The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25

ana subsequently held hiEh POSITIONS III
! the civil service. New York: Harper q
Bros. 5000
New England Transccudentn
Brook Farm" by Lindsay Swift. is the
second volume in a series OF little books,
! TO be called National Studies in Ameri-
can Letters the first of these being odd
Cambridge" by Thomas Wentworth Hig-
ginson. Volumes in preparation are The
American Historical Novel" by Paul Lei
cester Ford: THE Knickerbockers, by the
Rev. Henry Van Dyke: Southern Humor-
/ lists by John hendrick Bangs; The Cler-
gy in American Life and Letters by the
Rev. Daniel Dulaney Addison; Flower of
Essex by the editor of the series. George
Edward Woodbury.. and The Hoosier
Writers by Meredith Nicholson. II viii
be seen at once that many o. these books
viii be exceedingly valuable tc the teacher
and student of literature. and the semi
detached form in which they are presented
makes it possible TO buy one or two vol
umes without breaking set" Most peo-
pie will not care for the whole series.
which deals with subjects so widely va
ried that in its entirety 1t will only APP
real to persons of a most catholic literary
taste
The present volume is particularly in-
teresting in its way as dealing with a
peculiar phase of the literary, religious
and sociological history of this country.
Brook Farm has come TO be regarded as
almost synonymous with New England
Transcendenialism. although, as a matter
of fact. many of the most prominent lead
ers of the new thought" declined to take
part in the venture. Emerson was rot of
the Brook Farmers. nor was Claiming.
nor Parker. In fact the scheme savored
so much of impracticability that those
Transcendentalists whose Greek and Ger
man philosophy was favored with a ton-
siderable amount Of common sense fore
saw its failure from the beginning. and
the members of the munity were al
most all either yis'o nary enthusi-
asts or young men and maldens to
whom the community presented an
opportunity for a new and unconven-
tional way of living-which is frequently
attractive TO restless youth.
Mr.. Swift's work is not so much a dis
cussion of the theory of the community as
a history of Brook Farm itself, and he re-
trains from expressing very decided opin-
ions upon IL. enc way or another The
book is a careful, accurate history. full of
information interesting in connection with
the people of the time.
In reading the story OF this remarkable
experiment, one finds many things which
are ludicrous. some which seem childish,
mixed in the most curious way with lofty
ideals and unselish devotion. The way in
which the work was done, and the general
nature and ain OF the community, are
briefly described by the historian in the
chapter on Industries" He says:
The Transeendcntal brethren Of the Common
Life had II well in mind not only TO think to-
gether. though not certainly alike, TO drudge
with a holy and equal zeal, no matter how
humble or how high the diverse tasks. but to
give the theory Of association the sharp test OF
a communal table and to elevate domestic ser
vice TO noble conditions. II. during the years
of trial, there grunblinEs over neceS AIRY
economies Of fare. there was hardly not Of
Shirking or dissatisfaction among those who ham,
bly, yet proudly served. Nathaniel Hawthorne,
PlouEhman.' in his first enthusiasm wrote TO his
sister: THE whole fraternity eat together, and
such a delectshle way Of life has never been
seen on earth since the days Of the early Christ
ians. We get up at $50, dine al 1880, and go
to bed at o.
The usual duties were mainly discharged by
tile young women, no attempt being made TO
toist the men tasks beyond their experience
or knowledge As volunteers and gallant aids
10 the household brigade tie men were, how
ever. welcome, and made tn mselves useful and
possibly attractive. They were Of special service
and hanging out Of clothes was severe fast of
muscular strength, since there no mechani-
cal adjuncts 10 this department. Appliances 10
reduce the irksomeness OF the trivial round were
few; pump was the main dependence for water,
and duly appointed carriers visited daily each
house and supplied the empty pitchers, Some
times attended. in stormy weather. by youth
vino carried an umbrella Curtis occasionally
trimmed lamp. and Dana organized band OF
griddle-cake scTvitors composed OF -four OF the
most elegant youths oi the community"
isiiors were amused at the "fanaticisn exhibited
by wei-bred women scrubbing floors and scrap
ing plates, and Of scholars and gentlemen hoeing
potatoes and CLEANING out stables, and particularly
~ the general air OF cheerful engrossinent appa.
rent throughout" MOnoiony there must have
been. aud often. but il is the testimony OF all
who have spoken, that the real marvel was that
80 much variety and good spirits were intro
iuced. Little sympathy was needed for the we'll 4
bred and the scholars, because as soon
as was practicable. special capacity WIS devel- /
'ped and youthful training for particular service .
was made available.
About 200 people were connected with
Brook Farm from first 10 last. II would
be interesting TO trace the career O, some
Of the members who we're unknown TO
fame. and were attracted TO the Farm
simply from natural love for the theories
and practices found there. OF one of
these ii is written that he was known TO all
rs the General tall, spare osseous sort
Of man, who put his idealism into his
baking. That was his part of the house
hold work. After the disintegration of
he community. he went with the gold
hunters TO California, and died on the Pa
life Coast.
An Interesting bit OF Information is given
IN connection with Mrs. Samuel Ripley,
sister of George Bradford, another Brook
Farmer. We are told that from her was
1rag the picture Of Parson Aliens wife
In SAKE Holm's idyl, My Tourmaline"
New York: The Macmillan Company.
sL25.J