Brook Farm

imes a set, inspired by an active mind, would venture out of the common course a

t 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 p

ent Group to allow a portion of his favorite poem, Byron's "Corsair," to be acted. With pencil and scissors he went to work, cutting

o suffer, and I know that there was quite a pretty Miss whom he had no especial objection to embracing as Medora. Whe

ven 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

trength 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

e 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 attem

re 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.

lay?" said one wag. "Al

nd blunder," wa

ite. 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

ere 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 bein

MASS., No

he 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,

d 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 m

ionatel

N BA

ipal men who came within their sphere, with considerable zeal, to unite in the

isbane, who showed his characteristics so well in it

the 9th Dec

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 m

what is to be done,

cient amount of capital, and

ng 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 rig

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. Pati

he steel business-that will now soon be determined, probably in a few weeks. There are chances that it may be a great thing; if

ze, you will ask? That is a thing to be carefully

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 dollar

ean 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 th

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 pe

will also come on and see you if you deem it advisable. The other experiment keeps me here at present; I think

BRIS

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 prop

FARM,

circular, calling a convention at Skaneateles

s 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 mys

sis 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 indep

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 inter

the great question of the means of human regeneration still open, indeed, hardly touched as yet, and Hea

ectics and learners, but day by day increases our faith and joy in the principle of com

ing 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 i

d 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 e

GE RI

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 far

hey loved so well. That his interest in the cause and the Association

rest, 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 t

those to whom I am so much indebted for personal kindnesses. You know me well enough to believe that I feel, more deeply than

rs t

OT P

Apostle," as Mr. Brisbane was called by us. I made a memoran

ge, 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 w

t is very visible). This was a visible fault, and yet at the same time it was a want of v

casionally, 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

ot over the dasher, which caused him to dismount precipitately. "For," he said he, when s

reenhouse 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;

es distribute the Harmonics of the Universe,"

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 t

the powers of the intellect; or, in other words, the mind separates things, puts things toge

ilism (i. e., the family sentiment) and Ambition; and all our

ich are aids and attendants of the body-"s

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

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.

. 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 bringin

The right development produces harmony, good, justice, unity. T

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

er 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 charit

s 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 admi

ter 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 conclusi

n, 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 dis

h 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 restle

endeavors of the men and women by whom they were surrounded; of their constant daily labor to produce harmony and higher social development, and m

gether; 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

y 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 grav

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 pre

sted that "Old Hundred" be sung, and all joined in the anthem. As the last note died away, the stroke of the clock an