Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-06
The Last of the Economics
BY Frederic J. Haskin.

mentoes and the cherished memory oi
great and picturesque past. a. hundred
years ago, II was one Of the most pros
porous and influential colonies oil the
Middle West. famous for it's industries,
its contentment and its thrift. Today,
il /, merely cluster Of rather dilapidat-
ed streets, struggling to hold their identity
against al, encroaching neighbor-the new
industrial town Of Ambridpe, which con-
stantly grows broader and bigger.
Everybody agrees that In few more
years Economy will be gone, completely
absorbed by Ambsidge. but there Is a
p.rt of Economy which can never be
wrested from it, and that is It's past
The Historical Society of Western Pennsyl-
vania has seen to that.
An old, square church. beautiful and
stately in the simplicity OF its design; an
ancient BRICK house, with peaked roof,
sturdy oak doors, and ivy-colorcd walls,
lovely, quaint old garden, containing
tall horse-chestnut trees, yellow rose
bushes and funny. circular, stone band
stand-these are all that Economy
possesses today 20 tel the dramatic
story of the early Economics who lived
n unique experiment here. Unless you
happen to meet Brother j. $. Duss. the
last representative OF the Economics
|
brick housel We did.
AS Brother Duss was trustee OF the
Fconomites' Society during ltr chaotic
declining years, he is much better ac-
atla:nted with its history and activities
than most Of the historians who have
attempted to describe them TO the public.
We have his own word for tins. In TACT,
so bitter is Brother Duss concerning the
careIessness and innccuracy with which
the records of the society have been set
down that he has lost all faith in news
paper reporters. For this reason pe IN
tend to lei Brother Duss tell this story
a. he told il 20 us. sitting In the garden,
in the shadow Of the old band-stand.
ECONOMY was the third town cut out
Of the American wilderness by the
Harmony Society" he began, wiping of
and adjusting his nose glasses. brother
Duss il very modern old man, with
lean, wiry build, hair scarcely touched
with gray, and lively, expressive iace-
He emphasizes bis eloquent remarks WITH
equally eloquent gestures
ALI. WORKED AND SHARED ALIKE.
tHarmony. Pa, was the first, and New
Harmony. Ind, was the second. All
were built on the same model, and run
ON the communistic principle. Every
body worked. and everybody received the
same amount of produce, regardless Of
| how much he had invested in The treasury
| of the society Mt the beginning IL was
| n marvellous organization.
Picture 20 yourself State where the
| high cost Of living is so Thoroughly
| solved that each one knows that so lar
| as the necessaries and comforts Of life
| are concerned he has them assuTed-In
sickness and in health-for all time, yea,
/ and after that respectable burial.
| "a place where there is no transporta-
ton problem, no worry about the condi'
ton Of the railroads, because all the neces.
saries of life are produced right there and
supplied direct to the consumers, without
the interference OF middle men.
, "Where there are no banking and cur
rency problems, because there is no need
OF money. The land yields generous
return 10 diligent hands, the factories anc
shops produce all necessary wearing ap-
narel and articles, and TO each ls giver
what he needs.
"As TO woman, she has the equal rign'
with man to labor and enjoy the fruit'
thereof also, she has the same right tf
/ give voice TO her sentiments.
"The question of keeping the yount
people on the farm is also solved, for tn
farm on which they labor encircles tn
town In which they live, town life ant
farm life being harnonlously blended
At harvest time the whole communit.
takes TO the fields. :.
"A place where the erection OF publl
buildings and the construction Of utilltie
is brought about with astonishing RAPID
ity: but, mark YOU, not by voting bond
| ! lakr
but by doing the work outright.
WHY 1T WAS CALLED HARMONY.
"A place where there is no dawdhn
or ouibbling or other waste OF time
in fact. where there is no waste OF an
kind; no unemployed, no INDECENT, n
tranps or criminals. A place wher'
although no one dresses extravaganza,
| the materials worn are OF the hlghes
quality. and every garment TO the la
stitch. button. hook and eye, IS In pc
feet repair. A place where flowers an
| vines grow In abundance IN every var
and garden; yea, even on the machine
: in the factories are potted plants or flower
in vases. Where there is an orchestr
and band, and almost all OF the peopl
take part in song festivals and concerts.
: He paused dramatically to let the n
glory Of this remarkable state take eifec
Then, This was the sort Of place founde
by George Rapp and his associates,
he said.
! tGeorge Rapp was a weaver OF Wurt
temburg, who decided TO emlgrate TO TN
! country upon hAring the news of tn
Louisiana Purchase. Accompanied b
I his son and many followers, including
Young architect named Frederick Relcher
/ he arrived in Baltimore in 1903 an
/ Immediately started for the wilderness
After exploring part of Maryland, Pennsy
vania, and Ohio, the party bought nv
/ thousand acres of land at three dollar
per acre, and located in Butler county, Pa
I not far from Pittsburg. They calle
I their settlement Harmony" and the
/ community the Harmony Society
I "The communistic feature of Il
! society was not premcditated, but can
! about through unforeseen circumstance
I After making the necessary payment I,
! their land and purchasing some cattl
! horses and implements they had hit
! money left. AT the time they left Nur
J temherg, the weather. members OF q
! party had advanced money to those WI
! needed it to pay the expenses OF q
I journey to America. Under prese
! conditions the payment of these loa
i became an impossibility, so it was agre'
/ that they be cancelled and that what htt
+ money or personal property exict'
= among the members of the society wou
= be placed in one common fund, to
= used for all
II "Atnopp the society's ranks were trade