Among the many volumes noticed, "Festus," by Philip James Bailey, was a
constant source of admiration and criticism in some of our circles, and
we had many varied ones. Listen to what Mr. Dwight said of it at the
time in the _Harbinger_: "There are more original and magnificent
images on a single page of Festus than would endow a dozen of the
handsome volumes most in vogue. The conclusion you come to as you read
on, is that his wealth of imagination is illimitable, and that you
might as well cut a cloud out of the purple sunset atmosphere, as a
figure from the boundless atmospheric beauty of this poem."
"Festus" still retains its charm for me.
The _Harbinger_, as may be seen, was to be published by the Brook
Farm _Phalanx_, not _Association_. The reason why the name
was changed was because "Association" was not a definite one, conveying
distinct impressions to the public mind, like "Community"; and the name
"Phalanx," although to American ears, new in its connection, was
expressive, and was also adopted by a number of social experiments just
starting, and it was desirable to have them all associated in name as
well as in general doctrine. The name "Community" was rejected because
all the societies organized under that name held their property in
common, which the "Association" distinctly did not.
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