XXXV. The Wisconsin Phalanx

41 I CHAPTER XXXV. THE WISCONSIN PHALANX. THIS was one of the most conspicuous experiments of the Fourier epoch. The notices of it in the Phalanx and Harbinger are quite voluminous. We shall have to curtail them as much as possible, and still our patch work will be a long one. The Wisconsin had the advantage of most other Phalanxes in the skill of its spokesman. Mr. Warren Chase,a gentleman at present well known among Spiritualists, was its founder and principal manager. Most of the important communica tions relating to it in the socialistic Journals and other papers, were from his ready pen. We will do our best to save all that is most valuable in them, while we omit what seems to be irrelevant or repetitious. It may be understood that we are indebted to the Phalanx and Harbinger for nearly all our quotations from other papers. [From the Green Bay Republzcan, April 30, 1844.] "WISCONSINPHALANx.-We have just been informed by the agent of the above Association, that the locale has been chosen, and ten sections of the finest land in the Territory entered at the Green Bay Land Office.

The location is on a small stream near Green Lake, 4 12 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. Marquette county. The teams conveying the requisite implements, \vill start in a week, and the improvements will be conlnlenced immediately. We are in favor of Fourier's plan of Association, although we very much fear that it will be unsuccessful on account of the selfishness of lllankind, this being the principal obstacle to be overconle: yet we are pleased to see the com mendable zeal manifested by th e members of the Wisconsin Phalanx, who are mostly leading and influ ential citizens of Racine County. The feasibility of Association will now be tested in such a manner that the question will be decided, at least so far as Wisconsin is concerned. [From a letter in the Southport Telegraph,] Wisconsin Phalanx, May 27, 1844. "We left Southport on Monday, the 20th inst., and arrived on the proposed domain, without accident, on Saturday last at five o'clock P. M. This morning (Monday) the first business was to divide into two companies, one for finding the survey stakes, and the other for setting up the tent on the ground designed for building and gardening purposes. Eight men,with ox teams and cattle, arrived between nine and ten A. M.

After dinner the members all met in the tent and pro ceeded to a regular organization, Mr. Chase being in the chair and Mr. Rounds Secretary. "A prayer was offered, expressing thanks for our safe protection and arrival, and invoking the Divine blessing for our future peace and prosperity. The list of resi dent members was called (nineteen in number), and they divided themselves into two series, viz., agricultural and mechanical (each appointing a foreman), with a \VISCONSIN PHALANX. miscellaneous group of laborers, under the supervision of the resident directors. " A letter was read by request of the members, from Peter Johnson, a Inember of the board of directors, relating to the proper conduct of the members in their general deportment, and reminding them of their obli gations to their Creator. "The agricultural series are to commence plowing and planting to-morrow, and the mechanical to excavate a cellar and prepare for the erection of· a frame building, twenty-two feet by twenty, which is designed as a cen tral wing for a building twenty-two feet by one hundred and twenty. There are nineteen men and one boy now on the domain. The stock consists of fifty-four head of cattle, large and small, including eight yoke of oxen and three· span of horses. I More men are expected during the week, and others are preparing to come this summer.

Families will be here as the building can be sufficiently advanced to accommodate them . ., A few words in regard to the domain: There is a stream which, from its clearness, we have denominated Crystal Creek; it has sufficient fall and water supplied by springs, for one or two mill-seats. It. runs over a bed of lime-stone, which abounds here, and can be had con venient for fences and building. There is a good supply of prairie and timber. Every member is well pleased with the location, a~d also the arrangelnents for busi ness. Up to this time no discordant note has sounded in our company. "We have begun without a debt, which is a source of great satisfaction to each member; and we are certain of success, provided that the same union prevails which has hitherto, and the company incur no debt by loan. or AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. otherwise, in the transaction of business. We expect to be prepared this summer or fall to issue the prospectus of a paper to be published on the ground "GEO. H. STEBBINS."

