The Forerunner, Volume 1 (1909-1910)

rtise

KINS GILMAN'S MAGAZINE CHARL

O PU

serial, article and essay; drama, verse, satire and sermon; dialogue, fable and

impatience; to offer practical suggestions and solutions, to voice the

s of every-day life; the personal and public problems of to-day. I

nce-male, female and human. It will discuss Man, in his true place in

ial. It holds that Socialism, the economic theory, is part of our gradual Soci

eed a special medium; and in the belief that there are enough

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the above heading, will be described articles personally known and used. So far as individual experience and approval carry weight, and clear truthful description command attention, the ad

CONT

st year is a new book on a

n development of a too exclusively masculine civilization. It shows what man, the

unning very crookedly-as it so often does-among the obstructions and difficult

ort articles

lity and Publ

ty Women

worked In

in the

omestic an

d and a Lar

ls in

Three-Fourths

e Chi

en-Min

r-Mind

ry-Min

rtment of "Personal Problems" does not discuss etiquette, fashions or the removal

O VA

magazine one ye

novel . . . B

k . . . By

tories . . . B

hort articles . .

new poems . .

ermons . . . B

and Review" . .

blems" . . .

things . . .

INK IT'S WOR

KINS GILMAN'S MAGAZINE CHARL

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subscription to "The Forerunner

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rtise

ET PRE

article, because they have not

is scientifically and honestly made, by good people in a g

d as far as I have tried it, in several capacities,

ticky or greasy, is reasonable in pri

anywhere-it is

for years and years, and

end any other-for I

rtise

E N

CEASE TO

itous advertise

ld; whose

ho doesn't have

est Druggis

a medica. You buy a little bottle of tincture of calendula, and keep

n a gritty place-his poor little knee is scraped raw. And

you have it, and put in a few drops of calendula. Wet a soft clean r

infant anguish; also have I used it

TAKES THE PAIN FRO

FORE

HLY MA

INS GILMAN OWN

YEAR .1

harlton Company, 67 Wall Street, New

O

god of our mos

nor worship,

e, nor tende

ortal glamor p

ope! Surrender

arts and can bu

-born common

aw and Life an

cret of the sp

iumph, infin

ajesty, grown

er and fire of

splendor and r

life-long servi

ING TO

ore favor than he that flattereth with his tongu

man, I think;" she answered

t unto his words,'-do not speak ligh

ear, but-when you h

the law, even his prayer shall be an

t," said his wife with some heat. "Now that's not disrespec

ways loved. His eyes were deep blue and bright under their bushy brows; and the mouth was kind-in

ping in a very rainy day and a contentions wo

d was this-'A prudent wife is from the Lord,' and 'He that findet

he impulsive way years did no

ed: "but if you had all the money you'd lik

at you spend on

is that scattereth and yet increaseth,' you know, my dear; 'And there is that withholdeth more

ial fondness, put on his heavy satin-

ave color to the idea. No, he came from Vermont; of generations of unbroken New England and old English Puritan ancestry, where the Solomons and

Albany with a Van to her name; a great grandmother with a Mac; and another with an O'; even a German cross came in somewhere. Mr. Bankside was devoted to

efficient in everything her swift hands touched; quite a spectacular housekeeper; and the sober, long-faced you

was based on principle, all of it; built firmly into habit and buttressed by scriptural quotations. Hers seemed to him as inconsequent as the flight of a moth. Studying it, in his solemn consc

mes. It was the day after Christmas, and Mrs. Bankside entered the big drawing room, redolent of popcorn and evergreen, and walked slowly

were the few perfectly selected ones given by the few who knew her best. There was the rather perplexing gift of Mrs. MacAvel

here was

sideration was spent on the nature of the gift--not on the desires of the recipient. There was the piano she could not play, the statue she did not admire, the set

de in Solomon, respect for Solomon's judgment and power to pay, gratitude for his unfailing kindness and generosity, impatience with his always giving her this one big valuable permanent thing, when he knew so well that she

esents for her beloved people. Solomon liked to spend money on her-in his own way; but he did not like to have her spend money o

ent of it! You can't buy 'em many things right on top of

examine her queerest gift. Upon which

ankside. "You know how I love to do things. It's

or-I was afraid you wouldn't know. But you are so clev

-honored art of weaving. And Mrs. Bankside enjoyed i

of work. Despising as she did the more modern woolens, she bought real wool yarn of a lovely red-and ma

