your student brother, + +CHARLES. + + +_Explanations and Answers to Objections._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Dec. 11, 1845. + +FRIEND HARRIS:--As you are a stranger to the associative ideas, and +have but little knowledge of our life here, no doubt many questions +arise in your mind that you wish answered, and might be answered by me +if I knew what they were; but knowing what questions usually appear +most prominent to the average mind, I will try my hand at a few of them +as they present themselves to me. Number one is, What were my first +impressions of the idea of associative life; that is, did the idea +strike me pleasantly or not? I frankly reply to this that the idea was +decidedly unpleasant. It so connected itself in my mind with some sort +of an "institution," as a great hospital or infirmary or "Dotheboys" +school, where Smikes or incipient Smikes went daily to a restricted +routine, and thrice daily, with the rest of imprisoned souls, to the +special amount of grub and rations provided by some personal or +impersonal Squeers, that I could not but at once reply to the person +speaking of it that I should not like any such institution. + +The next question is, How did my mind change on this subject? I answer, +by reflection and continued conversation with those who were intimate +with the ideas. Mark this: _There is nothing so absurd as the first +presentation of great facts to the mind;_ the greater the fact, the +greater its apparent absurdity, and the greater will be our hate or +want of welcome to it if it runs contrary to our preconceived ideas. + +Every visible thing is presented to the retina of the eye, the +looking-glass of the brain, upside down, and it is by study that begins +at birth, and is finished ere remembrance commences, that the child of +God and man is able to detect the true relation of material things to +himself. We have not yet learned the importance or significance of this +arrangement, but why may not we find in future investigations that the +mental vision is governed by the same law, and that thoughts strike the +brain or mental sensorium in the same inverted way? So universally do +law and life differ from their semblances, that it appears to me to be +one of our _supreme duties_ to learn to _reverse primitive ideas._ + +A question also comes to you in this wise: How could one make up his +mind to associate with all sorts of people that they might meet in one +of these "Communities"? A man in the ordinary chances of life has to +meet all sorts of persons, does he not? Ignorant dependents are in your +house, sleeping under your roof. Your tradesmen may be rude, unkind and +unlettered. Passing from your door you jostle, it may be, the murderer +and highwayman on the street; you enter a car, and the driver's breath +is perhaps reeking from his last night's debauch; you sit, possibly, +between the pickpocket on one side and the patient yet uncured from +some epidemic on the other. You pass to your business through a street +full of roughs, and in your own store are men wishing you to die that +they may take your place, seeking every opportunity to overreach you; +and then wonder if I smile when you ask me how _I_ could "mix up." + +In reply to me, you may say that the relation is different; that you do +not take these persons to your table and associate with them as one is +obliged to in one of your "Associations." It is true that you may not +sit at meat with these especial persons; but how many live at hotels +where the next neighbor at table, to whom, if you are a gentleman, you +show politeness, is entirely unknown to you, and may be a swindler, +cheat or knave. But you associate with him only as much as it is +_necessary_ for you to do; and that is just as much as you are obliged +to do in an Association, and no more. It does not follow because I sit +at meat here at Brook Farm with a hundred, I have intimate social +relations with all of them. On the contrary, there are those to whom I +seldom speak unless to give them a passing salutation, and some who are +civilly disposed, who do no more, or as much, to me. + +In a society of which you might be a member, with a full privilege to +assist in its organization, you will be better able to choose those of +congenial qualities for associates than you ever can in your present +position, so that your life, after a while, may be select in its chosen +companions, and a great deal more so in its general social features +than now. + +Since I came here I find my ideas all changed in relation to this +subject. Instead of the yoke that I felt would be on me, I find +freedom--freedom to speak, to act, and a truly self-imposed government. +The yoke I expected to find _is_ very easy and the burden is light. I +enjoy my life and home. We have not much of worldly goods, but we are +united and we look high up--some say to cloud-land; but I assure you +that on the average there is nowhere a clearer-headed set of persons on +social questions than here, and association is now to me the most +beautiful thing on earth. The life and ideas are all one with harmony. +Surely is it not better for me to begin life this way than with doubt +and distrust of my fellows? Doubt begets doubt; faith begets faith; +action begets action. If we can get enough persons to follow us, we can +prove whether our ideas are true or not. Surely the dull, monotonous +life of "religious communities" like the Moravians, Shakers, Rappites +and others find followers; why not this bright, happy, cheering, frank +life of ours? + +We are expecting a visit from Horace Greeley soon; I have never seen +him, but we have heaps of strangers coming every day, some quite +distinguished and some plain folks, but the average are wide-awake +people. + +Truly your friend, + +JOHN C. FOSTER. + + +_Letter on Social Equality._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Sept. 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR SISTER: Do not think that the great minds here teach _social +equality_, as many seem to think they do. To hear outsiders talk one +would imagine that the leaders want that all should be of the same +pattern; that the tall geniuses should be cut down to an average, and +the dwarfs set up on stilts to make them of the same height as the +others. How far from it! + +Added to this indignity, outsiders appear to think that rations are +served as in the army, and that it is an absolute necessity in order to +fulfil some absurd law, that every man, woman and child should sit down +together at the same exact time, and eat the aforesaid rations +together; and also, there being some good and able men here, that they +court connection with weak people of any complexion so as to make a +fair average: and they feel that such conditions, to say the least, are +unnatural; and so would I, if there was truth in the position, but +there is not a particle. It oftentimes seems to me that people take a +sort of pleasure in misrepresenting facts, or seem to have a +satisfaction in thinking that they know about as much as the average +person, and that it would be a sin to know a little more. They are +pardoned for their ignorance because nearly, if not all, the social +organizations that have departed from the common customs of society and +have formed "communities" have striven for equality of property rights +and society rights, and often for sameness in dress and religious +ceremonies. This is the nut that all persons who look superficially at +us and at the community system, find hard to crack. They feel that if a +person has an ambition to be more than another, to desire more, to +desire to wear a different garment and pray differently or worship +differently, they should have the inherent right to do so. + +And this is the feeling that these common-sense people, these +intelligent people of Brook Farm who organized this society, have and +believe in, and they have tried to arrange all their laws and customs +to conform to these evident truths. And also, they never would have +adopted any of the formulas or ideas of Fourier, had they not believed +his Industrial Phalanxes allowed all the variety of social conditions +that make a true society or social order. No attempts ever undertaken +had the sanction of Fourier, because they had not the proper number of +persons to make a start with. "By no means," said Fourier, "attempt to +organize a phalanx with less than four hundred persons; that is the +very least number you can have and have a sufficient number of +characters to produce anything like harmony." His idea was, that from +fifteen to eighteen hundred persons would be the true number. + +The Brook Farmers have never preached social _equality_, but social +_rights_. Social _equality_ is a thing that comes from individual +ability, and is never positively fixed, but relative, because there are +talents superior and inferior mingled in each human being, and the king +may wonder how the cook put the apples in the dumplings. With the +larger number of individuals stated, a greater chance is given to find +"mates" and "chums," and the less likelihood there would be in the +imperfectly organized societies of rude contact--for who could doubt +that all such societies, even the very best, would be imperfect for +generations to come? + +I take it that this is the gist of the reason why the so-called social +equality is so repulsive to theorists who have not comprehended the +great difference between social _equality_ and social _rights_. Once +and for all, I do not believe, we do not believe, in social equality; +but we do believe that societies can be established in such a manner as +to secure in a large degree the rights of all, and be perfectly +practicable, and that in time they will develop into true harmony. + +As ever your sincere + +BROTHER CHARLIE. + + + + +_Religious Views._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., June 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR FRIEND:--In reply to your question as to what the religious +views of the Brook Farmers are, I might, if I wished to be curt, say +that they are such as you see by their lives. I am aware, however, that +such a reply will not exactly suit you, and that you really mean what +are their creeds, as, are they all Baptists, Trinitarians, Unitarians, +or what not? And I answer you that I find here those who were brought +up in every kind of belief; some who are from the Roman Catholic +Church; some from the Jewish; some Trinitarians; some Unitarians; some +from the Swedenborgian Church; some who are Liberals; some who are +called "Come-Outers," and Mr. P., who professes to be, and is more like +an infidel than any other man I ever saw. + +They call some of the residents here "Transcendentalists." You may +judge from the name that they must be either very good or very bad +people, but they represent people of education who are a little "high +stilted" in their religious views, and do not take in all the wonderful +Mosaic traditions. At least, this is as near as I can explain it to +you. It is the fashion to call every one who has any independent +notions a Transcendentalist, but I do not know who invented the name or +first applied it. + +The people here do not dispute on religious creeds; they are too busy. +They work together, dine and sup together year in and year out in +intimate social relation, and do not either have angry disputes, or +quarrels about creeds or anything else. On the contrary, I am much +surprised at the earnest inquiry that is often made into the beliefs of +others, or rather into the groundwork or foundation from which the +churches sprung which have different tenets from their own. + +But the majority are Unitarian in their belief. Mr. Ripley, Mr. Dwight, +Mr. Dana and Mr. Cabot, with a majority of the ladies, lean that way. +Dr. Lazarus and his handsome sister are of or from the Jewish faith, +whilst Mr. Hastings leans towards Romanism and Jean Pallisse is +Catholic; and by the way, I never until I came here had any sympathy +with the symbols of that church, but the intelligent persons by whom I +have been surrounded have explained the great beauty of them to +me--persons who are not and never can be Romanists any more than +myself. Dr. Lazarus has posted me on the Jewish symbols, and Fanny M. +and her mother have brought forward the great beauty of the +Swedenborgian doctrines. + +All Mr. Ripleys's writings on social subjects breathe a religious air. +It is true they are not creedal, but his idea is that every act of life +should be from a true and earnest spirit, and that this is the +substance of all creeds; and strange to say to you, who believe that +Associations like ours have a levelling effect, those who have their +faiths fixed, say, "I think more of the symbols of my church than ever, +since I came here." + +"I am a Jew, but a liberal, understanding Jew," says one. + +"I am a Catholic, but I am a liberalized Catholic," says another. + +"I am a Swedenborgian, but my belief liberates me from the crudities of +Swedenborg," say others. + +"I look from the centre outward as never before. We all see how the +forms of our churches were intended for good, and we all see how many +of them have been prostituted. When I go from here I shall respect your +forms and ceremonies because you have taught me the meanings of them." + +Is this definite enough for a hasty answer? The lesson I have most +taken to heart is that by examining with respect the many different +faiths, we gain a higher idea of a Being who has an exhaustless variety +in his attributes. + +As ever yours, + +C. J. THOMAS. + + + + +APPENDIX. + +PART II. + + +APPLICANTS' LETTERS AND MR. RIPLEY'S REPLIES. + +[Copies of some of these letters and other documents from the originals +were used by permission, in preparing the "Life of George Ripley."] + +_From a Theological Student._. + +LONGMEADOW, Feb. 25, 1845. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Probably you have forgotten the Andover student who spent +Thanksgiving with you a year ago, and who made you a short call last +September. But he has not forgotten Brook Farm. I write now for the +purpose of asking a single question. Are you so full that it will be +impossible for you to take one more in the course of a few weeks? + +I recollect you asked me last fall if I intended to go to preaching +against sin in the church. I agree with you, sir, that there is +emphatically sin in the church that ought to be preached against, if +anywhere. But the truth is I do not see as much sin either in the +church or out of it as my theological teachers have endeavored to +persuade me there is. Besides, I think that preaching against it has +been proved to be a very ineffectual way of rooting out what sin there +is. Indeed, from the very nature of the case, it seems to me that +telling men once a week, at arm's length, that they are doing very +wrong and will be eternally punished unless they do differently, is not +quite what is needed for improving their character and condition. For +this reason, and because my faith in other respects also is not +sufficiently orthodox, I have braced myself as well as I could against +the urgent importunities of my friends, and refused to take a license. + +My strongest sympathies are with the cause in which you are laboring, +and I am not wholly without hope that I shall yet find something to do +in it. I am utterly alone here. I think often of what Carlyle says, +"Invisible yet impenetrable walls as of enchantment divided me from all +living." + +Will you do me the kindness, sir, to answer the inquiry I have made of +you as soon as convenient? + +Yours most respectfully, + +D. B. COLTON. + + +_Letter from a Young Man._ + +COLCHESTER, CT., Nov. 1, 1843. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +SIR: My ideas of the principles of Industrial Association have been +obtained by reading the New York _Tribune_. I am convinced that these +principles are the elements out of which may be constructed that true +social order which shall develop man's physical well-being, and call +forth the mental and moral faculties of the soul. + +My intention is to join some association of the kind now forming or +already in operation. Your Community has been spoken of as one of the +first and best in the country. My object in writing to you is to +ascertain the peculiar nature of this organization and management, the +terms of membership--the amount of capital required, or whether one +without capital would be received--and whether a young man of the +following description would find opportunity to _work_ and receive a +_fair_ remuneration for his labor. + +What I can _do_ you can judge. I am twenty-five years of age, have +lived eight years in New York, six years in one of the best wholesale +dry goods houses there. Brought up at this place a mechanic and farmer, +and am now engaged in wagon making and blacksmithing, for which I don't +get a red cent beyond a good living. + +The capital that I intended to invest in Association gone to Davy +Jones' locker in the wreck of the commercial world. + +An answer to these few inquiries would much oblige + +Your obedient servant, + +HORATIO N. OTIS. + + +_Reply to Preceding Letter._ + +[The preceding letter has the following draft of a reply to it on a +letter sheet in the handwriting of Mr. Ripley.] + +MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 1st inst. is this day received. I dare say +that you have received a correct impression of our establishment from +the article in the _Tribune_. We are laboring with cheerfulness and +hope, in the midst of great obstacles, for the organization of society +and the benefit of man. Whoever wishes to join us must be willing to +make great sacrifices; to endure severe toil patiently; to live in +comparative poverty; to suffer many deprivations for the sake of +realizing justice and charity in the social state. + +We are at present on a small scale, but we are making arrangements to +enlarge our number and our branches of industry. We should like to +establish your branch of business, and could do so to advantage with an +efficient and skilful workman and a small increase of capital. An +answer to the following questions will decide whether we can have any +further negotiations with you:---- + +1. Are you ready from an interest in the cause of Association to endure +the sacrifices which all persons must suffer? + +2. Could you by yourself, or your friends, command a few hundred +dollars sufficient to start your business? + +3. Could you, without help, make and iron off ox carts, horse carts, +one horse wagons, etc., in a style that would ensure their sale in the +neighborhood of Boston? Can you shoe horses and oxen? + +4. Are you single or married? + +5. In fine, have you confidence that by your manual labor in the +branches you have mentioned, you could do more than earn your living in +Association? + +I shall be happy to hear from you as soon as convenient. I am + +Yours truly, + +GEORGE RIPLEY. + + +_A Model Questioner--a Woman._ + +UTICA, Jan. 18, 1844. SIR: I have the happiness of being acquainted +with a lady who has some knowledge of you; from whose representations I +am encouraged to hope that you will not only excuse the liberty I +(being a stranger) thus take in addressing you, but will also kindly +answer a number of questions I am desirous of being informed upon +relative to the society for social reform to which you belong. + +I have a daughter (having five children) who, with her husband, much +wishes to join a society of this kind. They have had thoughts of +engaging with a society now forming in Rochester, but their friends +advise them to go to one that has been some time in operation, because +those connected with it will be able to speak with certainty as to +whether the working of the system in any way realizes the theory. The +first question I would put is,---- + +1. Have you room in your association to admit the above family? + +2. And if so, upon what terms would they be received? + +3. Would a piano-forte, which two years ago cost three hundred and +fifty dollars, be taken at its present value in payment for shares? + +4. Would any household furniture be taken in the same way? + +5. Do you carry out Mr. Fourier's idea of diversity of employment? + +6. How many members have you at this time? + +7. Do the people (generally speaking) appear happy? + +8. Does the system work well with the children? + +9. Would a young man (mechanic of unexceptionable character) be +received having no capital? + +10. Have you more than one church, and if so what are its tenets? + +11. Have parties opportunities of enjoying any other religion? + +12. What number of hours generally employed in labor? + +13. What chance for study? + +14. Do you meet with society suitable to _your taste?_ + +Although my questions are so numerous that I fear tiring you, yet I +still feel that I may have omitted some inquiry of importance. If so +will you do me the favor to _supply the deficiency?_ + +Please to answer my questions by number, as they are put. + +Hoping you will write as soon as possible, and do me the kindness I ask, + +I remain, + +Yours respectfully, + +A. HUDSON. + + +_From a Minister._ + +NORTH BRAMFORD, CONN., June 1, 1843. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR:--I have an earnest and well matured desire to join your +community, with my family, if I can do it under satisfactory +circumstances--I mean satisfactory to all parties. + +I am pastor of the First Congregational Church in this town. My +congregation is quiet, and in many respects very pleasant; but I have +felt that my views of late are not sufficiently in accordance with the +forms under which I have undertaken to conduct the ministry of +Christian truth. This want of accordance increases, and I feel that a +crisis is at hand. I must follow the light that guides me, or renounce +it to become false and dead. The latter I cannot do. + +I have thought of joining your association ever since its commencement. +Is it possible for me to do so under satisfactory circumstances? I have +deep and, I believe, an intelligent sympathy with your idea. I have a +wife and four children--the oldest ten, the youngest seven years old. +Our habits of life are very simple, very independent of slavery to the +common forms of "gig-manity," and our bodies have not been made to +waste and pine by the fashionable follies of this generation. It is our +creed that life is greater than all forms, and that the soul's life is +diviner than _convenances_ of fashion. + +As to property, we can bring you little more than ourselves. But we can +bring a hearty good-will to work, and in work we have some skill. I +have unimpaired health, and an amount of muscular strength beyond what +ordinarily falls to the lot of mortals. In the early part of my life I +labored on a farm, filling up my leisure time with study, until I +entered my present profession. My hands have some skill for many +things, and if I join you I wish to live a true life. + +My selfish aims are two: first, I wish to be under circumstances where +I may live truly; and second, and chiefly, I wish to do the best thing +I can for my children. + +Be so good as to reply to this at your earliest convenience. + +Yours sincerely, + +JOHN D. BALDWIN. + +_From an Ohioan._ + +CHEVIOT, HAMILTON CO., O., SEPT. 23,1845. + +_Mr. Ripley_, + +MY DEAR SIR:--I have been looking somewhat into your plan of +Association, and have read carefully Godwin's "Popular View of the +Doctrines of Charles Fourier." I see much that I admire and some things +that I disapprove in Fourier's views. His views on marriage and his +ideas of a future state may do harm to his system of Association: +first, in exciting prejudice against it, and so preventing a fair +experiment; and secondly, in being adopted by friends of Association in +their admiration of their great master. + +His views in respect to love are, to my mind, exceedingly +exceptionable, and the idea of making provision in Association for +those whose love is inconstant, _appears to me contrary to all sound +philosophy._ A vicious constitution ought never to be fostered by +indulgence. But I really hope that your Association, which I presume +will be the model one for this country, will be careful to reject the +exceptionable morality of the French teacher, and while you adopt his +practical scheme in its worthy features, will also make it manifest +that you esteem Jesus Christ as the true Master. + +I may say that the more I compare the principles of Association adopted +by you, with the general state of society, the more I admire the former +and become dissatisfied with the latter. I feel great anxiety for your +success. I feel deeply anxious that the friends of Association should +be students of the gospel of Christ, that care might be taken to carry +out the glorious doctrines of the Son of God. I do not mean +sectarianism. I mean that religion, that pure morality, that +spirituality which Jesus Christ exhibited in his own life; not the +religion of the _ascetic_, but the social, the benevolent, the +philanthropic, the Godward aspirations of the spiritual man. + +My wife and myself often converse about the propriety of uniting with +you. We become disgusted with the social arrangements with which we are +connected. In worldly society we mourn over the outbreaking vices not +only of the low, but of those who are highest in rank; and when we seek +satisfaction of mind and heart in the church, lo! even there +selfishness rules supreme, and a profession of religion covers up the +meanest propensities of the sanctimonious worshipper. I cry out, "Help, +Lord! for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the +children of men." + +We desire to know through your own candid view of your prospects, as +well as present condition, whether we may be justified in so disposing +our affairs as to ultimately join your Association. At present I am +laboring on my farm, near Cincinnati, having no definite plan of future +action. + +Please write me definitely upon what terms we may join you, how much I +must put into the Association to secure the support of my family and +myself--it being understood that we take hold as the rest of you do. +Besides my wife I have a son sixteen years of age, another eleven, a +third seven and a daughter four. We are all healthy, and I believe are +about as well disposed as most families to live by our own personal +exertions. + +Yours very respectfully, + +WILLIAM H. BRISBANE. + +_Verbatim Letter._ + +BOSTON MASS. Feb. 23 1844. + +_Mr. Ripley_ DIR SIR I was requsted to pit the following on paper for +the consideration of your society. R. H. wife and four children the +oldest ten the youngest thre the two eldest boys, the two youngest +girles. Furniture wile consist of thre beds and bedding one bedstead +one tabel and workstand six or eight chairs crockery ware &c. Tooles +and machinery as follows 1 planing machine 1 upright boaring machine 1 +circular saw, irons for an upright saw morticing machine 1 turning +lathe and belting 1 doz of hand screws 1 copper pot to make varnish in, +two dimejons 3-5 gls. each for varnish and oil tooles for cutting bench +screws &c likewise 1 cow 3 cosset sheep 1 yew & 2 wethers the cow 11 +years old and little lame in one foot otherways a veryry good cow, also +a verry light handcart. There are other articles not mentioned perhaps +that might be usful to the Association that would be thrown in for the +benefit of all. + +The Association can consider the above articles and select wat articles +would be usful or beneficial and let me know their action thereon at +the next meeting of the Association If I should be called to visit my +family before the next meeting you will pleas direct a line to me. + +Yours-- + +ROBERT DAY. + +The Brook Farm wits would say that the writer of the above letter +should go to college "for a _spell_." + +_Seeking Success in Life._ + +LOCKPORT, Oct. 28, 1842. + +DEAR FRIENDS, if I may so call you: I read in the New York _Tribune_ a +piece taken from the _Dial_, headed "The West Roxbury Community." Now +what I want to know is, can I and my children be admitted into your +society, _and be better off than we are here?_ I have enough of the +plainest kind to eat and wear. I have no _home_ but what we hire from +year to year. I have _no property_ but movables, and not a cent to +spare when the year comes round. I have _three children_, two boys and +one girl: the oldest fourteen, the youngest nine. Now I want to educate +them. How shall I do it in the country? There is no chance but ordinary +schools. To move into the village I could not bring the year round, and +the danger they would be exposed to without a father to restrain their +wanderings, would be an undertaking more than I dare attempt. + +Now if you should presume to let me come, where can I live? Can our +industry and economy clothe us for the year? Can I keep a cow? How can +I be supplied with fire in that _dear place?_ How can I _pay my school +bills?_ How can I find all the necessary requisites for my children to +advance in learning? If I should wish to leave in two or three or five +years, could I and mine, if I paid my way whilst there? If you should +let me come, and I _think best to go, how shall I get there?_ What +would be my _best and cheapest route?_ + +How should I proceed with what I have here, sell all off or bring a +part? I have three beds and bedding, one cow and ordinary things enough +to keep house. My children are all called tolerable scholars. My +daughter is the youngest; _the neighbors call her an interesting +child._ I have no pretensions to make; my only object is to _enjoy the +good of the society_ and have my children _educated and accomplished._ + +Am I to send my boys off to work alone, or will they have a _kind +person_ to say, "_Come boys_," and _relieve me from the heavy task of +bringing up my boys_ with nothing to _do it with?_ + +If your religion has a name I should like well enough to know it; if +not, and the substance is love to God and good-will to men, my mind is +well enough satisfied. I have reflected on this subject ever since I +read the article alluded to, and now I want you to write me _every +particular;_ then if you and I think best, in the spring I will come to +you. We are none of us what may be called weakly. I am forty-six years +old; able to do as much every day as to spin what is called a day's +work--not that I expect you spin much there, only that is the amount of +my strength as it now holds out. + +I should wish to seek _intelligence_, as you must know 1 lack greatly, +and I _cannot endure the thought_ my children must lack as greatly, +whilst multitudes are going so far in advance, no better qualified by +nature than they. I want you to _send me quite a number of names of +your leading characters_. If it should seem strange to you that I make +the demand, I will explain it to you when I get there. I want you to +answer _every item_ of this letter and as much more as _can have any +bearing on my mind_, either way, whether you accept this letter _kindly +or not_. I want you to write an answer without delay! Are there +meetings for _us to attend?_ Do you have singing schools? + +I do thus far feel friendly to your society. + +Direct your letter to, etc. + +M. R. JOHNSON. + +_A Southern Applicant._ + +ALEXANDRIA, BENTON CO., ALA., July 13, 1845. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Will you step aside for a moment from the many duties, the +interesting cares and soul-stirring pleasures of your enviable +situation, and read a few lines from a stranger? They come to you, not +from the cold and sterile regions of the North, nor from the luxuriant +yet untamed wilds of the West, but from the bright and sunny land where +cotton flowers bloom, where nature has placed her signet of beauty and +fertility. Yes, sir; the science that the immortal Fourier brought to +light has reached the far South, and I trust has warmed many hearts, +and interested many minds; but of ours alone will I write. + +It is to me the dawn of a brighter day than has ever yet risen upon the +world--a day when man shall be redeemed from his more than "Egyptian +bondage" and stand erect in moral, intellectual and physical beauty. + +I have lived forty years in the world, and divided that time between +the eastern, middle and southern states--have seen life as exhibited, +in city and country, have mingled with the most intelligent and with +the unlettered rustic--have marked society in a variety of phases, and +find, amid all, that selfishness has warped the judgment, chilled the +affections and blunted all the finer feelings of the soul. I am weary +and worn with the heartless folly, the wicked vanity and shameless +iniquity which the civilized world everywhere presents. Long have I +sighed for something higher, nobler, holier than aught found in this +world, and have sometimes longed to lay my body down where the weary +rest, that my spirit might dwell in perfect harmony. But since the +beautiful science of unity has dawned upon my mind, my heart has loved +to cherish the bright anticipations of hope, and I see in the dim +distance the realization of all my wishes. I see a generation coming on +the arena of action bearing on their brows the impress of their noble +origin, and cultivating in their hearts the pure and exalted feelings +that should ever distinguish those who bear the image of their Maker. +Association is destined to do much for poor, suffering humanity--to +elevate, refine, redeem the race and restore the purity and love that +made the bowers of Eden so surpassingly beautiful. You, sir, and your +associates are pioneers in a noble reform. May the blessing of God +attend you. + +I am anxious to be with you for various reasons. The first is: I have +two little daughters whom I wish to bring up amid healthful influences, +with healthful and untrammelled bodies, pure minds and all their young +affections and sympathies clustering around their hearts. I never wish +their minds to be under the influence of the god of this +generation--fashion--nor their hearts to become callous to the +sufferings of their fellows. I never wish them to regard labor as +degrading, nor poverty as a crime. Situated as I am I cannot rear them +in health and purity, and, therefore, I am anxious to remove them from +the baneful influences that surround them. Again: I look upon labor as +a blessing, and feel that every man and woman should spend some portion +of each day in healthful employment. It is absolutely necessary to +health, and is also a source of enjoyment, even in isolation; how much +would that pleasure be increased could I have several kindred spirits +around me with whom I could interchange thought, and whose feelings and +desires flow in the same channel as my own! O, sir! I must live, labor +and _die_ in Association. + +Again: my heart is pained with the woes of my fellows--with the +distressing poverty and excessive labor which are bearing to the grave +a portion of the human family. Gladly would I bear my part in raising +them to a higher and happier condition; and how can I better do this +than by uniting myself with the noble reformers of Brook Farm, where +caste is thrown aside, and rich and poor constitute one family. I have +not a large fortune, but sufficient to live comfortable anywhere. A +large part of it is now invested in houses and lands in Georgia. Such +is the low price of cotton that real estate cannot be sold at this time +without a serious sacrifice. Most of my Georgia property rents for more +than the interest of its cost at 8 per cent. I have also houses and +land in this state, but cannot for the above named reason find a +purchaser. Therefore, if I go into Association I shall be obliged to +leave some of my possessions unsold, and be content to receive the rent +until I can effect a sale. + +I have no negroes--thank God. Now if you are not full at Brook Farm, +and do not object to myself, wife and two daughters, one four years and +the other six months old, presenting ourselves as candidates for +admission, and $2500 or $3000 will be sufficient for an initiation fee, +I shall, as soon as I can arrange my affairs, be with you. + +I will thank you to write to me, informing me with how much ready cash, +with an income of $500 or $600 per year, I can be received. Mrs. Clarke +and myself will wish to engage daily in labor. We both labored in our +youth--we wish to resume it again. + +Very respectfully, + +John Clarke. + + +The following letter is in manuscript without date and is + +_One of Mr. Ripley's Replies_. + +Dear Sir:--It gives me the most sincere pleasure to reply to the +inquiries proposed in your favor of the 3d inst. I welcome the extended +and increasing interest which is manifested in our apparently humble +enterprise, as a proof that it is founded in nature and truth, and as a +cheering omen of its ultimate success. Like yourself, we are seekers of +universal truth. We worship only reality. We are striving to establish +a mode of life which shall combine the enchantments of poetry with the +facts of daily experience. This we believe can be done by a rigid +adherence to justice, by fidelity to human rights, by loving and +honoring man as man, and rejecting all arbitrary, factitious +distinctions. + +We are not in the interest of any sect, party or coterie; we have faith +in the soul of man, in the universal soul of things, and trusting to +the might of a benignant Providence which is over all, we are here +sowing in weakness a seed which will be raised in power. But I need not +dwell on these general considerations with which you are doubtless +familiar. + +In regard to the connection of a family with us, our arrangements are +liberal and comprehensive. We are not bound by fixed rules which apply +to all cases. The general principle we are obliged to adhere to rigidly +is not to receive any persons who would increase the expenses more than +the revenue of the establishment. Within the limits of this principle +we can make any arrangement which shall suit particular cases. + +A family with resources sufficient for self-support, independent of the +exertion of its members, would find a favorable situation with us for +the education of its children, and for social enjoyment. An annual +payment of $1000 would probably cover the expenses of board and +instruction, supposing that no services were rendered to diminish the +expense. An investment of $5000 would more than meet the original +outlay required for a family of eight persons; but in that case an +additional appropriation would be needed, either of productive labor or +cash, to meet the current expenditures. I forward you herewith a copy +of our Prospectus, from which you will perceive that the whole expense +of a pupil, without including board in vacations, is $250 per annum; +but in case of one or more pupils remaining with us for a term of +years, and assisting in the labor of the establishment, a deduction of +$1 or $2 per week would be made, according to the services rendered, +until such time as their education being so far completed, they might +defray all their expenses by their labor. + +In the case of your son fifteen years of age, it would be necessary for +him to reside with us for three months at least, and if at the end of +that time his services should be found useful, he might continue by +paying $150 or $200 per annum, according to the value of his labor, and +if he should prove to have a gift for active industry, in process of +time, he might defray his whole expenses, complete his education and be +fitted for practical life. + +With the intelligent zeal which you manifest in our enterprise, I need +not say that we highly value your sympathy. I should rejoice in any +arrangement which might bring us into closer relations. It is only from +the faith and love of those whose hearts are filled with the hopes of a +better future for humanity, that we look for the building up of our +"City of God." So far we have been prospered in our highest +expectations. We are more and more convinced of the beauty and justice +of our mode of life. We love to breathe this pure, healthy atmosphere; +we feel that we are living in the bosom of nature, and all things seem +to expand under the freedom and truth which we worship in our hearts. + +I should regret to think that this was to be our last communication +with each other. May I not hope to hear from you again--and with the +sincere wish that your views of the philosophy of life may bring you +still nearer to us, I am, with great respect, + +Sincerely your friend, + +Geo. Ripley. + + +_From a Lady Teacher_. + +New York, March 18, 1843. + +Dear Sir: For the last ten years I have been employed as a teacher in a +boarding school in this city. A year ago the lady with whom I was +associated died, and though I do not love business as such, there were +many and weighty reasons why it seemed right for me to commence a +school of my own. I have had during the winter past a school of +twenty-three pupils consisting of children and youth. My success +hitherto in teaching, in my own judgment, has been dependent on an +earnestness of manner, a sincere love of knowledge and a deep interest +in the welfare of the young. I know how to work and would not fear to +undertake any kind of household occupation which devolves upon woman. + +Early in life I embraced a religious faith, and, seeking to obey God +according to my light, connected myself with a church. Years have +passed away; experience, reflection and light from other minds have +produced a radical change in my views. I stand in the eye of the world +as one of a sect, but my spirit does not recognize the union. I am, +from my position, subject to painful restraints. I cannot be just to +the truth which is in me. The alternative, I need not say, with me is +to hold fast to the popular faith or give up my bread. + +I am much interested in those ideas which your Association is +attempting to find a realization of. The state of things resulting from +a full expansion of the principles upon which your society is based +would seem to meet many spiritual wants. I can understand that so high +an aim can be reached only through lowliness of life. The prospect of +becoming one day a co-worker in your cause is very agreeable to me. I +should like to know that I may be permitted to cherish the idea. + +With much respect, + +R. Prentiss. + + +_Application for an Unfortunate_. + +[The person who indited the following was a friend of the organization, +and probably saw as well as anyone the absurdity of making a +reformatory institution of the great experiment, but from kindly and +personal considerations put the question and the best face on the +matter that he could.] + + +New York, Sept. 14, 1845. + +My Dear Friend: I have been applied to by a very respectable widow lady +of this city, at the instance of Dr. ---- (who it seems is fast getting +over his want of sympathy for Fourier and his disciples), to see +whether you will not convert Brook Farm into a sort of hospital for the +cure of young men who won't mind their mothers. But, as the case is a +serious one, I must treat it seriously as it deserves. + +The lady is a Mrs. ----, who is connected with one or two of our +wealthiest families, and who has a son about twenty-five years of age +whom she desires to get a place with you. + +He is said to be a person of the most kind and amiable disposition, and +willing to do the hardest kind of work, but unfortunately he is +surrounded by evil companions in this city, who draw him into bad +habits. His mother is exceedingly distressed by his weakness, and has +been counselled to send him to sea, but Dr. ---- has advised her to +come to me and ask whether he could not be taken on trial at Brook +Farm, in order to ascertain what might be the effect of good +influences. The young man is well educated, a good accountant, has +worked considerably on a farm, and is exceedingly anxious to escape +from his present position, where his _infirmity of will_ betrays him +under temptation. His general disposition and deportment are excellent, +and under proper circumstances would make an estimable member of +society. + +If you have room for him, and are willing to undertake his case, his +mother can contribute a few dollars a week toward paying his board, +until it shall have been determined whether his longer stay would be +mutually satisfactory. Should he be able to stay, no doubt his friends +here would raise an amount of capital for him which might be an object +worth considering. + +Very sincerely yours, + +P. Godwin. + + +_Wanted to Speak against Slavery_. + +Collinsville, CT., March 22, 1844. + +Friends: I call all people friends who have for their object the +elevation of the human race and are opposed to all oppression in any +form, who do not wish to build up one class at the expense of the other. + +I have been reading on the subject of Association for the last six +months all the publications I could find, which has pleased me much. I +think it is just such a system that is wanted. Massachusetts being my +native state, and also being acquainted with the vicinity of Roxbury, +which I think is a delightful place, especially in the summer, I +thought that I would write you to inquire if you have an opening for +any more this spring providing I can bring recommendations to your +satisfaction. + +I was brought up a farmer; the last twelve years I have been to work in +a scythe shop. I have a wife--no children. My wife is a tailoress, +makes all kinds of men's clothing and is acquainted with all kinds of +housework. We are both forty-two years of age. I shall want to buy four +hundred dollars' worth of stock and pay for it when I join. If I am +rightly informed of your system, it does not interfere with anyone's +religion or his politics. Being an abolitionist, I shall want the +privilege of voting and speaking against slavery in every respect. +Please write me as soon as you receive this and inform me what +recommendations will be required and all other particulars. + +Respectfully yours, James C. Smith. + + +_From a Wesleyan_. + +Trinity, Newfoundland, June 30, 1845. + +Sir: Having been informed by Mr. Brisbane that an establishment on the +united interest principle has been commenced near Boston, I hasten to +address you to inform you that for some years I have felt impressed +with its superiority to the individual system; and have been, and still +am, anxious to engage heart and soul in so good a cause. I have been in +this country between four and five years, and have a comfortable +situation; but feeling confident of the ultimate advantage of an +Association, and feeling assured that I could render myself valuable in +such an establishment, I prefer casting my lot with those who feel +desirous of acting for the restoration of man. + +I have to inform you that from my youth I have chiefly engaged in the +dry goods business, ironmongery, grocery, etc., and have a general +knowledge of trade. I am of industrious habits and with an active turn +of mind, and together with my wife, I may justly say, few will be found +more useful and desirous of acting for the general good. I am about +forty-two years of age, and my wife is a little older; my son is +fourteen, and we are fully prepared for active life. I have no +knowledge of any mechanical trade, but am fond of it as well as +agriculture and gardening; I possess a fair share of health; am fond of +writing and bookkeeping; only occasionally disposed to gaiety, but +rather for scientific relaxation; not fanatical in religion, but a +regarder of the great commandments and charitable for the feelings and +the convictions of others. + +I have, sir, given you an unvarnished statement with regard to myself, +and I should feel obliged by your informing me at your earliest +convenience if myself, wife and son can be admitted by my investing two +hundred dollars for the furnishing of the apartment assigned to us. Are +there any Wesleyans with you, and what is the distance to the Wesleyan +chapel?--as my wife is a member of that body. From what I have learned +from Mr. Brisbane's letter and newspaper he was kind enough to send me, +I should judge your establishment to be such as we could safely and +comfortably join, and I trust you will give me in your answer +additional reason to think so. + +I remain, sir, + +Your obedient servant, + +H. Gawler. + + +_From a Printer_. + +Bangor, ME., Jan. 1, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Dear Sir: While on a visit to Brook Farm Association last August, it +was intimated to me that it was probable, on the completion of the +arrangements then in progress for the accommodation of an additional +number of members, that a printing press might be introduced, a weekly +paper published and something done at the printing business generally; +further, that though there were two or three practical printers in the +Association, yet others in all likelihood would also be required; in +which case, a selection from the number of candidates would be made. +Should it be the intention to adopt the plan, which was then in doubt, +I beg most respectfully to present myself as a candidate for the +acceptance of the Association. + +I am at present situated as foreman of a daily paper in Bangor, and +previous to this time, have had a somewhat varied experience in other +branches of the business. Though now rather favorably located, in the +ordinary acceptation of the term, yet I would prefer a thousand times +mingling even in the struggles of an infant Association, founded upon +what I deem to be substantial principles, than the most desirable +possession in an overgrown and distorted civilization. + +Touching the requisite of character, I believe I can make out a case in +my favor; but with respect to capital--when I say I am a _printer_, I +say also that I am in the predicament of the most of my profession, +with nothing to recommend us but a willing heart and a ready hand; +albeit, if the taking of one share of a hundred dollars will entitle me +to membership, the amount may be forthcoming. + +With sentiment of great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Yours +most obediently, etc., + +George Bayne, Jr. + + +_A Wife's Eloquent Appeal._ + +Kingston, Sept. 5, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Sir: After taking the _Phalanx_ and the _Harbinger_ and visiting Brook +Farm, our attachment and love for associated life has become so strong, +and the idea of our present life so cold and to a benevolent mind so +difficult, that I very much doubt of remaining any longer happy in our +present state. For these reasons I write to inform you that we wish to +make an application to be received as members of--so it looks to +us--your happy Association; and, "delays being dangerous," we would ask +an answer soon to it, as, living on a farm, it is necessary to know +whether we shall dispose of our crops, cattle, etc., in the market, or +store them in barn and cellar for another _lonely_ winter--so my +husband expresses it; though I assure you it is not lonely for lack of +numbers, but he is doubtless expressing the feeling many of us have +experienced of solitude in the midst of a crowd of uncongenial spirits. + +As it is a busy time--we have to work from 5 A.M. until late at night, +with scarce a moment to rest our weary limbs--it is not convenient to +visit you personally; we wish you to return us a written letter stating +whether we can have any encouragement and what are the requirements. +Being strangers to you we would probably need recommendation. + +Thus far I have acted as amanuensis for my husband. Hoping that it may +not offend, I now address you of and from myself. + +Elizabeth Brewster, _for Elisha Brewster._ + + +_Mr. Ripley,_ + +Dear Sir: In the cause my husband urges I would plead. Had I skill I +would do so with all the eloquence ascribed to woman's tongue; nay, +more, had I an angel's tongue tipped with burning eloquence, I would +exert its utmost efforts to urge my husband's suit. I feel deeply that +his present and future earthly happiness depends on what answer may be +received from you. That is saying much, but I believe it is strictly +true. And if his happiness depends on it, surely that of the rest must, +for what happiness does a woman desire but that of those connected with +her? Husband has been for three years a devoted associationist; his +whole heart and mind have been with them and he has ardently desired +the associative life. + +Not so myself. I was willing, it is true, to go anywhere he desired and +would be happy where he was happy, but I dreaded to leave such a +beautiful home, for the place we would leave is no ordinary one. The +prospect from it is considered as almost without a parallel. We have +plenty of fruit, flowers, fine grove and shade trees, in fact +everything to make rural life agreeable and we know how to appreciate a +beautiful location and prospect. Then I have had a fear of being a +pioneer, lest there should be too heavy work or duties imposed or +required of me. Such ideas combined, prevented me from seeing unitary +life as one ought who knows that it is in the form of a heavenly +society, and that as we desire perfection here on earth we must imitate +the heavenly model. + +Since visiting you my fears have given place to an ardent desire to +become one of your Community, not to come as an alien and a stranger +but as a sister in full communion, with a heart full of love and +affection and with a strong desire to act my part fully and to do all +required of me. + +You will find I have great skill and ingenuity in work, understanding +almost all kinds, and have, I am told, a good faculty to plan and +perform it, so I hope that I shall be of real use to you. You will not +think I am trying to flatter you or myself. Husband's idea is this: he +says when people trade they place their commodities in the best light +and speak of their desirable qualities, and this is so much like +trading ourselves off that we have a right to give some idea of +ourselves as an offset for what we expect to receive. + +Mr. Brewster has sound, unbroken health, untiring strength and great +skill and ability to work. He often says he would not go where he could +not work--but he would like more time to read than he gets here. He has +great power and skill in doing heavy work and great patience and +industry in doing small and light work; talents not often combined in +one individual. He is just as handy and skilful in planting and weeding +and planning a flower garden, or in potting plants and tending them, as +in doing the heaviest work. He loves birds and flowers, but _bees_ are +his _hobby_; he loves them as a mother loves her children. If he comes +among you, you must let him have a hive of bees or I fear he would tire +of Association. Ah! a new thought just strikes me. Bees are +_associationists_ and that accounts for his great love of them. + +I cannot believe that you will ever regret the possession of such a +working man. Furthermore, you will rarely find two united with more +willing hearts and hands and more cheerful tempers. We have never been, +so far, either of us unhappy in any situation. Our family is not large; +it consists of three daughters, one of eleven, one eight and the last +three years of age, twenty-fifth of May last--they all have one +birthday. We shall probably bring with us, if you make no objection, a +girl who is bound to us, and there remains three years of unexpired +service--a very stout, strong girl, who loves coarse work and who is +Mr. Brewster's mesmeric subject. + +Mr. Brewster is a lineal descendant of old Elder Brewster, of the fifth +generation on the paternal side and a lateral descendant on the +maternal side. He thinks that accounts for his being so ardent an +associationist, as Elder Brewster started his colony on that plan and +failed--and perhaps this E. Brewster will do the same thing. But +seriously, because the first failed it is no reason that the second +should, for the world was not as well prepared for unitary life then as +now. Mr. Brewster thinks he would rather help you provide for winter +than to be doing the same here. + +May the blessing of Heaven attend you all at Brook Farm. + +E. B. B. BREWSTER. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +PART III. + + +AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF BROOK FARM. + +_From the Dial of January, 1844._ + +Wherever we recognize the principle of progress our sympathies and +affections are engaged. However small may be the innovation, however +limited the effort towards the attainment of pure good, that effort is +worthy of our best encouragement and succor. The institution at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, though sufficiently extensive in respect to number +of persons, perhaps is not to be considered an experiment of large +intent. Its aims are moderate; too humble, indeed, to satisfy the +extreme demands of the age; yet for that reason, probably, the effort +is more valuable, as likely to exhibit a larger share of actual success. + +Though familiarly designated a "Community," it is only so in the +process of eating in commons; a practice at least as antiquated as the +collegiate halls of old England, where it still continues without +producing, as far as we can learn, any of the Spartan virtues. A +residence at Brook Farm does not involve either a community of money, +of opinions or of sympathy. The motives which bring individuals there, +may be as various as their numbers. In fact, the present residents are +divisible into three distinct classes; and if the majority in numbers +were considered, it is possible that a vote in favor of self-sacrifice +for the common good would not be very strongly carried. + +The leading portion of the adult inmates, they whose presence imparts +the greatest peculiarity and the fraternal tone to the household, +believe that an improved state of existence would be developed in +Association, and are therefore anxious to promote it. Another class +consists of those who join with the view of bettering their condition, +by being exempt from some portion of worldly strife. The third portion +comprises those who have their own development or education for their +principal object. + +Practically, too, the institution manifests a threefold improvement +over the world at large, corresponding to these three motives. In +consequence of the first, the companionship, the personal intercourse, +the social bearing, are of a marked and very superior character. There +may possibly to some minds, long accustomed to other modes, appear a +want of homeness and of the private fireside; but all observers must +acknowledge a brotherly and softening condition, highly conducive to +the permanent and pleasant growth of all the better human qualities. If +the life is not of a deeply religious cast, it is at least not inferior +to that which is exemplified elsewhere, and there is the advantage of +an entire absence of assumption and pretence. The moral atmosphere, so +far, is pure; and there is found a strong desire to walk ever on the +mountain tops of life; though taste, rather than piety, is the aspect +presented to the eye. + +In the second class of motives we have enumerated there is a strong +tendency to an important improvement in meeting the terrestrial +necessities of humanity. The banishment of servitude, the renouncement +of hireling labor and the elevation of all unavoidable work to its true +station, are problems whose solution seems to be charged upon +Association; for the dissociate systems have in vain sought remedies +for this unfavorable portion of human condition. It is impossible to +introduce into separate families even one half of the economies which +the present state of science furnishes to man. In that particular, it +is probable that even the feudal system is superior to the civic; for +its combinations permit many domestic arrangements of an economic +character, which are impracticable in small households. In order to +economize labor, and dignify the laborer, it is absolutely necessary +that men should cease to work in the present isolated, competitive +mode, and adopt that of cooeperative union or Association. It is as +false and as ruinous to call any man "master," in secular business, as +it is in theological opinion. Those persons, therefore, who congregate +for the purpose, as it is called, of bettering their outward relations, +on principles so high and universal as we have endeavored to describe, +are not engaged in a petty design, bounded by their own selfish or +temporary improvement. Everyone who is here found giving up the usual +chances of individual aggrandizement, may not be thus influenced; but +whether it be so or not, the outward demonstration will probably be +equally certain. + +In education Brook Farm appears to present greater mental freedom than +most other institutions. The tuition being more heart-rendered, is in +its effects more heart-stirring. The younger pupils, as well as the +more advanced students, are held mostly, if not wholly, by the power of +love. In this particular, Brook Farm is a much improved model for the +oft-praised schools of New England. It is time that the imitative and +book-learned systems of the latter should be superseded or liberalized, +by some plan better calculated to excite originality of thought and the +native energies of the mind. The deeper, kindly sympathies of the +heart, too, should not be forgotten; but the germination of these must +be despaired of under a rigid hireling system. Hence Brook Farm, with +its spontaneous teachers, presents the unusual and cheering condition +of a really "free school." + +By watchful and diligent economy, there can be no doubt that a +community would attain greater pecuniary success than is within the +hope of honest individuals working separately. But Brook Farm is not a +community, and in the variety of motives with which persons associate +there, a double diligence and a watchfulness perhaps, too costly will +be needful to preserve financial prosperity. While, however, this +security is an essential element in success, riches would, on the other +hand, be as fatal as poverty, to the true progress of such an +institution. Even in the case of those foundations which have assumed a +religious character, all history proves the fatality of wealth. The +just and happy mean between riches and poverty is, indeed, more likely +to be attained when, as in this instance, all thought of acquiring +great wealth in a brief time is necessarily abandoned, as a condition +of membership. On the other hand, the presence of many persons, who +congregate merely for the attainment of some individual end, must weigh +heavily and unfairly upon those whose hearts are really expanded to +universal results. + +As a whole, even the initiative powers of Brook Farm have, as is found +almost everywhere, the design of a life much too objective, too much +derived from objects in the exterior world. The subjective life, that +in which the soul finds the living source and the true communion within +itself, is not sufficiently prevalent to impart to the establishment +the permanent and sedate character it should enjoy. Undeniably, many +devoted individuals are there; several who have, as generously as +wisely, relinquished what are considered great social and pecuniary +advantages, and, by throwing their skill and energies into a course of +the most ordinary labors, at once prove their disinterestedness, and +lay the foundation for industrial nobility. + +An assemblage of persons, not brought together by the principles of +community, will necessarily be subject to many of the inconveniences of +ordinary life, as well as to burdens peculiar to such a condition. Now +Brook Farm is at present such an institution. It is not a community; it +is not truly an association; it is merely an aggregation of persons, +and lacks that oneness of spirit, which is probably needful to make it +of deep and lasting value to mankind. It seems, after three years' +continuance, uncertain whether it is to be resolved more into an +educational or an industrial institution, or into one combined of both. + +Placed so near a large city, and in a populous neighborhood, the +original liability for land, etc., was so large as still to leave a +considerable burden of debt. This state of things seems fairly to +entitle the establishment to re-draw from the old world in fees for +education, or in the sale of produce, sufficient to pay the annual +interest of such liabilities. Hence the necessity for a more intimate +intercourse with the trading world, and a deeper involvement in money +affairs than would have attended a more retired effort of the like +kind. To enter into the corrupting modes of the world, with the view of +diminishing or destroying them, is a delusive hope. It will, +notwithstanding, be a labor of no little worth, to induce improvements +in the two grand departments of industry and education. We say +_improvement_ as distinct from _progress_; for with any association +short of community, we do not see how it is possible for an institution +to stand so high above the present world as to conduct its affairs on +principles entirely different from those which now influence men in +general. + +There are other considerations also suggested by a glance at Brook +Farm, which are worthy the attention of the many minds now attracted by +the deeply interesting subject of human association. We are gratified +by observing several external improvements during the past year; such +as a larger and more convenient dining room, a labor saving cooking +apparatus, a purer diet, a more orderly and quiet attendance at the +refections, superior arrangements for industry, and generally an +increased seriousness in respect to the value of the example which +those who are there assembled may constitute to their fellow beings. + +Of about seventy persons now assembled there, about thirty are +children, sent thither for education; some adult persons also place +themselves there chiefly for mental assistance; and in the society +there are only four married couples. With such materials it is almost +certain that the sensitive and vital points of communication cannot +well be tested. A joint-stock company, working with some of its own +members and with others as agents, cannot bring to issue the great +question whether the existence of the individual family is compatible +with the universal family, which the term "Community" signifies. This +is now the grand problem. By mothers it has ever been felt to be so. +The maternal instinct, as hitherto educated, has declared itself so +strongly in favor of the separate fireside, that the association, which +appears so beautiful to the young and unattached soul, has yet +accomplished little progress in the affections of that important +section of the human race--the mothers. With fathers, the feeling in +favor of the separate family is certainly less strong; but there is an +undefinable tie, a sort of magnetic _rapport_, an invisible, +inseverable umbilical cord between the mother and child, which in most +cases circumscribes her desires and ambition to her own immediate +family. + +All the accepted adages and wise saws of society, all the precepts of +morality, all the sanctions of theology, have for ages been employed to +confirm this feeling. This is the chief corner stone of present +society; and to this maternal instinct have, till very lately, our most +heartfelt appeals been made for the progress of the human race, by +means of a deeper and more vital education. Pestalozzi and his most +enlightened disciples are distinguished by this sentiment. And are we +all at once to abandon, to deny, to destroy this supposed stronghold of +virtue? Is it questioned whether the family arrangement of mankind is +to be preserved? Is it discovered that the sanctuary, till now deemed +the holiest on earth, is to be invaded by intermeddling scepticism, and +its altars sacrilegiously destroyed by the rude hands of innovating +progress? + +Here "social science" must be brought to issue. The question of +Association and marriage are one. If, as we have been popularly led to +believe, the individual or separate family is the true order of +Providence, then the associate life is a false effort. If the associate +life is true, then is the separate family a false arrangement. By the +maternal feeling it appears to be decided that the coexistence of both +is incompatible--is impossible. So also say some religious sects. +Social science ventures to assert their harmony. This is the grand +problem now remaining to be solved, for at least the enlightening, if +not for the vital elevation, of humanity. That the affections can be +divided, or bent with equal ardor on two objects so opposed as +universal and individual love, may at least be rationally doubted. +History has not yet exhibited such phenomena in an associate body, and +scarcely, perhaps, in any individual. + +The monasteries and convents, which have existed in all ages, have been +maintained solely by the annihilation of that peculiar affection on +which the separate family is based. The Shaker families, in which the +two sexes are not entirely dissociated, can yet only maintain their +union by forbidding and preventing the growth of personal affection +other than that of a spiritual character. And this, in fact, is not +personal in the sense of individual, but ever a manifestation of +universal affection. Spite of the speculations of hopeful bachelors and +aesthetic spinsters, there is somewhat in the marriage bond which is +found to counteract the universal nature of the affections to a degree +tending at least to make considerable pause, before they can be blended +into one harmony. + +The general condition of married persons at this time is some evidence +of the existence of such doubt in their minds. Were they as convinced +as the unmarried of the beauty and truth of associate life, the +demonstration would be now presented. But might it not be enforced that +the two family ideas really neutralize one another? It is not quite +certain that the human heart cannot be set in two places; that man +cannot worship at two altars? It is only the determination to do what +parents consider the best for themselves and their families, which +renders the o'er populous world such a wilderness of selfhood as it is. +Destroy this feeling, they say, and you prohibit every motive for +exertion. Much truth is there in this affirmation. For to them no other +motive remains, nor indeed to any one else, save that of the universal +good, which does not permit the building up of supposed self-good, and, +therefore, forecloses all possibility of an individual family. + +These observations, of course, equally apply to all the associative +attempts, now attracting so much public attention; and perhaps most +especially to such as have more of Fourier's designs than are +observable at Brook Farm. The slight allusion in all the writers of the +"Phalansterian" class, to the subject of marriage, is rather +remarkable. They are acute and eloquent in deploring woman's oppressed +and degraded position in past and present times, but are almost silent +as to the future. In the meanwhile, it is gratifying to observe the +success which in some departments attend every effort, and that Brook +Farm is likely to become comparatively eminent in the highly important +and praiseworthy attempts to render labor of the hands more dignified +and noble, and mental education more free and loveful. C. L. + + +ASSOCIATIVE ARTICLES. + +_"Association the Body of Christianity" by John S. Dwight._ + +The world has been divided between infidels and bigots. In Association +there will be neither, for it will remove their causes. The framework +of society is false which drives to such extremities. For most +assuredly these opposites proceeded from one common centre, and will +most gladly gravitate back again to that, so soon as the general order +becomes just and genial to the real character and purpose of each +individual soul. + +Unbelief is torment, as much as any obstinate refusing of food, and no +one courts it because he will, but only accepts it because he must. On +the other hand, exclusive religionism has too much consciousness of +secret sympathy with its avowed antipodes, to enjoy itself much better. +They are only opposite forms of the same denial; opposite feelings from +the same great central wrong. They seem to hate each other; it is only +because they are not permitted to embrace: let them transfer their hate +to that which separates them. And what is that? + +It is the want of unity and of all recognition of unity in the material +interests of men. If the material interest of each harmonized with the +material interest of all, as fully as their spiritual interests do, the +immediate result would be that the material and spiritual would +harmonize with one another. Then religion would not have to renounce +the world to save its very life; nor would the believer in natural +reason and the lover of justice cry, "Away with all religion, since it +leaves the world so bad!" + +There are certain instincts and convictions in every human soul which +call for love and truth and justice. There is a revelation from God +which confirms them all. One noble life was all made up of these high +qualities, a present incarnation of these seemingly almost unattainable +ideals, and freely gave itself for man. Some say it was very God; all +acknowledge that such virtue is the divinest thing known, that such +love stands for the Most High, and that to reverence and obey it, is to +obey the very saving principle of human nature; that such obedience, in +fact, is perfect freedom. So that, leaving intellectual dogmas and +theories out of the question, the essence of what is called +Christianity is the natural faith of the human heart, and all men do in +their heart of hearts long to have a Christian spirit and to have that +prevail throughout the world. + +But while the spirit of Christ is unity, the material interests of men +are without unity. In the whole body politic of life, the unity of the +human race is not at all implied. On the contrary, everything +contradicts the idea. Every man in seeking his material interests +becomes the rival and antagonist of every other man. To gain his bread +he must sacrifice friendship, generosity and even honor. He must keep +his convictions of nobleness and justice for a beautiful and holiday +idea; he must consign them to the keeping of religion; and she, like +the gentle wife at home, has careful instructions not to show her +beautiful face in the market place. It is hard; since in the market +place mankind are doomed to spend the most part of their life; and very +many men and women and children _all_ their life, except what nature +claims for sleep. + +If there be no way, then, of realizing the unity of man with man, of +growing into the beauty of Christian love and fellowship, by the very +act which earns us bread; if there be no reconciling of religion with +this worldliness; if there be no possibility of raising in the very +market place the song, "The Lord is in his temple"; if religion calls +us one way and necessity another; if business is to be based on +principles which render ineffectual every prayer for the spirit of love +and charity; if work is the dissevering of all the bonds which thought +and speech and sentiment and blessed dreams and holy influences, with +all the help, too, of God's Holy Spirit, strive to weave;--then is +Christianity impotent, a heavenly voice that mocks mankind. + +But no! As surely as Christ taught the love of God and of the neighbor, +so surely did his prediction imply a change in the material +organization of society which should fit it to be the container of this +heavenly spirit. Did he think to "put new wine into old bottles"? Must +not the spirit of Christianity create unto itself a _body_? It is a +fruitless abstraction until it does. And this, if we read the signs +aright, is the demand of this age. This is the tendency of all social +movements. The material basis of our life, our social and industrial +system, is entirely incompatible with the moral conviction and duties +of this age. Our social economy all represents and preaches +selfishness; but the idea of Christian love, the vision of unity and +brotherhood, is born in the mind, and makes terrible and unendurable +contrast with this state of things. The world is nearly ripe for the +kingdom of heaven--the organization of society precludes it. + +ASSOCIATION is the word that solves the problem. The earnest and +believing hearts of this day everywhere have certain hopeful lookings +towards that; and at this providential moment science comes and offers +us the key which shall unlock the whole sphere of material interests to +its true lord, the spirit of religious love and unity. The organization +of attractive industry will be the reconciliation of spirit and matter, +of religion and the world; it will be the admission of Christ into all +our spheres; it will make all nature holy, and clothe religion in the +garb of nature. + +_Extract from a lecture on Association in its Connection with Religion, +by Charles A. Dana._ + +It is now more than eighteen hundred years since that annunciation of +the coming of peace on earth and good-will to men, at which the world +might well have trembled with a new and mighty hope. The Divine Infant, +whose birth the celestial choirs thus celebrated, grew up to man's +estate, still bearing within him that blessed promise; he went about on +earth, imparting new life to the broken-hearted and forlorn, and +uttering words of such heavenly significance, that to this day there is +nothing that thrills the hearts of men with so true a power. At last he +gave his life a testimony to those eternal truths, and died in great +bodily agony, still publishing the prophecy that welcomed his birth, +still announcing the kingdom of peace and love, the kingdom of God on +earth. + +His followers have since grown to cover great continents; whole nations +acknowledge those few words of his as their most sacred possession; +great temples are built in which his life and death are solemnly +commemorated, and men gladly yield their hard-won treasure to carry his +history to distant regions that his name has never reached. And yet, my +friends, where is that kingdom of peace and love; where, where in the +whole wide world is the will of God done as it is in heaven? Is it even +thought of as anything but a dream, an impossibility? Does not a +sceptical smile steal over the faces of men, when an earnest and +enthusiastic person speaks of it as a thing yet actually to be? + +And yet it is only what Christ taught us to hope for and pray for. We +are not deceived; no one of us is mistaken in the vision that in +innocent and blessed moments visits us all. No man who utters that +sacred petition prays in vain. For the kingdom of God, the reign of +peace and good-will among men, shall surely come. Not in mystical +raptures, not in feverish trances, not in imagination, but in +reality--in actual outward peace and beauty, and in the abiding spirit +of love, filling humanity and sanctifying the earth to be the worthy +temple of so divine a presence. + +And yet, who that beholds only the present condition of the Christian +church, to which these sacred ideas have been especially entrusted; who +that sees the body of Christ thus torn and discordant, would imagine +that a consummation of this imperishable hope was any longer possible? +Might we not despair, seeing these centuries of terror, of revolution, +of injustice and of perpetual hatred, and seeing that the very +disciples of the spirit of love have lost the memory of their +Master--might we not despair, and cry out with them, that the earth was +given over to evil, and that the kingdom of God would never come? + +No, my friends, we may not so despair, we cannot if we would. That old +prophecy, however long delayed, still finds an involuntary echo in our +souls. And now, in this hope of a true and brotherly society, its +fulfilment seems at hand. Say it is enthusiasm, say it is a mistake, +say it is irreligion, if you will, and still I reply that the time is +not distant. It is in the combined order, where men are held together +by inward laws only, and not by outward constraint and outward +necessities, that the kingdom of God is to come down and possess the +earth. + +It is in Association, then, that the promise of Christianity is to be +fulfilled--fulfilled by making the incarnation of the great law of love +an actual and universal fact. Hitherto Christianity has been in the +world a spirit pining and dying for want of a body. She has wandered up +and down on the earth, possessing here and there an individual, but +never obtaining her birthright, which is the whole of humanity, never +able to exercise her prerogative, which is to bathe the earth in the +aroma of harmony and peace. The forms of selfish and egoistical +society, the forms of society here in Boston, and throughout the +civilized world, are not of Christianity, but of the primeval curse, +which they perpetuate. Into them Christianity cannot fully enter, any +more than light can dwell in the midst of darkness. + +The relations which Christianity seeks to establish between man and +man, are indicated in these words, "Love one another." But how is this +possible in a competitive society, where the interests of all are +hostile? How can vital and true love operate between me and my +neighbor, when his misfortune is my advantage, and my loss is his gain? +What does it avail that on Sundays the better spirit is feebly +awakened; what does it avail that then I aspire and long to love all +men, if on the other six days in the week my hand is of necessity set +against them all? + +Do you tell me that if my love is deep and pure enough, it will modify +my whole life, and of itself, without hindrance from circumstances, +appear perfectly in all my actions and relations? This is the old +heresy, this is the error of the individualism and egoism which has +hindered us so long. Let us meet it fully and fairly. + +In all results there are two elements, namely, that which acts and that +which is acted upon. The character of the individual never does and +never can form his circumstances, but can only modify them. No man is +an artist or a poet by virtue of inward genius alone. No matter how +great his gifts, unless he find a congenial atmosphere and favorable +conditions, his high office