[From a letter of Warren Chase;] " Wisconsbt Phalanx, September, 12, 1844. " Our first company, consisting of about twenty men, arrived here and commenced improvements on the 27th of May last. We put in about twenty acres of spring crops, mostly potatoes, buckwheat, turnips, etc,_ and have now one hundred acres of winter wheat in the ground. We have erected three buildings (designed for wings to a large one to be erected this fall), in which there are about twenty families snugly stored, yet com fortable and happy and bus-y, comprising in all about eighty persons, men, women, and children. We have also erected a saw-mill, which will be ready to run in a few days, after which we shall proceed to erect better dwellings. We do all our cooking in one kitchen, and all eat at one table. All our labor (excepting a part of female labor, on which there is a reduction), is for the pres ent deemed in the class' of usefulness, and every member works as well as possible where he or she is most needed, under the general superintendence of the directors. We adhere strictly to our constitution and by-laws, and adopt as fast as possible the system of Fourier. We have orgal)~zed our groups and series in a simple manner, and thus far every thing goes admirably, and much better than we could have expected in our em bryo state. We have regular meetings for business and social purposes, by which me·ans we keep a harmony of feeling and concert of action. We have a Sunday-school, .

WISCONSIN PHALANX. Bible-class, and Divine service every Sabbath by differ ent denominations, who occupy the Hall (as we have but one) alternately ; and allis harmony in that department, although we have many members of different religious societies. They all seenl determined to lay aside meta physical differences, and make a united social effort, founded on the fundamental principles of religion. " WARREN CHASE." [From a letter in the Ohio Amer,'cftn, August,I845.] "I wish, through the medium of your columns, to correct a statement which has been going the rounds of the newspapers in this vicinity and in other parts, that the Wisconsin Phalanx has failed and dispersed. I am prepared to state, upon the authority of a letter from their Secretary, dated July 3I , 1845, that the report is entirely without foundation. They have never been in a more prosperons condition, and the utmost harmony prevails. They are moving forward under a charter; own two thousand acres of fine land, with water-power; twenty-nine yoke of oxen, thirty-seven cows, and a corresponding amount of other stock, such as horses, hogs, sheep, etc.; are putting in four hundred acres of wheat this fall; have just harvested one hundred acres of the best of wheat, fifty-seven acres of oats, and other grains in proportion. They have been organized a little more than a year, and embrace in their number about thirty families.

"One very favorable feature in this institution is, that they are entirely out of debt, and intend to remain so; they do not owe, and are determined never to owe, a single dollar. An excellent free school is provided for all the members; and as they have no idle gentlemen AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. or ladies to support, all have time to receive a good education." [From a letter of Warren Chase.] " Wisconsin Phalanx, August, 13, 1845. "We are Associationists of the Fourier school, and intend to reduce his system to practice as fast as possi ble, consistently with our situation. We number at this time about one hundred and eighty souls, being the entire population of the congressional township. We are under the township governluent, organized similar to the systen1 in New York. Our town was set off and organized last winter by the Legislature, at which time the Association was also incorporated as a joint-stock company by a charter, which is our constitution. We had a post-office and weekly mail \vithin forty days after our commencement. Thus far we have obtained all we have asked for.

"We have religious meetings ana Sabbath-schools, conducted by members of some half-a-dozen different denominations of Christians, with whom creeds and modes of faith are of minor importance compared with religion. All are protected, and all is harmony in that department. We have had no deaths and very little sickness. No physician, no lawyer or preacher, yet resides among us; but we expect a physician soon, whose interest will not conflict with ours, and whose presence will consequently not increase disease. In politics we are about equally divided, and vote accord ingly; but generally believe both parties culpable for many of· the political evils of the day. "The Phalanx has a title from Government to fourteen hundred and forty acres of land, on which there is one of the best of water-powers, a saw-mill in operation \VISCONSIN PHALANX. and a grist-mill building; six hundred and forty acres under improvement, four hundred of which is now seed ing to winter wheat. We raised about fifteen hundred bushels the past season, which is sufficient for our next year's bread; have about seventy acres of corn on the ground, which looks \vell, and other crops in proportion.

We have an abundance of cattle, horses, crops and pro visions for the wants of our present numbers, and physical energy enough to obtain more. Thus, you see, we are tolerably independent; and we intend to remain so, as we admit none as members who have not sufficient funds to invest in stock, or sufficient physical strength, to warrant their not being a burden to the society. We have one. dwelling-house nearly finished, in which reside twenty families, with a long hall conduct ing to the dining-room, where all who are able, dine together. We intend next summer to erect another for twenty families more, with a hall conducting to another dining-room, supplied from the same cook-room. We have on~ school constantly, but have as yet been unable to do much toward improving that department, and had hoped to see something in the Harbi1lgerwhich would be a guide in this branch of our organization.

