Evening star., 1896-10-31

the moss effect is produced by a well-se-
lected green paint. The twenty acres on
which the houses are located are owned by
Miss M. Of New York. tho founder OF the
settlement and are upon a small plateau
jutting out from among the foothills OF
Mount Hurricane, commanding one OF the
finest mountain views Of the Adirondacks.
Mount Marcy. the highest peak; the Giants,
and others being close at hand. This settle
ment Is known as Summer Brook. 1t wa.
started during the sun...Iier of 1875 and
carried out somewhat On the plan of Brook
Farm, which had its beginning in 1885,
Like the latter, the members were all OF
cultivated families. They met together by
to the methods of fraternal cooperation
working, walking, studying together. Two
servants are employed at Summer Brook.
and with that exception the members do
all the work, which equally divided does
not require more than two hours day of
each ones time. The washing was done by
the ladies, the men assisting at the wiring
ers. The special work Of the men. how
ever. comprises what might be called the
agricultural duties, caring for the fields and
gardens and picking berries.
In the main house is a large entertain
ment hall which is almost too vast and full
OF variety TO describe The floors are Of
hard wood, the fireplaces are suggestive of
I'VE olden time;;'' much OF the furniture has
rustic effect, as some of the pieces and
doors have panels of rough birch bark At
the end Of the hall facing Mount Marcy Is
an immense plate glass window affording
the best possible opportunity of studying
a gathering storm or the glories of q moon
light night. In common with the Brook
farmers the members of this settlement are
largely socialists, and with their predeces-
sors they believe in reorganizing society on
new basis. to reduce hours Of toll so that
all people will have sufficient time for self
Improvement. In the words of part of the
constitution of Brook Farm. they believe
that humanity trained by these long CEN
turies of suffering and struggle is at length
prepared to enter into that order toward
Wnich 1t has perpetually moved; thus also
1t Is perceived that the present has its own
nigh mission, that its only salvation lies in
reorganlzing society according to the un-
changing laws of human nature and of
UNIVERSAL harmony. In these days of in
tense ndividualism the socialist must work
OUT MS own destiny, and as a spark of fire
is produced by friction of matter with
o.ner similar matter: so the spark of eter-
nal truth is frequently established by mind
coming IN contact with mind
rrooaply the best-known member of the
summer Brook settlement was Mr. Henry
u. Lloyd. author of Wealth versus Com
monwealth;" next is Mr.. W. d p Rliss
formerly pastor Of the Church of the Car
penter. Boston. Mr.. Bliss. as many of your
readers know, stood for Christian socialism,
trying to teach that the relations which
Christianity tries to establish between man
ana man are indicated in the words, Love
thy neighbor." and trying at the same time
10 snow that In consequence Of our present
competitive system our interests are en-
tirely hostile.
The Joyfully exhilara.ing Adirondack air.
together with the harmony which seemed
the atmosphere of the place, had a telling
eilect apparently upon the physical and
mental condition of the members; every
oody looked as 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.