is not fulfilled. Precisely so is it with +that sacred energy which we call love. It can act entirely and +sincerely only in circumstances that harmonize and correspond with +itself. In order to carry Christianity into my daily life, the forms of +my daily life, all my relations to others, my household and my +business, must be in harmony with it. + +If these forms are contrary to Christianity, the first thing for me, as +a Christian, to do, is to change them, to put them off, to be free from +them at whatever cost. If I am indeed filled and impelled by that +divine injunction, "Love one another," I cannot rest, I shall give +myself no peace, until it be possible for me to do so, not in my inward +spirit only, but in all my outward actions also. But how is this to be +done? How are the ultimate forms of my life to be brought into +correspondence with its central impulse? Plainly not by any spontaneous +and unconscious power, but by intellectual inquiry and voluntary +action. _Inspiration can discharge its whole mission only by the aid of +science._ + +Besides, the end of Christianity is not the salvation of individuals, +but the transfiguration of humanity; it cannot be accomplished in you +and me, but only in the whole race. It promises the kingdom of peace +and love, not to a few solitary souls, but to man. He is indeed a +servant of Christianity, who has learned its universal purpose and +labors therefor; who does not so much seek to be saved himself, as to +bring salvation to all the world, who sees that his own private life +and development are forever involved in the universal progress. He is +ignorant of the true idea of Christianity, who has not understood that +it demands not so much that one should be careful about his own +spiritual perfection, that he should watch himself, and by private +remorse and tears seek a far-off heaven, as by a generous +self-forgetfulness and self-devotion, seek to build up the kingdom of +peace and love among men, and make heaven a reality here, and not the +hope only of a distant future and a different sphere of existence. + +It is time, my friends, that this long divorce between the natural and +spiritual worlds should be broken off, and that we should know that +even now we may breathe the celestial ether, and have our common life +transformed and illumined by infinite spiritual glories. + +We have said that the end of Christianity is not the salvation of +individuals; but do not let it be thought that we overlook the worth of +individual character. For heroism and holiness we have an unspeakable +reverence. The saints and poets and sages of all time are the choicest +gifts of God. The virtue, the beauty and the devotion that now shine in +the lives of private men and women, still assure us that all is not and +cannot be a failure. The ultimate result of the life of humanity will +doubtless be found in symmetrical and harmonious individuals; and in a +perfect Christianity we shall look to see an angelic love radiant from +every face. But while there is disease and imperfection in any part of +the human body, there cannot be perfect health in any other part; just +so while there is disease and imperfection in humanity, of which the +human body is an image, there cannot be perfect health in any +individual. Perfect men and women are possible only in a perfect +society. + +Finally, the sum of our remarks on the relation of Association to +Christianity, is briefly this: Association fulfils the promise of +Christianity; it shows the means whereby peace on earth and goodwill +among men are to be realized. It harmonizes the forms and relations of +society with the spirit of Christianity; in a word, it makes them forms +and relations of brotherly love, and not of selfishness and discord, +and thereby renders possible the accomplishment of the final aim of +Christianity, which is the salvation and spiritual life of universal +humanity. + + +THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS, FROM THE HARBINGER, BY WILLIAM HENRY +CHANNING. + +A prophecy in the spirit of this age announces that a new era in +humanity is opening, and sounds forth more fully than ever before the +venerable yet new gospel, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. + +Doubtless, in all generations, the seers and the seekers--who are +usually one and the same--have felt that their times were the +culminating points of history, the mountain of vision, the border +overlooking the promised land. Doubtless, the great of all nations and +ages have felt that they were a peculiar people, called to a peculiar +work, inspired and led by divine guidance to sublime ends. No age, no +people, have wholly wanted such signs of providential commission. + +And doubtless, too, the works, bravely attempted from such high +promptings, have always in actual results seemed fruitless. Yes! +compared with his vision, the gains of the martyr's labors seem +tantalizing--a dropping shower upon the droughty earth. Always the +ideal entering the soul of man, like a god descending to the embrace of +a mortal, seems to engender a son but half divine. Yet this +disappointment is a delusion of the moment. + +Quite opposite are the facts. No man yet upon earth ever boldly +aspired, and faithfully obeyed his clear convictions of good without +transmitting through his race an all but omnipotent energy. Winds waft, +streams scatter, birds of the air carry in their beaks, each seed that +drops in ripeness from the tree of life. The failures of man have been +from infidelity to his faith. Infinitely grander consequences than the +doer could estimate, have followed every executed purpose of heroism +and humanity and holy hope. Each age has been right in feeling that its +mission was all-important. Each prophet has chanted, as if for very +life, his warning and cheering, for God spoke through him in the +language of his land and era. + +The Infinite Being, who through generation upon generation, +progressively incarnates himself in the human race, and so manifests +his glory upon earth, calls this age to its heavenly mission, and +speaks through it with an eloquent longing, that cannot be uttered, his +welcome and promise. The word whispers through the nations: "Man made +One; a World at Peace; Humanity, the Earth round." At the nativity of +this great hope, of this present Immanuel, the angels of our highest +aspirations bend from their cloudy thrones,-- + +"Harping in loud and solemn choir, With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's +newborn heir." + +And the burden of the song that interprets their symphony is this:-- + + "Justice and Truth again Shall down return to men. + Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, + Mercy will sit between, + Throned in celestial sheen, + With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering, + And Heaven, as at some festival, + Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall." + +The hope of universal unity has been born, cradled in the rude manger +of labor; nurtured by charity, ever virgin; worshipped by shepherds, +guarding humble, humane thoughts, like flocks in the fold of their +hearts; it has sat with the doctors in the temple, unsullied by +timidity and prudence, and has astonished them at its profound doctrine +of unbounded love; it has grown in favor with God and man, and answered +to its half doubting, half hoping parents of the church and state, +"Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" and now is it +driven away into the wilderness of poverty and hard toil, of loneliness +and mortification, to be tempted of the devil. + +Let us first consider awhile these temptations; then review the forty +days' meditation upon the divine mission of this principle of perfect +love; and so be ready to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is +at hand." + +To the scattered band who, few and weak, are here and there withdrawn +from the thoroughfares of life, to commune together and to coeoperate in +the grand movement of the age, the world comes in with scarce +dissembled sneer, and ironically says, "_If_ Association is really this +Messiah to the ages, this pledge of universal prosperity, of +overflowing wealth, then let it make these barren fields into gardens, +these thick growing woods into palaces, these stones into bread." + +And all the while the shrewd, the rosy, sleek and full-fed world, with +title deeds in pocket and scrip and stock in hand, thinks of its +factories on rapid streams; its warehouses of three thousand dollars' +rent; its dividends at seven per cent half yearly; its iron-limbed and +tireless steeds, hurrying with the spoils of myriads of acres; its +carpeted, curtained, glowing, shining, pictured, sculptured, perfumed +homes. The victorious world, so confident and easy and jocular, so +beautiful in its own right, so wrapped about in kingly purple--how +strangely is it metamorphosed to the eyes of the child of God! Its +factories change into brothels; its rents to distress warrants; its +railroads to mighty fetters, binding industry in an inextricable net of +feudalism; from under the showy robes of its success, flutter the +unseemly rags of an ever-growing beggary; from garret and cellar of its +luxurious habitations, stare out the gaunt forms of haggard want; the +lash of the jailer, the gleam of swords, the glitter of bayonets, are +its garters and stars of nobility. + +If Association has been elated by the thought of its miraculous power, +or meditated to use it for selfish ends, it deserves the taunt of the +yet more selfish world. And it is reason for great rejoicing, that the +difficulties of transition from the isolated to the harmonic mode of +life are so great. God thus _sifts_ his people. None are worthy to +enter upon this work who are not _dusted_. We need to hunger. We need +to feel dependence, in order that we may judge competition in contrast. +We need to know actually how pinching is necessity; how deep it ploughs +its furrows into brow and brain; how tight it knots up the muscles and +cramps back and limbs, by exhausting toil. + +Association must be in its very essence disinterested; holding power as +something given from above, to be used not for self alone, or chiefly, +but for universal good; consecrating itself as a servant. And its +answer to the boasting world is, "Man liveth not by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We are learning, +in these trial times, the beauty of reciprocation, the wealth of +sharing all; we are studying experimentally the law of cooperation; we +are estimating the value of justice by its practical application; above +all, are we opening our hearts to the glad conviction that it is +possible, ay, easy, for men to grow more kindly by adversity, and to +love each other better for each other's wants. + +The word which is proceeding out of the mouth of God to Associationists +now, to all the true-hearted and brave and devoted and hopeful of them +is, "Union with fellow beings by usefulness is the very life of life." +Let patience have its perfect work. Let no man be so mean as to +emphasize the "If thou be," etc. Let no doubt enter from present +humiliation. Association is the divine form of humanity. So ends in +piety the first temptation. + +Then the Satan of selfishness takes counsel of his cunning, and subtly +states a new suggestion. If Association is this glorious truth to +renovate the nations, then glorious should be its announcement; loud, +wide, startling, should be its call; sudden, as from the skies, its +appearing. Here on the pinnacle of the temple of peace (or of Salem), +shalt thou stand, and cast thyself down among the multitudes like an +angel. Some splendid boldness should introduce thy reign. Take no heed +of care and caution; count not the cost; risk all in a providential +career. Surely thou shalt be guided safe. God's angels will bear thee +up, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone. + +O bragging, advertising, placarding, circular-scattering, +auctioneering, humbuging world! And you would thus prove Association to +be also a windbag and a lie! Just in so far as Association has been +rash and precipitate, and swollen with promises and dizzy in its +towering pretensions, it has been truly carried to the pinnacle. + +The child of God waits for opportunities. There will be occasions soon +enough for manifestation. According to the hour is the duty; and the +duty now is performance. Calm, wise, large and balanced plans, +discriminate selection of persons, discreet preparations of industry, a +sober estimate of the greatness of the undertaking, and a summoning of +all energies to its fulfilment, is the vocation just now of +Association. Enough for the day it is, honestly, honorably, humanely, +to lay the foundation in the earth unseen for the glorious fabric which +the future shall rear in light. + +In so far as the inculcation of principles, the instruction of the +national mind, the calling out of enthusiasm and courage, of hope and +heroism, demand publicity, of course Association must not be backward. +It must no more be behind than before the time. But the special call +to-day is, in practical endeavor to prepare the way for a future gospel +preaching. We need complete science, clear understanding, solid +judgment. We need to solve innumerable problems, to comprehend +principles exactly by their detailed development in practice. We need +inward concentration, to gain singleness and unity of purpose. + +"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," either by anticipation or by +tardiness. If Association is the salvation of mankind, there will be +time enough to let mankind know it. Meanwhile, let us give ourselves +wholly up to God, to be filled with his love, inspired with his wisdom, +strengthened with his might, and so made ready for the sublime work of +manifesting man made one in a perfect society. We will humbly wait the +opening of opportunities by Providence. And so ends the second +temptation in patience. + +Thus baffled twice, the Prince of this world gathers up his routed +forces for the final charge:-- + +"Surely the power of united effect is irresistible. What has it not +already accomplished?--tunnelling mountains, bridging oceans with +boats, wringing from the gnomes of the mines their wealth long buried +in sparry palaces of salt and diamond, of gold and silver,--preparing +to sever the bond that unites twin continents, summoning storms and +staying them, making the desert yield an hundred fold, using the +lightning for post boy, giving iron weavers coal for bread and fire for +drink, that they may spin garments for the nations,--prodigious power +of combined effort, what may it not do! + +"We will appeal to the rich and mighty. We will show them how they can +multiply their means seventy times seven. We will unite the race in one +grand effort of prolific production and unlimited voluptuousness. We +will be kings upon earth. All these things that thou seest from this +high mountain of exceeding enterprise, all these kingdoms and their +glory shall be thine, if thou wilt but give thyself up, O Association! +body, soul, spirit, to the worship of worldly power and splendor and +enjoyment." + +Ah, Satan! that was thy wiliest web. What! no poor, all nobles, all +fat, all glittering in court raiment, all surfeited with sweets, all +bathing in Johannisberg and champagne, all tended by houries, all +pillowed on orange-scented beds, and covered with gauze or eider down, +according to the season? Charming Satan! Selfishness made universal +will be selfishness no more. Thou art an angel of light! + +Just in so far as Association, using the tact of worldly training, has +in its plannings and pleadings, lowered itself to exaltation of the +outward, by merging the inward, it has permitted the magic of sin to +dazzle its vision. + +It is indeed a splendid prospect, this of a world reclaimed, of +overflowing plenty. And it shall be realized. Perfect beauty shall one +day enwreath this earth with its clustering vines. The long folded +petals of this little planet flower on the tree of the sun, shall open +and distil sweetness; its gorgeous fruit of consummate joy shall swell +and ripen. Far more than all the voluptuaries of all ages have dreamed +of shall exist, heightened by a purity they could not conceive of. + +Yes! O devil, the kingdoms and the glory of them are there before us. +But know this--they do not belong unto thee to give. Thou poor devil, +always mocked and always mocking. Have not six thousand years taught +thee yet, that self-love is always a suicide? Thou wilt give the +kingdoms of the world as thou always hast, first by stealing them for +thy slaves, and then stealing them from thy slaves? No! thou forlorn +devil, thy rule is ended, thy sceptre snapped into shivers; henceforth +thou art so wholly accursed, that God and man will heartily forgive +thee, whenever thou canst forgive thyself. + +"_Duty of Associationists to the Cause," by Horace Greeley. From the +Harbinger of Oct. 25, 1845._ + +Through the last four or five years, the doctrine of Association has +been widely disseminated through the country. The labors of its ardent +advocates, few but faithful, have been ably seconded by some portion of +the press, and both have been immensely aided by the course of events. +The great themes of political discussion in our day--the tariff and the +currency--lead directly to a consideration of the conditions of labor, +of the relations between producers and products, of mutual rights and +respective interests of employers and employed. The existence of +extreme destitution and consequent misery in the midst of general +prosperity and plenty, of willing hands vainly seeking employment amid +unsurpassed industrial activity and thrift, cannot have escaped +attention. The disasters resulting from industrial anarchy, from +"strikes" of operatives for higher wages or fewer hours of labor, the +stoppage of work by combinations if not by outright violence, arrest +general attention. + +Truly the remedy for these errors and evils has yet been perceived and +embraced by comparatively few, but the conviction that the present +organization of industry cannot be advantageously maintained, and some +radical change is at hand, must have already forced itself upon very +many intelligent and candid minds. The readjustment of the relations of +capital and labor on a basis of harmony and mutual advantage, is +manifestly the great problem of the age. But that a change is at hand +is evident: the practical question regards not its probability or +certainty, but its character. + +The more intelligent and wealthy class have it in their power so to +mould this change as to render it peaceful, gradual and universally +beneficent; or they can turn a deaf ear to the calls of humanity, and +let the demagogue, the envious, the selfishly discontented, pervert it +into an engine of convulsion, destruction and desolation. As in the +days of King John, the barons laid the foundations of English political +liberty, so in our day the intellectual and philanthropic may guide the +car of progress, and in establishing industrial harmony may secure to +all but the stubbornly vicious or incurably afflicted, true +independence and ample means of subsistence and development; or they +can indolently leave all to the benighted and malignant, and see +reproduced a war of classes, different indeed in its weapons and its +physical aspects, but not different in its essential character from the +ravages of France by the _Jacquerie_ or the butcheries of the reign of +terror. + +In this crisis of events, with an industrial war plainly threatened and +partially commenced, the doctrine of Association appears as a mediator +and reconciler. Its bow of promise shines broadly in the lurid sky; it +irradiates the murky visage of the gathering, muttering tempest. It +awakens a hope, and the only well grounded hope, of averting the +miseries of an insane struggle between those who ought to be the +closest allies, to see which can the more injure the other. Need I urge +that in this crisis the friends of Association ought to be most earnest +and untiring in the promulgation and advocacy of their faith; that they +ought to improve the opportunities which are daily presented of +commending the truth to others whose minds are but newly prepared to +receive it? What Associationist so dull that he cannot improve every +"strike," every collision respecting the hours or the wages of labor, +to the advancement of the good cause? + +To do this with effect, we must be, in the true sense of an abused +term, catholic. We must not suffer Association to be merged in mere +partisanship for any class or calling, or blind hostility to any abuse +or oppression. We are not the champions of the slave or the hired +servant, the factory girl or the housemaid, the seamstress or the +washerwoman. We are not the advocates merely of labor against capital, +of the employers as opposed to the employed. Ours is the cause of all +classes and vocations, and our success is the triumph of all. We are in +danger of becoming partial and one-sided; let us take special care to +overcome it. + +But it is not enough that we give our testimony in behalf of this +benign truth; it behooves us to be doers of the work as well as hearers +and commenders. Friends of Association! scattered over the face of our +wide country! do you realize this? Do you feel that your works ought to +justify and fortify your words? We are surrounded by a world full of +want, vice and misery, which Association realized would greatly modify +and ultimately cure. But those who know nothing of this truth will +never cause it to be realized; it would be absurd to expect anything of +the kind. The work must be accomplished by us, and by those whom our +acts rather than words shall win over to a knowledge of the truth. Is +not the work of sufficient importance to incite you to embark heartily +in its furtherance? + +But, says one, how can I engage practically in realizing Association? +My family and friends are vehemently adverse to it; I am engrossed by +responsibilities and duties of various kinds which I cannot uprightly +escape, and which confine me where I am. I am not yet prepared, if I +ever should be, to embark in Association. + +Very well, you are not required to embark in it in the way your +objection contemplates. You are urged only to contribute to the great +work according to your ability and in a mode not inconsistent with the +proper discharge of all your duties. But many who cannot personally +enlist in the pioneer groups who for the next ten years will be engaged +in preparing the ground on which Associations are ultimately to arise, +are yet able to contribute something of their time and means to the +cause of humanity's emancipation from brutal drudgery. + +And this something is eminently needed by that cause. The great work of +disseminating and defending the principles of social science needs +pecuniary aid; who will offer it? The secondary work of founding and +sustaining pioneer Associations also languishes for want of means. +Ought it to do so? I say founding, not that I would encourage the +commencement of any new undertaking, but because I consider no +Association founded as yet. We have a few beginning to clear the ground +for the work, and that is all. + +But in this work noble men and women are engaged; to it they have +consecrated their energies; for it they suffer hardship and privations, +and are willing to suffer. But they cannot make their labor truly +effective without a large increase of capital, in every instance within +my knowledge. They commenced with little means, in no case sufficient +to pay for their land and buildings, and generally not half enough. +They were in need of everything, even of experience and skill to render +their labor effective, and for a long time two out of every three blows +they strike are ill-directed or render no immediate return. Thus they +toil on, needing machinery, power, buildings, everything, to give them +a chance for rapid progress; and even Associationists stand ready to +wonder at their snail-paced advance, or reproach their occasional +failures! + +As one Associationist who has given his efforts and means freely to the +cause, I feel that I have a right to speak frankly. I know that the +great number of our believers are far from wealthy; yet I know that +there is wealth enough in our ranks, if it were but devoted to it, to +give an instant and resistless influence to the cause. A few thousand +dollars subscribed to the stock of each existing Association would in +most cases extinguish the mortgages on its property, provide it with +machinery and materials, and render its industry immediately productive +and profitable. Then manufacturing invention and skill would fearlessly +take up their abode with our infant colonies; labor and thrift would +flow thither, and a new and brighter era would dawn upon them. + +Fellow Associationists! I shall do whatever I can for the promotion of +our common cause; to it whatever I have or may hereafter acquire of +pecuniary ability is devoted; may I not hope for a like devotion from +you? + + _A Prophecy. From the Introduction to Fourier's + "Theory of Social Organization" translated + by Albert Brisbane._ + +"Among the influences tending to restrict man's industrial rights, I +will mention the formation of privileged corporations which, +monopolizing a given branch of industry, arbitrarily close the doors of +labor against whomsoever they please. These corporations will become +dangerous, and lead to new convulsions on being extended to the whole +industrial and commercial system. This event is not far distant and it +will be brought about all the more easily as it is not apprehended. The +greatest evils have often sprung from imperceptible germs, as for +instance, Jacobism, and if our civilization has engendered this and so +many other calamities, may it not engender others which we do not now +foresee? The most imminent of these is the birth of a commercial +feudalism or the monopoly of commerce and industry by joint-stock +companies, leagued together for the purpose of usurping and controlling +all branches of industrial organizations. Extremes meet, and the +greater the extent to which anarchical competition is carried, the +nearer is the approach to _universal monopoly_, which is the opposite +excess. Circumstances are tending towards the organization of the +commercial and industrial classes into federal companies or affiliated +monopolies, which, operating in conjunction with the great landed +interest, will reduce the middle and laboring classes to a state of +commercial vassalage, and by the influence of combined action become +the masters of the productive industry of entire nations. The small +operators will be reduced to the position of mere agents working for +the mercantile coalition. We shall then see the reappearance of +feudalism in an inverse order, founded on mercantile leagues and +answering to the baronial leagues of the middle ages. + +"Everything is concurring to produce this result. The spirit of +commercial speculation and financial monopoly has extended to all +classes. Public opinion prostrates itself before the bankers and +financiers who share authority with the governments and devise every +day new means for the monopoly and control of industry. + +"We are marching with rapid strides towards a commercial feudalism and +to the fourth phase of our civilization. The economists accustomed to +reverence everything which comes in the name and under the sanction of +commerce, will see this new order spring up without alarm, and will +consecrate their servile pens to the celebration of its praises. Its +_debut_ will be one of brilliant promise, but the result will be an +industrial inquisition, subordinating the whole people to the interests +of the affiliated monopolists." + +Albert Brisbane prefaces this wonderful prophecy by these remarks: "In +1805 or 6, amid the preoccupation of war and military politics, he +[Fourier] foresaw and described with accuracy the future formation of +vast joint-stock companies destined to monopolize and control all +branches of industry, commerce and finance, and establish what he +called 'An industrial or commercial feudalism'--a feudalism that would +control society by the power of capital, as did the old baronial or +military feudalism by the power of the sword, and as despotically. +Under the dominion of the great barons who leagued together to control +the social world there was a monopoly of the then existing wealth, +namely, the land and the laboring classes. Now, society having passed +out of the military _regime_, and entered the industrial and +commercial, it is threatened with another vast system of monopoly." + +He concludes as follows: "This was written seventy years ago [it is now +almost ninety years] when public attention was absorbed in military +conquests and glory. To-day advanced thinkers on social questions are +beginning to see the conquest of the industrial and commercial worlds +by the power of associated capital. To-day the new feudalism has more +than half entangled society in its meshes, and its complete +establishment stares us in the face. What perspicuity to have foreseen +so clearly what is now being realized! If prescience is a test of +science--if the foretelling of future events is a test of the laws that +govern them and from which they are deducible, then Fourier must have +discovered at least some of the laws which govern social evolution. + +"A vague opinion prevails among men that society is moving onward to +its appointed state by what is variously termed the 'force of +circumstances,' 'the instinct of the race,' 'the general law of +progress,' 'Divine guidance.' These loose opinions are speculative +fancies adopted in the absence of real knowledge; whereas the fact is, +that society can only reach its true state by the conscious and +calculated efforts of human reason under the direction of an exact +social science. Men act on this principle when they try to organize any +part of the social system. When, from necessity, they are forced to +frame political institutions and organize governments, as they often +are after revolutions, they do so by conscious calculation and +reasoning. True, being without a scientific guide, their institutions +are imperfect and arbitrary; yet these efforts show that man recognizes +the necessity of calculation and thought in one branch, at least, of +the social organism. He knows that to have a government, he must think, +plan and devise; but he does not know that the other branches of the +social organism are subject to the same conditions, and can only be +normally constituted by the exercise of conscious reason guided by +scientific principles. Construction and organization--the same in +principle in all departments of creation--can only be the work of mind, +conscious of its operations, planning with forethought; analyzing, +comparing and combining; adapting means to ends and calculating the +relations of cause and effect. Instinct cannot organize; Divine +Providence does not interfere to do the work of reason; no science is +revealed to man; no constructions or other means are furnished him by +nature. + +"When the human mind shall rise to the conception of the possibility of +a scientific organization of society, it will at once undertake, as the +work of paramount importance, the elaboration of a system of exact +social science. First, however, the laws on which the science is to be +based must be discovered and combined into a system that will enable +the mind clearly to comprehend and apply them." + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brook Farm, by John Thomas Codman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + +***** This file should be named 7932.txt or 7932.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/9/3/7932/ + +Produced by Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Brook Farm + +Author: John Thomas Codman + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7932] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 2, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII, with a few ISO-8859-1 characters + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + + + + +Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +BROOK FARM + +HISTORIC AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +BY + +JOHN THOMAS CODMAN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT + +Transcendentalism; Explained by Mr. Ripley,--The Proposition,--Members +of the Transcendental Club--The first Persons at the Community-- +Constitution and Laws; Articles of Agreement--Description of Mr. +Ripley, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Dwight, Mrs. Ripley, Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford, +Hawthorne and Others. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT + +Thoughts on Reorganization--Fourier on Social Code--Mr. Ripley's +Action--Progress of Society--Theories by Fourier, etc.--Closing of the +Transcendental Period--Reorganization, and the Industrial Period. + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS + +Departure from Boston, and Arrival at the Farm--Description of the +Place--Attica--Personal Occupations, etc.--The Wild Flowers. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD + +Descriptions of Members: The "General,"; Ryckman, Blake, Drew, Orvis, +Cheevers--William H. Charming, and Albert Brisbane,--S. Margaret +Fuller--Ralph W. Emerson--Theodore Parker and Mr. Ripley's Joke. + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK + +Many Visitors--An Odd Visitor--The Groups and Series, etc.--The +Workshop--My first Spring--Death and Funeral--The Amusement Group, +Dances, Walks and first Summer. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER," AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS + +The _Harbinger_ Published; Editors and Contributors, Its +Characteristics and Effect--The Industrial Phalanx--The Phalanstery--A +Financial Report--The Grahamites, and their Table--John Allen and Boy-- +The Visitation of Small-pox. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING + +Resumption of Building--The Crowded Conditions--Gardener's Department-- +Prince Albert--Jumping the Brook--Retrenchment--The Doves--The +Gardener--The Position of Woman in Association--The Right to Vote--The +Wedding--Lizzie Curson--Our Young Folks. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA AND IMPORTANT LETTERS + +The Play in the Shop--The Associative Movement--Rev. Adin Ballou's +Letter--Mr. Brisbane's, and Mr. Ripley's Letters--Mr. Pratt's +Departure--The Great Party--Cyclops. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL, AND PARLOR LIFE + +Meetings in Boston, etc.--Two Lady Friends--Music at the Eyry-- +Consciousness of Self--The Great Snow Storm--C. P. Cranch's Imitations. + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE + +Fun at the Phalanx--Ripley's Quotation--On Punning--The Robbery, and +the Waiting Group. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE + +The Last Dance, and the Fire--The _Harbinger's_ Account of It-- +Feeding the Firemen--The Morning after the Fire. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES + +The Bearings of the Association and its Occupations--Slanders of the +New York Press--Definition of the Associationists Position toward +Fourier--Forebodings at the Farm--Personal Reveries. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK + +Peter's Departure--Mr. Dwight at the Association Meeting--Practical +Christians--The Solidarity of the Race--Mr. Ripley's _Harbinger_ +Article. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES AND AFTER LIVES OF THE MEMBERS + +Breaking up--Ripley's Poverty, after Life and Death--Mr. Pratt; Mr. +Dana; Mr. Dwight, and various Persons--William H. Charming--A. +Brisbane--C. Fourier--Letters of Approval. + + +APPENDIX. + +PART I. + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS + +Student Life--Explanations and Answers to Objections--Letter on Social +Equality--Religious Views. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +There were two distinct phases in the Associated life at Brook Farm. +The first was inaugurated by the pioneers, who introduced a school, and +combined it with farm and household labors. The second phase began with +an attempt to introduce methods of social science and to add mechanical +and other industries to those already commenced. These different phases +have been called the Transcendental and the Industrial periods. + +Each individual had his special experiences of the life. The writer +chronicles it from his standpoint. None, perhaps, was more interested +in it than he, young as he was, but many were more able to elaborate it +and write it in details, and did he not feel that it was an important +duty neglected by all, these memoirs would have remained unwritten. + +The record books of the institution are missing, and are doubtless long +ago destroyed. These chapters have been compiled and written from few +memoranda, at various times, very often after the arduous duties of +days of professional life, and with a desire only to present the +subject truthfully, faithfully and simply; and also, not wholly to +gratify curiosity, or to record the doings of the noble men and women +who were wise before their time, but to whisper courage to those who, +like their predecessors, are seeking some solution of the social +problems that involves neither the too sudden surrender of acquired +rights, the reckless abandon of old ideas to untried and crude +radicalism, or the more to-be-dreaded feuds between classes, that mean +desperation on one side and war on the other; but to aid, if possible, +in inspiring a belief that a peaceful adjustment of our surroundings +will, in time, bring order out of chaos and harmony out of discord. + +The reader will have observed long before he lays down this book, that +the Brook Farm life and ideals were purely coöperative and +philosophical, that all the elements of true society were recognized, +and that the attempt was for the better adjustment of them to the +changing and changed relations of their fellow-men, brought about by +the pervading moral, scientific and social growth of the past and +present centuries. + +The nation is older, richer and wiser, since the Brook Farm experiment +began. It is more tolerant of one another's opinions, more +enterprising, progressive and liberal, and surely a few weak trials +made half a century ago, are not enough to solve the majestic problem +of right living and how to shape the outward forms of society, so that +within their environments all interests may be harmonized, and the +golden rule begin to be, in a practical way, the measure of all human +lives. + +The author, in closing, will confide to his readers the wish of his +heart, that this sketch of his early days may inspire some who can +command influence and means with an interest to continue the +experiments in social science, along lines laid out with more or less +clearness by the Brook Farmers. + + J. T. C. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BROOK FARM MOVEMENT. + + +Early in the present century, New England was the centre of progressive +religious thought in America. A morbid theology had reigned supreme, +but its forms were too cold, harsh and forbidding to attract or even +retain the liberal-minded, educated and philosophic students of the +rising generation, or hold in check the ardent humanitarian spirit, +that embodied itself in ideals that were greater than the existing +creeds. + +Yet nowhere prevailed a more religious spirit. It showed itself in +tender care of masses of the people, in public schools and seminaries, +in lectures, sermons, libraries and in acts of general benevolence. + +From these conditions developed the idea of greater freedom from social +trammels; from African slavery, which had not then been abolished; from +domestic slavery, which still exists; from the exploitations of trade +and commerce; from the vicious round of unpaid labor, vice and +brutality. Protestations were heard against all of these evils, not +always coming from the poor and unlearned, but oftener from the +educated and refined, who had pride that the republic should stand +foremost among the nations for justice, culture and righteousness. + +The old theology was crumbling. A new church was springing from its +vitals based on freer thought, in which the intellect and heart had +more share in determining righteousness. The fatherhood of God and the +brotherhood of man became the themes of discourse, oftener than those +of the vengeance of an offended Deity; and pity and forgiveness, +oftener than those on everlasting punishment. + +In truth, the new departure which had begun, soon attracted to itself +the most cultivated persons of the time, some of whom, Sept. 19, 1836, +formed a club that met at one another's houses and discussed all the +important social and religious topics of the day. They were mostly +young people, college-bred, learned, artistic and thoughtful, and of +high ideals in intellectual acquirement, religion and social life. They +were all agreed that there were many evils to be eradicated from +society; in what way--individualistic, governmental or socialistic, or +by a combination of ways--few were agreed. + +The problem was an open one. The theories proposed and the discussions +were extremely interesting, but no record of them is at hand, except a +few essays published in the _Dial_, a quarterly magazine which was +edited by members of the organization, which finally took the name of +"The Transcendental Club." One of the _Dial_ editors, as well as +one of the founders of the Club, and at whose house it had its first +meeting, was Rev. George Ripley, a Unitarian minister who was born at +Greenfield, Mass., in the beautiful valley of the Connecticut River. He +was of good farmer stock and had a fine physical presence, though of +medium stature. He was a lover of books, a graduate of Harvard college, +and a well trained and religious scholar. He was then settled over a +Unitarian church worshipping on Purchase Street, in Boston, and +faithfully fulfilled his duties. Above all things his head and heart +sought righteousness for all men. He believed in the justice of God and +the divine nature of man His best creation. He believed man to be +involved in an intricate and un-Christian social labyrinth, and with +deep earnestness of purpose and thorough convictions of his personal +duty in the case, set himself at work to evolve a way to extricate at +least some of humanity from their vicious surroundings; and finally +proposed to the Club a plan which he urged with his customary vigor and +eloquence. + +This plan was, in short, to locate on a farm where agriculture and +education should be made the foundation of a new system of social life. +Labor should be honored. All would take part in it. There should be no +religious creeds adopted. The old, feeble and sick were to be cared +for, the strong and able bearing the greater burden of the labor. There +would be no rank, to entitle the owner of it to superior considerations +because of the rank; and truth, justice and order were to be the +governing principles of the society. + +The theologians and philosophers of Europe, with whose writings and +logic Mr. Ripley was well acquainted, had impressed him with the truth +of the divinity of man's nature, or had convinced him more thoroughly +that his own ideas of it were right. He had wrestled with progressively +conservative giants, professors of colleges--notably Andrews Norton-- +and had won well-earned laurels. Norton was professor of sacred +literature at Harvard, one of his own professors, sixteen years his +senior, and made a point that the miracles of Christ and the writings +of the gospel were the only sure proofs existing of spiritual truths. + +The Transcendental philosophy to which Mr. Ripley had become a convert, +claimed that there was in human nature an intuitive faculty which +clearly discerned spiritual truths, which idea was in contradistinction +to the beliefs of the day, which declared that spiritual knowledge came +by special grace, and was proven by the divine miracles; this latter +belief being largely joined to the doctrine of the innate depravity of +man. Mr. Ripley's own words to his church on Purchase Street, declared +that + + +"There is a class of persons who desire a reform in the prevailing +philosophy of the day. These are called Transcendentalists, because +they believe in an order of truth that transcends the sphere of the +external senses. Their leading idea is the supremacy of mind over +matter. Hence they maintain that the truth of religion does not depend +on tradition nor historical facts, but has an unswerving witness in the +soul. There is a light, they believe, which enlighteneth every man who +cometh into the world. There is a faculty in all--the most degraded, +the most ignorant, the most obscure--to perceive spiritual truth when +distinctly presented; and the ultimate appeal on all moral questions is +not to a jury of scholars, a hierarchy of divines or the prescriptions +of a creed, but to the common sense of the human race. + +"There is another class of persons who are devoted to the removal of +the abuses that prevail in modern society. They witness the oppressions +done under the sun and they cannot keep silence. They have faith that +God governs man; they believe in a better future than the past; their +daily prayer is for the coming of the kingdom of righteousness, truth +and love; they look forward to a more pure, more lovely, more divine +state of society than was ever realized on earth. With these views I +rejoice to say I strongly and entirely sympathize." + + +The prevailing tone of New England life was Calvinistic. Its doctrines +may be said to have entered every household, penetrated every sanctuary +and influenced all the leaders of society. The new departure was not a +going away from religious thought, but it joined intellect and heart. +It ignored unreasonable extravagances of statement wherever found. It +ignored faith alone. It did not believe that faith stood above works. +It pointed always towards action. It summed up the lesson and meaning +of all good doctrines, that man should _lead a better life here_, +where the duties to our fellows should not be passed by as now, but +fulfilled. It was a newer way of thinking, to be logical with religion +and put it to the test of every-day life. If the new departure meant +anything then, if it means anything to-day, its object is to accomplish +a better life here on this earth. In his soul, penetrated by divine +aspirations, Mr. Ripley heard these words ringing out: "A truer life, a +more honest life, a juster life--accomplish it!" + +It was at the Club that he again urged the realization of his plan. +There gathered together were the brightest intellects, the highest +minded, the most sympathetic, thoughtful and talented young men that +New England contained. Preaching was good, but more than preaching was +wanted--the Christian life; could it not be commenced? Could they not +educate the young in practical duties as well as in books, and by their +own good example so surround them that the interior life could be +awakened--the soul's inward goodness and the power to discern the true +destiny of man? + +Encouraged by the sympathy of his wife, sister and a few earnest +spirits, Mr. Ripley started on his project. He was in his fortieth +year. He was neither too young nor too old. A few years of life he +could possibly spare for the experiment. He would then be only in his +prime. He had no children to embarrass his movements. He could give all +his strength of body and mind to it. He loved the country life. It was +to be the fulfilling of what he had preached so long and what is, alas, +still preached to-day with not much attempt to realize it--the +Christian life. People would laugh at him! I doubt if that gave him one +disturbing thought. It _was right_; as it was right he would do +it. But maybe in his secret heart he thought that more of those who +seemed to have been awakened, as he had been, to the divine call, would +follow and join with him than did; for, singularly enough, not one of +the members of the Transcendental Club, who first met together, joined +Mr. Ripley's movement. They were all radical to the prevailing +theology, stiff, rigid as it was, and never, in America, was there a +group assembled who aimed higher, or did more, first and last, to +elevate humanity; for the Club contained a galaxy of mental talent. + +Mr. Ripley led them all in practical endeavor to form the Christian +commonwealth that many of them had preached. + +William Ellery Channing, in whose veins ran the blood of one of the +signers of the Declaration of American Independence, a beloved +preacher, was there, full of earnestness, tenderness, faith and love. +With vigor he poured out his eloquence to awaken thoughts for an +enlarged theology, and with a sympathizing heart criticised chattel +slavery, social slavery and domestic servitude, and afterward became +one of the acknowledged leaders of liberal Christendom. + +Young Ralph Waldo Emerson was there, very late from the ministry, known +better as poet, philosopher and essayist; and James Freeman Clarke, +talented writer and preacher; and faithful and independent Rev. Cyrus +A. Bartol. Rev. Theodore Parker, son of a Lexington hero, doughty, bold +and brave, on whose head fell the anathemas of the orthodox and the +curses of the slaveholders at a later day, showed his ever calm, +pleasant and earnest face at the board. + +Rev. F. H. Hedge, Convers Francis, Thomas H. Stone, Samuel D. Robbins, +Samuel J. May and another Channing--William Henry--were there; +Christopher P. Cranch, divinity graduate, but now well known as +painter, poet and story teller; and beloved John S. Dwight, famed +mostly as writer on music, and musical critic; and Orestes A. Brownson, +prominent essayist, who was, by turns, a Radical, Unitarian, +Universalist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. + +All these above named persons were attached to the clergy. There were +others who, like A. Bronson Alcott, were teachers, and sometimes +lecturers. There was Henry D. Thoreau, a charming writer who spent two +years in a hut in Walden woods; and Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer of +many familiar romances; also George Bancroft, the historian, Dr. +Charles T. Follen, Samuel G. Ward, Caleb Stetson, William Russell, +Jones Very, Robert Bartlett and S. V. Clevenger, sculptor. As an +innovation in clubs there were lady members, among whom were Elizabeth +P. Peabody, and her sister Sophia, who became the wife of Hawthorne; +Miss S. Margaret Fuller, remarkable for her intellectual capacity, and +who became the wife of Count D'Ossoli, of Italy; Miss Marianne Ripley, +sister, and Mrs. Sophia Ripley, wife, of Rev. George Ripley. + +Or if those persons were not all members of the Club, of which there +seems to be no list extant, nearly every one was, and they can all be +classed as belonging to the coterie or Transcendental circle; all at +times attended the meetings, participated in the discussions, and wrote +articles for the _Dial_ and for what in those days were called the +radical journals and magazines. + +The winter of 1840 had been the time of talk. Early in the spring of +the year 1841 it was announced that a location was chosen at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, nine miles from Boston, Mass. Mr. Ripley selected +it. He and his wife had boarded there the former summer. It was retired +and pretty. Mr. Ellis owned it; Mr. Parker, Mr. Russell and Mr. Shaw +lived not far away, and a small amount of cash paid down would secure +the place for an immediate commencement of the effort. The party who +went earliest to settle at Brook Farm consisted of Mr. George Ripley; +Sophia Willard Ripley, his wife; Miss Marianne Ripley, his elder +sister; Mr. George P. Bradford, Mr. Warren Burton, Mrs. Minot Pratt +with three children, Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne and several others. Mr. +William Allen acted as head farmer. There were in all about twenty +persons. Doubtless there were blisters on the palms and aching bones, +in the first raw days of labor, and the poetry of life was often lost +in the fatigue of the body. + +Of the men of the Transcendental Club only Hawthorne and Dwight joined +what was called "Mr. Ripley's community"; and though Mr. Emerson talked +favorably of it he finally declined to join when asked to do so by Mr. +Ripley. + +The farmhouse, the only dwelling there was on the place, must have +resounded with remarkable echoes as the pioneers of the new social +order alighted on its threshold. They were of cultivated families, and +were nearly all from the city and neighborhood of Boston. Their hearts +were open to the tender influence of buds and blossoms, the fresh +springing grass and the bubbling brook. They watched the birds of +various plumage; the oriole, who hung his basket nest from the pendant +branches of the elm, the robin redbreast who built close in the thick +branches of the firs, and the sparrow who was contented with a less +prominent nest, as he picked up hairs from the stable or from +underneath the windows. + +They were fond of cows, pigs and poultry. There was a flower garden to +work in. There was a plenty of wild flowers in the fields and in the +woods near by. There was delightful solitude and delightful society, +and there was a wonderful novelty in all. There were contrasts of +character, deep, strong natures to reason with, cheerful hearts to talk +with, and great hopes everywhere. What wonder that they laughed, +frolicked and sang, and got up little parties and masquerades to +entertain the wonderful, wonderstruck and remarkable visitors who came +to see them? The place was a "milk farm" when the "Transcendentalists," +as they were often called, entered on it. The surroundings were +picturesque. Some one of the party started at an early hour in the +morning with the milk for Boston, nine miles away. + +All was new and had to be done by many for the first time. There was +much hard work for the women, as it was not a well-proportioned family; +pupils and visitors added to the labor, but poetry and enthusiasm +changed plain names into elegance, as Deborah into "Ora," and +beautified the laundry and kitchen with hopes and glories. + +Immediately the school was set in operation. There were some promising +pupils. The young and talented Dwight, whose heart was too full to +preach what he might better practise in this ideal society, soon left +his pastorate in Northampton, Mass., and joined as instructor, and was +shortly followed by the capable Dana, who gained power for himself as +well as gave it to the Association. + +The following persons were nominated for positions in the Brook Farm +School, fall term, 1842:-- + + George Ripley, Instructor in Intellectual and Natural Philosophy and + Mathematics. + George P. Bradford, Instructor in Belles Lettres. + John S. Dwight, Instructor in Latin and Music. + Charles A. Dana, Instructor in Greek and German. + John S. Brown, Instructor in Theosophical and Practical Agriculture. + Sophia W. Ripley, Instructor in History and Modern Languages. + Marianne Ripley, Teacher of Primary School. + Abigail Morton, Teacher of Infant School. + Georgiana Bruce, Teacher of Infant School. + Hannah B. Ripley, Instructor in Drawing. + +The infant school was for children under six years of age; the primary +school, for children under ten; the preparatory school for pupils over +ten years of age, intending to pursue the higher branches of study in +the institution. + +A six years' course prepared a young man to enter college. A three +years' course in theoretical and practical agriculture was also laid +out. The studies were elective, and pupils could enter any department +for which they were qualified. + +There were various other details, the most striking of which was that +every pupil was expected to spend from one to two hours daily in manual +labor. + +Before the Association started from Boston, a constitution was drawn +up. The following is a copy of the original:-- + +_Articles of Agreement and Association between the members of the +Institute for Agriculture and Education._ + +In order more effectually to promote the great purposes of human +culture; to establish the external relations of life on a basis of +wisdom and purity; to apply the principles of justice and love to our +social organization in accordance with the laws of Divine Providence; +to substitute a system of brotherly cooperation for one of selfish +competition; to secure to our children, and to those who may be +entrusted to our care, the benefits of the highest physical, +intellectual and moral education in the present state of human +knowledge, the resources at our command will permit; to institute an +attractive, efficient and productive system of industry; to prevent the +exercise of worldly anxiety by the competent supply of our necessary +wants; to diminish the desire of excessive accumulation by making the +acquisition of individual property subservient to upright and +disinterested uses; to guarantee to each other the means of physical +support and of spiritual progress, and thus to impart a greater +freedom, simplicity, truthfulness, refinement and moral dignity to our +mode of life,-- + +We, the undersigned, do unite in a Voluntary Association, to wit:-- + +ARTICLE 1. The name and style of the Association shall be "(The Brook +Farm) Institute of Agriculture and Education." All persons who shall +hold one or more shares in the stock of the Association, and shall sign +the articles of agreement, or who shall hereafter be admitted by the +pleasure of the Association, shall be members thereof. + +ART. 2. No religious test shall ever be required of any member of the +Association; no authority assumed over individual freedom of opinion by +the Association, nor by any member over another; nor shall anyone be +held accountable to the Association except for such acts as violate +rights of the members, and the essential principles on which the +Association is founded; and in such cases the relation of any member +may be suspended, or discontinued, at the pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 3. The members of this Association shall own and manage such real +and personal estate, in joint stock proprietorship, as may, from time +to time, be agreed on, and establish such branches of industry as may +be deemed expedient and desirable. + +ART. 4. The Association shall provide such employment for all of its +members as shall be adapted to their capacities, habits and tastes, and +each member shall select and perform such operation of labor, whether +corporal or mental, as he shall deem best suited to his own endowments, +and the benefit of the Association. + +ART. 5. The members of this Association shall be paid for all labor +performed under its direction and for its advantage, at a fixed and +equal rate, both for men and women. This rate shall not exceed one +dollar per day, nor shall more than ten hours in the day be paid for as +a day's labor. + +ART. 6. The Association shall furnish to all its members, their +children and family dependents, house-rent, fuel, food and clothing, +and all other comforts and advantages possible, at the actual cost, as +nearly as the same can be ascertained; but no charge shall be made for +education, medical or nursing attendance, or the use of the library, +public rooms or baths to the members; nor shall any charge be paid for +food, rent or fuel by those deprived of labor by sickness, nor for food +of children under ten years of age, nor for anything on members over +seventy years of age, unless at the special request of the individual +by whom the charges are paid, or unless the credits in his favor +exceed, or equal, the amount of such charges. + +ART. 7. All labor performed for the Association shall be duly credited, +and all articles furnished shall be charged, and a full settlement made +with every member once every year. + +ART. 8. Every child over ten years of age shall be charged for food, +clothing, and articles furnished at cost, and shall be credited for his +labor, not exceeding fifty cents per day, and on the completion of his +education in the Association at the age of twenty, shall be entitled to +a certificate of stock, to the amount of credits in his favor, and may +be admitted a member of the Association. + +ART. 9. Every share-holder in the joint-stock proprietorship of the +Association, shall be paid on such stock, at the rate of five per cent, +annually. + +ART. 10. The net profits of the Association remaining in the treasury +after the payments of all demands for interest on stock, labor +performed, and necessary repairs, and improvements, shall be divided +into a number of shares corresponding with the number of days' labor, +and every member shall be entitled to one share for every day's labor +performed by him. + +ART. 11. All payments may be made in certificates of stock at the +option of the Association; but in any case of need, to be decided by +himself, every member may be permitted to draw on the funds of the +treasury to an amount not exceeding the credits in his favor. + +ART. 12. The Association shall hold an annual meeting for the choice of +officers, and such other necessary business as shall come before them. + +ART. 13. The officers of the Association shall be twelve directors, +divided into four departments, as follows: first, General Direction; +second, Direction of Agriculture; third, Direction of Education; +fourth, Direction of Finance; consisting of three persons each, +provided that the same persons may be a member of each Direction at the +pleasure of the Association. + +ART. 14. The Chairman of the General Direction shall be presiding +officer in the Association, and together with the Direction of Finance, +shall constitute a Board of Trustees, by whom the property of the +Association shall be managed. + +ART. 15. The General Direction shall oversee and manage the affairs of +the Association so that every department shall be carried on in an +orderly and efficient manner. Each department shall be under the +general supervision of its own Direction, which shall select, and, in +accordance with the General Direction, shall appoint, all such +overseers, directors and agents, as shall be necessary to the complete +and systematic organization of the department, and shall have full +authority to appoint such persons to these stations as they shall judge +best qualified for the same. + +ART. 16. No Directors shall be deemed to possess any rank superior to +the other members of the Association, nor shall be chosen in reference +to any other consideration than their capacity to serve the +Association; nor shall they be paid for their official service except +at the rate of one dollar for ten hours in a day, actually employed in +official duties. + +ART. 17. The Association may, from time to time, adopt such rules and +regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the +Articles of Agreement, as shall be found expedient and necessary. + +[_This was signed by_] + +GEO. RIPLEY, WARREN BURTON, SOPHIA W. RIPLEY, MINOT PRATT, SAML. D. +ROBBINS, MARIA J. PRATT, D. MACK, GEO. C. LEACH, NATH. HAWTHORNE, +MARIANNE RIPLEY, LEML. CAPEN, MARY ROBBINS. + +Not all who signed this document entered on the work. Mr. David Mack, +whose name is attached, for some reason did not, neither did Mr. and +Mrs. Samuel D. Robbins. Mr. Mack afterward founded the Northampton +Association at Northampton, Mass. + +It would be interesting to give a history of and describe all the +persons who signed this original document, but room will not permit it. +Mr. Ripley's biography is published; I refer the reader to that book +for particulars of his life, but cannot refrain from selecting one pen- +picture of him by the author, Rev. O. B. Frothingham, who writes:-- + +"He was no unbeliever, no sceptic, no innovator in matters of opinion +or observance, but a quiet student, a scholar, a man of books, a calm, +bright-minded, whole-souled thinker, believing, hopeful, social, sunny, +but absorbed in philosophical pursuits. Well does the writer of these +lines recall the vision of a slender figure wearing in summer the +flowing silk robe, in winter the long, dark blue cloak of the +profession, walking with measured step from his residence in Rowe +Street towards the meeting house in Purchase Street. The face was +shaven clean, the brown hair curled in close, crisp ringlets; the face +was pale as if in thought; the gold-rimmed spectacles concealed black +eyes; the head was alternately bent and raised. No one could have +guessed that the man had in him the fund of humor in which his friends +delighted, or the heroism in social reform which a few years later +amazed the community. He seemed a sober, devoted minister of the +gospel, formal, punctilious, ascetic, a trifle forbidding to the +stranger. But even then the new thoughts of the age were at work within +him." + +Minot Pratt was at one time foreman printer at the office of the +_Christian Register_--a finely formed, large, graceful-featured, +modest man. His voice was low, soft and calm. His presence inspired +confidence and respect. Whatever he touched was well done. He was +faithful and dignified, and the serenity of his nature welled up in +genial smiles. In farm work he was Mr. Ripley's right hand. He was not +far from him in age. They agreed in practical matters; indeed, Mr. +Ripley deferred to him. His wife was an earnest, strong, faithful +worker. They entered into the scheme with fervor, and it was often said +of him that he was first to give Mr. Ripley the hand of fellowship in +the practical work of organizing the society. + +John Sullivan Dwight was born in Boston, and was keenly sensitive to +harmony of all kinds; amiable, thoughtful, kind. Touched with the +divine desire to do good to all, he entered into the work with his +whole earnest soul. Modest to a fault, but singularly persistent in +what he felt to be his duty, he never flinched or failed to act when +occasion required it. His tastes were of the most refined order. He +shrank from coarse contact with an unusual degree of sensitiveness, but +his great heart embraced all mankind in brotherhood. He graduated at +Harvard College, and rumor says that he had more than ordinarily the +goodwill of his classmates. He studied and made some fine translations +from French and German authors, and was ordained to the ministry. He +soon left the pulpit, feeling that it was better to try to actualize a +Christian life, preaching it by deeds himself, than to preach it by +words to others. He was supremely musical, though his musical feeling +sometimes showed itself in verse, and he stamped Brook Farm with his +musical influence. Short in stature, delicate in physical organization, +the school claimed the major part of his services. + +Mrs. Ripley was born under favorable stars and had superior mental +talent and training, with hosts of friends and relatives. Her devotion +to the "Community" caused a great flutter in her social circle. Her +relatives were noted for their position, their personal dignity, and +generally for a haughtiness of manner unknown in these days. In person +she was tall, slender and graceful, with rather light, smooth hair, +worn in the plain style of the day. Being near-sighted she was obliged +to use a glass when looking at a distant person or thing. Her manner +was vivacious and she was a good conversationalist. Mr. Ripley had +changed since the description given of his appearance in earlier days, +and had grown stouter; had lost his pallor and gained a good, healthy +color. He had allowed a vigorous beard to grow, and shaved only his +upper lip. + +A young man of education, culture and marked ability was Charles +Anderson Dana when from Harvard College he presented himself at the +farm. He was strong of purpose and lithe of frame, and it was not long +before Mr. Ripley found it out and gave him a place at the front. He +was about four and twenty years of age, and he took to books, language +and literature. Social, good-natured and animated, he readily pleased +all with whom he came in contact. He was above medium height; his +complexion was light, and his beard, which he wore full but well +trimmed, was vigorous and of auburn hue, and his thick head of hair was +well cut to moderate shortness. His features were quite regular; his +forehead high and full, and his head large. His face was pleasant and +animated, and he had a genial smile and greeting for all. His voice was +musical and clear, and his language remarkably correct. He loved to +spend a portion of his time in work on the farm and in the tree +nursery, and you might be sure of finding him there when not otherwise +occupied. Enjoying fun and social life, there was always a dignity +remaining which gave him influence and commanded respect. If you looked +into his room you saw pleasant volumes in various languages peeping at +you from the table, chair, bookcase, and even from the floor, and they +gave one the impression that for so young a person he was remarkably +studious and well informed. + +George P. Bradford had the department of Belle Lettres. Of him, after +his decease, his former friend and pupil, George William Curtis, wrote +as follows in _Harper's Monthly_ for May, 1890:-- + +"The recollection of George Bradford is that of a long life as serene +and happy as it was blameless and delightful to others. It was a life +of affection and many interests and friendly devotion; but it was not +that of a recluse scholar like Edward Fitzgerald, with the pensive +consciousness of something desired but undone. George Bradford was in +full sympathy with the best spirit of his time. He had all the +distinctive American interest in public affairs. His conscience was as +sensitive to public wrongs and perilous tendencies as to private and +personal conduct. He voted with strong convictions, and wondered +sometimes that the course so plain to him was not equally plain to +others. + +"It was a life with nothing of what we call achievement, and yet a life +beneficent to every other life that it touched, like a summer wind +laden with a thousand invisible seeds that, dropping everywhere, spring +up into flowers and fruit. It is a name which to most readers of these +words is wholly unknown, and which will not be written, like that of so +many of the friends of him who bore it, in our literature and upon the +memory of his countrymen. But to those who knew him well, and who +therefore loved him, it recalls the most essential human worth and +purest charm of character, the truest manhood, the most affectionate +fidelity. To those who hear of him now, and perhaps never again, these +words may suggest that the personal influences which most envelop and +sweeten life may escape fame, but live immortal in the best part of +other lives." + +Among the signers was also Nathaniel Hawthorne, the writer, and it may +not be out of place to make here a few comments on his relation to the +Brook Farm life, so often alluded to by writers. + +Hawthorne was an idealist in its broad sense. The idea of a juster and +more rational social state pleased him. He felt himself honored, and +was very grateful for the appreciation of the men and women by whom he +was surrounded in the literary circle of the Transcendental Club, but +he never surrendered the well-matured plan of his youth, to be a writer +of stories. + +When, he went to Brook Farm he thought that his manual labors might in +a small way do a trifle towards aiding the formation of the ideal +state, and evidently felt that in his leisure hours he could compose, +write for magazines, and the like; but the hard, unwonted though self- +imposed labor, the peculiar surroundings, the buzz and hum of the large +family in which he could not fail to take an interest, distracted him +from his purpose. James T. Fields, the publisher, said of him, "He was +a man who had, so to speak, a physical affinity with solitude." He +could not put his mind to his special work. The seclusion in which he +had worked before, he could not find, and though "no one intruded on +him," as he says, yet he was not in his best element. + +Had he stayed longer, this newness of situation would doubtless have +worn off, and he would have found a seclusion little dreamed of at +first acquaintance with the life. He was in haste to be at his writing; +so after a few months of manual labor, bidding adieu to the farm, he +found himself back in Boston. There were other interests that carried +him there, for we find that in the next year he married Sophia Peabody +of Salem, Mass. Critics have said that the Brook Farm life was hurtful +to his genius. He never once intimated it, but said afterwards to +Emerson that he was "almost sorry he did not stay with the Brook +Farmers and see it out to the finish." + +The most ingenuous, the most simple-minded of all men in matters of +ordinary business, in relative values and exchanges, and unwilling to +act as teacher, he could only be counted as an ordinary day-laborer, +except where he could use the twin gifts of intellect and imagination +with which he was so highly endowed. His allusion to his "having had +the good fortune, for a time, to be personally connected with it," and +"his old and affectionately remembered home at Brook Farm" speak +volumes, as does also this little passage from "Blithedale Romance":-- + +"Often in these years that are darkening around me, I remember our +beautiful scheme of a noble and unselfish life, and how fair in that +first summer appeared the prospect that it might endure for +generations, and be perfected, as the ages rolled by, into the system +of a people and a world. Were my former associates now there--were +there only three or four of those true-hearted men still laboring in +the sun--I sometimes fancy that I should direct my world-weary +footsteps thitherward, and entreat them to receive me for old +friendship's sake. More and more I feel we struck upon what ought to be +a truth. Posterity may dig it up and profit by it." + +In "Years of Experience" the writer, Georgiana (Bruce) Kirby, one of +the early associates, says:-- + +"Hawthorne, after spending a year at the Community, had now left. No +one could have been more out of place than he in a mixed company, no +matter how cultivated, worthy and individualized each member of it +might be. He was morbidly shy and reserved, needing to be shielded from +his fellows, and obtaining the fruits of observation at second-hand. He +was therefore not amenable to the democratic influences at the +Community which enriched the others, and made them declare, in after +years, that the years or months spent there had been the most valuable +ones in their lives." + +Messrs. W. B. Allen, Minot Pratt, Warren Burton, Charles Hosmer, Isaac +Hecker and George C. Leach, with Mr. Hawthorne, devoted most of their +time to outdoor farm work. + +Many of the pupils became interested in the new life with which they +came in contact. It influenced them for good, and in after years they +were full of gratitude and praise for the help and moral tone it +imparted to them. An extract from a letter from Mr. Richard F. Fuller, +the father of Margaret Fuller, to Mr. Ripley at this time reads as +follows:-- + +"A lady asked me not long since where she should send her daughter to +school. I said at once, to the _Community_, for there she would +learn for the first time, perhaps, that all these matters of creed and +morals are not quite so well settled as to make thinking nowadays a +piece of supererogation, and would learn to distinguish between truth +and the 'sense sublime,' and the dead dogmas of the past. This is the +great benefit I believe you confer upon the young." + +The pupil who became most prominent was George William Curtis, who +always acknowledged the beneficial effect it had upon all his future +career. + +New England and New York sent in their share of pupils until the +accommodations were crowded. The school flourished. It was not large, +but select. It was necessary to have more room, and a neighbor's +cottage was hired. Enthusiasts wished to build on the place. Plans of +procedure for the Association were indefinite. The central idea of +justice to all men and women was ever uppermost. Mrs. Olvord, a lady of +means, built a small gabled cottage of wood, which, owing to ill +health, she was able to occupy but a short time. At the highest point +of the domain, on a ledge of "pudding-stone," the Association erected a +small, square, wooden building which was named "the Eyrie," and at +another period a large double or twin house was built to be conjointly +occupied by two brothers from Plymouth, Mass., of the name of Morton; +it was called "the Pilgrim House." The original farmhouse was +christened "the Hive." The cultivation of the farm proceeded, and some +ornamentation in the shape of flower-beds was done around the houses. +It was soon found that much milk was needed at home, and the sale of it +was discontinued. + +A few individuals making a common family on a farm near a city, would +seem to be too unimportant a matter to excite much comment now, even +though the people who did it were superior in attainments, of high +purpose, and above criticism in their moral and social standing; but at +this date of our country's history, all thoughtful people in New +England seemed to be gaping at them with curiosity and wonder, and +comments were unlimited. As they were neither dogmatists, nor active +fanatics who brandished anathemas of terror and destruction at those +who followed not in their ways, but simply and unostentatiously +attended to their own business, and seemed to care very little for what +anyone said derogatory to their proceedings, the conditions appeared so +unique, that interest in their doings increased day by day. + +Mr. Ripley wrote of it a few months after its commencement: "We are now +in full operation as a family of workers, teachers and students. We +feel the deepest convictions that, for us, our mode of life is the true +one, and no attraction would tempt any one of us to exchange it for +that we have quitted lately." And it would be an impertinence now to +penetrate into its private circles and bring its members and doings to +the gaze of an investigating and curious public, were it not that its +doings and its members have become, from their relation to social +science, a part of public history. + +The pressure of life was off at Brook Farm, for the nonce. What anyone +did that was out of the common, might cause smiles and laughter but no +frowns or scoldings. Each felt and believed in the demonstration of his +or her own individuality, and, as a first consequence, there was +something that was often mistaken, by strangers, for rudeness and want +of order. Some forgot that it was especially work they came for, and +were anxious to have their theories discussed. Independence in dress +was universal. The Mrs. Grandys were all away, and if the young ladies +thought it was prettier to exhibit the grace of flowing tresses than to +bind them up in "pugs" behind their heads, who should, who could, +object? + +Prim Margaret Fuller, who was a visitor--and never a member of the +community as has often been stated--professed herself disturbed, at +first, by the easy and perhaps indifferent manner in which they +listened to her long conversations, as they sat on the floor or on +crickets; but on a later visit, she expressed herself as better +pleased. Doubtless some of the individual angularities had been rubbed +off, by this time, by the pleasant but close contact of the Community +life--and some of hers as well. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT. + + +Two years of the experimental and "idyllic" life, ran rapidly away, and +the Community had gained something of position and name in the outward +world. Personal contact had modified the extreme views of many of the +founders. Changes had taken place in the Individuals composing it; some +had departed. Six of the original stockholders remained. The number had +increased to about seventy, including some thirty who were pupils. The +financial success had not been all that was desired. Everything else +was getting more settled. The social life was charming. Improvements in +material matters, in comforts, in discipline and in grace of manners +were visible. But what was to be developed next among all the things +desirable? Was it to push the school still further in progress, to +attach mechanical industries to the organization, to work up the farm +life into more prominence, or what? + +It could not be expected that this large number of persons, whose early +surroundings and ideas had been so varied, could at once agree as to +what next steps were necessary to take, or to what definite end the +Community should be shaped. There was need, certainly, of some central +purpose strong enough for all to unite upon to inspire permanence. + +Neither Mr. Ripley nor any of his co-workers had heard of Charles +Fourier--the French exponent of industrial association--or his +doctrines, unless in a most casual way, and certainly they had not +studied them when they started the Community. They were independent +workers in a field of social science; but when they became acquainted +with his ideas, especially his ideas of industry made attractive by +organized labor, and its relation to the higher standard of work and +liberal belief they had adopted and maintained thus far, their +enthusiasm was awakened for them and they resolved to graft some of his +formulas on their institution. The little Community, with its bright, +cheerful school and its happy members, was not paying its way. There +were philosophers enough in it. There were plenty of sweet, charming +characters and amateur workmen in it, but the hard-fisted toilers and +the brave financiers were absent. + +Still, it was not entirely absence of financial success that led the +responsible men of the Community to make the change in the organization +that they did, but truly because the grand and reasonable ideas of the +distinguished Frenchman bore such internal evidences of harmony with +human nature and with God's providence and laws that they carried +conviction to the great and sympathetic minds of Brook Farm. Fourier +argued that there was a sublime destiny for mankind on this earth, that +the Creator was infinitely good, that all the instincts of our nature, +when not subverted by bad conditions, pointed towards that destiny, and +that humanity was on its way upward--that the past progress argued what +the future might be. + +I give as illustrations, a few extracts from "The Social Destiny of +Man," by Albert Brisbane, page 269:--"Four societies have existed on +the earth--the savage, patriarchal, barbarian and civilized. Under +these general heads may be classed the various social forms through +which man has progressed up to the present day. _If four have existed +may not a fifth, or even a sixth, be discovered and organized?