The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-28
people had Joined the new com

hundred people had joined the new COM
munity.
For a time Mr.. Owen found great salts
faction In contemplating the success OF his
venture There was, OF seemed TO be. a
harmonious feeling on all sides. Men and
women OF culture were drawn thither-con-
genial spirits animated by a lofty AID noble
purpose and representing many sections CT
our own "a well as European Countries
William Mcclure. the father Of American
geology" and Thomas Say, the father of
American zoology" were among the first
10 reach the scientific Mecca, while MIR.
Owens sons, Robert Dale. David Dale and
Richard, added immensely to the intellectual
wealth Of the community. At first one or
two persons came together, then they came
IN groups and at last a 'boatload of knowl-
edge reached the wharf and was warmly
welcomed by those already upon the ground.
For IL Is characteristic of scholars the world
ever TO give scholars a royal welcome I'M
der any and all conditions. New
Harmony claimed, and with reason, TO hold
within its limits a larger number of scien-
tifc minds and men and women of broad.
generous culture than any other town of its
size in the country. # a town could only
live upon its past history. New Harmony
would, indeed, be a multi-millionaire. Not
w~ithstanding all these facts. the county
which contained these starry-minded people
vas the worst-maligned county in the State.
EXPERIMENT A FAILURE.
But Mr.. Owens community was a failure
IN so far as its socialistic features were
concerned, and conclusively demonstrated
the fact that the American mind is not
adapted to that mode of life. With the fall
OF that fine network of speculative as well
as idealistic fancies which the founder had
spun into the airy web, the socialistic
structure vanished like mist before a sum-
mer's sun and Methods in harmony with
the newer conditions were quickly adopted.
Instead OF one large body of land worked
on the cooperative plan. there were many
small farms managed by separate individu-
ais and. as a result, greater success was
attained than under former conditions. But,
from an intellectual standpoint Mr.. Owens
communistic venture was not a failure,
since out of the communistic confusion rose
the mental impulse which has given the
town of New Harmony a past history that
her people are justified in modestly glorying
i'm. and not only the town of New Harmony.
but the people OF the entire State may point
with Just pride to the early planting of that
intellectual seed that has, Of late years.
blossomed into so fruitful a harvest in the
Hoosier State.
So far as known, every Individual con-
nected with the Owen community has gone
to his long home. The very mention of
their names sends a thrill or pleasure
through the mind as one contemplates their
lofty aims and daring achievements in the
intellectual and scientific world. The dead
roll of fame does not contain a list of names
whose possessors were animated by loftier
and nobler ideals than were Robert Owen,
the ph.lanthropist; William Mcclure, the
geologist; Thomas Say, naturalist; Robert
Dale Owen, statesman and scholar; David
Dale Owen. scientist; Richard Owen, scien-
fist; Joseph Men. Iinguist, and WIN intro
duced the Pestalozzian system. into this
country; Gerard Troost. geologist; A II.
Worthen. geologist, Charles Alexander lie
6eur, naturalist, and who irss explored the
Indian mounds of Indiana and afterwards
became curator OF the museum at Havre.
France: Madame DArusmont, ~philanthro-
phist and author, and a host of others. all
welded to science or literature in some form
and whose work, both real and speculative,
made a valuable addition to the worlds
fund Of information and which embraces
results attained along many lines of scien-
tifc exploitation.
Such was the final outcome of Robert
Owens socialistic venture. AS a practical
scheme of reformation 1t must be regarded
as 3 failure and has long since come to be
regarded as q psychological curiosity: but.
measured by its intellectual results, it was
eminently successful. T. NJ. WEAVER
Washington, ID. G.