ffectionately, "'She seeketh wool and fla

caps and coats; and his face beamed with the appositeness of his quotation, as he remarked, "She is not afraid of the snow for her hous

ug; "I believe you'd rather find

s better than rubies; and all the things that

nd do you think wisdom stopped

calmly. "If we lived up to all there is in

y mane, and kissed him in the back of his

was better, and any hint of occasional querulousness disappeared entirely; so that her husband was moved to fresh admiration of he

e showed inventive genius and designed patterns of her own. The fineness and quality of

em you could get almost any price for those towels. With the initials woven

. "What fun!" she said. "An

t appear at all

id, till she was weary of them; and in the opulence of constr

the Exchange got hold of it, there was a distinct demand; and finally Mrs

ourse he didn't know they are yours; but he said (the Exchange people told him I knew, you see) he said, 'If you can place an order with that woman, I can take all she'll make and pay her full

ending her husband. So far she had not told him of her quiet trade in to

t considerable length; and finally with some

" she urged. "Solomon would

t. You give them to me-I'll stop with the carriage you see;

d Mrs. Bankside delightedly. "

no conscience about l

lly su

d-nor nature. Why on earth should we respect a set of silly rul

o you talk to Mr. B

ar-patterned belt to show to advantage. "There are lots of things I don't say t

powdered marchioness, her rosy checks and firm sl

the fire goeth out; so where there is no tale bearer the strife

g accumulation. She came down to her well-planned dinners gracious and sweet; always effectively dressed; spent the cosy quiet evenings with her husband, or went out with hi

e snatches of song now and then; gay ineffectual strumming on the big pia

elieve you're a day over twe

d him. That was the nearest she e

rs to buy Christmas presents with; while he meditated giving he

ndkerchief-everything she could carry of his accumulated generosity-and such an air of triumphant mystery that the tree itself was dim besi

as such, "Why, Mother-how did you know we wanted just that kind of a r

had wanted that particular set of sociological books for years

ously favored; but she had shown her thankfulness

said, "Not one word. I know! Wha

married and single; while the children rioted among their tools and toy

making computations in his practiced mind; saying nothi

ps and counters of all sorts (he never played cards), an inlaid chess-table and ivory men (the game was unknown to him), a gorgeous scarf-pin (he abominated jewelery), a five

blushing, smiling, crying a little

ooked at her; and his voi

, Molly. I guess we're square on that

ooking down, and fingeri

e, earning money!

on't be angry-nobody knows-my name didn't appear at all! Pl

r grimly. "But it is certainly a most mortifyi

think most of did it! Don't you remember 'She maketh fine lin

e came down

or to sympathize, he would calmly respond, "'The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he sha

IOUS B

e Greatest Sociologist, that it is

udy or by less practice. To give implies having. You must be in possession before you can give. To receive implies wanting,

e pride of superior power and the generosity; and, if you are a sordid soul, the desir

feriority. Only children can continuously receive without degradation; and as soon as they begin to realize life at all they deligh

not mere receptacles, we are productive engines, of immense capacity; and, having produced, we must di

truth that we have stultified our giving instinct and made of it an abnormal process cal

f this visible truth; one the time-honored custom of "sac

y tribute. The medicine man made play with this race habit, and gross idols were soothed and placated by sacrifices-on which the medicine man lived. Always the best and finest were taken naturall

nturies. A guarded and grudging system of exchange gradually developed; the robbing instinct slowly simmering down to legally limited extortion; but each party surrendering his goods reluctantly, and

ncrease-spread-grow-improve. The biological channel for this force is through mother-love; and, later, father-love. The sociologic

the grasping spirit of exchange. It is the natural expression of social energy; blossoming in every form

st distribute-we must

m of welfare is increased. To have this productive energy and to use it normally, is to give. Not to have it, n

ssed to give t

T

e, because I

r one anothe

I work? I w

heavy law la

rced to work

l I

ling, for I

natural as the

ld not work wi

id her heavy

rced by fear

l I

. Life is new

o enjoy, to

pain of slav

d extortion

nor hired, ful

wer I

ESTLY FEAR

ure on Socialism, "Will the speaker state in one sentence what Socialism is?" He wore an

replied, "Certainly; Socialism is the public ownership

we are talking about. This is the essence of Socialism-public ownership

o lost in grief over the sufferings of the poor and in rage over the misbehavior of the rich, that they find it hard to speak gently. Most of us,