_ +Common sense would dictate that there could, although the world has +entertained a different opinion." + +Page 293: "If the barbarian asserts that the lash is the only means of +forcing the slave to labor, the civilized is not far behind him in his +reasoning, for he will assert with equal confidence that necessity and +want are necessary stimulants to industry. The barbarian is as ignorant +of the levers which civilization puts in play as is the civilized of +the powerful incentives to action which the groups and series will call +forth." + +Page 464: "If He [God] has not known how or has not wished to give us a +social code productive of justice, industrial attraction and passional +harmony;--_if he has not known how_, how could he have supposed +our weak reason would succeed in a task in which he himself doubted of +success? _If he has not wished_, how can our legislators hope to +organize a society which would lead to the results above mentioned, and +of which he wished to deprive us.... What motive could he have had to +refuse us such a code? Six views may be taken on the subject of this +omission. + +"_First--either he has not known how_ to give us a social code +guaranteeing truth, justice and industrial attraction; in this case why +create in us the want of it, without having the means of satisfying +that want which he satisfies in creatures inferior to us, to which he +assigns a mode of existence adapted to their attractions and instincts: + +"Second--_or he has not wished_ to give us this code; which thus +supposes the Creator to be the persecutor of mankind, creating in us +wants which it is impossible to satisfy, inasmuch as none of our codes +can extirpate our permanent scourges: + +"Third--_or he has known how and has not wished_; in which case +the Creator becomes a malignant being, knowing how to do good, but +preferring the reign of evil: + +"Fourth--_or he has wished and has not known how_; in this case he +is incapable of governing us, knowing and wishing the good which he +cannot realize, and which we still less can attain: + +"Fifth--_or he has neither wished nor known how_; and we must +attribute to him both want of genius and evil intention: + +"Sixth--_or he has known how and has wished_; in this case the +code exists, and he must have provided a mode for its revelation--for +of what use would it be if it were to remain hidden from men for whom +it is destined?" + +Page 468: "If the human race were at the commencement of their social +career--in the first ages of civilization--they would perhaps be +excusable for founding some hope of social good upon human science, +upon the legislation of man; but long experience has proved the +impotency of human legislation, and shown clearly that the world has +nothing to hope from human laws and civilized constitutions." + +Page 260: "Either the passions _are_ bad or the social mechanism +_is false_, for evil prevails, and to a melancholy extent. If the +former be true, then there is no hope of a better state of things, for +every means of repression and constraint that human ingenuity could +invent has been applied to regulate their action; but all in vain--they +have remained unchanged, and in the eyes of the moralist as perverse as +ever. If, however, the latter be true--that is, if the social mechanism +be false--then there is a chance for a better future; for our +incoherent and absurd societies are changing more or less with every +century. They are at the mercy or whim of a tyrant, or of a revolution +of the mass; they may therefore be reformed or done away with +entirely." + +These grand words and this powerful logic, if even too strong for some +of the readers of this book, were not so for the brave hearts of the +leaders of Brook Farm, and for Mr. Ripley in particular. The tentative +feeling, the search for science to back up the social impulses, seemed +at last to have found something solid in a society conceived by the +Creator; the man created by him, fitted to it by him; the society +fitted to the man; the one the counterpart of the other. Albert +Brisbane, Parke Godwin and Horace Greeley, with the _Tribune_, +were arousing the thinkers in New York; Gerritt Smith was agitating the +land question and giving away to actual settlers vast tracts of land +owned by him. The works of the communist Owen and others were read. +Antislavery, anti-war and non-resistance societies were vigorously +prosecuting their claims. It was an era of great social activity. +Thousands were aroused. "Communities," "Associations" and "Phalanxes" +were springing up in various quarters. It seemed that the tide of +change from social chaos to order was fast rising. A great wave of +reform was sweeping over the land. Should the Community moor itself +where it was, or be borne on with the flood? + +This was the question of moment; and while the young danced or played, +acted in charade or masquerade, and the youths wove garlands of green +around their straw hats, and amused themselves by wearing long tresses +and tunics, the sedater heads were solving this important question. And +they must decide it, but first of all Mr. Ripley's wishes must be +consulted: the key to the situation was in his hands. What would he do? +Would he, and should they, take among them men and women endowed only +with practical, everyday talents, able to be honest and make shoes and +sew garments; to strike with a sledge and a blacksmith's arm; to be +adepts, maybe, in all the cares for the outward wants of the body, but +who had never read Goethe or Schiller, and, possibly, neither +Shakespeare, Scott nor Robert Burns; and might not care to read or +study Latin, French, German or philosophy! It was for Mr. Ripley to +decide. + +Did he then think of the little church in Purchase Street, and of what +he had solemnly said to the listening congregation? Had he not told +them that in every soul was a divine fire that aspired to the right no +matter how deeply it had been covered from sight or buried by the +troubling cares and surroundings that environed it: that there was a +divine equality of spirit at the base of all human lives? + +Did he not hear reverberating in his soul the sublime passage, "If I be +lifted up, I will lift all others up to me"? Had he not been lifted up? +Had he not been supremely blest with health, strength, education, +talent, friends, companionship with the great and his cup filled full +of the sweet and sublime accords of the Christian faith? Had he not +been lifted up, not in crucifixion, but by myriads of silent blessings, +and was it not Christ-like to aid in lifting all others up also? + +Alas for those who speak of Mr. Ripley's action at this time as +"Ripley's fall"! These were the moments when he achieved his glory, +when the greatness of his character arose, almost without exception, +above all others of the Transcendental School, who hovered around, and +wished to claim him as a bright example of a man separated from the +common herd of humanity, as a leader of a select group of men and +women, cultivated intellectually and socially. Then, as before, when he +saw what he deemed right, or, rather, when the intuitions of his soul +told him his duty, he did not hesitate. + +Soon he was practically deserted by Emerson and his coterie, by some of +the associates and pupils of the school, and boarders, who were scared +out of their propriety by the fear of losing social caste, and they +showed their disfavor by leaving him alone; but, intrenched as he was, +and surrounded by a multitude of friends, new and old, and many +secretly admiring his intrepid spirit, they could only vent their +disfavor in sly sneers and hints that Mr. Ripley, and, of course, his +followers with him, had fallen from their high estate. Yes, they who +sat near by on the fences and crowed reform the loudest--they who had +never soiled their ink-stained fingers with the grass-green sod of old +Brook Farm in practical example of work--found most fault with him, +because he chose to remain and risk his social standing still more than +he had already done, in his magnificent work and experiment. + +In order to show more clearly some of the philosophy under which the +leaders of Brook Farm based the changes in their theories and +organization, let us pause a few moments to give a slight sketch of the +growth of human society from its primitive formation to the present +time, trusting that the time spent on it may not be unworthily used, +and the patience of those to whom these ideas are old is asked for the +benefit of others to whom they are new. + +It is evident that, at some time, there was a beginning of social life. +To those who have full faith in the Mosaic record it was in the Garden +of Eden; but that may be considered as before society, as such, was +fairly begun. It was the very dawn of the childhood of our race. To +those who recognize the fact that the primitive man was a weak, +unskilled, uncultivated savage, the conclusion must come that the first +social life of the race was very crude; that men lived in trees or in +caves and rude huts, and that they formed societies or hordes for +protection from the huge and formidable wild animals that roamed the +uncultivated earth. + +Upon the slain beasts, wild fruits and grains they existed. They hunted +and fished, and although the passions of friendship, love and ambition +implanted in their souls by their Creator shone out at times, at other +times they quarrelled like the brutes they slaughtered. This state of +crude society is named _savagism_. + +But as the beasts became less formidable foes, and were much diminished +in numbers by being slain and possibly from other causes, it is +probable that at times the race suffered hunger, and finding that the +ground readily produced from seed, the primitive race or races began to +plant, and finding also that they had slain so many of the wild animals +that they could keep herds of cattle without great danger of their +destruction by them, the life of the herdsman began. But as the herds +began to be numerous, it was found necessary to travel with them in +order to give them new pasturage, and then the nomadic or wandering +life was fully installed. + +With their cattle and their wives, and their limited knowledge of +cultivation, the patriarchal tribe moved from place to place; sometimes +to find water, sometimes to find pasture for their horses and cattle, +and at harvest time they returned to their fields to harvest the grain +which had been planted for all. This, as you see, describes crudely the +second state of society, which is the "_patriarchal_" state. + +As population increased, the difficulty of constantly changing the +place of residence was more and more apparent; and as some arts had +sprung up, such as the manufacture of pottery, farming implements and +defensive weapons, which could not be equally well carried on in all +places, towns, and afterwards cities, sprang up, where the artisans +resided; and being often liable to marauders, especially when the +outside population or tribes were wandering away from them, they +enclosed them with walls. By industry some wealth was acquired; some +luxury and comparative splendor were introduced. Prominent and +naturally ambitious individuals and families raised themselves into +power, and, placing themselves at the head of armies, with the newest +weapons of war, made by their own hands, went forth to conquer. Thus +the third, or what is called the "_barbaric_" state was +established. + +Still moving on in the same direction, a great variety of class +distinction was made. Woman arose steadily from a condition of almost +hopeless slavery to be the one companion of man, and direct slavery of +man to man was abolished. Invention was stimulated, and means of +dissemination of knowledge, such as the printing press and the +university, came to light. Kings and princes reign by law, which is +fully established, and commerce and trade flourish. These things +inaugurate the advent of civilization; but perhaps the most marked +types of civilization are the _independence of the individual, +monogamic marriage_ and _free competition_. Thus was established +the fourth societary condition. + +Society having progressed so far, and gone through so many changes, is +it reasonable that it must now stop at what we call +"_civilization_" as the _ultimatum_ of its progress? With a +little thought it will be seen how surely man has, through all these +changes, emancipated himself from physical surroundings until he stands +forth free and independent, but without, however, any positive relation +or duty binding him to maintain the independence of all the human +brotherhood. His independence is for himself alone, and in that +relation he is forced by _conditions of his surroundings_ to +neglect and trespass on the rights of his fellow-man to keep his +individual supremacy, and to develop various promptings of his soul, +which are ofttimes good, great and noble. + +In the early days of civilization, free competition develops the +resources of man. The prospect of wealth, and the power it brings with +it, encourages trade to seek the ends of the earth, and from its +products vast enterprises are built up. As every fruit has in it that +which causes its final dissolution, and within it also the germs of a +future and higher life, so civilized society carries in it the germs of +its decay and dissolution, society being a natural product, as fruit +is, of God's providence. _Free competition_ is the destructive +agent, or one of the most important agents in its dissolution. Observe +that the power which ripens a natural fruit causes, in the end, its +destruction. Observe also that free competition, which in the early +stages of civilization glorifies and typifies it, by continuing at its +work will finally destroy it. + +There is another element which is called capital. In savage life there +is hardly anything which can be called capital. The amount of capital +depends on the wealth of the community. As society advances, wealth +increases; from savagism to civilization, from early civilization to +the present time. This wealth, this capital comes from the reserved +products of labor; "dried labor," it has been called, for labor is its +only source of production. This wealth belongs to the community that +has earned it, saved it and inherited it. It is the grand moving power +of society as it now stands, and without it we would return to the +savage state. Society can never be too wealthy, any more than it can be +too powerful, and the one is the synonym, to a great extent, of the +other. + +But capital with interest, as the agent and assistant of competition, +is destructive. Capital joined with labor builds manufactories, +railroads, towns, and is the great moving power of civilization; but in +the growth of civilization vast amounts of it have accumulated, and +being unevenly distributed, there are those who are constantly seeking +its use to help them to business and to elevation, and have been ready +to pay a royalty, which we call interest, for the use of it. This has +made capital a commodity. + +The progress of arts and inventions has been, in modern days, in such +increased ratio to the increase of capital that it has created so great +a demand that a monopoly has been made of it; more is paid for the use +of it than its real worth, so that wealth, even in this democratic +country, is piling up in colossal fortunes by being drawn from the +great body of society. Consequently, classes of people grow relatively +poorer as fast as other bodies of people or individuals grow richer; +the extremes of riches and poverty constantly increasing. + +Every advance in the producing capacity of machinery gives organized +capital a better hold on labor, because capital owns the machinery, +and, in homely phrase, labor "is the under dog in the fight" all of the +time. It makes no practical difference to it whether the laborer +becomes capitalist or no, for the moment he becomes so he is engaged in +the same crusade. He is no better nor worse than the one whom we called +capitalist yesterday. It is the _unnatural position_ or +_relation_ of _capital and labor_ that makes him what he is. +To change this relation to a more just one was among the grandest ideas +of the Brook Farmers, and the only way it could possibly be done, in +their estimation, was by reorganizing society on a new basis; by +combining the capital of the workers and others interested and using it +so as finally to control machinery for the benefit of labor, and to +reduce its hours of toil so that the laborer could have time for self- +improvement. + +Having traced the progress of society from its earliest forms to our +present civilization, it can be easily shown how the supreme or +governing power is first in the hands of the most powerful physically; +then passes to the one most able by prowess to sway a tribe or people; +then passes into the hierarchy of the church, that rules by swaying +mental terrors; next into the hierarchy of the state, that rules by +both mental and physical terrors; and, in our present civilization, has +passed or is passing rapidly into the hands of a moneyed class ruling +with powers according to the amount of capital swayed; and it can be +proved that these changes are but the natural result of forces that are +as sure and constant as sunlight and electricity. + +This present form of social power, it is argued, is transient, and like +the others, will pass away and be replaced, and can only be replaced by +anarchy, or by a hierarchy of organized talent arranged in serial order +from the most talented down to the humblest laborer, and this was +another of the grand ideas of the Brook Farmers. From the seeds of this +civilization will spring--is springing--a higher order. It is an order +that the teacher Fourier called "_guaranteeism_." It is an order +in which the _governing power_ passes from the moneyed aristocracy +into the hands of _organized bodies_. It is an order in which the +spiritual and material truths are incorporated into organic societies +and governments which guarantee to everyone support in sickness and +protection from dangers of various sorts; an order which, in fact, +abounds in mutual guarantees covering by degrees all the numerous +necessities and wants of life--hence its name; and finally, in the +process of time, placing all the material wants of the people under +protective guarantees. + +This fifth condition of society must pass into the sixth order, which +is the _associative order_, or the coöperative phase of society in +which it will be proven by practical works that, by adherence to +principles and proper organizations, we may avoid a large share of the +miseries we have in the past so unsparingly laid to the charge of the +Deity as discipline for us, but which are the results of our own +ignorance. The "_harmonic order_" is associated life of a high +type, and includes association of families, economy of means, unity of +interests, labor made attractive, equitable distribution of profits, +integral justice, etc., in such a way as to bring about very great +happiness among _all_ people, thus deserving its grand name. From +the commencement of the age of harmony, which is a higher octave of +life, society begins a new era, the beauties and accords of which no +one can do more than speculate upon. + +This sketch of the progress of the human race may seem trite to many +readers. It may have a familiar sound, but it is necessary to our +narrative. It was promulgated many years before our modern writers came +into the field with their evolutionary theories, and it is at least a +theoretic base for social scientists to build their hopes of present +and future progress on. To the Brook Farm leaders it was new; it was +sensible; it was reasonable. Communism they did not favor, for their +motto was, "Community of property is the grave of individual liberty." +Instinctively they rebelled against it. + +The organized communities held everything in common--houses, lands, +moneys and goods; even prescribing what garments should be worn, and +also electing a religious creed for their members. It was not +compatible with the greater ideas of freedom held at Brook Farm. It was +not a free life and it could not be a true life, for they all believed +in the motto, "The _truth_ shall make you _free_," and +instead of freedom, the "Communities" used mental constraint and +tyranny to hold themselves together. + +The Brook Farmers believed that the laborer owned the value of his +labor; if it was used, it was credited to him, and a part of the +increased value of the domain belonged to him. It never belonged to the +organization;--that is, the value of it--but by mutual consent might be +retained, invested and added to the laborer's stock. Theoretically the +result would show that the person who was the most capable, active and +industrious would in time own the most accrued capital. This the Brook +Farmers claimed was right and according to nature, and, combined with +_yearly diminishing interest_, could not be destructive, as +capital is now. + +They had fallen unwittingly, it may be said, on ideas that coincided +with those of Charles Fourier. There was an agreement between them, +unknown at the start. Their idea that certain mutual guarantees were to +be in the constitution, such as immunity from labor in extreme age and +youth, care in sickness--a certain "minimum" of rights according to the +prosperity or wealth of the institution--and that an "integral +education" was a duty of the Association--an education not of the mind +alone, but of the hands, heart and affections--coincided exactly with +Fourier, and it was easy to adopt his motto of "_coöperative +labor_," for they had already adopted the principle; also +"_association of families_," for that had been agreed on. It was +easy to adopt his formula of "_honors according to usefulness_"; +they believed in it. + +Usefulness, not wealth, station or any artificial distinction, was to +receive the highest rank and the greatest honors and favors from the +body politic. It might be an invention of the mind; it might be some +Herculean or disagreeable labor of the body, or it might be some +enthusiasm imparted from some brilliant soul, that would win the honor; +but it could be given to none except those who had won it by superior +usefulness, whether that usefulness came from doing the work in the +"sacred legion"--who were a body of persons who did unattractive work +from a sense of duty--or in any other body or group. + +It was easy to adopt "_attractive industry_," another of Fourier's +mottoes, for were they not trying mind and body to make it so? And +finally, it was easy to adopt the aphorism that the attractions of life +in the universe are in proportion to the destinies they assist in +accomplishing--"_attractions are proportionate to destinies_," as +it is translated. Certainly it was simple and easy to grasp and +believe, when explained so well as it had been by Fourier, and by +Brisbane and Godwin, his American translators. And lastly, if all these +things were true, why not say so and adopt them? They were outside and +free from modern society. They had one of their own. They were happy in +it. They had adopted truth as their guide--truth as they saw it, and +whenever and wherever they saw it. + +Thus closed the first chapter in the history of this little society. +They had gathered together without any idea of scientific organization, +but from profound convictions of the present wrong relations of the +human brotherhood, from religious convictions of duty, and in the +belief that they would increase in love to one another, and draw to +themselves by their example the good and wise; believing also that if +they planted the seeds of truth and unity they would be watered with +deeds of faith, and by degrees overtop and destroy the evil undergrowth +that abounded in the so-called civilization all around them. + +Now came to the leaders a new revelation! It was of science applied to +society. Mr. Ripley had great faith in scientific agriculture. Was +there to be science applied to society? Was it true that the actual +laws applicable to social life had been discovered? Were they immutable +as the laws of earthly bodies--of the sun, the stars and the universe? +And did they actually agree with the laws of music, color and +mathematics? It seemed so. They could but try them. And with a faith +for which, during all these succeeding years, they have been, laughed +at by cynical philosophers, they went to work to apply them, as far as +possible, to the actual life they were then leading. All honor to them! + +When the resolution was finally taken to join with the movements that +seemed to be, as it were, a new impulse for humanity's sake--an +outpouring of spirit upon the children of men, instanced by the very +great and sudden interest taken by numerous bodies, societies and +individuals along the line of social reform--it was not entirely +palatable to all who had looked on the little Community as their pet +property, their ideal home; for the sainted individualists, for +cultivated book-worms, for theorists who could read Latin and Greek but +whose ideas of labor extended only to planting flowers or washing with +care a few muslins to adorn their beautiful selves; and fearing a loss +of selectness some departed. The motive extended to the school, and, +although many of the former pupils left, their places were soon filled +by others. + +The responsible men looked at the matter from another standpoint. They +felt that the labor on the farm had been the least success of anything, +and that to organize and improve it was one thing important, if not +_the_ one thing needful. Many good men stood at the outer gates +waiting for entrance. The members of the "Direction" were firm, and +brave. They felt that the experience of the first two years was a +permanent advantage to them, and they reorganized under the same name +as before. With the new constitution was published a preliminary +statement from which the following is extracted:-- + +"All persons who are not familiar with the purposes of Association, +will understand from this document that we propose a radical and +universal reform rather than to redress any particular wrong, or to +remove the sufferings of any single class of human beings. We do this +in the light of universal principles in which all differences, whether +of religion, or politics, or philosophy, are reconciled, and the +dearest and most private hope of every man has the promise of +fulfilment. Herein, let it be understood, we would remove nothing that +is truly beautiful or venerable; we reverence the religious sentiment +in all its forms, the family and whatever else has its foundation +either in human nature or Divine Providence. The work we are engaged in +is not destruction, but true conservation; it is not a mere resolution, +but, as we are assured, a necessary step in the progress which no one +can be blind enough to think has yet reached its limit. + +"We believe that humanity, trained by these long centuries of suffering +and struggle, led on by so many saints and heroes and sages, is at +length prepared to enter into that universal order toward which it has +perpetually moved. Thus we recognize the worth of the whole past, and +of every doctrine and institution it has bequeathed us; thus also we +perceive that the present has its own high mission, and we shall only +say what is beginning to be seen by all sincere thinkers, when we +declare that the imperative duty of this time and this country, nay, +more, that its only salvation and the salvation of civilized countries, +lies in the reorganization of society according to the unchanging laws +of human nature, and of universal harmony. + +"We look, then, to the generous and helpful of all classes for +sympathy, for encouragement and for actual aid; not to ourselves only, +but to all who are engaged in this great work. And whatever may be the +result of any special efforts, we can never doubt that the object we +have in view will be finally attained; that human life shall yet be +developed, not in discord and misery, but in harmony and joy, and that +the perfected earth shall at last bear on her bosom a race of men +worthy of the name." + +[_Signed by the Directors_.] GEORGE RIPLEY. MINOT PRATT. CHARLES +A. DANA. + +Brook Farm, Mass., Jan. 18, 1844. + +This constitution was largely like the first one, but varied from it in +the following particulars:-- + +"The department of Industry shall be managed in groups and series as +far as is practicable, and shall consist of three primary series, to +wit: Agricultural, Mechanical and Domestic Industry. The chief of each +group to be elected weekly, and the chief of each series once in two +months by the members thereof, subject to the approval of the General +Direction." + +"Persons wishing to become members must first reside on the place as +applicants for one month." + +"Applicants who have passed acceptably through their term may become +candidates, and remain in this new relation a month more, when they may +be admitted as Associates." + +"Personal property may be received as stock by the Direction of Finance +when it shall be deemed advantageous to the Association." + +"Persons shall, on becoming residents on the domain, deliver an exact +inventory of all the furniture and implements which they may retain as +private property, to be filed for reference in the office of the +Direction." + +"New groups and series may be formed from time to time for the +prosecution of different and new branches of industry." + +"Three hundred days shall be considered a year's labor. The hours of +labor shall be from the first of October to the first of April at least +eight hours daily, and from the first of April to the first of October +at least ten hours daily, and no person shall be credited for labor +beyond that time." + +"No debt shall be contracted in behalf of the Association by any person +whatever." + +"Articles furnished to the Associates shall be charged at cost as +nearly as the same can be ascertained." + +"The period of education shall extend from birth to the age of twenty +years, and shall be divided into three stages: Infancy to six years, +Pupilage from six to sixteen years, and Probation from sixteen to +twenty. The education during probation shall be in the practical duties +of Associates." + +"No public meeting for business or amusement shall be protracted beyond +the hour of ten P. M." + + * * * * * + +Many persons who have heard of the Community life at Brook Farm have +idealized it into a little coterie of choice spirits who sat around the +study lamp at early eve, after the light toil of the day had ceased, +and discussed the intellectual problems of the German philosophers who +had given much of the impulse to the Transcendental Club, and brought +so many young men forward as leaders of thought; but this was only +partially true. + +Mr. Ripley at first endeavored to instruct the assembly and impart to +them some of his own intellectual enthusiasm. Evening classes were +formed; readings took place from some of the prominent poets--Goethe, +Schiller, Shakespeare; from Carlyle and Cousin as well as Emanuel Kant; +but when the industrial period began, he had more than his hands full, +and he laid his books on the shelf. They were his tools--they were the +ladders on which he had mounted to his high estate. Why should he +worship them? They had taught him, as had the Hebrew writers, faith in +the Creator; faith in His best creation, man; faith in reason, faith in +right, faith, in a magnificent human destiny. Why should he spend his +life in singing praises of them? To work! To begin to shape society to +higher ends! That was indeed the worthiest end in life, and his +worthiest homage to the writers and their books. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND DESCRIPTIONS. + + +It was a pleasant afternoon in March, 1843, when I left Boston, in a +small omnibus, that started from Brattle Street for West Roxbury +Village and Brook Farm. My father's family of three had preceded me, he +remaining behind to close his business; it was a question of but a few +days when we should be all embarked in the new and untried life to +which we were looking forward with pleasurable emotions. + +The nine miles of interval was passed, riding through an undulating +country, by pleasant farms surrounded with the stone walls so common in +Massachusetts and the eastern states, and by pretty white houses, with +green window blinds and little front flower gardens, with fruit and +shade trees standing sentinels on their borders. Here and there a ledge +of "pudding-stone" cropped out, and the scenery grew more primitive as +we neared the vicinity of the farm. Slowly we rode on, leaving +passengers and parcels by the way until it showed signs of deepening +twilight, when we reached by a slight acclivity the door of the +farmhouse that was at the entrance of the place, where I was soon +joined by my relatives who took me in charge and made me presentable +for supper; but I was too late to join with the family, and took my +first meal with them the following day. + +Looking out of the window the next morning, I found it overlooked the +farm-yard and the broad meadow that lay south of the house. What +awakened me was the sound of a trumpet or horn, blown by some one for +rising or breakfast. I dressed leisurely, as I found it was the first +or "rising horn," and went out of the front door for a survey. Before +me was the driveway. A wooden fence, and a row of mulberry and spruce +trees stood guarding the two embankments that were terraced down to the +brook and meadow. On the embankments were shrubs and flower beds. A +couple of rods to the right stood a graceful elm, beside a gateway that +opened on a pathway to the garden and fields. + +Passing by the front of the house I found that two wings had been added +to it in the rear, leaving shed and carriage room beneath. Directly in +front of me, and facing due east, was a large barn raised upon stone +posts, which was open on the south side to the large barnyard, and +between the barn and house was a driveway or road, leading over the +premises. + +In the kitchen, which was directly in the rear of the dining room, +there was a clatter of dishes, and a few persons were going from place +to place outside. + +Some one was in the barn attending to the cattle. He had on a tarpaulin +straw hat, and a farmer's frock of blue mixture that hung down below +the tops of his cowhide boots. I looked sharply at the man, and found +it was Mr. George Ripley. The "second horn" sounded; it aroused the +dog, who howled pitifully or musically--in bad unison with it. Soon the +persons from the other houses came to breakfast, strolling leisurely +along. + +I found that all the people, unless ill, took their meals at the +farmhouse dining room. A little quaintness of dress, some picturesque +costumes--such as the blue tunics with black belts of leather, that the +men wore; the full beards, that were not common then as now; the broad +hats and graceful, flowing hair of the young ladies; the varied style +of garments of the students and the boarders--all interested me. + +The long, low dining room had rows of tables, some six in number, +seating on an average fourteen persons each. White painted benches +supplied the place of chairs. The tables were neatly set in white ware; +white mugs served for both cups and drinking glasses. There were white +linen table cloths, and everything was scrupulously neat. + +At the farther end of the room sat Mr. Ripley. The garments of the +husbandman and farmer had all been laid aside, and, neatly dressed, he +was smiling and laughing, his gleaming eyes seeming to reflect their +brilliancy on the golden bows of his spectacles. At his right sat his +wife, and near by his sister, who poured the morning libation of tea or +coffee. Most of the pupils were at this table. Mrs. Ripley, tall, +graceful and slim, was, like her husband, near-sighted, but only on +occasions would she raise a gold-bowed eye-glass to look at some +distant object or person. The fare at the table was plain; good bread, +butter and milk from the farm were present. It is hardly necessary to +say that I looked around with peculiar interest on those who were to be +my new friends and companions. It was not a dismal or sober meal. There +was a happy buzz that indicated to me a probability of great future +happiness. + +How well do I remember the old dining-room with its familiar forms and +faces--too many to describe now! There were the young and pretty Misses +Foord; the one a dimpled blonde, lovely, rosy-complexioned, with large, +wonderful blue eyes; and her sister with her clear skin and dark hair +and eyebrows, both wearing their contrasted and unbound tresses flowing +over their graceful shoulders. And hark! 'tis Dolly, dear Dolly Hosmer, +with her rollicking, noisy laugh. And pretty Mary Donnelly--oh, how +pretty! with the dimples and the peach-bloom on her face, her white +teeth and coal-black hair--ever pretty whether she was smiling at you +or peeling potatoes. And Charles Newcomb, the mysterious and profound, +with his long, dark, straight locks of hair, one of which was +continually being brushed away from his forehead as it continually +fell; with his gold-bowed eye-glass, his large nose and peculiar blue +eyes, his spasmodic expressions of nervous horror, and his +cachinnatious laugh. There were sturdy Teel, and heavy Eaton, and +frisky Burnham, and bluff Rykman, with round-eyed Fanny Dwight and +another graceful Fanny, and oh! so many more men and women, friends and +workers striving for a sublime idea. I could describe very many of them +and the minute details of all the houses and surroundings, but it would +unwisely overcrowd these pages. + +Mounting the central and highest portion of the farm I found it was +beautifully situated in an amphitheatre surrounded by hills on all +sides, and formed a charming picture. There was a young orchard of +apple trees, and here and there stood a few shade trees by the walls +and roadside. There were fields, or rather patches, where corn and +vegetables were grown for family use. Some of them were exposed on the +southern faces of the hills, and some were in the hollows. In front was +the broad, meadow, like a pleasant sea of green, stretching far away. + +From the first house, the old farmhouse called now "the Hive"--a pretty +and well-chosen name--the driveway led to the other houses. It +descended nearly to the level of the meadow, and did not rise again +until it neared the "Pilgrim House," the most distant one. From that it +turned on itself on the high ground toward the "Cottage" and "Eyry," +the remaining houses. + +The "Pilgrim House," an oblong double house, occupying a commanding +position, was plain and white, without ornamentation, and squarely +built like most of the New England country houses of its date. There +were no trees around it, and it was the least attractive house on the +place. + +The "Cottage" had four gables, and was also plain and unpretending; it +had only some half-a-dozen rooms and was painted a dark brown color. It +was situated on a little knoll, with flower beds in the rear, and +greensward all around it. + +Beyond and nearer to the "Hive," in the centre of the domain, was the +"Eyry" (this is the way Mr. Ripley spelled it; some spelled it "Eyrie" +and some "Aerie"). It had for its base a ledge of Roxbury conglomerate +called "pudding-stone," and it was banked up with two greensward +terraces. It had the highest and finest location, with a background of +oak and maple woods, and looked out on the orchard, commanding a fine +view. It was a square, smooth, wooden structure painted a light gray, +sandstone color. It was made of smooth, matched boards, and had a +large, flat cornice or flange that surrounded it near the top, which +saved it from extreme plainness. Yet it was pleasing to the eye, and it +had low, French windows that open like doors out on to the upper +terrace. + +As I looked in it for the first time I saw that a few pictures adorned +the walls: pressed fern leaves filled the mantel vases, and the bright +remnants of last autumn's foliage were in some places fastened to the +walls. There was also a piano, over which hung an oil painting, and in +the opposite room was a large array of Mr. Ripley's books. It was "the +library," and many of the works were in German. In particular, there +was a set of fourteen volumes, "Specimens of Foreign Literature," +edited by Mr. Ripley, that attracted my attention. + +At the Cottage were the school-rooms principally for the younger +children; and the Pilgrim House was used mostly for family lodgings. + +For a time my sleeping apartment was with others in the upper room of +the rear wing of the farmhouse, dignified by the name "Attica." My +companions were all single men; good, reliable fellows who were working +for a principle and would ordinarily have declined such a lodging- +place, but under the circumstances were not apt to grumble, but made +the best of it. It was like camping out, and all its mischances were +turned into fun. My roommates were called "the Admiral," "the +Dutchman," "the General" and "the Parson,"--nicknames given each one of +them for some personal peculiarity. + +There were advantages as well as disadvantages in living in "Attica." +It was nearest the centre of the life and business of the place. In the +winter mornings there was no long walk to meals, as those had who lived +at the other houses. We were near the warm kitchen; and when the house +was still and work suspended--all save the baking of bread, which often +proceeded in the evening in the range ovens--a group would gather +around the fire and talk and gossip--for we were not beyond the last; +speculation, theory and argument went pleasantly on until bed-time. + +No, Attica! I have not forgotten the days spent inside thy walls, thy +strange inhabitants, or the mysteries that surrounded thee on my first +entrance into thy domain! I have not forgotten the long, low roof and +projecting beams, or the half dozen bedsteads that were standing +around; the two large chimneys that arose in the centre and the number +of stove-pipes that came from below and entered them; or the skylights +that were thy only means of illumination save the window at "the +Parson's" end, which looked out on the pleasant fields and the houses +beyond; or the plain, uncarpeted floor, the washstands by the chimneys +and the clothing hung up around. + +Neither have I forgotten the nights when lying in bed I have heard the +rain pouring and pattering above thee and me; or when I saw by the dim +light of a single oil lamp, as I lifted myself on my elbow in bed, one +of the occupants moving his cot bedstead from some gentle leak that was +getting too familiar with his bedclothes; or when in the dreary winter +the Storm King howled around and bore some fleecy flakes on his windy +gusts through a stray hole in the roof, and morning showed us a +miniature white mountain on the floor. + +No, to this day a vision of the "Parson" (Capen) comes to me, reading +by the light of an oil lamp placed on a shelf at the head of his +bedstead, long after others were asleep; lying in bed at the +furthermost portion of thy space; now chuckling to himself, then +drowsily reading on and on, with his spectacles dropped down on to the +point of his long nose--as the passage was either witty or dry; or +visions of the early risers, waking betimes and disturbing the dreams +of the later ones by the preparations of the toilet; or the sound of +the morning horn as it rose from beneath us on the clear air! + +I was seventeen years of age, and having passed the time when I could +have been by right a pupil in the day school, was assigned to manual +labor. You will see by the Constitution that I was a "Probationer." It +was fortunate that I loved the grass and trees, and the routine of farm +life. My youth excused and deprived me of the council meetings and the +right to vote, so that many hours spent by some, though but a little +older than myself, in meetings, were absolutely mine to rove in, or to +use as I liked. Though born to city life and work I dearly loved the +country and a farm, but did not know its duties, nor had I the strength +for heavy labor, so I assisted in work in and about the houses in the +early hours of the day, and in some of the lighter farming, as +planting, hoeing, weeding and driving the oxen, horses and cows; in +fact, taking a lad's place in the farm and house employments. + +Owing to the amount of labor and the disproportion of female help, some +of the young men under age oftentimes assisted after meals in wiping +dishes and supplying hot and cold water. It was a matter of rivalry +between parties to see which could beat in a match, the washer or +wipers. Two lads of near my own age supplied dishes and hot water as +fast as it was needed, and one young lady washed the plates, saucers, +mugs and the like, the same young men doing the wiping. + +There was plenty of plain crockery piled up and it was rushed into a +capacious receptacle and washed with great dexterity. Then wipe, young +men, wipe! Will you allow a young lady to wash faster than two can +wipe? _Never_, _boys_, never! and with incredible speed the +surface of the plates and dishes was changed into mirrors. There was +one young lady who was hard to beat; often when the parties thought +they had nearly succeeded she would cry out for "hot water"! and one +would have to supply her with it, and by that time his partner would be +overwhelmed with a stock of unwiped crockery. Need I say that at times +I was one of those boys? + +There were none of the modern conveniences for water, and the pump had +to do its share of work. The rooms were supplied daily by a water +carrier who went from house to house filling the pails and pitchers in +the rooms and halls. + +I was willing and tractable. The fresh air, the simple diet and the +free life began at once to tone up my organization. I soon found that +the Eyry steps and the Eyry embankments were where the air was freshest +of an evening, and the tones of the piano presided over by the "poet's +sister," Fanny Dwight, attracted me more and more. The pupils and those +of their ages grouped naturally together. I did not care to go among +the arguers and the disputants who talked anti-this and anti-that, the +new sciences of medicine--the water cure and homoeopathy; who disputed +the doctrines of community of property, western lands, politics, +approaching war with Mexico, etc., etc. Nor did I care to group with +the few who played euchre and smoked "conchas," and the book of nature +had very often more charms for me than any other. + +Our family rooms were small, and as stated I was sandwiched in with +others, in rather unpromising quarters. But I almost only slept there. +My interested parents often spent the evenings as well as the days in +domestic duties, so I was much alone. I cared not. I could thoughtfully +contemplate the climbing constellations, and sometimes one of the many +who grew friendly to me would point out the planets and name the stars +for me, and I would watch the moon rise slowly above the horizon. The +beautiful meadow was below me, and above and around the whole eastern +hemisphere of sky. Or I would wander around the houses to see what was +going on, meeting groups of promenaders by the way. At the cottage the +piano would be playing, and likely as not Lucas and José or Willard and +Charles were waltzing with Anna and Abbie or Katie and Agnes to +Louisa's playing. Or it was singing school, and all joined it; or Mrs. +Ripley was going to read "Margaret"; or the "Professor" (Dana) wanted +me in his German class; or it was full moon and we would walk a mile or +two down the highway, or make a moonlight visit to the pines. Otherwise +I was dreaming day-dreams to Fanny's piano playing. + +Ah! do you think I was indolent? Not so! In my meditations I was +working out social problems and solving theories of life and religion. +I was nursing kindliness of heart, love to all men. I was awakening a +crushed nature, and absorbing influences that made the mottoes of +"Unity of man with man," "Unity of man with God," "Unity of man with +the universe," seem like real, tangible things. But who can say how +much was also due to the low, soothing harmonies that floated out of +those graceful windows with parting sashes that opened like doors down +to the windowsills? + +In time I explored every cranny and hollow of ground. I wandered in the +woods, found every wild flower, knew every tree; knew where the +trailing evergreens grew; could go to the spot where I could find what +I wanted for bouquets, and surprised the Community with their ample +size and beauty. I came in with wreaths and garlands; gathered +varieties of grasses untold; picked rhodoras in early spring, saracenas +and orchids in summer, asters and gentians in the late fall, and +innumerable flowers in various places of a neighborhood wonderfully +rich in botanical specimens. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INDUSTRIAL PERIOD. + + +When I arrived, Hawthorne, Bradford, Hosmer, Hecker, Burton, Leach and +Allen had gone; as had also the Curtis brothers, George and Burrill, +the Bancroft boys, sons of the historian, and Barlow (since General +Barlow)--all pupils; as well as some of the ladies--Miss Dora Gannett, +niece of Rev. Ezra S. Gannett, Miss Georgianna Bruce, (afterwards Mrs. +Kirby), Miss Allen, Miss Sarah Stearns; and the phase of the Brook Farm +life jocosely or seriously alluded to by the after-comers as the +"Transcendental Days" or "Community Times," gave place to the +"Associative or Industrial Period." + +In the place of the Transcendentalists came other men and women, new +and untried, with not so much of Greek and Latin, not so much suavity +of manners, not so much "cultivation," but warm of heart and brave of +purpose. The magnificent idea was a revelation of truth to some but +also a great temptation for many shivering poor and impatient +outsiders. They could thrive on it. They felt it was their right, their +destiny, having failed in the civilized fight for bread and butter and +comfort, to have from some source food, shelter and protection; and it +struck them that Brook Farm was just the place to go for it. So the +Association was inundated with applications of all kinds by person and +by letter. + +It is my fortune to possess the originals of a number of these +interesting letters, specimens of which may be found in the appendix. +The replies by Mr. Ripley were drafts of the letters sent; they are all +in his fine handwriting and _bona fide_ documents which the writer +personally secured at Brook Farm many years ago, after the organization +had broken up. + +The Directors used discretionary power, and if there was any +probability that the applicant would be useful, his case was presented +for action at a general meeting of the Association. + +I was not long on the farm before I became acquainted with many of the +Associates besides those before mentioned--those who belonged entirely +to the Associative period; and among the unique figures there was no +one that struck my young fancy more than that of Peter, or, in familiar +talk, "the General." + +Peter M. Baldwin was about his work when I was introduced to him, and +as he put forth his hand I saw that his arms extended no little way +through the sleeves of a common green baize jacket; and that his large +feet, which were encased in an old pair of slippers, had descended some +six inches below a pair of blue overalls before they touched the +ground. If he had been inclined to corpulency, his frame was ample to +build upon for a man of Websterian proportions, but he was not so +inclined; on the contrary, he simulated other great men in his +personality--Jackson, or our modern Abraham Lincoln. He was spare, +bony, nervous. His heavy eyebrows, his dark hair well sprinkled with +gray, which arose straight upward from his high, indented forehead, and +his large, half Roman nose, prominent cheek-bones and thin cheeks +reminded one so forcibly of the pictures of General Jackson that he was +by unanimous consent nicknamed "the General." + +He shook me by the hand warmly and asked me a few questions, and it was +not until after this first interview that I discovered he had an +impediment in his speech. A rapid talker, he would rattle on in +conversation and then stop as suddenly as though you had put your hand +over his mouth. You would look up in astonishment, and then find by the +contortions of his face that he was trying to speak some troublesome +word but could not. The word once recovered, his speech flowed on as +before and perhaps for a long while, until he stumbled upon another +fence-like one; when he would dismount, take down the bars, or jump it, +and proceed as before. + +This impediment, strange to say, never troubled the General when he had +prepared a piece for recitation, for he would then speak with dignity +and precision, and made the very beau ideal of "the lean and hungry +Cassius." + +He was a universal favorite, on account of the kindness and benevolence +of his disposition. This generosity was superabundant, for if any of +the younger portion of the family wished for the sweets of the +storeroom, over which he presided, they had only "to coax the General" +to succeed in obtaining their wishes. + +"The General" was the baker and made the bread, cake and some of the +pastry. He also assisted the "kitchen group" in domestic cookery. +Beyond this he was particularly fond of three things--disputation, the +newspapers and a cigar. He was thoroughly devoted to the doctrines of +"United industry" and to Brook Farm. He was among the first up in the +morning and last at night, attending to his ovens and his bread. + +Peter's room was at first in Attica with others, where I saw him often, +and his favorite pastime was a game of euchre, which had not then +worked itself into general favor. I did not care to play it then, or +any cards; I was too much charmed with the life of the place, with the +society of the young, with social games under the inspiration of the +hostess, with love of dance and music and the ever-changing face of +nature, to care for such dull solace as the pasteboard games. + +But the General did; he conversed, he smoked, he read the newspapers, +he argued, stuttered and talked the "water cure," and one day I was +surprised on going into the room to find him fully embarked for the +cure of a desperate headache. What had he done? Why, taken the wash- +bowl and filled it with water, placed it on the floor, stretched +himself out at full length on the floor also, and, with a pillow at his +shoulders, laid the back of his head into the wash-bowl. But being of +an active temperament he could not be quiet and idle long, so, calling +for a newspaper and lighting a cigar, he gently puffed the weed and +read the news, lying still in position while the "cure" was +progressing. It was a funny sight! + +My attention was soon drawn to a large, portly gentleman who carried +his head erect and had an easy, familiar way about him; for he was +acting as host, being charged with the reception of guests and +strangers who came to visit or to look about the place. He walked with +the grandeur of a Falstaff and the dignity of a sachem. His capacious +gray coat and broad-brimmed hat might suggest to a stranger that he had +been at some time a member of a Shaker community, but his closely cut +gray hair and his heavy, o'erhanging eyebrows and brave visage gave the +lie to any such suggestion. Aye, aye, every hair that stood bristling +up on that front of his seemed to stand in rebellion against such a +charge, seemed saying, and growing more bristly every moment, "I, a +Shaker? Not I!" A large mouth was an appropriate companion to a +ponderous throat and chin, which were daily shaven with scrupulous +adherence to the first principles of warm water, soap and a sharp +razor, and a practice of thirty years gave a polish to his face unknown +to those less adept in the art. + +On one occasion, some of the members fled from the tyranny of the +brutal blade and let their beards grow in uncut stubble, not, however, +without criticism from our host, who said in answer to their argument +that it was natural for the beard to grow, "Art is the perfection of +nature! Look at this garden!" It was after dinner, and some were taking +a few moments' rest in front of the Hive, lounging on the fence and +looking down the terrace into what was called "her majesty's garden" +and toward the bubbling brook. "What would it be without its walks, +flower-beds and arrangement?" he continued. "And these fields--what +would they be without the art of cultivation? You see it is art that +perfects nature." + +Then some wag suggested that he was trying to cultivate "the field of +his face," but nothing could disturb the imperturbable gravity of his +composition. Gravity, solid gravity, was one of the basic elements of +his nature. When, however, he lighted his enthusiastic lamp, and his +warm heart gushed forth in song or story--I think I hear him singing +now, "A man's a man for a' that!"--he carried his audience with him. + +The "Omniarch," as Mr. Ryckman was called, was a man of family, his +short, sprightly, nervous little wife acting as hostess and attending +to the lady visitors. + +Many visitors asked the question of him, "Mr. Ryckman, do the Brook +Farmers hold all their property in common?" + +With a bland smile he would say to them: "Certainly not; the idea of a +Community, as it is generally understood, is a society that owns or +holds all the property or capital of its members as its own, in its own +corporate right--that no one can remove, but everyone can use portions +of at will, or in turn. If the ideas of the first projectors were not +all definite on this point, we now stand boldly as champions of +individual property. It is one of our watchwords. For what is property? +It is but the extension of the individual; wings to fly with; hands to +work with; dried labor; labor's product laid away for future use, to +bless oneself with. It is the bottom and foundation of material +society, for none exists without it, and the greater the amount, +distributed fairly and justly, the greater the power and strength of +the society that holds it. We take human nature as it is--as God made +it. We do not propose to remake it; that is the folly of reformers and +theorists, and more especially moralists in and out of the church. The +desire, the personal desire, to acquire property is a fundamental trait +of character more or less strong in every individual. If a society +cannot be adjusted to that trait it will fail. We think one can be. We +think ours is so, as fairly as the nature of our transitory conditions +will allow. We want capital here. That we can make it here in time, +there is no doubt, but we must labor long to secure a plus of labor +that we can dry and store for future use. Meanwhile we want to build a +suitable unitary building, which is almost an absolute necessity; +farming implements and various appliances are wanted to suit the new +conditions under which we live, and many things for comfort, too +numerous to mention." + +The host was not sparing of his words, especially when stimulated by +charming questioners, in ways like these: "Tell me more, Mr. Ryckman." +"What are you living here for?" "Can you expect anything from this +life?" + +"Yes, madam, we expect a great deal. The theory of our life is that a +great saving can be made over ordinary ways of living. It now takes one +hundred houses for one hundred families, and one hundred housekeepers, +and probably, on the average, one hundred servants, one hundred +kitchens, one hundred fires, and as many cooking stoves or ranges, and +everything in proportion. Now by combining together the saving on the +cost of all these houses and cooks, kitchens, coal and wood, dispensing +with all unnecessary servants and labor, a house of magnificent +proportions adapted to the wants of the combined families could be +built, with elegant parlors for lectures, assemblies and music; dining- +rooms, kitchens and laundries which would not cost as much as the +separate households full of inconvenience and discomfort. + +"This economic side of our life is easily seen, but there are many +other sides or phases that are not as readily comprehended. We are here +as a protest to the unnatural life of our crowded cities. We are here +to build society anew on juster principles, believing that if we once +get a fair foothold, the institution will be self-supporting, and so +attractive that we shall have no need to seek for true, earnest +workers; they will seek us, rather than we seek them, and we shall be +able to choose of the best material for an eternal city where all will +be rich in the fulness of the surrounding life, and the children will +be educated from the start to industry, goodness and justice." + +Among the pleasant pictures of memory is that of Thomas Blake as he +appeared after he had changed his civilized clothes for a Brook Farm +tunic of blue plaid, a "tarpaulin" straw hat and a neat broad rolling +shirt collar of large dimensions that gracefully tended towards his +square shoulders. I see again his dark, manly countenance lighted up by +his keen brown eyes; his Roman features; his closely curling hair; his +intellectual forehead and pleasant smile, and his very neat, "trig" +appearance. The new life seemed to fill him full of pleasure, and he +was always ready for his share of work, study or enjoyment. His short, +nautical figure and his name, Blake, soon earned him the complimentary +title, which with one accord we gave him, "the Admiral." A nearness of +age brought us together, and a strong sympathy of tastes cemented our +friendship. We worked, played, danced and sung together, and wandered +up and down the paths and roads discussing social problems and all +sorts of subjects, ever returning in our talks to our home life, its +pleasures, aims and duties. + +I thought that there was a little of the dapper look about John Glover +Drew who arrived the same day with the Admiral, as I met him for the +first time near the corner of the Hive. He seemed stiff and formal in +dress and manner, and his face had in it the cool, matter-of-fact +element which did not attract me; in fact he looked too "civilized." +His clothes were of fine materials; dress coat, silk vest and dark +pantaloons. His stylish and plump person filled them out thoroughly. A +tall silk hat set a trifle back on his head exposed his large forehead; +a fob and seal that hung below his vest, in contrast to the Brook Farm +dress, made an added conspicuousness to his appearance. I can see him +now, in my mind's eye, lift his watch out of its secret enclosure and +examine it to secure promptness of his engagements. + +His large head was covered with dark, slightly curling hair. His smooth +face, toned by a delicate beard and fine arching eyebrows, reminded one +of the portraits of Shakespeare. His nose was short and round and his +nostrils dilated when in animated conversation. The muscles of his firm +mouth were ever on the play and gave life to his countenance, which +when in repose assumed a heavy and somewhat stern appearance. The union +between his head and body was made, apparently, by a high, stiff, black +neck-stock. + +He was fully of medium height, and healthy, but if one in his presence +tried the blowing of a flute or the tuning of a violin it would set him +in agonies, and the of his wrath was not forthcoming. He was wholly +alive. There was not a point where you could touch him and not +appreciate that the nerves of sensation vibrated and quivered. Droll +and jocose in manner, he was constantly quoting from Shakespeare or the +poets, of whom he had been a constant reader. He was witty, too, and +did not disdain a pun, or repartee. + +He had the elements of a good mercantile training, and was therefore +just the man needed in the young Association, and soon arose from one +position to another, winning the meaner laurels of "chief of group" and +"head of series," and in time became the "commercial agent" and member +of the "Industrial Council." Thenceforth and ever after, he was more +bustling than before, both in and out of doors; hovering around the +barn with its horses and wagons; ever tackling up teams and starting +for the city; unpacking boxes, bales and barrels; ever in conference +with the chiefs, inquiring what was needed--anyone could see that +almost everything was needed--and showing by his exterior the busy +brain that worked within. Mr. Drew was an especial admirer of some of +Byron's poems, and it was rumored around that the corners of newspapers +had occasionally been garnished with the fruits of his pen. + +Here let me say that first impressions in this case gave no index to +the manly, brave spirit that was in him, which, true as steel, bore to +the end witness to his belief in the truth and the divinity of the +associative and coöperative ideas. + +There was in the farming group a healthy-looking young man, of ruddy +countenance and fair skin, with brown hair and beard that grew +luxuriantly, who soon made himself conspicuous by his individuality, +his good nature and cheerfulness. There was a positive side to his +character; he was in earnest, and he put himself by his earnestness +into a positive way that to the superficial seemed to savor of the +important, so that Irish John nicknamed him "John Almighty," and it +stuck to him, as an old simile says, "like a burdock to a boy's +trousers." His devotion was rewarded by chances to lecture. He became +one of the faithful, and faithful he has always remained. Amid all the +changes of life that have come to him since, and notwithstanding the +many persons indoctrinated with Fourier's ideas, he has been for years +almost the only man among them broadly advocating them and directly +working for the laboring man by endeavoring to organize societies and +industrial unions of various sorts for their benefit. I sincerely honor +the devotion of John Orvis, continued through so many years of his +life. + +But what would be the use in sketching the characters that throng +around me by the hundreds, who were associated with this new life? +Good-natured, full-faced Frederick Cabot, of Boston, whose capacities +were devoted to the bookkeeping department and who was clerk of the +corporation, who was in the vigor of young manhood, unique of face and +beard, with stout neck and low, rolling collar, when beards were absent +and collars high; and plain, unpretending Buckley Hastings, who could +work like a Trojan--were of them; and the corps of farmers and workers, +male and female, who made the body politic, all were interesting, but +they must be left out of this narrative, along with the great number of +kind and sympathetic persons whose dear hearts encouraged, and whose +dearer presence stimulated the Association in its labor. + +But it will hardly do to leave out John Cheevers from the list of +strange characters on the farm, because, though he did not belong there +as member and was as a barnacle on the body politic, he was so quaint +and queer. He was Irish and came to America as valet to Sir John +Caldwell, who died very suddenly at the Tremont House in Boston. Pity, +compassion or the like induced Mr. Ripley to befriend him, and being +introduced to the life he became, as may be said, omnipresent. His +education, his refined tastes, seemed to spring from a crude and +vigorous soil. Travel and contact with high and low made his +conversation interesting, and the mystery of a supposed relationship +with Sir John added a romance to his life. + +His affection for many of the residents was very great. He was +introduced into associative life in "Transcendental days," and many a +tale he told of the departed ones, often alluding to them as "extinct +volcanoes of Transcendental nonsense and humbuggery." + +Like many of his countrymen, he carried things to extremes. Extremes in +language were the most common, for he had all the oiliness and glibness +of an Emeraldic tongue, and in conversation, when a little excited, the +words tumbled out with headlong velocity or flowed like molten brass +into the mould of the founder, and, to carry the simile farther, some +would sputter over. He had in his storehouse of language, many queer +phrases and sayings that he brought out to embellish his conversation, +some of which were only used as a _corps de reserve_, or brought +into action when all others failed in argument. + +He prophesied that all people, no matter how high they might carry +their heads, would sooner or later "find their level." He believed in +the practical. All "folly" and "nonsense" were eschewed by him, and yet +no one was more fond of a joke than he, excepting when it was played on +himself. John professed great love for the mother church if you +attacked it; but if anyone spoke earnestly in its favor he was equally +persuaded by him not to believe in such "Jesuitical nonsense and +folly." His tunic dress, instead of being a blue one like what most of +the men wore, was made of green plaid, but on Sundays, a dark blue +"swallowtail" coat with brass buttons made its appearance, and with +shoes newly polished he was ready for church. + +Unlike the majority of the men, who wore the hair moderately long, his +was cut short to his pate, not a straggling hair protruding itself +beyond the others. In deference to the seventh day, he exchanged his +shirt of blue cotton for a white, well-starched linen one, and donned a +high black lasting neck-stock and dark vest, and shaved his face so +clean that it reflected his own sunshine if not the solar ray. In +person he was of medium height, with a head of thick, dark, almost +black hair, slightly sprinkled with gray, and his small dark eyebrows +were high above his full eyes which were set almost flush with his +forehead. The muscles of his face were prominent, and deep lines were +marked around his large mouth with its long under lip, which half the +time was on a broad grin. + +He walked with a headlong sort of gait, his body slightly bent forward, +deriving its motion from the lower portion of his frame, without that +swaying of arms and chest so common, and which gives grace to motion. +He was ever moving, bustling about; ever inquiring--now for this one, +then for another; occasionally taking from his pocket a small paper +parcel into which he thrust finger and thumb mysteriously and +guardedly, and turning half away from you would make the cabalistic +motions common to imbibers of "old Rappee"; and having satisfied the +desire of that extraordinary pug nose of his, would be off in a +twinkling to some distant part of the farm, where you may be sure that +he was edifying his hearers with a specimen of good-nature, and the +peculiar intonations of a mellow voice flavored with genuine brogue. + +There are two friends of the movement who cannot be left out, who were +often on the farm, whose characters were very unlike and almost at +antipodes; yet both were impressed with the associative theories. One +of them viewed them from a Christian and moral side, believing that +Christianity favored them, that they were productive of the earthly end +toward which the sublime doctrines of Christianity pointed; and the +other believed that scientific social organization alone would act so +powerfully as a stimulant and teacher to humanity, that mankind and +human nature would gravitate to their own sublime places at once if an +organization was presented suitable to their needs. They were Albert +Brisbane and William Henry Channing. + +Among the devoted friends there was no one for whom we had greater +admiration and esteem than Rev. William Henry Channing. He was a +Unitarian minister and a nephew of the celebrated Rev. William Ellery +Channing. His figure was tall and stately, though rather slender. He +carried himself finely, and walked with head erect. His features were +sharp cut, clean and regular. His hair was dark and curling, and worn a +trifle long for these days. His forehead was high and slightly +retreating. His eyes were sharp and piercing, deeply set, with delicate +dark eyebrows. His complexion was warm and brilliant, his beard closely +shaven. He had a pleasant smile which, when it deepened, showed a fine +set of white teeth. All of these physical signs were in his favor, but +there was about his face, so handsome at times, an earnestness that +seemed almost painful, when, devoted to the cause, he spoke with the +burning, eloquent words he so often uttered. + +In social life he was charming. His voice was soft and melodious; his +education and talents were of the finest order. He was a firm believer +in the mission of Jesus Christ to bring peace, order and justice out of +our social chaos. He was an Associationist from the Christian side, if +I may so speak. His belief in Christ was so thorough that it made him +think all things possible that were Christlike, and he believed that +associated life contained more of the spirit of Christ in it than any +other form of society, ancient or modern. + +He desired to join the organization with his wife and young children, +but Mrs. Channing did not, and we were deprived of his union with us, +as well as of the company of a charming woman and her family. But he +was around us like a protecting spirit. He spoke on social occasions to +us. He was full of inspiration and full of hope, though his education +was not of a practical sort after a worldly standard. He couldn't +calculate market values. Neither could he organize a workshop or build +a barn. His thoughts were for greater things; for everything that +elevated large numbers of people--education, morals, faith, peace, +anti-slavery and the good government of his country. + +One Sabbath afternoon we were invited to meet with him in the near-by +beautiful pine woods, for religious services; and like the Pilgrims and +reformers of old, we there raised our voices in hymns of praise, and +listened to a sermon of hopefulness from his eloquent lips. Would we +had a picture of that marked company as they were seated around on the +pine leaves that covered the ground, following their "attractions" by +joining in groups with those they most admired or most sympathized +with--young and fair, bright and cheerful, as they mostly were, with +the warm sunlight glinting through the sighing pines; hearts and eyes +illuminated with great thoughts; hands and faces browned with working +for great, world-wide ideas. Memory is the only photograph of it, and +be assured the picture is a beautiful one. + +The church was Channing's first love, but he found it bound with +creeds, and not broad enough to cover all humanity, as his great +bounding heart did. After music and an inspiring address under the +trees, and the arches of Nature's temple, looking heavenward, he said, +"Let us all join hands and make a circle, the symbol of universal +unity, and of the _at-one-ment_ of all men and women, and here +form the Church of Humanity that shall cover the men and women of every +nation and every clime." + +Who shall say that it was not so?--that then and there was not formed +one of the impulses of life, one of the branches of the spiritual +church that shall live forever! Their daily toil, the thousand and one +annoyances they had to submit to from uncomfortable surroundings and +private discords--for no one need think that all the persons and those +connected with them who came to Brook Farm were equally inspired and +interested--and the risk of personal losses, were part of their pledge +and baptism of earnestness. + +Mr. Albert Brisbane, of New York, was equally tall with Mr. Channing, +but of a type of features that was ordinarily less pleasing; wearing a +full beard closely trimmed, intellectual in forehead and face, with a +voice one could hardly call musical; a rapid, earnest talker; the +travelled son of a wealthy man, who had spent some years abroad and in +France, where he became acquainted personally with Fourier and with his +doctrines of association, which had deeply impressed him. On his return +to America he advocated them in the New York _Tribune_, and by the +publication of two or more volumes, by active interest in a society, +and by various writings for papers and magazines. + +I do not know whether Mr. Brisbane owned stock in the Brook Farm +Association or not. Certainly he never gained any dividend by his labor +there, but was an interested observer who boarded at the farm at +intervals, sometimes passing a few days only, and finally residing some +months, occupied in the study and translation of Fourier's works. + +He was an enthusiast, but his over enthusiastic moods influenced the +Brook Farmers, it seemed to me, often-times unwisely. He saw the full- +blown phalanstery coming like a comet and expected every moment. We +shortly would be in a blaze of glory! He loved to talk of the good +things to be--of social problems worked out by science and by harmonic +modes; to flatter himself that without great self-sacrifice, devotion +and untiring industry, the world was to be regenerated. It seemed to +his mind, that it could be done all at once by organization and +enthusiasm, and it was only necessary to create enough of them to carry +everything before them as in a bayonet charge. + +He labored hard with the society to change its name to Phalanx, and to +push the movement as far as possible into the formulas and organization +described by Fourier, which did not advance it a single step in +material or spiritual progress, and acted, as in the case of the +constitution, as a dead weight, owing to the burdensomeness of its +details, which called for too much labor to keep the accounts of so +complex an organization. + +Having described a few of the many persons who were members of the +Association, I must speak of three noted persons who are very often +accredited as belonging to the West Roxbury Community; they are Miss +Margaret Fuller (afterwards Countess D'Ossoli), Ralph Waldo Emerson and +Theodore Parker. They were all personal friends of Mr. and Mrs. Ripley, +and belonged to the Transcendental Club. In the first period of the +experiment the two former made lengthy visits at the farm, but during +the Industrial Period only one of them, Mr. Parker, that I remember +visited the place. I must except a single visit from Miss Fuller, whom +I recall as plain-looking, and plainly to old-fashionedly dressed, with +a crane-like neck and a long gold chain around it, which reached to her +waist. She talked quite easily and freely, and the impression of the +blue-stocking was left perhaps unfortunately on my mind. + +Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson--for he had been an ordained minister--wrote +for the _Dial_, furnished it with queer poems, wrote articles on +the wrongs of labor, and agreed fully with Mr. Ripley on so many points +that he has been mistaken many times for a Brook Farmer. + +Concord, Massachusetts, Mr. Emerson's home, contained a marked radical +centre, and some of the Concord people were affiliated by kinship and +by sympathy with the Brook Farm people from first to last during the +entire experiment. Mr. Ripley invited Mr. Emerson to join it, but he +declined in a letter which may be found in Mr. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," Appendix, page 315. I make the following extract:-- + + * * * * * + +"My Dear Sir: It is quite time that I made an answer to your +proposition that I should venture into your new community. The design +appears to me noble and generous, proceeding as I plainly see, from +nothing covert or selfish or ambitious, but from a manly heart and +mind. So it makes all men its friends and debtors. It becomes a matter +to entertain it in a friendly spirit, and examine what it has for us. + +"I have decided not to join it, yet very slowly, and I may almost say +with penitence. I am greatly relieved by learning that your coadjutors +are now so many that you will no longer attach that importance to the +defection of individuals which you hinted, in your letter to me, I or +others might possess--the painful power, I mean, of preventing the +execution of the plan." + + * * * * * + +Rev. Theodore Parker, the noted liberal Unitarian preacher, of whose +close personal relations with Mr. Ripley much might be said, lived two +miles away, at West Roxbury, where he preached in the village church, +and his afternoon walk every few days was over to the Farm and back for +exercise, and to meet and converse with Mr. Ripley at the Eyry. At the +close of their chat you would see them coming down the hill together +towards the barn, where Mr. Ripley's duties as milkman took him at that +time of day, when they would part--Mr. Parker for his long walk home. + +One afternoon they were seen as usual coming down the hill. Theodore +Parker had not then become famous, but preached in a little square, +wooden church, to his small country congregation, and once on a time, +being on a visit to a friend at a distance (we will call the friend's +name Smith, for convenience sake), Mr. Smith asked Mr. Parker how Mr. +Ripley was getting along with his "Community." "Oh," said the faithless +Parker, "Mr. Ripley reminds me, in that connection, of a new and +splendid locomotive dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +Soon after Mr. Ripley heard what Mr. Parker had said of him, and +resolved to pay him in his own coin. So he held him that day in +pleasant, lively conversation until he reached the farmyard by the barn +at the Hive, and the unsprung joke was running all around the pleasant +lines of his face and twinkling in the corners of his brilliant eyes. +Towards the close of the conversation, as Mr. Parker was about to +leave, Mr. Ripley casually said that he had met Mr. Smith, and he had +spoken of Mr. Parker and his church. + +"Indeed," said Mr. Parker, "and what did he say of me?" + +"Well, if you must know," Mr. Ripley replied, "he said that you and +your little country church over there in West Roxbury, with its few +dozen of farmers, reminded him of a new and splendid locomotive +dragging along a train of mud-cars." + +It would have been worth a month of an ordinary lifetime to be there +when Mr. Ripley exploded his joke, to hear his merry peal of laughter, +whilst his sides shook again, and his reverend friend stood confounded. + +But such little jokes did nothing towards rupturing the sincere +confidence and friendship of these two brave men, and soon after this +Mr. Parker was writing pleasant notes to the "Archon," as Mr. Ripley +was often called. By good fortune, I am the possessor of one of them, +and as it shows the playful side of a great man, the side often +withheld from the public, I give it here. It is charming. It is without +date and reads:-- + + * * * * * + +"Archonite Illustrissimo: I have just received a letter from the +Secretary of the Navy, who informs me that he has jurisdiction over the +_waters_ of the U. S. A., and accordingly over _Brook_ Farm. +He therefore requests me to investigate your proceedings and report to +the department. He thinks of appointing yourself to the command of the +fleet destined against Texas, and wishes me to _Sound_ you on that +point. (How would Little John do for California?) + +"I am to come over tomorrow P. M. and make investigations, so have the +chips picked up, and the pigs shut up in the library. Now hold yourself +in readiness to receive _Blanco_ White, who thinks you were one of +the greatest men who had appeared since Balaam the son of Beor. Pray +reward him for the honor he has done you. + + "Yours, T." