THE GREAT CATASTROPHE.
Things were looking up in the Phalanx at this time, for money was
coming from some sources to finish a portion of the "Phalanstery." Not
that it resembled one, but more out of deference to the idea of one did
it receive its name. This would admit of additional membership, as
well-to-do and able families were to embark in the enterprise, who
could not and would not join it in the crowded state of the houses. The
feeling among all was particularly hopeful and cheerful at the
prospect, as we knew it was the cramped condition of the finances that
had prevented the finishing of the building before this time.
Monday, March 2, 1846, was the day of recommencement of labor on it. On
the Saturday previous carpenters had put a stove into the building for
the purpose of drying it, as it had gathered dampness all through the
severe winter. It was now Tuesday, the day after our sweet singer left
us, and as we were all cheerful in our new hopes, it was proposed that
we should celebrate our good luck with a social dance at the Hive. I
shall call on my imagination to people the hall with those who were
Brook Farmers, though not all of them were there in person on that
occasion, in order to give the effective picture of such an assembly;
the realization of it to the mind, rather than the absolute facts.
The first usually to occupy the hall were the young folks living at the
Hive, whose labors ended early. The dance commenced without ceremony
when one or two sets were ready. The pupils of the school from the Eyry
soon arrived, with the young Spanish boys and the well-dressed maidens.
Then the "Pilgrims" came, and the few who resided at the Cottage
completed the assembly. It was later when the members of the Direction
were seen looking in the room. They had been to some of the
interminable meetings.
The cotillion was the ruling dance; the plain waltz and hop waltz came
in for their share of favor. The polka was new, and hardly yet danced.
What fun, what pleasure was there then in that old dining hall among
the blue tunics! There the General loomed above the rest, not in tunic,
however, but staggering about with his new acquirement, interested and
ungraceful; and the old gardener entertained us with a Danish waltz
with his fair-haired, plump, round-shouldered daughter. Now they cling
together, then swing apart, holding each other by the fingers' ends;
now they whirl and twirl in and out, and then come together and waltz
around the hall, as all gaze and wonder at the old man's suppleness.
Now the spirit of fun takes possession of all as we see Irish John
sitting quietly conversing with "Dora," and he must dance a jig! By
some chance there may be a girl of his nationality on the place to
dance with him; if not, he goes it alone--forward and back, shuffling
backward and around; then dancing up as to his partner, and having gone
through all the varied motions in grand heel-and-toe style, sits down
again or rushes out of the hall door with his giggling laugh, and a
loud round of applause for his reward.
I might go on painting various characters and personages, but could not
paint the enthusiasm that was catching--how one after another of the
older ones put on again the youthful habit long since laid off. There
was no selfishness either, in the dancing, because there was plenty of
it, and when one of the older persons essayed the graces of youth,
instead of its being looked on as an intrusion, it was applauded. I
have seen five men whose education was for the ministry enjoying
themselves on that small floor at one time.
It was the old courtliness over again. It was the spirit of chivalry
revived under a new form, and it was chivalry with interior pride
instead of exterior pride--pride of character instead of pride of
birth. Did any of these accomplished men and women deem that they
lowered themselves by dancing with those who did manual labor? If they
had, they would not have been there to do it. And did the "producers of
wealth" think that there were those who danced in their company as a
favor to them? If they had, it would have been a favor they would not
have accepted. The atmosphere was that of mutual respect and mutual
good-will.
There was no dancing of clothes-pins from the pockets of the dancers,
as Emerson has said, or if it once happened it was probably the
intentional freak of a happy schoolboy--a bit of farcical fun, too
unworthy even to be mentioned by the "Sage of Concord" in his "Historic
Notes." It was poor history and undignified in its connection.