We look to the Brook Farm Phalanx for instruction in this branch, and hope to see it in the Harbinger for the benefit of ourselves and other Associations. "We have a well-regulated system of grouping our laborers, but have not yet organized the series. We have no difficulty in any department of our business, and thus far more than our most sanguine expectations have been realized. We commenced with a determina tion to avoid all debts, and have thus far adhered to our resolution; for we believed debts would disband more 4 18 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. Associations than any other one cause; 'and thus far, I believe it has, more than all other causes put together. " WARREN CHASE." From the Annual Statement of the Condition and Progress of the Wis consin Phalanx, for the fiscal year ending December 1, 1845. " The four great evils with which the world is afflicted, intoxication, lawsuits, quarreling, and profane swearing, never have, and with the present charact€r and prevail ing habits of our n1embers, never can, find admittance into our society. There is but a very small proporti~n of the tattling, backbiting and criticisms on character, usually found in neighborhoods of as many families.

Perfect harmony and concert of action prevail among the members of the various churches, and each indi vidual seems to lay aside creeds, and strive for the fundamental principles of religion. Many have culti vated the social feeling by the study and practice of vocal and instrumental music. In this there is a constant progress visible. Our young gentlemen and ladies have occasionally engaged in cotillions, especially on wedding occasions, of which we have had three the past summer. "Our convenience for schools, their diminished ex pense, &c., is known only to those acquainted with Association. We have done but little in perfecting this branch of our ne,v organization; but having erected a school-house, we are prepared to commence our course of moral, physical and intellecfual education. For want of a convenient place, we have not yet opened our read ing-room or library, but intend to do so during the present month.

"The family circle and secret domestic relations. are not intruded on by Association; each family may gather around its family altar, secluded and alone, or mingle WISCONSIN PHALANX. with neighbors without exposure to wet or cold. In our social and domestic arrangements we have approximated as far toward the plan of Fourier, as the difficulties in cident to a new organization in an uncultivated country would permit. Owing to our infant condition and wish to live within our means, our public table has not been furnished 'as elegantly as might be desirable to an epi curean taste. Fron1 the somewhat detached nature of our dwellings, and the consequent inconveniencies attendant on all dining at one table, permission was given to such families as chose, to be furnished with provisions and cook their own board. But one family has availed itself of this privilege. " In the various departments of physical labor, we have accomplished much more than could have been done by the same persons in the isolated condition. We have broken and brought under cultivation, three hun dred and twenty-five acres of land; have sown four hundred acres to winter wheat; harvested th~ hundred acres which we had on the ground last fall; plowed one hundred and seventy acres for crops the ensuing spring; raised sixty acres of corn, twenty of potatoes, twenty of buckwheat, and thirty of peas, beans, roots, etc. ; built five n1iles of fence; cut four hundred tons of hay; and exp~nded a large amount of labor in teaming, building sheds, taking care of stock, etc.

H We have nearly finished the long building com n1enced last year (two hundred and eight feet by thirty two), making cOlnfortable residences for twenty families; built a stone school-house, twenty by thirty; a dining room eighteen by thirty; finished one of the twenty-by thirty dwellings built last year;. expended about two hundred days' labor digging a race and foundation for a 420 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. grist-mill thirty by forty, three stories high, and for a shop hventy by twenty-five, one story, with stone base ments to both, and erected fran1es for the same; built a wash-house sixty by twenty-two;" a hen-house eleven by thirty, of sun-dried brick: an ash-house ten by twenty, of the same material; kept one man en1ployed in the sa'w-mill, one drawing logs, one in the blacksmith shop, one shoe-n1aking, and most of the time two about the kitchen. "The estimated value of our property on hand is $ 27,725.22, wholly unincumbered; and we are free from debt. except about $ 600 due to n1en1bers, who have advanced cash for the purchase of provisions and land.