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RUSH AND HUM OF LIFE AND WORK. + + +The departure from the ordinary mode of living initiated at the farm +seemed to stir up every curious, investigating and odd mortal, from one +end of the country to the other, and they all wanted to visit the +place. At first they were made welcome to the table, and to what there +was to spare of the members' time, but when their name was "legion" the +Board of Government found it necessary to exact a fee for meals. This +did not diminish them; the cry was "Still they come!" Men, women and +children were passing from Hive to Eyry on every pleasant day from May +to November, and over the farm, back to the Hive, where they took +private carriage or public coach for their departure. Among these +people were some of the oddest of the odd; those who rode every +conceivable hobby; some of all religions; bond and free; transcendental +and occidental; antislavery and proslavery; come-outers, communists, +fruitists and flutists; dreamers and schemers of all sorts. + +The number of notable persons who visited the farm at this period was +large. I was too young to appreciate the positions they held, in +literature, the church or the nation, but append a list of names, +selected almost at random, mostly of distinguished persons who were +occasional visitors. Horace Greeley, Parke Godwin, Henry James, Freeman +Hunt, Charles Kraitsir, Henry Giles, S. P. Andrews, all of New York; +Rev. O. A. Brownson, Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Rev. Henry A. Miles, +Rev. Edward E. Hale, Rev. Samuel Osgood, Rev. Frederick T. Gray, Rev. +A. B. Green, Rev. C. A. Greenleaf, Hon. John G. Palfrey, Hon. E. +Rockwood Hoar, Hon. George H. Calvert, of Newport, R. I.; Hon. Charles +Sumner, Judge Ellis Gray Loring, Judge Wells, Dr. W. F. Channing, R. H. +Dana, A. Bronson Alcott, George B. Emerson, Samuel G. Ward,--Marcus +Spring and Edmund Tweedy, of New York; James A. Kay, of Philadelphia. +W. W. Story, C. P. Cranch, E. Hicks, Joseph and Thomas Carew, John +Sartain, John A. Ordway and Benjamin Champney, were among the many +artists who came; the major portion of all the above named persons were +from New England. + +It will not do to forget young and curly-headed John A. Andrew, who +became the war governor of Massachusetts, or Robert Owen, the English +communist, well known for his social experiments at New Harmony, Ind., +who, at this time, was a ruddy-faced, almost white-haired person, with +a large nose, and carrying well his seventy years on a vigorous frame. + +George R. Russell, Francis G. Shaw and Theodore Parker, with their +wives and members of their families, were very friendly visitors. + +There were numerous ladies, also, who came. I remember Miss A. P. +Peabody, Pauline Wright, Mary Gove and sweet Lydia Maria Child, of New +York. + +The old record book that lay in the reception room at the Hive would +reveal a list of four thousand names, registered in one year, to select +from, but alas! it is lost forever. + +A. Bronson Alcott came one day and brought his friend Lane, who was +anxious to visit the "Community," but Lane was opposed to eating +anything that was killed or had died, so he ate neither fish nor flesh. +Neither would he wear wool, because it was an animal product, for he +did not like animal products. Neither would he wear cotton nor use +sugar nor rice, because they were the products of slave labor. And +finally, he walked from Boston in a linen suit, because he would avoid +using a horse, for his argument was that the value of time spent in +providing food, lodging and care of animals, was not returned to the +owners for the outlay. Lane came from England, and was not a "Yankee +crank," as some might possibly think. + +Miss Louisa M. Alcott wrote of him in connection with her father and +herself, in an article entitled "A Journey to Fruitlands." Judging from +my remembrance of all the characters, the picture is faithfully drawn. + +Among the odd visitors the climax was reached, when a man came to pass +a day and a night, who announced, that he had no need of sleep and had +not slept for a year. The statement was passed by as a mere whim, we +thinking of course that when night came he would not refuse a bed, but +he did. After spending the evening at the Eyry, where the visitors were +more especially entertained, he was notified that an attendant would +show him to his bed, but he politely declined one, and as there seemed +to be no other way, he was allowed to remain in an easy chair, with a +lamp burning, after the household had retired. + +It was late when Irish John Cheevers, _our_ odd genius, prowling +about the premises on his way to his room at the Cottage, saw the light +in the Eyry parlor, and supposing some of the household were awake, +went softly up and looked in at the window. There sat the visitor in +the chair, _asleep_. He then went in, but his noise aroused the +sleeper, and as John couldn't possibly keep his tongue still a minute, +he said, "I beg your pardon, sir, I did not intend to disturb your +sleep--not in the least, sir," in his palavering way, at which the +stranger protested strongly that he hadn't been disturbed, as he had +been awake all the time. + +In the morning the stranger was there, still sitting in his chair, and +declared he had passed the night pleasantly, but had not been asleep. +Of course the improbability of the thing made, as the newspapers say, a +"sensation." "By gad," said John, "I caught him asleep in the Eyry +parlor. I did, upon my word; I did, my very self." + +John wasn't inclined to be profane, but when anyone pretended to be +what they were not, it aroused his combative spirit, and it was the +"blank humbuggery of the thing" that mightily displeased him. But the +time came when the laugh was against him. He had been in bed and slept +some hours one summer night; it was the time of the full moon, when its +transcendent beauty led the young folks to wander over the farm from +house to house, to sit a while on the doorsteps or on the knoll at the +Hive; to sing "_Das Klinket_" or such part songs as "Row gently +here, my gondolier," or "The lone starry hours give me Love, when calm +is the beautiful night," or anything else to let out the joyousness of +their hearts. They were not wild, for they labored enough to take away +the wildness that indolence brings, and to sober them down to the +cheerful mood; and cheerily would talk to one another of the people +around them, and of the hundred little excitements the novel life led +them into, that were wanting elsewhere, and often it was an hour or two +later than the usual time for rest, before they were in bed. + +John had been to his couch, and when he awoke it was broad daylight. He +dressed and went down to the Hive, and as some one was going away early +to Boston, concluded to get the wagon ready. But first he looked into +the kitchen; the door was unlocked, as it always was, day and night; +there was no one there, and it was surely time some one should be up. +He drew out the light wagon from under the shed, and went for the +harness. All the time the universal stillness surprised him. Where +could all the people be? He thought he would see how high the sun was, +and looking up into the sky, beheld the full face of the most beautiful +moon that ever shone on God's fair acres, when a new thought struck +him, that he had mistaken moonshine for daylight. He wheeled the wagon +into the shed, and then went for another long nap; but some of the +young men, who hadn't been in bed a great while, overheard the +movements, and had their laugh and fun out of it! + +During the first spring and summer of my stay my hours were largely +spent in the Farming Series, working in the various groups. I assisted +at planting, hoeing and driving or leading the horses at the plough. I +also helped the gardener, who arrived with plants, in the care of them +and in the ornamentation of the place. + +According to the science of Fourier, everything is naturally arranged +in groups and series. A group consists of three or more individuals or +things, and a number of similar groups together make a series. To have +harmony in society requires the application of this law or arrangement +to all the relations of daily life; or in other words, it is natural to +be thus arranged in industrial and social life. The Brook Farmers, +being ambitious to introduce a resemblance to such an organization--for +it could be but very faintly shadowed by their few members--and also +desirous to indoctrinate all into the idea of this natural arrangement, +organized "groups and series" in the following manner as proposed in +the new constitution. "Three or more persons combined for some object +or labor" made a group; harmonic numbers for groups--three, five, +seven, twelve, etc. A series consisted of three or more groups for a +similar object, joined under one head or chief. + +To illustrate the system we will suppose it to be the spring of the +year. The Farming Series will then consist of the following groups: +First, a Cattle Group, Which attends to the feeding, grooming and +general care of the cattle--horses, cows, oxen, pigs, etc. It may +include the milking of the cows, or that may be a group in itself under +the name of the Milking Group. Second, a Plowing Group, who attend to +the plowing of the fields. Third, a Nursery Group, who have the care of +the young trees, grafting, budding, etc. Fourth, a Planting Group, +which may later in the season change into a Hoeing Group, or into a +Weeding Group, or into a Haying Group, or a separate organization for +each may continue till the end of the season. Each chief of a group +recorded the hours expended in labor in his group, so that it was +possible to tell, at the end of a season, how many hours had been spent +in a given occupation, as hoeing, weeding, planting, etc. These groups, +each having a chief, formed the aforenamed series, and the heads, or +"chiefs" of all the groups together elected the head of the series, who +kept a record and had general charge of the work done under his +management. + +The Mechanical Series, consisting of shoemaking, carpentering, sash and +blind-makers' groups, were usually the same persons the year around. +If, however, the shoemaker was tired of his group, and could be spared, +he took his hoe and rake, and went into some group in the Farming +Series for a change of occupation; the hours he spent there were put to +his credit on the book of the group in which he labored in that series. + +The Domestic Series had care of the houses and all domestic work, and +was divided into Consistory, Dormitory and Kitchen Groups. There were +also Washing, Ironing and Mending Groups, and perhaps some others. The +beds, rooms, halls and lamps had to be attended to every day, water and +towels provided, and the "Dormitory" and "Consistory Groups," situated +as the Brook Farmers were, were obliged to go from house to house to +attend to these duties. + +There were independent groups on the farm, not connected with any +series, as the Teachers' Group, and the Miscellaneous Group, who did a +variety of miscellaneous work; and there was a Commercial Agent who +bought and sold goods for the Association. There was also a group +called "The Sacred Legion," who did exceptionally disagreeable labors, +not from the love of them but from the sacred principle of duty. Only +occasionally some repugnant task had to be undertaken, and be it to the +honor of the leaders, not one of them, even the most fastidious or +cultivated, shirked the responsibility of it. + +The industrial system of Fourier has often been objected to as a +mechanical arrangement, by which persons were fixed, automaton-like, +and expected to work where they were placed, and has been opposed with +the criticism that human beings are not automatic--that they have the +restlessness of human nature and will constantly rebel at such +conditions. + +Another and a greater criticism has been that the levelling tendency, +as is supposed, of the Fourieristic doctrines, is inimical to every-day +experience, and that the natural differences of characters, ambitions +and mental conditions were not recognized in the system, consequently +there would be no place for all these varied human attributes to work +and progress in. + +These are very great errors, and are entirely attributable to the +superficial knowledge of the man and his works. If ever there was a man +in this universe who had faith in the Supreme Power, Fourier was that +man. His theology covered the _absolute wisdom_ and _absolute +goodness_ of God. Starting from these two fixed standpoints, he +believed that the Creator wisely planned the universe and laid out the +destiny of the human race from its inception, as a wise and beneficent +being, fixing its beginning and its end and all of the intermediate +stages between them as parts of the plan. Creating man as a social +being, he must, therefore, have created from the first the form of +society under which he should, finally, as a race, pass the greatest +portion of his sojourn here, and, being an _absolutely good_ +Creator, he must have created absolutely good social conditions as the +destiny towards which all mankind is now tending, and which will +finally be reached. + +Having also created man with many varied talents, the society or the +social order in which he intends him to live, must have room in it for +the use and development of the variety he has created: a place for the +strong, a place for the weak; a place for the proud, a place for the +lowly; a place for the penurious, a place for the lavish; a place for +the sober and a place for the gay. Moreover, if the Creator is wise, he +has created just the number and variety of mental and physical +personages to fill the otherwise empty places, and no others; for, if +he has created a surplus of them, he is unwise, and they must be in +discord with the rest. If the movements of the heavenly bodies are not +left to chance, neither is the destiny nor the place of any human being +in creation left to chance, either here or hereafter. + +Far from any levelling tendency in Fourier's system, far from any +communism, it contains, in itself, room for the completest aristocracy +there ever was, the natural and the true aristocracy, ordained by the +logical mind of the Creator, implanted in our natures, and which we +intuitively admit and admire. But having given man freedom of will, not +having made him to associate automatically, as he has, apparently, made +the honey-bee, the beaver, the ant, and various social creatures, it is +necessary for him to go through a period of ignorance, and, +consequently, of some suffering, whilst he is learning by experience to +find his powers and his position in creation, even as the little child +does, who reaches out its hand for the moon, and stumbles over trifles +lying in its way that were easily removed, could it, in its undeveloped +condition, have sense enough to do it. But the two conditions are not +possible, together. Both ignorance and knowledge of a subject cannot +dwell in one person at the same time; therefore it is only slowly and +painfully that we find, by degrees, our wonderful powers, the bountiful +provision for happiness, and the grand destiny that so peacefully lies +in the arms of the future, awaiting our embrace and caress. + +Fourier discovered the arrangement in nature of the "Serial Order" or +the law of the Groups and Series, which on paper seems formal, but is +simply one of the mathematical rules of society, and which, under right +conditions, does not intrude itself, any more than the rules of +arithmetic do when we are buying a few apples, but are nevertheless +ever present. The writer does not wish to impose a dissertation on his +readers, but felt impelled to answer, in this place, these objections +made by many worthy people. + +The workshop, which was being built at the time of my arrival, was two +stories in height, sixty by forty feet in size, with a pitched roof; +well lighted with windows, and situated some three hundred yards behind +the Hive, in a northwesterly direction. At its further end, in the +cellar, was placed a horse-mill, afterwards exchanged for a steam- +engine, that carried the machinery for all the departments of labor. +Our engineer, Jean M. Pallisse, a worthy Swiss, a very intelligent man, +had a calm face that fitted well with the quiet wreaths of smoke he +sent up on the air, from his almost ever-present cigar. It was our +delight to coax him to bring out his violin on dance nights, and give +us a charming waltz or two. You would hardly associate his intelligent +and pleasant face with the dull work of an engine room, but he was +there day by day, faithful and regular as a clock, for he was in +earnest. He had the sublime faith in him, and in later years held a +responsible position in a wealthy importing house in New York City. + +The shop was partitioned off, according to the needs of business, and +in the time of our greatest numbers, when crowded with members and +visitors, no other place being found to stow people in, beds were +placed in its upper story. + +The general impression of my first summer at Brook Farm is that it was +one of great activity and great hopes. Everywhere the ambition was to +enlarge--to increase the number of members, to increase the +occupations, to increase the tillage by turning over the grass-grown +meadows and "laying down" more land; to increase the nursery for young +trees and plants, to increase the hay crop by clearing the brushwood +and mowing the stubble close. Everywhere were busy people with ploughs +and cultivators, hoes and rakes, and I was with them wherever there was +work to be done. + +The glory of the summer was the hay field. On the fair meadows we +turned and gathered the hay. It was a large crop; although the hay was +not all of the best, it was mostly of fair quality. And when the +hoeing, weeding and haying were done, the farmers dug meadow-muck for +compost. + +Ready and willing as I was to try my hand at whatever came along, I +went into the meadow and followed the plough with a bogging hoe, and +one day tried digging muck but the chief of the group thought the labor +was too heavy for me; I would have to wait until I grew stronger. + +Coming home one day I was told that one of our number had passed away. +She had been sick at the Hive a long while before my arrival. I could +scarcely be called acquainted with her, though I had been into her room +and called with others. In health she had been a brave worker, and in +sickness bore her severe suffering patiently. Messrs. Chiswell and +Tirrell of the Carpenters' Group were called on for their help, whilst +Mrs. Pratt and others prepared the body for its final sleep. Members of +the Direction selected a lovely spot in a little pine grove beyond the +Pilgrim House for a grave, and we gathered for a last service. + +I expected to hear Mr. Ripley speak, but true to a sensitive instinct +of propriety he did not, for though he was at the head of the +Association, she had her own faith and creed which he deemed sacred. +She was an Episcopalian, and after the service was read by one of our +number a solemn procession was formed which followed her body, borne on +our light wagon, to the grave, where, singing a hymn, we left her +quietly in peace. + +Soon after the gardener planted some young evergreens, and placed +flowering shrubs and a little fence around the sacred spot. If one must +die, must surrender life, oh, where can it be done better than under +such circumstances? From first to last no stranger's hand had aught to +do with this sister either in life or in death. No idle or curiously +intrusive person came near, and all the surroundings, though simple, +were in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. There was no pomp +or rivalry of show, no gaudy deckings, that we in our hearts despise, +but which an unhallowed custom forces upon us; but all was done +decently, lovingly, peacefully and well. It was a simple name she bore-- +Mary Ann Williams. + +There was an amusement group, the members of which did not receive +pecuniary compensation. Its duty was to provide amusement for the +people and the scholars, as often as could be afforded, without +trespassing on school and daily duties. + +Miss Amelia Russell, a little, plump woman, with a pleasant smile, +dimpled cheeks, round, laughing eyes, cultivated and easy manners, was +chief of this group for a long period. Her title was "the mistress of +the revels." Under her direction there were various plays, games, +dances and tableaux. + +Besides the walks in the fields and woods there was an occasional +"children's festival," in the grove of pines, in which a large portion +of the elders joined. There were plenty of amusements, for although the +amusement group took general charge of them, there was nothing to +prevent any person or number of persons from amusing themselves to any +extent, and in any way, not interfering with the business of the place. + +Being among the minors, the pleasures of dancing and roaming over the +diversified country, were most attractive to me; for the young people +danced without expense--as we were, anywhere, any time, for five or ten +minutes, an hour or an evening, and it never became a dissipation; it +was too natural and common to be a dissipation. There were never late +hours. There was no dancing for show, or to display handsome clothes, +but simply for the love of it, its harmony and love of one another's +society and companionship. + +When the cares and lessons of the day were laid aside, and the evening +meal was over, we sauntered up the hill to the Eyry, and passing near +the Cottage, would perhaps find some one at the piano in the music +room, and if we numbered four or five, would waltz or dance to one or +the other's playing, the players and dancers taking turns until it was +time to stop. It might be there was a class in history or in reading at +eight, or maybe singing school would soon commence. If so, that +terminated the matter. Perhaps there was to be music at the Eyry,-- +there was no formality, we went without ceremony to hear it. + +There were times when there was a regular "dance at the Hive." The +mistress of the revels was kind enough to assist young or old, whose +"education had been neglected," and who had never been taught their +"steps," by forming a dancing class and including all in it; and it +would have done your heart good to see the old fogies try for the first +time in their lives to put on grace. Grace it was, but often of the +oddest kind. Imagine the tall, spare figure of "the General," turned of +forty, full six feet in height and stooping in the shoulders, all legs +and arms--who could sit in a chair and wind his legs around each other +until the feet changed places, and sit comfortably so--as pupil of the +plump, little woman, straight as an arrow, and only (at a guess) four +feet six in height, and looking shorter for her plumpness, taking his +"one, two, three," and "forward and back steps." + +Imagine, also, all hands seated at the supper tables, with the rattle +of knives, forks, mugs and plates, and the full buzz of conversation; +waiters crowding up and down, supplying the fast vanishing food, and +everything cheerful, when a rapping on one of the tables arrests the +attention of all. One of the gentlemen, arising, announces, "There will +be a dance in this hall this evening, at eight o'clock, to which all +are invited." This is received with applause by the young people. +Perhaps it is a surprise to them; for some of the pupils who have a +little pocket money, have gained permission of the authorities, and +have sent for the Dedham "feedler," as our Dane used to call him, to +play the violin and call the dances. + +As for music, our orchestra was not very large. I am almost ashamed to +say that one violin, solitary and alone, or a piano brought down from +the Cottage, was often the only solace and cheer. But then the room was +not large, and certainly it was not high, so that nothing was lost in +its expanse, and truly the young man played very well, and I remember +there were some brass instruments used on an especial occasion. + +You should have been standing outside, looking in at the window just +the time that supper was over. Wouldn't you have seen some busy young +folks, clearing the tables and washing the dining-room ware! And you +would have seen the clean, white mugs and plates put up in huge piles +in the dining-room closet. Wouldn't the benches and tables disappear +quickly, and the floor be swept, and the lamps lighted, and everything +put in "apple-pie order"! And then the young women workers would +disappear, and in a few minutes reappear dressed in their best, like +magic pictures of youth and beauty, adorned in simple garments, with a +rose bud or a wreath of partridge vine (Mitchella) with its bright red +berries, woven into their tresses, or with some simple adornments; and +then for an hour or two of enjoyment! + +The dance would commence. One by one, after the young persons were in +the midst of the revelry, the older persons would come in, and the non- +dancers would range around as spectators; and now and then you would +distinguish our leader by the curly locks, the gleaming eyes and gold- +bowed spectacles, his glowing face expressing satisfaction in our +enjoyment. + +At ten o'clock, the dance ceased; immediately the tables and dishes +would reappear, as if by enchantment, and in a twinkling the dining +room was arranged for the morning. We had had our pleasure, and were +ready to pay for it by restoring things to immediate order. Besides, +what young man could leave the young ladies to set the tables alone, +after having danced with them all the evening? After this there were +hours enough left for sound sleep, and there were no headaches in the +morning. The result was, all the young people grew strong, graceful and +healthy. + +My peculiar temperament and strong love of nature made the walks and +wanderings in the fields dear to me. I recall them with the greatest +pleasure, and think that some others among the living must do the same. +There were no stated, regular hours for walking. The teachers went when +their classes for the day were over; the young folks when their tasks +were completed, or at twilight, in the long summer days, and often the +larger parties were on Sunday afternoons, for then there was greater +freedom from care. Some went to West Roxbury to church in the morning, +some, maybe, to the Eyry to read Swedenborg or other writers, and +unless Mr. Channing or some other minister who desired to preach was +present, there were no set services; and even if there were, a walk +might be arranged for a later hour in the summer afternoons. + +The tall, slim figure of the wife of our president, wearing a Leghorn +shade hat, with one or two graceful lady pupils by her side, was often +present and leading the procession; then perhaps the manly form of our +head farmer, and his stout wife, and his boys and girl; our "poet," +always beside some fair maiden, in cheerful conversation; a visitor and +the visited; groups of young people together, with muslin dresses, blue +tunics and straw hats intermingled; children; and maybe the stately +form of William Henry Channing, with his regular profile, and his head +carried high, looking upward and off, as into far, pleasant and dreamy +distances, walking beside a tall, black haired woman, with a spiritual +face of high type,--in all some thirty to forty in number, making a +delightfully picturesque group. + +Such parties would generally make the large and beautiful pine woods +that were near us the _ultimatum_ of their walk. Others would take +a longer walk, to the thicker woods of "Cow Island" (now covered with +houses), or to the Charles River. Leaving the farm they dived into the +young oak woods, by a small path in the rear of the Cottage, and +entering the magnificent grove of pines after a short walk, found a +grassy wood path that led a long distance through them. Soon the party +would begin to straggle and divide, some to gather wild flowers and +berries, and more to find materials for wreaths, or ferns and mosses +for decorations. + +The walks ended where walks do that have no definite plan--anywhere in +the woods, sitting on the boulders or the pine leaves, or in some shady +nook where a topic would be found for discussion, or a pleasant book +would be read. When the supper horn sounded, you found the absent ones +together again, with bright, rosy faces and good appetites; and only a +few of the younger folks would be late, who had strayed farther or +walked slower, to enjoy the companionship of those of the same age; to +listen to their sweet voices, and to linger, as only young folks love +to linger. + +The summer came on with joy and beauty. I recall the long waves of +nodding grass, that swayed in the June wind and were chasing each +other, fugue-like on the broad meadows. How beautiful it was, tipped +with its various hues of green, yellow, red and purple, bending and +rising as each breath of wind passed over it! The crops looked well, +and the table was supplied with varieties of garden produce. + +If you approached the farm in the middle of the forenoon, you wondered +where all the people were, but at the sound of the first horn, half an +hour before dinner, "from bush and briar and greensward shade" they +would begin to start out like Robin Hood's men, and when the second +horn was sounding, the daily, the tri-daily procession was fairly on +the move, approaching the Hive from all sides. It was a very pretty and +novel sight. + +The men had been in the field planting, hoeing or weeding--the farmer's +triad of duties in the vegetable field--and as they worked side by +side, the questions of the day were discussed with freedom and with +partisanship, but with good nature. The one who had a bias for art +brought forward his art hobbies; the dress reformer aired his and the +vegetarian argued his cause. Personal questions often came to the +front--as how Smith probably voted in the Association meeting in the +case of the admission of some mooted person; he was so sly you could +not find out! And they quizzed one another, and they laughed and +rivalled one another in speed of work, which they did faithfully and +interestedly. It was a good school of human nature, and sooner or later +each one was sized up with a deal of exactness. With the sounding of +the horn the hoes were left in the field or put on the shoulder for the +march to the barn, where, in its little room, the toilet for meals was +made. + +When I think under what disadvantages these toilers worked for five +years, I wonder at their patience and firmness. What would our city +families say to all going out from their apartments, male and female, +young and old, and walking from an eighth to a quarter of a mile--often +making their own path through the deep snow of our severe New England +winters--three times each day, for the simple meals we had there to +eat? What would they say to living in crowded rooms, without private +parlors, and the public one at the Hive not much better than an office +in a back country hotel, and the other disadvantages heretofore named +and many more, simply for the principle of the thing? + +Of course there was enthusiasm, and that sweetens many dull dishes; but +for those used to home comforts, to be sandwiched in with comparative +strangers--squeezed down, as it were, into a press--oftentimes having +the family separated into various and disunited parts of the mansion or +into different houses, was decidedly uncomfortable to bear. + +These disadvantages could not but make the Association quite early +decide that the one thing above all others needed was a new building +with suites of rooms, where families could have the comforts and +privacy of homes, which with a large kitchen, bakery, dining rooms, +parlors, etc., would make a "unitary dwelling"; approximating to an +apartment house of more modern days in many of its details, and +improving on it as regards unitary cooking, dining and social +conveniences. + +The autumn fled rapidly away, and things had to be hurried up and put +into shape for the winter. The gardener had no greenhouse, and was +growling for fear the early frost might take a fancy to his plants. So +the Association built him a temporary one in the "sand bank" by the +side of the farm road, and the plan was to bend their energies towards +getting the new dwelling started as early as possible in the spring, +and to build a permanent greenhouse near it. + +I do not know what passed in the General Direction during the winter. +They were undoubtedly busy in endeavoring to obtain money for +constructing the new building, preparing plans for its interior +arrangement, and personally lecturing in various places, to aid in +awakening the public to the new ideas, hoping also that some benefit +might accrue to their organization, as well as to the cause, from their +efforts. + +The winter was mild, and it passed rapidly. There were coasting parties +of young and old, but it was not often that the snow was favorable. +There were literary societies, and we admired "the General" when he +recited the part of the lean and hungry Cassius. He didn't stammer +then, and he received the additional title of "Shakespeare's hero." +These things, with reading, dancing and singing classes, an occasional +"social" at the Hive, with private gatherings and chats around the +kitchen fire by "Hiveites" (i.e., those living at the Hive), found us +with spring at hand before we could realize it. + +Among other matters in progress in the spring was the garden. The +gardener was urging upon the Association the usefulness and +profitableness of the growth and sale of garden and greenhouse plants +and flowers; the great benefit they would be in adding attractiveness +to the place, and also the importance of starting plants so that they +might be growing into sizable shrubs, to return an early profit for +their outlay. These facts decided the Association to commence a flower +garden, and they located it on a partially level piece of ground behind +the Cottage, covering perhaps a half acre, with a chance of future +extension by cutting the wood adjoining and cultivating the untilled +ground. + +There was much labor put on this piece of land, as it was first reduced +to a level by removing the soil and subsoil, and levelling the gravelly +bottom; then returning the subsoil and soil to the top. Walks were next +laid out with great care, and flower beds made. A border was also dug +for the expected new greenhouse, and filled with rich soil and compost, +and the end of the summer saw it erected. + +But the most important step taken in the spring was the establishment +of a journal devoted to the interests of Association and Associative +life. + +It is easy to see how naturally, independent of the need of an organ +for a new movement, the Brook Farmers took to the idea of publishing a +journal. In the first place there were at hand men who were abundant in +talent; who were used to writing, and well up in literature and fine +arts, to whom the idea was grateful as water to young ducks, And, +second, there were at least two or three printers and compositors +residing on the farm, who were as able in their department as the first +named were in theirs. There was in this connection, also, the +possibility at some future time of obtaining printing for the Printers' +Group, should that branch of labor be well established. + +The scheme cannot be better introduced than by giving here the +prospectus of the _Harbinger_, the beautiful name of the new +weekly paper. You will find in its brave words some of the ideas that +the leaders of this movement developed, but more particularly the broad +faith they had in human nature and in great principles applied to +social life, and the greater trust they had that the Providence under +which we live had ordained man for a sublime destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "HARBINGER" AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS. + + +The following is the prospectus of + +THE "HARBINGER." + +Devoted to the Social and Political progress. Published simultaneously +at New York and Boston, by the Brook Farm Phalanx. "All things, at the +present day, stand provided and prepared, and await the light." + +Under this title it is proposed to publish a weekly newspaper, for the +examination, and discussion of the great questions in social science, +politics, literature and the arts, which command the attention of all +believers in the progress and elevation of humanity. + +In politics, the _Harbinger_ will be democratic in its principles +and tendencies; cherishing the deepest interest in the advancement and +happiness of the masses; warring against all exclusive privilege in +legislation, political arrangements and social customs; and striving +with the zeal of earnest conviction, to promote the triumph of the high +democratic faith, which is the chief mission of the nineteenth century +to realize in society. + +Our devotion to the democratic principle will lead us to take the +ground of fearless and absolute independence in regard to all political +parties, whether professing attachment to that principle or hostility +to it. We know that fidelity to an idea can never be reassured by +adherence to a name; and hence we shall criticise all parties with +equal severity, though we trust that the sternness of truth will always +be blended with the temperance of impartial candor. With tolerance for +all opinions, we have no patience with hypocrisy and pretense; least of +all with that specious fraud which would make a glorious principle the +apology for personal ends. It will therefore be a leading object of the +_Harbinger_ to strip the disguise from the prevailing parties, to +show them in their true light, to give them due honor, to tender them +our grateful reverence whenever we see them true to a noble principle; +but at all times, and on every occasion, to expose false professions, +to hold up hollow-heartedness and duplicity to just indignation, to +warn the people against the demagogue, who would cajole them by honeyed +flatteries, no less than against the devotee of mammon who would make +them his slaves. + +The _Harbinger_ will be devoted to the cause of a radical, organic +social reform, as essential to the highest development of man's nature, +to the production of those elevated and beautiful forms of character of +which he is capable, and to the diffusion of happiness, excellence and +universal harmony upon the earth. The principles of universal unity as +taught by Charles Fourier, in their application to society, we believe +are at the foundation of all genuine social progress, and it will ever +be our aim to discuss and defend these principles, without any +sectarian bigotry, and in the catholic and comprehensive spirit of +their great discoverer. While we bow to no man as an authoritative, +infallible master, we revere the genius of Fourier too highly not to +accept, with joyful welcome, the light which he has shed on the most +intricate problems of human destiny. The social reform of whose advent +the signs are everywhere visible, comprehends all others, and in +laboring for its speedy accomplishment, we are conscious that we are +devoting our best ability to the removal of oppression and injustice +among men, to the complete emancipation of the enslaved, to the +promotion of genuine temperance, and to the elevation of the toiling +and down-trodden masses to the inborn rights of humanity. + +In literature the _Harbinger_ will exercise a firm and impartial +criticism, without respect of persons or parties. It will be made a +vehicle for the freest thought, though not of random speculations; and +with a generous appreciation of the various forms of truth and beauty, +it will not fail to expose such instances of false sentiment, perverted +taste and erroneous opinion, as may tend to vitiate the public mind or +degrade the individual character. Nor will the literary department of +the _Harbinger_ be limited to criticism alone. It will receive +contributions from various pens, in different spheres of thought, and, +free from dogmatic exclusiveness, will accept all that in any way +indicates the unity of man with man, with nature, and with God. +Consequently all true science, all poetry and arts, all sincere +literature, all religion that is from the soul, all wise analyses of +mind and character, will come within its province. + +We appeal for aid in our enterprise to the earnest and hopeful spirits +in all classes of society. We appeal to all who, suffering from a +resistless discontent in the present order of things, with faith in man +and trust in God are striving for the establishment of universal +justice, harmony and love. We appeal to the thoughtful, the aspiring, +the generous everywhere, who wish to see the reign of heavenly truth +triumphant, by supplanting the infernal discords and falsehoods on +which modern society is built--for their sympathy, friendship and +practical cooperation in the undertaking which we announce to-day. + +The _Harbinger_ was launched, and it weathered the, storm for four +years, until its editors sought other and wider fields for their +genius. Besides the motto on the prospectus, they took the following +from Rev. William Ellery Channing: "Of modern civilization, the natural +fruits are, contempt for others' rights, fraud, oppression, a gambling +spirit in trade, reckless adventure and commercial convulsions, all +tending to impoverish the laborer and render every condition insecure. +Relief is to come, and can only come from the new application of +Christian principles, of universal justice and universal love, to +social institutions, to commerce, to business, to active life." + +It was printed in quarto form, sixteen pages to every number, with +clear type and in excellent style. The index of the first volume bears +a list of twenty-two names as contributors, and it contains many worthy +ones. The New York names were as follows:-- + +Albert Brisbane. William Henry Channing. Christopher P. Cranch. George +William Curtis. George G. Foster. Parke Godwin. Horace Greeley. Osborne +MacDaniel. + +The New England names were:-- + +Otis Clapp, Boston, Mass. William W. Story, Boston, Mass. T. Wentworth +Higginson, Boston, Mass. James Russell Lowell, Cambridge, Mass. J. A. +Saxton, Deerfield, Mass. Francis George Shaw, West Roxbury, Mass. John +G. Whittier, Amesbury, Mass. + +Other contributors were:-- + +E. P. Grant of Ohio. A. J. H. Duganne of Philadelphia. + +The Brook Farm writers were:-- + +George Ripley. John S. Dwight. Charles A. Dana. Lewis K. Ryckman. + +In the second volume are two more of the Channing family as +contributors, Dr. William F. and Walter, and also the name of James +Freeman Clarke, of Boston, with an additional writer from Brook Farm-- +John Orvis. + +Mr. Ripley and Mr. Dana wrote most of the editorial Associative +articles. Mr. Dana was the principal reviewer, and noticed the new +books. Mr. Dwight wrote an occasional article on Association, reviewed, +and attended to the musical and poetical department. He also earnestly +advocated the doctrines of social and industrial life suggested by +Fourier. Translations in prose and poetry were common. Parke Godwin and +W. H. Channing assisted in translations or selections from Fourier's +writings. George William Curtis wrote the musical correspondence from +New York, and among the poetical contributions in the first volume, is +one from J. G. Whittier, "To My Friend on the Death of His Sister," and +five poems by Cranch, Higginson, Story, Lowell and Duganne; also poetic +translations from the German by Dwight and Dana, as well as original +poems by them. + +The paper was not local. It aimed high as a purely literary and +critical as well as progressive journal, and I must ever consider it a +fault that it did not chronicle more of Brook Farm life. We look almost +in vain through its pages for one word of its situation, finding none +except in some allusions to it in the correspondence from abroad. +Occasionally the school was advertised in a corner, but for the rest it +might as well have been published elsewhere as at Brook Farm. The +leaders, feeling that the life there was an experiment, and perhaps a +doubtful one, were not disposed to gratify a curiosity which they +probably considered morbid, by yielding to it. This was a mistake. It +was a mistake, as much as it would be for us to leave out of our +letters to our friends the petty incidents of daily life, and describe +only grand principles and outside events. It is only to those loved +most by us that we recite the trivial things, for we know that those +trivialities link us closer than anything else, filling all the chinks +in our friendship or love. It was a disappointment to those who desired +to know often of the spirit of the workers, and of the little events +that happened there, not to find more notices of them. + +In many other respects the _Harbinger_ was a grand success. In all +that pertained to music, criticism, poetry and progress no journal +stood higher. I cannot tell of its pecuniary success for I do not find +any memorandum of its finances. The first number commenced with a story +translated from the French of George Sand (Madame Dudevant) entitled +"Consuelo"--in some respects the sweetest story she ever wrote. It was +translated by our neighbor, Mr. Francis G. Shaw, who would oftentimes +mount his horse, and, with his little boy, a tiny fellow, on a pony by +his side, gallop over to see us. How hard it is for me to realize that +afterward the same little fellow, as Col. Robert G. Shaw, led his +colored regiment through fire and smoke and the whizzing bullets up to +the cannon's mouth of bloody Fort Wagner, and there laid down his life +for his country. + +Francis George Shaw was of a Boston family and a gentleman of means. He +took great interest in our experiment and its hoped-for results. I have +not words to praise his kindness, and his gentlemanly manner and +bearing towards us all. He looked on life from a high standpoint. +Wealth did not corrupt him. He was a Christian in large heartedness and +philanthropy. He recognized his Maker's image in all men; the garment +he saw through; the color he saw through; and he desired above all +things the education, progress and culture of all the human family. + +Appended is an additional list of all the advertised contributors of +the _Harbinger_, during its publication at Brook Farm, not +including those already mentioned:-- + +John Allen, Brook Farm. Jean M. Pallisse, Brook Farm. S. P. Andrews, +New York, N. Y. William Ellery Channing, Concord, Mass. Joseph J. +Cooke, Providence, R. I. Fred. Henry Hedge, Bangor, Me. Mark E. +Lazarus, Wilmington, N. C. E. W. Parkman, Boston, Mass. J. H. Pulte, +Cincinnati, Ohio. Samuel D. Robbins, Chelsea, Mass. Miss E. H. Starr, +Deerfield, Mass. C. Neidhart, Philadelphia, Pa. + +The presence of a weekly journal on the farm, with its varieties of +current literature, poetry and music, could not but awaken in many of +the colaborers most pleasurable emotions. Prose articles and poetry +from it were discussed by daylight and by the fireside, by the +roadside, in the shops, on the farm--in fact, everywhere. The "Admiral" +was wild over Hood's "Bridge of Sighs." It was so quaint; the rhythm +was so unique; it was so full of sentiment; it was so tender; it +displayed so touchingly the sorrows of a young heart, and was so in +harmony with the humanitarian sentiment of our lives, that he and +others could but repeat it over and over, and the poet's rhymes kept +ringing both in our physical and mental ears. The lines-- + + + "One more unfortunate, + Rashly importunate + Gone to her death. + + * * * * * + + Take her up tenderly, + Fashioned so slenderly + Young and so fair." + +were repeated times without number. Cranch's, Story's and Duganne's +poems were favorably criticised, the authors being friendly to the +Association, and the verses of our own members touched tender spots. + +When Mr. Emerson's poems were published, there was quite a desire to +know what his sonnet to our friend William H. Channing was like. The +disappointment was great when, instead of a grand, glowing sonnet to a +great-souled man, it took up only an exceptional point of feeling in +his mind on the Abolition question, on which they were not quite +agreed. Quite a little discussion took place between two young persons +as to the propriety of the lines, + + "What boots thy zeal, O glowing friend, + That would indignant rend + The Northland from the South?" + +The one party contended that "boots" was entirely inadmissible in +poetic phrase. "What boots? Cowhides or patent leathers?" said he, +whilst the other contended that the whole scope of the meaning made the +poetry. But still the first stuck to his point, that a grand sentiment +needed grand words as well as grand ideas, and "boots" was a homely and +inadmissible word with which to express a high sentiment. + +Among the many volumes noticed, "Festus," by Philip James Bailey, was a +constant source of admiration and criticism in some of our circles, and +we had many varied ones. Listen to what Mr. Dwight said of it at the +time in the _Harbinger_: "There are more original and magnificent +images on a single page of Festus than would endow a dozen of the +handsome volumes most in vogue. The conclusion you come to as you read +on, is that his wealth of imagination is illimitable, and that you +might as well cut a cloud out of the purple sunset atmosphere, as a +figure from the boundless atmospheric beauty of this poem." + +"Festus" still retains its charm for me. + +The _Harbinger_, as may be seen, was to be published by the Brook +Farm _Phalanx_, not _Association_. The reason why the name +was changed was because "Association" was not a definite one, conveying +distinct impressions to the public mind, like "Community"; and the name +"Phalanx," although to American ears, new in its connection, was +expressive, and was also adopted by a number of social experiments just +starting, and it was desirable to have them all associated in name as +well as in general doctrine. The name "Community" was rejected because +all the societies organized under that name held their property in +common, which the "Association" distinctly did not. + +There were other changes made at this time, more important in idea than +in practice. The name "Areopagus" was applied to an enlarged general +council, and our leader got in this connection, without warrant, the +name of "the Archon." + +"Come!" said jocose Drew to him one day, as he sat on the wagon-seat +ready to start for the city, "we are waiting for you!" + +"Ah!" was Mr. Ripley's reply, "I see you have the _wag_-on, and +are now waiting for the Archon!" + +The government was vested in a General Council consisting of four +branches: First, a Council of Industry, composed of five members; +second, a Council of Finance, of four members; third, a Council of +Science, of three members, and fourth a President, who, with the +chairmen of the other three councils, constituted a "Central Council." +The Council of Industry was appointed by the chiefs of the several +series devoted to manual industry; the Council of Finance, by the +stockholders; the Council of Science, by chiefs of the series devoted +to educational, literary and scientific matters, and the President by +the concurrent vote of the three series. + +The Areopagus, whose duty was advisory, consisted of the General +Council; the chiefs of the several groups and series; stockholders +holding stock to the amount of one thousand dollars or more; all +members of the Phalanx over the age of forty-five who had resided on +the place for two years or longer; and of such other persons as might +be elected by this Council on account of their superior wisdom, merit +or devotion to the interests of the Association; no person voting who +was not a member of the Phalanx. + +There was a curious and interesting addition to the constitution in the +"Council of Arbiters," which was to consist of seven persons, "the +majority of whom shall be women." To this council individuals and +departments were to bring all complaints, charges and grievances not +provided for in other ways. They were to take cognizance of all matters +relating to morals and manners, and to report to the General Council +all cases wherein their decision was not complied with. The reader can +judge by this that there were men and women who understood "woman's +sphere," and were ready to assist her to it quietly and naturally, long +years ago in this little band. + +A considerable number of arrangements were made to secure what was +considered justice in the relation of capital to the Phalanx, its +members and its stockholders. The capital stock was divided into three +classes, namely: loan stock, or that which received a fixed percentage +for use; partnership stock, depending on the general product of the +Phalanx for its dividend; and labor stock, that represented the +dividend to labor. + +The arrangements for the dividends on stock of the several kinds were +quite complicated, and, under the light of after events, seem farcical; +but the constitution makers believed they were arranging matters not +only for the Brook Farm experiment, but for all who might adopt the +social life of the Phalanxes, present and future. Looking at it in this +light, the constitution might deserve more thought than can be given to +it now. + +There was a preliminary article, written and signed by George Ripley, +President, from which the following extracts are made:-- + +"At the last session of the Legislature of Massachusetts, our +Association was incorporated under the name which it now assumes, with +the right to hold real estate to the amount of one hundred thousand +dollars. This confers upon us all the usual powers and privileges of +chartered companies. We have introduced several branches of profitable +industry, and established a market for their products; and finally, in +the constitution which follows, we have applied the principles of +social justice to the distribution of profits in such a manner that the +best results are to be expected. + +"Nothing is now necessary to the greatest possible measure of success +but capital to furnish sufficient means to enable us to develop every +department to advantage. This capital we can now apply profitably and +without danger of loss. We are well aware that there must be risk in +investing money in an infant association as well as in any other +untried business, but with the labors of nearly four years, we have +arrived at a point where this risk hardly exists. Not that we have +surmounted all the difficulties of the enterprise; these are still +sufficiently abundant. But we have, by no means with ease, laid the +foundation, and now stand ready to do our part in rearing a +superstructure, which approaches more nearly to the ideal of human +society than any that has as yet existed--a society which shall +establish justice between all interests and all men; which shall +guarantee education, the right to labor, and the rights of property to +all, and which by actual demonstration of a state of things every way +better and more advantageous, will put an end to the great evils which +at present burden even the most fortunate classes. + +"What we have already been able to accomplish ought to give weight to +our words. We speak not from abstract conviction, but from experience; +not as mere enthusiasts, but as men of practical common sense, holding +in our hands the means of escape from the present condition of society, +and from that still more frightful state to which in all civilized +countries it is hurrying. + +"Accordingly, we calmly and earnestly invite the aid of those who +perceive how little security existing institutions offer against the +growth of commercial feudalism on the one hand, and pauperism on the +other--of those whose sympathies are with the unfortunate and +uneducated masses; of those who long for the establishment of more true +and genial conditions of life, as well as of those who are made +restless and fiery-souled by the universal necessities of reform. + +"But by the increasing number, whose most ardent desire is to see the +experiment of Association fairly tried, we are confident that the +appeal we now make will not be received without the most generous +response in their power. As far as their means and their utmost +exertions can go, they will not suffer so favorable an opportunity for +the realization of their hopes to pass unimproved." + +I cannot say that I think all parties in the Association were pleased +with the changes in the constitution. They were not simple enough to be +easily applied and quickly comprehended, and were too weighty and +cumbersome for the little society. + +Early in the second spring (1844) of my sojourn at the farm it was +decided to build a large unitary building on the high ground, almost +directly in front of the Eyry, though at some distance from it, on the +eastern verge of the slope facing the meadow, and nearly in line with +the distant town road. It was late when the preparations were concluded +and the work was commenced. There was not money enough in the treasury +to pay for it, but it was thought that means would come. The result of +the season's work was that the foundation walls were laid, the first +floor was boarded, and thus it was left for the winter. + +It was to be an oblong, wooden building, with an entrance on a level +with the earth terrace. The lower floor was divided into some five or +six apartments, with parlors, a reading room, reception rooms, large +dining hall, with an adjoining kitchen and bakery. From the main hall +or entry, which was on the left of the centre of the building, arose a +flight of stairs which led out on to a corridor or piazza which +extended across the whole front of the building. This corridor was +duplicated by one above it, and the roof jutted out to a line with the +lower story and covered them both. Pillars supported the roof, and were +attached to and supported the corridors. On the lower corridor or +piazza were the entrances to the suites. There were seven doorways that +entered seven houses, as distinct as any other seven houses, except in +being connected by the corridors and being under one roof, each house +containing two suites. Thus could privacy be maintained and sociability +increased. + +The building would add wonderfully to the advantages of the +Association, and being near the centre of the domain, would diminish +the travel which consumed a great deal of time. It would give room for +increased numbers; would furnish a suitable assembly room, and more +especially would it give to the larger families a chance to place their +members together in the natural family order. It would also allow the +other buildings to be used exclusively for family purposes, and if +success increased the resources of the Association, the main building +would be enlarged by adding wings to it. + +The proportion of unmarried persons in the Association was large, and +young men predominated. They had, in a general sense, a good home in +the Association, but there was lacking the family circle to draw around +at night, and a good deal of motherly care and sympathy. They were +reliable young men, and many of the families would not have objected to +having them joined to their evening circles, had they not been crowded +themselves; to having a sympathizing care over them, and to looking +after many of those trifling things that make the difference between +comfort and discomfort. + +It was a theory that all should have a home--that the Association, as a +general home, should not take the place of the private family; and it +was also considered a duty by many to join to their family circles one +or more of these single persons. It was proposed in the apportionment +of the rooms in the new building, to place a family in each house and +proportionately distribute the young men, when desirable to do so, +among them. This would give all a more equal chance, and not doom the +young and productive members to reside in attics, or in groups in any +place convenient for the Association, in its crowded state, to put +them. + +Extracts from the Financial Report to the Association. + +"The Direction of Finance respectfully submit their annual report for +the year ending Oct. 31, 1844:-- + + The income of the Association during the year from + all sources whatever has been . . . . . . .$11,854.41 + and its expenditures for all purposes, + including interest, losses by bad debts, + and damage of buildings, tools and + furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,409.14 + + leaving a balance of . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,445.27 + from which deducting the amount of + doubtful debts contracted this year . . . . 284.43 + -------- + we have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,160.84 + +which is to be divided according to the Constitution. + +"By the last yearly report of this Direction it appears that the +Association has been a loser up to November 1, 1843, to the amount of +$2,748.83. In this amount was included sundry debts against associates +amounting to $924.38 which should not have been included. There were +also some small discrepancies which were afterwards discovered, so that +on settling the books, the entire deficit appeared to be $1,837.00. + +"To this amount should be added the proportion of the damage done to +the tools, furniture and general fixtures and depreciation in the live +stock, by the use of the two years which the Association has been in +operation previous to that time. The whole damage of this property by +the use of these years has been ascertained by inventory to be $365.54, +according to the estimates and statements prepared by Messrs. Ryckman +and Hastings, which are herewith submitted. + +"Of this sum, $365.54, we have charged one third, $121.85, to the +account of the current year, and two thirds, $243.69, to the account of +the two preceding years. To the same amount should also be added sundry +debts which have since proved to be bad, amounting in all to $678.08, +and also an error in favor of I. Morton amounting to $17.74, which has +since been discovered in his account, so that the total deficit of the +preceding years will appear to be as follows:-- + + Deficit on settling the books..... $1,837.00 + Damage on furniture and fixtures..... 243.69 + Bad debts, including debts of + associates considered doubtful....... 678.08 + I. Morton............................ 17.74 + + Total.............................. $2,776.51 + +"From this amount is to be deducted the value of the farm produce +consisting of hay, roots, manures, etc., on hand November 1, 1843, +which was not taken into the amount of last year, but which has been +ascertained to be $762.50, as well as the value, $49.13, of the family +stores which were on hand at the same time, but were also omitted from +the amount. + +"Deducting these two amounts ($762.50+$49.13= $811.63) from the deficit +as above stated we have: + + Deficit.......... $2,776.51 + Farm produce and + family stores....... 811.63 + + Real deficit for + 1842 and 1843.... $1,964.88 + +"It was the opinion of a majority at least of this Board that this sum +must be chargeable upon the future industry of the Association, and +that no dividend could be declared until it had been made up. +Accordingly the quarterly statement for the quarter ending August 1, +1844, was based upon this opinion, and a deficit of $526.78 declared to +exist at that time. It is but justice to say that that statement was +made up in the absence of one of the members of the Direction, Mr. +Ryckman, who on seeing it objected entirely to the principle which it +embodied. Subsequent consideration has convinced the Direction that the +statement was in that respect erroneous, and that the transactions of +previous years ought not to affect the operations of this, in the way +proposed in the statement. It should be borne in mind that the deficit +before spoken of is not a debt in itself, but is the difference between +the amount of our debts and our joint stock, and the nominal value of +our assets. The Association is not bound to pay the sum or to make it +good in any way. It pays interest upon it, but can never be called on +to pay the principal. The sum total of the actual liabilities of the +Association, that is, of debts and obligations which it is bound at +some time or other to pay, is much exceeded by the cost value of its +property. Its joint stock, which it is not bound to pay, much exceeds +the deficit we are speaking of, so that clearly the deficit is not to +be paid, but only the interest upon it, that is, five per cent per +annum forever. So that it is evident that the principal is by no means +chargeable upon the industry of the present or of future years, but +only the interest. And even if the said deficit were a debt to be paid +it would still, as we conceive, be perfectly just and legitimate to +issue stock for its amount to those members by whose labors it was made +up. Because in that case we should merely, in consideration of such +labor, bind the Association to the yearly payment of the interest +aforesaid according to the terms of our joint stock compact. + +"This is, as we are persuaded, the only way whereby labor can receive +justice. If a hundred dollars in money is invested in our stock, we +issue certificates for that amount, and why must we not do the same +with an investment of a hundred dollars' worth of labor? The claim in +the latter case seems to us even more imperative than in the former. +The dividend of each year ought, as we are convinced, to be made with +reference solely to the difference between its gains on the one hand, +and its expenditures and losses on the other. + +"The earlier losses of the establishment must be regarded as the price +of much valuable experience, and as inevitable in starting such an +institution. Almost every business fails to pay its expenses at the +commencement--it always costs something to set the wheels in operation; +this is not, however, to be regarded as absolute loss. This is the view +which is to be taken of the condition of the Association at the +beginning of the present year. + +"The true value of any property is precisely the sum on which, in the +use for which it was designed or which it may be put to, it pays the +requisite interest. The price of railroad stock, for example, is not +regulated, either by its original cost or by the present intrinsic +worth of the property it represents, but by the dividend it pays and by +the condition and durability of the railroad. For any other use than as +a railroad the property of the road is of course comparatively +worthless, but that consideration has no effect upon its value. + +"The case is entirely the same with the property of this Association. As +long as it is able, in the use and under the management of the +Association, to pay the stipulated interest--five per cent per annum-- +upon the stock shares by which it is represented, so long those stock +shares will be worth par, whatever may be the nominal cost of the +property, or its value for any other purposes than those of the +Association. + +"In accordance with these views and for other considerations which we +shall hereafter allude to, this Direction is altogether of opinion that +the results of this year's industry ought to be divided irrespective of +the results of former years, and certificates of stock issued to those +persons who are entitled to such dividends. + +"To some persons it may perhaps seem remarkable that a dividend should +be declared when the Association is so much in want of ready money as +at present, but a little reflection will show anyone that it is a +perfectly legitimate proceeding. A very large part of our industry has +been engaged in the production of permanent property such as the shop, +the Phalanstery and the improvements upon the farm. These are of even +more value to the Association than so much money, and a dividend may as +justly be based upon them as upon cash in the treasury. + +"As soon as the Phalanstery shall be completed it will become necessary +to establish different rates of room rent. It is a matter of doubt +whether such an arrangement is not already desirable. In our present +crowded condition, indeed, the general inconveniences are distributed +with tolerable equality, but still it is impossible to avoid some +exceptions, and it might contribute to the harmony of the Association +if a just graduation of rates for different apartments should now be +established. As far as possible no member should be the recipient of +peculiar favors, but when all are charged at an equal rate for unequal +accommodations, this is unavoidable. For the same reason a difference +should be made between the price of board at the Graham tables, and +those which are furnished with a different kind of food. It is only by +this means that justice can be done and differences prevented. + + "C. A. D." + + +The first thought that will arrest the attention of some in reading +this report is the smallness of the figures. It does not appear to-day +that the corporation was much of a financial affair, for there are +thousands of persons in our land now who could easily sustain such an +institution and pocket its yearly losses; but we must bear in mind that +the intervening years have changed the value of money, and its relation +to property. A fair price for a mechanic's labor then was a dollar for +a day of ten to twelve hours; the same persons would now receive three +to four times as much for less hours. We should remember also that the +colossal fortunes of to-day were not in existence then. The means at +the command of the Association were very small, and the wonder is that +with so little money capital the enterprise should have attracted the +wide notice it did. + +In this report was an allusion to the Graham table. In the dining room +there was always, at the time of which I write, one table of +vegetarians--those who used no flesh meats, and generally no tea or +coffee. They passed under the name of "Grahamities," from the founder +of the vegetarian system in America, Dr. Sylvester Graham, whose name +is still connected with bread made of unbolted wheat because it was by +him considered the very perfection of human food. These persons were of +both sexes, different ages and occupations. They worked on the farms, +in the schools, the houses and the shops. They had the diet of the +place, minus the meat and sometimes the tea and coffee. Little +attention was paid at first to this departure from common habits, but +by degrees the numbers increased until they began to be a power. Their +constancy, their earnest belief, soon swept away all ridicule, and the +proof that they could do their share of daily work was not wanting. +Among the number were many very devoted and cheerful persons. + +Dispensing with meat, with the restricted diet, led some to say: "Our +table does not cost as much as the others, for we eat no meat, saving +the expense of it to the Association, and we drink no tea or coffee, +saving that cost also. Let us have the money we have economized, spent +for us in things that we want, in additional fruit and vegetables, or +in some articles of diet that we need to replace the food we do not +use." The answer to it was that the Association furnished certain +things, and if the members did not eat them it was their loss, as it +could not be expected that the Association could cater to individual +tastes. But after a while the injustice was made apparent, and it led +to the notice we have just read in the report. + +I have been requested to give my personal testimony as to the effect of +a vegetarian diet as seen at Brook Farm. I willingly do so. For two or +three years the farmers, mechanics and others worked side by side, and +no one could conscientiously say that in ability to work in any field +of labor, physical or mental, the vegetarians were out-matched by their +companions. Their health was fully maintained and their mental +cheerfulness was surpassed by none. + +From this report it can easily be learned that no important financial +progress had been made at Brook Farm, and that any accumulation of +wealth was yet in the future. The Brook Farmers were working in hope. +It was still an experiment, and as an experiment it will be necessary +for me to point out by-and-by the defects which will answer the often +asked question, "Why did Brook Farm fail?" But it is well to bear in +mind the starting point. Most men of business go into trade with a +capital, some reserved fund, but the Brook Farmers had none, and as +they progressed, the want of it was more and more felt. "It is the +first step that costs," as the French proverb says, and the Brook +Farmers had a great many first steps to take, steps that no others had +taken, and inevitable costs and losses must occur. But we pass on into +the second spring of my Brook Farm life. + +And here another character came into our circle, and joined in work on +the farm. He was very enthusiastic. His wife had lately died, and he +brought her body to Brook Farm as to Holy Land and buried it in the +little grove by the side of our first and only grave, so that there +were now two mounds that the gardener ornamented with sods, shrubbery +and flowers. + +I do not think this new friend had a fine face. His features were not +large, and, if we except the full forehead, not very attractive. His +mouth was small, and his dark brown hair asserted its rights in spite +of brush and comb, and would not lie gracefully down over his brow, and +it added to the look of determination there was in the little man's +countenance, shown by the lines in his face and the rigid and spare +muscles, a "hold on" expression which so well coincided with his +character. + +New England at this time put its fingers in its ears and stifled the +beatings of its heart that kept time with justice, in order that the +peace of our country should not be disturbed by men who thought slavery +a curse, and proclaimed it so. Rev. John Allen was then in a pulpit, +and dared to speak his mind to his people, at which they rebelled and +would not hearken. "Speak I must; speak I will," said he, "or we part! +Let me but preach a sermon once a quarter on the subject of slavery!" +But the church said, "No." "Let me then but preach once in six months," +and the church said, "No." Finally he said he would continue with them +if they would allow him to preach one sermon a year on the subject--I +doubt not that that _one_ would have carried flint and steel +enough to set fire to all the tinder in the congregation--but the +church would not listen, and they parted. + +He had one little child, an infant a year or two old, who, deprived of +his mother, was brought to the farm and had a great deal of attention +and pity bestowed upon it. This little boy brought a misfortune which +threatened the lives of the members, the business and life of the +Association. He was the pet of his father, who took him to Boston on +his lecture tours and brought him back, for Mr. Allen was engaged to +lecture for the cause. The child had never been vaccinated, and being +ill at the Hive, it was discovered that he had symptoms of small-pox, +which disease he had taken somewhere in the city. Imagine the commotion +among the persons who had handled and fondled the young darling, and in +the Association in general! But the bravery of men and women who had +dared to leave their homes and share the fortune and fate of this young +Community was everywhere displayed. + +The child was isolated and cared for, but in due time backaches and +headaches foretold the coming of the dreaded disease, and preparations +were made for anticipated results. The Cottage was vacated, and the +sick were conveyed thither. The disease took a variety of forms. There +were those who had nothing but the symptoms, or a pustule or two; some +had a few dozen on them, scattered from head to foot; they were almost +absolutely well; they refused to be made invalids of; they kept at work +on the farm or were only disabled for a day or two when the disease was +at its height. The lighter cases increased in number, and finally the +Direction saw it was useless to try to isolate all, and that the +disease must have its run, and they must trust to fate for final +results. The worst cases were in the improvised hospital, under the +care of kindly nurses. "Hired," say you? No; not a bit of it! but dear, +kind women and men volunteered to attend to this sacred duty, and after +weeks of imprisonment, came out with the glory of having protected +every life, and the Associated family lost not a member. There were +more than thirty cases. The simple diet, the pure air and the healthy +mental stimulus of cheerful lives, with the knowledge that they were +something more than in name a united body, must have had its effect, +for the whole trouble passed away like a summer shower, and left no +permanent impression on the society. There were three or four extreme +cases, but only one or two persons who bore scars that were +defacements, and there was no panic in our midst. The members took the +whole matter with wonderful coolness. + +Like a shower it wiped out the army of visitors! When any persons came, +an attendant warned them of our condition ere they reached the Hive +door, and they precipitately retreated. Occasionally only, a carriage +or a few persons travelled the accustomed ways. Not until the epidemic +had passed did the interminable throng resume its accustomed walk, or +strange faces appear at the "visitors' table," and our many constant +and cheerful friends greet us again as of yore. The labor of the +Association was much disarranged, and there was loss in many ways, but +it was truly to be congratulated that it escaped from such an unusual +danger as comfortably as it did. From the first days of the Community +until its close, there was only one death on the farm, and that of the +person described in a former chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MY SECOND SPRING. + + +All through the spring the talk was of the new building, the +"Phalanstery," as we called it. Everybody was thinking what great +progress could be made when we should live in it. One day, passing by, +I found the carpenters had resumed work, and from thenceforth it +progressed until it assumed the resemblance of a mammoth house. + +The round of daily life this season was little varied from that of the +past, but there was more activity and more crowding. A great many +makeshifts were had to enable persons who wished to visit the place to +get even lodging for a night, for no one knew who or how many were +coming before the evening coach arrived. Oftentimes it came full, when +it seemed there was not a sleeping place to be found on the domain. The +Association buildings overflowed, and a neighboring house was leased +and occupied just across the road, by the Hive. It was sometimes called +the "Nest," and had been hired in the first days of the "Community." +Even then every corner was filled. + +There was some income from this crowd of visitors, and at the same time +the work and system of the place were much retarded, for as carriage +after carriage and vehicle after vehicle came, each one would require +an attendant, who was taken from labor, and when the regular attendants +were all occupied the horn would be sounded to see if anyone of the +shoemakers or printers or farmers or teachers would leave his work and +volunteer for this duty. + +Frequently all these visitors would leave as suddenly as they came, and +would only give their thanks, not even being of a single cent's +immediate value to the place for the outlay of time taken from +productive labor. Sometimes a growl would be heard because a trifle was +taken for the expense of meals, or about the absence of feathers in the +beds, by some visitor who intruded himself uninvited. I pitied the +Dormitory Group, running from house to house at edge of evening to find +a stray corner to lodge a guest; seeking out the rooms of absent +members, and hunting up towels, furnishings and fittings, through all +the pleasant summer weather. But this was cheerfully done for "the +cause," and much more had to be done. + +Our lecturers were wanted--men who were in practical associative life, +and they were taken from remunerative work to speak to the public. Thus +we entered into the summer, and the beautiful grass waved again