Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-11
EVENING STAR.
THE SPREAD OF SOCIALISM.
A Community OF Free Lovers on Val.
coar Island.
From tbs BHrliRqtoH lSenfiasi.l

| time and attention, reading, studying. aud pom
| dering over Fourier and other similar writers
| thinkers and radicals in various parts OF the
| country. He had come to believe in tbs feast
| hiilty snd propriety OF the community plan, as
II Is called, something like, yet much different
from that OF the Shakers and the Community of
Oneida. In the course of his reading he fonDd
an ktcle on community enterprises, written
by Colonel John wilcox, of Omro, Wisconsin
which struck him favorably, and in the course
Of a correspondence that ensued he offered TO
donate under certain conditions TO a company
OF the right Kind his property on Nalcour ISL
and and bis home farm, with all its improve
ments. This proposition Was fsvOrAhly received
by Wilcox and Others, and resulted Ia an exam
iDation Of the property by committee aud the
publication Of q document by them, setting
forth the plan of a proposed CO humanity and
the advantages OF the position proposed for its
location.
The community is TO be an industrial organiza-
ton for people hO wish TO come together aud
| produce subsistence in common, who will be
expected TO work for the common good, and
whose sentiments are or what the p-OpOsers
term the progressive, radical order. Some ef
the dozen or fifteen now arrived are Sp.ritual.sts,
rome free lovers, bGt ali SOCIAL retOTmers"
The industrial pursuits are 20 be agricultural
and horticultural, combining the dairy bust
ness, the raising Of small fruits, grapes aud
commercial orchards. IL will be necessary TO
have ample means to bridge over the drst two
wears, that will be mainly occupied IN LAYING a
foundaton for future operations. Prospective
men hers are 10 state the amount they can sub
scribe in money, or the amount OF property they
offer in pledge. to be disposed OF as son as
| practicable, for the use of the community.
Already there are several houses capable OF
being converted into Immediate use. Other
houses are to be built 20 meet present sxigencieS
large plateau is to be graded ana beautifully
ornamented, upon which there are 70 be twelve
commodiOus structures, built alike in every
particular, each TO have accommodations for
eight families, and to be the home OF a group.
| Each group will have separate individual pur-
suits, AID be Independent of each other as far
as the management OF their house affairs are
concerned. 1t is also in prospect 70 establish
| some sort of mechanical employment for the
winter months.
PROMOTING HARMONY.
The circular announce ment that the object OF
dividing the community up into groups is for
| the purpose OF classifying the divergent mental
| temperaments, and arranging them according
| the evils that have resulted so disastrousy in
/ previous attempts at establishing communities
by endeayoring 20 combine 20 many discOrdant
| individual elements in one family.
Harmony, peace and happiness are TO be pro-
4 NOTED. ANY discOurte0us use OF language or
| manner will be obnoxious. No complaint Of
| one member against another to a third party
| will be recognized; but il shall be the duty Of
1 the aggrieved party TO try 20 settle the grew
| ance with the party. Ii he fails, then he can
| present his complaint in writing TO the proper
1 tribunal tor adjustment. Friendly criticism IL
TO be the mode of dIspOsing of minor difficulties
The plan OF government provides that all
| members Of both sexes over fifteen years Of age
| are entitled TO vote. There will be an annual
| election, at which time there will be one pre-
| siding officer ef each sex, one lady and gentle
man representative of each group, 70 constitute
| an executive board, who shall, WITH the presi-
| dents, have general supervision over the COM
| munity. Two treasurers and two secretaries
| shall cooperate with the executive board. Each
| group shall have one gentleman and one lady
| superintendent, together with treasurer and
| secretary, who shall have general supervision
| over the group.
In the management of social and domestic
| affairs, each member, or gentleman and lady,
| will be provided with private apartments, and
the entire group will eat at one table.
Absolute social freedom, and the sovereign
| right to each individual TO control his OF her
destiny in the sexual relation will be fully recog
4 DiZed.
In their industrial pursuits, perfect equality
1 will be recognized between the sexes, inv Aid,
and the intrm from old age will be exempt from
| labor. Substantial clothing Will be furnished
| gratuitousiy to all members.
