A SURPRISE PARTY AND RECEPTION COMBINED.
As the train approached the station at Solaris, Fillmore, in blissful
ignorance of coming events, began to prepare himself to leave the coach.
In response to a letter from George Gerrish, he had wired from St.
Louis the time of his arrival. As he was stepping from the train to the
long platform, his hand baggage was seized by trusty hands and quickly
disappeared. He noted with amazement the gaily decorated station and the
throng of waiting people. Before he had recovered from his surprise,
Gertrude Gerrish, evidently striving to assume a very dignified
deportment, advanced to meet him. As she gave him a hearty welcome, she
said:
"As the leader of the reception committee, representing the membership
and children of the Solaris Farm Company, who are gathered here in
holiday attire, unanimous in a desire to do honor to you; I greet you! I
welcome you back to Solaris Farm!"
Turning quickly, with a wave of her hand, she said: "People of Solaris,
three cheers for our General Manager!" At this time, the train having
departed, the farm people almost covered the platform with two deep
lines, facing a narrow lane in the center, with heads uncovered,
prepared and waiting for the signal. The response came instantly in a
ringing cheer from six hundred well-trained throats: "Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah for Fillmore Flagg! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome back to Solaris
Farm!"
Almost before Fillmore was aware of what had really happened, Gertrude
Gerrish had taken his arm, as with a mysterious smile she said: "I am
now to escort you to the carriage prepared for your reception. We are
then to be escorted by the procession to the public square, in front of
the hall of education and amusement, where the final ceremonies are to
take place. Of course you are surprised! We have planned for that very
purpose! So come along now without one word of protest! At the proper
moment you are to have as much time as you may desire in which to
relieve your mind. For the present you are to keep quiet and obey me--a
despotic master of ceremonies whose will is imperative and whose dignity
is not to be questioned, even for a moment!"
Fillmore Flagg, now obediently dumb, entered into the spirit of the
occasion. He was very much surprised--nay, well-nigh dazed--yet withal
delighted, as the happy significance of this unexpected welcome came
slowly into his mind. With hat in hand, bowing and smiling, arm in arm
with Gertrude Gerrish, he slowly passed between the long lines of happy
faces, keeping step with the throbbing measure of the soft sweet music
discoursed by the band. At regular intervals, groups of gaily dressed
children waved their pretty flags or playfully pelted him with roses. As
the twain reached the end of the lines, a novel chariot was waiting: a
ladder-wagon of the Solaris fire company, drawn by twenty brawny fire
laddies, was equipped with a broad platform, beautifully draped, bearing
at each corner a choice selection of fine large potted palms. In the
center of this platform was a smaller one, raised still higher; on this
was placed the seat of honor, which was covered by a lovely canopy of
artistically interwoven ferns and flowers. A broad flight of rough board
steps, carpeted and decorated, led up to the lofty seat on this unique
chariot. While our hero and the "Master of Ceremonies" were climbing to
reach it, the procession quickly formed about the chariot into an
elongated hollow square, eight ranks deep; the children with their flags
marching in alternating lines of boys and girls, formed the front of the
square, while the adults arranged in the same order, formed the sides
and the rear. Gilbert Gerrish, with the band of musicians, selected by
him from the ranks of the musical club, was placed in front of the
square. He was very proud and happy as he flourished his baton and gave
the signal for the procession to move forward. In this order they
marched gaily along the broad, tree lined avenue which led from the
railroad station to the village square. The chariot came to a halt just
in front of the hall of education and amusement, with the seat of honor
facing eastward toward the center of the public square. The procession
quickly reformed into three sides of a square, with the eight ranks
facing inward.
For a brief period silence reigned. Then at a signal from Gertrude
Gerrish, as Fillmore Flagg arose with uncovered head and stood by her
side, the cheers and greetings of welcome were repeated by the ranks
with redoubled animation and intensity.
At this juncture, George Gerrish came forward to the front of the raised
platform, while Gertrude, turning to Fillmore, said; "The president of
the Solaris Farm Company has been chosen by its people to present to you
a gift which they have selected, as a tribute of their affection and
also of their devotion to you and to Solaris Farm."
