The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-11
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Influence of New Harmony.

In a review Of Mr. George B. Lockwoods
history of the New Harmony Communities
the Chicago Tribune points out some OF
the far-reaching influences OF the remark
able settlement on the lower Wabash. 1T
was in certain Of the New Harmony COM
munities," it says, that women were first
given voice and vote in local legislative
assemblies. and there the doctrine OF equal
political rights for all, without regard Tor
sex color. was first proclaimed by Fran
ces Wright. Through this brilliant woman,
also. New Harmony became one of the
earliest centers of the abolition movement.
From this remarkable community sprang
the first womans literary club in the
United States. the earliest of American
dramatic clubs, and the first known ex-
ample Of prohibition of the liquor traffic
by legislative enactment in the United
States. Here also began a system of me-
chanics' libraries, branches of which were
established In every State in the Union.
The little torch of learning held aloft in
the wilderness by Robert Owen and his as
sociates has, with the lapse of years,
spread a strong and growing light, the e.
fects Of which may easily be traced and &C
counted for This was the birthplace of
the manual training school, the first prac-
teal application of the PestalOzzian system
Of education now everywhere predominant
To Robert Owen the country is Indebted
for the idea Of infant schools. To this
spot we may also trace Constantine Rehn-
esque, the pioneer ichthyologist of the West;
William Mcclure, THE father OF American
geology" Thomas Say, 1.-The father or
American zoology" Charles Albert Leseur,
the first classiher Of the fishes in the great
lakes, and Gerard Troost, one Of the earh-
est OF American mineralogists.
Looking r6ree-OuaTteTS
century. Mr.. Lockwood finds that New
| Harmony has left an indelible impress upon
| the entire West. 1t will not be denied that
this community Of talented men, each an
| expert in his peculiar line, must have left
! some work which will be enduring. Indiana
has given to the world a large proportion
| OF talented writers, statesmen, poets, men
| and women unusually gifted In various
/ lines of activity. Who shall say that the
/ spark was not famed TO an ember in New
/ Harmony, which in it's time was the &C
| knowledged center of learning In the West
/ if. indeed, not in the entire country?
/ THE Rappites who dug prosperous farms
out OF the wilderness have been gathered
I to their fathers, and the Owenites have
/ gone the way of all flesh, but the spirit OF
/ that remarkable community is still ram
pant disseminated over a tremendous area.
! 1t does not attract the attention that would
/ follow If all these talented persons were
gathered together in single community,
/ but the seed sown in New Harmony by
the early reformers who builded better
than they knew has found Judgment all
over the United States The quaint old
| is now a well ordered and prosaic place,
with only the remnants of the antique
| buildings TO mark its history, but the in
| fiuences sent forth will continue to be felt
! In American life long after these buildings
! snail have crumbled to dust"
The Tribune speaks in the highest terms
! of Mr.. Lockwood's book as an addition to
the historical literature of the country