The herald., 1895-03-31
Frieze in Harry Cannon's Nursery

one of our tenets that pure water is the
healthiest OF beverages. The land is COW
cred with trees, and in the clearlngs we
will be able to grow vegetables and cere-
ais, for we do not consider sowing and
reaping as tasks which are useless or de-
grading.
when we take up our abode in this
spot we will bring with us fowls, rabbits
and other domestic animals, We do not
pretend at all that we are going to begin
our new life naked or with the expecta-
ton OF drawing at once without toll upon
the store OF nature. We believe in bor-
rowing from the present civilization, how
ever, all the necessary comforts it can
furnish us. and will therefore take tools
and machinery which Will enable us to
economiZe labor.
''We wish it clearly understood that we
are not going to play at being primitive
men and women. but that we earnestly
wish to prove beyond doubt that even in
the present state of things, man can live
well upon the products OF the soil without
recourse to commerce or manufacturing
both of which we consider useless and
harmful.
There will be ten of us in the colony
at first, five men and five women. OF the
men one is potter by trade, and from
the beginning be will be one of the most
useful members. From the clay which
abounds in the neigh Dorhood he will
fashion what cooking utensils will be
necessary. Two of the Others are gold
smiths. Their professional accomplish
ments will naturally be of no service to
us, but that will furnish a practical illus
tration OF how easily and simply one
can supply ones wants by utilizing only
what is provided by nature.
"A fourth lnhabitant Of our caverns
will be musician. 1t will doubtless be
said that this mans professional knowl-
edge will be OF no use to us, but on the
- lsn
will be to furnish recreation for his COM
panions during their hours OF rest. With
us he will have no need of forcing his
talents in order to live, for like the rest,
he need only take what he finds about
him in order to fully supply his wants.
To sow, to cultivate and to reap will be
his sole tasks, and he will make music
when it pleases him and not to gain his
bread, as he does now, by playing in Pa
risian concert halls.
''Snce its inception our idea has made
much progress, and we have already
many believers in its practicabilitv I
have received letters from more than 150
people who desire to be admitted among
the Naturiens of Cantal. They are from
those vino feel themselves full of strength
and energy, but for whom the present
conditions OF society have made lie
hard and hopeless, for they are unable to
procure even the necessities OF existence.
lhere are many others who revolt
against the slavery of industralism. But
for the present we cannot increase the
numbers OF our colony, unless. perhaps,
we take in tanner, who will be able to
aid us greatly in the preparation of the
skins for our clothing. Our tract of land
is about dozen hectares (about thirty
acres) in extent. and our experiment is
more likely to be successful if our num-
bers are limited.
Priests OF Cantal have been launching
vigorous denunciations against our col.
ony, and have called us perverted Paris
ians who have sunk in the lowest depths
OF debauchery.'
Hearing that we intended to reconsti-
tute the primitive modes of life, thev
have. doubtless, concluded that they would
see us walking about unclothed among
them. They will find however, that they
Will have no better parishoners, at least
none more peaceable. r." The Naturiens
intend to depart from Paris aud begin
their experiment next June.