takes a

sm will abolish p

the early Christians, held all things in common, but Socialism urges no such doctrine. It does, however

test of half a century since, the north-from a southern point of view-confiscated property when the slaves were freed. But from the northern point of view the slave w

could be punished, imprisoned, sold-even killed, at will of the owner. The large

eir standards of justice. There is nothing novel in proposing to change them-they have often been changed. There is nothing immoral or dange

coal, water, oil and land. As a matter of fact we do not really "own" land now-we only rent it of the govern

overnment for it as now; with such taxation, however, as would make it very expensive to own too much! One may own one's house and all that is in it; one's clo

decide how much the public can have, and what we must pay fo

would reduce us a

cation we may greatly increase the difference in people-Socialism would not hinder it. A higher average level of income-which is what Socialism ensures, will give people a chance to differ more t

cialists ar

en it is always amazing to see how queerly people think. Some Socialists are atheists. So are some monarchists and so

ocialists

immorality of which we hear most in the papers is by no me

l-you must "alter human nature

. But why assume this? It is no product of Socialism. Our socialistic public parks and libraries do not presuppose that people shall be angels. They may tend to make them such, but the progress is not rapid enough to alarm us. In regard t

ry one alike and so destroy the

hold it-more do not. The essential idea of public ownership and manag

ieve, "is the life of trade;" in other words we are supposed to work, no

uch an incentive is useful; the simple answer

d this lies the larger competition for fame and glory and public esteem, which ha

o the one major objection, honestly held by intelligent people; that under Socialism people would not work.

e by individuals in order to get something they want. Work would not

ysterious way will supply the n

ovided for would not work. Then fo

ividualist, the older economist, and

position visionary and dangerous. Of course people are afraid of anything that controvert

g. Provide them with what, pray? All wealth is produced by human labor-there is no socialist patent for drawing bread and circuses fr

. If this was common to all of us it would mean the downfall of civilization. As we live now a great many people work too hard, too long, under unsanitary conditions

ot the same for everyone; but enough for everyone. Further, Socialism claims that by such procedure

comes a non sequitur. We will, however,

only kind of people. Even the savage, having exerted himself to get his dinner, and having had his dinner, and being, in a small way, human, begins to exert himsel

er is that he experiences a certain pleasure in the performance o

, chooses his work, follows it often under disadvantages; and in the case of the enthusiast, even under conditions of dan

nstinct by the fact that children have it-all normal children. They like any kind of ordinary

ound the pies, and then hold the plate on poised spread fingers and trim off that long broken ribbon of su

asure-the monotony, the long hours, the disagreeable surroundings, the danger and early death, and the grossly insufficient pay. Any normal boy enjoys working with carpenter's tools, or blacksmith's tools;

with a mass of superstitions and degrading lies. The lazy old orientals called it a curse! Work, a c

ustry. We have despised it because slaves did it. Glory to the slaves! They built the pyramids-not

the workers. Here are three millions of laboring benefactors; feeding us; clothing us; building our houses; spinning and weaving and sewing for us;-hewing wood and drawing w

are paid for what they do. They wouldn't do it if they weren't paid for it!" That is th

eyes, then we can look at Socialism with new eyes too; and

kinds of legitimate work and to distribute the product so as to improve the people? That sounds pr

tem of economics; teach its splendid benefits to all classes; and the methods of its legitimate and gradual introduction; by careful massing of the facts; by visible proof of t

LD

en in the

of man

r House doe

labor in

ren in th

ent far f

phanage i

labor i

Law may

School's

not set sm

labor by

e Lovin

so much

g to supp

e childr

e Human

th power

from littl

of food

e Human

, helple

er little c

on what t

g feeds the

en feeds

mouses f

ory is

Wisest, Str

ur praise

y anima

es upon

e poverty

es of b

ke! rebuil

our chil

DIANT

PTE

TURAL D

bird fulfil

ar lean a

beasts se

beasts th

only kind

y upsid

d the dry silence wearingly. Rampant fuchsias, red-jewelled, heavy, ran up its framework, with crowding heliotrope and nasturtiums. Thick straggli

uld the cold grey steep-roofed little boxes be repeated so faithfully in the broad glow of a semi-tropical landscape. There was an attempt at a "lawn," the p

of; only the kitchen spoke of human living, and the living it portrayed was not, to say the least, joyous. It was clean, clean with a cleanness that spoke of conscient