"My esteemed friend and co-worker, Fillmore Flagg," said George Gerrish:
"As the mouth piece of our people, I am happy to be permitted to join in
the active work of this reception. The people of Solaris Farm, moved by
one impulse, inspired by sentiments of sincere friendship and
enthusiastic loyalty, desire to present for your acceptance, this
Solaris album, as a testimonial of their loving admiration; as a token
of their absolute confidence in the wisdom of your leadership. This
album contains photographs of all the members of the company. Each
picture is endorsed with the signature and with the place and date of
birth of the individual. They are arranged and indexed in alphabetical
order. Our people were guided to a choice of this gift because they were
so profoundly impressed with the importance of the experiment
represented by this farm. Because they felt so confident that its
assured success would sound the key-note of a general movement for the
emancipation and elevation of humanity by the gradual introduction of
wiser and better social and industrial methods, which would eventually
result in the banishment of poverty and crime.
"Taking this view of the future, we may be pardoned for prophesying that
fifty years hence, this album of the pioneers of the movement, will
possess a greatly enhanced historical value. We trust, therefore, that
this possibility may make our gift more acceptable. I now ask you to
receive it in the spirit of love which inspired its donation. In
conclusion allow me to assure you that under all circumstances, you can
count on the life-long friendship and loyalty of the people whose
pictures will greet you, as the years come and go, whenever you may feel
inclined to look through the picture laden pages of Solaris Album."
As George Gerrish concluded his speech, a swelling storm of cheers for
Fillmore Flagg burst from the ranks of the square. Again and again came
the repeated roar of cheers, accompanied by the roll of the drums, and a
circling cloud of waving handkerchiefs, hats and flags. Fillmore Flagg,
inspired by the enthusiasm and excitement of his cherished people,
looked very handsome and heroic as he stood with his manly figure erect,
his noble head thrown back, his eyes shining with emotion, the album
held firmly in his right hand. Bowing and smiling, he turned gracefully
to face the greetings from the ranks of familiar faces, which were
swaying with joy and shouting so wildly. Waiting for a few moments, he
then raised his left hand, with the open palm outward, as a signal for
silence. The tumult was stilled as if by magic.
"People of Solaris!" he said; his clear, strong voice vibrating with
emotion: "To you, through your worthy president and your able committee,
with a grateful heart, I return my thanks for this most unexpected and
charming reception; for this beautiful and appropriate gift, which I
prize much more than words can tell. Believe me when I say that I most
thoroughly appreciate the noble sentiments which inspired its selection.
I am delighted with the happy significance of this demonstration, as a
prophecy of the complete success of this experimental farm. This
exhibition of your loyalty to me and to Solaris Farm, fills my heart
with emotions of grateful joy. You have made me very proud and very
happy! I shall never forget the encouragement of your enthusiastic
support, which has given me renewed vigor and strength to carry forward
the work. I now pledge to you my sacred word of honor that the golden
memories of this glorious occasion, and the possession of this precious
album, shall henceforth inspire me to still greater efforts for the
success of our cherished enterprise, which means so much for us, so much
more for humanity.
"I am willing to acknowledge without a moment's hesitation, that your
surprise for me was skillfully planned; that its execution was
charmingly successful! I wish to return the compliment. I have a
surprise in store for you! The present moment is propitious; I will
disclose it! I am the bearer of a gift for you--a gift wisely chosen,
which is in every way worthy of your admiration and appreciation. A gift
of such exceeding value, that I cannot speak of it without becoming
eloquent. Gold and silver cannot measure its worth to you! Securely
packed in strong cases, which are now lodged in our express office, is a
rare collection of books. This collection contains ten complete sets of
the best text books for each one of the classified sciences, together
with the vocabularies, dictionaries, charts and drawings belonging
thereto. Accompanying each set is a miscellaneous collection of the best
works written descriptively on that particular science. These books are
intensely interesting and very valuable, although they are not classed
as text books. Altogether the five hundred volumes form the finest and
most comprehensive collection of scientific works I have ever seen. They
are the most useful and expensive books published that can be found in
the whole range of scientific literature. They contain the knowledge we
most need in our enterprise, to enable us as an associated body of
people to do better, wiser and more effective co-operative thinking and
working.
"To meet and satisfy our needs in this direction, these books were
chosen as a gift to our library, by Miss Fern Fenwick, the beautiful and
generous patroness of Solaris Farm. She desires me to emphasize her wish
that you abstain from any public expression of thanks. In lieu thereof,
she prefers to accept the measure of your diligence and enthusiasm in
acquiring the stores of knowledge thus offered, as the most appropriate
and satisfactory measure of your gratitude to her for the gift.