Each adult member shall have placed 10 his
| or her credit, sum voted by the community,
1 for each days work, to their own sovereign use
| and disposal. But members who are in Soand
| health, and who desire 70 be absent from labor,
| Will be charged an amount sufficient to cover
1 the cost of living. Ia Cd member will have tae
right OF choice in the industrial pursuits so far
L as the general welfare will admit.
Children will be cared TOR ana educated col
4 lecuYely CT otherwise as the comm unity may
/ elect.
THE DOMAIN AND OCCUPANTS.
| The property donated by Mr.. ShJpman Is re-
/ vertlble to him II the community d.sbanf. IL
1 consists of 500 acres on NSlcour Island, there
| being but 30 more in the whole island, aud IA
| homestead farm in WiaOoski, Containing 30
l acres, altogether Estimated worth $1,000
| These donations are subject only TO a purchase
| mortgage Of $1,000 and reserve of SIC 600, to
| be paid in yearly instslments. Mr.. Saipman
4 says he has considerable property lett, even
1 after making these munihcent donations. The
l "brCthersi' aud 'sssters," az they are termed
are much pleased with the tine property. Our
| reporter did not visit the island, but the home
| farm be found TO be a very desirable place
l finely located, with some good buildings aud
| commanding one Of the loyeliest OF lovely Yer
Il wi hr oh ,.aa9
/ bluff the broad eXpanse Of Lake Chsmplain
1 with the misty looking, blush AdirOnd &C Ks for
the background OF that picture, and the other
| beautiful tract or und Mating country, backed
by the sturdy-leokiny Green Mountains, with
Cancels Hump and Mansfield grandly towering
above the adjacent crags.
Those who have 30 far arrived are still at Mr.
4 Shipman's home farm, but intend soon to locate
upon the island. They will be Joined by others
| who are to start from Chicago, September 5,
| and there are numerous letters from other par
/ ties asking admission TO the community. Care
i will be taken however, 10 admit but limited
number, that they may be comfortably taken
/ care Of the approaching winter mouths. Among
i the arrivals are Mr.. K. p. Lyman and wife; Mr..
John Bentley, wife and child; Mr.. George K.
Charles, wife and child; Mr.. Nelson, wife and
| two childTen;J. H.White, Mr.. Courtlsnd White,
| and Miss ii. Augusta White, sister of the two
/ gentlemen last Darned. The most prominent
| personsges in the party are the two first named.
| MIR. Bentley is q fine mechanic, ami has been
| employed in important positions Of trust. Mr..
/ Lyman was formerly a wholesale dealer in tea,
4 Gomez ana SPICES. Inc LADY Is described BY a
1 Chicago paper as a young lady OF twenty-seVen
years of age. She is an authoress, lectures aud
| pOetess. She possesses a mind of singular origi-
| nality, and a form of admirable beRuty.
EVERYTHING IN COMMON.
| Mr.. Lyman was at some pains TO unfold the
| mysteries of communism and free love. The
| former are easily understood. A party of psO-
| pie Of similar views on a certain class OF sub
| jects come together and produce subsistence in
| common. This gives them much more time 20
| spend in mental culture and social enjoyment
| than if each individual were working separ-
| ately according to the present uses OF society.
| The free love principle is based upon the fact
| that in marriage, under the present laws Of So
| ciety, there is much mental inharmony aud phy-
| steal untitness among parties entering into that
| relation, aud that for these there is no remedy
| but through crime and its public exposure
through the divorce courts. Free love does
| away with this. 1t eliminates from the marital
| relation its holy and binding character, and re-
| duces il to a contract which can be broken at
| pleasure by the parties. Its advocates claim
| that they are far more content than people not
believing or practising it, aud that il does away
with criminal commerce and unhappy and i'll
| assorted marriages.
| The gentlemen with whom our representa-
1 tive conyersed were intelligent, well bred men,