But to balance this, we have over $ 1,000 coming from members, on stock subscriptions not yet due. "The whole number of hours' labor perfonned by the members during the past year, reduced to the class of usefulness, is 102,760; number expended in cooking, etc., and deducted for the board of members, 2 I, I 70; number remaining after deducting for board, 8I ,590, to which the amount due to labor is divided. In this statement the washing is not taken into account, faluilies having done their o~n. "Whole number of weeks board charged members (including children graduated to adults) forty-two hun dred and thirty-four. Cost of board per week for each person, forty-four cents for provisions, and five hours labor. "Whole amount of property on hand, as per invoice, $ 27.725.22. Cost of property" and stock issued up to December 1i $19,589.18. Increase the past year, being the product of labor, etc., $ 8, I 36.04; one-fourth of which, or $> 2,°34.0 I, is credited to capital, being twelve WISCONSIN PHALANX. 421 per cent. per annum on stock, for the average time. in vested; and three-fourths, or$ 6,102.03 to labor, being seven and one-half cents per hour.

"The property on hand consists of the following items: 1,553 acres of land, at '$ 3.00 . Agricultural improvements Mechanical improveUlents . Personal property . Advanced members in board, etc. $ 4,659. 00 1,522 .47 . 8,4°5. 00 10,3 1 4·0J . 2,824.74 Amount . $ 27,7 2 5.22 "W. CHASE, President." (From a letter of \Varren Chase,] Wisconsin Phalanx, March 3, 1846. "Since our December statement, our course and progress has been undeviatingly onward toward the goal. We have added eighty acres to our land, making one thousand six hundred and thirty-three acres free of incumbrance. W ~ are preparing to raise eight hundred acres .of crops the coming season, finish our grist-mill, and build some temporary residences, etc. ~ We have admitted but one family since the 1st of December, although we have had many applications. In this department of our organization, as well as in that of contracting debts, we are profiting by the-experi ence of many Associations who preceded or started with us.

" We pretend to have considerable knowledge of the serial law, but we are not yet prepared, mentally or physically, to adopt it in our industrial operations. We have something in operation which approaches about as near to it as the rude hut does to the palace. Even this 422 AMERICAN SOCIAL ISMS. is better than none, and saves us from the merciless peltings of the storm. "Success with us is no longer a matter of doubt. Our questions to be settled are, How far and how fast can we adopt and put in practice the system and princi ple which we believe to be true, without endangering or retarding our ultimate object. We feel and know that our condition and prospects are truly cheering, and to the friends of the cause we can say, Come on, not to join us, but to form other Associations; for we can not re ceive one-tenth of those who apply for admission. Noth ing but the general principles of Association are lawful tender with· us. Money will not buy admission for those who have no faith in the principles, but who merely be.,.

lieve, as most of our neighbors do, that we shall get rich; this is not a ruling principle here. With our ma terial, our means, and the principles of eternal truth on our side, success is neither doubtful nor surprising. We expect at our next annual statement, to be able to represent ourselves as a minimum Association of forty families, not fully organized on Fourier's plan, but approaching to, and preparing for it. W. CHA~E." From the· Annual Statement of the Condition and Progress of the Wisconsin Phalanx, for the fiscal year ending December 7, 1846. "The study and adoRtion of the principles of indus trial Association,. bave here, as elsewhere, led all reflect ing minds to acknowledge the prin~iples of Christianity, and to seek through those principles the elevation of man to his true condition, a state of harmony with himself, with nature and with God. The Society have religious preaching of some kind almost every Sabbath, but not uniformly of that high order of talent which they .are prepared to appreciate.

\VISCONSIN PHALANX. "The educational department is not y~t regulated as it is designed to be; the Society have been too busily engaged in making such improvements as were required to supply the necessaries of life, to devote the means and labor necessary to prepare such buildings as are re quired. We have not yet established our reading-room and library, more for the want of room, than for a lack of materials. "The social intercourse between the members has ever been conducted with a high-toned moral feeling, which repudiates the slanderous suspicions of those ene mies of the system, who pretend that the constant social intercourse will corrupt the morals of the members; the tendency is directly the reverse. "We have now one hundred and eighty resident mem bers; one hundred and one males, seventy-nine females; fifty-six males and thirty-seven females over the age of twenty-one years. About eighty have boarded at a public table during the past year, at a cost of fifty cents per week and two and a half hours' labor; whole cost,· sixty-three cents. The others, most of the time, have had their provisions charged to them, and done their own cooking in their respective families, although their apartments are very inconvenient for that purpose'1' Most of the families choose this mode of living, more from previous habits of domestic arrangement and con venience, than from economy. We have resident on the domain, thirty-six families and thirty single persons; fifteen families and thirty single persons board at the public table: twenty-one families board by themselves, and the remaining five single p~rsons board with them.

