Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-07-14
A CALIFORNIA MYSTERY.
1t Becomes an Interesting Reaitty on
Close Acquaintance.

solved social mystery to discuss and
build vague coniectures upon. The
rumor spread that near there asstrange
community of people were demonstra-
ting the theories of every social philoso-
pher. Some said the community was
comnunistic only in its CONNIE rcial rela-
ton. One theory was that some of the
the men and women of the country
were were not the participants in prof
its AMI privileges, but were only SER
wants, subject, however, to strict social
discipline. One Santa Rosian seriously
informed the reporter that the people
of the community lived in three houses;
the men participants in one, the wom-
en- in another and the servants in a
third. But of the score of wild and alb
surd stories, the one most weird and
eerie told TO the reporter was that the
head of the community mad colony of
women over the hills in deep and
secluded canyon who never saw a man.
These fortunate creatures, so the report
er's informant solemnly asserted, had
only to express u wish for any of this
supplied to them. They wrote on slip
VI p1pVI lAIC htLlC VI hitsStCo
required, and left the order on IL log in
q seQuestered nook. Whether it had
been for half dozen corset-steels, a
glove-buttoner, assorted invisible nets,
or q sack of potatoes, the articles would
be found at the identical nook the fol-
lowing day. The genii upon whose OPP
erations the women depended WAS new
er supposed to remain at the nook long
enough to catch glimpse of the order
ing maidens, though it must be con-
fessed-added the informant-that the
temptation to do SO Was very strong.
Impressed by these conflicting stories,
the reporter rode out from Santa Rosa
about three miles, where, upon the brow
of a small hill and to the right of the
road, a considerable pile of buildings
marked the precincts of the community.
Driving into the grounds by private
road, and after passing 4 number of
very large barns, the reporter soon no.
tlced evidences of cultivation not COM
mon to California farms. The road, it.
self, wound up the hill with an evident
view to picturesqueness,a and was lined
with carefully trained pines. There
was a hot house for forcing vegetables
and another for ornamental plants anu
tiowers-both unusual to the average
California ranch-and at turn in the
road, large, handsome three
story house came IN view.
The lawns, flower beds, fountains
and graveled' paths. surrounding sec
ond and very pretty residence, suggest
ed the country place of a wealthy cul-
tivated gentleman. But the reporter
was on still hunt for socialism, and re-
PEELED the suggestion. Some gentlemen
lounging in idle comfort on one of the
verandas of the large house, with some
equally idle hounds, informed the re-
porter that Mr.. Harris could be found
at the smaller residence. The next OBJ
lect that attracted the reportorlal eye
was more reassuring in its character,
being large stone winery, built on the
most modern and approved plan on the
hillside, where the wines requiring it
could get the sun warmth and others
the cave-like chill of the vaults dug in
the hill.
In response to a knock at the door in
the second residence q gentleman. care
fully dressed and spotless as to his lin
en- and white vest, but comfortably
coatless and smoking a clay pipe, an
swered to the reporter that he was Mr.
E. L. Harris. The reporter briefly ex:
planned that his mission was to learn the
measure of success the Harris commun-
ity had met with, and to favor the world
with the details of its operation. Mr..
Harris smiled and answered.:
Just tie your horse, please, and step
into the library room, where it is COM
paratively cool; hot day, this, to be abroad
in the sum-"
The reporter stepped into library
room connected by two arches with
MUSHROOM, both arches, as were all the
doors leading from both rooms, being
hung with modestly-colorcd portieres,
but of rich fabric. The richly stored
book shelves extended around three
sides Of the double 70 IN, and center
table in the MUSHROOM was strewed
with opened current literature, maya
zines and papers. It was very friendly
and comfortable looking place, but the
repOrt.r was determined to probe the
wicke Iness Of the female colony, guarded
by blood hounds, and waited silently for
an answer to his original.
'Now make yourself comfortable"
said Mr.. Harris, land excuse my being
in my shirt sleeves "a servant having Of
fered him his coat and I'll talk to you.
am not experimenting with any ones
socialistic or communisfic theories just
at present. I got through that sort of
thing some time ago. This is my private
own estate. | came here six years ago,
very much broken down in health,
bought this place, lived in great retire
ment-vlsiting Santa Rosa scarcely three
times in as many years-found my place
sufficient to amuse me and occupy my
time, and so had no time or inclination
to make acquaintance, and the result
you can guess"
"You mean that because you have
been almost recluse the people have
learned nothing Of you. and have invent
ed all these remarkable stories?"
IL suspect that is about it,"
"But you have number of people
here?,'
Twenty or thirty farm laborers and
servants"
"And you do not control their social
intercourse"
mot in the least. hire what assist
ance require to operate my place of /,
500 acres and exact from my laborers
what every other farmer must-an equi~I
valent for their wages"
''But you spoke of having got through
with socialism"
Il will tell you what that meant. For
great many years l was greatly interes-
ted In the various attempts made to form
higher order of social life-higher
thoughts, palmer living, fraternal love,
and all that. am familiar with all the
attempts which have been made in this
country within the century. There have
been between sixty and seventy such at
tempts and every one has failed. These
attempts have not been failures because
the best available material has not en-
tered into them. The famous Brook
Farm experiment enlisted the cooper
alton of such woman as Margaret
Fuller such men as Hawthorne, George
Ripley, Charles A. Dana, and many
other men and women vino have since
become famous. Dana was the cook In
the kitchen at that farm, andwhen such
a man as that, for the sake of principle,
will do such work, and the experiment
fails, it is not because of the men who
try. After the Brook Farm failed Kip
ley and Dana went on the New York
Tribune, which Greeley was just getting
into shape, the former at SID and the
latter at $40 week, and they tried no
more at social reformation through the
community plan, at least. Now although
r oil fhaGp man we'll heard them