The "Community" people
were at the extreme of society, unorganized, without creeds, without
science, and only morality and faith to guide them, and having given
the lie to ordinary social forms; having lost their faith and trust in
society as it was, is it strange that some should swing to the extreme
of conservatism, that they should try a new departure when met by
seeming failure in their radical moves?
But why continue the list? The very boys have become gray-haired men,
but proud to say, each one of them, "I was one of the Brook Farmers."
In closing this picturesque drama, it would not be strange if someone
should ask if this is all that is left of the life. Has it been only a
failure and a dream that I have chronicled, or has it resulted in
something worthy of the aspiration that preceded it? Has it added
strength to the lives of individuals, and has it done something for
society? As chronicler, I stand in the shade and let my readers judge;
but the few words of comment that follow, from well-known individuals,
bear strong testimony to an effect that must have been duplicated in a
great many other instances: and, indeed, if its influence had gone no
farther than to a few persons, that alone would justify the laudable
attempt of this "venture in philanthropy.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319