JUNE 7, 1869.

THE CIRCULAR.

91

numerous villages lying north and south, east and west; Mount Carmel ten miles south, Mount Lamantation north-east, with high ranges of hills on the west and east; and the general landscape varied by streams, forests and fields.

We reached the "Hills" not far from twelve o'clock, and after a gypsy-like repast commenced work. It was very interesting to notice the enthusiasm manifested along our upward journey. One exclaims, "I have found a new flower." Others rush to see it; the Professor is on hand to name it, if his wisdom is needed on the occasion. At the same moment there might have been seen some gathering plants, and flowers; some, turning over stones to find bugs, worms, and salamanders; others chasing butterflies, with net in hand, and still others hammering the rocks for geological specimens. The botanical enthusiasm culminated when the whole party came upon a large number of Cypripediums, including two varieties, *Pubescens* and *Parviflorum*. Still another variety, *Acaule*, was found in the course of the day. A few rare flowers were obtained, including the *Orchis Spectabilis*. The enthusiasm of the zoologists exceeded all bounds when one of our tutors discovered a rare butterfly. It happened when we were in the very roughest gorge of the Hills, and where we had to make our way by jumping from rock to rock. I can never forget the figure he cut as he ran over the rocks, wildly swinging his net and exclaiming, "See there! See there! That's one of the rarest butterflies in the world! Only one has ever been caught in New England, and that was of a different sex! I know by the color of his head!" That butterfly was not caught; the tutor saw him disappear, with expressions of great regret at the loss to his collection.

Before returning, the party of course had to visit "Cat-hole Pass" and "Cold Spring." "Cat-hole Pass" is flanked on either side with steep basalt cliffs, perhaps seventy-five feet or more in height, and upon the eastern cliff at one point the rocks are so arranged as to suggest the outline of a human face, and some have traced a resemblance to Washington.

"Cold Spring" is remarkable for the coldness of its waters at all seasons of the year. It is stated that ice can always be found near it. We found ice in abundance a few rods therefrom; and one of the members of the Wallingford Community assures me that she has seen some which had been obtained there on the 4th of July. The two ridges are here but a few rods apart. The snows of winter must be piled in here in great quantities; besides, the sun's rays scarcely reach the place where dwells eternal ice. A hotel was some years since reared near the spring, now used, however, as the Meriden poor-house.

Seven P. M., found the party returning to the R. R. depot; the botanists with filled cans; the naturalists with their bugs, butterflies and snakes; the geologists with rare "nuggets."

The Yale Scientific School is by no means the only educational institution which seeks to combine practical instruction with book recitation; neither is the combination perfected here. Other institutions

it looked so easy to mow, "why could not they do it?" One essaying, adroitly ran her scythe into the ground, while another dropped her's in disgust because it would slide over the top of the grass. The work was soon completed and every one enjoyed the sport.

—How many of the Communities recorded in *American Socialisms* lived long enough to meet the problem of the entertainment of visitors? Not many. The Skencateles Community did, it seems; witness their indignant protest against the flood of visitors who were eating them out of house and home. But the O. C., doubtless, is the only Community which has prospered and lived long enough to advance to the more subtle problem of the spiritual treatment of visitors. Happily we are able to extend a generous hospitality in externals to our many friends and even to our few enemies, while the great swarm of curiosity-hunters return us money for a good dinner. But while we are entertaining their bodies, what of their souls? Does the flow and ebb of foreign life leave impressions on our inner being? Can parasites feed upon our spiritual food?

Yes, we have learned by long experience to discriminate in our inner hospitality. From the great mass of curiosity-hunters, we experience no spiritual influence, except a general upward surge of animal life, and increase of the sense of external pleasure; and a share of this is due to the allurements of nature, to sight and appetite in the summer season. Among those who are more properly guests, there is a wide diversity of character and influence. There is our Nicodemus friend of respectable connections, who for a time escapes his relations and visits us in haste; there is the long-haired, spiritualist diner-out, who sponges a living out of attempts at Communism and Water-cures (which are not situated too far off in the western wilderness), and who, unannounced, unloads his effects at our door for a visit of three weeks; there is the woman on a "mission," and at distant intervals, the "Coming Man." There are also many good and true friends whom we entertain with gladness.

These all tax our ingenuity to protect ourselves, and to get good from the contact. We humor Nicodemos; we give the Sponge a broad hint, (a gentle one would not do, for he is tough), upon which he discovers that he needs "more friction outside;" we refuse to listen to the "mission;" we assure the "Coming Man" that our Man came eighteen hundred years ago; and we enjoy heart-fellowship with our true friends in every walk of life.

But there is one character from whom we have been unable to extract the slightest benefit; the *discouraged man*. He is generally an infidel; and he thinks rich men should be happy, for they have cause; but he sees no light in the poor man's sky. He is sometimes a man of considerable talent, and he is angry at the world that it does not acknowledge him. He feels the warmth of our happy homes; and it makes him sparkle for a little, but the lights soon dies out and the old night comes down again. Then he tries to make us exchange some of our light for his darkness, and wants us to confess that money, which makes us happy, as if Fifth Avenue were

effective army from an undisciplined rabble. *Drill* is what is needed for an army; and drill in the army of Communism, which is so essential, is obtained through our system of criticism, and cannot be had in any other way. But this principle or system of criticism can be made effective only where all individuals respect it from religious motives.

## WILLOW-PLACE.

—The children from O. C. paid us a visit this afternoon; a merry troop of twenty-six little ones thoroughly enjoyed a romp on our lawn—a song in our parlor, and oranges, frosted cake, &c., for their supper.

—The fish in our pond afford a never failing source of amusement, first we feed them with bread crumbs, a few of them more temerous than the rest, even venture to take the morsels from our fingers; then C. H. amuses himself occasionally with the hook and line, and his game adds a savory relish to our supper table.

—The Russian who works in our trap-shop says that there are a great many people in Russia interested in Communism, but such stringent laws are there in force in reference to publishing, that it is difficult to gain much information on the subject of association. He has the photograph of a very intellectual looking man, who translated John Stuart Mill's "Political Economy" into Russian, and was afterwards, for publishing a book on Communism, banished to Siberia to work in the mines for life.

## WALLINGFORD.

—The Wisteria on the white arbor is the pride of our gárden; its large purple clusters of flowers are fragrant and make a fine show.

—W.'s enthusiasm in the study of Zoology has induced other members of the family to assist in procuring specimens of bird's nests. A hawk's nest was taken this evening, with the female proprietor and four eggs; and later the nest hunters secured a heron's nest, with the bird, the wings of which measured three feet four and a half inches from tip to tip.

—*Evening*.—G. W. N.—I suppose that the great trial which Christ passed through—the great struggle of his life—was to maintain the consciousness of his unity with God. The end of all the devil's operations is to separate, and raise the feeling of individuality in every way; either by the seduction of pleasure, or by the pressure of pain. His policy is to get up a division and separation between us a God—a separation in our consciousness; and that was the struggle in which Christ overcame. The first effect of pain is apparently to raise a sharp feeling of individuality. It is I, I, that am in pain and trouble. Well, that is something that takes account of us as separate from God entirely, for he is not in trouble. Christ went through all manner of pain—there is no question about that—and all the temptation that pain could bring to bear was brought upon him. He said in one place, "Now is my soul troubled, &c." He was troubled, and had, apparently, all he could do to assert his union with God, and maintain it against the cloud of suffering, which is all the while trying to persuade him