" Four families have left during the past year, and one returned that had previously left. One left to commence 4 24 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. a new Association: one, after a few weeks' residence, because the children did not like; and two to seek other business more congenial with their feelings than hard / work. The Society has increased its numbers the past year about twenty, which is not one-fourth of the applicants. The want of room has prevented us from admitting more. "There has been 96,297 hours' medium class labor performed during the past year (mostly by males), which, owing to the extremely low appraisal of property, and the disadvantage of having a new farm to work on, has paid but five cents per hour, and six per cent. per annum on capital. "The amount of property in joint-stock, as per valuation, is $ 3°,6°9.°4; whole amount of liabilities, $ I ,095.33. The net product or income for the past year is $ 6,341.84, one-fourth of which being credited to capital, makes the six per cent.; and three-fourths to labor, makes the five cents per hour. We have, as yet, no machinery in operation except a saw-mill, but have a grist-mill nearly ready to commence grinding. Our wheat crop came in very light, which, together with the large amount of labor necessarily expended in temporary sheds and fences, which are not estimated of any value, makes our dividend much less than it will be when we can construct more permanent works. We have also many unfinished works, which do not yet afford us either income or convenience, but which will tell favorably on our future balance-sheets.

"The Society has advanced to the members during the past year $, 3,293, mostly in provisions and such necessary clothing as could be procured.

WISCONSIN PHALANX. "The following schedule shows in what the property of the Society consists, and its valuation: r,7 I 3 acres of land, at 1> 3.00 Agricultural improvements Agricultural products . Shops, dwellings, and out-houses Mills, mill-race and dam . Cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, &c.. farming tools, &c .. Mechanical tools, &c.. Other personal property . $ 5,139. 00 3,206.00 4,806.76 6,963.61 5,112.90 3,098.45 1,199.3 6 367. 26 71 5.70 Amount . $ 30 , 609.0 4 "W. CHASE, President." In the Harbinger of March 27, 1847, there is a letter from Warren Chase giving eighteen elaborate reasons why the Fourierists throughout the country should con centrate on the Wisconsin, and make it a great model Phalanx; which we omit. [From a letter of Warnm Chase.] " Wisconsin Phalanx, June 28, 1847. " We have now been a little more than three years in operation, and my most sanguine expectations have been more than realized. We have about one hundred and seventy persons, who, with the exception of three or four families, are contented and happy, and more attac.hed to this home than to any they' ever had before. Those three or four belong to the restless, discontented spirits, who are not satisfied with any condition of life, but are always seeking something new. The Phalanx will soon be in a condition to adopt the policy of purchasing the amount of stock which any member may have invested, whenever he shall wish to leave. As soon as AMERICAN SOCIALISMS.

this can be done· without embarrassing our business, we shall have surmounted the last obstacle to our onward progress. We have applications for admission constantly before us, but seldom admit one. We require larger alTIOunts to be invested now when there is no risk, than we did at first when the risk was great. ,We have borne the heat and burden of the day, and now begin to reap the fruits of our labor. We also must know that an applicant is devoted to the cause, ready to endure for it hardships, privations and persecution. if necessary, and that he is not induced to apply because he sees our phy sical or pecuniary prosperity. We shall admit such as, in our view, are in all respects prepared for Association and can be useful to themselves and us; but none but practical workingmen need apply, for idlers can not live here. They seem to be out of their element, and look sick and lean. If no accident befalls us, we shall declare a cash dividend at our next annual settlement.

"W. CHASE." [From a letter in the New York Trz'bune.] " Wisconsin Phalanx, JUly 20, 1847. "I have been visiting this Association several days, looking into its resources, both physical and moral. Its physical resources are abundant. In a moral aspect there is much here to encourage. The people, ninety of whom are adults, are generally quite intelligent, and possess a good development of the moral and social faculties. They are earnest inquirers after truth, and seem aware of the harmony of thought and feeling that must prevail to insure prosperity. They receive thirty or forty different publications, which are thoroughly perused. The females are excellent women, and the WISCONSIN PHALANX. children, about 'eighty, are most promising in every respect. They are not yet well situated for carrying into effect all the indispensable agencies of true mental development, but they ar~ not idle on this momentous subject. They have an excellent school for the children, and the young men and women are cultivating music.

