The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-14
LIVING ON HoRsE-rooD.
Pitiable Plight of Free-Love Colonists-Their
Unique Style of Dress.


Philadelphia Record.
Back in the woods, half mile distant from
Ancora Station, on the Camden 81 Atlantic rail
road, stands j. Madison Aliens Harmonial
Home, or free-love institute, where a family of
five persons have been living in n state of semi
starvation for months past The news of the
pitiable condition of these people would proba-
bly, have never reached the ears of the public
had not some of the neighbors sent formal
complaint to the Mayor of Camden on Saturday
last informing him that two young lads belong
ing to the home were being starved to death. and
begging him to do something to alleviate their
misery.
Ancora is located in Camden county, and is
twenty-four miles distant from that city. The
tract comprises about four thousand acres. 1t
is frnit-growing section, and lays claim to
prominence from the fact that it was settled
originally by band of spiritualists, and is to-
day ore of the best mosquito breeding territories
in south Jersey The spiritualists spent 1925 900
never proved much of success
j. Madison Allen settled there score of years
ago. and after marrying the daughter Of Mr..
Spalding, himself spiritualist, conceived the
idea OF starting second Oneida community
there, where all property would be held in COM
mon and where free love would abound.
The regulation dress of the Harmonial Home
consist OF only one garment, which covers the
body and extends below the knees, and is fast
ened by long row of buttons down the back
1t is exactly like of the old time Atlantic
City bathing suits, and is worn by the men and
women alike.
Allen has never had more than a balfdozen
people around him at a time. They do not tarry
any longer than they can help. and as soon as
they procure enough funds they leave for other
places Last fall Allen prevailed upon a man
named Isaac Bronson to leave his home in
Russell, Mass and take up his residence
beneath the roof of the Harmonial Home. Plac-
ing all his household effects in a wagon together
with his two boys, Darwin and Henry aged re-
spectively thirteen and sixteen years, his daugh
ter, aged nineteen years, and q two yearold ba
by, Bronson took up the reins and drove all the
way to Ancora. One of Aliens little eccentric-
ties is to impress upon all his people that they
shall turn all their money and worldly effects
over to him. as we'll as all the wages they may
earn by working IN the surrounding berry
patches.
Last winter the two Bronson boys got to
running around among the neighbors Begging for
food. They yoory clad. and at times were
barefooted during the cold weather. The neigh
bors took pity on them and gave the boys food,
Mr.. Spalding has been sheltering Darwin for o
week or more, because his father drove him out
of the house. The other day the boys hap
pened to exhibit some of the food upon which
| they had existed for over a week past 1t was
such vilelooking stuff that John Smith, farm
hand, employed by Oxil Teasenftz, sent speci-
| men of the same to the Mayor of Camden, and
| alleged that the boys were being inhumanly
treated The so-caled food appeared to be
nothing more than grains OF corn pressed to-
| gether and baked
| A visit to the home yesterday and interviews
with all the neighbors led to the confirmation of
| John Smiths complaint. Allen and his reputed
| wife, Theresa, were absent Bronson and his
poverty stricken family were the only ones in
| attendance. The main building of the Harmon
ial Home is hexagonal in form, about thirty feet
l in diameter. and has only two stories. There
| are no dividing walls the ground floor, the
| whole being thrown into one room. The place
| is as cherries looking as it can we'll pe The
in a smaller house to the rear, built in the same
| shape as the other In half-cave, half kitchen
arrangement the cooking, or what little there Is
| Of it, is done. The entire family were without
sufficient clothing Bronson showed by his