But the place bore no atmosphere of contented pride, as does a Dutch, Germ

ugh the dangling eucalyptus leaves. The dry air, rich with flower odors, flowed softly in, pushing t

ughts dwelling on long dark green grass, the shade of elms, and cows knee-deep in river

d steadily, and her thoughts full of pouring moonlight through acacia boughs and Ross's murmured words, i

eary sigh, and laid dow

her dear? There's surely n

plenty else to do." And she went on with the long neat he

Mother-I always hated this job-

es don't. Now they're reversed. As to liking it-" She gave a little smile, a smile

-really?" her daughter inquired sud

it. I never tried any but teaching. I didn't like that.

e any of it?" p

loved arithmetic, when I went to sc

ework do you like best

l sometimes what part I like least!" she answered. Then with sudden heat-"

e time for that I fancy," she said. "But, Mother, there is one part you like-keeping accounts! I never sa

keep run of things. I've often thought your Father'd have

other with a sort of passionate pity mixed with pride; feeling always nobler power in her than had ever had a fair chance to grow. It seemed to her an interminable

chafe and fret of seeing her husband constantly attempting against her judgment, and failing for lack of the help he scorned. Young as she w

ay-taking her mother's also. "Now you sit still for once, Moth

htly, setting out what was needed, greased her pans a

it!" she said. "I never could make bread without g

got to have hot bread for supper-or thinks he has!-and I've ma

at night-and it did seem as if I couldn't sit up! But your Father's got to have his biscuit whether or no. And you said, 'Now Mother you lie right still on tha

note of feeling than her mother c

re teaching school,

ille," Diantha corrected. "When I ta

d! No matter how tired you were-you wouldn'

ow. I was tired enough of teaching school though.

tove; then poked among the greasewood roots to find what she wanted and started

your Father won't have one in the house. He says they're dangerous. What a

n't, Mother. Ross

what,

y chip from the hearth. "He's perfectly helpless the

better. He's certainly doing his duty. Now if his father'd lived you tw

t the pantry was in its usual delicate order, and proceeded

ty-one,"

wed. "It don't seem possible, but you are

to marry-and to pay his father's debts-

"I know it's hard, dear child. You've only been engaged six months-and it looks as if it might

hree women, and two girls. Though Cora's as old as I was when I began

her don't approve of it. She thinks the home is the place for

ite sauce for it, talking the while as if these acts were automatic. "I don't agree with Mrs. Warden on that point, n

ed fanning, and regarded her dau

. "Why Diantha! You wou

th

king at the feeble little woman in the chair. Then sh

Ross either:-it's because I do. I want to take care of you, Mother, and make life easier for yo

. It was only her sister, who hurried in, put a dish on th

baby's asleep. Gerald hasn't got in yet. Supper's all ready, and I can see him

ll weakly; wiping her

less me! I thought you and she never had any differences! I was always

and mother of nineteen; and patted the older woman's ha

ter," said her sister. "I have de

at up straight and stared at h

n over from her mother's eyes. "Well, why not? Yo

t to be married,-to have a home of my own. And besi

an go now better than

by in case of

oing for? Ross isn't rea

for years. That's ano

or, for goo

oney-for o

r broke in eagerly. "I know you haven't got the same

ars. I don't like it, I don't do well, and it exhausts me horribly. And I should neve

you expect to get? I should think fifteen hun

he oven and turned he

o leave home just to

a firmly. "Henderson d

you blam

erson's a boy, and boys have to go, of course. A mother expects that. B

d of yourself to think of such

, tall, slouching, carelessly dressed, entered,

daughter laughingly. "And Mother will straighten it out after him! I'm bri

proclaimed, raising a dripping face from the basin and

ousehold to be master

ly. "Half of it'

to the other for some explanation of this attempted

the doorknob. "But you'd better enjoy those biscuits of Di's while you c

," she said. "Do sit down, Mother," and she held the chair for her. "Minnie's quite right

jesting. He ate a hot biscuit in two un-Fletcherized mouthfuls, and put more sugar in his large cup of te

d in being the head of anything else. Repeated failures in the old New England home had resulted in his ruthlessly selling all the property there; and bringing his delicate wife and three young children to California. Vain were her protests and

nd fruit and ample living of that rich soil; but he had failed in oranges, fai

xed from childhood in that complex process known as "helping mother." As a little child she had been of constant service in caring for the babies; and early developed such competence in the various arts of house work as filled her mother with fond pride, and even wrung from her father some grudgin

but tried to eat; and tried still harder to make her heart go quietly, her cheeks keep cool, and her eyes dry. Mrs. Bell also strove to keep a cheer

mp, where he unfolded the smart local paper and lit his pipe. "When you've got through

ling, scalded them, wiped them, set them in their places; washed out the towels, wiped the pan and hung it up, swiftly, accurately, and with a quietness that would h

kind of work she specially disliked. "You'll have to get some

he replied, not looking at them.