Two or three among them are adepts in this beautiful art. While writing, I hear good music by well-trained voices, with the Harmonist accompaniment. H I do believe something in human improvement and enjoyment will soon be presented at Ceresco, that will charnl all visitors, and prove a conclusive argument against the skepticism of the world as to the capability of the race to rise above the social evils that afflict man kind, and to attain a mental elevation which few have yet hoped for. I expect to see here a garden in. which shall be represented all that is most beautiful in the vegetable kingdcm. I expect to see here a library and reading-room, neatly and plentifully furnished, to which rejoicing hundreds will resort for instruction and amusement. I expect to see here a laboratory, where the chemist will unfold the operations of nature, and teach the most profitable mode of applying agricul tural labor. I expect to see here interesting cabinets, where the mineral and animal kingdoms will be pre sented in miniature. And I expect to see all the arts cultivated, and every thing beautiful and grand generally appreciated. H IN E."

On which the editor of the Tribune observes: " We trust the remark will be taken in good part, that the writers of letters from these Associative experiments are too apt to blend what they desire or hope to see, with what they actually do see."

AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. [From a letter of J. J. Cooke in the Tribune.] " Wisconsin Phalanx, August 28, 1847. "Editor of the New York Tribune;. "DEAR SIR: I have just perused in your paper, a letter from Mr. Hine, dated -at this place. Believing that the letter is calculated to leave an erroneousim pression on the mind· of the reader, as to the true condition of this Association, I deem it to be my duty to notice it, for the reason of' the inlportance of the subject, and the necessity of true knowledge ~n reference to correct action. " It is now twelve days since I arrived here, with the intention of .making a visit sufficiently long to arrive at something like· a critical knowledge of the experiment now in progress in this place. As you justly remark in :y,our comments on Mr. Hine's letter, (the writers of letters from these associative experiments are too apt to blend what they desire or hope to see, with what they actually do see.' So far as such a course might tend to induce premature and ill-advised attempts at practical Association, it should be regarded as a serious evil, and as such, should, if possible, be remedied. I presume no one here would advise the commencement of any Association, to pass through the same trials which they themselves have experienced. I have a~ked many of the members this question, 'Do you think that the reports and letters which have been published respecting your Association, have been so written as to leave a correct impression of your real existing condition on the mind of the reader?' The answer has invariably been, 'No.'"

The writer then criticises the water-power, climate, etc., and proceeds to say: WISCONSIN PHALANX. H The probability now is, that corn will be almost a total failure. 'Their present tenements,' says Mr. Hine, 'are spch as haste and limited means forced' them to erect.' This is undoubtedly true, and I will also add, that they are such as few at the East would be contented to live in. With the exception of the flouring-mill, blacksmith's-shop and carpenter's-shop, there are no arrangements for nlechanical industry. This is not surprising, in view of the smCl:ll means in their posses sion. 'In a moral aspect,' Mr. Hine says, 'there is much to encourage.' It would not be incorrect to say, that .there is also something to fear. The most un pleasant feelings which I have experienced since I have been here, have been caused by the want of neatness around the dwellings, which seems Jo be inconsistent with the ·individual character of the members with whom I have become acquainted. This they state to be owing to their struggles for the necessaries of life; but I have freely told them that I considered it inexcusable, and calculated to have an injurious influence upon themselves and upon their children. 'They are earnest inquirers after truth,' says Mr. Hine, 'and seem aware of the harmony of thought and feeling that must pre:' vail, il~ order to insure prosperity.' This I only object to so far as it is calculated to produce the impression that such harmony really exists. That there is a differ.ence of feeling upon, at least, one important point, I know. This i~ in reference to the course to be pursued in relation to the erection of dwellings. I believe that a large 'majority are in favor of building only in refer ence to a combined dwelling; but there are some who think that this generation are not prepared for it, and who wish to erect comfortable dwellings for isolated 43° AMERICAN SOCIALISMS.

households. A portion of the members go out to labor for hire; some, in order to procure those neces saries "which the means of the' Association have been inadequate to provide; and others, for want of occu pation in their peculiar branches of industry. "Mr. Hine says, 'They have an' excellent school for the children.' I had thought that the proper education of the children was a want here, and members have spoken of it as such. They have no public library or reading room for social re-union, excepting the school-room; and no room which is convenient for such purposes. There are no Associational guarantees in reference to sickness or disability in the charter (which is the con stitution) of this Phalanx. "From the above statement, you can judge sOluewhat of the present foundation of Mr. Hine's hopes of 'soon' seeing the realization of the beautiful picture which he has drawn. JOSEPH J. COOKE."

