Brook Farm

ng is the p

HARBI

ly at New York and Boston, by the Brook Farm Phalanx. "All things, a

discussion of the great questions in social science, politics, literature and the arts

of the masses; warring against all exclusive privilege in legislation, political arrangements and social customs; and striving with the zeal of e

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 giv

e 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 desti

nces 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, fr

n 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

hanning: "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 re

excellent style. The index of the first volume bears a list of twenty-two names as

m Henry Channing. Chris

G. Foster. Parke Godwin

Dan

ngland na

s. William W. Story, Bo

. James Russell Lowell,

. Francis George Shaw,

er, Amesb

ntributo

o. A. J. H. Dugann

Farm wri

. Dwight. Charles A.

e are two more of t

iam F. and Walter, and

ston, with an additio

John

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

est 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 de

ed 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, g

is 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 re

contributors of the Harbinger, during its publication

. Jean M. Pallisse, Br

am Ellery Channing, C

I. Fred. Henry Hedge

. C. E. W. Parkman, Bo

l D. Robbins, Chelsea,

. C. Neidhart,

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 t

re unfo

impor

o her

*

r up te

ed so s

and so

poems were favorably criticised, the authors being friendly to the

ent 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 Abol

hy zeal, O gl

ld indig

and from t

ilst the other contended that the whole scope of the meaning made the poetry. But still the first stuck to his point, that a grand sent

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

l retains its

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

actice. The name "Areopagus" was applied to an enlarged general council, and

as he sat on the wagon-seat ready to star

I see you have the wag-on, and

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 indus

ousand 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

ere 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 the

and its stockholders. The capital stock was divided into three classes, namely: loan stock, or that which received a fixed percentage for use

ut the constitution makers believed they were arranging matters not only for the Brook Farm experiment, but for all who might adopt the social

article, written and s

ich the following

ousand 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 pr

bors 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

rom experience; not as mere enthusiasts, but as men of practical common sense, holding in our hands the means of escape from

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

at the appeal we now make will not be received without the most generous response in their power. As far as their means and their

hanges in the constitution. They were not simple enough to be easily applied and

e 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

he 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 cor

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 w

le 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

e 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, a

Financial Report t

fully submit their annual report

. .$11,854.41 and its expenditures for all purposes, including interest, losses by bad debt

of . . . . . . .

deducting t

ontracted this y

-

. . . . . . . .

vided according t

748.83. In this amount was included sundry debts against associates amounting to $924.38 which should not have been included. There were a

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 be

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.

tling the book

iture and fixt

, includi

sidered doubtf

..............

...............

ember 1, 1843, which was not taken into the amount of last year, but which has been ascertained to be $762.50, as well

62.50+$49.13= $811.63) from the

.51 Farm produce and fam

or 1842 and 18

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

d 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 div

on. Almost every business fails to pay its expenses at the commencement-it always costs something to set the wheels in operation; this is not, howe

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 a

sociation, to pay the stipulated interest-five per cent per annum-upon the stock shares by which it is represented, so long those stock sh

on is altogether of opinion that the results of this year's industry ought to be divided irrespective of the

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

ity, 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

A.

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 time

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

e 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,

ars 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

oint 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

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 ou

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

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 s

e 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

o 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 l

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 los