* * * * *
In the preceding extracts will have been noticed frequent reference
to the Association Movement, which, during the winter of 1840-41, was
beginning to appear simultaneously at several points in New England.
In Boston and its vicinity several friends, for whose characters
Margaret felt the highest honor, and with many of whose views,
theoretic and practical, she accorded, were earnestly considering
the possibility of making such industrial, social, and educational
arrangements, as would simplify economies, combine leisure for study
with healthful and honest toil, avert unjust collisions of caste,
equalize refinements, awaken generous affections, diffuse courtesy,
and sweeten and sanctify life as a whole. Chief among these was the
Rev. George Ripley, who, convinced by his experience in a faithful
ministry, that the need was urgent for a thorough application of the
professed principles of Fraternity to actual relations, was about
staking his all of fortune, reputation, position, and influence, in
an attempt to organize a joint-stock community at Brook Farm. How
Margaret was inclined to regard this movement has been already
indicated. While at heart sympathizing with the heroism that prompted
it, in judgment she considered it premature. But true to her noble
self, though regretting the seemingly gratuitous sacrifice of her
friends, she gave them without stint the cheer of her encouragement
and the light of her counsel. She visited them often; entering
genially into their trials and pleasures, and missing no chance to
drop good seed in every furrow upturned by the ploughshare or softened
by the rain. In the secluded yet intensely animated circle of these
co-workers I frequently met her during several succeeding years,
and rejoice to bear testimony to the justice, magnanimity, wisdom,
patience, and many-sided good-will, that governed her every thought
and deed. The feelings with which she watched the progress of this
experiment are thus exhibited in her journals:--
'My hopes might lead to Association, too,--an association, if
not of efforts, yet of destinies. In such an one I live with
several already, feeling that each one, by acting out his own,
casts light upon a mutual destiny, and illustrates the thought
of a mastermind. It is a constellation, not a phalanx, to
which I would belong.'
* * * * *
'Why bind oneself to a central or any doctrine? How much
nobler stands a man entirely unpledged, unbound! Association
may be the great experiment of the age, still it is only an
experiment. It is not worth while to lay such stress on it;
let us try it, induce others to try it,--that is enough.'
* * * * *
'It is amusing to see how the solitary characters tend
to outwardness,--to association,--while the social and
sympathetic ones emphasize the value of solitude,--of
concentration,--so that we hear from each the word which, from
his structure, we least expect.'
* * * * *
'On Friday I came to Brook Farm. The first day or two here
is desolate. You seem to belong to nobody--to have a right
to speak to nobody; but very soon you learn to take care of
yourself, and then the freedom of the place is delightful.
'It is fine to see how thoroughly Mr. and Mrs. R. act out, in
their own persons, what they intend.
'All Saturday I was off in the woods. In the evening we had
a general conversation, opened by me, upon Education, in its
largest sense, and on what we can do for ourselves and others.
I took my usual ground: The aim is perfection; patience the
road. The present object is to give ourselves and others a
tolerable chance. Let us not be too ambitious in our hopes
as to immediate results. Our lives should be considered as a
tendency, an approximation only. Parents and teachers
expect to do too much. They are not legislators, but only
interpreters to the next generation. Soon, very soon, does the
parent become merely the elder brother of his child;--a little
wiser, it is to be hoped. ---- differed from me as to some
things I said about the gradations of experience,--that "to
be brought prematurely near perfect beings would chill and
discourage." He thought it would cheer and console. He spoke
well,--with a youthful nobleness. ---- said "that the most
perfect person would be the most impersonal"--philosophical
bull that, I trow--"and, consequently, would impede us least
from God." Mr. R. spoke admirably on the nature of loyalty.
The people showed a good deal of the _sans-culotte_ tendency
in their manners,--throwing themselves on the floor, yawning,
and going out when they had heard enough. Yet, as the majority
differ from me, to begin with,--that being the reason this
subject was chosen,--they showed, on the whole, more respect
and interest than I had expected. As I am accustomed to
deference, however, and need it for the boldness and animation
which my part requires, I did not speak with as much force as
usual. Still, I should like to have to face all this; it would
have the same good effects that the Athenian assemblies had on
the minds obliged to encounter them.
