Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-08-01

hearty -mirth, as well as gravity. In the
twenty-four hours was heard not the
shadow of a laugh. People walked in to
their meals in staid, mechanical way,
and walked out again. No yonng girl
nodded or smiled at another, or hurried
in pirlish earnestness, to relate some little
circumstance or question of some girlish
interest, as they would have done in
their own fathers house. ....
7 was shown the children, and here
were still more vacant faces, ,and the same
monotonous dress. 1t was sad sight
indeed. The children are held to belong
to the community, and no more to their
mothers than to any other woman in it.
With so little brightness in their faces,
did not see how any woman could be
particularly moved to claim one as spec
iaIIy her own. There were perhaps
thirty under sixteen years of age, only
fifteen of them born to members of the
community. The rule is, I know, to see
women dragged to the earth bearing
children like the animals ); but when /
looked at these Young women, so devoid
of characteristics, ] saw that the beaten
road was more desirable, if enlightened
reason could not point out wiser course,
When the wife of Gen. Conner walked
through the streets of Salt Lake City,
with her splendidly organized boy, the
tone and air of the child was so different
from that of the young Morlnolis, that he
attracted universal attention. Mormons
and Communicates both declare they
have found the true social system. Both
make it paw, for both work. But, as far
nobIer specimens Of humanity are found
outside these institutions than are found
within them, we are bound to conclude
that we are not yet wise enough to strike
the kew note which shall marshal our
social forces into harmony.
Toqmake assurance doubly snre-to
eradicate at the very earliest moment the
faintcst glimpse OF genius, they have ini-
tiated system of what they call "criti-
cism," which, denying all privacy, all
solitude to the soul, ensures the spiritual
death of each. Great thoughts are nur-
sed long in secre. before they are mature
enough to present to the world. Every
great decd had a long background in the
character that was nourished in Quiet
far from crowds. This system of criti-
cism brings every member of the commu
uitv together every evening ftheir lives,
for the discussing and criticising first one
and then another asithc case may be.
1t was a singular proofof how the ig-
norant car. be managed by earnest but
fanatical leaders, to see the two hundred
apparently in state of utter apathy,
file into the large meeting hall the eve
ming / was there. They carried in their
hands mediunrsizcd lamps, which they
placed ON the tables assigned them, and
sitting down, the women took each out
of her pocket a gray woollen sock, and
proceeded TO knit monotonously, and the
men were seated back from the lamps
No one nodded or smiled, or looked
around them with interest on the gath
ering throng At once 4 young man
arose and moved to the end of the hall,
read from a daily paper the-telegraphic
ncws-news of Garibalii and matters of
equal importance. Tfey never moved a
muscle, or took the least rotice. No
eve lifted at news of the .hero's success,
or became moist from sadder CAUSE
Then a brother "IIomer" it was, | be-
licve. was mp for criticism very good
looking young man rose and declared in
measured phrase that "he felt to love
Homer, and he thought yes-hc believed
Homer felt more love toward the broth
crs and sisters himself His great fault
bad been his set acttys. He would work
his own way, and could not be made to
merge his ways in the ways Of Others.
He did not think, however, that he was
coming more into harmony with the
Kingdom of God. Homer might i'm
prove his Voice though. lie would say
that all:wetud be h;,pJicr if he did. I His
voice was sidisagretable 1t might be inn
proved. lie might take some Vocal ex
ercises, ETC." "A very masculine woman
whose voice | barely endured in scrip
tural discussion in the afternoon, here
climcdi i'll tlat ssshe too thought Homer
might take Some vocal exercises, and
improve his voice" After this criticism
which occupied something over half an
hour, was finished, Il spiritless hymn was
sung-the women took up their lamps,
and without one backward goodnight
glance to aan or woman marched list.
lessly out totleir rooms. At this meet
ing noticed several quite good looking
men, and these were those who exercised
all the power there was in the Commu--
nifty. fii~-dHe3 s,.- % .- |
Inever before felt SO certain that the
desire to obtain for ones self property
was God-given and legitimate desire.
These people had silenced this part of
their nature, and their faces told it.
The next day, after being kindly en-
tertained, we were shown the factories,
and then carried to the railroad station,
feeling very mnch like CUieridge's
-1ncient 1Hdfiae,'-" sadder but a W iscr
man. .sfH. --- iz r1tl..'. 4,
r,- Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Chronicle