not like to embroider, but

cited, but silent yet. Her mother's needle trembled irregul

nished paper and his emptied pipe

y parents exhibit, how difficult they make it for the young to introduce a propo

leave home and go

, with the same air of quizzical superiority which had

living. I have given up school-teaching-I don't like it, and, there isn't

made, eh? I suppose you've consi

er. "It is largely on her

r your Mother's health to l

ne. It won't cost you any more, Father; and you'll save some-for she'll do the washing too. You didn't object to Henderso

ather. "Have your plans also allowed for t

w," she answered. "Now I am twenty-one, a

e talking of rights-how about a parent's rights? How about common gratitude! How about what you owe to me-for

struck her like a blow. It was not the first time

t. So I've been at some pains to work it out-on a money basis. Here is an account-as full as I

iantha

nderson R

dental expens

expenses .

in full . .

ing at $3.00 a we

ntals . .

-

600

feeling too, as he remembered that doctor's bill-the first he ever paid, with the other, when she had scarlet fever; and saw the ex

whistle-he knew he had never spent $1,130.00 on

s at an average of $1

ging $20 each ye

aging $30 each

ging $50 each ye

-

30

fifteen years, $600.00. Mother's labor-on one child's, clothes-footing up to $600.00. It look

counting books and slates and even pencils-it brought up evenings long passed by, the sewi

olded her for her careless tomboy ways. Slates-three, $1.50-they were all down. And slates didn't

as to house-rent in the country, and food raised on the farm. Yes, he guessed t

paid the winter she w

-three .

elodeon .

e of five to us

ssons .

ch he smiled to observe made just an even figure, and suspect

kind of funny," he said-"o

or that, and $2.00 for the third-that takes out two, you see. Then it's $156 a year till I was fourte

ued slowly, "I guess that's a fair enough account. 'Cording to this, you owe

she. "But here's

ount was as clear and honest as the first and full of exasperating detail. She laid b

hirteen-real work you'd have had to pay for, and I've only put it at ten cents an hour. When Mother was sick the year I was fourteen, and I did it all but the washing-all a servant wou

t moun

derson

Diantha

or and

rs a day at 10c. a

urs a day at 10c. a

ages at $5.00 a

, three hours a day

-

04

abor footing up to two thousand dollars and over! It was lucky a man had

a fine scholar and he had felt very proud of his girl w

ear $700, $800, $900; why it made $3,000 she had earned in four years. Astonishing. Out of this she had a balance in the bank of $550.00. He was pleased to see that she had been so saving. A

ady!-besides this nest egg in the bank-I'd no idea y

id she quietly, and handed hi

sick and Diantha had paid both the doctor and the nurse-yes-he had been much cramped that year-and nurses come high. For Henderson, Jr.'s, expenses to San Francisco, and a

his raisin experiment-for the new horse they simply had to have for the drying apparatus that year he lost so much mone

y balance, of the a

r . . .

rd . .

dvanced" .

-

147

e for her

-

om him . .

her quizzically; while her mother rocked and darned and wiped away an

e papers away and

eard of such a thing! You go and count up in cold dollars the work that every decent girl d

haven't," said

ly besides, should plan to desert her mother outright-now she's old and sick! Of course I can't stop you! You're of age, and children nowadays have no sense of natural obligation after they're grown up. You can g

conclusive form of punctuation much u

OOR R

r Relation, who was onl

tainly open to criti

of the Family, "That is why we

breaks and loses things-that is why h

sted with any important business-tha

deal of money to have him cared for in

cies-he is a disgrace and an expense

keep him at

a relation. Besides-someon

ou pay him

g; we just keep him alive-and cl

n defective

other say he was as

ation did you

to own it-but h

CRUT

he Stronger

him to h

ines of v

ker Ves

between t

narcotic

drug to

o soothe

CULTURE; or, TH