The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-18

Transcript
to the scene of the
- most celebrated of American ex
periments in Fourerism have never
been easier or more enjoyable than in
this summer of the educational conven-
ton. Ordinarily a considerable number
of people make the trip out to Brook
Farm in the vacation months-most of
them, of course, worshippers from out
side New England to whom the literary
shrines of this neishborhood have a sa-
credness which we natives hardly ap-
preciate. This year, when tho town is
full of devotees of the guide book, many
at least of whom are interested in other
than military "reminiscences, the historic
farmstead of West Roxbury will nor
mally entertain more than its usual COM
plement OF enthusiastic and inquiring
visitors.
The immediate surroundings of the farm
are about the same as they were in the
summer of 1910, when George Ripley, min
lister of the Purchase Street Unitarian
church of this city, went with his wife
to board with Mr.. Ellis, then owner OF
the place. That vacation at West Rox-
bury denoted the beginning of the asso-
citation. Enjoyment of the beauty of
the brook shaded by cumps of willows,
and of the pine woods covering the low
hills to the rear of the farmhouse. led
to the localzing of a dream of the eco
nomic independence of a number OF per-
sons living the common life The iso-
lation of the farm, the practical disad-
vantages of which appeared when the
scheme was in operation has resulted,
fortunately, for the pilgrim, in Its very
adequate preservation down to this time,
for despite the procession of automo-
biles on the macadamized road leading
to Newton, the buzz Of the distant troll
lev and the call of the canoeists on the
Charles. time has laid surprisingly light
hand on the locality. walk OF mile
and a half is still involved to reach
Brook Farm from the Needham car,
taken at the Forest Hills terminal and
left at Baker street, about a mile beyond
West Roxbury village where the statue
of Theodore Parker stands in front of
the new Unitarian church.
Thence a straight walk, the latter
stages of which are interesting, brings
to the entrance of the farm. picturesque
and noisy with swarm of happy or
phans wading in the brook in the shade
of the willows. A pleasant German wom-
an, one of the matrops Of the asylum,
gives the information that the large
bare building stands on the site of the
olive" the farmhouse whose surround
ings charmed the scholarly Ripley 70
summers ago. Along the farm road
stretching to the distant cemetery of
"Gethsemane, she points to the sites Of
the other structures of the association
of the Inflated Phalanstery. the burning
of which in March, 1876, Just as 1t was
nearly completed. brought about crisis
IN the AFFAIRS of the community; the Pill
grim House, plain, white and unadorned;
the Eyry, the directors residence,
nerched with its low French windows on
ledge of conglomerate and since torn
down for the ignominious purpose of get
ting timbers for piggery. Asked If any
of the structures of the '40s are still
standing, she points the way to "Marga-
ret Fullers Cottage" as 1t is popularly
called.
walk alongside potato field, which
calls I'D a picture Of Hawthorne hoeing
az a member of the farming series in
the hot sun and suddenly coming to a
conclusion which. couched in present.
dav speech, was to the effect that 1t
would be far better to 'let George do it"
leads up hillside to the house assigned,
by tradition. to the brilliant blue stock
ing whose centenary has lately been cell
ebrated. <Her occupancy of the cottage
| for any length of time may be doubted,
| for Mr.. John Goldman In his memoirs
of Brook Farm states specifically that
s'Prim Margaret Fuller who was a
yisitor-and never a member of the COM
munity, as has often been stated-pro-
fessed herself disturbed at first by the
easy and perhaps indifferent manner in
which they listened to her long CONVEX
sations, as they sat on the floor or on
| the crickets; but on a later visit she
expressed herself as better pleased" Ger
| tain 1t is that the little house whose
inmates were furthest from dinner and
good cheer at the Hive still invites the
sentimentalist and the amateur photog-
rapher. It's aspect today conforms to
a description written by a member of
the community: ut had only some half
dozen rooms, and was painted a dark
brown color. 1t was situated on little
knoll, with flower beds In the rear. and
Ereensward all around IT, Used as q