But the reader wishes to know if certain men whose names he has seen
and whose reputations he knows took part in these amusements! He may be
sure that the "Professor" (Dana) was there, for those charming black
eyes and raven hair, and the quick, nervous, volatile, lovely owner of
them, with her southern accent, was there to charm him. And he may be
sure that the "Poet" (Dwight) was there, for the man of music and song
could not despise the poetry of motion, neither could his social soul
neglect the opportunity of seeing so much enjoyment, and feasting his
eyes on those developing buds of womanhood, those fair-haired,
clear-eyed, joyous young girls who were present. And the curly-headed,
witty "Time-Keeper" (Cabot) was there because he enjoyed dancing and
fun. And the tall, manly, handsome-faced, clear-complexioned "Hero"
(Butterfield), whose curls more than rivalled the other, looking for a
dark-eyed girl who afterwards became his faithful and loving wife. And
the little, thin-faced shoemaker (Colson), with his amiable spouse was
there, as also that other one, with head and forehead large enough for
Daniel Webster (Hosmer), with his wife.
And that quiet man, whose near-sightedness obliged him to wear glasses,
and whose very soul was penetrated with a joke, if you could judge from
the internal convulsions and the mounting of the red blood to his face
at every good one--"Grandpa" (Treadwell) so different from his
light-complexioned wife, who smiled all over her face and indulged in a
merry laugh so easily. And John (Orvis) was there--surnamed "the
Almighty"--for certain eyes projected their glances on him, which was
not unpleasing to his senses. And Chiswell, the man who desired to be
chief of the Amusement Group, was there, of course; and Miss Ripley,
"her perpendicular Majesty," came to look on because she enjoyed doing
so; and the "Mistress of the Revels" (Miss Russell) was looking after
her young nieces, the Misses Foord, who, with all the other young
misses, were there. And stout "Old Solidarity" (Eaton) was there, and
"Monday (Munday) the tailor's wife"; Jean (Pallisse) with his "Madame,"
"Homer the Sweet" (Doucet), "Chrysalis" (Christopher List), "Chorles"
and Stella (Salisbury), John and Mary (Sawyer), and all the titled
nobility of the place; with Edgar and Martin, Harry and George, Dan and
Willard, John and Charles--all lads of an age to drink deep of the
fountain of life and pleasure.
But stop! On this occasion the dance was not fairly under way; it was
yet quite early in the evening, and though in the "full tide of
successful experiment," to quote an old expression, it had not worked
itself up to high pitch, when an unexpected interruption took place.
Ah, fatal hour! Why was it not delayed? Why did it ever come? It was
this: one of the older members came in and announced, "The Phalanstery
is on fire!" I remember the loud, derisive laugh that came from the
announcement, and was echoed through the room. I knew better than all
from the sober face and earnest look of the person who said it--for he
was one of my kin--that the statement must be correct, and I
immediately said, "This is no joke, it is true!"
A thing so easily verified needed not argument, and all rushed for the
doors. I hastily changed slippers for boots and ran out. The barn hid
the "Phalanstery" from sight. Passing to the other side of it I saw the
flames pouring out of the front, surmounted by a heavy cloud of black
smoke. Without definiteness of purpose we all started for the building,
and all saw that there was no chance of saving it. Ere long the flames
were chasing one another in mad riot over the structure; running across
the long corridors and up and down the supporting columns of wood,
until the huge edifice was a mass of firework, every part painted in
glowing, living color, yet retaining its distinctive form.
It was a grand and magnificent sight! The whole heaven was illuminated
with its rosy light, and the earth was as red as the sky, for the
fields, deep covered with white snow from the long storm, were
brilliant from the reflection of the fire. Miles and miles away was the
illumination seen. Men in Boston thought it was near by, it was so
bright, and one man came from the city across the fields, thinking at
every moment he would reach the object of his search, finding it and
himself at last nine miles in the country.