on the +meadow; the pleasant lights gleamed again from the Eyry windows; the +pure moon looked down on the summer fields; the merry voices of the +young and happy folks were heard as the farmers came up from the +fields, and the horn sounded its "_toot-toot_" as a signal for all +to join at meals. + +I was in the gardener's department, assisting him in the care of the +greenhouse plants and making flower beds, but our especial work was +laying out and planting a large garden which should be a permanent +addition to the beauty of the place, and a future source of income. On +the farm was a fine imported bull who did not seem to be doing his +share of work in our very industrious place, so a ring was put in his +nose and he was my especial charge in the way of a team. It appears +cruel to one who for the first time sees a bull led by the nose, but +there seems to be no reason why a bull should complain, when there are +so many humans continually led through life in the same fashion. + +In fact the bull throve and had in some ways considerable sense. He was +harnessed into a tipcart and we made him work for us. He was a strong, +powerful fellow, and has carried his eighty loads of gravel a day, from +one part of the garden to the other. At noon I would relieve him of his +harness and mount his back for a ride to the barn. I would then be the +"observed of all observers." Sometimes, for the frolic, I would load my +cart with young misses and dump them at the Hive door, backing up to it +in the most approved style of an old "gee-haw" farmer. + +"Prince Albert," the bull, was a gem. He worked admirably. He never +gave me any trouble, or anyone else human, but when stalled near the +oxen he had a peculiar fancy to poke his horns into them. Early one +morning, by some mischance, he got loose in the barn, and "going" for +one of them frightened him so much that he also broke loose, and in +trying to make his escape from the bull, backed into the barn-room. +There was a large trap door in it, and the ox ventured on it, breaking +it, and fell through. The bull was so close behind that he could not +escape, and they dropped together into the little room below, the door +of which was open. The ox escaped into the yard, and ran for dear life +around the front of the Hive, pursued by the bull. Whether the jar of +the fall, his escape, or his quiet disposition sobered him I know not, +but he soon fell into a jog-trot pursuit, and was caught and returned +by a neighboring farmer. + +There was great roaring and noise in the fracas, which was of short +duration, but long enough to bring out the men from the Hive to witness +the affair. The General, who had been sleeping a little late--probably +he had been baking bread the night before--made his appearance from his +little room on the ground floor, with boot on one foot and shoe on the +other, just as it was all over, with the impatient inquiry, "W-w-what +is it all about?" On an explanation of the affair being made, the next +question he asked, in all earnestness, soberness and simplicity, was +"W-h-o-i-c-h came out ahead?" The personal appearance and manner of the +General, and the absurd question, uttered in a vehement and stammering +way, touched a ludicrous spot in the minds of the spectators so +permanently that should you ask one of them to-day, "Which came out +ahead?" he will smile or give you a shout of laughter in return. + +It took but little to amuse, sometimes, for on one of the beautiful +summer days at nooning time, a group of men were resting in the shade +of the arbor that was on an island artificially made in the brook below +the terraces in front of the Hive, breathing the pure, balmy air of +outdoors instead of the indoor air of the workshop, reclining on the +thick greensward, when some two or three essayed the not very difficult +feat of jumping the merrily running brook, from embankment to +embankment, and dared Tirrell, one of the number, to follow. He was the +oldest and a little less supple than the others; and in trying the jump +deliberately landed about three inches short of the opposite bank, knee +deep in the water. It was, as the young people say, "too funny for +anything," but equally funny to the lookers-on to see the amused +Chiswell, one of his mates, roll over and over on the greensward in +repeated convulsions of side-splitting laughter, whilst the others, +standing up, had hard work to keep their perpendicular and writhed in +awful shapes as they joined in chorus with him, as Tirrell was slowly +wading out of the water up the embankment. + +Trouble in financial affairs still existed. Cash in large amount was +not received, and it was perilous times with the Direction. When the +fall of the year came, it was announced that we must retrench our +meagre diet, to enable us to go on until our labor could pay us better-- +until we could improve our employments and enlarge the institution so +that there could be more producers--and it was submitted to without +much complaint. + +The work on the new building ceased, so that all hope of entering into +it before the coming spring was abandoned. There was one motto, +"Retrenchment," and it was echoed from all sides with all manner of fun +and mock solemnity; but those who were in the inner circle doubtless +felt, more than the youngsters did, the seriousness of matters. A more +strict account of everything was kept; indeed it seemed that the time +spent in keeping all the various items, was out of proportion to the +work done. I shall not soon forget, in this connection, the joke of +"the Parson," E. Capen, who, holding up a pair of pantaloons that he +had just received from the Mending Group, said sharply, "I have just +gotten a _reseat in full_ for these pantaloons!" + +It will not be necessary to go into details of changes made to secure +more prosperity. I was undisturbed by them. I could go with crust of +good bread all day and be satisfied, growing strong and healthy. I +could endure the cold and heat without trouble, and have often braved +the winter wind, taking no pains to keep it from being blown on my bare +chest, and without discomfort. + +The new greenhouse was built in the autumn, just in time to save the +plants from frost. It was situated back of the cottage and garden, +almost parallel with our boundary wall, and about fifteen feet from it. +There was a little sleeping room connected with it, where I lodged +summer and winter. Above me in the gable, a variety of beautiful doves, +consisting of Pouters, Tumblers, Ruffs, Carriers and Fantails, was +installed. They were very tame, and were much admired by our family and +visitors. They came at my call, alighted on my hands, head and +shoulders, and picked corn from out my hands and from between my lips. + +We planted grape vines that bore promises, but were too young for +fruit, and we made bouquets and sold them to Boston and West Roxbury +parties. + +Peter N. Klienstrup, the gardener, was under the spell of the powerful +weed, tobacco, and he tried time and again to break from the habit of +using it, but as often returned to its enchantment and its witchery. + +"Dis is my last piece," I have heard him say many times, showing me the +fragment of a "hand," and when that was gone and for some two or three +weeks afterwards everything soured him. He was as cross as a bear, but +after that time his nerves would gradually become calmer and his +complexion clearer. + +The gardener would persevere in the disuse of tobacco until the +enchanter's spell seemed broken, when some disturbing thing would upset +him, and he would turn his pockets inside out, and fumble with his +thumb and finger in their extreme corners for the least particle of the +"luxury." "John, I _must_ have some tobacco," he would say, and in +a day or two would be again under the full influence of the weed. I +pitied the old man, as I do the thousands of younger men who are to-day +under the same enchantment. + +Swept into this little nook in the industries of the place, I left the +Farming Group forever. + +It is often stated that the home circle is the sphere of women, but at +times it is a very narrow circle--a very narrowing circle to its +occupants. There are thousands who enter it as brilliant young ladies, +and come from it at the end of a few years morbid, harassed, depressed; +sunk in all the graces and powers that make a woman's life beautiful +and distinct from a man's. The circle in many cases is so narrow that +there is no room for growth. The humdrum toils, the petty cares and +rude contact with hired help, sink many a charming woman into a +domestic drudge and scold. + +It has been asserted that Associations and Communities may do well for +men, but that women can never get along in them. The experience of +Brook Farm testifies against the assertion. If ever there was a clear +record of faithfulness and devotion, of sacrifice, of love of +principle, and earnest, unselfish work for unselfish ends, the women +toilers of Brook Farm can claim it and secure it without cavil. Morning +and evening, in season and out of season, in heat and cold, they were +ever at their posts. And the self-imposed toil made them grow great. It +opened their hearts as they daily saw the devotion of others. + +It was for the meanest a life above humdrum, and for the greatest +something far, infinitely far beyond. They looked into the gates of +life and saw beyond charming visions, and hopes springing up for all. +They saw protection for all, even to the meanest of God's creatures; a +life beyond cold charity, up among the attributes of the Creator's +justice; an even garment for all, protecting the weak children of life +against the strong, the strong against the machinations of the weak. +How could they grow otherwise than great? + +Wherever woman's hands were wanted to work, wherever woman's head was +wanted to plan, and wherever woman's care and sympathy were needed, +they were always forthcoming. Some were witty, too. One of our ladies, +with her hands full of apple blossoms and her eyes bright as stars, was +met by Mr. Ripley, who said to her, "You have been foraging, I see!" +"Oh, no," she said, with an arch smile, "I do not go _foraging_." + +The pupils of the school took the infection of labor. At first often +haughty and distant, they soon mellowed, and were ready to assist the +young associative friends, with whom they became acquainted, in various +little works, and enjoyed the labor. The prevailing tone was health. +Sickness was a rarity to either sex. The pupils mingled with the games +and sporty, walks, rides and parties, and many seemed as devoted as +though belonging to the body, and when they returned from vacations, it +was with happy greetings to all and from all, and like returning home, +rather than to tasks. + +Separate and distinct from the school was a room for the young at the +Hive, where mothers could leave their children in the care of the +Nursery Group whilst they were engaged in industrial work, or as a +kindly relief to themselves when fatigued by the care of them; for a +primary doctrine was "alternation of employments." It was believed that +more and better work could be done by not being confined to one +employment all the day of labor; that it was better for the mental as +well as the physical system to have a change--in theory as often as +once in two hours. In practice, under the conditions which governed our +life, an attempt only could be made to alternate labor and to relieve +the mothers from the excess of burden that the care of young children +often is. Some very sweet and choice ladies attended to this +employment, choosing it from their attraction towards it; thus +inaugurating the day nursery system, now coming into vogue in our large +cities. + +In the matter of dress, the women who chose, had made for themselves a +short gown with an under garment, bound at the ankles and of the same +material. With this dress they could walk well and work well. It was +somewhat similar to the dress worn by Mrs. Bloomer and called by her +name years after this date. + +The question of the "right to vote" for women was not one that troubled +the politicians of Brook Farm. At all of the meetings for the +acceptance or rejection of applicants and other purposes, women cast +their votes without criticism, for were they not mutually interested? +And now, nearly half a century since, we are asked to form a party to +secure similar rights. Why, men and women, the party was formed when a +majority of persons now living was not born; only it was a very small +party, and, need I add--select! + +Only once did we have a wedding ceremony at the farm, though the +friendships commenced outlasted the Association. The financial +conditions for marriage were not inviting. One pleasant evening, later +than this date as I remember it, we were all invited to the Pilgrim +House to a wedding of one of Mr. Dwight's sisters. Our friend Rev. W. +H. Channing officiated. + +It was a homelike affair, and after the ceremony "the Poet" (J. S. +Dwight) was invited to speak to us; but no, he was not in the mood. He +was urged--for all liked to hear his kindly voice, and we thought this +a particularly pleasant subject--so he at last arose from his seat and +commenced with these words: "I like this making one." It seemed to +touch various chords in the minds of the hearers, for the applause and +laughter that followed silenced the rest of the speech and it was never +finished. Then some one proposed that all should join hands and make a +circle, as the symbol of universal unity, and a pledge to one another +that all were united in effort to continue and carry on the great work +of harmonizing society on a true and just basis of unity of interests, +attractive industry, mutual guarantees, etc. + + "Come, let us join hands! let our two flames mingle + In one more pure; + Since there is truth in nothing that is single + Be love, love's cure," + +sang our Poet after this time in the _Harbinger_, and some said +with double meaning. I have a list of names of fourteen married couples +whose mutual friendship was begun or continued through Brook Farm life, +and I have yet to know of an unhappy marriage among them all. + +The question was often debated whether such a life as was led in +Association would have a tendency to favor early marriages or not, but +like a great many other questions of importance, it was debated without +settlement. One party claimed that from the freedom of social +intercourse and facility of acquaintance, an intimacy would spring up +that would result in early marriages; and the other party maintained +that with the certainty of true friendship from woman, and pleasant +social relations, marriages would not be hurried, but delayed until the +parties' thoughts and temperaments were well harmonized and all proper +and natural arrangements of support and comfort thoroughly secured. + +There was with us a variety of female characters. We had our Marthas +who were troubled with much serving, and our Marys who loved to sit at +our leader's feet and hear the glad tidings and the new doctrines; and +now and then we had an uncomfortable woman, fully out of place and +consequently unhappy. Such an one was usually the wife of some man +whose whole energies were devoted to his work and who was happy in +himself, on his half shell, and was to be pitied that his other half +lived not in his shadow, but cast a shadow on him. + +All Brook Farmers recollect with pleasure, among special cases of +devotion, the little, straight, light-haired, smiling woman, who was so +long chief of the Dormitory Group, who was at nightfall wandering about +with stray towels, sheets and pillows, always making arrangements in +the shifting population for every one who came; hunting places for +stray visitors, when we were crowded; puzzled and wearied oft--for no +one knew at what hour of the day or evening visitors might come and we +had oftentimes almost to make a Box and Cox affair of it, for there was +no hotel within a long distance. This little woman was at her post +again in the morning doing dormitory work, never tired, going from +house to house, ever with a smile on her face; and this position she +voluntarily occupied more than two years. Sweet Lizzie Curson! + +Then the young folks--the young misses--were full of devotion. Commend +me to the young for unselfish work, or was it that the life awoke in +them a devoted spirit? This I know, that the sympathy and friendship +which sprung up in those days has lasted all these years, and will +remain as long as life. But it was not personal beauty that held me in +sway, and still holds me after so many long years--years that have +transformed most of those beautiful girls into old matrons and weeping +widows, plain and homely--but because it seems to me that there never +was a more gentle, kind, amiable, trusting, self-respecting, loving set +of young folks anywhere assembled. + +And oh, how they learned! How they grew in grace and in education, both +of the practical and the ornamental! How fine in health and figure, +from the free life, from the grace learned in dancing, the repose at +early hours, the simple diet and the mind filled every day with +pleasant thoughts and ideas. I do not know of any one who was not in +fine, robust health. They all, without exception, developed into +healthy men and women; or, to be a little more exact, as long as they +remained on the farm they continued to develop in health, strength, +grace and beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DRAMA, AND IMPORTANT LETTERS. + + +The need of especial amusements was not particularly felt at the farm, +but sometimes a set, inspired by an active mind, would venture out of +the common course and try to do a "big thing," which, like many big +things, would prove a failure. There was no hall for performances +except the dining hall, and it could not be taken possession of until +after supper; consequently, for a dramatic performance where it was +important to have the hall prepared before hand, it was useless, and so +the Amusement Group secured the lower floor of the shop for a special +occasion, and Chiswell, the carpenter, made a portable stage which +could be arranged for rehearsals and taken down easily, and all hands +went to work, some to learn their parts and others to make dresses, +properties and scenery. + +The influence of a strong, active mind and persuasive tongue like that +of Drew, was felt on this occasion, for he induced the Amusement Group +to allow a portion of his favorite poem, Byron's "Corsair," to be +acted. With pencil and scissors he went to work, cutting and slashing +the "Corsair" with these ungodly weapons until I fear he could not, had +he been in the flesh, have fought a brave fight. + +I cannot at this late day describe the dresses worn on the occasion; +but Glover was the corsair, and burnt cork had to suffer, and I know +that there was quite a pretty Miss whom he had no especial objection to +embracing as Medora. When he said, "My own Medora!" it was quite +pathetic--enough to cause a titter among the younger portion of the +audience. + +_Apropos_ of the audience, it was noised abroad that there was to +be a performance at the farm, and there was more than the usual number +of outsiders present. Even the Reverend Theodore, who never ventured +out in our vicinity in the evening, was tempted to come over for this +"great occasion." Some round-faced, pretty daughters of a well-to-do +neighboring farmer from "Spring Street" were there also, and with +friends and neighbors, the shop was full; for us a large audience. + +Well, the "Corsair," clipped as it was, dragged its slow length along +to an end. We then ventured to start our great drama, "Pizarro," or the +death of Rolla. But here again I am foiled in my remembrance. I know it +took the "whole strength of the company" to fill out the many +characters needed. Carpenters, shoemakers and farmers were turned into +Spanish chieftains and Peruvians; our young maidens were changed into +sun-worshippers, and our musical man adapted a portion of one of +Mozart's masses, to sing to these words, "The _sun_ is in his holy +temple," etc., at which some of our people cavilled; but which portion, +sung by the maidens, in white, was perhaps the best of all the +performance. + +I remember, however, that "the Admiral," or some one else, was +stationed behind the scenes with a gun to fire at Holla when he runs +away with Alonzo's child; that one of the great points made was, "By +Heaven, it is Alonzo's child!" and that rushing over scenic rocks he +should in imagination be shot; but the pesky gun behind the scenes +would not go off until many desperate attempts were made--no report +being heard until the play had further progressed, when all of a sudden +the gun was fired, and frightened individuals had the temerity to ask +"what that gun was for." + +I remember this also, that long before the play was ended, the Reverend +Theodore and others of the visitors had departed, thinking their own +thoughts, and that the curative effects of that performance lasted so +long the like was never attempted again; and although some were a +trifle disheartened by the failure to reach the summit of their hopes, +yet it was a source of merriment to others, and there are those whose +eyes may meet these pages, who will still smile if you quote these +lines to them: "O'er the glad waters of the deep, blue sea." "List, +'tis the bugle!" (I can vouch that it was nothing but the old trumpet +we blew for dinner.) "Ha! it sure cannot be day! What star, what sun is +bursting on the bay?" (It was only the barn lantern that was raised +outside the window, and an awful poor light at that!). + +"Well, how was Drew's play?" said one wag. "All blood and thunder, eh?" + +"No; all thud and blunder," was the rejoinder. + +The associative movement had now touched thousands of hearts in this +country. The Brook Farm Community, at its formation, was the only +community founded in America on the principle of freedom in religion +and social life--all others being founded on special religious creeds. +The agitation of social questions, the doctrines of Fourier and others, +brought many societies into existence; but like enthusiasts in other +schemes, the founders of them preached unity, but did not unite. The +leaders of Brook Farm urged upon the prominent men in the social +belief, to take part with them in their already established society, +with all the power they could command; but Mr. Greeley and the New York +men joined hands with the North American Phalanx, an association +founded at Red Bank, New Jersey, and lent their influence and means to +its development. Mr. Greeley thought the land at Brook Farm was of too +poor quality; that the debts of the organization were heavier than they +should be for a beginning, and that by starting anew, a better chance +for thrift could be had--especially if a location could be selected +with an excellent soil--and he desired it should be located near the +great market of New York. This departure from a true idea--the idea of +concentration--was certainly a great mistake, and the end proved that +the young societies, with little means, and needing much, should all +have joined together for financial success. + +At a very early date in the movement, there was a Community formed at +Hopedale, Milford, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Rev. Adin +Ballou, a man of considerable ability, whose tenets were those of peace +in absolute distinction to those of war. The Community was pledged by +its members not to enter into any hostile act, and to use its influence +for universal peace, they being all of a sect called "Non-Resistants." +Our leader, wisely, I think, made overtures to them to unite with the +West Roxbury Community, but the proposition was declined in the +following letter:-- + +"MENDON, MASS., Nov. 3, 1842. + +"DEAR BROTHER RIPLEY: Since our last interview I have met our brethren +and had a full consultation with them on the points of difficulty on +which we are at issue with your friends. We are unanimous in the solemn +conviction that we could not enlist for the formation of a community +not based on the distinguishing principles of the standard of Practical +Christianity so called, especially _non-resistance_, etc. We trust +you will do us the justice to think that we are conscientious and not +_bigoted_. The temptation is strong to severe, but we dare not +hazard the cause we have espoused by yielding our scruples. + +"We love you all, and shall be happy to see you go on and prosper, +though we fear the final issue. We are few and poor, and therefore you +can do without us better than we without you--your means and your +learning! But we shall try to do something in our humble way if God +favor us. We beseech you and your friends not to think us unkind or +unfriendly on account of our stiff notions, as they may seem, and to +regard us always as ready to rejoice in your good success. Let me hear +from you occasionally, and believe me and those for whom I speak, +sincerely your brethren in every good work. + +"Affectionately yours, + +"ADIN BALLOU." + +I remember that the Association, through its leaders, urged upon all +the principal men who came within their sphere, with considerable zeal, +to unite in their movement. This is a matter of record that should be +placed to their credit. + +A little later than this I find a letter from Mr. Brisbane, who showed +his characteristics so well in it, that I present all its important +parts for reading:-- + +"NEW YORK, the 9th December, 1845. + +"MY DEAR RIPLEY:--Yours of the 3d just received, the 5th came to hand +yesterday. I note all its contents in relation to your views upon the +necessity of developing Brook Farm. The reason why I have spoken in +some of my last letters of the best means of bringing Brook Farm to a +close, and making preparations for a trial under more favorable +circumstances, is this. In the middle of November I received a letter +from Charles in which, in speaking of the varioloid, he stated the +difficulties you have to contend with, and expressed fears for the +future in such a way that I decided you had made up your minds to bring +things to a close. I feared that Morton might be foreclosing his +mortgage, which would be a most serious affair. This is the cause of my +adverting to a possible dissolution and the necessity of looking ahead +to meet in the best and most proper manner such a contingency. + +"As to any opinion of what is to be done, it is easily explained. + +"First, we must raise a sufficient amount of capital, and the amount +must not be small. + +"Second, when that is secured we must prepare and work out a plan of +scientific organization sufficiently complete in its details to serve +as a guide in organizing an Association. For my own part, I feel no +capability whatever of directing an Association by discipline, by ideas +of duty, moral suasion and any other similar means. I want +organization; I want a mechanism suited and adapted to human nature, so +that human nature can follow its laws and attractions and go rightly, +and be its own guide. I might do something in directing such an +organization, but would be useless in any other way. As we all like to +be active, I would like exceedingly to take part in and help construct +a scientific organization. + +"How can we raise the capital necessary to do something effectual? I +see but two ways. The first is for C. and I--and if he will not do it, +then for you and I, if you would possibly engage in it--to lecture +patiently and perseveringly in various parts of the country, having the +translation of Fourier with us, _and continue at the work_ until +we have enlisted and interested men enough who will subscribe each a +certain sum sufficient to form the fund we deem necessary. Patience and +perseverance would do this. One hundred men who would subscribe one +thousand dollars cash, would give us a fine capital. Something +effectual, I think, might be done with such an amount; less than that +would, I fear, be patchwork. + +"Second, if C. or you cannot engage in this enterprise, then I shall +see what I can do alone. I shall make first the trial of the steel +business--that will now soon be determined, probably in a few weeks. +There are chances that it may be a great thing; if that turns out +nothing, then I shall take Fourier's work and do something of what I +propose you or C. and I should do together. + +"If the capital can be had, where shall we organize, you will ask? That +is a thing to be carefully considered, and which we cannot decide at +present. + +"Placed under the circumstances you are, all these speculations will +appear foreign to the subject that interests you, and useless. You want +capital, and immediately, for Brook Farm. Now it seems to me a problem +as perplexing to get fifteen thousand dollars for Brook Farm as it does +to raise one hundred thousand dollars. Where can it be had? The New +Yorkers who have money, G., T., S., etc., are all interested in and +pledged to raise ten thousand dollars for the North American Phalanx, +to pay off its mortgage. You might as well undertake to raise dead men, +as to attain any considerable amount of capital from the people here; I +have tried it so often that I know the difficulties. + +"The fact is, we have a great work to accomplish, that of organizing an +Association, and to do it we must have the means adequate to the task, +and to get these means we must make the most persevering and Herculean +efforts. We must go at the thing in earnest, and labor until we have +secured the means. I really see no other way or avenue to success; if +you do, I should be glad to hear your explanation of it. Fifteen +thousand dollars might do a great deal at Brook Farm, but would it do +the thing effectually--would it make a trial that would impress the +public? And for anything short of that, none of us, I suppose, would +labor. + +"We are surrounded by great difficulties. I see no immediate chance of +obtaining a capital sufficient for a good experiment, and until we have +the capital to organize upon quite a complete scale, I should say that +it would be a very great misfortune to dissolve Brook Farm. No +uncertain prospects should exercise any influence; the means must be +had in hand before we made any decisive movement towards a removal or +organizing in a more favorable location, even if you were perfectly +willing to leave New England and the neighborhood of Boston. As I said +I spoke of it, and should be urged to make at once the greatest efforts +to obtain capital only under the fear that circumstances might force a +crisis upon you. + +"I have touched merely upon generalities to-day; after further +correspondence I will write you more in detail. I will also come on and +see you if you deem it advisable. The other experiment keeps me here at +present; I think that next week I shall test it. I am greatly rejoiced +to hear that you are getting on well with the translation. + +"A. BRISBANE." + +I present in contrast, the draft of a letter by Mr. Ripley, showing the +difference in the ideas of the two men. Among the social organizations +at this date, was the Community founded by Mr. John A. Collins, at +Skaneateles, New York, to whose friend the letter was addressed. This +movement was based on "community of property" which was denounced by +the school of Fourier as a fallacy. I commend the letter to careful +perusal. It is beautiful in language; its spirit is transcendent. + +"BROOK FARM, MASS. + +"MY DEAR SIR:--I thank you for sending me the circular, calling a +convention at Skaneateles for the promotion of the community movement. + +"I had just enjoyed a short visit from Mr. Collins, who explained to me +very fully the purposes of the enterprise, and described the advantages +of the situation which had been selected as the scene of the initiatory +experiment. I hardly need to say that the movers in this noble effort +have my warmest sympathy, and that if circumstances permitted, I could +not deprive myself of the privilege of being present at their +deliberations. I am, however, just now so involved in cares and labors +that I could not be absent for so long a time without neglect of duty. + +"Although my present strong convictions are in, favor of cooperative +Association rather than of communities of property, I look with an +indescribable interest on every attempt to redeem society from its +corruptions, and establish the intercourse of men on a basis of love +instead of competition. The evils arising from trade and money, it +appears to me, grow out of the defects of our social organization, not +an intrinsic vice in themselves; and the abolition of private property, +I fear, would so far destroy the independence of the individual, as to +interfere with the great object of all social reform, namely, the +development of humanity, the substitution of a race of free, noble, +holy men and women, instead of the dwarfish and mutilated specimens +which now cover the earth. + +"The great problem is to guarantee individualism against the masses, on +the one hand, and the masses against the individual, on the other. In +society as now organized, the many are slaves to a few favored +individuals in a community. I should dread the bondage of individuals +to the power of the mass, while Association, by identifying the +interests of the many and the few--the less gifted and the highly +gifted--secures the sacred personality of all, gives to each individual +the largest liberty of the children of God. + +"Such are my present views, subject to any modification which farther +light may produce. Still I consider the great question of the means of +human regeneration still open, indeed, hardly touched as yet, and +Heaven forbid that I should not at least give you my best wishes for +the success of your important enterprise. + +"In our own little Association we practically adopt many community +elements. We are eclectics and learners, but day by day increases our +faith and joy in the principle of combined industry and of bearing each +other's burdens, instead of seeking every man his own. + +"It will give me great pleasure to hear from you whenever you have +anything to communicate interesting to the general movement. I feel +that all who are seeking the emancipation of man are brothers, though +differing in the measures which they may adopt for that purpose; and +from our different points of view it is not, perhaps, presumptuous to +hope that we may aid each other, by faithfully reporting the aspects of +earth and sky as they pass before our field of vision. + +"One danger, of which no doubt you are aware, proceeds from the growing +interest in the subject, and that is the crowds of converts who desire +to help themselves rather than to help the movement. It is as true now +as it was of old, that he who follows this new Messiah must deny +himself and take up his cross daily, or he cannot enter the promised +kingdom. The path of transition is always covered with thorns and +marked with the bleeding feet of the faithful. This truth must not be +covered up in describing the paradise for which we hope. We must drink +the waters of Marah in the desert, that others may feed on the grapes +of Eshcol. We must depend on the power of self-sacrifice in man, not on +appeals to his selfish nature, for the success of our efforts. We +should hardly be willing to accept of men or money for this enterprise, +unless called forth by earnest conviction that they are summoned by a +divine voice. I wish to hear less said to capitalists about a +profitable investment of their funds, as if the holy cause of humanity +were to be speeded onward by the same force which conducts railroads +and ships of war. Rather preach to the rich, 'Sell all that you have +and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven.' + +"GEORGE RIPLEY." + +Although the working condition of the Association was never better than +now; although its organization was complete as it could well be under +its disadvantages, it was with sorrow that the Direction heard that one +of the earliest members with his family--our head farmer--had decided +to leave the Brook Farm life. It was true that he could be spared, that +his three children were unproductive and that there was talent enough +on the farm to run the Farming Series well; but it seemed a break in +the established order, showing, perhaps, that things were not as +successful as they appeared to be, and that maybe the event was a +raindrop predicting a storm. + +I think no one blamed him, but all were sorry to part with one whom +they loved so well. That his interest in the cause and the Association +had not waned is apparent from the following letter, April 3, 1845:-- + +"Dear Sir:--In withdrawing from the Association I cannot believe it +necessary for me to say to you that I do not cease to feel an interest, +a very deep interest, in the success of the cause in which I have in my +humble way labored with you for the last few years. The final success +of this attempt to live out the great and holy idea of association for +brotherly cooperation, will be to me a greater cause for joy than any +merely personal benefit to myself could be. + +"I wished, but could not do it, to say to you and others how much I +love and esteem you, and how painful it is for me to leave those to +whom I am so much indebted for personal kindnesses. You know me well +enough to believe that I feel, more deeply than I can express, pained +by this separation. God bless you. God bless and prosper the +Association individually and collectively. + +"Yours truly, + +"MINOT PRATT." + +It was about this time that a "party" was given by the "Great Apostle," +as Mr. Brisbane was called by us. I made a memorandum of it at the +time, which aids my memory in presenting it. + +The day had been pleasant; it was one of the last in March. The farm +work had progressed as usual. Old Kate was at the plough and Cyclops at +the wagon. Who was Cyclops? She was a large, raw-boned, gray-white +mare, whose feeding did not show well; the more oats and meal and hay +she had, the more ribs we counted in her sides--you have seen such an +animal! But she was wonderful, because she stepped longer, than any +other of the horses; worked harder without showing fatigue, and made +the nine miles to Boston in a practical if not a graceful way. + +She had a fault, and horsemen had to admit it (you know they seldom +admit a fault but what is very visible). This was a visible fault, and +yet at the same time it was a want of visibility. She had but one eye. +And so Glover it was, I am quite sure, named her Cyclops. + +By the by, she had one other fault that I had almost forgotten, and +that was of elevating her heels against the dashers of wagons, when she +had an ugly fit, which took place semi-occasionally, and the +peculiarity of it was that she was not particular as to time or place +where she made her exhibitions. It might be in Dock Square or State +Street, or it might be on the farm, just as all were starting out. It +was not over pleasant to be near her when she flung those long hind +legs some six feet in air, and the dash-board was flying in pieces. + +The "General," with some others, was about to take a ride one day, when +she put a hind foot over the dasher, which caused him to dismount +precipitately. "For," he said he, when speaking of it, "I thought if +she was g-going to _g-get_ in, it was time for _me_ to get +out!" + +The horn, as usual, rang out its cheerful tones for meals. There were +but few notes of preparation shown outside the rooms, for the event of +the evening. Up in the greenhouse the gardener and myself were busy +picking out choice flowering plants, and clipping off a stray dead leaf +or twig, and scouring the pots until they shone; and as the other teams +were busy, I harnessed my "Prince" to his cart and carried them to the +Hive where we made the best display of them we could in the dining +room. + +We had some mottoes on the walls, as "The Series distribute the +Harmonics of the Universe," "Attractive Industry," "Universal Unity," +etc. + +At half past eight o'clock everything was in order. Side tables were +spread with a simple repast, and around the room were flowering plants, +azaleas, camellias, heaths, geraniums, etc. When the company had +assembled, the choir sang some glees, after which Mr. Brisbane made a +speech, and gave as a sentiment, "Unity of the Passions." Let me here +explain a little of what is meant by this sentiment. The twelve +passions are what are generally called "the human feelings or +sentiments." They are divided into the intellectual ones, the social +ones and the sensitive ones or those pertaining to the five senses. + +There are three intellectual ones, viz., Analysis, Synthesis and the +Composite. These exhaust the powers of the intellect; or, in other +words, the mind separates things, puts things together and compounds +things, and that is all that it can do in its primary intellectual +capacity. + +There are four social "passions," viz., Friendship, Love, Familism (i. +e., the family sentiment) and Ambition; and all our social life is +based on one or more of these four sentiments. + +Then there are five sensitive passions, which are aids and attendants +of the body--"sight, smelling, hearing, touch and taste." + +"The five sensitive passions tend to material riches, refinement and +harmonies. The four affective passions govern social relations and +those of individuals. Friendship tends to social equality and to the +levelling of ranks. Love regulates the relations of the sexes, +Paternity those of ages and generations; Ambition produces hierarchy of +ranks and distinctions among individuals; it establishes in society +gradations of all kinds based upon skill, merit, talent, etc.; it is +opposite in its effects from friendship."--"Social Destiny of Man," +page 453. + +The four social passions correspond to the four primary prismatic +colors of the Newtonian system, to the common chord in music and to +various other natural things. The three intellectual passions +correspond to the other three notes of the musical scale and to three +other prismatic colors; and the five sensitive passions correspond to +the five semi-tones, and also to five intermediate colors of the prism. +Now this at first sight looks very much like a scheme or a notion, but +the founder of this doctrine lays his claim to a higher judgment. He +says practically, "These are facts founded in nature by God himself." +Let me give you his own words, often reiterated: "I give no theory of +my own, I deduce. If I have deduced erroneously let others establish +the true deduction." Can words be more simple or more modest? + +These "passions," or "faculties," if you like the last word better, as +taught in the general schools of theology, are all at war with one +another, but as taught by the school of Fourier will all work +harmoniously together when right material conditions exist. Or in other +words, there is no inherent discord among these twelve sister faculties +residing in the nature of man. It is the duty of man on this earth, and +his destiny also, to bring them into harmonious relations, first by +organizing industry, and bringing man into right relation with nature +and his fellows, so that they can commence their natural action; and +this is what is meant by the "Unity of the Passions," and is the first +step towards universal happiness. Let me give a quotation from the same +author:-- + +"The impulses (passions) have a right and a wrong development. The +right development produces harmony, good, justice, unity. The wrong +development produces selfishness, injustice, duplicity." + +I have no memorandum of what was said by the speaker, but I remember he +was enthusiastic beyond bounds, and that he went in fancy from this +earth up into the starry vault of spheres that he fancied were peopled +by living beings----Jupiter and Saturn being in harmony--and in his +enthusiasm cried out, "I _love_ those great worlds up there!" +looking upwards with outstretched arms and uplifted hands; and it was +telling, for he was eloquent as well as enthusiastic. + +After this warm gush of rapture came quiet Dwight in one of those +sweet, calm, choice, dignified, exact speeches for which he was noted, +and gave as a sentiment, "The marriage of love and wisdom," the idea +being that present society, however much it may be filled with love-- +love for the poor, the needy, the slave and the outcast--can never +avail much towards universal happiness until it marries itself to +wisdom: wisdom to do justice, to adapt means to ends, to exchange +charity, which is a curse to him that gives and him that takes, for +even-handed justice, divine law and social order; so that pauperism and +its kindred vices may be done away with forever, and in its place the +reign of peace and harmony prevail. + +Mr. Dwight was an admirer of Swedenborg's poetic fancies. He thought +many of them more than fancies. He believed that he gained through +unknown sources some glimpses of a higher life; and some of his +doctrines, as that of "correspondences" bore so strong a resemblance to +Fourier's "universal analogy" that it was quite striking; but his +claims to special theological inspiration, he did not admit. I speak of +this because some one might accuse him of plagiarism, the phrase of Mr. +Dwight's sentiment being similar to Swedenborg's words. Pardon this +digression, and we will return to our party. + +Mr. Ripley followed in his free and graceful style, and brought things +slowly down to our own door with pleasant word and wit (Ripley was a +punster with the rest; one of our wags one day called him a Pumpkin-- +Pun-King--a paraphrase on New England pronunciation of the word), and +in conclusion gave us a sentiment: "The Hive! May it be a hive, full of +working bees, who make a little noise, a great deal of honey, and sting +not at all." + +Mr. Dana, the youngest of the four, then followed with a glowing +speech, in earnest, clear and chosen words. Not as fluent as either of +the other speakers, he yet commanded full attention, and we all knew he +meant what he said; there was no doubt about it--the frank manner, the +natural gesture, the glowing face, proved it. He gave as a sentiment, +"Ambition, the greatest of the four social passions!" He admired it! It +was that which carried life onward and made youth able and strong; the +ambition for higher things, for higher life and higher opportunities. +It was that which brought this little band together--an ambition to +better social life; and it was this passion that would lead them +onwards through discords into a higher unity and harmony. But in the +present social order a misplaced ambition led men to do a thousand +wrongs; it produced war, misery and discord, but when placed on the +side of humanity it tended upwards towards God and the heavenly +accords. True ambition was the unsatisfied thing that never ends except +in something higher, nobler, grander. + +Here let me explain again. The four social passions before named +correspond to the common, chord in music, but ambition corresponds to +the seventh note on which no music ever ends. It is always incomplete +without the eighth note, the first of the octave above; it runs into +it; it is restless, it must never be left alone, but always has an +object--the higher unity. Such is true ambition, and such are its +results in the natural order. + +Applause followed Mr. Dana's speech, and after his remarks the +sentiment of the evening turned towards, home life. The orators spoke +of the earnest endeavors of the men and women by whom they were +surrounded; of their constant daily labor to produce harmony and higher +social development, and more particularly of their years of personal +toil and devotion, and of their own earnest affection for one another, +until tears started in some eyes. + +Mr. Ripley spoke of the devotion of the persons about to leave the +Association to found "a little colony of their own," for whom he had +the highest personal esteem, cemented by years of friendship, counsel +and labor together; his sorrow for their departure; his good wishes for +them, and his hopes for their present and future welfare, and closed +with a sentiment, "The late chief of the Farming Series, Minot Pratt +and his family--they can not remain long in _Concord_ without +returning to _harmony_" (Concord, Massachusetts, was where our +farmer was going), for which the modest gentleman returned thanks for +himself and wife in a few kind and earnest words. + +One after another joined in pleasant remarks, and the simple feast, the +music and the conversation were kept up. The ever-present fun and +frolic abounded in some corners, but the joke of the evening was +perhaps that of the Parson--him of the sharp face and nose, who read so +late by the light of the lamp in "Attica"--who commenced his remarks by +saying that he desired to offer a sentiment, and must be pardoned if it +was of a personal nature. Now the reason why this gentleman got the +title of "the Parson" was not from his reading, his gravity or want of +gravity, but from the fact of his having been educated for the +ministry, which in those days required a great deal more preaching +damnation to sinners than now. His unwillingness to do so was the means +of his leaving the pulpit, and this gave the pith of the toast or +sentiment offered. + +Parson Capen's speech was sharp. He did not spill over on every +occasion. He had no little spurts of wit like a spatter of water on a +hot stove, but when he let out his joke it went off like a percussion +cap. The attention of the company being secured, he alluded to his +present position as a change, he believed, for the better--from his +former relation to society when he was preaching against, to the +present time when he was working for, humanity; and gave as a toast, +"Ephraim Capen--_thrust into_ the pulpit to _damn_ mankind, +_thrust out_ of the pulpit to _bless_ mankind." + +Laughter followed this sharp witticism, and the hours passed quickly on +until it was near midnight, when it was suggested that "Old Hundred" be +sung, and all joined in the anthem. As the last note died away, the +stroke of the clock announced the hour of twelve, and all departed to +their houses to sleep, and dream of the pleasant time they had enjoyed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SOCIAL AND PARLOR LIFE. + + +We now pass over some months of the life with few words. I have tried +to portray it on the farm as it appeared to me, and leave you to think +that it continues on and on, ever in the same general current, through +the long, clear days and moonlight nights of summer, and the cooler +days and misty evenings of the later season, to the time when the +warning comes to the farmer to gather in the ripened products of his +labor. + +I pass over the later autumn--when the fields are cleared of all but +the remains of vegetation, and we hear no more the songs of the +crickets and the multitudinous insect life that fills the air of the +August and September nights, as the full moon looks down on the fields +and meadow rich in foliage--to the time when the thought of the farmer +is for wood for the winter, for the preservation of the farming +implements, for making all things "taut and trig" about the barn and +houses to secure their warmth for the coming cold weather and snow; +past the day of the New England Thanksgiving, along to Christmas time, +saying only in passing that the leaders were much engaged in lecturing, +as well as with other duties. + +One evening in autumn a party from the farm, myself the youngest of +them, started for Boston to hear one of a course of lectures. Mr. +Ripley was the chairman, and the ever bounteous joyousness of his +nature sparkled out in wit and mirth. These meetings were free, and +discussion was invited, but there was present an excitable woman who +had a habit of rising at any moment, no matter who was speaking, to +make odd remarks and inquiries. She was considered a great nuisance, +especially at the meetings of the antislavery societies, where she was +often found, and I more than once saw her "suppressed" by police +officers. On this occasion, whilst Mr. Brisbane was speaking, she arose +to propound questions. + +Immediate excitement was visible in the audience, and cries of "Put her +out," arose. Mr. Ripley was on his feet in an instant. He declared the +meeting to be a free one, and that it was ever the faith and duty of +those engaged in this liberal movement to give the largest liberty to +all inquirers; he appealed to all to be quiet and hear what the lady +had to say, for she would, as well as all others, give them credit for +having paid respectful attention to whoever wished to make inquiries, +and whenever Miss F. had spoken, she could not but acknowledge that +they had always and at all times listened to her with the utmost--and +he hesitated as if seeking carefully for the exact word, which he +uttered slowly and with the utmost gravity--_patience_. At this +queer termination the audience laughed loudly, and gave her a hearing, +and shortly, pleased at her conquest, she sat down, and disturbed no +future meeting of the Associationists. + +Again during the discussion Mr. Ripley announced that a contribution +would be taken to defray expenses, "but as the speaking was to be +continued during the time the box was passing round," the audience was +requested to _"put in as many bills as possible so as not to disturb +the speaker by the rattling of small change."_ After the meeting +closed, the wagon in which we rode to town was deserted by some half +dozen of its male passengers who, with the speed of Indian runners, +started for the farm on foot. Being slight of build and not over +strong, I would have been left behind, had it not been for the +friendship of the Admiral, who awaited my movements, but we still sped +on with rapidity, overtaking some, and neared the farm in time to hear +the bark of our dog Carlo announce the arrival of the team only a few +minutes before us. + +The autumn and early winter were very mild. The ground was not frozen +on the twenty-fourth day of December, and the gardener had many crocus +bulbs unplanted, owing to too much labor in and around the new +greenhouse and garden, and being desirous of saving them, commenced to +plant them on the Hive terraces in "her majesty's garden." There were +hundreds of them. In the morning we prepared our beds and dug our holes +for planting. The sky was lowery, and it was afternoon when we +commenced to plant. + +Shortly the raindrops began to fall, but we continued our work. It +rained harder and harder. I had on only ordinary woollen clothing, +cotton shirt, no undershirt, and wore over it only an old green baize +jacket. Wet to the skin; the rain ran off of me in streams. With my wet +hands I assorted and handed the bulbs, four or five at a time, to the +gardener, and as they touched the ground or his fingers, the earth +stuck to them and mixed mud and plants together. The rain began to grow +colder and colder, and our work was not done, but as the shades of +night began to fall we finished it. Chilled and cold we wended our way +towards the greenhouse, where I changed wet clothes for dry ones. The +night came on cold; the wind howled; the rain turned into snow and on +Christmas morning the ground was covered with a rough, hard +conglomerate of snow and ice. + +But the next day neither chill nor cold resulted from the long +exposure. Was it because our lives were more in harmony with nature +than is usual? + +At the Eyry all through the winter, in its cosy little parlor, reigned +our queens and kings of art and music. I was partial to the room and +the company, yet neither felt nor understood the deep music. It is true +that I sang songs of my own and made my own harmonies as I wandered +over the fields and meadows. The mystic measure of the sunny waltz +haunted me happily at times, and my heart kept time to its rhythm even +as my feet had kept time in the merry dance; but it seemed to me as +though there was a lack of sense in the jingle, and a depth of feeling +untouched in me that the music of the parlor had not or could not +reach--I did not appreciate it. + +It was a pleasure for Mr. Dwight to secure a quartette of singers from +the city. I could mention names, but I forbear, yet there are two faces +so indelibly linked with those most happy hours, that I must, in order +to be true to this sketch of Brook Farm life, twine them into my +narrative. + +The first face was serene, charming and dignified. Its cheeks were +round and gracefully full, and colored with delicious pink, and a +dimple rounded in them when the kindly face smiled. Above them reigned +a queenly forehead, and over the brown eyes a fine brow. The nose was +straight, the upper lip short, and the features were regular. The owner +of this face was tall and graceful, and her dark, glossy hair was +combed plainly back. She was ever neatly dressed, and her favorite +decoration was a wreath of the wild partridge vine, rich with its red +berries, which added to her graceful presence. It was her sweet voice, +soft and low, that chimed in, in our quartette. She came and went and +seemed one of us, as in spirit she was, though in fact only a friendly +visitor. + +The other face was different and not as pretty, yet it grew upon you +more and more. + +There was no blue like those eyes of blue, if they were delicately +small, and if there was a little drooping expression as though the sun +above was a trifle too powerful for them. This was no detriment, +however; it lent them a mildness, a soft haze, like that we so much +admire in a landscape, and made them more in keeping with the mild, +tranquil countenance. + +The eyebrows were softly penciled--not bold, not prominent--and were +not much arched, and the nose, that was Grecian, was full between the +eyes. The lips were of good size as well as the mouth, and the upper +lip long enough to indicate strength of character. The chin was finely +drawn, and the throat rather large and full. About the mouth, even in +repose, seemed to rest the faint semblance of a smile, as though it +could not leave its pleasant dwelling place; as though it was akin to +the features themselves, as the color of the eyes or hair. The forehead +was pure, womanly; intellectual enough, full enough, high enough, but +toned down to the sweet, womanly features. It was a fine face; a +vigorous, womanly one, unmarked with a single manly symptom, but +independent, pure and serene. + +And what could set off this face better than that soft, light, blonde +hair, that wound into full, large ringlets, looped up in Grecian style? +In vain it is for me to describe the tints of it. It seemed as though +the Divine Artist had taken the beautiful colors from his palette and +mixed them for this especial head. There was a touch of sunshine in it +also, and it seems but yesterday that I saw the old gardener take a +stray one from the sleeve of his baize jacket, where by chance it had +strayed and caught--for the fair owner liked to visit the greenhouse-- +and hold it admiringly and enthusiastically up in the morning sunlight, +and I remember the golden shimmer it had in it, for he called my +attention to it. A French writer's words seem to meet its description +better than my own: "Non pas rouges--Mais blonde avec des reflets +dorés, on delicatement se jouait la lumière du soleil." + +In distinction to the lady named before, the present one was short, of +fairly full figure, and not above the average grace. You might even say +that the large head was carried a little too far forward for elegance. +In distinction also to the calm, quiet manner of the other, she was +vivacious, quick and spritely; was fond of conversation, but no matter +how trivial the subject of discourse, it grew into earnestness in her +mind unless she was wholly playful. But her chief distinction was her +love and talent for music, and in the capacity of beautiful singer she +was first introduced to us. + +I cannot tell how this pure soul first took to the sublime idea of +society founded on justice to all, the Christianity of the idea, and +the truths of industry, or how the idea came to her that in this one +way and only in this one way could the kingdom of God prayed for for +eighteen centuries, come to us on earth; but I think it was born in her +as jewels are born in the earth, and sparkle when they come to the sun. +But this I know, that when they took possession of her she could not +withstand their power, more than Saint Paul could the heavenly +influences that brought his Jewish heart to love all, and live and die +for all the races of God's humanity. Friends, relatives, companions, +were opposed to her visits among the Brook Farmers. It was intimated to +her that there were suspicious persons residing there. She bravely +pinned her informers to facts; she made searching inquiries, and, +convincing herself, boldly stood by the idea and the Brook Farmers as +living symbols of a better and more Christian life, and triumphed over +all in her sublime truthfulness and dignity. + +How willing and ready she was to acknowledge her trivial failures! How +ready to do for all such kindness as came in her sphere to do, and how +quick she was to comprehend great truths. Untied from the dead letter +that killeth, she was overflowing with its pure spirit that gave its +abundant life, rich, full and charming, to all around her. + +One of the young poets of the farm many years ago paid this graceful +tribute to her charms:-- + + OF MARY BULLARD. + + Dearly love I to be near her-- + Though thought of her is not dearer + Than friendship may say. + Yet around will I hover; + Bringing joy like a lover, + To brighten her day. + + Ever am I lingering near her-- + Her whole soul seems to me clearer + Than others that are. + And her love-lighted blue eye, + When an aching heart is nigh, + Beams forth like a star. + It's good for me to be near her-- + Should she e'er sorrow, to cheer her + Out of her sad moods; + Her dark path to make lighter, + And behold it grow brighter + Like sunlight through woods. + + Still stay I lovingly near her, + Enraptured--sometimes I fear her + Soul is on its wings-- + And ask will it yet return?-- + Seems it so pure, so lost and gone, + Whenever she sings. + + Lingering and waiting near her-- + The words that she speaks are dearer + Than birds' songs in May. + With sweet thoughts will I surround her, + As on the day I first found her, + Forever--for aye. + +I have been particular in my description of this lady and friend, +because they became the encouragers of the later movement in Boston, +where those who remained true to the Brook Farm ideas formed themselves +into a society of zealots to propagate the faith, she giving her +splendid talents and her warm enthusiasm freely to the movement, and +because they were as truly united with us as if enrolled as members on +the farm. + +It was in the latter part of the month of January that we had the +fulfilment of a promise of a long visit from the fair singer. The +winter had grown cold and stormy; the white snow covered the fields, +and at times we gleefully slid down the hills over its frozen crust on +sleds and improvised vehicles. And there were days of transcendent +beauty. I remember especially, a solitary visit to the pine woods after +a deep snow storm, and the lifelong impression of it remains. + +The evergreens were bowed heavily with the weight of the snow, and +across the wood path birches and various trees bent as if in prayer, +obstructing the way. The clear air, which was not very cold--for it was +one of those subdued days of winter, when the glare of the sun was +obstructed by a cloudy mantle--the intense quiet, the strong contrasts +of the dark trunks of trees with the heavy evergreens, and the +immaculate purity of whiteness laid on by the greatest and sublimest +painter were so marked and so lovely that I seemed to be drinking the +nectar of the god of beauty, and was soul-subdued. + +Up to the Eyry in the evening, I went with others to hear the singing, +when Mary, "the nightingale,"--as we sometimes called her--came. I went +often and stayed long. Some were at the Hive, reading; some were, +perhaps, engaged in Shakespeare; some in their rooms with their +families; some at the Cottage practising the piano, and all "following +their attractions," to use our common phrase, in their own little +sphere--whether it was reading the papers and journals of the day in +the improvised reading-room at the Hive, or commenting on the last +articles in the _Harbinger,_ or doing a little work out of hours +for amusement or profit, or attending one of the interminable number of +meetings for consultation and arrangement held almost nightly. + +There the quartette sang the "Kyrie," and "Gloria in Excelsis" from the +masses of Mozart and Haydn. An edition had just been published and +forwarded from London, and by degrees they became familiar to us as +household words. Did it not seem strange, you may ask, that these +radical thinkers and "come-outers" from ordinary forms of society, +should turn with pleasure to the emanations of a profoundly +conservative church? I answer that, having freed their minds from +sectarian prejudices, they recognized beauty and genius wherever found, +and did not care what church or creed they had served, so that they +found the gift of beauty from the infinite Father to man in them. With +one glorious soprano voice and boundless talent, how much of joy was +added to the circle! How we revelled in the choice creations of the +masters of harmony, and how, slowly but surely, the missing link that +was wanting in my mind to realize that music could cover the void that +separated sound from feeling, came to its place--I am tempted to tell. + +The sweet songstress was asked to sing. Did she make excuses? Of course +she would do so to follow traditional usage. She must have a slight +cold, she must think she won't, must be coaxed, and then--why, do it +with a grace. But here was a woman so touched with the divine fire of +genius and truth, that no excuse came from her lips. She was always +ready if you desired it. In her I first learned that music was not a +put-on art, an accomplishment, but the outpouring of soul. + +One evening when our little party was being filled with music, and the +quartette had bravely sung Rossini's "Prayer in Egypt," with the grand +vigor and expression that the soprano put into it, she exclaimed with +feeling, "How beautiful that is!" From that moment I understood what +music meant. She had translated it for me. But instead of inspiring me +with joy, it made me sad. It aroused that terrible feeling, +"consciousness of self." It waked me to new ideas of duty and destiny, +to wondrous thoughts and aspirations; and they would not down at my +bidding. Over and over again I tried to banish them, but the inward and +spiritual ear was open, and the sad strains of Schubert's "Elegy of +Tears," and "The Wanderer," and the "Ave Maria," seemed my sorrow, my +wanderings and my prayers. Sadness was not my nature; I was as cheerful +as the bird that sings, save a mighty something which clung to me and +overshadowed me like the enormous wings of a terrible genius. + +One day it began again to snow; a million feathers from the frost +king's fleece were flying in the air. It snowed all day, and in the +evening it snowed and whirled and blew around the Eyry, with its little +party of choice spirits in its cosy parlor making merry and singing. +Perhaps it was the "Wood Robin," or the "Skylark," or one of Colcott's +glees, or one of Mendelssohn's two-part songs, or Schubert's +"Serenade," or Beethoven's "Adelaide"; or maybe an interlude of piano, +one of Mozart's Sonatas, or "Der Freyschutz," and then a Kyrie, Dona +Nobis, Gloria, or Agnus Dei, one or all, until it was time to retire. +And still it snowed and snowed. + +From the Eyry parlor I would go to my quarters in the greenhouse, and +there the old man would be anxious for the flowers, that the fire be +neither too hot nor too cold, and with a long story to tell me of +manners and customs of his youth in Denmark--some of them quaint and +strange enough--would slowly finish out the evening, and it was often +midnight before we retired. + +All the next day it snowed, and piled up its pure whiteness over every +projecting thing, whirling and tossing its feathers about, unlike +anything else in nature, and at night it snowed still. It snowed +steadily for three days and nights, but when the fourth morning broke, +it was on one of the clearest and most beautiful days ever known and to +my surprise I awoke full of renewed cheerfulness and physically like my +former self. The youthful storm of my life was over. + +But the "Ego" had changed. I was living in a poetic atmosphere and +imbibing its qualities and its stimulants. Born with artistic tastes, I +had imagined an artistic future; but as the procession of realistic +lives passed before me, I seemed to see the inward side of the real and +the ideal. An artistic life!--a triumph after long years of labor, +awarded by the hand-clapping of a few admirers, most of whom had no +appreciation of the work, and no sympathy with its higher motives. +Would it not be cold? Would it not slowly freeze my heart to the warm +love of human beings, with every one of whom I had now something in +common? A real life, taking part in active work, in plain, daily toil; +touching the great, full, seething heart of humanity on its warm side; +working for them; working with them; being one with many--one with her. +Which was best? Which was the supremest ideal? I think the latter. + +There were other visitors who came, attracted by the little group of +singers. There was a young lady, Miss Graubtner from Boston, who +touched the piano with the grace of a master. Her German name indicated +the stock from whence she sprung, and the training she received from +her musical father. There were tenors and basses who were attracted +also, but they came and went; the sweetest songstress remained, and the +cold days of winter were beginning to give way to the warm March sun +when the visit was completed, and we reluctantly gave her back to +"civilization." + +Among the pleasant occasional visitors was a gentleman who joined in +the circle with his flute, who had the reputation, well deserved, of +having written some fine verses--some of them are in the +_Harbinger_--and who was in very friendly sympathy with our music +man, as an old and, I think, college acquaintance. His accomplishments +were varied. He had graced a pulpit, and afterwards made his mark with +his pen, pallet and brush. He had a very pleasant gift of imitation, +and, with his modest and gentlemanly bearing, made quite an impression +on me. + +I fancy I see him now, with his tall, graceful, upright figure, his +wealth of dark, curling hair, and his young manhood, with his sober, +dignified face and large forehead, just retiring from our crowded Eyry +parlor to the hall, where under cover, he can more readily introduce +his menagerie--menagerie or barnyard you certainly would think it was; +for from behind the door comes the imitation of the cow with its young +calf; a sow and its pigs are squealing; the lambs and sheep are +bleating; the rooster begins to crow, and near by the house dog is +heard; soon all is still except his persistent, hoarse bark; then from +a distance we hear the bark of another dog awakened by the first; soon +another, nearer still, wakes up and tunes his note; presently we hear +all the dogs of the village who are now awake. Then the sound of the +starting up of the locomotive drowns all other noises, and when it has +passed away we hear nothing but far in the dim distance some one +solitary dog still barking. The frogs begin to peep, and the turtles +whistle, and the doves coo, until you are carried away from the circle, +its lights and its pleasant, laughing faces into the bosom of nature. +It is needless to say that all these sounds came from the throat of +Christopher P. Cranch, the poet-artist, and were clever imitations +which were hugely appreciated by the young folks. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FUN ALIVE. + + +A lady said to me not long since, knowing it from experience, "There +was a great deal of fun at Brook Farm." This was true, and I deem it +worthy of particular mention, as I can scarce believe that there ever +was in New England a body of men and women who for so long a time, +maintained such friendly and intimate relations, and yet kept up such +an interminable fire of small fun and joke, puns and _bon-mots,_ +inoffensively shooting them off right and left at all times and places. +Being of an evanescent nature they have mostly vanished from my mind, +but the spirit of them remains. + +There were "All-Fool's" day tricks played by the young people on such +smart, independent geniuses as Irish John; the sending of a letter to +him from a supposable lady friend, with a post-mark painted on it by +one of the young ladies; putting parsnip ends into his study lamp for +wicks, etc. But these are not to be classed with the fun that was +present of the genuine sort. There were a few live wits who were Tom +Hoods on a small scale, seeing everything with a double meaning, and +"double-enders" (_double entendres_) were for breakfast, dinner +and supper every day in the week. + +Some little children were chasing one another one very warm day. "Why," +queried one, "are those children like native Africans?" "Because they +belong to the 'hot' and 'tot' race!" + +"Is Mr. ---- much of a carpenter?" "Not a bit of one, that's +_plain_," was the reply. + +"What sort of a man is that long-haired fellow opposite?" said one. "He +is good in the _main_," replied the other. + +"These Grahamites will never make their ends _meet_," said one. +"You may _stake_ your reputation on that," said the other. + +"Mrs. ---- is a regular steamboat," said A. "Yes, I know it; she goes by +steam----_self 'steam_," said B.----which was smart, but cutting! + +If, for instance, Miss Kettell was to be married, one would ask if she +was a "_tin_" kettle, and another would "_go bail_" she was, +and the next would say that "the larger the kettle the more tin it +would have." "And the more _iron in (g)_, too!" some one would +ejaculate. Then another would say that "after she was married there +would be none of the _Kettle_ left," and the next wit would say, +"And none of the '_tin_' either," and so the badinage would pass +about. + +It made no difference what the subject was, it was always suggestive. +If it was a dog, they would ask, "What kind of a _bark_ he had on +him?" If it was a pump, "Is it _well_ with it?" If it was a +shepherd, they would like to inquire "if he was not a _baa_- +keeper?" and the first would reply that he would have to "ruminate" on +it before he made his answer; and the second would hope his reply would +be "_spirited_; if not he had better be _punched_ up." + +"Have you seen my umbrella?" asked one. "What sort of an umbrella was +it?" was the inquiry. "It had a hooked end," said number one. "I have +not seen it," was the reply, "but _I_ had a nice one once, and the +end was _exactly_ like yours; it was _hooked!_" + +Passing a rosy-cheeked, unkempt boy, Miss--remarked to her friend, +"Isn't he a little honey?" "Yes," she replied, struck by his traits, +"honey without a _comb!_" + +"Do you not think Miss B. is beautiful? She bows to perfection." "Yes; +but she hasn't bowed to me. Has she to _you?