The Portland daily press., 1893-01-14
Socialism in Literature.

Rev. j. A. Bellows delivered the Sec
ond lecture in the Women's Alliance
Course at the First Parish House last ev-
ening before a very appreciative and
cultivated audience on Socialism in
Literature
The lecturer began by telling the story OF
the beggar in one of Tourgueneff s prose
poems, who, though he had received no
money from one of whom he had begged,
yet blessed him because he had given his
hand and expressed some recognition OF
their common humanity. 1t is the want
of this recognition which has created
barriers between men and has resulted
ia socialism and communism. When
our first parents were thrust out of Eden
work was made a curse: but it is meant
to be blessing means for the higher
development of mans nature-Only 1T
must be fairly paid and cheerfully exc
cuted work and not drudgery. 1t is on
ly against unfair and over-exha sting la
Dor that the socialist protests. The
French communist, whether Bah
oeuf, Saint Simon or Rousseaue, looked
toward equality. and to secure it would
sacrifice all art and beauty and religion
The French revolution was based on the
thoughts of these men turned into bull
lets and the terrible axe of the guillo-
tine. Dickens's 'sTale of Two Cities,'
from which an extract was read, tells
the story of the cruel oppression OF the
| poor by the aristocracy, until one day
1.-THE masses took matters In their own
| hands. A poem by Lanier and sonnet
of Rossetti's illustrated this terrible pc
Rod. But out of these horrors sprang
social reforms like these of Fourier and
the Social Palace of Guise.
In Germany, under Kant, socialism be-
gins with a philosophy, which, followed
| out, ends in division of labor and OF
property. An extract was read from the
remarkable novel called "Metzerot,
great divide'' on the principle of the
golden rule. In England, under Cole
ridge, Byron and Shelley, there was
strong protest made against mans injus-
tice to!man and the tyrannyof wealth and
power. But in Wordsworth, who had
been influenced by the French revolution,
there was a still clearer recognition OF
the right of man to the good things OF
the universe. In Hoods s'Song of the
Shirt the attention of the world is
called to much suffering class,-a con-
dition still unfortunately existing and
wildly described by Besant in his novel
"The Children of Gibeon." Mr.. Banks
in Boston and Jacob Riis in New York
have given us appalling pictures OF the
dominion of the 5sSweater, and the ter
rible sufferings of those in his power.
| Under Charles Kingsley christian So
cialism'' was inaugueated in England
and in sAlton Locke blow was struck
at the wrongs of the hour which later
helped to secure a "Charter of Rights"
| Another terrible satire, discussing the
social problem, was sGinx's Baby sug-
costing show not to do il" George
Macdonald in ''Robert Falconer," seems
| to prefer individual effort and sympathy
| to organized reform. But the Peoples
Palace in London, Toynbee Hall and our
| own college settlements have done much
| in lifting the burden of misery, Affirming
as they do, with Tolstoi, that it is only
| by living with those you seek to help
that you can really aid them.
In our own country there has been nat
| terially less of the socialistic spirit than
| in the old world. But there are not
wanting signs of danger and discomfort
which must be met with promptness and
with intelligence. The socialistic exper-
iment at Brook Farm so years ago left an
undying mark upon our thought and lit
| erature, teaching us how to combine
''plain living and high thinking" The
life of Lawrence Oliphant and his
wife set us all to reflect upon the same
problems. Mrs. Whitney in her pleasant
stories suggests the way in which we
can help those next to us-and the
''nexts" take in the whole world. Law
| renee Gronland's '.Co-operative Com
monwealth'' and Edward Bellamys
Looking Backward have, as it were,
given the constitution of the American
Nationalist. Whether we can do much
or little we can at least help to share
what good things-material, artistic, in
tellectual or spiritual-we may possess
with those less favored than ourselves
and in SO doing lift little 'the burden
of the unintelligible world,
Meeting of the Typographical Union.