Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-29
RUGBY IN AMERICA.

Schemes of colonization arc necessarily as
old as the world, and America has been pop
ulated in great measure by colonization.
Probably no scheme was ever projected
which enlisted the warm sympathy Of 20
many people as has the effort of Mr.. Thomas
Hughes to found n colony at Rugby, Tennes-
see. Mr.. Hughes is well known in America,
as one of the most able, liberal and onlighten-
cd public men of England. Many of his
works, notably "Tom Browns School Days"
being graphic description of his own school
days at Rugby and its sequel, tom Brown
at Oxford, are found in all public and many
private libraries throughout the United States.
The active interest he has ever taken in edu-
cational and social questions, and in all meas
ures for the improvement of the laboring
classes, makes whatever he says or docs of
great interest to the people of America.
He formed some time ago n society of
which he is the head, having for its objects n
purpose to aid colonists by an advantageous
purchase of land in large areas, and its sale
in small parcels at low prices, on credit main
ly of long term of years; by systematic plans
of towns, streets, farms and building restric-
TONS to the benefit of all by an arrange
ment of reduced rates Of transportation con-
struction of school houses and aid to church.
es furnishing of steam or water power,
portable mills as far as practicable securing
n population that will insure a good neigh
| borhood sale of seed, fuel, lumber, tools,
etc. construction and ornamentation Of
roads; prohibiting, in the deeds of lind con.
tba To- q ~
eating drinks employing efficient superin-
tondents to teach the best methods Of farm
ing.
These plans are certainly comprehensive
enough, and il carried out would produce
Utopia. The Society has among its mombers
many of the leading public men, philanthro-
pists, bankers of Great Britain and the Unit
cd States. The organization owes its origin
to the severe depression in New England Of
three years ago. which led some gentlemen of
Boston to turn their attention to immigration
from the old centres of population to new
homes on the fertile unoccupied land Of
America, as the most hopeful means of re-
lieving those that were made destitute by
want of employment. This Society, after a
committee had trGversed every portion of the
south, west and northwest OF the United
States, taking into consideration climate,
soil timber, water, attractiveness, close prox-
unity to society and markets, selected a
mountain plateau of East Tennessee, in the
upper part of Morgan county seven miles
from the Southern Railway, 221 miles from
Cincinnati and Ia from Chattanooga, be-
tween two continents of the Big South Fork
OF the Cumberland river This spot seems
to possess every advantage which can be
found in any locality.
Early this month, the colony dedicated this
new town, which has been named in honor
of Mr.. Hughes, Rugby, by appropriate cere-
monies. Mr.. Hughes came over from Eng
land to be present at the dedication and de-
livered an address, giving in detail the objects
of the Society of which he is the head. The
Society is known as the Board of Aid to Land
Ownership. Mr. Hughes finally says:
1.-THE prospectuses and pamphlets of the
numerous corporations and individuals who
are just now engaged in this work of settling
and developing the unoccuped lands in this
glorious continent are full of figures and
statements showing the rapidity with which
| enormous gain will be made in the several re-
gions to which they desire to attract settlers.
This being so, you may fairly ask, what have
| |, standing here as the representative of the
founders of this settlement to say upon this
subject
II answer them broadly and frankly: We
have nothing to say. We believe that our
lands have been well bought, and that those
who settle here and buy from us will get
good value for their money, and will find it
AZ easy as it should be to make a living here.
| RayOpH moi aful IN vol
Whether the lands will double or quadruple in
value before you have fairly learned how to
live on them whether you will make i've or
twenty or 100 per cent. on your Investments,
we offer no opinions. You can Judge for
yourselves of the chances if these are your
main aims. Speaking for myself, however,
must say that look with distrust rather than
with hope to very rapid pecuniary returns.
am old fashioned enough to prefer slow and
steady growth. l like to give the cream
plenty of time to rise before you skim it"
There is certainly 10 deception in this ad.
vice. and settlers are not attracted who vainly
imagine that fortunes are gifts instead of &C.
cumulations of years of industry. In speak
ing of buildings he says:
1--WE must bear in mind that these are, in
fact, or should be- the expression in timber
brick and stone Of the thought Of men and
women as TO the external conditions under
which folks should live. OF course we must
act prudently and cut our coats according tC
our cloth. We have no money to spare fol-
superhuous decoration, and our first buildings
both public and private, must be simple and
even rough in materials and construction
But there is no reason whatever why they
should not at the same time be slightly anC
good in form and proportion And at this
hope we shall all aim.
eve shall try to set you good example in
the public buildings. These will consist, il
the tirstinstance, of a church and school house
and then of n court house and town hall
We shall also promote, as far as we can, good
habits in this matter of building, by provd
ing plans and models of houses of different
size, such rs we think will suit the site, anC
do us credit as community. or course
every man will build his house according t.
his fancy, and use it for whatever purpose hC
pleases, except for the sale of Intoxicating
liquor, which will be strictly prohibited, bu
if as a community we guide his fancy in Ger
tain directions we shall be glad and consider
that we have done good service"
He warns all that 1--WE are about to open
town herein other words, to create a new
center of human life, human interests, human
activity in this strangely beautiful solitude
center in which, as we trust healthy
hopeful, reverent, or, in one word, godly
life shall grow up from the first, and shal
spread itself, as we hope, over all the neigh
boring region of these Southern highlands
Now, surely, just to put this idea into word
ought to be enough to sober the spirits ant
brace up the energies of the lightest hearted
and strongest among us. He to whom thu
work does not commend itself in this lgh
had better not put his hand to it at all in th
place"
All who possess really liberal and Catholic
spirit can but commend his views in regart
to the manner of worship and the joining o
the different Christian denominations in on,
church in this new settlement.
Now let me say at once, and with empha
-. H. l..