The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-25
OUR LITERARY CLUBS
A Work OF Progress in Which In
diana Justly Takes High Rank.
1t Was Inaugurated at New Harmony in
1858, and from One Organization Has
Grown to Nearly Two Hundred.

of Indiana, Mrs. Martha Nicholson Nc
Kay was engaged to treat of the literary
clubs of the State. Unfortunately. the
funds at her disposal were exhausted be-
fore the completion OF the work, and this.
among others was not printed. Its merit
and Importance however, called for the
placing Of II In permanent form, and it has
just been published by the Bowen-Merrill
Company in a neat little book of sixty
pages. entitled Literary Clubs of Indiana"
Mrs. Mckay is well qualified to deal with
this subject, and in her opening chapter
shows thorough appreciation OF the infiu-
ence on educational development in the
State exerted by the notable group of men
In the famous New Harmony community.
The impetus they gave 10 intellectual
growth is so little understood by the young
er generation that reproduction of part
of this chapter seems timely. The author
says:
of all the states; not one was more din,
home OF the Indian, well named Indiana.
The dense forests, later the source of
Cleared away Way that the snn might Ir' bring
new wealth to the new fields. The settle
ment OF lndiana's towns and future cities
was most pertlous. At the risk of life, be-
tween the dangers of the tomahawk on one
SIDE and the deadly malarial fevers on the
other' the nrst cabins We're rooted, and the
nrst corn neldS returned their harVests.
Later, the opening of the West and North
west, caused emigrants to look beyond In
dlana The prairieS were bleak and wind
swept, but they yielded crops at once with
out the infinite labor OF clearing q farm.
trans ans SO 1t bi came that the picturesque
thetc history still unwritten-which before
me days of railroads We're constantly wind
Ing from east to west, over the great Ma
tlonal road, stopped no longer in Indiana;
but moved beyond her borders to found the
homes which should be the strength and
Thus Indiana often deprived of that
most valuable citizen, the New England or
southern part of the State became an ex-
tension OF Kentucky and Tennessee, the
emlgrantS bringing with them the habits
and ideas peculiar to those States.
Yet, as If the law of compensation must
be demonstrated in Indiana, we find that,
While as State her growth was retarded
by early illiberal tendencies, race preju-
d1ces and timidity in regard to Americas
chief sin, she held within her borders the
seeds of future moral and intellectual life
IN Tar greater degree than her neighbors.
The ground-sweIl of Europe. its signif-
canoe noted by Kant and later interpreted
somewhat differently, by Robert owen and
ms nlsu foiioW %b vas agitating the new, as
States was comparatively little known TO
European scientists and philosophers the
southern part of Indiana was famous by
reason OF the sOcialistic experiment at New
Harmony
1t was indeed an enterprise to impress
the world, il 10 the ears of the multitude
the purpose could have been spoken: Rob
ert owen, wearing still the Iaurels of his
wonderful success at New Lanark en-
tune conn ms t 70 the e n eHe g5 oil ms FOR
new world TO apply the Golden Rule to
daily life.
The man who counted his friends among
the best of the English nobility, and to
Wnom kings and presidents alike had given
attentive hearing coming with touching
simplicity to offer all-time, money. ability,
unceasing personal effort-to reform the ills
from which society suffered.
al 70 of IIo,- ~,
cialistic experiment had a short and rest
less existence of three years. The ideas of
tanned. are here to-day, not alone in the
village on the Wabash, but in the State
in the Nation. in the world. Shall we see
what New Harmony did for Indiana? AL
though himself incessant traveller, Rob
ert Owen drew and held men of distinction
ana great learning, and many of them
spent their lives in the interest of science
and of philanthropy in this modest Indiana
The Father of American Socialism" as
Robert Owen has been called ended the
earthly life where it began, in the we'll
beloved native land; but to America. and
i3r years to lndiana' f he beqgeathed his
representing his county successfully several
times in the State Assembly. and a member
Of the committee to draft its Constitution,
was instrumental in giving whatever su-
periority Indiana had over the prevailing
prejudiceS of that time. 1t was he VINO
made 1t possible for married women to hold
own names. He secured from the govern
ment that fund Of over half a million, the
the public schools. Indiana is wont to
boast of her largest school fund" forget
ting that, perhaps, of all the States her
need in that direction is largest: forgetting
also, to name the hand which was first
stretched forth to apply the States money
TO this best of uses. Later, when repre-
senting his State in Congress. it was Rob
ert Dale owen who introduced the bill and
secured its passage, establishing the Smith
Institute nd LOTT
there was scarcely a rift of light in the
clouds which hung above our civil war. it
ter so fun of logic of tenderness. of cour-
age that caused the trembling scales to
droop toward the side of justice and ma
emancipation was written.
To another lifelong resident of New Har-
mony the present method of teaching ge-
ography in the primary grades Is due, but
Ricnard owen, younger brother of Rob
ert Dale. has not yet been fully credited
famous We're the scientists here that
abroad New Har1lony was known as the
Prince Macmillan. when travelling in the
t wnlieu o5S1es ~ the years 1928, spent
%eef those as Ne Wbose the grateful guest
swept away all distinctions of rank.
Sir Charles Lyell also praises this town
count of his geological explorations in the
United states In 1871. He writes
English. Swiss and German, have Settled
in this place. we were glad TO hear
many recent publications. and some of the
most extensively illuStra ted books, dis
cussed and criticised here"
Thus, it appears that before the plea was
made by the serene philosopher in Com
cord, Mass, plain living and high think
ing were in existence in New HARMONY
Here also lived Joseph Neef teacher of
Pestalozzian principles and author of the
nrst book on pedagogy published in the
United States. From another citizen VIM
Mcclure, came the provision by which $780,
600 was set aside To found libraries for
wOrkingmen throughout the State That the
townships of Indiana did not appreciate the
gift. that IL was at that time a case of
throwing away pearls, is not cTeditable TO
the State.
In 1899 DR.. David Dale owen was ap-
pointed United States Geoogist, with head
quarters at New Harmony. IL was he
who, by the aid of those whom he an
pointed, and who worked under MS SUPER
vision, made the explorations i'm the North
west ordered by Congress- This Hercu-
lean task was accomplished in two months
and the report laid before Congress at the
opening of its next session" writes the
historian. New Harmony continued to be
illogical survey until 1856, when, upon the
completion OF the Smithsonian Institute
| they We're transferred to Washington. ID.
| {. The immense and exceptionally rare
and valuable collections accumulated by
| DR. Owen We're divided. A part was taken
10 Washington, ID. c.: another part TO the
Indiana state University at Bloomington.
| and a third portion 20 the American Mu-
scum or Natural History in Central Park,
| New York. Said a noted geolOgist: I'm
| passing through the Smithsonian at Wash
1 1nEtOn ana the museum al Central pa