The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-02
Little Journeys II,
Americana
The Icarians
BY LESTER B.coLBY

4 AS AS0kAoAl8
GOOD people oftentimes send to
~ me, in my forty-seven story
tower In Chicago where l write these
things Of mine. strange books and
pamphlets and printed bits. They
are Americana. And so I find many
trails to follow II 1 would travel them
all. Very interesting trails, filled with
human interest and heartaches as
well as joys.
Have you ever seen the little book
entitled, voyage en- Icarie?" 1t was
written by Etienne CADET. History is
filled with strange people. Few
stranger than Etienne. In his day
France gave him many honors. He
was q member Of the chamber of dep
uties. He was attorney general Of
Corsica. His mind radlated brilliance.
France stood ready to bestow upon
him almost any honor. Then he got
his crazy notions and queer ideas.
But crazy as they were, his follow
ing grew and many were ready to
call him '.rhe Christ" Yes, that was
their faith In him and that, thou
sands did call him. He organized q
peculiar sect. History is filled with
such. formed In the name Of religion.
CADET called those who Joined him
Icarians. Icarius was q character in
Greek mythology who fastened wings
to his shoulders with wax and few
into the sky. Finally he flew so high
that the sun melted the wax, his
wings came off-and he fell. The
name seems a bit prophetic.
Brigham Young had abandoned
Nauvoo, Illinois, in the late 1S4O's,
junking his city that once held 25.-
600 people and leading those bold
enough to follow him westward to
Utah. CADET moved into the deserted
Nauyoo In 1850 CADETS grip, like
that Of Joseph Smith, first Mormon
chieftain, and later that Of Brigham
Young, was given strength by per-
sonal magnetism and a certain fanat-
icism.
In his voyage en- Icarie" Etienne
CADET lays down his ideal commun.
ity. Somewhere sometime, II you find
this book, read 1t. 1t tells Of place
where all are happy, no rich, no poor;
each striving to do good; no sin, no
money, no speculation, no gamblers.
no murderers, no thieves.
At one time he had as many as 500
followers In Nauvoo. They took over
the abandoned homes the Mormons
left and built few more. Those
they made were of grout, a mixture
Of sand and plaster. The waters of
the years have dissolved them quite.
They have vanished, leaving no trace.
It was much so with all they did.
Men, seeking the answer to Icarie,
quit working. When they did they
, hungered and finally they starved.
Hate and dissension grew up among
them. Quarrels and fights followed.
One day they kicked Etienne CADET.
their leader, out.
Less than seven years after he led
his Icarians to Nauvoo, to build his
Utopia, he died Of exposure and star
walton, penniless, a miserable outcast
In a cheap st. Louis rooming house
He was found dead one day In an
unheated room, his body frozen stiff.
/ wonder what went on In Etienne
CADETS once brilliant mind, this man
who was once the idol Of France,
when they kicked him out OF his Icarie
at the end Of a common brawl, q
fight over food. wonder what he
thought when the paradise Of his
dreams became a hell, when those he
led to Nauvoo booted him and beat
him, hurting fierce French oaths at
him, denying him even bread because,
they said, he wouldn't do his share OF
the work. l.
Nauvoo today is lighted from the
$26,OO0,00O Keokuk dam. It holds
back the waters of the Mississippi,
standing like a rampant, only a few
miles below. My America, my won
derful America, how you do change
and growl
(@. 1879. Lester B. Colby,