_" + +"Who are those girls out in the boat with the old man?" (The name of +the boat was "the Dart.") "Why, his _darters_, of course," was the +reply. + +And how could any one do differently when the great Archon himself was +first and foremost in the fray, poking fun at all? "Don't do that," he +said one day to me when I put something unusual in the swine's mess, +"the hogs will all _die_ after it!" with a most serious look on +his pleasant face. In my seat at the table, looking down the hall to +where the Archon was, I saw him full of frolic, and oftentimes wondered +what he could joke so much about. + +There was one occasion when he quoted Watts in a comical way to an +offending member which brought him to terms. It was at the Eyry. There +was a meeting of the Industrial Council. It was necessary to have a +quorum to pass certain important votes, and one of the members, being a +trifle weary of business, had stepped out to converse with a friend in +the vestibule. After a while, hearing some one coming, he slipped +behind the vestibule door. It was the "Archon," who came for the member +to make a quorum. Presently, discovering his retreat, he hailed him--as +he remembered it--thus:-- + + "'And are you there, you sinner d--d, + And do you fare so well! + Were it not for redeeming grace + You'd long since been in hell.'" + +The unworthy member succumbed and returned to the meeting, wondering +whether the verse was an impromptu or whether it was part of one of the +inspiring Sunday hymns our grandfathers sang in their cheerless, +unwarmed meeting-houses. In a version of Watts' Hymns this verse is +found:-- + + "And are we wretches still alive, + And do we yet rebel? + 'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love + That bears us up from hell." + +It might have been the one Mr. Ripley quoted. + +I have heard it said that a prominent literary man "could not +understand the condition of mind it required to make a pun." It would +be out of place here to try to explain that condition to him or to any +one else. It is certainly not an unhappy frame of mind, and I am not +aware that it indicates any depraved condition. I don't know of any +very bad men who make puns, but I have known of many good men who make +bad puns. It is not an avaricious state of the mind, for who ever heard +of "puns for sale or manufactured to order," or of a man getting rich +in the wholesale or retail pun trade! + +In fact, a pun is like an egg--the moment you crack it the meat is out. +Some men carry things to extremes; I wouldn't myself like to be a +punster _in toto_, but only now and then to have a finger in one. +But really, the condition of mind seems to be the same as that of some +of our criminals who profess they committed the deed because they +"couldn't help it," or the boy who was asked angrily "why he whistled?" +"He didn't," he replied, "it whistled itself." I imagine our literary +friend thinks that a punster draws the steel blade of his intellect, +discovers some close-mouthed, hard-fisted sort of a word or sentence +doubled up like an oyster and deliberately splits it apart, one shell +on one side, one on the other and the soft thing drops out between. I +could only despise the sort of brain that would do such a deed. + +A pun is a part of the sunshine of words. It gives a sparkle and a glow +to language. It is a big pendulum that swings from torrid to frigid +zone quicker than a telegram goes. If you hold on to it, you will find +yourself in both places in a jiffy, and back again to the spot where +you start from without being hurt, and the jog to your intellect, if +you happen to have any, is only of an agreeable nature. + +But it was not alone in puns and conundrums that the social life of +Brook Farm was rich. It was rich in cheerful buzz. The bumble-bees had +no more melodious hum than the Brook Farmers. They had thrown aside the +forms that bind outside humanity. They were sailing on a voyage of +discovery, seeking a modern El Dorado, but they did not carry with them +the lust for gold. They were seeking something which, had they found +the realization of, would have carried peace to troubled hearts, +contentment and joy to all conditions and classes. They were builders, +not destroyers. They proposed to begin again the social structure with +new foundations. They were at war with none personally; as high-toned, +large-souled men and women they were ready with their expressions of +hatred and contempt for the unchristian social life of our generation, +but they were never ranters. + +In general little was said on the farm of these matters, except in +private discussions; all were too busy with the active work. We felt +that we had put our ears down to the earth and heard nature's +whisperings of harmony; that we had gone back from the uncertain and +flimsy foundations of present society, and placed our corner stone on +the eternal rock of science and justice; that the social laws God +ordained from the beginning had been discovered; there could be no +possibility of a mistake, and therefore, we felt that our feet were on +eternal foundations, and our souls growing more and more in harmony +with man and God. + +Imagine, indifferent reader of my story, the state of mind you would be +in if you could feel that you were placed in a position of positive +harmony with all your race; that you carried with you a balm that could +heal every earthly wound; an earthly gospel, even as the church thinks +it has a heavenly gospel--a remedy for poverty, crime, outrage and +over-taxed hand, heart and brain. And every night as you laid your head +on your pillow, you could say: "I have this day wronged no man. I have +this day worked for my race, I have let all my little plans go and have +worked on the grand plan that the Eternal Father has intended shall +sometime be completed. I feel that I am in harmony with Him. Now I know +He _is_ truly our Father. With an unending list of crimes and +social wrongs staring me in the face I doubted, and my heart was cast +down. Now the light is given me by which I see the way through the +labyrinth! It is our Father's beautiful garden in which we are. I have +learned that all is intended for order and beauty, but as children we +cannot yet walk so as not to stumble. Natural science has explained a +thousand mysteries. Social science--understand the word; not schemes, +plans or guessing, but genuine science, as far from guess or scheme as +astronomy or chemistry is--will reveal to us as many truths and +beauties as ever any other science has done. I now see clearly! Blessed +be God for the light!" + +And after sound sleep, waking in the rosy morning, with the fresh air +from balmy fields blowing into your window, penetrated still with the +afflatus of last night's thoughts and reveries, wouldn't you be +cheerful? Wouldn't the unity of all things come to you, and wouldn't +you chirrup like a bird, and buzz like a bee, and turn imaginary +somersaults and dance and sing, and feel like cutting up "didoes," and +talk a little high strung, and be chipper with the lowliest and level +with the highest? Wouldn't your heart flow over with ever so much love +and gratitude? Wouldn't it infuse so much spirit into your poor, weak +life that your words would sparkle with cheeriness, frolic and wit? I +believe so! I know so! + +Such was to me the secret of the fun, wit and frolic of the Brook +Farmers. The jokes were, it is true, largely superficial, but they were +inseparable from the position. The bottom fact was, _the associates +there were leading a just life_, and could go to their labor, hard +beds and simple fare--down to plain bread and sometimes mythical +butter--with cheerfulness just in proportion as they were penetrated by +these great ideas. They could make merry with their friends over a cup +of coffee, and sought not the stimulants that college days and college +habits might have allowed. + +It was with one of our little social groups of friends, that Mr. Dwight +gave the toast, "Here's to the coffeepot! If it is not +_spiritual_, it's not _material_!" + +There was a gentleman who resided with us who had promised, on a +certain day, to assist a department of our industry with a loan of +cash, and had taken the light wagon to Boston for the purpose of +securing the funds and bringing them home for use. Somewhere about nine +o'clock in the evening the dwellers at the "Hive" were disturbed by the +approach of a team and the groans of a person. Going out, they +discovered that it was our team, and our member, who had apparently +fallen into the back part of the wagon in a helpless state. They +assisted him out and conveyed him to his chamber. + +He did not seem to be much hurt; but he stated that in passing through +the little patch of woods on the "back road," some one came out and +knocked him off his seat and then robbed him. He had lain in the wagon, +unable to rise, and the horse had come home of his own accord. This is +the outline of the story. Parties went out on the road with lanterns, +but found no lost pocket-book. The news of the robbery spread. It was +the common talk the next day. There were suspicious circumstances. It +might have been a _ruse_ to cover a personal loss of the money, or +to deceive us in the pretended loan. Who could tell? + +A few days later a stranger called at the Hive door. He had an +announcement to make; he had seen a mystery--doubtless it had something +to do with the robbery. He had been travelling that morning through +Muddy Pond woods, in a thick part of which he had seen--what? Why, a +shirt hanging on the bushes to dry; and had heard voices in the woods +near. He had no doubt marauders were encamped there. We might find +there the man who committed the assault and robbery. His manner was +excited, but he seemed to believe his own story. + +It was Sunday. Work would not prevent us. We would hunt for the +robbers. We would go to Muddy Pond woods and investigate. We were not +over sanguine, but there was mystery in it, and we were bound to solve +it. I don't think anyone of us thought there was any danger in the +affair. A party of volunteers, consisting of some six or eight, was +formed, and the valuable Glover placed himself at our head. "By the +by," said he, as we were about to start, "I'll go and borrow Mr. Shaw's +pistols." What insane idea entered his head at that moment who can +tell. Did he have the thousandth part of an idea that he was going to +put a bullet into a man's body? I don't think he had! Returning soon +with the pistols, we started on our way. + +It would be worth a thousand dollars now if we had a picture of that +party on their tramp. As I remember it, there were some four of us who +were of the "young group" and had not quite attained our legal +majority. + +"The Admiral" and "the Hero," with "Glover," made the older portion of +the party, and as we strayed along with our clear, sun-browned, young +faces, our classic locks and natural beards--those who had any--with +our unique tunics or blouses, with a certain regular quaintness running +through them, were picturesque enough. The idea of arming ourselves, +suggested by Glover's pistols, soon developed into the improvising of +canes and walking sticks from the wayside. + +"Glover" paired off with the curly headed Hero, I with the curly headed +Admiral, for Glover loved the Hero, and I admired the Admiral's honest, +sincere, pleasant ways and heart. The city life we all had tasted, had +given new zest to country life. We straggled by the roadside; we sought +wild berries; we observed the varieties of foliage and flower, and +conversation never flagged. Glover and Hero were ever in earnest talk. +There was with them a never-ending story, and I am reminded of the +everlasting confidences of school girls when I recall their being +together, excepting only that they did not put their arms around each +other's waists. + +The Admiral's heart was full of music. He could talk of music, poetry +and love, and there was a tender spot in him that I did not venture on, +although I knew it was there. He was also a deep admirer of nature. +Truly we could sing together, "A life in the woods for me!" + +It was three miles to the robbers' rendezvous, but what cared we? We +dwelt in the bosom of nature, and three miles was but a pastime. We +only wanted an excuse of the most feeble kind to start on a tramp, day +or night. All along the way we breathed health and vitality; the air +was full of singing birds, and our hearts were crying out, "What is so +rare as a day in June?" In fact, our June days lasted longer than they +did elsewhere--they ran into September, October and November. It is the +harmony of our hearts that makes the force of poetry, and not the mere +words; and the June feeling may be present in December. + +The entrance to Muddy Pond woods was on high ground, and as we +approached it we were a little cautious, for near by was the appointed +place to find the haunt of the robbers. Filing along singly, we peered +into the underbush. Lo, and behold, I see it! It is a white thing +hanging on a bush! Yes! And listen, I hear voices! It is the robbers! +Why, no, these are only children's voices! They are picking berries, +the dear things. Poor children! Don't you know that you may be robbed +and murdered by some of these infernal rascals who beat innocent men, +take their money and come out here into this wilderness and wash the +blood off their garments and hang them on these berry bushes to dry? + +Slowly we approached the white garment. Why, this is only an old white +rag that has hung here for months, all mildewed and half rotten. Come, +boys, we are sold! What an old goose that fellow was to get us out here +for such a thing as this! I am going home! I am hungry! Feelings of +disgust and mirth took possession of us. Were these the robbers, and +was this the bloody raiment? Ha! ha! + +There was no use of going further. The exciting problem was solved, and +we turned our feet homeward over the hills, across the fields and by +stone walls; shying a stone now and then into some gnarled apple tree, +just to knock down a wild apple or two, to try if they contained, as +Emerson has said of one of them, "a pint of cider and a barrel of +wind"; whipping off the heads of the wild daisies with our canes and +switches; pulling sprigs of sweet fern and bayberry; mocking the crows +and the cat-birds; finding choice flowers, and trying to fill the +aching void within us with blackberries and whortleberries, and +reaching the farm after the dinner was over. + +All but one corner of the dining-room was deserted, and there a +solitary waiter was placing plates for the "Waiting Group," who had not +been served with dinner. The "Waiting Group" was one of the most +cheerful, lively, witty and jolly groups on the place. In fact it +contained some of the most eminent persons in our midst, and at dinner +the waiters were of the masculine gender solely. + +We found there would be room for us to join their table, and that our +company was welcome. Alas! alas! How can I describe the dinner? I do +not mean the things we had to eat--fine eating was of little +consequence if we could satisfy hunger; but the merry cheer was +indescribable. It was the Professor (Dana) who sat at the head of the +board. It was the brilliant and witty "Timekeeper" (Cabot) who was at +one side, and when our party was added to them--"the Hero" +(Butterfield), with his full, hearty and musical laugh; Glover (Drew) +with his funny and apt quotations, and with the other four to six +clear-headed fellows, not a dull one among them--the gamut of merriment +ran to its highest notes. + +Of course the Professor couldn't help making a few remarks about the +"object of our journey" and inquiries about the "success of the +enterprise," and of course our party didn't answer in parliamentary +language, but parried wit with wit, fun with fun, joke with joke. The +story had to be told and embellished. The shirt, it was nothing but a +rag, and the children were probably ragamuffins, and hot muffins at +that! The robber, where could he be! Probably dead, for there was +_berrying_ going on, and the children were continually _turning +pail_. + +But the borrowing of the pistols was the occasion of the most +absurdities. Was Glover _half cocked_ when he borrowed them? Did +he _bear-ill_ against any man? Was he going to _brace_ up his +courage? He wanted a little more _stock_ in hand, eh? It was the +only way he had of getting a little "_pop_"! And if he had +"popped" the robber would there have been any _pop-bier_ (beer) +there? "If I had killed him," he said, "there wouldn't have been any +_sham pain_." Pooh, pooh, you could only have _hocked_ him! +"I would have made him _whine_ anyhow." You might have made him +whine but--"_Wine butt_," did you say? (Interrupting). "Glover +didn't intend to make any excitement, for where he took the pistols he +left the _wholestir_ behind." "But when he took them," another +said, "he thought he was going to _Needham_ (need 'um)." "Ah, no," +said another, "when he took them he felt sure he was going to +_Dedham_" (dead 'um). + +You will appreciate the difficulty I have in making any one realize the +snap, the vivacity and the quickness of the repartees. Things that seem +frivolous when written down----separate from all their connections, +with the personality dropped out of them----with the connection +unbroken; with youth, friendship and love to join them together, and +all the surroundings in keeping, were lively and bright, and added a +glow to the toil that made all the difficult surroundings easier to +bear. The affair acted over to-day in sober earnest would hardly +provoke a smile, but there most trivial incidents were worked up and +the result was an increase of happiness for all. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GREAT CATASTROPHE. + + +Things were looking up in the Phalanx at this time, for money was +coming from some sources to finish a portion of the "Phalanstery." Not +that it resembled one, but more out of deference to the idea of one did +it receive its name. This would admit of additional membership, as +well-to-do and able families were to embark in the enterprise, who +could not and would not join it in the crowded state of the houses. The +feeling among all was particularly hopeful and cheerful at the +prospect, as we knew it was the cramped condition of the finances that +had prevented the finishing of the building before this time. + +Monday, March 2, 1846, was the day of recommencement of labor on it. On +the Saturday previous carpenters had put a stove into the building for +the purpose of drying it, as it had gathered dampness all through the +severe winter. It was now Tuesday, the day after our sweet singer left +us, and as we were all cheerful in our new hopes, it was proposed that +we should celebrate our good luck with a social dance at the Hive. I +shall call on my imagination to people the hall with those who were +Brook Farmers, though not all of them were there in person on that +occasion, in order to give the effective picture of such an assembly; +the realization of it to the mind, rather than the absolute facts. + +The first usually to occupy the hall were the young folks living at the +Hive, whose labors ended early. The dance commenced without ceremony +when one or two sets were ready. The pupils of the school from the Eyry +soon arrived, with the young Spanish boys and the well-dressed maidens. +Then the "Pilgrims" came, and the few who resided at the Cottage +completed the assembly. It was later when the members of the Direction +were seen looking in the room. They had been to some of the +interminable meetings. + +The cotillion was the ruling dance; the plain waltz and hop waltz came +in for their share of favor. The polka was new, and hardly yet danced. +What fun, what pleasure was there then in that old dining hall among +the blue tunics! There the General loomed above the rest, not in tunic, +however, but staggering about with his new acquirement, interested and +ungraceful; and the old gardener entertained us with a Danish waltz +with his fair-haired, plump, round-shouldered daughter. Now they cling +together, then swing apart, holding each other by the fingers' ends; +now they whirl and twirl in and out, and then come together and waltz +around the hall, as all gaze and wonder at the old man's suppleness. +Now the spirit of fun takes possession of all as we see Irish John +sitting quietly conversing with "Dora," and he must dance a jig! By +some chance there may be a girl of his nationality on the place to +dance with him; if not, he goes it alone--forward and back, shuffling +backward and around; then dancing up as to his partner, and having gone +through all the varied motions in grand heel-and-toe style, sits down +again or rushes out of the hall door with his giggling laugh, and a +loud round of applause for his reward. + +I might go on painting various characters and personages, but could not +paint the enthusiasm that was catching--how one after another of the +older ones put on again the youthful habit long since laid off. There +was no selfishness either, in the dancing, because there was plenty of +it, and when one of the older persons essayed the graces of youth, +instead of its being looked on as an intrusion, it was applauded. I +have seen five men whose education was for the ministry enjoying +themselves on that small floor at one time. + +It was the old courtliness over again. It was the spirit of chivalry +revived under a new form, and it was chivalry with interior pride +instead of exterior pride--pride of character instead of pride of +birth. Did any of these accomplished men and women deem that they +lowered themselves by dancing with those who did manual labor? If they +had, they would not have been there to do it. And did the "producers of +wealth" think that there were those who danced in their company as a +favor to them? If they had, it would have been a favor they would not +have accepted. The atmosphere was that of mutual respect and mutual +good-will. + +There was no dancing of clothes-pins from the pockets of the dancers, +as Emerson has said, or if it once happened it was probably the +intentional freak of a happy schoolboy--a bit of farcical fun, too +unworthy even to be mentioned by the "Sage of Concord" in his "Historic +Notes." It was poor history and undignified in its connection. + +But the reader wishes to know if certain men whose names he has seen +and whose reputations he knows took part in these amusements! He may be +sure that the "Professor" (Dana) was there, for those charming black +eyes and raven hair, and the quick, nervous, volatile, lovely owner of +them, with her southern accent, was there to charm him. And he may be +sure that the "Poet" (Dwight) was there, for the man of music and song +could not despise the poetry of motion, neither could his social soul +neglect the opportunity of seeing so much enjoyment, and feasting his +eyes on those developing buds of womanhood, those fair-haired, clear- +eyed, joyous young girls who were present. And the curly-headed, witty +"Time-Keeper" (Cabot) was there because he enjoyed dancing and fun. And +the tall, manly, handsome-faced, clear-complexioned "Hero" +(Butterfield), whose curls more than rivalled the other, looking for a +dark-eyed girl who afterwards became his faithful and loving wife. And +the little, thin-faced shoemaker (Colson), with his amiable spouse was +there, as also that other one, with head and forehead large enough for +Daniel Webster (Hosmer), with his wife. + +And that quiet man, whose near-sightedness obliged him to wear glasses, +and whose very soul was penetrated with a joke, if you could judge from +the internal convulsions and the mounting of the red blood to his face +at every good one--"Grandpa" (Treadwell) so different from his light- +complexioned wife, who smiled all over her face and indulged in a merry +laugh so easily. And John (Orvis) was there--surnamed "the Almighty"-- +for certain eyes projected their glances on him, which was not +unpleasing to his senses. And Chiswell, the man who desired to be chief +of the Amusement Group, was there, of course; and Miss Ripley, "her +perpendicular Majesty," came to look on because she enjoyed doing so; +and the "Mistress of the Revels" (Miss Russell) was looking after her +young nieces, the Misses Foord, who, with all the other young misses, +were there. And stout "Old Solidarity" (Eaton) was there, and "Monday +(Munday) the tailor's wife"; Jean (Pallisse) with his "Madame," "Homer +the Sweet" (Doucet), "Chrysalis" (Christopher List), "Chorles" and +Stella (Salisbury), John and Mary (Sawyer), and all the titled nobility +of the place; with Edgar and Martin, Harry and George, Dan and Willard, +John and Charles--all lads of an age to drink deep of the fountain of +life and pleasure. + +But stop! On this occasion the dance was not fairly under way; it was +yet quite early in the evening, and though in the "full tide of +successful experiment," to quote an old expression, it had not worked +itself up to high pitch, when an unexpected interruption took place. +Ah, fatal hour! Why was it not delayed? Why did it ever come? It was +this: one of the older members came in and announced, "The Phalanstery +is on fire!" I remember the loud, derisive laugh that came from the +announcement, and was echoed through the room. I knew better than all +from the sober face and earnest look of the person who said it--for he +was one of my kin--that the statement must be correct, and I +immediately said, "This is no joke, it is true!" + +A thing so easily verified needed not argument, and all rushed for the +doors. I hastily changed slippers for boots and ran out. The barn hid +the "Phalanstery" from sight. Passing to the other side of it I saw the +flames pouring out of the front, surmounted by a heavy cloud of black +smoke. Without definiteness of purpose we all started for the building, +and all saw that there was no chance of saving it. Ere long the flames +were chasing one another in mad riot over the structure; running across +the long corridors and up and down the supporting columns of wood, +until the huge edifice was a mass of firework, every part painted in +glowing, living color, yet retaining its distinctive form. + +It was a grand and magnificent sight! The whole heaven was illuminated +with its rosy light, and the earth was as red as the sky, for the +fields, deep covered with white snow from the long storm, were +brilliant from the reflection of the fire. Miles and miles away was the +illumination seen. Men in Boston thought it was near by, it was so +bright, and one man came from the city across the fields, thinking at +every moment he would reach the object of his search, finding it and +himself at last nine miles in the country. + +There was a pile of lumber near the building that we worked hard to +save, but the flames were so hot we had to desist, and some cried out +"Save the Eyry!" Turning on my heel I went to the greenhouse for water +buckets, and entering saw the flowers lighted up with a heavenly glow +of color, and so startlingly beautiful that in spite of my haste I +lingered a moment to look at them. Roses and camellias, heaths and +azaleas--whatever flowers there were in bloom looked superbly glorified +in the transcendent light, and I uttered an exclamation of surprise at +the lovely display. + +A moment after, armed with buckets, I started for the Eyry, and at the +post of duty worked with a will to forward water to those above who +were wetting the front of the house and roof to preserve it from the +heat. It was not long before it was seen that danger to that building +was past, and I returned to watch the fire fiend eat up the remains of +our great edifice. + +Engines with firemen slowly arrived, but the building was entirely +burned, for there was a difficulty in getting any water, as three feet +of snow covered the ground, and little was done but to extinguish some +of the embers of the burning, blackened main timbers that had fallen +into the cellar. + +I pause here to give the account of the fire published in the +_Harbinger_ of March 14, 1846. There is little to add to the clear +statement there made:-- + +"FIRE AT BROOK FARM. + +"Our readers have no doubt been informed before this of the severe +calamity with which the Brook Farm Association has been visited, by the +destruction of the large unitary edifice which it has been for some +time erecting on its domain. Just as our last paper was going through +the press, on Tuesday evening the 3d inst., the alarm of fire was given +at about a quarter before nine, and it was found to proceed from the +'Phalanstery.' In a few minutes the flames were bursting through the +doors and windows of the second story; the fire spread with almost +incredible rapidity throughout the building, and in about an hour and a +half the whole edifice was burned to the ground. The members of the +Association were on the spot in a few moments, and made some attempts +to save a quantity of lumber that was in the basement story; but so +rapid was the progress of the fire, that this was found to be +impossible and they succeeded only in rescuing a couple of tool chests +that had been in use by the carpenters. + +"The neighboring dwelling house, called the 'Eyry,' was in imminent +danger while the fire was at its height, and nothing but the stillness +of the night and the vigilance and activity of those who were stationed +on its roof, preserved it from destruction. The vigorous efforts of our +nearest neighbors, Mr. T. J. Orange and Messrs. Thomas and George +Palmer, were of great service in protecting this building, as a part of +our force were engaged in another direction, watching the workshops, +barn and principal dwelling house. + +"In a short time our neighbors from the village of West Roxbury, a mile +and a half distant, arrived in great numbers with their engine, which +together with the engines from Jamaica Plain, Newton and Brookline, +rendered valuable assistance in subduing the flaming ruins, although it +was impossible to check the progress of the fire until the building was +completely destroyed. We are under the deepest obligations to the fire +companies which came, some of them five or six miles, through deep +snow, on cross roads, and did everything in the power of skill or +energy to preserve our other buildings from ruin. Many of the engines +from Boston came four or five miles from the city, but finding the fire +going down, returned without reaching the spot. The engines from +Dedham, we understood, made an unsuccessful attempt to come to our aid, +but were obliged to turn back on account of the condition of the roads. +No efforts, however, would have probably been successful in arresting +the progress of the flames. The building was divided into nearly a +hundred rooms in the upper stories, most of which had been lathed for +several months without plaster, and being almost as dry as tinder, the +fire flashed through them with terrific rapidity. + +"There had been no work performed on the building during the winter +months, and arrangements had just been made to complete four out of the +fourteen distinct suites of apartments into which it was divided, by +the first of May. It was hoped that the remainder would be finished +during the summer, and that by the first of October the edifice would +be prepared for the reception of a hundred and fifty persons, with +ample accommodations for families, and spacious and convenient public +halls and saloons. A portion of the second story had been set apart for +a church or chapel, which was to be finished in a style of simplicity +and elegance, by private subscription, and in which it was expected +that religious services would be performed by our friend William H. +Channing, whose presence with us, until obliged to retire on account of +ill health, had been a source of unmingled satisfaction and benefit. + +"On the Saturday previous to the fire, a stove was put up in the +basement story, for the accommodation of the carpenters, who were to +work on the outside; a fire was kindled in it on Tuesday morning, which +burned till four o'clock in the afternoon; at half past eight in the +evening the building was visited by the night watch, who found +everything apparently safe, and at about a quarter before nine a faint +light was discovered in the second story, which was supposed at first +to have proceeded from a lamp, but on entering, to ascertain the fact, +the smoke at once showed that the interior was on fire. The alarm was +immediately given, but almost before the people had time to assemble, +the whole edifice was wrapped in flames. From a defect in the +construction of the chimney, a spark from the stovepipe had probably +communicated with the surrounding wood work, and from the combustible +nature of the materials, the flames spread with a celerity that made +every effort to arrest their violence without effect. + +"This edifice was commenced in the summer of 1844, and has been in +progress from that time until November last, when the work was +suspended for the winter, and resumed, as before stated, on the day in +which it was consumed. It was built of wood; one hundred and seventy- +five feet long, three stories high, with spacious attics, divided into +pleasant and convenient roams for single persons. The second and third +stories were divided into fourteen houses, independent of each other, +with a parlor and three sleeping rooms in each, connected by piazzas +which ran the whole length of the building on both stories. The +basement contained a large and commodious kitchen, a dining hall +capable of seating from three to four hundred persons, two public +saloons, and a spacious hall and lecture room. Although by no means a +model for the Phalanstery, or unitary edifice of a Phalanx, it was well +adapted for our purposes at present, situated on a delightful eminence +which commanded a most extensive and picturesque view, and affording +accommodations and conveniences in the combined order, which in many +respects would gratify even a fastidious taste. The actual expenditures +upon the building, including the labor performed by the Associates, +amounted to about seven thousand dollars, and three thousand dollars +more, it was estimated, would be sufficient for its completion. As it +was not yet in use by the Association, and, until the day of its +destruction, not exposed to fire, no insurance had been effected. It +was built by investments in our loan stock, and the loss falls upon the +holders of partnership stock and the members of the Association. + +"It is some alleviation of the great calamity which we have sustained that +it came upon us at this time, rather than at a later period. The house was +not endeared to us by any grateful recollections; the tender and +hallowed associations of home had not yet begun to cluster around it, +and although we looked upon it with joy and hope as destined to occupy +an important sphere in the social movement to which it was consecrated, +its destruction does not rend asunder those sacred ties which bind us +to the dwellings that have thus far been the scene of our toils and of +our satisfactions. We could not part with either of the houses in which +we have lived at Brook Farm, without a sadness like that which we +should feel at the departure of a bosom friend. The destruction of our +edifice makes no essential change in our pursuits. It leaves no family +destitute of a home; it disturbs no domestic arrangements; it puts us +to no immediate inconvenience. The morning after the disaster, if a +stranger had not seen the smoking pile of ruins, he would not have +suspected that anything extraordinary had taken place. Our schools were +attended as usual, our industry in full operation, and not a look or +expression of despondency could have been perceived. The calamity is +felt to be great; we do not attempt to conceal from ourselves its +consequences, but it has been met with a calmness and high trust, which +gives us a new proof of the power of associated life to quicken the +best elements of character, and to prepare men for every emergency. + +"We shall be pardoned for entering into these almost personal details, +for we know that the numerous friends of Association, in every part of +our land, will feel our misfortune as if it were a private grief of +their own. We have received nothing but expressions of the most +generous sympathy from every quarter, even from those who might be +supposed to take the least interest in our purposes; and we are sure +that our friends in the cause of social unity will share with us the +affliction that has visited a branch of their own fraternity. + +"We have no wish to keep out of sight the magnitude of our loss. In our +present infant state it is a severe trial of our strength. We cannot +now calculate its ultimate effect. It may prove more than we are able +to bear; or like other previous calamities, it may serve to bind us +more closely to each other, and to the holy cause to which we are +devoted. We await the result with calm hope, sustained by our faith in +the Universal Providence, whose social laws we have endeavored to +ascertain and embody in our daily lives. + +"It may not be improper to state, as we are speaking of our own affairs +more fully than we have felt at liberty to do before in the columns of +our paper, that, whatever be our trials of an external character, we +have every reason to rejoice in the internal condition of our +Association. For the few last months it has more nearly than ever +approached the idea of a true social order. The greatest harmony +prevails among us; not a discordant note is heard; a spirit of +friendship, of brotherly kindness, of charity, dwells with us and +blesses us; our social resources have been greatly multiplied, and our +devotion to the cause which has brought us together receives new +strength every day. Whatever may be in reserve for us, we have an +infinite satisfaction in the true relations which have united us, and +the assurance that our enterprise has sprung from a desire to obey the +divine law. We feel assured that no outward disappointment or calamity +can chill our zeal for the realization of a divine order of society, or +abate our efforts in the sphere which may be pointed out by our best +judgment as most favorable to the cause which we have at heart." + +There was no wind. The building was entirely consumed; and the hungry +firemen, on their homeward way, were invited to lunch at the Hive. +Peter, the baker, had just turned out from the oven a fine batch of +bread. We made coffee for them. The bread was for our morrow's +breakfast; they ate it all, and Peter worked all night to supply the +deficiency. In the midst of the lunch Mr. Ripley mounted a bench and +spoke a few pleasant words of thanks to them, and you would not have +guessed that a great misfortune had fallen on our scheme from the +serene, cheerful look on his fine face. He thanked the firemen kindly +for coming to our aid. Their visit, he said, "was _very +unexpected_ to us," but he was glad to give them the poor +hospitality we had. "But had we _known_," he said, in that bright, +pleasant way of his, "or even _suspected_ you were coming, we +would have been better prepared to receive you, and given you worthier, +if not a _warmer_ reception." "Good enough, good enough!" shouted +the firemen. + +This calamity did not affect any belief that the Brook Farmers had in +social science, and it did not break up the Association. Certainly no +one departed from the place at once in fear of disorganization. It +called forth kindly letters from all parts of the country, and our +immediate friends gathered around us as if to shield us from further +harm. The sweet singer returned to pass a few days with us, and our +noble friend Channing spoke earnest words to all. + +It was Sunday; the Direction broke its rule and decided to call the +Association together in the evening to talk over everything connected +with its prospects. There was one reason for doing so, and that was, +one of our prominent members was going next day to New York to deliver +a course of lectures on music, and they desired he should be present at +the consultation. I do not remember that the meeting talked facts and +figures, but that it was a meeting of goodwill and resolution, where +all expressed their sympathies or convictions regarding the life then +and there led; their desire for its continuance, and their hopes and +wishes for the future prosperity of the little band. + +I make an extract from an article written by our president, as showing +the state of feeling among the leaders at this time. After speaking of +the various letters received, he says he has selected one for +publication for its practical suggestions, and continues:-- + +"We do not altogether agree with the writer in the importance which he +attaches to the special movement at Brook Farm. We have never professed +to be able to represent the idea of Association with the scanty +resources at our command; nor would the discontinuance of our +establishment, or of any of the partial attempts now in progress, in +the slightest degree weaken our faith in the associative system or our +conviction that it will sooner or later be adopted as the only form of +society suited to the nature of man, and in accordance with the divine +will. We have never attempted anything more than to prepare the way for +Association by demonstrating some of the leading ideas on which the +theory is founded. In this we have had the most gratifying success; but +we have regarded ourselves only as the humble pioneers in a work which +would be carried on by others to its magnificent consummation, and have +been content to wait and toil for the development of the cause and the +completion of our hope. + +"Still we have established a centre of influence here for the +associative movement which we shall spare no effort to sustain; we are +fully aware of the importance of this; and nothing but the most +inexorable necessity will withdraw the congenial spirits that are +gathered in social union here, from the work which has always called +forth their most earnest devotedness and enthusiasm. Since our disaster +occurred there has not been an expression or symptom of despondency +among our number. All are resolute and calm; determined to stand by +each other and the cause; ready to encounter still greater sacrifices +than have yet been demanded of them, and desirous only to adopt the +course which may be presented by the clearest dictates of duty. The +loss we have sustained occasions us no immediate inconvenience; does +not interfere with any of our present operations, although it is a +total destruction of resources on which we had confidently relied, and +must inevitably derange our plans for the enlargement of the +Association and the extension of our industry. We have a firm and +cheerful hope, however, of being able to do much for the illustration +of the cause, with the materials that remain. They are far too valuable +to be dispersed or applied to any other object, and with favorable +circumstances will be able to accomplish much for the realization of +social unity. + +"We are not so blind as to lose sight of the fact that this enterprise, +as well as all others that leave the beaten path of custom and +tradition, must experience more or less misrepresentation and +consequent hostility. But we rejoice to say that in Boston and its +vicinity, where our institution and its members are the best known, we +have met with nothing since the occurrence of our disaster but the most +cordial and almost enthusiastic sympathy. Our labors for five year's +have not been in vain in disarming reproach and winning esteem. A +universal desire is expressed for the continuance of our establishment, +and the success of our experiment; the most friendly hands have been +extended to us from all quarters; and if the expression of respect for +ourselves and wishes for our prosperity could be of any avail, we might +regard our future welfare as certain. If there has been any exception +to these remarks it has not come to our knowledge. The truth is, our +wisest and best men are deeply sensible, under the pressure of existing +evils, of the need of social reform, and they cannot but welcome those +whose perseverance and devotion in this work prove them to be in +earnest." + +These words of our leader expressed clearly the general feeling and +hope of the Association, and are worthy of close attention. I will not +copy the letter referred to, but put in its place the following shorter +one, the writer of whom was an entire stranger to our people:-- + +"NEW YORK, March 17, 1846. + +"GENTLEMEN:--With the greatest sorrow I heard of the destruction of a +building of the Brook Farm Association by fire. As an expression of my +sympathy please accept the trifle enclosed towards its reconstruction. +I am rejoiced at the spirit with which you met this calamity, and think +it augurs most favorably for the successful result of your great +enterprise. + +"The light which some knowledge of the science of Association has +poured upon my mind has changed despondency into hope, gloom into +cheerfulness. My religious feelings I trust have been purified. I can +more intelligently and confidently trust in God, and the reflection +that we are all 'members of one another' excites benevolent feelings in +my heart. I trust I may live to do something towards spreading the +knowledge of this divine science, and that when I die the condition and +prospects of the human race may be greatly improved. E." + +This great disaster stirred the little commonwealth to its centre. In +the hearts of the dwellers were sad spots, were serious thoughts. They +felt a deep disappointment, and when the fun and the _bon-mot_ +were off, that ever sparkled at Brook Farm on the surface of its life +of toil and devotion, they met each other in frank, plain talk. I have +a great admiration for the simple, straightforward, honest way in which +the people, male and female, spoke to each other. There was no beating +of the bush; there was no need of it; there was a common interest that +united them--a unity, as far as it went--not perfect, it is true, but +much higher than I have ever seen it elsewhere. + +As we met the morning after the fire at breakfast, which was later than +usual, and all through the following days, the talk was about the +catastrophe. Each one had his story to tell. Some had been watching the +other houses, fearing chance sparks might reach them, but the night was +so quiet they did not scatter much. Our Englishman with a spicy name +(Peppercorn), cheerful, lively fellow as he was, is said to have +observed that "many hanxious heyes were fixed hon that 'ole in the barn +when hour 'ouse was hon fire." (It was a square place left open in the +gable for ventilation.) Little knots of people gathered together to +talk over and over again the same important subject, and foremost among +them, tallest among them, was the General, with his disputatious tongue +and his occasional unfortunate stammer. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SUMMING UP AND REVERIES. + + +Brook Farm was in an exceptionally good position when the associative +movement broke out, like a fever, all over the country. It was no new +organization. It had started two or three years before the rest. It had +fixed itself in the minds of the thinking part of the community as a +gathering of able, upright, conscientious men and women. There were no +slurs on their moral characters. There were no vices at which to point +the finger of scorn. They were not driven or urged forward by poverty +to take the position they did, and the "Community" or Association, had +sprung up so silently and in such a natural manner, that it seemed a +vital outgrowth from the tree of society. Notices appeared in various +prints pleasantly alluding to it. + +It was a curious and unique life. It deserved to be kindly noticed, and +not until after the "Fourierite" doctrines were preached and accepted +did there appear anything in the journals of a defamatory character +relating to it. Truth compels me to say that Brook Farm and its +Associates were singularly free from the rude comments and public +assaults that reformers of all kinds are apt to receive. But while +Brook Farm was thus free, it had to bear its share in the general +assaults upon the doctrines of associative life and "Fourierism" that +were made elsewhere. + +Mr. Greeley, in the _Tribune_, had gone into the work manfully, +striking heavy blows for the organization of labor; announcing himself +as an advocate of the doctrines of Associated Industry, with the +freedom of manner and boldness of pen and purpose for which he was +noted. The _Tribune_ was the leading journal of the country as +well as of the Whig party, and the associative idea came into immediate +prominence. Mr. Greeley was a man who was not ruled by any party. He +had too much of genuine independence to allow himself to follow strict +party lines. He was ambitious. He had political enemies ready to strike +him in any way that they could to reduce his political power, who did +not dare to attack him or his party openly, and they went about seeking +flaws in his honest coat of mail, into which they could thrust their +lances, caring not how envenomed they were if they could but wound him, +thinking by this means to reduce his hold on his party and the public. + +I am satisfied that this was the reason of the commencement of the +principal attacks on the associative doctrines; but having commenced +them, many may finally have believed they were doing justice to society +by continuing in their unjust course. The principal ground of attack +was that the "Fourierites" were "disorganizers," that they were +unsettling the foundations of society and that they wished to make +their Associations entering wedges to disrupt the marriage relation and +produce promiscuity and general anarchy. Their opponents even went so +far as to call the leaders infidels, and made other outrageous and +absurd charges against them. The New York _Express_ was early in +the field. The _Courier and Enquirer_ and the Buffalo +_Advertiser_ soon made themselves conspicuous, and finally the New +York _Observer_, "a religious newspaper of the Calvinistic school, +of large circulation and great influence, actuated in the present case, +as must be hoped, by other motives than those that envenomed its +associates," says a writer in the _Harbinger_, "added its ability +and its power to crush the social reformers." + +These attacks, long continued, created great distrust and produced +strong suspicions in the public mind derogatory to the morality of the +movement. + +The Associationists on their part denied that they were Fourierists, or +that they had advocated or proposed any change in the marriage +relation; they were united for the organization of industry, and had +nothing to do or propose in relation to the marriage system. This +denial was not enough for their opponents. They declared that the +doctrines of Association led to certain results, and in proof of it +cited Fourier's speculations on the subject, which had about as much to +do with the social objects of the Associationists as his cosmogony, his +speculations about the Arabian deserts, or his ocean of "lemonade" that +had amused so many. In the study of human nature, Fourier believed he +discovered inherently inconstant natures, exceptional men and women, +who cannot be constant to one idea, one hope or one love; and believing +that this inconstancy was a normal trait of character with some +persons, who are the exceptions to the general rule, simply and +honestly acknowledged the fact, and speculated on the result and the +position such persons would have in the future ideal societies. + +Fourier said, "The man has no claim as discoverer, or to the confidence +of the world, who advocates such absurdities as community of property, +absence of divine worship and rash abolition of marriage." + +The Associationists of America made no proposal of any change in the +marriage relation. They had no occasion to do so. They considered it +one of the best and purest arrangements of present society, and that if +there were in that relation oftentimes grave mistakes and errors, there +were other greater and more glaring evils and universal wrongs to set +right. + +"Accordingly our position is that the existing institution is to be +maintained in its greatest possible dignity and purity. We believe that +with the establishment of _truth_ and _justice_ in the +practical affairs of society; with the guarantee of pecuniary +independence to all persons, the most fatal temptations to debase and +profane this relation will be removed.... But to purer and nobler +generations more upright, honorable and generous, we leave all +legislation on this subject. It is for us to maintain the institution +inviolable." + +The above quoted words are taken from a statement made by all the +officers of the "American Union of Associationists," for at this time +an outside movement of that name had commenced, whose object was to +propagate doctrines, and stimulate the various organizations that were +forming, to actualize the new social order in various parts of the +country. + +At a convention in Boston, held May 27,1846, where the American Union +of Associationists was formed, this resolution was passed:--"Resolved, +That we hold it our duty, as seekers of the practical unity of the +race, to accept every light afforded by the providential men whom God +has raised up, without committing ourselves blindly to the guidance of +any _one_, or speaking or acting in the name of any man; that we +recognize the invaluable worth of the discoveries of Charles Fourier in +the science of society, the harmony of that science with all the vital +truths of Christianity, and the promise it holds out of a material +condition of life wherein alone the spirit of Christ can dwell in all +its fulness; but _Fourierists_ we are not and cannot consent to be +called, because Fourier is only _one_ among the great teachers of +mankind; because many of his assertions are concerning spheres of +thought which exceed our present ability to test, and of which it would +be presumption for us to affirm with confidence; and because we regard +this as a holy and providential movement, independent of every merely +_individual_ influence or guidance, the sure and gradual evolving +of man's great unitary destiny in the ages." + +After the excitement of the fire and after the enthusiastic meeting for +the holy cause, the voice of reason, pure and cold, went forth in +whispers over the face of Brook Farm. Inquiries began to be made about +prospects. It was considered a great piece of good fortune to have been +enabled to commence the first "Phalanstery." Would any one invest in a +second one, and was there prospect enough for the success of the +industry on the place to secure a livelihood? If not, what must be +done? These were important questions. Retrenchment had gone far. The +table was too poor to attract visitors; too poor, some thought, for +health, but I observed that all kept well. + +I am not sure in my details of all the industry on the place just at +this time, but I believe that Britannia ware was made by one or two +workmen, principally oil hand lamps and teapots; but sales were +limited, the market being dull or glutted, and the Brook Farmers had +not the capital to manufacture and keep on hand a supply of goods for +better times. + +Some six to ten were engaged in making shoes and pots. There goods were +sold at fair profit, though it was not a particularly remunerative +business, and sometimes the group was not full of orders. + +There was also the "sash and blind" business, which included the making +of doors. I believe that this business could have been made profitable, +but here again the inevitable want was capital. In order to make these +articles of good quality, it is of the first importance that all stock +in them shall be well seasoned, for if it is not, changes of +temperature will produce shrinkage and warping. The wood should be +either kiln-dried--a novelty then--or dried by long keeping in sheds, +and it was important to buy largely when there was a good source, and +store for future use. These things the Brook Farmers could not do, and +consequently some of the doors and sashes shrank, much to the disgust +of everybody. + +The _Harbinger_ was the principal work done in the printing line as +no outside business, such as job or book work, was secured. I have not +found out whether the _Harbinger_ paid its expenses or not, but it +was considered that it aided Brook Farm by advertising the work in its +columns. Certainly there was not much profit in it, for it is well +known that the expense of issuing a few copies of a publication is +nearly as large as when the number is doubled. + +And the farming! Was it paying? A little, of course. Great labor and +devotion are needed on a farm at special seasons: I am of the opinion +it was a mistaken idea that no day's labor should consist of more than +ten hours. Our kind-hearted leader, who had not known the necessity for +great personal, physical toil, long-continued, in order to produce +special results, frowned on long hours, and did not lend his magnetism +to induce persons to toil out of regular time, except possibly in the +haying field; and therefore the days were clipped to stated hours, when +it would have been better to have extended them occasionally beyond the +regular time. + +A large crop was hay. Near the main farm was a lot of some fifteen +acres of grass land that was a part of the original purchase, but +entirely independent of contact, and at some distance towards West +Roxbury village. It was called the "Keith Lot" and was the best hay +field. All the meadows grew heavy crops of grass; it was not all +"herd's grass," but consisted of a variety of species, and went under +the name of "meadow hay," which was considered second in quality. + +There were the mistakes of beginners made. Some crops were lost that +might have been saved and made profitable. Of apples there were not +many. The farm could not supply the Association's wants, and we had at +times to buy both fruits and vegetables. Besides the cows a few swine +were kept. Occasionally a "beef critter" would be killed for home use, +either by our stout neighbor with a fruitful name (Orange), or by our +little Englishman. + +Our practical neighbor's advice and assistance were of use to us. His +occupation was especially farming, but he had a "slant" towards killing +animals, really liking the business. He could do the butchering of a +hog with the best of grace, and had killed, first and last, so many, +that I imagine he could tell the number of squeals, or wrigglings of +the porcine tail it took to terminate the life of the animal, after he +had given it the _coup de grace_. Once, when remonstrated with by +a lady for his cruel position towards the race of swine, the +"professional" love of his occupation arose above all other +considerations. + +"Where do you expect to go when you die," said she to him, "if you are +so cruel to animals?" + +"Well, I don't know," he replied, "but I hope I shall go where there +are _plenty of hogs!_" + +In the progress of the institution much work was done to increase the +amount of grass land and tillage, and where the meadows bordered on the +bush and stubble, the bush scythe was freely used. Muck was dug and +spread in quantities. Mr. Ripley rather prided himself on the knowledge +of the composition and improvement of soils, and when the experiment +ceased, the farm had improved in amount of tillable surface and +capacity of production. This progress was, much of it, to the +Association's cost, and added but little to the immediate income. + +I have alluded to the tree-nursery. There were thousands of young trees +bought and transplanted for a nursery, and seedlings raised that had to +be budded or grafted, and this was faithfully and carefully done by an +experienced man, assisted by the Professor and other native talent, and +the grounds kept continually in order. There was no immediate return +for this outlay, which needed a year or two more of growth and +investment, to bring back the first cost and make a profit from the +business. + +Let me here call attention to the nature of the various occupations +started. They contained in general, I am satisfied, as good chances for +profitable return as most occupations, and with time, and a market not +overstocked, would finally have paid well. Once only were we caught +with the _ignis fatuus_ of genius, a washing machine--patented, of +course--that came to an untimely end with a few gasps. + +The greenhouse business was an outgo from first to last. It was a +business in prospective. It took two persons from other and more +productive labor, and quantities of fuel were consumed through the long +winter days and nights with a very meagre return. It had its bright +side--it was attractive--and if persevered in would have paid in the +end. The garden was still more of an outgo than the greenhouse. The +soil was very poor, and the manure for high culture was not +forthcoming, for it was all needed on the farm. + +The large number of visitors did at times return more than the cash +outlay, but in reckoning the incomes of the Association this must be +left out, or set down as uncertain. Some boarders were almost always on +the place; either interested parties, or members' friends, but this +income also was slight, as the table was meagre and the price in +proportion. What, then, was there beside these occupations to support +and increase the organization? Three things: Income from new members +who came with property; income from regular investors, who took stock +in the Association, and income from the school. + +There was a prospective income from persons who were expected to come +and try the new mode of life. There were those who had been promised an +opportunity to join us. They were selected from a mass of applicants, +and one object in the selection was to secure persons of good standing +and means. Such persons represented a desirable class. But now the +"Phalanstery" was burned that hope was destroyed, for all the available +rooms were occupied with those living on the domain; and if there was +to be no progress in material things, who would wish to invest in stock +that had not paid a cent and in which there was but a slight chance of +profitable return--nay, more, which stood ten chances to one of being +entirely lost? Of course no one unless he had money to give away. The +persuasive eloquence of the gifted leaders could not secure investors +for the reasons I have given, and for other reasons of which I shall +speak. + +The "Associationists" were not united. The centre of the movement was +at New York, and from there great stories of the advancement of the +North American Phalanx at Red Bank, New Jersey, went forth. It was +Greeley's pet. It was the favorite at the centre and mostly with the +_doctrinaires_. It was an excellent domain, with water power, +splendid fruit-growing land, sufficiently near New York market for an +undoubted sale of all its products. Greeley admired the talent and the +social life at Brook Farm, but he thought that the leaders engaged at +the North American Phalanx had a more practical turn, and their soil +was wonderfully better fitted for farming, which always seems to be the +hobby of reformers. It was near to him; he could visit it often, and he +invested money in it. + +It was intimated that the Brook Farm experiment had better stop, and +that all the material that was good should be transferred to the North +American. But it is easily seen that this was impossible, and that the +experiment must go on. The leaders and members had pledged themselves +too faithfully to carry out the Association's ideas, and none among +them would be bold enough to announce such a project. It would seem +like selling out to another organization. Who would dare to propose to +break into the charmed circle by such discordant words? And so it went +on. + +Much talent was used in the school. As the Association took to itself a +variety of industries; as it added shoemakers, carpenters and farmers +to its original stock of intellectual workers, a change took place in +the selectness of its society. Although the members were chosen by the +organization, yet "practical" farmers, and "practical" shoemakers, with +their wives and children, are not supposed to have the easy grace of +manners, the elegant language and the fluency and charm of cultivated +and scholarly men and women. The little, scarcely organized Community +had increased into a goodly number, so that its dining room was like a +small hotel; and it was no longer held by the "Transcendentalists," but +had become a portion of a large and increasing body of men who followed +the wild ideas of a Frenchman named Fourier, and called itself the +Brook Farm Phalanx. + +And who was this Fourier? It was just at this time; it was just as this +question was asked by anxious mothers, that the slanders of the New +York Press, copied into other papers, far and wide, worked mischief to +the Brook Farm School. I never knew a pupil who was not pleased and +delighted with the school; but the mother who sends a child away from +home to an educational institution, especially if the child is a girl, +will send it where there are no intimations connected with it of the +character of those brought so prominently forward by the New York +newspapers. It matters not so much to her that she believes the stories +are slanders; her duty seems plain to take no risks. + +The "Association" or "Phalanx" now overlapped the school, and it could +no longer have the prominence as an industry that it did at first. The +school, from being so intimately connected with the Association, began +to lose caste. Although conducted with as much talent as ever, and with +as much devotion on the part of its teachers, from the fact of the +unfortunate odium cast on it, and its peculiar surroundings, was +declining, and the high talent, the culture and the knowledge of its +teachers, could not retain it in its proud position. + +Thus I have gathered together, as in a bouquet, the sources of all the +income of the once famous "Brook Farm." How slight they were! + +It has often been stated that Brook Farm was a well chosen location for +the experiment made there. It was nine miles from Boston. There were no +surrounding industries. There was no water power at hand, the little +brook being too small for any purpose but ornament. There was no +available railroad station--the nearest was four miles away. This +necessitated the teaming of lumber, fertilizers, coal, family stores +and all stock for manufacturing purposes, from Boston, as it was not +practical to send part way by rail and transfer it to teams. A portion +of the time we were obliged to go to the city by the way of West +Roxbury Village, as the nearest way--over the hills--was blocked by +snow during our long New England winters, and this increased the +distance. One or two teams, with men, were ever on the road. This was +expensive and tedious. + +After the manufacturing stock had been teamed thus far into the +country, it was carted back in the shape of goods over the same road. I +must praise the men who were engaged in this business, for they were +not only teamsters, but errand boys--expressmen we would call them now-- +as well as purchasers of provender and general commercial agents of +the Association; and their combined tasks were hard and difficult. +Busy, driving Glover Drew and Buckley Hastings filled this office +faithfully and long. + +For the original purpose of an industrial school the farm was +attractive, but for an experiment such as was foreshadowed by the name +Phalanx, the place was not at all fitted, and the good sense of Mr. +Greeley saw that the domain of the North American Phalanx was vastly +superior. + +In this connection I am reminded that there was but little machinery +invented and employed on farms at the date of my narrative; and +although our agriculturists, in spite of the stale jokes that have been +fathered on them, were in the advance in this department as in others, +it was only in the third or fourth year of their occupancy of the farm +that they deemed it wise or prudent to purchase a horse rake, and I +recall no other modern implement used, unless it was a seed drill, +taken on trial. It was the same in the domestic department; there was +not even a dish washer or a clothes wringer, and the most extensive and +valuable aid in the laundry was a pounding barrel in which the soiled +clothes were placed and put under discipline. + +There was enough reason and brave common sense among the people to +ponder on the condition of things as I have presented them to you. The +outlook was not encouraging. I cannot remember the order in which some +of the events came to pass which I am to narrate, but the order is +unimportant. Certainly there were Association meetings in which +prospects were talked over and counsel was demanded and taken from one +and another. Unfortunately for this story I was not at them. Doubtless +I was in the quiet of the Eyry, dreaming daylight dreams, musing and +listening to Fanny Dwight's deft piano playing, while she was filling +me with the mysteries of Schubert and Mendelssohn and Beethoven, or +else wandering about the farm, with no special aim but to find rest and +enjoyment in my leisure hours. These meetings were serious, grave and +often protracted. There were some who thought matters could be better +managed. This is not strange, for it is always so. There were those who +thought that some, particularly among the earlier members, though not +absolutely non-producers, should be turned off or made more productive; +but this was difficult to do. Expansion was the only true policy, and +the fates seemed to be against it. Outside of the meetings and in daily +life all seemed to be in harmony. + +I had now lived more than two years at the farm. I, the pale city lad, +had grown brown under the sun's warm kisses. I fancy I was not rosy, +but the bright eyes and the clear complexion, free from speck or +blemish, gave the certain indications of health. I had tasted of the +actual farm work. I had planted beans, potatoes and melons. I had hoed +corn, and on my knees weeded, in the broiling sun, the young onions. I +had driven horse to plough, and side by side with others, trying to hoe +my row with them, disputed, discussed social questions and ideas, and +chaffed one another on our personal gifts and peculiarities while +working together in the different groups. I had not hewed wood, but I +had chopped brush. I had yoked and driven the oxen, and the first time +had a difficulty with them because I tried to yoke the off ox on the +nigh side; and when I graduated into the greenhouse group I learned all +the mysteries of the care of plants, potting, transplanting, making +leaf-mould and doing spade and rake work to perfection; and in the +laying out of beds and walks did a full share of shovel-work on the +sandy and gravelly soil, and drove the dump-cart. + +Oh, the independence of it! To be able to do everything, and with love +of it, knowing no high or low of work--all of it honor, and no shame in +any of it! It is the surroundings that develop the manhood. Was I +working for myself? Was I working for any other man or person? No, it +was for all of us that I did it. Did I and we not have the example of +great minds and greater hearts? We did. One day whilst the shop was +erecting, our mason, who was on the roof building the chimney, was +waiting for his helper, who had not returned from his dinner or had +been called away; and as he wanted bricks very much, I carried some +hodsful up the ladder to him in the genuine Emeraldic fashion. + +(Arise not from shades profound, to frown on me, Abraham, thou honest +"_Rail Splitter_!" Arise not, warlike, Ulysses, thou +"_Tanner_." Hide thyself away! Shake not thy cottony locks at me, +thou pale-faced "_Bobbin Boy_!" Be not too jealous of your unique +titles. I shall never aspire to so glorious a one as "_Hod +Carrier_." I have not earned it. I did it but once, and shall never +do it again! Rest easy!) + +And now, at eventide, whilst the Solons of the little commonwealth were +making laws, solving problems and building defences against the common +enemy--the wolf of penury and hunger--I was sitting on the steps or on +the low window-sills at the Eyry, meditating and thinking ever of the +beautiful things with which I was surrounded; thinking of the glowworms +I found in the path to Cow Island, their wonderful beauty, and how like +illuminated pearls were their tiny lamps, and when I touched them how +they rolled themselves into a coil that resembled the pin of pearls my +mother wore on her bosom, only they were more beautiful; thinking that +their lights translated into words were even more beautiful than their +phosphorescent hues, for they said, "Come to me, my love!" + +I was thinking of the bobolinks that twittered and sung, and seemed to +tumble upward as well as downward in the air over the waving grass on +the meadow; or I heard behind in the dim oak woods the whip-lash sound +of the notes of the whippoorwill, repeated a hundred times on the air, +while the round face of the moon looked down and made the shadows of +the trees and the forest grow deeper and darker. Now and then I heard, +when all was still, from his nesting-place, the brave yet delicate +notes of the song sparrow, singing in his dreams from out a happy, +overflowing heart. Dear little fluff of feathers! + +I was thinking of the brood of young partridges I scared in the woods, +and how like a flash, mysteriously and totally, they disappeared in the +underbrush. I was thinking of the tiny newts and wonderful creatures I +found in the shallow water in the meadow ditch. I was thinking that if +the saracenas were in bloom I would go to find some of them on the +morrow; or if the brilliant cardinals were, I would hunt for them at +the brookside; or if there were any yellow violets to be had I wanted +to find them, as I had found many varieties. + +Then I turned my head and listened more earnestly to the music or to +the conversation in the parlor, of inspired men and women, talking in +low, conversational tones, with now and then a spice of wit, on art, +religion, science or the lives of great painters, musicians, artists +and reformers. Or I was looking to see if the "Northern Cross" had +appeared among the constellations above the horizon. Or maybe I heard +George W. Curtis, who had come to visit his old teachers, singing the +"Erl King" or "Good-night to Julia" or plaintive "Kathleen Mavourneen" +in his inimitable way. Perhaps I was deep in social science or +restudyiug some of Fourier's pleasant fancies, such as the rivalries of +groups of nice children with his little hordes of brats and "rushers"-- +to use a modern word--and how in nature's scheme their different +talents so balanced one another as to make complete harmony. + +I was thinking of the big boulders that join and make a hole we called +"the cave," over which Hawthorne's fancy made the apostle Eliot preach +to the Indians, giving it the name of "Eliot's Pulpit," and describing +it afterward so prettily in his "Blithedale Romance"; a book of which +Emerson speaks, and truly, as "that disagreeable story," and of some of +the sketches in it as "quite unworthy of his genius." And I was +thinking of the retired little dell in the far "Wisconsin Lot," where +doubtless he and others have taken their volumes and note-books, +writing and reading to the music of the hum of the bees, the sighing +pines and the redbreasts. + +I was thinking of the unfortunate humanity who lived outside of our +charmed circle, and how little they knew of the magnificent future the +infinite Father has prepared for them and their descendants, and how +from the beginning the plan has been coördinate with man's help to his +brother man and his sister woman; and my whole soul was penetrated, +even as it is now, with pity for the blindness, mental and physical, +that cannot see how to use the gifts the Infinite holds out, patiently +waiting for us to take from his indulgent hands. I was thinking how +much, how very much, of all our suffering comes from human ignorance +only. + +I heard all the songs of nature beside the birds. In the spring I heard +the toads and frogs and turtles making merriment in their little +sitting-rooms in the pools of water in low places. In the summer I +heard the locusts sing and the lazy croak of bullfrog, bearing the +relation of trombone in the orchestra of nature to the other musicians, +whilst the fireflies were dancing in mid-air all around him--he winking +at them with those wondrous projecting eyes. In the autumn the cricket +was my favorite, and he was kind enough at times to come into our +musical parlor to rival Mary and Jennie and Helen. But in the winter it +was only the kindly birds that came to us--sweet chickadee and the +talkative crows. None of us injured the birds. I do not remember ever +seeing a gun on the place. Thus went the seasons--spring, summer, +autumn, winter. + +I loved the daily round of life. All were kind to me. I was well +mentally and physically. I was in the bud of youth. I was like the pink +rhodoras in spring, callow of leaf or fruit but brightly covered with +promising blossoms. There remained one thing for me--to know I was +happy. Did I know it? Yes, I did. I realized it then as now. I was not +a victim of unconscious joy, to awaken to it at some future period. It +was not to me a dream. The cup was full! I was truly happy! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FIRST BREAK. + + +I do not know when or where it was first announced, but the +announcement came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. Some one was +going to leave us! Who? Was it the "Archon" or the "Professor"? +Certainly this was not expected; but would it be strange if some of the +leaders, feeling too much the pressure and the burden of the financial +and executive business of the society, should grow weary, depart, and +leave their places unfilled forever? Was it any one of the grumblers or +the known discontented or disconcerted ones? No, it was no less than +Peter, the "General"! Why, if the elm tree in the yard of the Hive had +walked off in the night it would not have caused more talk or greater +consternation. Could it be possible? + +From that day to this I have wondered how that man could have had such +a hold on our hearts. There was not a handsome feature in him. He had a +large but uneven forehead. His eyes were small, grayish-blue and +deepset. His nose was homely, his teeth were discolored, and he was +ungainly and awkward. His best feature was his height, but he stooped +in his shoulders, and his dress when about his work was of the plainest +description. His baize jacket and slipshod shoes did not become him. + +Ever since then I have believed in the effect of virtue and kindness. +He was a living sermon--nay, a hundred sermons to me. He was "patient, +long-suffering and kind." + +A spontaneous regret came from all. Some of the women, who certainly +could not be accused of any amatory love for him, shed tears to think +that he should go, for he was full of kindness to them. Constantly in +contact with their department, he was as gentle as a child, never +complaining and yet full of work. Industrious as the day was long, he +seemed so like a portion of the very atmosphere of the house, and of +the life, that it did not seem that he could be away and the +Association be as it was. + +The _morale_ to the fact of the General's departure also disturbed +our people. He was discouraged at the attempt at realization of the new +order at Brook Farm. As long as all clung together there seemed to be +hope; but the first break was dangerous to our well-being, dangerous to +our existence. + +Mr. Dwight had gone to New York to deliver lectures on music. When he +went away all was enthusiasm, all was harmony. The great loss by fire +had shaken no one's faith in the principles or the organization, and as +yet the balance of probabilities had not been made or adjusted in men's +minds. The word was then to go on at all cost. When he returned he +found discussion of means, doubts and fears, uppermost everywhere. As a +truth the Association had not prospered financially. Beginning with no +real capital, and mortgaged to the debts of the former "Community," it +had come to a point where without more means or more money in ready +cash it was very difficult to see how it could go on. + +The change of social atmosphere in so short a time grated on the +sensitive soul of the man of music, and it was my fortune to be present +at a general meeting of all the Association where I heard his remarks. +He began by stating, as I have done, that when he went away all was +harmony and peace. All seemed united by bonds deep and strong; by a +common purpose and for a common end. We were all striving for a worthy +object, a higher, nobler life than that which surrounded us. + +He had been away from this quiet, cheerful, peaceful and just life, +among the noise, dust and discord of a great, unwieldy city, and when +there he had looked forward to his coming home to this devoted little +band with the greatest possible pleasure. He had expected to find them +as harmonious and as united as when he left. He trod the precious soil +and found all external things glowing in beauty. He mounted the hill, +and there came two beautiful white doves flying close to him as he +walked on, circling around and around his head and seeming to rejoice +in his coming. He regarded it as a symbol of the unity and peace that +were with us, as well as a token of welcome. + +But when he came to talk with the members, all was doubt, all was +distrust. What could it mean? It filled his heart with sad forebodings! +Why could we not be as before? Why doubt? why distrust? why not push +on? Certainly there would be a way opened for us! It could not be that +the years of devotion to one another and to this just cause and just +life could end thus! And in pleading tones born out of the depths of +his heart, and living sentences to which I can do no manner of justice, +he waxed eloquent, and all could not but be touched and moved with his +words. + +How beautiful it is in looking back to this time, when coming events +were casting their sad shadows before them, to think that no one took +the opposite side, and that none among all the number argued before us +that we had met with a miserable failure; that no one was ready with a +rude word to break the bonds of friendship and to use his eloquence to +destroy our habit of life, our trust in one another, our faith in God +and the eternal justice of His providence, or to hasten in any way the +disruption of the institution; and that in those trying hours the +strong ties of friendship, love and daily communion were uppermost. All +felt that we wished to keep on with our labor, and that Mr. Dwight only +spoke the wishes of all hearts. But the inevitable mathematics of +finance were against us. + +The "Poet," as the young folks called Mr. Dwight, wished that we could +manage it somehow, in some manner. He himself would go away. He would +go where his services could command higher fees. He would give them to +the Association for the privilege only of being sometimes on the +domain, and finding there others whom he loved, working still for their +sublime purposes. + +These well-expressed desires, though availing nothing in the way of +adding money to the treasury, stimulated the hearts anew to good +fellowship, and helped to keep up the activity of the place to the +last. It seems a wonder to me that, in spite of all the changes that +took place after this time, as one and another departed, the industry +of the place was still kept in decent working order. + +It was on the third of March that the fire took place, and the spring +and summer were fast passing away; the beautiful summer--beautiful ever +with its fields of waving grass and its wild flowers, its sunlight and +moonlight glow, its varied charms of growth and verdure; especially +beautiful to us, the young, who watched one another's countenances +glowing with health, innocence and pleasure; who clasped hands together +and danced with nimble feet; and saw the lithe young forms grow fairer +and more womanly and more manly. With the frank outpourings of +friendship and confidence; with the lavishness of mutual praise in +youth, we enjoyed and joined in merry badinage, in miffs and flattery. +The starry nights echoed our young voices singing in the clear air. +There was a burden of care taken from us, for was not the Association +our god-father? Had it not also taken from our parents the dread +anxieties that fall to most of common lot? And while we were there we +would be happy, and when the Association broke up, if it ever did, +would we not unite somewhere again? + +Certainly I never heard any one of us doubt, whether young or old, gray +of beard or smooth of face, that associated life and doctrines would +succeed: of this I am sure. We reasoned that if Brook Farm Association +failed, some other would not. Some new ones would be formed. The +partings were all temporary; and when we parted, it was with cheerful +hearts. It was like the going forth of a family in the morning to meet +again in the evening; no sad farewells, no heart-breakings. + +In a few years all of those engaged in this most interesting experiment +will be gathered to their fathers. No one may ever write as consecutive +a story of the farm life as I have done; and, with the much that is +superficial in my narrative, let me add my convictions of the leading +men and women in this movement. They were, in the highest sense, +Christians--not technically bound to creeds, but their hearts and +intellects were filled to overflowing with the good precepts that are +proclaimed as the foundation, aside from technical beliefs, of the +Christian doctrine; to love their neighbors as themselves; to do good +to all; to seek first righteousness in life; to uphold honesty and +honest dealing in _all_ earthly relations; to do unto others as we +would they should do unto us; to teach honor to parents; to make all +men love one another; to inspire a trust in God as a provident Father +who stands ready to reconcile all conflicts, with the way open and +plain for us, thus doing away with infidelity, unbelief, narrowness of +mind and spirit. + +The doctrine they taught above all others was the _solidarity of the +race_. This was ever repeated. It was their religion that the human +race was one creation, bound together by indissoluble ties, links +stronger than iron and unbreakable. It was one body. It should be of +one heart, one brain, one purpose. Whenever one of its members suffered +all suffered. When there was a criminal all had part in his crime; when +there was a debauchee, all partook in his debasement; when there was +one diseased all were affected by it; when one was poor, all bore some +of the sting of his poverty. If any one took shelter behind his +possessions, wretchedness, poverty and disease found him out. + +Ever is Lazarus at the king's gate haunting him, and he cannot avoid +it. At his banquets the ghosts of the wronged appear to him. Hollow- +eyed women and children point the finger of scorn at him, and phantoms +in his dreams shriek out at him, "Where is thy brother?" And he has no +excuse but the cowardly question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" His +children inherit the emanations from his cowardly soul and will not +rise up to call him blessed. His mind is not at ease, because the +atmosphere of envy is all around him; he knows _he_ is the cause +of evil thoughts, and that he holds his position by keeping comfort +away from many around him, and his fine surroundings become to him as +tinsel and dross. Dyspepsia, _ennui_ and weariness of spirit claim +him. He is a poverty-haunted coward, ashamed that he is so; and, +saddest of all, he is not a Christian. He does not believe that if he +seeks the kingdom of God, which means only to do aright, all things of +material beauty will be added to him, purifying, comforting, sustaining +him, strengthening him, glorifying him beyond his present power to +dream of. + +But the Brook Farmers did. They believed that the Infinite Power +ordained social laws so universal and equitable that the fulfilment of +them would make all unqualifiedly happy, and that it is the mission of +this race of beings to be attached to this earth, to this universe, +until their happy human destiny is accomplished, which destiny must be +for _all_, otherwise the Infinite would be partially and not +wholly good and just. + +I do not say that all men are conscious of this as I have pictured it; +but the burdens are lying heavily on their souls and bodies, and they +can be truly happy only when they are taken off from them. Human nature +is too buoyant, too elastic, to be conscious of their pressure all of +the time; but often, in every soul, is the keen perception that there +must be an accounting somewhere, sometime, for all the injustice and +wrong done to any one and to every one, and it brings the "dread +hereafter" uncomfortably close to their daily lives. + +It is too early yet to judge of the result of the work of the Brook +Farm socialists. They were progressively ahead of their race. They +lived before their time. They existed in the future as well as in the +present and the future will be their judge; but these are my +conclusions justified by actual contact, seeing these men and women +under every variety of circumstances of daily life, for the full two +and a half years of my actual sojourn at the Farm. The high ideal they +carried as their standard lifted them over many of the littlenesses and +annoyances of daily life without a disturbing thought. + +I find in the _Harbinger_ of December 20, 1845, one of the very +few special allusions to Brook Farm life, and it is so much to the +point that I copy it entire:-- + +"We speak no less for the whole associative movement in this country +than for ourselves when we beseech our friends who are looking upon our +operations not to judge of our principles or our purposes by any +immediate results which they may have witnessed. The question is often +asked of us whether our present mode of life answers our expectations-- +whether Association is found to be valuable in practice as it seems to +be correct in theory, and the like. But all such inquiries betray an +ignorance of the actual condition of the enterprise. They suppose the +organizations which have gone into effect in different parts of the +country are true specimens of the plans of Association. This is far +from being the case. We do not profess to be able to present a true +picture of associative life. We cannot give the remotest idea of the +advantages which the combined order possesses over the ordinary +arrangements of society. + +"The benefits we now actually enjoy are of another character. The life +we now lead, though, to a hasty and superficial observer surrounded +with so great imperfections and embarrassments, is far superior to what +we have been able to attain under the most favorable circumstances in +civilization. There is a freedom from the frivolities of fashion, from +arbitrary restrictions, and from the frenzy of competition: we meet our +fellow-men in more hearty, sincere and genial relations; kindred +spirits are not separated by artificial conventional barriers; there is +more personal independence and a wider sphere for its exercise; the +soul is warmed in the sunshine of a true social equality; we are not +brought into the rough and disgusting contact with uncongenial persons +which is such a genuine source of misery in the common intercourse of +society; there is a greater variety, of employment, a more constant +demand for the exertion of all the faculties, and a more exquisite +pleasure in effort, from the consciousness that we are not working for +personal ends, but for a holy principle. + +"And even the external sacrifices, which the pioneers in every +enterprise are obliged to make, are not without a sort of romantic +charm, which effectually prevents us from enjoying the luxuries of +Egypt, though we should be blessed with neither the manna nor the +quails which once cheered a table in the desert So that for ourselves +we have reason to be content. We are conscious of a happiness we never +knew until we embarked in this career. A new strength is given to our +arms, a new fire enkindles our souls. + +"But great as may be our satisfactions of this nature, they do not +proceed from the actual application of associative principles to +outward arrangements. The time has not yet come for that. The means +have not been brought together to attempt the realization of the +associative theory, even on the humblest scale. At present, then, we +are only preparing the way for a better order; we are gathering +materials that we hope one day we may use with effect; if otherwise, +they will not be lost; they will help those who come after us, and +accomplish what they were intended for in the designs of Providence. No +association as yet has the number of persons, or the amount of capital, +to make a fair experiment of the principles of attractive industry. +They are all deficient in material resources, in edifices, in +machinery, and, above all, in floating capital; and although in their +present state they may prove a blessing to the individuals concerned in +them, such as the whole earth has not to give, they are not prepared to +exhibit that demonstration of the superior benefits of associative life +which will at once introduce a new era and install humanity in the +position for which it was created. + +"But, brothers, patience and hope! We know what we are working for, we +know that the truth of God is on our side, that he has no attributes +that can favor the existing order of fraud, oppression, carnage and +consequent wretchedness. We may be sure of the triumph of our cause. +The grass may grow over our graves before it will be accomplished; but +as certain as God reigns, will the dominion of justice and truth be +established in the order of society. Every plant which the Heavenly +Father has not planted will be plucked up, and the earth will yet +rejoice in the greenness and beauty of the garden of God." + +These are George Ripley's words. Could any one add a word to improve +these splendid paragraphs! