The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-01
The Thinking
Power
BY WILLIAM BRAKEMAN


| when Europe was making one Of those
advances In new lines of thought
which have marked different stages OF
intellectual development, when CROP
of great French thinkers-Voltaire and
others-were attracting attention. a
wealthy Partisan Indy conceived In
some degree those ideas intended for
the amelioration of women that are in
vogue during the present day.
Mime. Drivaux did not follow the
lines of the present movement, where
In women contend for equality with
men. Her idea was that women were
capable of higher intellectual develop
ment than men from the fact that they
are made of finer texture. Her plan
was TO utilize the brute force of men
by making 1t subservient to the supe-
rior intellectual faculties of women.
Nine. Driyaux, who possessed an
enormous fortune, purchased an island
in the Mediterranean sea- upon which
she proposed to carry out her Idea. She
had no difficulty In founding her col
ony. Some of her colonists were of
noble birth; others were commoners,
but all were intellectual. She called
for men volunteers who must join with
a full understanding that the women
were to do the thinking, the men to
serve as protectors.
Nine. Drivauxs idea in separating
her colonists from the rest of the world
was that she might make an absolutely
fresh start, untrammeled by existing
institutions, laws, customs But per
feet shaking off Of the present In order
to inaugurate a new future Is very diff
ficult. A weak spot In the founders
purpose was that among the hundred
women she took with her there were
three each of whom was loved by a
with those they loved. enrolled them
selves among the masculine force who
were to do the fighting and laborers.
Thus at the very outset did the canker-
worm get into the roots Of the tree that
Nine. Drivaux had planted with so
much thought, trouble and expense,
Nine Drivaux had enlisted every
man colonist herself, taking care that
he was not opposed to her scheme or
to accept the direction of the I
women, looking to his muscles rather
than his brain for his share of the |
work But these three "misbegotten I
knaves." who had joined for the pur-
pose of getting possession of the wom- I
an they loved. deceived her by being /
The Ioudest in their advocacy of her
plan and their promises to be obedient
md patient laborers and soldiers.
Marriage was not forbidden in the
colony, but every man who married
vas obliged to promise that he would
hey his wife. Moreover. he was
obliged to agree to be newer OF wood
md a drawer of water, looking to his
wife for guidance like an obedient hus-
,and.
Now. the three marplots who had
oined the colony were much put out at
Iaying to leave Paris for consider
Bile time in order to save for them
elves the women they loved Even
n the voyage they put their heads to-
ether to devise a plan for being re-
enged on the colonists for the sacri-
ce. they we're obliged to make. Nat
rally it was easy for them TO get con
,ol of the other men colonists, for the
liter being content to let the women
0 their thinking were not disposed
, think for themselves; consequently.
osed to lead them, they naturally fol
wed
Now, IL so happened that soon after I
lie colony was established a ship stop !
I'd at the island loaded with a fierce
md OF Arabs from the African coast,
mt on plumber. Nine. Drivaux called
BON the men to attack the invaders
I'd drive them away. Jules Champi- Il
lis. one of the three men who had :.
zen plotting against the success Of \,
e colonial scheme, said:
I'VE are ready TO drive these men :,
way. but we would be pleased II you =
ould give US a plan OF attack. II is 81
r part TO do the fighting. but your e
TT to tell US how. Shall we take the IL
'ensive or act upon the defensive? n
all we use guns OF shall we rely on 4
T bayonetsT'
Nine Drivsux looked sc0rnfully on
Champinois, stamped her foot and
ID him to drive the rascals away
thout asking any further questions
rhe women who were about their
Ief were much frightened
This colony is organized" continued