Chapter VI (excerpt)

To choose the less of two evils was all he could hope for, and, in a mood verging upon despair, he roused him-self to travel to Peterloo, and be introduced to a posse of strangers from whom, at the moment, he really hoped for nothing.

Can my reader form any conception of the blessed experience that awaited him there ?

Not so! Unless he or she has trodden the winepress alone, unless he has traversed vast regions of speculative thought, and all the while longing for the touch of a kindred soul to lighten the sublime but awful solitude.

It was nothing less than the breath of a new and inspiring life that Walter Cairns inhaled in the presence of Miss Jose, Margaret, and Kose.
  
The two former were as free as himself from theological dogma, although a vital religion animated their every action. And Bose, with her childlike simplicity and her fullness of knowledge concerning those social problems to which Walter was beginning to turn his whole attention, Bose stepped into cordial sympathy at once with the desolate man, and played on the deepest strings of his sensitive nature with so delicate a touch that, behold! what she brought forth was inward music.
    
When Mrs. Plimsoll removed to Peterloo, her infant charge was with her ; and, later by some three or four weeks, Walter Cairns,—he had dropped the reverend,—his daughter Esther, aged fifteen, and his son Percy, aged twelve, followed from Bradford, and were installed in the newly-housed community. "La Maison” the new name of the communal dwelling, is carved on the front. It was chosen by the group, although its suggestion arose from a skttle skirmish of Margaret's with Mons. Martin.
  
"You English have no genius for easy social life," had said Mons. Martin;" Malaise, not bien aise, characterizes even your homes! The little ones of your large families are not at ease with monsieur the papa. And but who is it. Miss Margaret, who is always writing about your debasing the currency ? Monsieur is right. That word home, how you have debased it ! A lady sends you an invitation to her ‘at home ' on such an evening, and when you go, behold! You are not at home in the least! You are in the midst of a stiff and stately cérémonie! Bah! You will always be a nation of workers, industrious to the core; your enjoyments are all laborious ; but social, genial, flexible, never!
    
Margaret combated this allegation in the playful spirit of banter that had taken possession, somehow, of her relations with Mons. Martin; nevertheless, it sank deeply into her heart. She pondered the defects of English character, and traced them, she thought, to defects in the English home. The remedy was not easy to see; but she would devote her life to this problem, and accomplish something, however small, in the exposure of these defects, the inauguration of a remedial system. This had become the central idea of her inmost thoughts, the pivot of her existence.

At one of the preliminary meetings of the brotherhood Margaret made a speech on this subject. “As part of the great order of the future," said she, our fundamental position is that of all Socialists. We hold the equal duty of all to labour; the belief that ultimately society must abolish the proletarianism of the majority, and bring the largest possible measure of the amenities of life within the reach of all. This may be called our Social Ideal our Economic Creed. But as a unit in the great order or system of the future—a socialist family or small communal group,—we have, in my view, another special aim. It is in reference to the enjoyments rather than the industries of life.

“To the motto, ‘without work no enjoyment,' we should add, and emphasize if possible—and no work without enjoyment.

“We are often, as a nation," with a glance round, " I allude, of course, to the English, who are in a majority here, taunted with our inability to enjoy; and the taunt has in it a measure of truth. Let us make it our special business to adapt ourselves, and all who may at any time join our number, to the enjoyment of a rich, full, harmonious, broadly social domesticity ; and pledge ourselves to promote the creation of that domesticity from day to day and hour to hour.”
    
“Home is a word that in some ears has lost its charm. By false applications of the term we have, alas! Debased its currency. I propose, therefore, partly for that reason, partly because it is our happiness to have comrades of another race and tongue within our intended home, to substitute the French term, La Maison, and should my proposal be approved and adopted, I need only add that, personally, I will do my utmost to make all of you feel, as you cross the threshold, that you are indeed and in truth, a La Maison.

Having purchased La Maison with her own private fortune, Margaret grew bolder in asserting her independent, just, and generous will.

She braved the displeasure of legal counsellors and a few distant relatives, and formally made over the building to the members of the Unitary Home as a free gift for the term of its existence. If the group should cease to exist whilst Margaret still lived, she would then be entitled to resume possession of the house.
    
“Again, should it come to an end, with Margaret dead, and the present disorganized social system still lingering, the building would be sold, and the proceeds divided equally among the separating communists.”
  