In the Harbinger of January 8, 1848, Warren Chase replied to Mr. Cooke's criticisms, admitting the general truth of theIn, but insisting that it is unfair to judge the Association by eastern standards. In conclusion he says: " There is a difference of opinion in regard to board, which, under the law of freedom and attraction, works no harm. Most of our families cook their board in their rooms from choice under present circumstances; some because they use no meat and do not choose to sit at a table plentifully supplied with beef, pork and mutton: others because they choose to have their children sit at the table with them, to regulate their diet, etc., which our circumstances will not yet permit at our public WISCONSIN PHALANX. 43 1 table; others because they want to ask a blessing, etc.; and others because their manner of cooking and habits of living have become so fixed as to have sufficient influence to require their continuance. Son1e of our members think all these difficulties can not be speedily reu10ved, and that cheap and comfortable dwellings.

should be built, adapted to our circumstances, with a unitary work-house, bakery and dairy, by which the burdens should be removed as fast as possible, and the minds prepared by combined effort, cooperative labor, and equitable distribution, for the combined dwelling and unitary living, with its variety of tables to satisfy all tastes. Others think ou'r devotion to the cause ought to induce us to forego all these attachments and prejudices, and·board at one table and improve it, building none but unitary dwellings adapted to a unitary table. We pursue both ways in our living with perfect freedom, and probably shall in our building; for attraction is the only law whose force we acknowledge in these matters. We have passed one more important point in our progress since I last wrote you. We have adopted the policy to refund all investments to any member when he chooses to leave. W. CHASE."

[From a letter of Warren Chase.] " Wisconsin Phalanx, August 21, 1847. "We are in the enjoynlent of an excellent state of health, owing in part to our healthy location, and in part to the diet and regimen of our members. There is a prevailing tendency here to abandon the use of animal food; it has been slowly, but steadily increasing for some time, and has been aided some by those excellent and interesting articles from the pen of Dr. Lazarus 432 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. on 'Cannibalism.' When we have to resort to any medical treatment, hydropathy is· the system, and the Water-cure Journal very good authority.' Our society will soon evince symptoms of two conditions of i\sso ciative life, viz.: physical health and nlaterial wealth. By wealth I do not mean burdensome property, but an ample supply of the necessaries of life~ which is real wealth. "I fully believe that nine out of ten organizations and attempts at Association would finally succeed, even with small means and few member~, if they would ad here strictly to the following conditions: "First, keep free from debt, and live within their means; Second, not attempt too much in the com mencement.

" Great changes require a slow 11lovement. All pioneers should remember to be constructive, and not merely destructive; not to tear down faster than they can substitute something better. Every failure of Asso ciation which has come to my knowledge, has been in consequence of disregarding these conditions; they have all been in debt, and depended on stock subscriptions to relieve them; and they have attempted too much. Havi~g, in most cases, torn down the isolated house hold and family altar (or table), before they had even science enough to draft a plan ofa Phalanstery or describe.a unitary hOl'\sehold, they seemed in some cases to imagine that the true social science, when once discovered, would furnish theIn, like the lamp of Aladdin, with all things wished for. They have awakened from their dreams; and now is the time for practical attempts, to start with, first, the joint~stock property, the large farm or township, the common home WISCONSIN PHALANX. 433 and join t property of all the members; second, coopera tive labor and the equitable distribution of products, the large fields, large pastures,large gardens, large dairies, large fruit orchards, etc., with their mills, mechanic shops, stores, common wash-houses, bake-houses, baths, libraries, lectures, cabinets, etc.; third, educational or ganization, including all, both children and adults, and through that 'the adoption of the serial law, organiza tion of groups and series; (at this point labor, without reference to the pay, will begin to be attractive;) fourth, the Phalansterian order, unitary living. As this is the greatest step, it requires the most time, most capital, and most mental preparation, especially for per sons accustomed to country life. In most cases many years will be required for the adoption of the 'second of these conditions, and more for the third, and still more for the fourth. Hence the necessity of com mencing, if the present generation is .to realize much from the discovery of the science.