There was a pile of lumber near the building that we worked hard to
save, but the flames were so hot we had to desist, and some cried out
"Save the Eyry!" Turning on my heel I went to the greenhouse for water
buckets, and entering saw the flowers lighted up with a heavenly glow
of color, and so startlingly beautiful that in spite of my haste I
lingered a moment to look at them. Roses and camellias, heaths and
azaleas--whatever flowers there were in bloom looked superbly glorified
in the transcendent light, and I uttered an exclamation of surprise at
the lovely display.
A moment after, armed with buckets, I started for the Eyry, and at the
post of duty worked with a will to forward water to those above who
were wetting the front of the house and roof to preserve it from the
heat. It was not long before it was seen that danger to that building
was past, and I returned to watch the fire fiend eat up the remains of
our great edifice.
Engines with firemen slowly arrived, but the building was entirely
burned, for there was a difficulty in getting any water, as three feet
of snow covered the ground, and little was done but to extinguish some
of the embers of the burning, blackened main timbers that had fallen
into the cellar.
I pause here to give the account of the fire published in the
_Harbinger_ of March 14, 1846. There is little to add to the clear
statement there made:--
"FIRE AT BROOK FARM.
"Our readers have no doubt been informed before this of the severe
calamity with which the Brook Farm Association has been visited, by the
destruction of the large unitary edifice which it has been for some
time erecting on its domain. Just as our last paper was going through
the press, on Tuesday evening the 3d inst., the alarm of fire was given
at about a quarter before nine, and it was found to proceed from the
'Phalanstery.' In a few minutes the flames were bursting through the
doors and windows of the second story; the fire spread with almost
incredible rapidity throughout the building, and in about an hour and a
half the whole edifice was burned to the ground. The members of the
Association were on the spot in a few moments, and made some attempts
to save a quantity of lumber that was in the basement story; but so
rapid was the progress of the fire, that this was found to be
impossible and they succeeded only in rescuing a couple of tool chests
that had been in use by the carpenters.
"The neighboring dwelling house, called the 'Eyry,' was in imminent
danger while the fire was at its height, and nothing but the stillness
of the night and the vigilance and activity of those who were stationed
on its roof, preserved it from destruction. The vigorous efforts of our
nearest neighbors, Mr. T. J. Orange and Messrs. Thomas and George
Palmer, were of great service in protecting this building, as a part of
our force were engaged in another direction, watching the workshops,
barn and principal dwelling house.
"In a short time our neighbors from the village of West Roxbury, a mile
and a half distant, arrived in great numbers with their engine, which
together with the engines from Jamaica Plain, Newton and Brookline,
rendered valuable assistance in subduing the flaming ruins, although it
was impossible to check the progress of the fire until the building was
completely destroyed. We are under the deepest obligations to the fire
companies which came, some of them five or six miles, through deep
snow, on cross roads, and did everything in the power of skill or
energy to preserve our other buildings from ruin. Many of the engines
from Boston came four or five miles from the city, but finding the fire
going down, returned without reaching the spot. The engines from
Dedham, we understood, made an unsuccessful attempt to come to our aid,
but were obliged to turn back on account of the condition of the roads.
No efforts, however, would have probably been successful in arresting
the progress of the flames. The building was divided into nearly a
hundred rooms in the upper stories, most of which had been lathed for
several months without plaster, and being almost as dry as tinder, the
fire flashed through them with terrific rapidity.
"There had been no work performed on the building during the winter
months, and arrangements had just been made to complete four out of the
fourteen distinct suites of apartments into which it was divided, by
the first of May. It was hoped that the remainder would be finished
during the summer, and that by the first of October the edifice would
be prepared for the reception of a hundred and fifty persons, with
ample accommodations for families, and spacious and convenient public
halls and saloons. A portion of the second story had been set apart for
a church or chapel, which was to be finished in a style of simplicity
and elegance, by private subscription, and in which it was expected
that religious services would be performed by our friend William H.
Channing, whose presence with us, until obliged to retire on account of
ill health, had been a source of unmingled satisfaction and benefit.
