New-York tribune., 1874-12-25

den seeds, and all other suCcessIui coiImu"''0o
with their products, they obtained reputatioh
for the excellence of their workmanship. Iheir
traps attracted notice because they conld always
be depended on and thus they bn'lt up tr'de
which has been greatly enlarged by the introduc-
tion of machinery They raised small fruits made
rustic furniture raised farm crops, sold CATTLE ana
at one time had O sloop on the Hudson. In about
ten years they had sunk $4,000 of their capi-
tal. but IN the meantime had gained valuable ex-
perienoe and IN spite of their losses found them
selves worth little more than $4,000
Originally, and for many years these Communists
employed no outside labor in their houses put WIN ln
creasng prosperity they have begun TO hire servants
and helpers IN many branches Thus at ONEIDA lhero
in the laundry two men and i've w0men IN tGS op
furnace room two men 10 lne md tes s3P Wal
lingford they hire three women and one man ior ter
laundry ,,,o.. ~ ,bo
commune aud. as with the Shakers and the Iiarmon-
isis they like their employers These pay good WaEes,
physical ani intellectual wcbeng, building houses for
such Of them have families and need TO oe near AZ
haud, and III many ways showing interest Ill 'nei W.T.
Tho members of the two societies are for the most
part Americans. though there are a few English ana
Canadians. There among them lawyers cergytnen,
merchants physicians teachers; but the greater palt
we're New England farmers aud mechanics Former
CongregatiOnaIiss aud Presby terans, Epscopalians
MethOdsts, and Baptists are among them-Dut no
In the year 1873 the Oneida Community produced and
sold preserved fruits to the value Of 214l7; machine
and sewing silk and woven goods worth $2O3,1si hard
ware. including raps chuckS sk-measuling machines
venton) gae-ninges aud foundery castings. $9O,447
they raised twenty-five acres OF sweet corn SIX acres o
tomatoes two of Strawberries two or raspbcrr1es
half of currants half an acre OF grapes twenty
Of apples ana three and half acres o pedre
SlA-weavlng has been aDLDdoncu, as hot suV'oio "
At the beginning Of 1874 they worth over half
million Of dollars.
The community system, which they hold to be of
dxnn prOpcrty
persons maintaining that there is no intrinsic d-
ference between property in pcrsous and property III
things and that the spirit which abolished eX-
cllsiveness IN regard to money would abolish en-
cluslveness in regard to women and children. 1T
is an extraordinary evidence" Mr.. Nordhon quietly
remarks. " Of the capacity OF mankind Tor various
and extreme religious beliefs, that many men have
brought their wives and young daughters into Tie
Oneida Community" His comments on the appear
ance of the children i'll the Community have not a
little significance.
Children ure left to the care of their mothers until
they are weaued then they are put INTO u general
ursrIy under iho OF special nurses Or care the"'
who both men and woincn There are wv" OF lu.ee
nurseries one smaller children, the other for
those above three fonr years OF aRe ana aDc some
with the older people and seated at tables by them
selves in the gener dining room: Inc cnurr1 saw saw
n little su6jued and de.oate. as though tney missed
ne IG nnvever 'Trs sy I have been only fancy rm"g
should grieve to see III the eyes OF my little
expression which thought 1 saw in the OncIda child,
rei difficult 10 descrpc-perhaps might say lack OF
buOyancy or cOn6dence aud gladntss A man or
may not find ii dis grccaDc 10 Dc part o great
machine but suspect 1t il harder for u tie enid.
However will not insist on tns, for may nave bee1
mistaken | have seen, with similar misgivinss, a lot
of little chickens raised i'll cgg-hacnlhg machine.
and having blanket for shelter instead OF the wing OF
a mother thought they mssrd the cincG and the vig
liant If sometimes Of severe care OF tie old men, Bn
after all tney grew mp TO O hearty ch!chcis AZ zi,on
and greedy ani In the END as useful US ther more p
ticuITly Durtured felloWs.
Nh Nordbolfs general conclusions with regard TO
the character and influence Of the communislc sys-
tenn will awaken more interest with many readers,
even than his description of particular societies.
The whole number of these institutions III The
United States is seventytwo. lu 1874, they counted
about 5000 persons including children, scattered
throughout thirteen States, and owning not mIci
short of 100000 of land, that is less than Al
acres for each pcrson,-a comparatively small held
ing for this country. Their aggregate wealth may
be estimated at about S120O00O0. which II equally
divided would he more than $1,000 per head. Most
of this wealth. Mr.. NOrdhOif airms, has been Gre
ated by the industry and economy of its owners,
with no inorlinate love Of acquisition Oh their part,
or an excess of painful toll
The COMMUNISTS as q lule, are careful aud thrr
ough farmers Their barns are usually models Of
convenience for the preservation OF crops and The
comfort of auimals Their llGge is clean and deep.
Their orchards aboundi in the finest varieties Of fruit
Their houses are always neat, and provided with
superior comforts. In commune no member Isa ser
want If any servants are kept they are hired from
among the worlds people. The communal life Sc
cures order and system. There Is no hury biI!y.
perpetual Sabbath prevails in the conlInu-
nal village. This systematic arrangement ot
life combined with the cleanliness which Is
universal and conspicuous feature, gives
1. n. l.
not often found in general society The simplicity
of dress is great economy, as we'll as
saving of time and trouble to the women.
Materials of good quality are everywhere
used though with no DTctcsion beauty, hnt nonr,
of course arc the slaves OF fashion i is to be Oh
served that all the successful cOmmuncs are COM
posed of what are called common people. l0n lock
in vain SAWS Mr.. NorilOii, for highly educated. oI
refined men and women. They profess Io exalted
views of human destiny. On ibis point, We imagine.
MI NOrdhOf does not exhibit his nsnal clcarneSs oi
perception. at least thereare conspicuous exceptions
to his statement among tue founders and leaders ot
the societies. 1t is probably more correct to say
that they are not enthusiasts but utitarian. Some
do not even like flowers. Some reject instrumental
music. Art is not known among them. They build
sodly, often of stone. but care nothing for archi
tectura effects Mere beauty and grace they do not
Naiue. Inc cODlliiDiSbS uo Hot ioh ScNticio' ih'S
rise early and labor diligently all day, but not 10
excessive fatigue, and in such ways to make their
toll attractive and pleasant. They all live well,
according to their different tastes Food is abundant
and well cooked Fruit Is largely used, and this no
doubt helps to keep them healthy. They take
pride in their stOre-rOoms and kitchens, they always
eat good bread and butter, and live in far more
wholesome style than the average farmers in their
neighborhoOd. The economical advantages of com
munal life are set forth by Mr. Nordhof with consid
eratle force. Still, the picture which lie exhibits
leaves the impression of a collection of skeletons,
@bor nf op;n al nf Eviu I'm.