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SOLARIS FARM;
A Story of the Twentieth Century.
by
MILAN C. EDSON.
Published by the Author
at
1728 New Jersey Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C.
In the Year 1900.
Press Work by Byron S. Adams.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN MILAN C. EDSON.]
Copyright, 1900
by Milan C. Edson.
All Rights Reserved.
DEDICATION.
This book, is dedicated to the sons and daughters of the farms of the
Republic as an expression of the author's realization, that Agricultural
people constitute a large majority of its working units: That as such,
its destiny is in the hands of their boys and girls, as its future
guardians, fathers and mothers: That for the reasons stated, they should
become its dominant thinkers and leaders: That Agriculture is the true
basis of industrial and commercial success; hence, it should be made the
most noble and pleasing of all occupations: That the alarming
encroachments of land monopoly, and the inability of the small farm to
meet the expense of using the latest and best machinery, threatens the
total extinction of all land-owning farmers, and of their consequent
reduction to the dependent caste of farm laborers: That the isolated
life and the severe toil of the small farm, has a dangerously depressing
effect on the minds of its people: That all of these things, seem to
demand the changes suggested by the contents of this book.
PREFACE.
Strong in my convictions that all civilizations are false, which do not
civilize the lowest units of any social order, I have written Solaris
Farm as my contribution towards the improvement of agriculturists as a
class, of the race as a whole; towards the establishment of a truer
civilization, organized for the purpose of securing the same degree of
progress for the lowest orders of humanity, which have been or can be
attained by the highest. In any social or political fabric, wide
differences of wealth, of education, of refinement in its sub-divisions
are dangerous, they swiftly lead to the introduction of caste. Caste is
the dry rot, which, when once established, will surely destroy all
progress, all vitality, by slowly eating away the social, industrial and
political life of the nation.
In preparing this book for the press, I wish to acknowledge my
obligations to the following authors, for much valuable information and
inspiration: To Elmer Gates, the discoverer of new domains in
Psychology, the inventor and discoverer of the art of Mentation, the
founder of the Elmer Gates Laboratory, at Chevy Chase, Maryland: To
Henry George, the author of "Progress and Poverty:" To Edward Bellamy,
the author of "Equality," and "Looking Backward:" And lastly to that
greatest of living Frenchmen, M. Godin, the author of "Social
Solutions," and the founder of the "Familistere," with its famous
industrial enterprise, located at the city of Guise, France; the
grandest co-operative success of the age!
A last word to my readers: Do you wish to join forces with the
humanitarians? If so, always strive so to educate the people, that they
may fully understand the true object and purpose of human life; and the
necessity for the upbuilding of social, industrial and political
institutions, in harmony with the demands of that purpose. This will
require unselfish, persistent, co-operative effort and thought. In no
other way, can you so greatly aid the cause of progress.
MILAN C. EDSON.
No. 1728 N. J. Ave., N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPT. 1ST, 1900.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
1. A FARMER'S SON WITH PROGRESSIVE TENDENCIES 1
2. THE OUTLINES OF A GREAT PROBLEM 4
3. AN ADVERTISEMENT INTRODUCES THE HEROINE 9
4. THE STORY OF A STONE AND WHAT CAME AFTER 10
5. FAIRY FERN COTTAGE 27
6. FENNIMORE FENWICK 34
7. AN ALASKA KINDERGARTEN 37
8. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE "FAIRIES." 41
9. THE PROBLEM VS. A GOOD MAN WHO IS AS RICH AS
HE IS NOBLE 49
10. THE REAPING OF THE DEATH ANGEL 53
11. THE MARTINA MINE 58
12. SPIRIT AND MORTAL--FATHER AND DAUGHTER 61
13. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 63
14. THE ETHICS OF PLANETARY EVOLUTION 71
15. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN SOCIAL EVOLUTION 75
16. FILLMORE AND FERN 87
17. SOLARIS FARM 93
18. CLUB LIFE AT SOLARIS 112
19. FENWICK HALL 121
20. THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA 133
21. HIS WOOING PROSPERS WHILE OUR HERO ENJOYS HIS
FIRST VACATION 141
22. A SURPRISE PARTY AND RECEPTION COMBINED 150
23. FORMATION OF POPULAR SCIENCE CLUBS 160
24. A TWENTIETH CENTURY LOVE LETTER 162
25. THE REPLY 171
26. FERN FENWICK ARRIVES AT SOLARIS 179
27. THE FESTIVAL 185
28. THE ORATION 187
29. THE STORY OF GILBERT GERRISH; OR, THE STRENGTH OF
THE WEAKEST UNIT 216
30. OUR HERO AND HEROINE DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 227
31. THE DISCUSSION GROWS MORE INTERESTING 248
32. SOCIAL SOLUTIONS 256
33. SOLARIS SCRIP 270
34. THE INSURANCE OFFERED BY CO-OPERATIVE FARMING 273
35. THE MOTHERS' CLUB 287
36. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN THE CAPITAL
AND LABOR PROBLEM 299
37. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM TRIUMPHANT 313
38. THE KINDERGARTEN AT SOLARIS 327
39. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR 346
40. THE COMING ERA OF GOOD ROADS 362
41. CO-OPERATIVE ETHICS 371
42. RURAL LIFE UNDER THE REIGN OF CO-OPERATION 387
43. A TWENTIETH CENTURY HONEYMOON 416
44. THE NEW CRUSADE 423
SOLARIS FARM.