"On the Saturday previous to the fire, a stove was put up in the
basement story, for the accommodation of the carpenters, who were to
work on the outside; a fire was kindled in it on Tuesday morning, which
burned till four o'clock in the afternoon; at half past eight in the
evening the building was visited by the night watch, who found
everything apparently safe, and at about a quarter before nine a faint
light was discovered in the second story, which was supposed at first
to have proceeded from a lamp, but on entering, to ascertain the fact,
the smoke at once showed that the interior was on fire. The alarm was
immediately given, but almost before the people had time to assemble,
the whole edifice was wrapped in flames. From a defect in the
construction of the chimney, a spark from the stovepipe had probably
communicated with the surrounding wood work, and from the combustible
nature of the materials, the flames spread with a celerity that made
every effort to arrest their violence without effect.
"This edifice was commenced in the summer of 1844, and has been in
progress from that time until November last, when the work was
suspended for the winter, and resumed, as before stated, on the day in
which it was consumed. It was built of wood; one hundred and
seventy-five feet long, three stories high, with spacious attics,
divided into pleasant and convenient roams for single persons. The
second and third stories were divided into fourteen houses, independent
of each other, with a parlor and three sleeping rooms in each,
connected by piazzas which ran the whole length of the building on both
stories. The basement contained a large and commodious kitchen, a
dining hall capable of seating from three to four hundred persons, two
public saloons, and a spacious hall and lecture room. Although by no
means a model for the Phalanstery, or unitary edifice of a Phalanx, it
was well adapted for our purposes at present, situated on a delightful
eminence which commanded a most extensive and picturesque view, and
affording accommodations and conveniences in the combined order, which
in many respects would gratify even a fastidious taste. The actual
expenditures upon the building, including the labor performed by the
Associates, amounted to about seven thousand dollars, and three
thousand dollars more, it was estimated, would be sufficient for its
completion. As it was not yet in use by the Association, and, until the
day of its destruction, not exposed to fire, no insurance had been
effected. It was built by investments in our loan stock, and the loss
falls upon the holders of partnership stock and the members of the
Association.
"It is some alleviation of the great calamity which we have sustained
that it came upon us at this time, rather than at a later period. The
house was not endeared to us by any grateful recollections; the tender
and hallowed associations of home had not yet begun to cluster around
it, and although we looked upon it with joy and hope as destined to
occupy an important sphere in the social movement to which it was
consecrated, its destruction does not rend asunder those sacred ties
which bind us to the dwellings that have thus far been the scene of our
toils and of our satisfactions. We could not part with either of the
houses in which we have lived at Brook Farm, without a sadness like
that which we should feel at the departure of a bosom friend. The
destruction of our edifice makes no essential change in our pursuits.
It leaves no family destitute of a home; it disturbs no domestic
arrangements; it puts us to no immediate inconvenience. The morning
after the disaster, if a stranger had not seen the smoking pile of
ruins, he would not have suspected that anything extraordinary had
taken place. Our schools were attended as usual, our industry in full
operation, and not a look or expression of despondency could have been
perceived. The calamity is felt to be great; we do not attempt to
conceal from ourselves its consequences, but it has been met with a
calmness and high trust, which gives us a new proof of the power of
associated life to quicken the best elements of character, and to
prepare men for every emergency.
"We shall be pardoned for entering into these almost personal details,
for we know that the numerous friends of Association, in every part of
our land, will feel our misfortune as if it were a private grief of
their own. We have received nothing but expressions of the most
generous sympathy from every quarter, even from those who might be
supposed to take the least interest in our purposes; and we are sure
that our friends in the cause of social unity will share with us the
affliction that has visited a branch of their own fraternity.
"We have no wish to keep out of sight the magnitude of our loss. In our
present infant state it is a severe trial of our strength. We cannot
now calculate its ultimate effect. It may prove more than we are able
to bear; or like other previous calamities, it may serve to bind us
more closely to each other, and to the holy cause to which we are
devoted. We await the result with calm hope, sustained by our faith in
the Universal Providence, whose social laws we have endeavored to
ascertain and embody in our daily lives.
