Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-11-12
HOME OF ONE OF THE

| HOME OF ONE OF THE
| is strictly rural, and the university owns
an entire section of land, $40 acres.
Upon this tract stand not only the uni
versity buildings, but also the homes,
for the time being, Of all the students
and teachers. The land is cultivated
comparatively, by all, the proceeds are
sold for the benefit of all, and the prop
erty of the community is kept in COM
mon storehouse.
A portion of the section of land occu-
pied by the school is high and wooded.
The remaining portion, amounting to
more than 500 acres, consists Of recent
ly-reclaimed swamp land with deep,
black, sandy loan soil, entirely protect
cd from water, and is of unusual fertil-
| ity, available for the greatest variety of
crops.
The community started with capi-
tai of $4,000, invested in tools, ma
chinery and live stock. The school has
asked for no gifts, does not expect to
secure any cndowments, and will APP
peal neither to the charity nor the
| benefcence of the public in any way.
The students and teachers who are on
the ground are working with their own
hands at the construction of the build
ings, and are carrying on the ogricui-
tural work of the school, all of which
| is done without compensation, The
labor is employed directly in produc-
| ing the food, clothing, fuel and shelter
necessary for their own comfortable
| -.r4o I, - 1o1,1 L
vided these necessities, the balance OF
their time is devoted to study.
The educational workers are build
ing up their own city; including houses,
school and farm. The dwellings, are
cottages, 12 by IS feet on the ground,
and story and half high, with first
class cedar shingle roofs. The school
building is 16 by SO feet on the ground,
| and two stories high, containing reci-
tation room, 16 by "a, and eight small
rooms. They have built five miles of
fences; planted fruit trees and 500
grape vines; have set out an immense
| garden of about ten acres; have fields
containing 10000 sweet potato plants,
20 acres of Irish potatoes, 80 acres of
oats, $50 acres of corn, 40 acres of
sorghum, 20 acres of millet and 20 acres
of buclSwheat, all of which is in very
| fine condition. 1t is the universal YER
dict of the large number of visitors
that no finer crops nor better farming
| is to be found anywhere than here.
The cottages are built in sort of
semicircle, following slight raise of
ground which is everywhere overgrown
with blue grass. 1t would be difficult
to find, or to produce even with con-
siderable expenditure of money, more
beautiful location for the home than
this little grove has furnished, ready
made.
The form in which the buildings are
constructed is that of a small village,
but there is no subdivision of land, and
no sale of lots. The school will hold, in
land, houses, shops and' implements of
every kind. There is no way in which
any person can secure speculative or
even Legitimate business interest in any
of the work of this school. There is no
plan for admitting, for residence in this
village, anyone who does not come sole
| ly for an educational purpose. The
school simply provides an opportunity
for study to, those who are willing, by
their own toll, to take advantage of
such opportunity; and the only return
offered for labor is mental training.
The man who does not want to study has
no reason for going there, and will not
be admitted, or, if admitted by mistake,
will not be permitted to return. All
who are not willing to labor with their
own hands at tasks necessary to COM
Portable existence are also excluded.
In fact this unique community com
bines the elements of socialism and
communion, and it is to be hoped with
out any of their evils. The aim OF the
students of the Peoples university is
10 sink individualism and accomplish
the greatest good for all.
Here is the order of the days work:
The rising bell rings at four o'clock,
breakfast is at six, chapel at $3.50, and
all hands attend this morning service in
their working clothes. They go direct
from this service to their work in the
field. At 11:45 the bell rings field call
to dinner. Dinner is at 1910. and the