Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29
LIFE WITHOUT WORK
A FRENCH IDEA TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM OF EXISTENCE.

The Naturiens Intend to Have No Wealth
and No Industries Except Such as Are
Necessary to Support Them-Their Lead
ers Views.
A little group of men and women call.
ing themselves "Naturiens" have just
sprung into prominence in Paris. The
predominant idea of their philosophy, "
as they call it, is to establish themselves
in some unfrequented spot, where they
propose to return practically to q state OF
nature by reverting to the mode of life OF
prehistoric times.
The founder of the school of Naturiens
is NJ Gravelle. He is a man of middle
age and of ordinary appearance. He wears
his dark hair long and unkempt, but that
is a characteristic common to most advanc.
ed thinkers and reputed geniuses in Paris.
His fluent speech and choice of words
show him to be man of some education,
and there is little doubt of his being able
to attract a large number of followers who
will be willing to put his theories in prac.
tice during the summer time at least.
I'VE only wish to make an experiment
on small scale at first, he said in an in.
tervew 1--WE desire to prove that the OBJ.
legation to labor, which is imposed upon
every human being born without fortune,
is but a mere social conventionalism. ]
hold that industry and commerce are not
necessary adiuncts to human life and hap
piness. Nature always has been and is yet
able to furnish man, without other effort
or labor on his part than that which will
be agreeable, the means of fully satisfying
his material needs.
1--WE do not deny in the least the neces,
sity Of labor for every individual in order
to procure the satisfaction of his immedi-
ate wants, but we firmly protest against
work for the purpose of producing and
accommodating wealth. 1t is from this that
a large part of the present evils of society
arise.
I'VE will take 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
1--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 in the colony at first
five men and five women. OF the men
one is potter by trade, and from the be-
ginning he will be one of the most useful
members. From the clay which abounds
in the neighborhood he will fashion what
cooking utensils Will be necessary. Two
of the others are goldsmiths. Their pro.
fessional accomplishment will naturally
be of no service to us, but that will fur
nish practical illustration Of how easily
and simply one can supply ones wants by
utilizing only what is provided by nature.
"A fourth inhabitant of our caverns
will be a musician. 1t will doubtless be
said that this mans professional knowl
edge will be of no use to us, but on the
contrary it will be, for one of his dutieS will
DO to furnish recreation for his compan-
ions during their hours of rest"
The department of Cantal, where they
purpose founding their colony, is in the
south of France, and it's surface is broken
by the peaks and foothills of the Auvergne
mountains The peasantry there are them
selves primitive in their ideas and habits,
and the indications are they will not take
kindly to the new arrivals, who will be
fortunate if they escape without being
forcibly expelled.
The idea of the Naturiens is not entirely
new. but their plans contemplate a more
complete return to primitive manners and
customs than those of any cult which has
recently preceded them. The Naturiens
intend to depart from Paris and begin their
experiment. next June. New York World