"It may not be improper to state, as we are speaking of our own affairs
more fully than we have felt at liberty to do before in the columns of
our paper, that, whatever be our trials of an external character, we
have every reason to rejoice in the internal condition of our
Association. For the few last months it has more nearly than ever
approached the idea of a true social order. The greatest harmony
prevails among us; not a discordant note is heard; a spirit of
friendship, of brotherly kindness, of charity, dwells with us and
blesses us; our social resources have been greatly multiplied, and our
devotion to the cause which has brought us together receives new
strength every day. Whatever may be in reserve for us, we have an
infinite satisfaction in the true relations which have united us, and
the assurance that our enterprise has sprung from a desire to obey the
divine law. We feel assured that no outward disappointment or calamity
can chill our zeal for the realization of a divine order of society, or
abate our efforts in the sphere which may be pointed out by our best
judgment as most favorable to the cause which we have at heart."
There was no wind. The building was entirely consumed; and the hungry
firemen, on their homeward way, were invited to lunch at the Hive.
Peter, the baker, had just turned out from the oven a fine batch of
bread. We made coffee for them. The bread was for our morrow's
breakfast; they ate it all, and Peter worked all night to supply the
deficiency. In the midst of the lunch Mr. Ripley mounted a bench and
spoke a few pleasant words of thanks to them, and you would not have
guessed that a great misfortune had fallen on our scheme from the
serene, cheerful look on his fine face. He thanked the firemen kindly
for coming to our aid. Their visit, he said, "was _very unexpected_ to
us," but he was glad to give them the poor hospitality we had. "But had
we _known_," he said, in that bright, pleasant way of his, "or even
_suspected_ you were coming, we would have been better prepared to
receive you, and given you worthier, if not a _warmer_ reception."
"Good enough, good enough!" shouted the firemen.
This calamity did not affect any belief that the Brook Farmers had in
social science, and it did not break up the Association. Certainly no
one departed from the place at once in fear of disorganization. It
called forth kindly letters from all parts of the country, and our
immediate friends gathered around us as if to shield us from further
harm. The sweet singer returned to pass a few days with us, and our
noble friend Channing spoke earnest words to all.
It was Sunday; the Direction broke its rule and decided to call the
Association together in the evening to talk over everything connected
with its prospects. There was one reason for doing so, and that was,
one of our prominent members was going next day to New York to deliver
a course of lectures on music, and they desired he should be present at
the consultation. I do not remember that the meeting talked facts and
figures, but that it was a meeting of goodwill and resolution, where
all expressed their sympathies or convictions regarding the life then
and there led; their desire for its continuance, and their hopes and
wishes for the future prosperity of the little band.
I make an extract from an article written by our president, as showing
the state of feeling among the leaders at this time. After speaking of
the various letters received, he says he has selected one for
publication for its practical suggestions, and continues:--
"We do not altogether agree with the writer in the importance which he
attaches to the special movement at Brook Farm. We have never professed
to be able to represent the idea of Association with the scanty
resources at our command; nor would the discontinuance of our
establishment, or of any of the partial attempts now in progress, in
the slightest degree weaken our faith in the associative system or our
conviction that it will sooner or later be adopted as the only form of
society suited to the nature of man, and in accordance with the divine
will. We have never attempted anything more than to prepare the way for
Association by demonstrating some of the leading ideas on which the
theory is founded. In this we have had the most gratifying success; but
we have regarded ourselves only as the humble pioneers in a work which
would be carried on by others to its magnificent consummation, and have
been content to wait and toil for the development of the cause and the
completion of our hope.
