Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-07
NEW HARMONY.


Wabash, and following the s.nuosities of that RI
ver, it is distant sixty -four five miles from the
Ohio, but over land, not more than seventeen.
| The settlement was purchased by Messrs Mac
Clure and Owen, from DR.. Rapp, in the year
1882 The Rappites'had been in possession OF
the place for six years, during which they had
erected several large brick buildings OF pub
lie nature, and sundry smaller ones as resi-
dences, and had cultivated q considerable guam
tity of land in the immediate vicinity OF the
town. Mr.. Owen intended 10 have established
here community Of union and mutual c0-ope-
ration; but from too great confidence IN the
power Of the system which he advocates to reform
character, he has been neccssitated to abandon
that design at present.
Harmony must have been certainly desirable
residence, when it was the abode OF the many
literary and scientific characters. who composed
part of that short lived community A lew OF
these sill linser here, and may be seen stalking
thro' I Q treets If HARMONY, like Marius among
the ruins OF Carthage. doplollns . moral desoa'
ton that now reIgns IN this once happy place.
Harmony ia built on the second bottom OF the
Wabash. aud Ia perhaps half mile from the RI
yer, at low water. the first bottom being about
that breadth Mosquitoes abound here. and are
extremely trouble some. There are several or.
pies, peaches, &c; and the soil being rich alIu-
WON, the .farms are produc,ive-so much as $50
per acre is asked for cleared land close to the
town. There is a great scarcity of money here,
as m most parts Of Indiana, aud trade Is chiefly
carried on bs barter Pork. lard. corn. bacon,
beans. &C, being given by the farmers 10 the
store keepers in exchange for dry goods, cutlery,
c,ocsery ware, SC. il,e stor".kePpers either
sell the produce they have thus collected tn river
traders. or forward Il to New Orleans Oh their
own account.
We made an excursion down the river IN true
Indian style Our party. consisting OF four, equip
ped in suitable manner, the weather beng then
delightfully."- warm. having slowed ON board ca
no. plenty Of provisions, padded down the Wa
bash Tie scenery on the banks OF the RIVER Is
picturesque The foliage in some places springs
from the waters edge, whilst at other points II
recedps. leaving bar of fine white sand. The
breadth of the Wabash, al Harmony. is about
200 wards aud it divides rqnpntiy on H. course
To the OnIo, corning islands OF various degrees
of beauty and magnitude. On one oi these
about six miles from Harmony, called tie cut
off," we determined on encanpng. According
" we moored our canoe--pi,ched our teut-ght
ed our II, e-bathed-a having acquired eh"r'
nous appeti,es bv exertion, comm need the very
We roamei abuu, that and an adjacent island I'M
iii evening. when we returned 10 regale. These
islands are generally cover,ed with - cane
! brakes" and low brush @NSa. ~hch renders 1t
difficult to effect passage across them. Cotton
wood. beach. maple, hickory, and white OAK, are
the trees in greatest abundance. Spice wood
sassafras, and dittdny, are also plenty VI these
a decoctiun is made, which some OF the wo0us-
people prefer to tea. but it Is not IN general re-
pute. The paw paw tree (dnnona trato0a) pro.
duces fruit somewh hat resembling in taste and
shane the f. .banan, but certainly much inferior
| to that Delicious fruit. We saw several deer IN
the woods, aud some cranes upnn the shore
With smoking, &C., We passed the evening" and
then retired-not tn bed, for we had none-but
to right good substitute, a few dry leaves
strewn upon the ground-our heads covered BY
the tent. and at our feet large fire, which we
kept up the whole night. Thus crsumstanced'
we found i, oy no means disasreeable.
The community was composed OF heterose'
nous mass, collected together by public adSer-
t,sement; which may be divided into three Class
es. The first class was composed OF number
of well. educated persons, who occupied their
time in eating aud drinking-dressing ana pro-
Notwithstanding balls, aud improving the
habits of snclety; and they may be termed the
aristocracy of the UtoPian republic. The sec
ond class was composed OF practical cooperators'
who were we'll inclined to work, but VINO nao ~
share, or voice, in the management OF affairs. -
third and las. sass oSdy f P hsss,
ans. Epicureans, Peripatetics, and CSnics, VINO
amused themselves in ST ik"g ouf plans--exp''
inr the errors Of those in Notwithstanding
and turning the whole proceedings into rIdI
cule
The second class, disiking the species OF CO.
operation afforded them by the first class, natu
rally became dissatisfied with their inactivity
and the third class laughed at them both Mat
tiers were in this state for some time, until Mr.
Owen found the funds were completely exhaust
ed. -,
i He then stated that the community should d.
vide; and that he would fun'sh land and all ne,
cessary materials for operations, to such Of then
"a x;sIed to form q community apart from TIT
original establishment This lntimaslon va
enough. The first class, with Few exceptions