'Sunday. A glorious day;--the woods full of perfume. I was out
all the morning. In the afternoon, Mrs. R. and I had a talk.
I said my position would be too uncertain here, as I could not
work. ---- said:--"They would all like to work for a person of
genius. They would not like to have this service claimed from
them, but would like to render it of their own accord." "Yes,"
I told her; "but where would be my repose, when they were
always to be judging whether I was worth it or not. It would
be the same position the clergyman is in, or the wandering
beggar with his harp. Each day you must prove yourself anew.
You are not in immediate relations with material things."
'We talked of the principles of the community. I said I had
not a right to come, because all the confidence in it I had
was as an _experiment_ worth trying, and that it was a part of
the great wave of inspired thought. ---- declared they none of
them had confidence beyond this; but they seem to me to have.
Then I said, "that though I entirely agreed about the dignity
of labor, and had always wished for the present change, yet
I did not agree with the principle of paying for services by
time;[A] neither did I believe in the hope of excluding evil,
for that was a growth of nature, and one condition of the
development of good." We had valuable discussion on these
points.
'All Monday morning in the woods again. Afternoon, out with
the drawing party; I felt the evils of want of conventional
refinement, in the impudence with which one of the girls
treated me. She has since thought of it with regret, I notice;
and, by every day's observation of me, will see that she ought
not to have done it.'
* * * * *
'In the evening, a husking in the barn. Men, women, and
children, all engaged. It was a most picturesque scene, only
not quite light enough to bring it out fully. I staid and
helped about half an hour, then took a long walk beneath the
stars.'
* * * * *
'Wednesday. I have been too much absorbed to-day by others,
and it has made me almost sick. Mrs. ---- came to see me,
and we had an excellent talk, which occupied nearly all the
morning. Then Mrs. ---- wanted to see me, but after a few
minutes I found I could not bear it, and lay down to rest.
Then ---- came. Poor man;--his feelings and work are wearing
on him. He looks really ill now. Then ---- and I went to walk
in the woods. I was deeply interested in all she told me. If
I were to write down all she and four other married women have
confided to me, these three days past, it would make a cento,
on one subject, in five parts. Certainly there should be some
great design in my life; its attractions are so invariable.'
* * * * *
'In the evening, a conversation on Impulse. The reason for
choosing this subject is the great tendency here to advocate
spontaneousness, at the expense of reflection. It was a much
better conversation than the one before. None yawned, for
none came, this time, from mere curiosity. There were about
thirty-five present, which is a large enough circle. Many
engaged in the talk. I defended nature, as I always do;--the
spirit ascending through, not superseding, nature. But in the
scale of Sense, Intellect, Spirit, I advocated to-night
the claims of Intellect, because those present were rather
disposed to postpone them. On the nature of Beauty we had
good talk. ---- spoke well. She seemed in a much more reverent
humor than the other night, and enjoyed the large plans of the
universe which were unrolled. ----, seated on the floor, with
the light falling from behind on his long gold locks, made,
with sweet, serene aspect, and composed tones, a good exposé
of his way of viewing things.'
* * * * *
'Saturday. Well, good-by, Brook Farm. I know more about this
place than I did when I came; but the only way to be qualified
for a judge of such an experiment would be to become an
active, though unimpassioned, associate in trying it. Some
good things are proven, and as for individuals, they are
gainers. Has not ---- vied, in her deeds of love, with "my
Cid," and the holy Ottilia? That girl who was so rude to me
stood waiting, with a timid air, to bid me good-by. Truly, the
soft answer turneth away wrath.
'I have found myself here in the amusing position of a
conservative. Even so is it with Mr. R. There are too many
young people in proportion to the others. I heard myself
saying, with a grave air, "Play out the play, gentles." Thus,
from generation to generation, rises and falls the wave.'