The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-11
Another Bubble Burst,

along the lines of Edward Bellamy's
Looking Backward" is reported from
Tennessee. The victims several years
ago put from $1,000 to $1,000 apiece into
the stock" of the new nationalist
community, many also giving up COM
Portable homes and assured incomes;
and all there is left to show for 1t is
of Inconvenience and privations en-
countered without real necessity or ex-
cuse. Several Of these experimenters
in applied altruism are bo,u looking
backward and walking backward, while
others are in the shelter of almshouses
or under the wing of private charity.
or course, this particular failure does
not prove anything. 1t will not be ac-
cepted in evidence against a recurrence
Of the folly. The socialists dream Is
en- treasure hid at the base of the rain
bow, it lures men on. even though now
and then one of their number falls down
in exhaustion, despairing of reaching
the receding goal. The theory, at least,
is perfect. The fault is with those who
undertake to put it into operation. The
possibilities for fault-fnding so far as
the latter are concerned are sufficient
to cover all varieties of circumstances.
1t will never be possible to demolish the
theory itself.
But at the same time, it is interesting
to notice that no social plan has yet in
all the history of the race reached a
permanent success without allowing for
necessary differences in Individual ca
pacity, tastes and environment. The
homely adage that mo two families can
live in concord under one roof" may
seem to be disproved by the inevitable
propinquity Of the cities but as a mat
ter of fact 1t remains vindicated in the
circumstances that only when the herd
ing of families in apartment houses Is
accompanied by complete isolation and
separation Is the experiment q success.
There have been many attempts to es-
all have failed. The individualism of
the species Is bound to assert itself over
and above all social artilice.
Mr.. Bellamy to-day is scarcely
memory, although a few years ago he
seemed the overshadowing theme Of
speculation and discussion. Many read
ers of these lines will have to think
twice before they can recall the purport
Of his philosophy. The social organism
has moved away from him and is at
this writing pursuing decidedly differ
ent false lights. 1t may be proof Of
degeneracy that we forget people and
fads so quickly; but when one pauses
to consider how many of these seven
day wonders one Is called upon to en-
counter in the brief course of q life
time, one is rather inclined to think an
easy memory Is public blessing,
whether degenerative or not.
The temperance in Saturdays
Times Of "Roderick Random" in the
role of political gossiper which he so
cleverly filed for years in the Sunday
Free Press is noteworthy circum-
stance in local journalism. Roderick Is
open to criticism on the score of his
party leanings. He is q Democrat Of
the Democrats, and his political say
ings have to be interpreted with some
measure Of discount. But he Is never
dull and rarely mislnformed. The
fact that he frankly predicts the DEM
ocrats will have practically no show
next spring for electing a mayor is a
circumstance in connection with his
latest letter which shows that Roderick
is disposed. as far as the exigencies Of
politics will permit, to tell the truth"
Lovers of true sport will be glad to
learn that the franchise of the Scran-
ton base ball club has at last passed
into the possession Of men who, IL it Is
in the woods to give this city an ad-
eQuate representation in the Eastern
league, will spare no pains or expense
to accomplish that purpose. Profess
sional base ball is essentially a busi-
ness enterprise. requiring for its sue
cess the same capital and qualifications
necessary to command success in other
lines of business. Now that these re-
quirements have been fulfilled for the
first time in several years, it will be
fair to expect material improvement
upon the unsatisfactory standards Of
those years.