The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-28
From the Detroit Free Pre- S.
FRUITS OF F0URIERISM.


PLANTED in this country by the philosophers who control
the columns Of the New York Tribune have had thrifty
growth under their husbandry, and bearing fruit
The first phase OF these doctrines soil associa
tons or phalanxes where all the members abored com
mon and shared in common the products of their joint
effort They were communities, retired from the ordinary
world Ignoring its laws and customs, and adherng to
laws and customs exclusively their own These associa-
tons phaIanxes have all been abandoned They were
quite harmless excepin far they generally in
fdeic and tended to pervert weak peoples minds into
injurious channels Of thought and action But Fourerism
has assumed another phase not altogether harmless 1t
has been developed imam association FORM and for
other purposes than the exploded phalanxes wherein the
doctrines of Fourier carried their legitimate
end This development is free lore community of
the sexes the basis Of entire freedom follow the bent
Of the inclination whom and for what length of time
men and shall be bound. Marriage is repudiated
and reciprocal passional attraction is the impulse by
which the conduct Of the sexes is governed
We published awhile since account Of OF these
associations located in Wisconsin. But it that
only branch of the parent-tree 1t has to light
that 10 the city OF New York. its most public thorough
fare the central society holds its orgies and this society is
composed of many hundred persons 1t is secret Imeets
twice week. We have space to-day for than
glimpse behind the curtain but the reader form
idea Of the association by the description which follows
aThis association, which is called the League the
Club formed in the winter of 1859 Previous to that
time, the doctrine of the Hocetywhich is simply the
French theory that man may take mistress and throw
her of when he is tired, and that may do like
wise with man, and that marriage is all humbug-had
been disseminated by the works OF woman named
Nichols, and Doctor Lazarus These doctrines
embraced by number OF ladies and gentlemen, generally
believers in socialist and sprituals doctrines, and in
October, 1853, MIR. s. p. Andrews held the first meet
ing his residence The parties continued during
the winter spring and until the heat of the
occasoned Of the members of the circle to absent
themselves for few weeks in the country The circle
had gradually increased until it had reached double the
original number. They were ladies and gentlemen of
high order Of Intellect and all persons OF rare ntell
gence and cultivated minds; OF aifuence, Also and
some too well known 10 fame The evenings were passed
mostly in conversation, though the enjoyment
casionally heightened by vocal and instrumental music.
Another feature which was occasionally introduced was
the so-caed modern spritualism inconsderable
Der being spiritualists, and some mediums.
"The Club was afterwards removed to the location
where II Is now held in Broadway and which house has
long been sort Of spiritual headquarters The club has
gradually increased till il 1900. Tickets Of
admission sold at ten cents each for ladies and gentle
together; gentlemen without ladies pay two sllngs
There is reg ular ticketeller and person who takes
charge of hats and umbrellas al the moderate charge of
two cents. Novices must be introduced by member.
The club entirely supported by the admission fees The
attendance ranges in number from hundred up to Ave
hundred.
AT these sem-weekly meetings the members of the
club and the strangers whom they introduce walk talk
waltz sing r and endeavor to enjoy themselves rs best
they may each selecting his her associate according to
attraction and afnities and always with due regard
to individual sovereignty. Occasionally the audience
10 amused, entertained, bored the may
be- by speech from the chief or some other great
man in the free-love Israel, who may DO impressed
with the idea that he has an important message
10 communicate. Although the exercises, topics, and
amusements INDUCED in take wide range the main idea
which draws and holds together this motley party free
love- or passiona attraction OF them prefer TO call
It They repudate the present system of marriage deny
the right OF society the State to interfere in way
with the subject any further than it may righully inter-
ere with civil contract and contend that marriage
may be limited life partnership at the option of the
man and woman, who the sole and righal judges of
the time and manner of its beginning and termination
One of their avore dogmas is that woman has right
to choose the father Of her child This theory has
we understand been reduced to practice to considerable
extent in this city, One young man. whose name we with
hold had considerable difficulty in converting his wife to
the theory but finally succeeded and was rather crest
fallen when he discovered few months later, that his
wife was attracted III another direction than TO himself
lie took the matter phlosophca however, and by the in
ble law Of passona attraction finally discovered his true
partner in the person of another mans wife, and the four
re-mated said TO be living lovingly under the
same roof Another is that of woman of fine tall
ens aud accomplishments and rather pretty withal who
actually believes in the theory, and whose worser
half not being the right one selected the father Of her
child short time since in the person of respectable
young married gentleman and is living very short
commons in attic where she is very much unnotced by
the fraternity OF iree-oyers and leaguers.
"The exercises consist Of promenadingthe clasp
ing the around the waist and talking apart in low
tones The promenading and reasoning together goes
Tor while when music strikes up and the floor ia filled
with dancers ~. then looks well enough to the careless
observer but let watcf eye be kept and the press
ing OF hands that going on the cering Of eyes the
clrcng OF waists by the gentemens and there is lit
tie room to doubt Of the character of the affinity which
would bring souls tremendously together Young women
beautiful aud accomplished, pointed having
given themselves TO the embraces eff certain young men
for whom they had an affinity while the whole brother
hood looked approvngly and seemed to regard ii
entirely proper
Such is glimpse Of practical Fourierism. Such the
fruits of doctrae for the existence and prevalence Of
which in the United States the New York Trbune respon
slhe They are infinitely perncious than the prac
nees OF the Salt Lake Mormon They the realization
OF French socialism The erpose is really unfit publish
aud We have suppressed the of it. or it the New
York Herald remarks "treeley Nichols Andrews and the
rest may try disguise the fact much rs they WILL but
Is plain that lust and sensuality the main Of
the success of the Club in Broadway They may talk
much they please Of social enjoyment passional attrac
uon individual sovereignty any other mystic terns to
tickle the Of silly women, hut the fact remains the
same III only brothel plan. Even at this
moment the old story in the Decameron, where two
exchanged wives and lived under the roof being
acted over again.
REPEAL OF THE NEw YoRK QUARANTINE RreutsrIoss--At
meeting OF the board of health Of New York on Monday
was resolved 10 repeal the ordinance passed by that board
September b. 1855 subecng all vessels arriving at that
port from Baltimore End other ports in the Chesapeake
Gay to quarantneihe to take effect Immediately