A STORY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
CHAPTER I.
A FARMER'S SON WITH PROGRESSIVE TENDENCIES.
One bright summer afternoon, near the close of the month of August,
1905, two young college chums, Fillmore Flagg and George Gaylord, just
met after a long separation, were seated on a rustic bench near a
well-appointed mountain hotel. The superb view before them was well
worthy of their half-hour's silent admiration. Full one thousand feet
above the sea stands "Hotel Mount Meenahga" in the heart of the
"Shawangunks," a mountain range in the state of New York, famed for its
scenic beauty, cool dry air, pure water and commanding elevation.
Looking northward a most charming landscape presents itself, a wonderful
group of mountain ranges, stretching for seventy-five miles from near
the Delaware Water-gap eastward to and including the Alpine peaks of the
famous Catskills. Within this lovely semicircle lie the highlands of
Ulster, Sullivan and Orange, lifted like seats in some vast
amphitheater, tier above tier, while nearer a beautiful mingling of
villages and hamlets, broad fields, green woods and silvery
water-courses, constitutes a picture of enchanting beauty--a picture
constantly changed, shaded and intensified by broad patches of moving
shadow and sunlight from a great fleet of fleecy clouds sailing so
swiftly, so silently and so majestically across the summer sky.
"How exquisitely beautiful!" murmured Fillmore Flagg, "I wish I had my
camera that I might make it captive, carry it hence and keep it, a rare
token of beauty, a source of joy forever."
At this point, a brief description of the young men will serve by way of
a further introduction.
Fillmore Flagg was fully six feet in height, though his compact,
well-rounded figure made him seem less tall; his straight, muscular
limbs were in harmony with his deep chest and symmetrical shoulders. His
rather large but beautifully turned neck and throat rose straight from
the spinal column, firmly supporting a noble head, everywhere evenly and
smoothly developed. His thick, soft brown hair, worn rather short, was
inclined to curl, giving to the outlines of the head a still more heroic
size. His forehead was large, full, dome shaped and remarkably smooth;
the brows, finely penciled and well arched, were matched in color and
slenderness by a short moustache which seemed a shade or two darker than
the hair. His eyes were large, very expressive, of a soft dark brown,
bright and flashing with emotion, full of pensive light when partially
shaded by their thick silken lashes; his smiling glance possessed a
curiously fascinating magnetic charm. The attractiveness of the entire
face and neck was intensified by the wonderful marble-like smoothness of
skin which accompanies that rare, pale olive tint of complexion. A soft
Alpine hat and a neat business suit of dark clothing completes this
picture of the personal appearance of Fillmore Flagg. Later on we shall
learn to know him better by his genial temperament, mental and moral
characteristics.
George Gaylord was above medium height, slender and pale, slightly
inclined to stoop; wore glasses, and a thick black moustache which
entirely concealed his thin lips. His heavy growth of long, coal black
hair was naturally bent on falling over his high white forehead. His
large black eyes were deeply set under heavy dark brows, more square
than arched. His straight nose and smoothly shaven chin were set in line
with his high square forehead. While both face and figure suggested the
student, a tall silk hat and a square cut, closely buttoned black frock
coat, stamped him at once as a clerical student.
"Tell me, George," said Fillmore Flagg, "how have you fared since we
parted, and what are your ambitions and plans for the future?"
"There is not much to tell you, Fillmore. As you know, when I left
college, my mother was a widow with a very limited income, which made it
difficult to meet my college expenses. Mother had set her heart on my
entering the ministry. Her only brother, a childless widower, and a man
of some wealth and great influence in the church affairs of his
prosperous New England town, promised his assistance. Behold the result!
I have just graduated with fair honors from a prominent theological
institute. I am to take charge, this coming November, of a large church
and congregation in the manufacturing city where my uncle resides. Uncle
George, for whom I was named, is now with my mother visiting friends in
New York. They have kindly selected as my future wife, my uncle's
favorite niece and prospective heiress to his wealth. When last we met,
four years ago, Martha Merritt was a sweet little miss in short
dresses; but gave promise, even then, of unfolding into a lovely woman.
To tell you the truth, under the circumstances, I am more than half
prepared to fall in love with her when we meet again. However ambitious
my day dreams in the past may have been, a not unkindly fate has woven
the web of destiny for me and fixed my future life work without much
effort on my part; and yet I am quite content to have it so. Two weeks
ago I left the heat and bustle of the great city for a month's rest in
this quiet place. I little dreamed of meeting you here; I need not say I
am delighted: I am, thoroughly so. I find you looking your best, yet I
can easily perceive you have been hard at work as usual. I do not
believe you could possibly keep still and rest, even for one short week,
let the inducement to do so be ever so great. And now, my dear Fillmore,
since I have, so to speak, brought myself up to date for your benefit,
may I ask for a similar service on your part?"