The Washington times., 1907-06-17
FREE LOVE SECT
MENACES MORALS
OF WELLESLEY
Police Chief Asked to
Break Up Strange
Colony Near
Boston.

BOSTON, June 17.-Efforts have been
started TO break up the Home Of Spon-
tancous Love-" run at Wellesley by
Frederick Reed. former master of the
Boston Latin School. Not only are the
authorities of Wellesley College aroused
against the remarkable free-love COM
nunity, but the -staid residents Of
Wellesley village. shocked over the rep
utation which the place has managed
10 build up. have determined to run IL
out OF town.
Chief Of Police lingsbuTy. of Welles-
ley, has been asked 10 investigate and
has promised to do so. Overlook, as
the colony is known in the village. has
made no secret Of its ideas Of liberal
morality. The chief has heard many
startling stories OF strange doings in
the community.
Miss Caroline Hazard, president Of
wellesley College. is one of those who
have implored the chief to blot out the
colony. She has learned that students
OF her college were visiting the place
and she is afraid their morals will be
severely hurt.
Wife Helps Conduct II.
Reed has run the colony for two
years. His wife. who strongly believes
in his principles, has helped him con-
duct it. There are absolutely no re-
strictions in life at the Home Of Spon-
taneous Love- Reed maintains that
destiny controls everything While
the marriage contract Is not decried. it
is not an essential.
The first protest against the colony
came from Wellesley College. a mile
away. It was largely due TO the inno-
cent enthusiasm of one of Reeds nteces
that The wellesley girls. some time ago.
began paying their visits to the spirit
community. as il is sometimes called.
This niece is a sophomore and is very
fond OF her uncle. She considered over
brook a truly romantic spot and. know
Ing nothing OF the character OF some
OF its uatrons. urged her college, chums
10 visit the place with her.
All of them were fascinated BY the
absence from restraint that Is Over
brooks main Chara cteristiC. They saw
nothing really wrong and grew more
attached TO the place with every visit.
Reed makes no secret Of the fact that
some OF the visitorCor communist
are OF a decidedly questionable reputa-
ton. Asking no questions of the call
ers, he is apt 20 admit men and women
whose ideas OF morality are liberal. 10
were not aware They continued 10 call
until the reputation of the place began
to leak out into the village.
Gaudy Women Arouse Suspicion.
The wealthy residents in the neigh.
borhood Of Overlook grew suspicious
when they saw painted women with
gHttering diamonds and fashy attire
going to the colony.
It has been a month since any wei
lesley College gitl has called at over
~
college this month she will spend her
vacation far from wellesley. Last year
she made frequent trips to the colony.
She is sixteen and exquisitely pretty.
She has soulful blue eyes and is of a
romantic nature. Life amid the wilds
OF nature appeals strongly to her.
When Boston heard OF il there was a
veritable storm Of visitors Business
men Of the city went TO Overlook &C
companied by women. They did not
Introduce their companions as their
wives; they did not have to.
The estate has a lake with splashing
waterfalls and plenty of secluded walks
running through fits wide expanse Of
woods. The visitors were told that they
might roam over the estate as fancy
directed. The lake was theirs to battle
I'm. he said, and if there were no bathing
suits handy IL made no difference
Among those who were drawn to the
spot was Miss Caroline 3. Norwell a
beautiful young girl. who had been one
of Reeds most devoted listeners at his
lectures on Browning and Emerson. She
is the daughter Of a prominent Boston
family and had shone IN society Her
parents. overwhelmed by her step. urged
her to return home. They gave her the
alternative OF being disowned or STAY
with the colony. Without hesitation the
girl decided to stay. She remained with
the community for more than a year.
Women Wear Boomers.
Others came whom Reed admits looked
like undesirable citizens, but he had no
alternative under the broad scope Of his
advanced faith but 10 accept them.
The women ct the spirit home wear
boomers. Reed says that was the
primitive dress Of the Greeks and
Turks, and that IL IS a perfectly logical
attire The men so about I'm overaIls
ana don't pay any particular attention
to how they look
There are now twenty-five members
of the community. Twelve are women.
and most of them are pretty They
work lanEuidly, and do not seem to
have care in the world At times the
population Of the establishment has
been nearly one hundred. Among the
adherents of the cult are several OF
Boston's prominent business men. Some
Of them have taken their wives to the
home; others have gone alone or with
women.