"To master the contents of these books, is to master the sum of human
knowledge in the various departments of science. With this mastery there
will come to us the largest understanding, and the clearest obtainable
conception of our relations toward each other, and to the universe
around us. Thus enlightened, we may discover that ignorance is a sin;
that as responsible entities in the great pulsing sea of cosmic life,
with more or less power to help or hinder the purpose and perfect
unfoldment of all life--we cannot afford to be selfish, sinful or cruel
in our actions toward each other, or toward any other form of cosmic
life. Having once acquired these convictions, with this most important
fund of information, we possess the key which will unlock the mystery of
the action and reaction of the potent and unseen forces of nature, which
affect us as individuals, as they do the earth, air and water, the
elements so necessary to our existence. The restless, never-satisfied,
questioning spirit, born with every human soul, is the expression of a
divine purpose! To gratify this insatiable desire for more knowledge, is
to comply with the demands of a wise cosmic law. By so doing, we enter
into the enjoyment of a never-failing source of perpetual delight. We
are crowned with a happiness of the purest type!
"In viewing this vast field of knowledge, spread so invitingly before
us; in anticipating the joy we may glean therefrom; we catch a glimpse
of the exceeding richness of the boon of immortality, which, as a
spiritual heritage, is waiting for us. We begin slowly to understand
ourselves as the repositories of infinite possibilities!--as cosmic
units of the larger Cosmos--as a perfect microcosm of the macrocosm!
With feelings of awe-inspiring adoration, we reflect that we may know
ourselves as individuals, only as the extent of our knowledge of the
universe around us is increased. Responding to the law of action and
reaction, the more we reflect, the greater becomes our desire to know
more of ourselves. Always more! Ever more! Never quite satisfied!
Fortunately, the immortality of the wisdom loving human soul embraces
all time, and all eternity! Therefore, through the law of eternal
progression, we may naturally and rightfully aspire to the acquirement
of all possible knowledge. In cultivating these aspirations, we may rest
assured that we shall constantly gain new conceptions and new meanings
for the word 'Heaven.'
"In conclusion, my friends and co-workers, my brothers and sisters, let
us congratulate ourselves as the fortunate recipients of this priceless
gift: let us endeavor to show our appreciation by a speedy mastery of
the contents of these valuable books. Let us approach the work, full of
joyful anticipation and enthusiasm, with the proud consciousness that we
are invited guests to a great feast of learning. Let us strive in every
way to make study thoroughly enjoyable. Let us make it one long holiday
in honor of the Goddess of Wisdom! One grand harvest-home of our
gathering of the golden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Let us be as
earnest as we are enthusiastic--let us be thorough, and withal
methodical and systematic.
"The ten sets of text-books, suggest the formation of the membership of
the company into that number of scientific clubs; which I recommend.
This division would give fifty adults as the average membership of each
club. We have at least ten available rooms large enough to accommodate
clubs of that size. Each club should begin with the primary text-book,
which should be read, discussed, analyzed and re-read until clearly
understood by the entire class. The club to proceed in the same order
with the next of the series, until all are thoroughly mastered. I will
volunteer to join the club to which is assigned that scientific study
which may prove the most difficult, least inviting and most unpopular.
By the force of a united purpose, working co-operatively together, we
shall soon develop a capacity for severe mental labor, which will make
the mastery of the remainder of the course a constant source of
pleasure. What we need in the way of equipment, chemicals, instruments,
etc., can be easily and quickly secured.
"George and Gertrude Gerrish will have an advisory superintendence over
the work of all the clubs. Years of experience in teaching have prepared
them to quickly untangle the mixed quantities or conditions that may
confront us, and thus skillfully turn our difficulties into delights.
"With this general plan for conducting our literary festival, I will
leave the subject with you for consideration at the proper time.
"I feel conscious that under the circumstances, I owe you an apology for
having so trespassed upon your patience and good nature, by the length
of my remarks. Therefore I desire to acknowledge my thrice doubled
appreciation of your manifest interest, attention and sympathy, which
have both flattered and encouraged me greatly.
"I will now close by thanking you, through your worthy officers, for
this cordial and beautiful reception; also for the opportunity to
address you on a subject in which I am so deeply interested."