The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-06
A MODERN BROOK FARM.
Settlement of Christian Socialists in the
Adirondack Mountains.

Adirondack Mountains.
(f'rom the Boston Evening Transcrint.)
Away up in the Adirondacks mt one of
the highest points where hotel is to he
found-2 Goo feet above the level of the
sca-is IL log camp devoted to the gather
ings of II summer community. Upon Wis
itng this locality during the past season
| was Interested to find this little settle
ment. The houses are very striking in
appearance, bearing Il close resemblance
to II Swiss chalet, their pretty curved
roofs apparently quite messy grown. The
latter seemed marvellous at first. knowing
that the cottages had been recently built.
when upon a nearer approach discovered
that the moss effect is produced by "A we'll
selected green paint. The twenty acres
on which the houses are located nre owned
by Miss NJ. of New York, the founder of
the settlement, and are upon a small pla-
teau jutting out from among the foothills
of Mount hurricane, commanding one of
the finest mountain views of the Adiron-
dacks, Mount Marcy, the tighest peak:
the Giants, and others being close at
hand This settlement is known as Sum
mer Brook. 1t was started during the
summer of 1898, and carried out some.
what on the plan of Brook Farm, which
had it's beginning in 1886. Like the lat.
ter, the members were all of cultivated
families. They met together by invita-
ton to spend the summer according to
the methods of fraternal cooperation
working, walking, studying together.
Two servants are employed at Summer
Brook, and with that exception the mem
bers do all the work, which equally divided
does not require more than two hours Il
day of each-one's time. The washing was
done by the ladies, the men assisting ut
the wringers. The special work of the
men, however, comprises what might be
called the agricultural duties, caring for
the fields and gardens and picking Der
ries.
In the main house is large entertain.
ment hall which is almost too vast and
full of variety to describe. The floors are
of hard wood, the iircplaces are sugges-
tive of ''ye olden time;" much of the fur
niturc has Il rustic effect, as some of the
pieces and doors have panels of rough
birch bark. AT the end of the hall facing
Mount Mary is an immense plate glass
window ailording the best possible oppor-
tunity of studying IL gathering storm or
the gloreS of il moonlight night. In COM
mon with the Brook farmers the members
of this settlement are largely socialists
and with their predecessors they believe in
reorganizing society on Il new basis. to
reduce hours of toll so that all people will
have sufficient time for self improvements
In the words of part of the constitution
of Brook Farm, they believe that human
ity trained by these long centuries of
suffering and struggle is at length pre-
pared to enter into that order toward
which it has perpetually moved; thus also
it Is perceived that the present has its
own high mission, that its only salvation
lies in reorganiZing society according to
the unchanging Claws of human nature
and of universal harmony. In these days
of intense individualism the socialist
riust work out his own destiny, and rs il
spark of fire is produced by friction OF
matter with other similar matter, so the
spark of eternal truth is frequently estab-
lished by mind coming in contact with
mind.
Probably the best known member of
the Summer Brook settlement was Henry
ID Lloyd, author of ''Wealth versus Com
monwealth:' next is w. ID. p. Bliss, for
mcrly pastor of the Church of the Carpen.
ter, Boston. Mr. Bliss as many readers
know stood for Christian socialism, try
ing to teach that the relations which
| Christianity tries TO establish between
man and man are indicated in the words
Love thy neighbor, - and trying at the
same time to show that in consequence OF
our present competitive system our inter
csts are entirely hostile.
The joyfnlly cXhilarating Adirondack
air, together with the harmony which
seemed the atmosphere of the place, had
telling effect apparently upon the phys
ical and mental condition of the members
everybody looked rs if he were in the best
of health and spirits. The Summer Brook
houses are now closed for the winter
months, TO reopen by june OF next year.
YOUNGEST SOLDIER IN THE WAR.
Remarkable Record Made by Joe Cou-
gill
1t is now claimed that Joe Coughill, OF
North Manchester, is the youngest sol
der that enlisted and performed actual
service during the late war. 1t was only
through the influence of an intimate
friend, IL superior officer, that he gained
admission to the ranks
" hen the war first broke out, then a
lad in his thirteenth year, Coughill en-.
listed and was assigned to the First In
diana Battery. His youthful appearance
soon made him fuvoritc with his com
rades, and although young he was brave
and heroic soldier. He remained with the
battery until the close of that great strug-
gle and was mustered ont with an hon.
orablc discharge.
After the war was over Coughill re-
turned to North Manchester, Ind. where
he has since resided. There is perhaps nc
soldier discharged from the service IL
sound man that had met with as many
universities and pcrplcxitic, of life us has
Joe Coughill and yet made success
Although honorable his parents were
poor, and it bchoovcd him - earn live
lihood Is best he could. On the morDng
of July /, 1865, while manning a cannon
in firing Il salute for a celebration the