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEPARTURES, AND AFTER LIVES OF MEMBERS. + + +I am now to chronicle the last scene in our history, and I know not how +to do it, for of all the events of the life it is to me the most dreamy +and unreal. The figures of our drama flit before me like shadows. It +was like a knotted skein slowly unravelling. It was as the ice becomes +water, and runs silently away. It was as the gorgeous, roseate cloud +lifts itself up, and then changes in color and hides beyond the +horizon. It was as a carriage and traveller fade from sight on the +distant road. It was like the coming of sundown and twilight in a clear +day. It was like the apple blossoms dropping from the trees. It was as +the herds wind out to pasture. It was like a thousand and one changing +and fading things in nature. + +"It was not discord, it was music stopped." + +Who was next to break away from the charm of the life I know not; but +when the autumnal season came I was summoned to a family council and +advised that I should begin a new occupation where I could at least +earn my subsistence. As in duty bound, I acquiesced, and in a few days +bade farewell to the Brook Farm life. + +I saw no tears shed when I left, but I was sorry to leave my blue tunic +behind, it was so comfortable. I left, but it was only my outward self +that was gone, not my sympathies or hopes. Behind were family and +devoted friends. It was still my home to return to, as it would be for +an indefinite period. + +For two years and a half I had worn the tunic of the community, and the +"swallow tail" and "civilized rig" I put on for my departure transposed +my appearance so much that some of the society did not at first know +me. With my parents' blessing, I entered on the rudiments of the +professional life I have ever since followed, and took the West Roxbury +omnibus for Boston, the same I had taken two years and a half before to +go to the farm. + +The succeeding Saturday night found me at home again. How pleasant the +greeting from Willard, Katie and Louise; from Charlie, Abby and Edgar; +from Anna and Dolly--from all, old and young! The "Archon" almost +screamed when he saw me, I was so "stunning" in his eyes, and poked +some of his fun at me. No marked change had taken place. The +_Harbinger_ was printed as usual, and only one or two persons had +gone. + +Every Saturday night I returned to the "Phalanx," but soon the +shoemakers found occupation elsewhere and their seats were empty. Then +the printers went, as the _Harbinger_ was transferred to New York. +At last the shop was closed, the cattle were sold, and all the industry +ceased. I came and went but did not see the actors go, and am glad I +did not see the "Archon"'. take his leave, or the many bright faces I +had loved so well. + +The Poet lingered near. In Boston he started the _Journal of +Music_, and at the Eyry lingered for a while a sweet enchantress, +and the spirits of song and music held their revels there. So, also, +lingered at "the Hive" some sweet faces and loving hearts besides those +of my kin. The greenhouse, where I had spent so much of my time, was +closed--the plants all gone. Up the rafters ran the vines I helped to +plant, but when the winter came, drear and cold, only a few persons +remained on the domain. The dining hall echoed to my voice in its +emptiness, and the little reading room at the Hive was where we now +assembled at meals. + +I wandered around and looked into the empty rooms. I cannot say I felt +as sad as I would to-day. Every spot was connected with some little +event, but the events were usually of such a cheerful and pleasant +nature that I could not be depressed, and a large portion of my +intimates were still near me in the city or neighborhood. We could +muster a goodly number at call and we tried to keep alive the good work +for the "cause" with meetings, social and theoretical. But no longer +the stage brought its loads of visitors to the Hive door. Over the +hills and the meadows no more resounded the morning horn echoing far +and far away, or Miss Ripley's high voice calling "Alfred! Alfred!" who +acted as major-domo in the absent General's place. + +No more came down from the distant houses school lads and lasses, and +the long, tridaily procession of young and old had ceased forever. The +din of the kitchen was stopped, and the merry brogue of Irish John was +silenced. No more rushed the blue tunics for the mail when the coach +came in--alas, it came no more! The fields remained as when last +cropped, and if we went to the Cottage no merry sound of music came +from the school room. We mounted the stairs without meeting the classic +face or the elastic step and figure of the Professor or his fair +sister, and in vain did we look for the concourse of books where once +he wielded his modest pen and translated his German "_lieder_" + +No more mounted in air the beautiful doves that circled and tumbled in +their flight--_my_ doves, that would come at my call and alight +on my hands, head and shoulders, and scramble for the corn I held out +to them in my palms. Sunday after Sunday, week after week, I spent in +the Hive. I looked out of the window but ventured not to go to the +Eyry, for there the music had finally ceased; or if the spirits sang +their dirges in those classic walls, my dim ears did not hear them. + +Mr. Ripley's books had gone to swell Rev. Theodore Parker's library. +Were they surrendered without a pang? I will tell you. "Fanny," said +Mr. Ripley, seeing his valued books departing, "I can now understand +how a man would feel if he could attend his own funeral." They have +been placed in the Boston City Library by the death and last testament +of the later proprietor. The flowers I had watered and tended passed +into the hands and greenhouse of the translator of "Consuelo." Those +who owned any private effects or furniture took them away. + +The Pilgrim House, never beautiful, and barren in its immediate +surroundings, was entirely deserted. The Hive was my home; and when the +warm sun, looking through the barren grape vine into the dining room +window, melted the light snow of early spring, and awoke the tender +grass into new growth and verdancy, and the remaining poultry warmed +themselves by its rays, nestling together by the doorways, as the +melting snow dripped drop by drop from the house top--the farm looked +beautiful still. + +In some of our young hearts, with the coming of early summer, awoke a +yearning for one more meeting at the old place; and so we gathered the +young people from far and near for one more good time, for one more +communion. With what pleasure I recall those few hours. How happy we +were! How social and loving and dear we were to one another! In the +many years passed since then, there is no red-letter day like that one. +We were about twenty in number. There were fourteen of us between the +ages of fifteen and twenty-one years. The remainder were older. We +filled a table in the reading room. Little we cared if we sat crowded +close together, for we chose our mates. Some were pupils of the school, +the rest were youths of the Association. + +In the afternoon we wandered once more in the beautiful pine woods. We +sang once more the "Silver Moon" together as we roved about, or sat on +the big boulder on the knoll at the foot of the lightning-struck tree. +We recounted old times and seasons; we cracked our merry jokes and ate +our simple treat, and then parted. In a few days the wide world was +between us, and forever. Some went East, and some West, one to Port-au- +Prince, and others to different villages and towns in New England. Of +the number, four remained in Boston; I was one of them. + +Reader, my reminiscences are told, but not all told! They are like the +sultan's story that was to last a thousand years. To all but the one +interested there was an unending sameness in it, but to that one, it +was his life. + +It is natural to wish to know of the writer what became of the persons +who formed this little band of devotees. I can but give a meagre sketch +in reply, for want of room. + +When Mr. Ripley left Brook Farm he was poor. The experiment had cost +him money, years of toil and made debts for which he felt responsible. +He determined to pay them. As yet the way was not open. The +_Harbinger_ was changed in form and lived less than two years in +its new location, and during a temporary illness of the editor its +publication was suspended. Mr. Ripley and wife taught school at +Flatbush, L.I. + +At the termination of the _Harbinger_ he immediately commenced +writing for the New York _Tribune_. Its pay roll indicates what he +received May 5, 1849; it was $5 for the previous week's work. In July, +same year, he was paid $10 per week; April 6, 1850, $15; Sept. 21, +1851, $25 per week. He wrote articles on all the living topics of the +day, from the arrival of the last new singer to the death of the last +criminal. Things trivial and non-important, grave and gay, of lasting +import and the most ephemeral, all came under his pen. + +He also wrote, either occasionally or regularly, for a dozen other +periodicals. He was an early contributor to _Putnam's_ and from +its commencement wrote for _Harper's New Monthly_. As editor +associated with Mr. C.A. Dana he gave his time and best thought to the +New American Cyclopedia, and the first two or three volumes of the +series were edited solely by them. In 1871 his salary was raised to $75 +per week. When the Cyclopedia was revised he was paid $250 per month +for extra work on it. More than a million four hundred and sixty +thousand volumes of the two editions have been sold, and a small +royalty secured to the editors on each volume. + +With prosperity Mr. Ripley never forgot his obligations. The old score +of debt was wiped out and paid. He was free, and as a man of letters +revelled in that which had been his youthful ideal. + +When a student at Harvard College he wrote to his father, "I know that +my peculiar habits of mind, imperfect as they are, strongly impel me to +the path of intellectual effort; and if I am to be at any time of use +to society or a satisfaction to myself or my friends, it will be in the +way of some retired literary situation where a fondness for books will +be more requisite than the busy, calculating mind of a man in the +business part of the community." Thus was one of his youthful dreams +fulfilled. His capacity for work seemed unbounded. "He gave all his +time and all his energy to literary criticism, and spending on it, too, +the full resources of a richly furnished mind and infusing into it the +spirit of a broad and noble training." + +He passed away July 4, 1880. A great concourse of people attended the +obsequies. Distinguished men, divines, critics, scholars, editors, +architects, scientists, journalists, publicists, artists and men of +affairs were in the assembly. The pall-bearers were the president of +Columbia College, the editor of _Harper's Weekly_, an Italian +professor, the editor of the _Popular Science Monthly_, the editor +of the New York _Observer_, an eminent German lawyer, a +distinguished college professor, a popular poet and the editor of the +_Tribune_. + +His wife Sophia passed from this life nineteen years before him. The +story of his romantic after marriage, and many details of his career +from birth to death, will be found in Mr. O. B. Frothingham's "Life of +George Ripley," told by his kindly biographer. + +Deeply interested in his daily toil, thoroughly immersed in it body and +brain, yet cheerfully responding to all calls on his unbounded stock of +information and good nature, no one knows how often his mind wandered +over the intervening distance and saw the old farm with its mingled +incidents of pathos, philosophy and heroism, or what regrets were +covered up; but the joking allusions he sometimes made to it when +speaking of it to those who came to quiz him, were more than repaid to +his few intimate friends when he opened his heart to them, and the +earnestness of his spirit and the solemnity of his faith in the +brotherhood of humanity shone forth. He unveiled to them that he did +with undying faith still see in its ideas the elements of the true and +heavenly society; that he carried deep down in his bosom intense love +for those who were associated with him, and that if it had been founded +at this later period, so much has the interest in, social problems +increased, all the financial support needed would have been freely +given. + +His friend William Henry Channing urged him to write the story of Brook +Farm, saying, "When _will_ you tell it?" + +His joking reply was, "When I reach my years of indiscretion!" He knew +that the life wrote its own story. + +Of the many dear ones I have known whose lives have added to my life +faith and trust in the Divine Father and his plans for the good future +of the human race; after years of thought and years of life, I give to +Mr. Ripley--the leader, the daring man, the brave Christian heart, the +torch bearer, himself the harbinger of the bright future of social +justice--the first place, the highest seat, the noblest position among +them all. + +Mr. Ripley paid off the debts of the Community. I do not know all of +them. There was an amount due to Hawthorne at one time, probably his +original investment, which he growled about, and there was another due +to one of the Brothers Morton, who built the Pilgrim House. I am +indebted to his daughter, Miss Morton, for the statement that her +father received from Mr. Ripley a check in payment of the Community +debt to him. Calling her to his side and showing it to her, he said, +"There, Hannah, there is an honest man!" + +After the institution was incorporated the debts and responsibilities +were shared by the incorporators and stock holders. + +It has often been stated that it was the influence of Rev. William +Ellery Channing that started the West Roxbury Community. His nephew, +William Henry Channing, alluding to this in a letter to Rev. J. H.. +Noyes, author of the "History of American Socialisms," contradicts the +statement as follows:-- + +"Of course my uncle deeply sympathized with his younger friend's heroic +effort, and wished all success to the movement, but he did not +encourage it, so far as I can understand, for in his judgment he +distrusted the prudence of the enterprise," etc. "But it was George +Ripley, aided by his noble wife Sophia--it was George Ripley, and +Ripley alone, who truly originated Brook Farm; and his should be the +honor through all time. And a very high honor it will be sooner or +later." + +The head farmer, with his wife and family, who were so early in the +experiment, spent many years in the quiet town of Concord, +Massachusetts. It was he who gave Mr. Ripley courage in his work. He +was practical, honest, brave, and had enough of poetry in his +composition to take the dry edge off of his daily routine of toil. When +ploughing the fields it was with regret he turned under the lovely wild +flowers and the wild-rose bushes, and it often struck his fancy to +transplant them from the fields to the roadside where they blessed the +eyes of the wayfarer. Finally the heavenly voice called him and he went +thitherward, deeply loved, honored and respected by all. Minot Pratt's +name was a synonym of all that was pure, good and lovely. His wife +survived him many years, but in May, 1891, she passed away at an +advanced age, the last of the signers to the original agreement. + +The ambitious "Professor" lives. The trenchant blade of his intellect +is still keen. Sometimes it seems that to overcome obstacles is all +with him. His wife was one of the "dear girls" of the Association. +Method in business and masterly activity have wrung from fate a +fortune, and the editorial and governmental offices he has held have +been more than ably filled. Blessed with a charming family, deeply +immersed in political as well as other writing, it would almost seem as +if the olden days were forgotten by him, were it not that now and then +he writes as he did shortly after Mr. Ripley's decease, as follows:-- + +"It is not too much to say that every person who was at Brook Farm for +any length of time has ever since looked back to it with a feeling of +satisfaction. The healthy mixture of manual and intellectual labor, the +kindly and unaffected social relations, the absence of everything like +assumptions or servility, the amusements, the discussions, the +friendships, the ideal and poetical atmosphere which gave a charm to +life--all these continue to create a picture toward which the mind +turns back with pleasure as to something distant and beautiful not +elsewhere met with amid the routine of this world." + +Whatever may be said of the tone of the articles that come from his +pen, their ability is unquestioned, and it is not a secret that in Mr. +Ripley's judgment Charles A. Dana, of the New York _Sun_, was the +ablest editor in the world. + +The "Poet," as we called him, as editor of Dwight's _Journal of +Music_, and also as critic, was deserving of especial credit for his +services in musical culture. Earnest, refined, always endeavoring to do +right, but strict in his pleasant criticisms, he pointed upward to +higher ideals. Living alone in his latter years like a bachelor, he +sought solace in his refined tastes with cultivated people. Married to +Mary Bullard, the sweet singer of my story, kindred sympathies united +them more firmly than marriage vows, but her early death deprived the +world of one of the noblest and choicest of womanhood, and his life of +its sweetest charm. He went abroad for a short trip, leaving her in +full health and beauty; he returned--she had passed from mortal sight. + +A number of the members, male and female, joined the Association in New +Jersey near Red Bank--the North American Phalanx. There they renewed +the social life and experiment, with such result as some other pen can +tell. + +It was about the time of the closing of the Brook Farm experiment that +the "California fever" broke out, or the rush for the gold mines. Some +of our theorists argued that the country was too poor for the +establishment of the social organizations proposed, and that more +wealth was needed. A number of the Brook Farmers went to the new +country for gold. The gardener, Peter Klienstrup, was one. I am sorry +to say that disappointment awaited him. A foreigner, and sensitive, +partly deaf and past middle life, he was not the man for the country or +the life. He died there poor. His charming, tuneful daughter, with the +beautiful complexion and lovely rounded shoulders, did not long survive +him. His wife survived, but one day I stood with only a few who knew +her, at the door of an open tomb, and a strange thrill passed over me +when one by my side said, as her body was placed within, "This is the +last of her race--the family is extinct!" + +The good, kind-hearted "General" sleeps within sound of the Pacific +waves, for he, too, was one of the early Californians. And the Admiral, +the pure-hearted, high-minded and keen-eyed Admiral, has long since +laid down his burdens and his aspirations. And so also with many, too +many for me here to recount. The two sisters that I have described with +flowing hair, grew in loveliness to full womanly beauty and then passed +to the angelic world. + +Mr. Ryckman, surnamed the "Omniarch," reigns no more in this sphere. +Peace to his memory. + +The downfall of the Association was the wrecking of Irish John. He +seemed homeless and aimless. The constant smiles on that remarkable +face gave way to soberness profound. Old habits crept back upon him. He +had a friend, one of our number, who took a kindly interest in him, but +could not follow all his waywardness. He departed for New York, +ostensibly for business. Not long after this his friend received a note +from there in John's handwriting, saying that if he would send to a +certain number and street he would find something for him. It was a +trunk, and appeared to contain all of John's effects except the suit of +clothes he had on. What end he made no one knows. + +How grand it would be if the social fabric could keep and guard all its +weak ones, surround them by influences that could prevent them from +falling into evil ways, and bear them up until the end comes peacefully +and naturally! + +Marianne Ripley, Mr. Ripley's sister, the devoted soul who reigned over +the Kitchen Group and cultivated the flowers on the terraces, spent her +later hours in the West, and passed away at Madison, Wisconsin. John +Allen, the firm preacher, has gone also. His little boy, who conveyed +the small-pox to the farm, grew to manhood, and at an early age fought +with Grant at Vicksburg, where he received the wound that caused his +death. + +The dear girl with the loud laugh is still here, but tears and sorrow +have been in her cup. Her kind husband, one of our number, and some +children are with the shadows; and the dimpled face of the black-haired +girl with the Irish name, whose beauty took my young fancy, long ago +joined the larger realm of beauty. + +The house dog, Carlo, whom everybody knew, grew rapidly old when the +Association broke up. I never saw such a change. It seemed as though +regretful remembrances of former times clung to him. There was no more +the _music_ of "the sounding horn" to awaken him from his drowse, +and he passed much of his time under the woodshed. But he was not the +sleek and canny dog of yore. He grew thin and weak. Long locks of +indifferent colored brown hair grew out of his sides, and hung loosely +down. His gait was slow and feeble, and it was not pleasant to look at +him. Finally, one cold day, at least a year after the general +departure, he was missing, and I could find nothing of him. Inquiries +were in vain. It was in the following spring that his bones were found +where either he himself had dug a burrow, or the hand of charity had +laid him. Good Carlo! + +Some very happy marriages sprang from the acquaintance at Brook Farm. +There, in a few weeks or months, a better knowledge could be formed, a +truer and more absolute and certain estimate of character, than by +years of fashionable flirtation. And here let me add, that the women +were always well dressed: there were no party dresses, all shine, lace +and glitter, and household wrappers all slouched, torn and drabbled. +The situation of woman was such as to stimulate her ever to neatness in +personal appearance, even if the material was but a "ninepenny" calico; +and the same may be said to a marked extent of the men. + +And many others who stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks have shared +the common lot. Scattered through the country, in city, town and +hamlet, those who survive are doing their humble duties, and filling +their stations honorably. There are those among them who have gained +wealth, and none whom I know that are in poverty. In the circles they +occupy, their influence has been felt towards a liberal judgment in all +matters pertaining to government, religion and society. + +Our friend Rev. William Henry Channing spent the major portion of his +after life abroad. The war brought him back to America. He was at one +time chaplain of the House of Representatives of the United States, and +served the country at the front; but he returned to Liverpool, England, +where he preached and educated his family, passing away beloved by +members of all the prominent churches both conservative and radical. + +There were some four and possibly more, who joined the Catholic Church. +This created at the time many remarks, but it is only an episode for a +class of minds to find themselves at the other end, at the opposite +side, at the bottom instead of the top when they have swung themselves, +pendulum-like, far away from ordinary moorings. The "Community" people +were at the extreme of society, unorganized, without creeds, without +science, and only morality and faith to guide them, and having given +the lie to ordinary social forms; having lost their faith and trust in +society as it was, is it strange that some should swing to the extreme +of conservatism, that they should try a new departure when met by +seeming failure in their radical moves? + +But why continue the list? The very boys have become gray-haired men, +but proud to say, each one of them, "I was one of the Brook Farmers." + +In closing this picturesque drama, it would not be strange if someone +should ask if this is all that is left of the life. Has it been only a +failure and a dream that I have chronicled, or has it resulted in +something worthy of the aspiration that preceded it? Has it added +strength to the lives of individuals, and has it done something for +society? As chronicler, I stand in the shade and let my readers judge; +but the few words of comment that follow, from well-known individuals, +bear strong testimony to an effect that must have been duplicated in a +great many other instances: and, indeed, if its influence had gone no +farther than to a few persons, that alone would justify the laudable +attempt of this "venture in philanthropy." My conviction is that it +reached farther than to single individuals, and that it still reaches +into and influences more or less all the deep undercurrents of society. + +I am confirmed in this opinion by the following statement made by Mr. +George P. Bradford in the _Century Magazine_ for May, 1892:-- + +"I cannot but think that the brief and imperfect experiment, with the +theory and discussion that grew out of it, had no small influence in +teaching more impressively the relation of universal brotherhood and +the ties that bind us to all; a deeper feeling of the rights and claims +of others, and so in diffusing, enlarging, deepening and giving +emphasis to the growing spirit of true democracy." + +But if I were to leave my position as narrator, and speak from my +individual standpoint, I would say Brook Farm and what it stood for was +to world-benighted travellers, seeking for sustenance, like a city set +on a hill. It was a small, glimmering light of social truth, shining +amid universal darkness. It was a dim foregleam of the great sun of +social life and science, that will yet rise and shine gloriously on our +earth. It was a spark of that divine justice that, like electricity, +has been stored for humanity from the beginning of things--abundant in +quantity and power to bless all men--stowed away by the hand of God for +us, awaiting only our awakening from the sleep of ignorance and +childishness, to use and cherish it. It was an example of trust, a +tribute to faith. It was a realization of poetry. It was in touch with +the wishes, hopes and prayers of millions of humanity; of untold +numbers of saints and martyrs of all nations and climes, and its +mission was the highest on earth--universal justice to all mankind. + +Albert Brisbane, the _doctrinaire_, has departed also. Although +allusion has been made to him in the former pages of this book somewhat +in contrast with Mr. Ripley's spiritual gifts, let no person think that +I underestimate the mission he undertook or the work he accomplished in +his devotion to the master, Fourier. Certainly he deserves very great +credit, and there are those who, deep in their hearts, cherish most +profound gratitude to him and his memory. + +Whatever any one may believe of the feasibility of the carrying out of +Fourier's doctrines of united industry or the practicality of any of +his theories, they must stand amazed at the bold and often extremely +beautiful conceptions of his brain; such as the actual forecasting of +the development theory before Darwin, Spencer and Huxley were born-- +though not exactly in detail with them; his bolder conception still of +the destiny of man, and his Cosmogony; of the progress of present +civilization towards an oligarchy of capital, foretold so exactly,--as +is now seen by thinking minds, three quarters of a century ago; his +profound analysis of the human springs of action; his discovery of the +divine laws applicable to the future as well as to the present wants of +the human race. For the presentation of all this to the American +people; for all these things and more, we are first indebted to Albert +Brisbane, and it is a great debt which the future will certainly +appreciate and pay. + +My work would not be finished without alluding more fully to the +wonderful genius whose works and life made such an impression on the +Brook Farmers as to induce them to brave all the misconception, sarcasm +and obloquy that they must have felt would be heaped on them when they +concluded to follow his formulas, and bowed their intellects to him in +acknowledgment of his leadership in the field of social science. + +The reader will decide, if I have portrayed truly the men and the +principles actuating them, that whoever they thus acknowledged as +worthy of that sublime place must have been endowed with intellectual, +moral and spiritual capacities, and intuitions of the highest order. +Should it have been the fortune of any one to come across an occasional +allusion to Fourier, it will be apt to be of such a forbidding nature +that there will be no strong temptation to follow the subject further; +and all through the literature of our country, in the writings of men +whose reading, if not their knowledge, should have taught them better, +will be found intimations that "Fourierism" was a system of life based +on a plane hardly worthy of being rated higher than mere sensualism. + +Against this accusation I place the record of the man whom especially +spiritual minded and liberally educated men like George Ripley, John S. +Dwight, William Henry Channing and many others delighted to know and to +honor. + +Charles Fourier was born at Bezancon, France, April 7, 1772. The son of +a merchant, he had a collegiate education, and took prizes for French +and Latin themes and verses. He was found of geography but more fond of +cultivating flowers, and of music. At eighteen years he entered into +commercial pursuits. By the siege of Lyons he lost the fortune his +father left him, and was forced into the army, where he served two +years. This portion of his life was involved in the romance of war and +revolution, during which he was doomed to death, but made a fortunate +escape from it. + +He was always noted for the avidity with which he sought knowledge, and +his honesty was outraged at an early age, being punished by his father +for telling the truth of goods on sale, thereby losing a purchaser. +Again his soul revolted when at Marseilles in 1799, where he was +employed, for he was selected to superintend a body of men who secretly +cast an immense quantity of rice into the sea, which monopolists had +allowed to spoil in a time of famine rather than to sell at a +reasonable profit. This last action was to him a crime of so deep a +nature that he entered with more enthusiasm on his studies for +preventing the like. + +In capacity of agent he travelled in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland +and Switzerland. He had a prodigious memory, and in his journeys when a +building struck his attention, he took the measurement of it with his +walking stick, which was notched off in feet and inches; and, one of +his biographers says:-- + +"He was profoundly acquainted with every branch of science, +particularly the exact sciences. For forty years he labored with +patience and perseverance at the Herculean task of discovering and +developing the theory and practical details of the system which he has +given to the world." + +Says a writer in the London _Phalanx_:-- + +"The principal features of Fourier's private character were morality +and the love of truth. He had a character both grave and dignified, +religious and poetic, friendly and polite, indulgent and sincere, which +never allowed truth to be profaned by libertine frivolity, nor faith to +be confounded with austere duplicity. He was a man of dignified +simplicity, a child of Heaven, loving God with all his heart, all his +soul, and all his mind, also loving as himself his neighbor--the whole +human family." + +Fourier's own words translated read:-- + +"God sees in the human race only one family, all the members of which +have a right to his favors. He designs that they shall all be happy +together, or else no one people shall enjoy happiness. . . . The love +of God will become in this new order the most ardent love among men." + +The closing words of an exhaustive review of Fourier's writings, by Mr. +John S. Dwight, in the _Harbinger_, are these:--"There is a +Titanic strength in all the workings of that wonderful intellect. He +walks as one who knows his ground. His step is firm, his eye is clear +and unflinching, and he is acknowledged where he passes, for there is +no littleness or weakness, no halting or duplicity, in his movement. He +is in earnest; he has taken up his cross to fulfil a mighty mission. He +doubts not, desponds not; he speaks always with certainty, and though +he suffers from impatience of postponement, yet he ceases not to insist +upon the truth. He expostulates, perhaps, with deceived and degraded +humanity in too much bitterness of sarcasm; but how profound his +reverence for Christ and for humanity, how pure his love for man, and +how sublime his contemplation of the destiny of man in the scale of +higher and higher beings up to God!" + +Fourier passed from earth in 1837. His body was buried at Pere la +Chaise Cemetery, Paris, France. + +The idea of living in combined families is no new thing. From the +earliest times to the present, it has cropped out under various +circumstances and with various changes. Ever with dawning of new light +and the increase of universal education comes the desire--sometimes in +great waves--for more united interests, and a truer, more Christian +brotherhood; for closer unity in life and for the enlargement of home +with all the joy, comfort and peace that word contains. + +In this country various outgrowths from the social body have taken +positions on this plane. The masses of our people are not now in +sympathy with them. They believe that these little social homes or +"communities" are dull and monotonous, and are bound so tightly by +creeds as to be obnoxious to freedom of life and ideas. My belief is +that the creeds adopted and thrown around them, though often adding to +their financial protection, and possibly often being their only +safeguards from fraud and knavery, have covered from the public the +great dignity, worthiness and beauty of this mode of life; when, +therefore, Mr. Ripley formed his society free from any pledges or +creeds, it touched a deeper bottom in men's hearts than any like +organization had ever sounded. + +Whatever of failure there was in their actualization, Brook Farm ideas +remain. They charm philosophers, poets and statesmen. They work +quietly, leavening the social mass. One must be in sympathy with them +to know how potent is their action and how with a touch of the old +enthusiasm they will be found breaking out again in larger and larger +circles of humanity, for in view of the progress of mechanism, science +and art in the last fifty years, to form the phalanstery in its +material shape would be an easy task. + +Rev. William Henry Channing expressed himself in this wise to his +mother, years after the breaking up of the Association:-- + +"My dearest mother, I assure you that did I see my way clear to an +honorable independence for my family, so as to be just, while kind to +them, I should joyfully die in attesting my fixed faith in Association, +and I predict that when, years hence, we meet in the spiritual world, +you will smilingly bless me and say, 'My son, your personal limitations +excepted, you were right.' You will feel proud of my seeming earthly +failures then; at least I humbly hope so. If this is all romance it is +of that earnest, living strain which I trust ever more and more to be +quickened by." + +At a final visit to Brook Farm he said: "Most beautiful was that last +day and all its memories; and never did I feel so calmly, humbly, +devoutly thankful that it had been my privilege to fail in this +grandest, sublimest, surest of all human movements. Were Thermopylae +and Bunker Hill considered successes in their day and generation?" + +Lying before me is a letter not intended for publication, showing how +one member of the Association affectionately regarded his old home. It +is as follows:-- + +PROVIDENCE, R. I., 1871. + +"My Dear Friend:--I herewith return the letters you so kindly sent me. +I have derived much pleasure in their perusal, and have looked on them +with affectionate regard as a mode of greeting from old friends from +whom I have been separated for more than a quarter of a century. I do +not think any one who was at Brook Farm has that deep and sincere +affection for it and its memory that I have. It was my mother by +adoption, and what little I have of education, refinement, or culture +and taste for matters above things material, I owe to her and the +heroic and self-sacrificing men and women who composed its body, social +and scholastic. I was but a cipher there, among them by accident, and I +was much the gainer even if they were not the losers. What I saw there, +and what I learned there, have been of great value to me, and if I have +made any progress in material matters or have attained any social +position, I am frank enough to confess that I owe it all to dear old +Brook Farm. God bless its memory. What I have, and what I am, is the +outgrowth of a two years' life at my first real home. . . . + +"When I commenced this I intended to write but a half dozen lines, +simply making my acknowledgment of your kindness, but my purpose soon +changed, and I now find that I have not enough room on this sheet to +say one tithe of what comes rushing in my mind 'as a river' about Brook +Farm, and I can now only say that I wish you to convey my kindest +regards to all of our dear old acquaintances whenever you see them or +write to them. All Brook Farmers are to me as brothers and sisters, and +I so esteem them. + + "WILLIAM H. TEEL." + +I am tempted also to add the following extract from a letter written +years ago by a friend of the movement in his eightieth year to his +son:-- + +"To many, Brook Farm may have been a dream that ended with the +scattering of that little band of workers. That special form of the +dream vanished, but the seed was planted, and my confidence in the +dream is vivid still. In the past these ideas have been the crude +visions of the few, but now they are the absorbing subjects of +speculation of the many, and all our best literature is full of them. +The highest problems of man and society are the common subjects of +discussion. So will it continue to be, by the tiller of the soil, the +workman at the bench, as well as the poet and philosopher, until order +and harmony are evolved out of this chaos. The good time is surely +coming. 'The world,' as Whittier wrote, 'is gray with its dawning +light.' + + "J. A. SAXTON. + + "Deerfield, Mass." + +Well, the Brook Farm experiment died! There can be only one reason why +its friends should rejoice, and it is the same that touched the great +mind of Saint Paul, nearly two thousand years ago, when he said, "Thou +fool! that which thou sowest is not _quickened_ except it +_die!_" + +FINIS. + + + + +APPENDIX + + I. Students' and Inquirers' Letters + II. Applicants' Letters and Mr. Ripley's Replies + III. An Outside View of Brook Farm Associative Articles + + + + +STUDENTS' AND INQUIRERS' LETTERS. + + +_Student Life_. + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Oct. 27, 1842. + +My Dear Friend:--Pardon my delay in writing you in reply to yours of +the 15th ult., but there have been matters of interest that have +occupied my leisure, and so much so that only now do I find myself free +to exchange good wishes with you and to answer the important questions +you put to me as to what I think of, and how I like, the Brook Farm +life. + +To reply to these questions I might write a long dissertation +explaining what I like and what I do not like, or I could answer them +by a few brief words; but my inclination is to do neither, and to give +you in place of both a little sketch of the proceedings here and make +you the judge of what my feelings would be likely to be under the +circumstances that I shall narrate. + +I am still a student, and most of my time has been spent in studies of +various sorts; the languages--ancient and modern--attracting me a great +deal, but the German and the French the most. I do not "burn the +midnight oil," and yet I think I am progressing well. Our teachers are +all very approachable men and really seem in dead earnest. You might +suppose from rumors that reach you that they would be very notional +people, but they are not so, or, to say the least, if they are they +keep their notions to themselves. Mr. Dana, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Dwight +are particularly kind to me, and all the teachers go out of the way to +explain points that come up in the lessons. + +After hours, we have had many interesting conversations, class +readings, dramatic readings, etc., and visitors come who entertain us +in various ways. Miss Frances Ostenelli, for one, who has a wonderful +soprano voice, and Miss S. Margaret Fuller from Concord--there is no +end to her talk--and also Mr. Emerson from Concord, to whom a good many +pay deference. + +Whilst he was here there was a masquerading wood party. It was quite a +bright idea. Miss Amelia Russell was one of the persons who planned it. +Her father has been minister to Sweden and was one of the commissioners +who signed the Treaty of Ghent. It was an open-air masquerade in the +pine woods, and the affair was worked up splendidly. Masquerades have +been, in New England, of a private nature and held indoors. To hold one +out "in the garish light of day" was a new sensation, and attracted +some of the friends of the Community. The day was lovely and in the +woods the privacy was complete. Barring one or two friendly neighbors +of farmer stock who looked on, it was truly a select party. One of the +ladies personated Diana, and any one entering her wooded precincts was +liable to be shot with one of her arrows. Further in the woods a gipsy, +personated by Miss 'Ora Gannett, niece to Rev. Ezra Gannett, was ready +to tell your fortune. Miss "Georgie" Bruce was an Indian squaw, and +"George William" Curtis, a young man, carried off the palm as "Fanny +Elssler" the dancer. There was a mixed variety of characters that made +up the _tout ensemble_--a Tyrolean songster, sailors, Africans, +lackeys, backwoodsmen and the like. The children enjoyed the day much. +A large portion of the dresses were home-made. Dances and conversation +by the elders filled the day and evening. + +Sometimes we have the serious business. Some of the singular persons +here affect vagaries and discuss pruderies or church matters, ethics +and the like. Or we have some of the Concord people who give us parlor +talks. Once in a while they arouse the gifted brothers, and then we +have a genuine treat; Mr. Dwight and Mr. Bradford, Mr. Ripley, Mr. +Capen, Burton and all hands get dragged in, and in the earnest +discussion that follows one cannot but be edified and often very much +instructed. Subjects relating to a more rational life and education for +the poor and unlearned interest me and arouse my enthusiasm. There are +some fine lady as well as gentlemen readers, who show their ability in +poetry and prose, and, for the amusement of the young people, some +devote their talents on occasions to tableaux, which are delightful and +display fine historic scenes and characters. + +I rise in the morning at six to half-past; breakfast at seven; chat +with the people; get to my studies at eight; work an hour in the +garden; recite; dine at noon; take an hour in the afternoon on the +farm; drive team; cut hay in the barn; study or recite; walk; dress up +for tea at six. In long days the sunsets and twilights are delightful +and pass pleasantly with a set of us who chum together. I am so near +Boston that I go to concerts and lectures with others, or to the +theatres, or to the conventions, the antislavery ones being most +exciting. In summer I join the hay-makers. In winter we coast, boys and +girls, down the steep though not high hills, in the afternoons, or by +moonlight, or by the light of the clear sky and the bright stars; or we +drive one of the horses for a ride, or we skate on the frozen meadow or +brook to the Charles River where its broad surface gives plenty of +room. + +One thing I like here--everything but in my lessons I have perfect +freedom to come or go and to join in and be one with the good people or +not. I am not hampered. I go to church or not, as I desire, and I can +do anything that does not violate the rules of good breeding; but I am +expected to be in my room at a seasonable hour at night--ten o'clock, +sure. + +Thus have I given you my programme. Can you think I would do better +elsewhere? I might have more style, a better table, and more room to +see my friends in, though the parlors here are good enough, but where +could I have more genuine comfort? I expect to go home by New Year's, +returning, if I can, by March, and am so in love with the life I may +try to attach myself to it permanently. In the meantime I will see you, +and hope to enjoy with you many hours of conversation after the oldtime +way at our house. As ever, + +Your student brother, + +CHARLES. + + +_Explanations and Answers to Objections._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Dec. 11, 1845. + +FRIEND HARRIS:--As you are a stranger to the associative ideas, and +have but little knowledge of our life here, no doubt many questions +arise in your mind that you wish answered, and might be answered by me +if I knew what they were; but knowing what questions usually appear +most prominent to the average mind, I will try my hand at a few of them +as they present themselves to me. Number one is, What were my first +impressions of the idea of associative life; that is, did the idea +strike me pleasantly or not? I frankly reply to this that the idea was +decidedly unpleasant. It so connected itself in my mind with some sort +of an "institution," as a great hospital or infirmary or "Dotheboys" +school, where Smikes or incipient Smikes went daily to a restricted +routine, and thrice daily, with the rest of imprisoned souls, to the +special amount of grub and rations provided by some personal or +impersonal Squeers, that I could not but at once reply to the person +speaking of it that I should not like any such institution. + +The next question is, How did my mind change on this subject? I answer, +by reflection and continued conversation with those who were intimate +with the ideas. Mark this: _There is nothing so absurd as the first +presentation of great facts to the mind;_ the greater the fact, the +greater its apparent absurdity, and the greater will be our hate or +want of welcome to it if it runs contrary to our preconceived ideas. + +Every visible thing is presented to the retina of the eye, the looking- +glass of the brain, upside down, and it is by study that begins at +birth, and is finished ere remembrance commences, that the child of God +and man is able to detect the true relation of material things to +himself. We have not yet learned the importance or significance of this +arrangement, but why may not we find in future investigations that the +mental vision is governed by the same law, and that thoughts strike the +brain or mental sensorium in the same inverted way? So universally do +law and life differ from their semblances, that it appears to me to be +one of our _supreme duties_ to learn to _reverse primitive +ideas._ + +A question also comes to you in this wise: How could one make up his +mind to associate with all sorts of people that they might meet in one +of these "Communities"? A man in the ordinary chances of life has to +meet all sorts of persons, does he not? Ignorant dependents are in your +house, sleeping under your roof. Your tradesmen may be rude, unkind and +unlettered. Passing from your door you jostle, it may be, the murderer +and highwayman on the street; you enter a car, and the driver's breath +is perhaps reeking from his last night's debauch; you sit, possibly, +between the pickpocket on one side and the patient yet uncured from +some epidemic on the other. You pass to your business through a street +full of roughs, and in your own store are men wishing you to die that +they may take your place, seeking every opportunity to overreach you; +and then wonder if I smile when you ask me how _I_ could "mix up." + +In reply to me, you may say that the relation is different; that you do +not take these persons to your table and associate with them as one is +obliged to in one of your "Associations." It is true that you may not +sit at meat with these especial persons; but how many live at hotels +where the next neighbor at table, to whom, if you are a gentleman, you +show politeness, is entirely unknown to you, and may be a swindler, +cheat or knave. But you associate with him only as much as it is +_necessary_ for you to do; and that is just as much as you are +obliged to do in an Association, and no more. It does not follow +because I sit at meat here at Brook Farm with a hundred, I have +intimate social relations with all of them. On the contrary, there are +those to whom I seldom speak unless to give them a passing salutation, +and some who are civilly disposed, who do no more, or as much, to me. + +In a society of which you might be a member, with a full privilege to +assist in its organization, you will be better able to choose those of +congenial qualities for associates than you ever can in your present +position, so that your life, after a while, may be select in its chosen +companions, and a great deal more so in its general social features +than now. + +Since I came here I find my ideas all changed in relation to this +subject. Instead of the yoke that I felt would be on me, I find +freedom--freedom to speak, to act, and a truly self-imposed government. +The yoke I expected to find _is_ very easy and the burden is +light. I enjoy my life and home. We have not much of worldly goods, but +we are united and we look high up--some say to cloud-land; but I assure +you that on the average there is nowhere a clearer-headed set of +persons on social questions than here, and association is now to me the +most beautiful thing on earth. The life and ideas are all one with +harmony. Surely is it not better for me to begin life this way than +with doubt and distrust of my fellows? Doubt begets doubt; faith begets +faith; action begets action. If we can get enough persons to follow us, +we can prove whether our ideas are true or not. Surely the dull, +monotonous life of "religious communities" like the Moravians, Shakers, +Rappites and others find followers; why not this bright, happy, +cheering, frank life of ours? + +We are expecting a visit from Horace Greeley soon; I have never seen +him, but we have heaps of strangers coming every day, some quite +distinguished and some plain folks, but the average are wide-awake +people. + +Truly your friend, + +JOHN C. FOSTER. + + +_Letter on Social Equality._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., Sept. 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR SISTER: Do not think that the great minds here teach _social +equality_, as many seem to think they do. To hear outsiders talk one +would imagine that the leaders want that all should be of the same +pattern; that the tall geniuses should be cut down to an average, and +the dwarfs set up on stilts to make them of the same height as the +others. How far from it! + +Added to this indignity, outsiders appear to think that rations are +served as in the army, and that it is an absolute necessity in order to +fulfil some absurd law, that every man, woman and child should sit down +together at the same exact time, and eat the aforesaid rations +together; and also, there being some good and able men here, that they +court connection with weak people of any complexion so as to make a +fair average: and they feel that such conditions, to say the least, are +unnatural; and so would I, if there was truth in the position, but +there is not a particle. It oftentimes seems to me that people take a +sort of pleasure in misrepresenting facts, or seem to have a +satisfaction in thinking that they know about as much as the average +person, and that it would be a sin to know a little more. They are +pardoned for their ignorance because nearly, if not all, the social +organizations that have departed from the common customs of society and +have formed "communities" have striven for equality of property rights +and society rights, and often for sameness in dress and religious +ceremonies. This is the nut that all persons who look superficially at +us and at the community system, find hard to crack. They feel that if a +person has an ambition to be more than another, to desire more, to +desire to wear a different garment and pray differently or worship +differently, they should have the inherent right to do so. + +And this is the feeling that these common-sense people, these +intelligent people of Brook Farm who organized this society, have and +believe in, and they have tried to arrange all their laws and customs +to conform to these evident truths. And also, they never would have +adopted any of the formulas or ideas of Fourier, had they not believed +his Industrial Phalanxes allowed all the variety of social conditions +that make a true society or social order. No attempts ever undertaken +had the sanction of Fourier, because they had not the proper number of +persons to make a start with. "By no means," said Fourier, "attempt to +organize a phalanx with less than four hundred persons; that is the +very least number you can have and have a sufficient number of +characters to produce anything like harmony." His idea was, that from +fifteen to eighteen hundred persons would be the true number. + +The Brook Farmers have never preached social _equality_, but +social _rights_. Social _equality_ is a thing that comes +from individual ability, and is never positively fixed, but relative, +because there are talents superior and inferior mingled in each human +being, and the king may wonder how the cook put the apples in the +dumplings. With the larger number of individuals stated, a greater +chance is given to find "mates" and "chums," and the less likelihood +there would be in the imperfectly organized societies of rude contact-- +for who could doubt that all such societies, even the very best, would +be imperfect for generations to come? + +I take it that this is the gist of the reason why the so-called social +equality is so repulsive to theorists who have not comprehended the +great difference between social _equality_ and social +_rights_. Once and for all, I do not believe, we do not believe, +in social equality; but we do believe that societies can be established +in such a manner as to secure in a large degree the rights of all, and +be perfectly practicable, and that in time they will develop into true +harmony. + +As ever your sincere + +BROTHER CHARLIE. + + + + +_Religious Views._ + +BROOK FARM, MASS., June 9, 1845. + +MY DEAR FRIEND:--In reply to your question as to what the religious +views of the Brook Farmers are, I might, if I wished to be curt, say +that they are such as you see by their lives. I am aware, however, that +such a reply will not exactly suit you, and that you really mean what +are their creeds, as, are they all Baptists, Trinitarians, Unitarians, +or what not? And I answer you that I find here those who were brought +up in every kind of belief; some who are from the Roman Catholic +Church; some from the Jewish; some Trinitarians; some Unitarians; some +from the Swedenborgian Church; some who are Liberals; some who are +called "Come-Outers," and Mr. P., who professes to be, and is more like +an infidel than any other man I ever saw. + +They call some of the residents here "Transcendentalists." You may +judge from the name that they must be either very good or very bad +people, but they represent people of education who are a little "high +stilted" in their religious views, and do not take in all the wonderful +Mosaic traditions. At least, this is as near as I can explain it to +you. It is the fashion to call every one who has any independent +notions a Transcendentalist, but I do not know who invented the name or +first applied it. + +The people here do not dispute on religious creeds; they are too busy. +They work together, dine and sup together year in and year out in +intimate social relation, and do not either have angry disputes, or +quarrels about creeds or anything else. On the contrary, I am much +surprised at the earnest inquiry that is often made into the beliefs of +others, or rather into the groundwork or foundation from which the +churches sprung which have different tenets from their own. + +But the majority are Unitarian in their belief. Mr. Ripley, Mr. Dwight, +Mr. Dana and Mr. Cabot, with a majority of the ladies, lean that way. +Dr. Lazarus and his handsome sister are of or from the Jewish faith, +whilst Mr. Hastings leans towards Romanism and Jean Pallisse is +Catholic; and by the way, I never until I came here had any sympathy +with the symbols of that church, but the intelligent persons by whom I +have been surrounded have explained the great beauty of them to me-- +persons who are not and never can be Romanists any more than myself. +Dr. Lazarus has posted me on the Jewish symbols, and Fanny M. and her +mother have brought forward the great beauty of the Swedenborgian +doctrines. + +All Mr. Ripleys's writings on social subjects breathe a religious air. +It is true they are not creedal, but his idea is that every act of life +should be from a true and earnest spirit, and that this is the +substance of all creeds; and strange to say to you, who believe that +Associations like ours have a levelling effect, those who have their +faiths fixed, say, "I think more of the symbols of my church than ever, +since I came here." + +"I am a Jew, but a liberal, understanding Jew," says one. + +"I am a Catholic, but I am a liberalized Catholic," says another. + +"I am a Swedenborgian, but my belief liberates me from the crudities of +Swedenborg," say others. + +"I look from the centre outward as never before. We all see how the +forms of our churches were intended for good, and we all see how many +of them have been prostituted. When I go from here I shall respect your +forms and ceremonies because you have taught me the meanings of them." + +Is this definite enough for a hasty answer? The lesson I have most +taken to heart is that by examining with respect the many different +faiths, we gain a higher idea of a Being who has an exhaustless variety +in his attributes. + +As ever yours, + +C. J. THOMAS. + + + + +APPENDIX. + +PART II. + + +APPLICANTS' LETTERS AND MR. RIPLEY'S REPLIES. + +[Copies of some of these letters and other documents from the originals +were used by permission, in preparing the "Life of George Ripley."] + +_From a Theological Student._. + +LONGMEADOW, Feb. 25, 1845. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Probably you have forgotten the Andover student who spent +Thanksgiving with you a year ago, and who made you a short call last +September. But he has not forgotten Brook Farm. I write now for the +purpose of asking a single question. Are you so full that it will be +impossible for you to take one more in the course of a few weeks? + +I recollect you asked me last fall if I intended to go to preaching +against sin in the church. I agree with you, sir, that there is +emphatically sin in the church that ought to be preached against, if +anywhere. But the truth is I do not see as much sin either in the +church or out of it as my theological teachers have endeavored to +persuade me there is. Besides, I think that preaching against it has +been proved to be a very ineffectual way of rooting out what sin there +is. Indeed, from the very nature of the case, it seems to me that +telling men once a week, at arm's length, that they are doing very +wrong and will be eternally punished unless they do differently, is not +quite what is needed for improving their character and condition. For +this reason, and because my faith in other respects also is not +sufficiently orthodox, I have braced myself as well as I could against +the urgent importunities of my friends, and refused to take a license. + +My strongest sympathies are with the cause in which you are laboring, +and I am not wholly without hope that I shall yet find something to do +in it. I am utterly alone here. I think often of what Carlyle says, +"Invisible yet impenetrable walls as of enchantment divided me from all +living." + +Will you do me the kindness, sir, to answer the inquiry I have made of +you as soon as convenient? + +Yours most respectfully, + +D. B. COLTON. + + +_Letter from a Young Man._ + +COLCHESTER, CT., Nov. 1, 1843. + +_Rev. George Ripley,_ + +SIR: My ideas of the principles of Industrial Association have been +obtained by reading the New York _Tribune_. I am convinced that +these principles are the elements out of which may be constructed that +true social order which shall develop man's physical well-being, and +call forth the mental and moral faculties of the soul. + +My intention is to join some association of the kind now forming or +already in operation. Your Community has been spoken of as one of the +first and best in the country. My object in writing to you is to +ascertain the peculiar nature of this organization and management, the +terms of membership--the amount of capital required, or whether one +without capital would be received--and whether a young man of the +following description would find opportunity to _work_ and receive +a _fair_ remuneration for his labor. + +What I can _do_ you can judge. I am twenty-five years of age, have +lived eight years in New York, six years in one of the best wholesale +dry goods houses there. Brought up at this place a mechanic and farmer, +and am now engaged in wagon making and blacksmithing, for which I don't +get a red cent beyond a good living. + +The capital that I intended to invest in Association gone to Davy +Jones' locker in the wreck of the commercial world. + +An answer to these few inquiries would much oblige + +Your obedient servant, + +HORATIO N. OTIS. + + +_Reply to Preceding Letter._ + +[The preceding letter has the following draft of a reply to it on a +letter sheet in the handwriting of Mr. Ripley.] + +MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 1st inst. is this day received. I dare say +that you have received a correct impression of our establishment from +the article in the _Tribune_. We are laboring with cheerfulness +and hope, in the midst of great obstacles, for the organization of +society and the benefit of man. Whoever wishes to join us must be +willing to make great sacrifices; to endure severe toil patiently; to +live in comparative poverty; to suffer many deprivations for the sake +of realizing justice and charity in the social state. + +We are at present on a small scale, but we are making arrangements to +enlarge our number and our branches of industry. We should like to +establish your branch of business, and could do so to advantage with an +efficient and skilful workman and a small increase of capital. An +answer to the following questions will decide whether we can have any +further negotiations with you:---- + +1. Are you ready from an interest in the cause of Association to endure +the sacrifices which all persons must suffer? + +2. Could you by yourself, or your friends, command a few hundred +dollars sufficient to start your business? + +3. Could you, without help, make and iron off ox carts, horse carts, +one horse wagons, etc., in a style that would ensure their sale in the +neighborhood of Boston? Can you shoe horses and oxen? + +4. Are you single or married? + +5. In fine, have you confidence that by your manual labor in the +branches you have mentioned, you could do more than earn your living in +Association? + +I shall be happy to hear from you as soon as convenient. I am + +Yours truly, + +GEORGE RIPLEY. + + +_A Model Questioner--a Woman._ + +UTICA, Jan. 18, 1844. SIR: I have the happiness of being acquainted +with a lady who has some knowledge of you; from whose representations I +am encouraged to hope that you will not only excuse the liberty I +(being a stranger) thus take in addressing you, but will also kindly +answer a number of questions I am desirous of being informed upon +relative to the society for social reform to which you belong. + +I have a daughter (having five children) who, with her husband, much +wishes to join a society of this kind. They have had thoughts of +engaging with a society now forming in Rochester, but their friends +advise them to go to one that has been some time in operation, because +those connected with it will be able to speak with certainty as to +whether the working of the system in any way realizes the theory. The +first question I would put is,---- + +1. Have you room in your association to admit the above family? + +2. And if so, upon what terms would they be received? + +3. Would a piano-forte, which two years ago cost three hundred and +fifty dollars, be taken at its present value in payment for shares? + +4. Would any household furniture be taken in the same way? + +5. Do you carry out Mr. Fourier's idea of diversity of employment? + +6. How many members have you at this time? + +7. Do the people (generally speaking) appear happy? + +8. Does the system work well with the children? + +9. Would a young man (mechanic of unexceptionable character) be +received having no capital? + +10. Have you more than one church, and if so what are its tenets? + +11. Have parties opportunities of enjoying any other religion? + +12. What number of hours generally employed in labor? + +13. What chance for study? + +14. Do you meet with society suitable to _your taste?_ + +Although my questions are so numerous that I fear tiring you, yet I +still feel that I may have omitted some inquiry of importance. If so +will you do me the favor to _supply the deficiency?_ + +Please to answer my questions by number, as they are put. + +Hoping you will write as soon as possible, and do me the kindness I +ask, + +I remain, + +Yours respectfully, + +A. HUDSON. + + +_From a Minister._ + +NORTH BRAMFORD, CONN., June 1, 1843. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR:--I have an earnest and well matured desire to join your +community, with my family, if I can do it under satisfactory +circumstances--I mean satisfactory to all parties. + +I am pastor of the First Congregational Church in this town. My +congregation is quiet, and in many respects very pleasant; but I have +felt that my views of late are not sufficiently in accordance with the +forms under which I have undertaken to conduct the ministry of +Christian truth. This want of accordance increases, and I feel that a +crisis is at hand. I must follow the light that guides me, or renounce +it to become false and dead. The latter I cannot do. + +I have thought of joining your association ever since its commencement. +Is it possible for me to do so under satisfactory circumstances? I have +deep and, I believe, an intelligent sympathy with your idea. I have a +wife and four children--the oldest ten, the youngest seven years old. +Our habits of life are very simple, very independent of slavery to the +common forms of "gig-manity," and our bodies have not been made to +waste and pine by the fashionable follies of this generation. It is our +creed that life is greater than all forms, and that the soul's life is +diviner than _convenances_ of fashion. + +As to property, we can bring you little more than ourselves. But we can +bring a hearty good-will to work, and in work we have some skill. I +have unimpaired health, and an amount of muscular strength beyond what +ordinarily falls to the lot of mortals. In the early part of my life I +labored on a farm, filling up my leisure time with study, until I +entered my present profession. My hands have some skill for many +things, and if I join you I wish to live a true life. + +My selfish aims are two: first, I wish to be under circumstances where +I may live truly; and second, and chiefly, I wish to do the best thing +I can for my children. + +Be so good as to reply to this at your earliest convenience. + +Yours sincerely, + +JOHN D. BALDWIN. + +_From an Ohioan._ + +CHEVIOT, HAMILTON CO., O., SEPT. 23,1845. + +_Mr. Ripley_, + +MY DEAR SIR:--I have been looking somewhat into your plan of +Association, and have read carefully Godwin's "Popular View of the +Doctrines of Charles Fourier." I see much that I admire and some things +that I disapprove in Fourier's views. His views on marriage and his +ideas of a future state may do harm to his system of Association: +first, in exciting prejudice against it, and so preventing a fair +experiment; and secondly, in being adopted by friends of Association in +their admiration of their great master. + +His views in respect to love are, to my mind, exceedingly +exceptionable, and the idea of making provision in Association for +those whose love is inconstant, _appears to me contrary to all sound +philosophy._ A vicious constitution ought never to be fostered by +indulgence. But I really hope that your Association, which I presume +will be the model one for this country, will be careful to reject the +exceptionable morality of the French teacher, and while you adopt his +practical scheme in its worthy features, will also make it manifest +that you esteem Jesus Christ as the true Master. + +I may say that the more I compare the principles of Association adopted +by you, with the general state of society, the more I admire the former +and become dissatisfied with the latter. I feel great anxiety for your +success. I feel deeply anxious that the friends of Association should +be students of the gospel of Christ, that care might be taken to carry +out the glorious doctrines of the Son of God. I do not mean +sectarianism. I mean that religion, that pure morality, that +spirituality which Jesus Christ exhibited in his own life; not the +religion of the _ascetic_, but the social, the benevolent, the +philanthropic, the Godward aspirations of the spiritual man. + +My wife and myself often converse about the propriety of uniting with +you. We become disgusted with the social arrangements with which we are +connected. In worldly society we mourn over the outbreaking vices not +only of the low, but of those who are highest in rank; and when we seek +satisfaction of mind and heart in the church, lo! even there +selfishness rules supreme, and a profession of religion covers up the +meanest propensities of the sanctimonious worshipper. I cry out, "Help, +Lord! for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the +children of men." + +We desire to know through your own candid view of your prospects, as +well as present condition, whether we may be justified in so disposing +our affairs as to ultimately join your Association. At present I am +laboring on my farm, near Cincinnati, having no definite plan of future +action. + +Please write me definitely upon what terms we may join you, how much I +must put into the Association to secure the support of my family and +myself--it being understood that we take hold as the rest of you do. +Besides my wife I have a son sixteen years of age, another eleven, a +third seven and a daughter four. We are all healthy, and I believe are +about as well disposed as most families to live by our own personal +exertions. + +Yours very respectfully, + +WILLIAM H. BRISBANE. + +_Verbatim Letter._ + +BOSTON MASS. Feb. 23 1844. + +_Mr. Ripley_ DIR SIR I was requsted to pit the following on paper +for the consideration of your society. R. H. wife and four children the +oldest ten the youngest thre the two eldest boys, the two youngest +girles. Furniture wile consist of thre beds and bedding one bedstead +one tabel and workstand six or eight chairs crockery ware &c. Tooles +and machinery as follows 1 planing machine 1 upright boaring machine 1 +circular saw, irons for an upright saw morticing machine 1 turning +lathe and belting 1 doz of hand screws 1 copper pot to make varnish in, +two dimejons 3-5 gls. each for varnish and oil tooles for cutting bench +screws &c likewise 1 cow 3 cosset sheep 1 yew & 2 wethers the cow 11 +years old and little lame in one foot otherways a veryry good cow, also +a verry light handcart. There are other articles not mentioned perhaps +that might be usful to the Association that would be thrown in for the +benefit of all. + +The Association can consider the above articles and select wat articles +would be usful or beneficial and let me know their action thereon at +the next meeting of the Association If I should be called to visit my +family before the next meeting you will pleas direct a line to me. + +Yours-- + +ROBERT DAY. + +The Brook Farm wits would say that the writer of the above letter +should go to college "for a _spell_." + +_Seeking Success in Life._ + +LOCKPORT, Oct. 28, 1842. + +DEAR FRIENDS, if I may so call you: I read in the New York +_Tribune_ a piece taken from the _Dial_, headed "The West +Roxbury Community." Now what I want to know is, can I and my children +be admitted into your society, _and be better off than we are +here?_ I have enough of the plainest kind to eat and wear. I have no +_home_ but what we hire from year to year. I have _no +property_ but movables, and not a cent to spare when the year comes +round. I have _three children_, two boys and one girl: the oldest +fourteen, the youngest nine. Now I want to educate them. How shall I do +it in the country? There is no chance but ordinary schools. To move +into the village I could not bring the year round, and the danger they +would be exposed to without a father to restrain their wanderings, +would be an undertaking more than I dare attempt. + +Now if you should presume to let me come, where can I live? Can our +industry and economy clothe us for the year? Can I keep a cow? How can +I be supplied with fire in that _dear place?_ How can I _pay my +school bills?_ How can I find all the necessary requisites for my +children to advance in learning? If I should wish to leave in two or +three or five years, could I and mine, if I paid my way whilst there? +If you should let me come, and I _think best to go, how shall I get +there?_ What would be my _best and cheapest route?_ + +How should I proceed with what I have here, sell all off or bring a +part? I have three beds and bedding, one cow and ordinary things enough +to keep house. My children are all called tolerable scholars. My +daughter is the youngest; _the neighbors call her an interesting +child._ I have no pretensions to make; my only object is to _enjoy +the good of the society_ and have my children _educated and +accomplished._ + +Am I to send my boys off to work alone, or will they have a _kind +person_ to say, "_Come boys_," and _relieve me from the heavy +task of bringing up my boys_ with nothing to _do it with?_ + +If your religion has a name I should like well enough to know it; if +not, and the substance is love to God and good-will to men, my mind is +well enough satisfied. I have reflected on this subject ever since I +read the article alluded to, and now I want you to write me _every +particular;_ then if you and I think best, in the spring I will come +to you. We are none of us what may be called weakly. I am forty-six +years old; able to do as much every day as to spin what is called a +day's work--not that I expect you spin much there, only that is the +amount of my strength as it now holds out. + +I should wish to seek _intelligence_, as you must know 1 lack +greatly, and I _cannot endure the thought_ my children must lack +as greatly, whilst multitudes are going so far in advance, no better +qualified by nature than they. I want you to _send me quite a number +of names of your leading characters_. If it should seem strange to +you that I make the demand, I will explain it to you when I get there. +I want you to answer _every item_ of this letter and as much more +as _can have any bearing on my mind_, either way, whether you +accept this letter _kindly or not_. I want you to write an answer +without delay! Are there meetings for _us to attend?