The Washington times., 1918-01-27


from another planet could guess development by
dreaming of "a perfect world
Read about the famous plan of Sir Thomas More in his
story UTOPIA written four hundred years ago.
This book childish to minds in parts, and wonderful
prophecy In other parts written when Shakespeare
about to appear written by who studied and thought
with the great Erasmus.
Sir Thomas More son of an English Judge was born in
February, 1478 of courage eoquence and w.t. he
was beheaded by King Henry Vlu because he would not
approve the King marriage to Anne Boleyn
he protected and promoted in youth by the great
Cardinal Wosy He preached justice and died brave Read
Froudes account of his end.
''The scaffold had been awkwardy erected, and
shook as he placed his foot upon the ladder See
safe up he said to Kingston For my coming down
can shift for myself The executioner offered
TO tie his eyes,
"I will cover them myself he said, and, binding
them in cloth which he had brought with him. he knelt
and laid his head upon the block
''The fatal stroke about to fall when he signed
for moments delay while he moved aside his beard.
PITY that should be CUT he murmured that has not
committed treason
with such strange words-the strangest, perhaps,
ever uttered at such time-the lips most famous
through Europe for eoquence and wisdom closed for
ever"
The book, written by this man still lives 1t tells of
peoPle on an imaginary slano OtoPlaan utopfans have
things In common living happily It is in many ways
outline Of those Socialist theories that Bolshevs Russia
and others are tyng-wh poor success as yet make
The and the monkey quarrel as to which has the
beautiful baby Neither suspects that both babies
hdeous So with the children of mems minds their ideas
Of earthly perfection.
In Mores days executed with terrible cruelty
for trfing hets More looked upon anarchist
Tor protesting No should be driven such extremity
to be forced first steal and then to die for it,
More protested against standing army-we know what
it has done in Europe
This country in 1918 is beginning consider seriously
the folly OF private ownership of public monopoly and public
property Read words that More put into the mouth of his
mysterious traveller four hundred years ago:
SIT is my candid opinion Master More, that it would
be dIhcultn not impossibeto govern a State justly
and make 1t prosperous where private ownership pre-
walls and property is paramount
Raphael Hhodaye tells the story of the blessed mag
mary island of Utopia.
It is five hundred miles long, two hundred miles at the
widest In each household or farm are forty
and women including two saves-ruled by master and
mistress of mature age.
From each country household twenty go each year to
live In the great cities of Utopia Each city of 5000 inhab
1ants They take turns living in the city and in the country
this would be good idea for US in 1918.
More describes wonder of the future the incubator
NOT knowing apparently that the Egyptians had incuba
tors. He says of the Utopans:
''They rear numbers of poultry by marvellous
PLAN they do not let the hens sit but they hatch the
eggs by keeping them at even heat AS soon as the
chickens are Matched they follow the men and women,
instead of the hens.''
The Utopians drink light wine, cider and beer-more
civilized than American cocktail and whskey drinkers of
this century
More amazed his readers of four centuries back by de-
scbng the streets of Utopia twenty feet broad That
considered wild exaggeraton Another wonder thus
described every house has doors-one into the street
and back door into the garden" The houses mag
nfcent buildings they stand joined together without any
partition separation"
Every ten years the citizens change houses by drawing
lots More like other Utopan failed to understand the
human passion for personal and exclusive pos
session.
He says scarcely hoping to be believed of his great city
of Utopia houses built in imposing and splendid
style Of their own, THREE STORIES HIGH"
All children in Utopia are taught farming "They play
at it in their childhood Every person. besides farming is
taught trade.
"The UtopaDs divide the day and night into twen
ty-four hours, working only three hours before noon
when they go to dinner, and after dinner when they
have rested two hours they work three more and then
go supper About O'Clock in the evening they go to
bed, sleeping for about eight hours. All the time not
occupied in working, sleeping and eating they spend
as they like
Before the family went to church the children kneeled
(Continn in LastC