"Still we have established a centre of influence here for the
associative movement which we shall spare no effort to sustain; we are
fully aware of the importance of this; and nothing but the most
inexorable necessity will withdraw the congenial spirits that are
gathered in social union here, from the work which has always called
forth their most earnest devotedness and enthusiasm. Since our disaster
occurred there has not been an expression or symptom of despondency
among our number. All are resolute and calm; determined to stand by
each other and the cause; ready to encounter still greater sacrifices
than have yet been demanded of them, and desirous only to adopt the
course which may be presented by the clearest dictates of duty. The
loss we have sustained occasions us no immediate inconvenience; does
not interfere with any of our present operations, although it is a
total destruction of resources on which we had confidently relied, and
must inevitably derange our plans for the enlargement of the
Association and the extension of our industry. We have a firm and
cheerful hope, however, of being able to do much for the illustration
of the cause, with the materials that remain. They are far too valuable
to be dispersed or applied to any other object, and with favorable
circumstances will be able to accomplish much for the realization of
social unity.
"We are not so blind as to lose sight of the fact that this enterprise,
as well as all others that leave the beaten path of custom and
tradition, must experience more or less misrepresentation and
consequent hostility. But we rejoice to say that in Boston and its
vicinity, where our institution and its members are the best known, we
have met with nothing since the occurrence of our disaster but the most
cordial and almost enthusiastic sympathy. Our labors for five year's
have not been in vain in disarming reproach and winning esteem. A
universal desire is expressed for the continuance of our establishment,
and the success of our experiment; the most friendly hands have been
extended to us from all quarters; and if the expression of respect for
ourselves and wishes for our prosperity could be of any avail, we might
regard our future welfare as certain. If there has been any exception
to these remarks it has not come to our knowledge. The truth is, our
wisest and best men are deeply sensible, under the pressure of existing
evils, of the need of social reform, and they cannot but welcome those
whose perseverance and devotion in this work prove them to be in
earnest."
These words of our leader expressed clearly the general feeling and
hope of the Association, and are worthy of close attention. I will not
copy the letter referred to, but put in its place the following shorter
one, the writer of whom was an entire stranger to our people:--
"NEW YORK, March 17, 1846.
"GENTLEMEN:--With the greatest sorrow I heard of the destruction of a
building of the Brook Farm Association by fire. As an expression of my
sympathy please accept the trifle enclosed towards its reconstruction.
I am rejoiced at the spirit with which you met this calamity, and think
it augurs most favorably for the successful result of your great
enterprise.
"The light which some knowledge of the science of Association has
poured upon my mind has changed despondency into hope, gloom into
cheerfulness. My religious feelings I trust have been purified. I can
more intelligently and confidently trust in God, and the reflection
that we are all 'members of one another' excites benevolent feelings in
my heart. I trust I may live to do something towards spreading the
knowledge of this divine science, and that when I die the condition and
prospects of the human race may be greatly improved. E."
This great disaster stirred the little commonwealth to its centre. In
the hearts of the dwellers were sad spots, were serious thoughts. They
felt a deep disappointment, and when the fun and the _bon-mot_ were
off, that ever sparkled at Brook Farm on the surface of its life of
toil and devotion, they met each other in frank, plain talk. I have a
great admiration for the simple, straightforward, honest way in which
the people, male and female, spoke to each other. There was no beating
of the bush; there was no need of it; there was a common interest that
united them--a unity, as far as it went--not perfect, it is true, but
much higher than I have ever seen it elsewhere.
As we met the morning after the fire at breakfast, which was later than
usual, and all through the following days, the talk was about the
catastrophe. Each one had his story to tell. Some had been watching the
other houses, fearing chance sparks might reach them, but the night was
so quiet they did not scatter much. Our Englishman with a spicy name
(Peppercorn), cheerful, lively fellow as he was, is said to have
observed that "many hanxious heyes were fixed hon that 'ole in the barn
when hour 'ouse was hon fire." (It was a square place left open in the
gable for ventilation.) Little knots of people gathered together to
talk over and over again the same important subject, and foremost among
them, tallest among them, was the General, with his disputatious tongue
and his occasional unfortunate stammer.