_ Do you have +singing schools? + +I do thus far feel friendly to your society. + +Direct your letter to, etc. + +M. R. JOHNSON. + +_A Southern Applicant._ + +ALEXANDRIA, BENTON CO., ALA., July 13, 1845. + +_Mr. G. Ripley,_ + +DEAR SIR: Will you step aside for a moment from the many duties, the +interesting cares and soul-stirring pleasures of your enviable +situation, and read a few lines from a stranger? They come to you, not +from the cold and sterile regions of the North, nor from the luxuriant +yet untamed wilds of the West, but from the bright and sunny land where +cotton flowers bloom, where nature has placed her signet of beauty and +fertility. Yes, sir; the science that the immortal Fourier brought to +light has reached the far South, and I trust has warmed many hearts, +and interested many minds; but of ours alone will I write. + +It is to me the dawn of a brighter day than has ever yet risen upon the +world--a day when man shall be redeemed from his more than "Egyptian +bondage" and stand erect in moral, intellectual and physical beauty. + +I have lived forty years in the world, and divided that time between +the eastern, middle and southern states--have seen life as exhibited, +in city and country, have mingled with the most intelligent and with +the unlettered rustic--have marked society in a variety of phases, and +find, amid all, that selfishness has warped the judgment, chilled the +affections and blunted all the finer feelings of the soul. I am weary +and worn with the heartless folly, the wicked vanity and shameless +iniquity which the civilized world everywhere presents. Long have I +sighed for something higher, nobler, holier than aught found in this +world, and have sometimes longed to lay my body down where the weary +rest, that my spirit might dwell in perfect harmony. But since the +beautiful science of unity has dawned upon my mind, my heart has loved +to cherish the bright anticipations of hope, and I see in the dim +distance the realization of all my wishes. I see a generation coming on +the arena of action bearing on their brows the impress of their noble +origin, and cultivating in their hearts the pure and exalted feelings +that should ever distinguish those who bear the image of their Maker. +Association is destined to do much for poor, suffering humanity--to +elevate, refine, redeem the race and restore the purity and love that +made the bowers of Eden so surpassingly beautiful. You, sir, and your +associates are pioneers in a noble reform. May the blessing of God +attend you. + +I am anxious to be with you for various reasons. The first is: I have +two little daughters whom I wish to bring up amid healthful influences, +with healthful and untrammelled bodies, pure minds and all their young +affections and sympathies clustering around their hearts. I never wish +their minds to be under the influence of the god of this generation-- +fashion--nor their hearts to become callous to the sufferings of their +fellows. I never wish them to regard labor as degrading, nor poverty as +a crime. Situated as I am I cannot rear them in health and purity, and, +therefore, I am anxious to remove them from the baneful influences that +surround them. Again: I look upon labor as a blessing, and feel that +every man and woman should spend some portion of each day in healthful +employment. It is absolutely necessary to health, and is also a source +of enjoyment, even in isolation; how much would that pleasure be +increased could I have several kindred spirits around me with whom I +could interchange thought, and whose feelings and desires flow in the +same channel as my own! O, sir! I must live, labor and _die_ in +Association. + +Again: my heart is pained with the woes of my fellows--with the +distressing poverty and excessive labor which are bearing to the grave +a portion of the human family. Gladly would I bear my part in raising +them to a higher and happier condition; and how can I better do this +than by uniting myself with the noble reformers of Brook Farm, where +caste is thrown aside, and rich and poor constitute one family. I have +not a large fortune, but sufficient to live comfortable anywhere. A +large part of it is now invested in houses and lands in Georgia. Such +is the low price of cotton that real estate cannot be sold at this time +without a serious sacrifice. Most of my Georgia property rents for more +than the interest of its cost at 8 per cent. I have also houses and +land in this state, but cannot for the above named reason find a +purchaser. Therefore, if I go into Association I shall be obliged to +leave some of my possessions unsold, and be content to receive the rent +until I can effect a sale. + +I have no negroes--thank God. Now if you are not full at Brook Farm, +and do not object to myself, wife and two daughters, one four years and +the other six months old, presenting ourselves as candidates for +admission, and $2500 or $3000 will be sufficient for an initiation fee, +I shall, as soon as I can arrange my affairs, be with you. + +I will thank you to write to me, informing me with how much ready cash, +with an income of $500 or $600 per year, I can be received. Mrs. Clarke +and myself will wish to engage daily in labor. We both labored in our +youth--we wish to resume it again. + +Very respectfully, + +John Clarke. + + +The following letter is in manuscript without date and is + +_One of Mr. Ripley's Replies_. + +Dear Sir:--It gives me the most sincere pleasure to reply to the +inquiries proposed in your favor of the 3d inst. I welcome the extended +and increasing interest which is manifested in our apparently humble +enterprise, as a proof that it is founded in nature and truth, and as a +cheering omen of its ultimate success. Like yourself, we are seekers of +universal truth. We worship only reality. We are striving to establish +a mode of life which shall combine the enchantments of poetry with the +facts of daily experience. This we believe can be done by a rigid +adherence to justice, by fidelity to human rights, by loving and +honoring man as man, and rejecting all arbitrary, factitious +distinctions. + +We are not in the interest of any sect, party or coterie; we have faith +in the soul of man, in the universal soul of things, and trusting to +the might of a benignant Providence which is over all, we are here +sowing in weakness a seed which will be raised in power. But I need not +dwell on these general considerations with which you are doubtless +familiar. + +In regard to the connection of a family with us, our arrangements are +liberal and comprehensive. We are not bound by fixed rules which apply +to all cases. The general principle we are obliged to adhere to rigidly +is not to receive any persons who would increase the expenses more than +the revenue of the establishment. Within the limits of this principle +we can make any arrangement which shall suit particular cases. + +A family with resources sufficient for self-support, independent of the +exertion of its members, would find a favorable situation with us for +the education of its children, and for social enjoyment. An annual +payment of $1000 would probably cover the expenses of board and +instruction, supposing that no services were rendered to diminish the +expense. An investment of $5000 would more than meet the original +outlay required for a family of eight persons; but in that case an +additional appropriation would be needed, either of productive labor or +cash, to meet the current expenditures. I forward you herewith a copy +of our Prospectus, from which you will perceive that the whole expense +of a pupil, without including board in vacations, is $250 per annum; +but in case of one or more pupils remaining with us for a term of +years, and assisting in the labor of the establishment, a deduction of +$1 or $2 per week would be made, according to the services rendered, +until such time as their education being so far completed, they might +defray all their expenses by their labor. + +In the case of your son fifteen years of age, it would be necessary for +him to reside with us for three months at least, and if at the end of +that time his services should be found useful, he might continue by +paying $150 or $200 per annum, according to the value of his labor, and +if he should prove to have a gift for active industry, in process of +time, he might defray his whole expenses, complete his education and be +fitted for practical life. + +With the intelligent zeal which you manifest in our enterprise, I need +not say that we highly value your sympathy. I should rejoice in any +arrangement which might bring us into closer relations. It is only from +the faith and love of those whose hearts are filled with the hopes of a +better future for humanity, that we look for the building up of our +"City of God." So far we have been prospered in our highest +expectations. We are more and more convinced of the beauty and justice +of our mode of life. We love to breathe this pure, healthy atmosphere; +we feel that we are living in the bosom of nature, and all things seem +to expand under the freedom and truth which we worship in our hearts. + +I should regret to think that this was to be our last communication +with each other. May I not hope to hear from you again--and with the +sincere wish that your views of the philosophy of life may bring you +still nearer to us, I am, with great respect, + +Sincerely your friend, + +Geo. Ripley. + + +_From a Lady Teacher_. + +New York, March 18, 1843. + +Dear Sir: For the last ten years I have been employed as a teacher in a +boarding school in this city. A year ago the lady with whom I was +associated died, and though I do not love business as such, there were +many and weighty reasons why it seemed right for me to commence a +school of my own. I have had during the winter past a school of twenty- +three pupils consisting of children and youth. My success hitherto in +teaching, in my own judgment, has been dependent on an earnestness of +manner, a sincere love of knowledge and a deep interest in the welfare +of the young. I know how to work and would not fear to undertake any +kind of household occupation which devolves upon woman. + +Early in life I embraced a religious faith, and, seeking to obey God +according to my light, connected myself with a church. Years have +passed away; experience, reflection and light from other minds have +produced a radical change in my views. I stand in the eye of the world +as one of a sect, but my spirit does not recognize the union. I am, +from my position, subject to painful restraints. I cannot be just to +the truth which is in me. The alternative, I need not say, with me is +to hold fast to the popular faith or give up my bread. + +I am much interested in those ideas which your Association is +attempting to find a realization of. The state of things resulting from +a full expansion of the principles upon which your society is based +would seem to meet many spiritual wants. I can understand that so high +an aim can be reached only through lowliness of life. The prospect of +becoming one day a co-worker in your cause is very agreeable to me. I +should like to know that I may be permitted to cherish the idea. + +With much respect, + +R. Prentiss. + + +_Application for an Unfortunate_. + +[The person who indited the following was a friend of the organization, +and probably saw as well as anyone the absurdity of making a +reformatory institution of the great experiment, but from kindly and +personal considerations put the question and the best face on the +matter that he could.] + + +New York, Sept. 14, 1845. + +My Dear Friend: I have been applied to by a very respectable widow lady +of this city, at the instance of Dr. ---- (who it seems is fast getting +over his want of sympathy for Fourier and his disciples), to see +whether you will not convert Brook Farm into a sort of hospital for the +cure of young men who won't mind their mothers. But, as the case is a +serious one, I must treat it seriously as it deserves. + +The lady is a Mrs. ----, who is connected with one or two of our +wealthiest families, and who has a son about twenty-five years of age +whom she desires to get a place with you. + +He is said to be a person of the most kind and amiable disposition, and +willing to do the hardest kind of work, but unfortunately he is +surrounded by evil companions in this city, who draw him into bad +habits. His mother is exceedingly distressed by his weakness, and has +been counselled to send him to sea, but Dr. ---- has advised her to come +to me and ask whether he could not be taken on trial at Brook Farm, in +order to ascertain what might be the effect of good influences. The +young man is well educated, a good accountant, has worked considerably +on a farm, and is exceedingly anxious to escape from his present +position, where his _infirmity of will_ betrays him under +temptation. His general disposition and deportment are excellent, and +under proper circumstances would make an estimable member of society. + +If you have room for him, and are willing to undertake his case, his +mother can contribute a few dollars a week toward paying his board, +until it shall have been determined whether his longer stay would be +mutually satisfactory. Should he be able to stay, no doubt his friends +here would raise an amount of capital for him which might be an object +worth considering. + +Very sincerely yours, + +P. Godwin. + + +_Wanted to Speak against Slavery_. + +Collinsville, CT., March 22, 1844. + +Friends: I call all people friends who have for their object the +elevation of the human race and are opposed to all oppression in any +form, who do not wish to build up one class at the expense of the +other. + +I have been reading on the subject of Association for the last six +months all the publications I could find, which has pleased me much. I +think it is just such a system that is wanted. Massachusetts being my +native state, and also being acquainted with the vicinity of Roxbury, +which I think is a delightful place, especially in the summer, I +thought that I would write you to inquire if you have an opening for +any more this spring providing I can bring recommendations to your +satisfaction. + +I was brought up a farmer; the last twelve years I have been to work in +a scythe shop. I have a wife--no children. My wife is a tailoress, +makes all kinds of men's clothing and is acquainted with all kinds of +housework. We are both forty-two years of age. I shall want to buy four +hundred dollars' worth of stock and pay for it when I join. If I am +rightly informed of your system, it does not interfere with anyone's +religion or his politics. Being an abolitionist, I shall want the +privilege of voting and speaking against slavery in every respect. +Please write me as soon as you receive this and inform me what +recommendations will be required and all other particulars. + +Respectfully yours, James C. Smith. + + +_From a Wesleyan_. + +Trinity, Newfoundland, June 30, 1845. + +Sir: Having been informed by Mr. Brisbane that an establishment on the +united interest principle has been commenced near Boston, I hasten to +address you to inform you that for some years I have felt impressed +with its superiority to the individual system; and have been, and still +am, anxious to engage heart and soul in so good a cause. I have been in +this country between four and five years, and have a comfortable +situation; but feeling confident of the ultimate advantage of an +Association, and feeling assured that I could render myself valuable in +such an establishment, I prefer casting my lot with those who feel +desirous of acting for the restoration of man. + +I have to inform you that from my youth I have chiefly engaged in the +dry goods business, ironmongery, grocery, etc., and have a general +knowledge of trade. I am of industrious habits and with an active turn +of mind, and together with my wife, I may justly say, few will be found +more useful and desirous of acting for the general good. I am about +forty-two years of age, and my wife is a little older; my son is +fourteen, and we are fully prepared for active life. I have no +knowledge of any mechanical trade, but am fond of it as well as +agriculture and gardening; I possess a fair share of health; am fond of +writing and bookkeeping; only occasionally disposed to gaiety, but +rather for scientific relaxation; not fanatical in religion, but a +regarder of the great commandments and charitable for the feelings and +the convictions of others. + +I have, sir, given you an unvarnished statement with regard to myself, +and I should feel obliged by your informing me at your earliest +convenience if myself, wife and son can be admitted by my investing two +hundred dollars for the furnishing of the apartment assigned to us. Are +there any Wesleyans with you, and what is the distance to the Wesleyan +chapel?--as my wife is a member of that body. From what I have learned +from Mr. Brisbane's letter and newspaper he was kind enough to send me, +I should judge your establishment to be such as we could safely and +comfortably join, and I trust you will give me in your answer +additional reason to think so. + +I remain, sir, + +Your obedient servant, + +H. Gawler. + + +_From a Printer_. + +Bangor, ME., Jan. 1, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Dear Sir: While on a visit to Brook Farm Association last August, it +was intimated to me that it was probable, on the completion of the +arrangements then in progress for the accommodation of an additional +number of members, that a printing press might be introduced, a weekly +paper published and something done at the printing business generally; +further, that though there were two or three practical printers in the +Association, yet others in all likelihood would also be required; in +which case, a selection from the number of candidates would be made. +Should it be the intention to adopt the plan, which was then in doubt, +I beg most respectfully to present myself as a candidate for the +acceptance of the Association. + +I am at present situated as foreman of a daily paper in Bangor, and +previous to this time, have had a somewhat varied experience in other +branches of the business. Though now rather favorably located, in the +ordinary acceptation of the term, yet I would prefer a thousand times +mingling even in the struggles of an infant Association, founded upon +what I deem to be substantial principles, than the most desirable +possession in an overgrown and distorted civilization. + +Touching the requisite of character, I believe I can make out a case in +my favor; but with respect to capital--when I say I am a +_printer_, I say also that I am in the predicament of the most of +my profession, with nothing to recommend us but a willing heart and a +ready hand; albeit, if the taking of one share of a hundred dollars +will entitle me to membership, the amount may be forthcoming. + +With sentiment of great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Yours +most obediently, etc., + +George Bayne, Jr. + + +_A Wife's Eloquent Appeal._ + +Kingston, Sept. 5, 1845. + +_Mr. George Ripley_, + +Sir: After taking the _Phalanx_ and the _Harbinger_ and +visiting Brook Farm, our attachment and love for associated life has +become so strong, and the idea of our present life so cold and to a +benevolent mind so difficult, that I very much doubt of remaining any +longer happy in our present state. For these reasons I write to inform +you that we wish to make an application to be received as members of-- +so it looks to us--your happy Association; and, "delays being +dangerous," we would ask an answer soon to it, as, living on a farm, it +is necessary to know whether we shall dispose of our crops, cattle, +etc., in the market, or store them in barn and cellar for another +_lonely_ winter--so my husband expresses it; though I assure you +it is not lonely for lack of numbers, but he is doubtless expressing +the feeling many of us have experienced of solitude in the midst of a +crowd of uncongenial spirits. + +As it is a busy time--we have to work from 5 A.M. until late at night, +with scarce a moment to rest our weary limbs--it is not convenient to +visit you personally; we wish you to return us a written letter stating +whether we can have any encouragement and what are the requirements. +Being strangers to you we would probably need recommendation. + +Thus far I have acted as amanuensis for my husband. Hoping that it may +not offend, I now address you of and from myself. + +Elizabeth Brewster, _for Elisha Brewster._ + + +_Mr. Ripley,_ + +Dear Sir: In the cause my husband urges I would plead. Had I skill I +would do so with all the eloquence ascribed to woman's tongue; nay, +more, had I an angel's tongue tipped with burning eloquence, I would +exert its utmost efforts to urge my husband's suit. I feel deeply that +his present and future earthly happiness depends on what answer may be +received from you. That is saying much, but I believe it is strictly +true. And if his happiness depends on it, surely that of the rest must, +for what happiness does a woman desire but that of those connected with +her? Husband has been for three years a devoted associationist; his +whole heart and mind have been with them and he has ardently desired +the associative life. + +Not so myself. I was willing, it is true, to go anywhere he desired and +would be happy where he was happy, but I dreaded to leave such a +beautiful home, for the place we would leave is no ordinary one. The +prospect from it is considered as almost without a parallel. We have +plenty of fruit, flowers, fine grove and shade trees, in fact +everything to make rural life agreeable and we know how to appreciate a +beautiful location and prospect. Then I have had a fear of being a +pioneer, lest there should be too heavy work or duties imposed or +required of me. Such ideas combined, prevented me from seeing unitary +life as one ought who knows that it is in the form of a heavenly +society, and that as we desire perfection here on earth we must imitate +the heavenly model. + +Since visiting you my fears have given place to an ardent desire to +become one of your Community, not to come as an alien and a stranger +but as a sister in full communion, with a heart full of love and +affection and with a strong desire to act my part fully and to do all +required of me. + +You will find I have great skill and ingenuity in work, understanding +almost all kinds, and have, I am told, a good faculty to plan and +perform it, so I hope that I shall be of real use to you. You will not +think I am trying to flatter you or myself. Husband's idea is this: he +says when people trade they place their commodities in the best light +and speak of their desirable qualities, and this is so much like +trading ourselves off that we have a right to give some idea of +ourselves as an offset for what we expect to receive. + +Mr. Brewster has sound, unbroken health, untiring strength and great +skill and ability to work. He often says he would not go where he could +not work--but he would like more time to read than he gets here. He has +great power and skill in doing heavy work and great patience and +industry in doing small and light work; talents not often combined in +one individual. He is just as handy and skilful in planting and weeding +and planning a flower garden, or in potting plants and tending them, as +in doing the heaviest work. He loves birds and flowers, but _bees_ +are his _hobby_; he loves them as a mother loves her children. If +he comes among you, you must let him have a hive of bees or I fear he +would tire of Association. Ah! a new thought just strikes me. Bees are +_associationists_ and that accounts for his great love of them. + +I cannot believe that you will ever regret the possession of such a +working man. Furthermore, you will rarely find two united with more +willing hearts and hands and more cheerful tempers. We have never been, +so far, either of us unhappy in any situation. Our family is not large; +it consists of three daughters, one of eleven, one eight and the last +three years of age, twenty-fifth of May last--they all have one +birthday. We shall probably bring with us, if you make no objection, a +girl who is bound to us, and there remains three years of unexpired +service--a very stout, strong girl, who loves coarse work and who is +Mr. Brewster's mesmeric subject. + +Mr. Brewster is a lineal descendant of old Elder Brewster, of the fifth +generation on the paternal side and a lateral descendant on the +maternal side. He thinks that accounts for his being so ardent an +associationist, as Elder Brewster started his colony on that plan and +failed--and perhaps this E. Brewster will do the same thing. But +seriously, because the first failed it is no reason that the second +should, for the world was not as well prepared for unitary life then as +now. Mr. Brewster thinks he would rather help you provide for winter +than to be doing the same here. + +May the blessing of Heaven attend you all at Brook Farm. + +E. B. B. BREWSTER. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +PART III. + + +AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF BROOK FARM. + +_From the Dial of January, 1844._ + +Wherever we recognize the principle of progress our sympathies and +affections are engaged. However small may be the innovation, however +limited the effort towards the attainment of pure good, that effort is +worthy of our best encouragement and succor. The institution at Brook +Farm, West Roxbury, though sufficiently extensive in respect to number +of persons, perhaps is not to be considered an experiment of large +intent. Its aims are moderate; too humble, indeed, to satisfy the +extreme demands of the age; yet for that reason, probably, the effort +is more valuable, as likely to exhibit a larger share of actual +success. + +Though familiarly designated a "Community," it is only so in the +process of eating in commons; a practice at least as antiquated as the +collegiate halls of old England, where it still continues without +producing, as far as we can learn, any of the Spartan virtues. A +residence at Brook Farm does not involve either a community of money, +of opinions or of sympathy. The motives which bring individuals there, +may be as various as their numbers. In fact, the present residents are +divisible into three distinct classes; and if the majority in numbers +were considered, it is possible that a vote in favor of self-sacrifice +for the common good would not be very strongly carried. + +The leading portion of the adult inmates, they whose presence imparts +the greatest peculiarity and the fraternal tone to the household, +believe that an improved state of existence would be developed in +Association, and are therefore anxious to promote it. Another class +consists of those who join with the view of bettering their condition, +by being exempt from some portion of worldly strife. The third portion +comprises those who have their own development or education for their +principal object. + +Practically, too, the institution manifests a threefold improvement +over the world at large, corresponding to these three motives. In +consequence of the first, the companionship, the personal intercourse, +the social bearing, are of a marked and very superior character. There +may possibly to some minds, long accustomed to other modes, appear a +want of homeness and of the private fireside; but all observers must +acknowledge a brotherly and softening condition, highly conducive to +the permanent and pleasant growth of all the better human qualities. If +the life is not of a deeply religious cast, it is at least not inferior +to that which is exemplified elsewhere, and there is the advantage of +an entire absence of assumption and pretence. The moral atmosphere, so +far, is pure; and there is found a strong desire to walk ever on the +mountain tops of life; though taste, rather than piety, is the aspect +presented to the eye. + +In the second class of motives we have enumerated there is a strong +tendency to an important improvement in meeting the terrestrial +necessities of humanity. The banishment of servitude, the renouncement +of hireling labor and the elevation of all unavoidable work to its true +station, are problems whose solution seems to be charged upon +Association; for the dissociate systems have in vain sought remedies +for this unfavorable portion of human condition. It is impossible to +introduce into separate families even one half of the economies which +the present state of science furnishes to man. In that particular, it +is probable that even the feudal system is superior to the civic; for +its combinations permit many domestic arrangements of an economic +character, which are impracticable in small households. In order to +economize labor, and dignify the laborer, it is absolutely necessary +that men should cease to work in the present isolated, competitive +mode, and adopt that of coöperative union or Association. It is as +false and as ruinous to call any man "master," in secular business, as +it is in theological opinion. Those persons, therefore, who congregate +for the purpose, as it is called, of bettering their outward relations, +on principles so high and universal as we have endeavored to describe, +are not engaged in a petty design, bounded by their own selfish or +temporary improvement. Everyone who is here found giving up the usual +chances of individual aggrandizement, may not be thus influenced; but +whether it be so or not, the outward demonstration will probably be +equally certain. + +In education Brook Farm appears to present greater mental freedom than +most other institutions. The tuition being more heart-rendered, is in +its effects more heart-stirring. The younger pupils, as well as the +more advanced students, are held mostly, if not wholly, by the power of +love. In this particular, Brook Farm is a much improved model for the +oft-praised schools of New England. It is time that the imitative and +book-learned systems of the latter should be superseded or liberalized, +by some plan better calculated to excite originality of thought and the +native energies of the mind. The deeper, kindly sympathies of the +heart, too, should not be forgotten; but the germination of these must +be despaired of under a rigid hireling system. Hence Brook Farm, with +its spontaneous teachers, presents the unusual and cheering condition +of a really "free school." + +By watchful and diligent economy, there can be no doubt that a +community would attain greater pecuniary success than is within the +hope of honest individuals working separately. But Brook Farm is not a +community, and in the variety of motives with which persons associate +there, a double diligence and a watchfulness perhaps, too costly will +be needful to preserve financial prosperity. While, however, this +security is an essential element in success, riches would, on the other +hand, be as fatal as poverty, to the true progress of such an +institution. Even in the case of those foundations which have assumed a +religious character, all history proves the fatality of wealth. The +just and happy mean between riches and poverty is, indeed, more likely +to be attained when, as in this instance, all thought of acquiring +great wealth in a brief time is necessarily abandoned, as a condition +of membership. On the other hand, the presence of many persons, who +congregate merely for the attainment of some individual end, must weigh +heavily and unfairly upon those whose hearts are really expanded to +universal results. + +As a whole, even the initiative powers of Brook Farm have, as is found +almost everywhere, the design of a life much too objective, too much +derived from objects in the exterior world. The subjective life, that +in which the soul finds the living source and the true communion within +itself, is not sufficiently prevalent to impart to the establishment +the permanent and sedate character it should enjoy. Undeniably, many +devoted individuals are there; several who have, as generously as +wisely, relinquished what are considered great social and pecuniary +advantages, and, by throwing their skill and energies into a course of +the most ordinary labors, at once prove their disinterestedness, and +lay the foundation for industrial nobility. + +An assemblage of persons, not brought together by the principles of +community, will necessarily be subject to many of the inconveniences of +ordinary life, as well as to burdens peculiar to such a condition. Now +Brook Farm is at present such an institution. It is not a community; it +is not truly an association; it is merely an aggregation of persons, +and lacks that oneness of spirit, which is probably needful to make it +of deep and lasting value to mankind. It seems, after three years' +continuance, uncertain whether it is to be resolved more into an +educational or an industrial institution, or into one combined of both. + +Placed so near a large city, and in a populous neighborhood, the +original liability for land, etc., was so large as still to leave a +considerable burden of debt. This state of things seems fairly to +entitle the establishment to re-draw from the old world in fees for +education, or in the sale of produce, sufficient to pay the annual +interest of such liabilities. Hence the necessity for a more intimate +intercourse with the trading world, and a deeper involvement in money +affairs than would have attended a more retired effort of the like +kind. To enter into the corrupting modes of the world, with the view of +diminishing or destroying them, is a delusive hope. It will, +notwithstanding, be a labor of no little worth, to induce improvements +in the two grand departments of industry and education. We say +_improvement_ as distinct from _progress_; for with any +association short of community, we do not see how it is possible for an +institution to stand so high above the present world as to conduct its +affairs on principles entirely different from those which now influence +men in general. + +There are other considerations also suggested by a glance at Brook +Farm, which are worthy the attention of the many minds now attracted by +the deeply interesting subject of human association. We are gratified +by observing several external improvements during the past year; such +as a larger and more convenient dining room, a labor saving cooking +apparatus, a purer diet, a more orderly and quiet attendance at the +refections, superior arrangements for industry, and generally an +increased seriousness in respect to the value of the example which +those who are there assembled may constitute to their fellow beings. + +Of about seventy persons now assembled there, about thirty are +children, sent thither for education; some adult persons also place +themselves there chiefly for mental assistance; and in the society +there are only four married couples. With such materials it is almost +certain that the sensitive and vital points of communication cannot +well be tested. A joint-stock company, working with some of its own +members and with others as agents, cannot bring to issue the great +question whether the existence of the individual family is compatible +with the universal family, which the term "Community" signifies. This +is now the grand problem. By mothers it has ever been felt to be so. +The maternal instinct, as hitherto educated, has declared itself so +strongly in favor of the separate fireside, that the association, which +appears so beautiful to the young and unattached soul, has yet +accomplished little progress in the affections of that important +section of the human race--the mothers. With fathers, the feeling in +favor of the separate family is certainly less strong; but there is an +undefinable tie, a sort of magnetic _rapport_, an invisible, +inseverable umbilical cord between the mother and child, which in most +cases circumscribes her desires and ambition to her own immediate +family. + +All the accepted adages and wise saws of society, all the precepts of +morality, all the sanctions of theology, have for ages been employed to +confirm this feeling. This is the chief corner stone of present +society; and to this maternal instinct have, till very lately, our most +heartfelt appeals been made for the progress of the human race, by +means of a deeper and more vital education. Pestalozzi and his most +enlightened disciples are distinguished by this sentiment. And are we +all at once to abandon, to deny, to destroy this supposed stronghold of +virtue? Is it questioned whether the family arrangement of mankind is +to be preserved? Is it discovered that the sanctuary, till now deemed +the holiest on earth, is to be invaded by intermeddling scepticism, and +its altars sacrilegiously destroyed by the rude hands of innovating +progress? + +Here "social science" must be brought to issue. The question of +Association and marriage are one. If, as we have been popularly led to +believe, the individual or separate family is the true order of +Providence, then the associate life is a false effort. If the associate +life is true, then is the separate family a false arrangement. By the +maternal feeling it appears to be decided that the coëxistence of both +is incompatible--is impossible. So also say some religious sects. +Social science ventures to assert their harmony. This is the grand +problem now remaining to be solved, for at least the enlightening, if +not for the vital elevation, of humanity. That the affections can be +divided, or bent with equal ardor on two objects so opposed as +universal and individual love, may at least be rationally doubted. +History has not yet exhibited such phenomena in an associate body, and +scarcely, perhaps, in any individual. + +The monasteries and convents, which have existed in all ages, have been +maintained solely by the annihilation of that peculiar affection on +which the separate family is based. The Shaker families, in which the +two sexes are not entirely dissociated, can yet only maintain their +union by forbidding and preventing the growth of personal affection +other than that of a spiritual character. And this, in fact, is not +personal in the sense of individual, but ever a manifestation of +universal affection. Spite of the speculations of hopeful bachelors and +aesthetic spinsters, there is somewhat in the marriage bond which is +found to counteract the universal nature of the affections to a degree +tending at least to make considerable pause, before they can be blended +into one harmony. + +The general condition of married persons at this time is some evidence +of the existence of such doubt in their minds. Were they as convinced +as the unmarried of the beauty and truth of associate life, the +demonstration would be now presented. But might it not be enforced that +the two family ideas really neutralize one another? It is not quite +certain that the human heart cannot be set in two places; that man +cannot worship at two altars? It is only the determination to do what +parents consider the best for themselves and their families, which +renders the o'er populous world such a wilderness of selfhood as it is. +Destroy this feeling, they say, and you prohibit every motive for +exertion. Much truth is there in this affirmation. For to them no other +motive remains, nor indeed to any one else, save that of the universal +good, which does not permit the building up of supposed self-good, and, +therefore, forecloses all possibility of an individual family. + +These observations, of course, equally apply to all the associative +attempts, now attracting so much public attention; and perhaps most +especially to such as have more of Fourier's designs than are +observable at Brook Farm. The slight allusion in all the writers of the +"Phalansterian" class, to the subject of marriage, is rather +remarkable. They are acute and eloquent in deploring woman's oppressed +and degraded position in past and present times, but are almost silent +as to the future. In the meanwhile, it is gratifying to observe the +success which in some departments attend every effort, and that Brook +Farm is likely to become comparatively eminent in the highly important +and praiseworthy attempts to render labor of the hands more dignified +and noble, and mental education more free and loveful. C. L. + + +ASSOCIATIVE ARTICLES. + +_"Association the Body of Christianity" by John S. Dwight._ + +The world has been divided between infidels and bigots. In Association +there will be neither, for it will remove their causes. The framework +of society is false which drives to such extremities. For most +assuredly these opposites proceeded from one common centre, and will +most gladly gravitate back again to that, so soon as the general order +becomes just and genial to the real character and purpose of each +individual soul. + +Unbelief is torment, as much as any obstinate refusing of food, and no +one courts it because he will, but only accepts it because he must. On +the other hand, exclusive religionism has too much consciousness of +secret sympathy with its avowed antipodes, to enjoy itself much better. +They are only opposite forms of the same denial; opposite feelings from +the same great central wrong. They seem to hate each other; it is only +because they are not permitted to embrace: let them transfer their hate +to that which separates them. And what is that? + +It is the want of unity and of all recognition of unity in the material +interests of men. If the material interest of each harmonized with the +material interest of all, as fully as their spiritual interests do, the +immediate result would be that the material and spiritual would +harmonize with one another. Then religion would not have to renounce +the world to save its very life; nor would the believer in natural +reason and the lover of justice cry, "Away with all religion, since it +leaves the world so bad!" + +There are certain instincts and convictions in every human soul which +call for love and truth and justice. There is a revelation from God +which confirms them all. One noble life was all made up of these high +qualities, a present incarnation of these seemingly almost unattainable +ideals, and freely gave itself for man. Some say it was very God; all +acknowledge that such virtue is the divinest thing known, that such +love stands for the Most High, and that to reverence and obey it, is to +obey the very saving principle of human nature; that such obedience, in +fact, is perfect freedom. So that, leaving intellectual dogmas and +theories out of the question, the essence of what is called +Christianity is the natural faith of the human heart, and all men do in +their heart of hearts long to have a Christian spirit and to have that +prevail throughout the world. + +But while the spirit of Christ is unity, the material interests of men +are without unity. In the whole body politic of life, the unity of the +human race is not at all implied. On the contrary, everything +contradicts the idea. Every man in seeking his material interests +becomes the rival and antagonist of every other man. To gain his bread +he must sacrifice friendship, generosity and even honor. He must keep +his convictions of nobleness and justice for a beautiful and holiday +idea; he must consign them to the keeping of religion; and she, like +the gentle wife at home, has careful instructions not to show her +beautiful face in the market place. It is hard; since in the market +place mankind are doomed to spend the most part of their life; and very +many men and women and children _all_ their life, except what +nature claims for sleep. + +If there be no way, then, of realizing the unity of man with man, of +growing into the beauty of Christian love and fellowship, by the very +act which earns us bread; if there be no reconciling of religion with +this worldliness; if there be no possibility of raising in the very +market place the song, "The Lord is in his temple"; if religion calls +us one way and necessity another; if business is to be based on +principles which render ineffectual every prayer for the spirit of love +and charity; if work is the dissevering of all the bonds which thought +and speech and sentiment and blessed dreams and holy influences, with +all the help, too, of God's Holy Spirit, strive to weave;--then is +Christianity impotent, a heavenly voice that mocks mankind. + +But no! As surely as Christ taught the love of God and of the neighbor, +so surely did his prediction imply a change in the material +organization of society which should fit it to be the container of this +heavenly spirit. Did he think to "put new wine into old bottles"? Must +not the spirit of Christianity create unto itself a _body_? It is +a fruitless abstraction until it does. And this, if we read the signs +aright, is the demand of this age. This is the tendency of all social +movements. The material basis of our life, our social and industrial +system, is entirely incompatible with the moral conviction and duties +of this age. Our social economy all represents and preaches +selfishness; but the idea of Christian love, the vision of unity and +brotherhood, is born in the mind, and makes terrible and unendurable +contrast with this state of things. The world is nearly ripe for the +kingdom of heaven--the organization of society precludes it. + +ASSOCIATION is the word that solves the problem. The earnest and +believing hearts of this day everywhere have certain hopeful lookings +towards that; and at this providential moment science comes and offers +us the key which shall unlock the whole sphere of material interests to +its true lord, the spirit of religious love and unity. The organization +of attractive industry will be the reconciliation of spirit and matter, +of religion and the world; it will be the admission of Christ into all +our spheres; it will make all nature holy, and clothe religion in the +garb of nature. + +_Extract from a lecture on Association in its Connection with +Religion, by Charles A. Dana._ + +It is now more than eighteen hundred years since that annunciation of +the coming of peace on earth and good-will to men, at which the world +might well have trembled with a new and mighty hope. The Divine Infant, +whose birth the celestial choirs thus celebrated, grew up to man's +estate, still bearing within him that blessed promise; he went about on +earth, imparting new life to the broken-hearted and forlorn, and +uttering words of such heavenly significance, that to this day there is +nothing that thrills the hearts of men with so true a power. At last he +gave his life a testimony to those eternal truths, and died in great +bodily agony, still publishing the prophecy that welcomed his birth, +still announcing the kingdom of peace and love, the kingdom of God on +earth. + +His followers have since grown to cover great continents; whole nations +acknowledge those few words of his as their most sacred possession; +great temples are built in which his life and death are solemnly +commemorated, and men gladly yield their hard-won treasure to carry his +history to distant regions that his name has never reached. And yet, my +friends, where is that kingdom of peace and love; where, where in the +whole wide world is the will of God done as it is in heaven? Is it even +thought of as anything but a dream, an impossibility? Does not a +sceptical smile steal over the faces of men, when an earnest and +enthusiastic person speaks of it as a thing yet actually to be? + +And yet it is only what Christ taught us to hope for and pray for. We +are not deceived; no one of us is mistaken in the vision that in +innocent and blessed moments visits us all. No man who utters that +sacred petition prays in vain. For the kingdom of God, the reign of +peace and good-will among men, shall surely come. Not in mystical +raptures, not in feverish trances, not in imagination, but in reality-- +in actual outward peace and beauty, and in the abiding spirit of love, +filling humanity and sanctifying the earth to be the worthy temple of +so divine a presence. + +And yet, who that beholds only the present condition of the Christian +church, to which these sacred ideas have been especially entrusted; who +that sees the body of Christ thus torn and discordant, would imagine +that a consummation of this imperishable hope was any longer possible? +Might we not despair, seeing these centuries of terror, of revolution, +of injustice and of perpetual hatred, and seeing that the very +disciples of the spirit of love have lost the memory of their Master-- +might we not despair, and cry out with them, that the earth was given +over to evil, and that the kingdom of God would never come? + +No, my friends, we may not so despair, we cannot if we would. That old +prophecy, however long delayed, still finds an involuntary echo in our +souls. And now, in this hope of a true and brotherly society, its +fulfilment seems at hand. Say it is enthusiasm, say it is a mistake, +say it is irreligion, if you will, and still I reply that the time is +not distant. It is in the combined order, where men are held together +by inward laws only, and not by outward constraint and outward +necessities, that the kingdom of God is to come down and possess the +earth. + +It is in Association, then, that the promise of Christianity is to be +fulfilled--fulfilled by making the incarnation of the great law of love +an actual and universal fact. Hitherto Christianity has been in the +world a spirit pining and dying for want of a body. She has wandered up +and down on the earth, possessing here and there an individual, but +never obtaining her birthright, which is the whole of humanity, never +able to exercise her prerogative, which is to bathe the earth in the +aroma of harmony and peace. The forms of selfish and egoistical +society, the forms of society here in Boston, and throughout the +civilized world, are not of Christianity, but of the primeval curse, +which they perpetuate. Into them Christianity cannot fully enter, any +more than light can dwell in the midst of darkness. + +The relations which Christianity seeks to establish between man and +man, are indicated in these words, "Love one another." But how is this +possible in a competitive society, where the interests of all are +hostile? How can vital and true love operate between me and my +neighbor, when his misfortune is my advantage, and my loss is his gain? +What does it avail that on Sundays the better spirit is feebly +awakened; what does it avail that then I aspire and long to love all +men, if on the other six days in the week my hand is of necessity set +against them all? + +Do you tell me that if my love is deep and pure enough, it will modify +my whole life, and of itself, without hindrance from circumstances, +appear perfectly in all my actions and relations? This is the old +heresy, this is the error of the individualism and egoism which has +hindered us so long. Let us meet it fully and fairly. + +In all results there are two elements, namely, that which acts and that +which is acted upon. The character of the individual never does and +never can form his circumstances, but can only modify them. No man is +an artist or a poet by virtue of inward genius alone. No matter how +great his gifts, unless he find a congenial atmosphere and favorable +conditions, his high office is not fulfilled. Precisely so is it with +that sacred energy which we call love. It can act entirely and +sincerely only in circumstances that harmonize and correspond with +itself. In order to carry Christianity into my daily life, the forms of +my daily life, all my relations to others, my household and my +business, must be in harmony with it. + +If these forms are contrary to Christianity, the first thing for me, as +a Christian, to do, is to change them, to put them off, to be free from +them at whatever cost. If I am indeed filled and impelled by that +divine injunction, "Love one another," I cannot rest, I shall give +myself no peace, until it be possible for me to do so, not in my inward +spirit only, but in all my outward actions also. But how is this to be +done? How are the ultimate forms of my life to be brought into +correspondence with its central impulse? Plainly not by any spontaneous +and unconscious power, but by intellectual inquiry and voluntary +action. _Inspiration can discharge its whole mission only by the aid +of science._ + +Besides, the end of Christianity is not the salvation of individuals, +but the transfiguration of humanity; it cannot be accomplished in you +and me, but only in the whole race. It promises the kingdom of peace +and love, not to a few solitary souls, but to man. He is indeed a +servant of Christianity, who has learned its universal purpose and +labors therefor; who does not so much seek to be saved himself, as to +bring salvation to all the world, who sees that his own private life +and development are forever involved in the universal progress. He is +ignorant of the true idea of Christianity, who has not understood that +it demands not so much that one should be careful about his own +spiritual perfection, that he should watch himself, and by private +remorse and tears seek a far-off heaven, as by a generous self- +forgetfulness and self-devotion, seek to build up the kingdom of peace +and love among men, and make heaven a reality here, and not the hope +only of a distant future and a different sphere of existence. + +It is time, my friends, that this long divorce between the natural and +spiritual worlds should be broken off, and that we should know that +even now we may breathe the celestial ether, and have our common life +transformed and illumined by infinite spiritual glories. + +We have said that the end of Christianity is not the salvation of +individuals; but do not let it be thought that we overlook the worth of +individual character. For heroism and holiness we have an unspeakable +reverence. The saints and poets and sages of all time are the choicest +gifts of God. The virtue, the beauty and the devotion that now shine in +the lives of private men and women, still assure us that all is not and +cannot be a failure. The ultimate result of the life of humanity will +doubtless be found in symmetrical and harmonious individuals; and in a +perfect Christianity we shall look to see an angelic love radiant from +every face. But while there is disease and imperfection in any part of +the human body, there cannot be perfect health in any other part; just +so while there is disease and imperfection in humanity, of which the +human body is an image, there cannot be perfect health in any +individual. Perfect men and women are possible only in a perfect +society. + +Finally, the sum of our remarks on the relation of Association to +Christianity, is briefly this: Association fulfils the promise of +Christianity; it shows the means whereby peace on earth and goodwill +among men are to be realized. It harmonizes the forms and relations of +society with the spirit of Christianity; in a word, it makes them forms +and relations of brotherly love, and not of selfishness and discord, +and thereby renders possible the accomplishment of the final aim of +Christianity, which is the salvation and spiritual life of universal +humanity. + + +THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS, FROM THE HARBINGER, BY WILLIAM HENRY +CHANNING. + +A prophecy in the spirit of this age announces that a new era in +humanity is opening, and sounds forth more fully than ever before the +venerable yet new gospel, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. + +Doubtless, in all generations, the seers and the seekers--who are +usually one and the same--have felt that their times were the +culminating points of history, the mountain of vision, the border +overlooking the promised land. Doubtless, the great of all nations and +ages have felt that they were a peculiar people, called to a peculiar +work, inspired and led by divine guidance to sublime ends. No age, no +people, have wholly wanted such signs of providential commission. + +And doubtless, too, the works, bravely attempted from such high +promptings, have always in actual results seemed fruitless. Yes! +compared with his vision, the gains of the martyr's labors seem +tantalizing--a dropping shower upon the droughty earth. Always the +ideal entering the soul of man, like a god descending to the embrace of +a mortal, seems to engender a son but half divine. Yet this +disappointment is a delusion of the moment. + +Quite opposite are the facts. No man yet upon earth ever boldly +aspired, and faithfully obeyed his clear convictions of good without +transmitting through his race an all but omnipotent energy. Winds waft, +streams scatter, birds of the air carry in their beaks, each seed that +drops in ripeness from the tree of life. The failures of man have been +from infidelity to his faith. Infinitely grander consequences than the +doer could estimate, have followed every executed purpose of heroism +and humanity and holy hope. Each age has been right in feeling that its +mission was all-important. Each prophet has chanted, as if for very +life, his warning and cheering, for God spoke through him in the +language of his land and era. + +The Infinite Being, who through generation upon generation, +progressively incarnates himself in the human race, and so manifests +his glory upon earth, calls this age to its heavenly mission, and +speaks through it with an eloquent longing, that cannot be uttered, his +welcome and promise. The word whispers through the nations: "Man made +One; a World at Peace; Humanity, the Earth round." At the nativity of +this great hope, of this present Immanuel, the angels of our highest +aspirations bend from their cloudy thrones,-- + +"Harping in loud and solemn choir, With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's +newborn heir." + +And the burden of the song that interprets their symphony is this:-- + + "Justice and Truth again Shall down return to men. + Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, + Mercy will sit between, + Throned in celestial sheen, + With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering, + And Heaven, as at some festival, + Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall." + +The hope of universal unity has been born, cradled in the rude manger +of labor; nurtured by charity, ever virgin; worshipped by shepherds, +guarding humble, humane thoughts, like flocks in the fold of their +hearts; it has sat with the doctors in the temple, unsullied by +timidity and prudence, and has astonished them at its profound doctrine +of unbounded love; it has grown in favor with God and man, and answered +to its half doubting, half hoping parents of the church and state, +"Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" and now is it +driven away into the wilderness of poverty and hard toil, of loneliness +and mortification, to be tempted of the devil. + +Let us first consider awhile these temptations; then review the forty +days' meditation upon the divine mission of this principle of perfect +love; and so be ready to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is +at hand." + +To the scattered band who, few and weak, are here and there withdrawn +from the thoroughfares of life, to commune together and to cöoperate in +the grand movement of the age, the world comes in with scarce +dissembled sneer, and ironically says, "_If_ Association is really +this Messiah to the ages, this pledge of universal prosperity, of +overflowing wealth, then let it make these barren fields into gardens, +these thick growing woods into palaces, these stones into bread." + +And all the while the shrewd, the rosy, sleek and full-fed world, with +title deeds in pocket and scrip and stock in hand, thinks of its +factories on rapid streams; its warehouses of three thousand dollars' +rent; its dividends at seven per cent half yearly; its iron-limbed and +tireless steeds, hurrying with the spoils of myriads of acres; its +carpeted, curtained, glowing, shining, pictured, sculptured, perfumed +homes. The victorious world, so confident and easy and jocular, so +beautiful in its own right, so wrapped about in kingly purple--how +strangely is it metamorphosed to the eyes of the child of God! Its +factories change into brothels; its rents to distress warrants; its +railroads to mighty fetters, binding industry in an inextricable net of +feudalism; from under the showy robes of its success, flutter the +unseemly rags of an ever-growing beggary; from garret and cellar of its +luxurious habitations, stare out the gaunt forms of haggard want; the +lash of the jailer, the gleam of swords, the glitter of bayonets, are +its garters and stars of nobility. + +If Association has been elated by the thought of its miraculous power, +or meditated to use it for selfish ends, it deserves the taunt of the +yet more selfish world. And it is reason for great rejoicing, that the +difficulties of transition from the isolated to the harmonic mode of +life are so great. God thus _sifts_ his people. None are worthy to +enter upon this work who are not _dusted_. We need to hunger. We +need to feel dependence, in order that we may judge competition in +contrast. We need to know actually how pinching is necessity; how deep +it ploughs its furrows into brow and brain; how tight it knots up the +muscles and cramps back and limbs, by exhausting toil. + +Association must be in its very essence disinterested; holding power as +something given from above, to be used not for self alone, or chiefly, +but for universal good; consecrating itself as a servant. And its +answer to the boasting world is, "Man liveth not by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We are learning, +in these trial times, the beauty of reciprocation, the wealth of +sharing all; we are studying experimentally the law of cooperation; we +are estimating the value of justice by its practical application; above +all, are we opening our hearts to the glad conviction that it is +possible, ay, easy, for men to grow more kindly by adversity, and to +love each other better for each other's wants. + +The word which is proceeding out of the mouth of God to Associationists +now, to all the true-hearted and brave and devoted and hopeful of them +is, "Union with fellow beings by usefulness is the very life of life." +Let patience have its perfect work. Let no man be so mean as to +emphasize the "If thou be," etc. Let no doubt enter from present +humiliation. Association is the divine form of humanity. So ends in +piety the first temptation. + +Then the Satan of selfishness takes counsel of his cunning, and subtly +states a new suggestion. If Association is this glorious truth to +renovate the nations, then glorious should be its announcement; loud, +wide, startling, should be its call; sudden, as from the skies, its +appearing. Here on the pinnacle of the temple of peace (or of Salem), +shalt thou stand, and cast thyself down among the multitudes like an +angel. Some splendid boldness should introduce thy reign. Take no heed +of care and caution; count not the cost; risk all in a providential +career. Surely thou shalt be guided safe. God's angels will bear thee +up, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone. + +O bragging, advertising, placarding, circular-scattering, auctioneering, +humbuging world! And you would thus prove Association to be also +a windbag and a lie! Just in so far as Association has been rash +and precipitate, and swollen with promises and dizzy in its towering +pretensions, it has been truly carried to the pinnacle. + +The child of God waits for opportunities. There will be occasions soon +enough for manifestation. According to the hour is the duty; and the +duty now is performance. Calm, wise, large and balanced plans, +discriminate selection of persons, discreet preparations of industry, a +sober estimate of the greatness of the undertaking, and a summoning of +all energies to its fulfilment, is the vocation just now of +Association. Enough for the day it is, honestly, honorably, humanely, +to lay the foundation in the earth unseen for the glorious fabric which +the future shall rear in light. + +In so far as the inculcation of principles, the instruction of the +national mind, the calling out of enthusiasm and courage, of hope and +heroism, demand publicity, of course Association must not be backward. +It must no more be behind than before the time. But the special call +to-day is, in practical endeavor to prepare the way for a future gospel +preaching. We need complete science, clear understanding, solid +judgment. We need to solve innumerable problems, to comprehend +principles exactly by their detailed development in practice. We need +inward concentration, to gain singleness and unity of purpose. + +"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," either by anticipation or by +tardiness. If Association is the salvation of mankind, there will be +time enough to let mankind know it. Meanwhile, let us give ourselves +wholly up to God, to be filled with his love, inspired with his wisdom, +strengthened with his might, and so made ready for the sublime work of +manifesting man made one in a perfect society. We will humbly wait the +opening of opportunities by Providence. And so ends the second +temptation in patience. + +Thus baffled twice, the Prince of this world gathers up his routed +forces for the final charge:-- + +"Surely the power of united effect is irresistible. What has it not +already accomplished?--tunnelling mountains, bridging oceans with +boats, wringing from the gnomes of the mines their wealth long buried +in sparry palaces of salt and diamond, of gold and silver,--preparing +to sever the bond that unites twin continents, summoning storms and +staying them, making the desert yield an hundred fold, using the +lightning for post boy, giving iron weavers coal for bread and fire for +drink, that they may spin garments for the nations,--prodigious power +of combined effort, what may it not do! + +"We will appeal to the rich and mighty. We will show them how they can +multiply their means seventy times seven. We will unite the race in one +grand effort of prolific production and unlimited voluptuousness. We +will be kings upon earth. All these things that thou seest from this +high mountain of exceeding enterprise, all these kingdoms and their +glory shall be thine, if thou wilt but give thyself up, O Association! +body, soul, spirit, to the worship of worldly power and splendor and +enjoyment." + +Ah, Satan! that was thy wiliest web. What! no poor, all nobles, all +fat, all glittering in court raiment, all surfeited with sweets, all +bathing in Johannisberg and champagne, all tended by houries, all +pillowed on orange-scented beds, and covered with gauze or eider down, +according to the season? Charming Satan! Selfishness made universal +will be selfishness no more. Thou art an angel of light! + +Just in so far as Association, using the tact of worldly training, has +in its plannings and pleadings, lowered itself to exaltation of the +outward, by merging the inward, it has permitted the magic of sin to +dazzle its vision. + +It is indeed a splendid prospect, this of a world reclaimed, of +overflowing plenty. And it shall be realized. Perfect beauty shall one +day enwreath this earth with its clustering vines. The long folded +petals of this little planet flower on the tree of the sun, shall open +and distil sweetness; its gorgeous fruit of consummate joy shall swell +and ripen. Far more than all the voluptuaries of all ages have dreamed +of shall exist, heightened by a purity they could not conceive of. + +Yes! O devil, the kingdoms and the glory of them are there before us. +But know this--they do not belong unto thee to give. Thou poor devil, +always mocked and always mocking. Have not six thousand years taught +thee yet, that self-love is always a suicide? Thou wilt give the +kingdoms of the world as thou always hast, first by stealing them for +thy slaves, and then stealing them from thy slaves? No! thou forlorn +devil, thy rule is ended, thy sceptre snapped into shivers; henceforth +thou art so wholly accursed, that God and man will heartily forgive +thee, whenever thou canst forgive thyself. + +"_Duty of Associationists to the Cause," by Horace Grreeley. From the +Harbinger of Oct. 25, 1845._ + +Through the last four or five years, the doctrine of Association has +been widely disseminated through the country. The labors of its ardent +advocates, few but faithful, have been ably seconded by some portion of +the press, and both have been immensely aided by the course of events. +The great themes of political discussion in our day--the tariff and the +currency--lead directly to a consideration of the conditions of labor, +of the relations between producers and products, of mutual rights and +respective interests of employers and employed. The existence of +extreme destitution and consequent misery in the midst of general +prosperity and plenty, of willing hands vainly seeking employment amid +unsurpassed industrial activity and thrift, cannot have escaped +attention. The disasters resulting from industrial anarchy, from +"strikes" of operatives for higher wages or fewer hours of labor, the +stoppage of work by combinations if not by outright violence, arrest +general attention. + +Truly the remedy for these errors and evils has yet been perceived and +embraced by comparatively few, but the conviction that the present +organization of industry cannot be advantageously maintained, and some +radical change is at hand, must have already forced itself upon very +many intelligent and candid minds. The readjustment of the relations of +capital and labor on a basis of harmony and mutual advantage, is +manifestly the great problem of the age. But that a change is at hand +is evident: the practical question regards not its probability or +certainty, but its character. + +The more intelligent and wealthy class have it in their power so to +mould this change as to render it peaceful, gradual and universally +beneficent; or they can turn a deaf ear to the calls of humanity, and +let the demagogue, the envious, the selfishly discontented, pervert it +into an engine of convulsion, destruction and desolation. As in the +days of King John, the barons laid the foundations of English political +liberty, so in our day the intellectual and philanthropic may guide the +car of progress, and in establishing industrial harmony may secure to +all but the stubbornly vicious or incurably afflicted, true +independence and ample means of subsistence and development; or they +can indolently leave all to the benighted and malignant, and see +reproduced a war of classes, different indeed in its weapons and its +physical aspects, but not different in its essential character from the +ravages of France by the _Jacquerie_ or the butcheries of the +reign of terror. + +In this crisis of events, with an industrial war plainly threatened and +partially commenced, the doctrine of Association appears as a mediator +and reconciler. Its bow of promise shines broadly in the lurid sky; it +irradiates the murky visage of the gathering, muttering tempest. It +awakens a hope, and the only well grounded hope, of averting the +miseries of an insane struggle between those who ought to be the +closest allies, to see which can the more injure the other. Need I urge +that in this crisis the friends of Association ought to be most earnest +and untiring in the promulgation and advocacy of their faith; that they +ought to improve the opportunities which are daily presented of +commending the truth to others whose minds are but newly prepared to +receive it? What Associationist so dull that he cannot improve every +"strike," every collision respecting the hours or the wages of labor, +to the advancement of the good cause? + +To do this with effect, we must be, in the true sense of an abused +term, catholic. We must not suffer Association to be merged in mere +partisanship for any class or calling, or blind hostility to any abuse +or oppression. We are not the champions of the slave or the hired +servant, the factory girl or the housemaid, the seamstress or the +washerwoman. We are not the advocates merely of labor against capital, +of the employers as opposed to the employed. Ours is the cause of all +classes and vocations, and our success is the triumph of all. We are in +danger of becoming partial and one-sided; let us take special care to +overcome it. + +But it is not enough that we give our testimony in behalf of this +benign truth; it behooves us to be doers of the work as well as hearers +and commenders. Friends of Association! scattered over the face of our +wide country! do you realize this? Do you feel that your works ought to +justify and fortify your words? We are surrounded by a world full of +want, vice and misery, which Association realized would greatly modify +and ultimately cure. But those who know nothing of this truth will +never cause it to be realized; it would be absurd to expect anything of +the kind. The work must be accomplished by us, and by those whom our +acts rather than words shall win over to a knowledge of the truth. Is +not the work of sufficient importance to incite you to embark heartily +in its furtherance? + +But, says one, how can I engage practically in realizing Association? +My family and friends are vehemently adverse to it; I am engrossed by +responsibilities and duties of various kinds which I cannot uprightly +escape, and which confine me where I am. I am not yet prepared, if I +ever should be, to embark in Association. + +Very well, you are not required to embark in it in the way your +objection contemplates. You are urged only to contribute to the great +work according to your ability and in a mode not inconsistent with the +proper discharge of all your duties. But many who cannot personally +enlist in the pioneer groups who for the next ten years will be engaged +in preparing the ground on which Associations are ultimately to arise, +are yet able to contribute something of their time and means to the +cause of humanity's emancipation from brutal drudgery. + +And this something is eminently needed by that cause. The great work of +disseminating and defending the principles of social science needs +pecuniary aid; who will offer it? The secondary work of founding and +sustaining pioneer Associations also languishes for want of means. +Ought it to do so? I say founding, not that I would encourage the +commencement of any new undertaking, but because I consider no +Association founded as yet. We have a few beginning to clear the ground +for the work, and that is all. + +But in this work noble men and women are engaged; to it they have +consecrated their energies; for it they suffer hardship and privations, +and are willing to suffer. But they cannot make their labor truly +effective without a large increase of capital, in every instance within +my knowledge. They commenced with little means, in no case sufficient +to pay for their land and buildings, and generally not half enough. +They were in need of everything, even of experience and skill to render +their labor effective, and for a long time two out of every three blows +they strike are ill-directed or render no immediate return. Thus they +toil on, needing machinery, power, buildings, everything, to give them +a chance for rapid progress; and even Associationists stand ready to +wonder at their snail-paced advance, or reproach their occasional +failures! + +As one Associationist who has given his efforts and means freely to the +cause, I feel that I have a right to speak frankly. I know that the +great number of our believers are far from wealthy; yet I know that +there is wealth enough in our ranks, if it were but devoted to it, to +give an instant and resistless influence to the cause. A few thousand +dollars subscribed to the stock of each existing Association would in +most cases extinguish the mortgages on its property, provide it with +machinery and materials, and render its industry immediately productive +and profitable. Then manufacturing invention and skill would fearlessly +take up their abode with our infant colonies; labor and thrift would +flow thither, and a new and brighter era would dawn upon them. + +Fellow Associationists! I shall do whatever I can for the promotion of +our common cause; to it whatever I have or may hereafter acquire of +pecuniary ability is devoted; may I not hope for a like devotion from +you? + + _A Prophecy. From the Introduction to Fourier's + "Theory of Social Organization" translated + by Albert Brisbane._ + +"Among the influences tending to restrict man's industrial rights, I +will mention the formation of privileged corporations which, +monopolizing a given branch of industry, arbitrarily close the doors of +labor against whomsoever they please. These corporations will become +dangerous, and lead to new convulsions on being extended to the whole +industrial and commercial system. This event is not far distant and it +will be brought about all the more easily as it is not apprehended. The +greatest evils have often sprung from imperceptible germs, as for +instance, Jacobism, and if our civilization has engendered this and so +many other calamities, may it not engender others which we do not now +foresee? The most imminent of these is the birth of a commercial +feudalism or the monopoly of commerce and industry by joint-stock +companies, leagued together for the purpose of usurping and controlling +all branches of industrial organizations. Extremes meet, and the +greater the extent to which anarchical competition is carried, the +nearer is the approach to _universal monopoly_, which is the +opposite excess. Circumstances are tending towards the organization of +the commercial and industrial classes into federal companies or +affiliated monopolies, which, operating in conjunction with the great +landed interest, will reduce the middle and laboring classes to a state +of commercial vassalage, and by the influence of combined action become +the masters of the productive industry of entire nations. The small +operators will be reduced to the position of mere agents working for +the mercantile coalition. We shall then see the reappearance of +feudalism in an inverse order, founded on mercantile leagues and +answering to the baronial leagues of the middle ages. + +"Everything is concurring to produce this result. The spirit of +commercial speculation and financial monopoly has extended to all +classes. Public opinion prostrates itself before the bankers and +financiers who share authority with the governments and devise every +day new means for the monopoly and control of industry. + +"We are marching with rapid strides towards a commercial feudalism and +to the fourth phase of our civilization. The economists accustomed to +reverence everything which comes in the name and under the sanction of +commerce, will see this new order spring up without alarm, and will +consecrate their servile pens to the celebration of its praises. Its +_debut_ will be one of brilliant promise, but the result will be +an industrial inquisition, subordinating the whole people to the +interests of the affiliated monopolists." + +Albert Brisbane prefaces this wonderful prophecy by these remarks: "In +1805 or 6, amid the preoccupation of war and military politics, he +[Fourier] foresaw and described with accuracy the future formation of +vast joint-stock companies destined to monopolize and control all +branches of industry, commerce and finance, and establish what he +called 'An industrial or commercial feudalism'--a feudalism that would +control society by the power of capital, as did the old baronial or +military feudalism by the power of the sword, and as despotically. +Under the dominion of the great barons who leagued together to control +the social world there was a monopoly of the then existing wealth, +namely, the land and the laboring classes. Now, society having passed +out of the military _regime_, and entered the industrial and +commercial, it is threatened with another vast system of monopoly." + +He concludes as follows: "This was written seventy years ago [it is now +almost ninety years] when public attention was absorbed in military +conquests and glory. To-day advanced thinkers on social questions are +beginning to see the conquest of the industrial and commercial worlds +by the power of associated capital. To-day the new feudalism has more +than half entangled society in its meshes, and its complete +establishment stares us in the face. What perspicuity to have foreseen +so clearly what is now being realized! If prescience is a test of +science--if the foretelling of future events is a test of the laws that +govern them and from which they are deducible, then Fourier must have +discovered at least some of the laws which govern social evolution. + +"A vague opinion prevails among men that society is moving onward to +its appointed state by what is variously termed the 'force of +circumstances,' 'the instinct of the race,' 'the general law of +progress,' 'Divine guidance.' These loose opinions are speculative +fancies adopted in the absence of real knowledge; whereas the fact is, +that society can only reach its true state by the conscious and +calculated efforts of human reason under the direction of an exact +social science. Men act on this principle when they try to organize any +part of the social system. When, from necessity, they are forced to +frame political institutions and organize governments, as they often +are after revolutions, they do so by conscious calculation and +reasoning. True, being without a scientific guide, their institutions +are imperfect and arbitrary; yet these efforts show that man recognizes +the necessity of calculation and thought in one branch, at least, of +the social organism. He knows that to have a government, he must think, +plan and devise; but he does not know that the other branches of the +social organism are subject to the same conditions, and can only be +normally constituted by the exercise of conscious reason guided by +scientific principles. Construction and organization--the same in +principle in all departments of creation--can only be the work of mind, +conscious of its operations, planning with forethought; analyzing, +comparing and combining; adapting means to ends and calculating the +relations of cause and effect. Instinct cannot organize; Divine +Providence does not interfere to do the work of reason; no science is +revealed to man; no constructions or other means are furnished him by +nature. + +"When the human mind shall rise to the conception of the possibility of +a scientific organization of society, it will at once undertake, as the +work of paramount importance, the elaboration of a system of exact +social science. First, however, the laws on which the science is to be +based must be discovered and combined into a system that will enable +the mind clearly to comprehend and apply them." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brook Farm, by John Thomas Codman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROOK FARM *** + +This file should be named brkfm10.txt or brkfm10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, brkfm11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, brkfm10a.txt + +Tiffany Vergon, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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