I am,
from my position, subject to painful restraints. I cannot be just to
the truth which is in me. The alternative, I need not say, with me is
to hold fast to the popular faith or give up my bread.
I am much interested in those ideas which your Association is
attempting to find a realization of. The state of things resulting from
a full expansion of the principles upon which your society is based
would seem to meet many spiritual wants. I can understand that so high
an aim can be reached only through lowliness of life. The prospect of
becoming one day a co-worker in your cause is very agreeable to me. I
should like to know that I may be permitted to cherish the idea.
With much respect,
R. Prentiss.
_Application for an Unfortunate_.
[The person who indited the following was a friend of the organization,
and probably saw as well as anyone the absurdity of making a
reformatory institution of the great experiment, but from kindly and
personal considerations put the question and the best face on the
matter that he could.]
New York, Sept. 14, 1845.
My Dear Friend: I have been applied to by a very respectable widow lady
of this city, at the instance of Dr. ---- (who it seems is fast getting
over his want of sympathy for Fourier and his disciples), to see
whether you will not convert Brook Farm into a sort of hospital for the
cure of young men who won't mind their mothers.
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