Before the assembling of the group within the walls, which took place during the third week of November, various matters had been discussed. The questionings and doubts of individual members were brought forward and dealt with, in some cases resolved; and by each adult member a document entitled Our Constitution was agreed to and formally signed.
    
In the course of these confidential discussions it soon became evident that, of the group, only Joe Ferrier and Mrs. Plimsoll were strongly individualistic.
    
Self-interest made them adherents, and to get on in life, to amass property, to make the children of the Commune healthy, wealthy, and worldly-wise, ought, in their view, they frankly stated it, to be the whole business of the Unitary Home.

Even Vera, who had never formulated to herself any theory of life, here gently demurred. "Oh, Joe,” she remarked," we ought not to live to ourselves alone; and although the we does mean a lot of people living happily together, it surely would be selfish to do nothing and care nothing for the world outside! I mean, we should make it our business, you know, to help the poor, or do something for people who are not aswell off as we are. Could we work for bazaars? Or save up some money and start a ‘mother's meeting ' of our own?"
    
These simple suggestions were not adopted, but the clear-minded Collectivists in the group, viz., Mr. Spiers, Miss Jose, Margaret, Mr. Ray, sen., and Rose, who had earnestly thought out a scheme of noble associated life, were immensely aided by the weight thrown into the scale on their side by Vera and others, who, without thinking much on that terrible problem of how to accomplish real good in a world all torn and bleeding with conflict, yet felt all the generous impulses of fall-fledged Socialism.
    
"The public spirit of our Unitary Home (it was finally settled) must extend to the uttermost limits of the earth.”
    
“It is nothing less than the Happiness of all Mankind we desire, and shall strive in some small measure to promote. To this end we propose, first, to show by our life and conduct, in what true happiness consists.”
    
“It does not consist in wealth, luxury, idleness; therefore, we eschew all these. Our home must never be wealthy, never luxurious, never the abode of idleness.”
    
“Within its walls abundant comfort, with simplicity, must be maintained; elegance and refinement, without show or glitter. And whoever departs from this principle, in opinion or action, will be liable to criticism in open council, or free to withdraw from the Commune.”
    
"Our second method of promoting General Happiness is, by direct action upon the young; and here we aspire to extension of the action beyond the children of our Unitary Home. The day-school we shall carefully organize is certain to be, for months, perhaps years, very small; for around Peterloo there are not, we fear, many parents sufficiently advanced in thought to commit their children to our care. To the average public mind, our school will seem non-religious. The Bible will not be used as a textbook. We regard it as human, a venerable monument of past ages, and although the work it has done, in evolving the conscience of man, and aiding his progress from barbarism to civilization is immense, we perceive that its teaching now is discordant, confusing, partly obsolete, and in no way harmonious with the revealed truths of a scientific age.”

“We set it aside, therefore, reverently, and turn to modem books, the highest and best we can find.”
    
“Our teaching throughout will be primarily religious. That is, we will not, as at most schools is done, grind the gerund stone of ordinary routine, to turn out men and women of fashion able only, and certainly willing, to live on the labour of others: scholarly, otiose pedants : keen sharpers, or what, by a curious irony, are called ‘business men,' though their business is not to produce wealth, but simply to manipulate and distribute it, whilst lining their pockets with gold in the process : drudges able to work in a dreary mechanical way to maintain and embellish the lives of others, while their own individual lives are sunk in hideous foulness, poverty, squalor!
    
“In contradistinction to this, our school will take infinite pains to produce Humanity of a noble, superior type—men and women eager to do useful work, and capable of doing it intelligently, skilfully, pleasurably; their one aim the general good, their one effort the service of their brethren; and genial, generous love the vital spring of action throughout life.”
    
"Every tendency to dominancy in childhood will be carefully subdued, and the barbarous instincts—anger, revenge, hatred, jealousy, cunning, greed—studiously nipped in the bud. Conduct will be put before cleverness, even culture; and happiness, not wealth, pointed out as the goal of individual effort.”
    
“Our third method of promoting general happiness is by action upon the public.”

"There will be no indiscriminate charity, however, with us; no eleemosynary aid that, in supporting individuals, is hurtful to the race.”
    
"We will search for the social forces that are truly remedial, and aid such. We will steadfastly bear in mind the causes of our present evil social state, and its transitional condition, and support such action as deals with these causes alone; whilst, at the same time, we strive to enlighten the public on the principles and practical outcome of Socialism, so as to prepare for the happier future of which this transition epoch is merely the unavoidable,
discordant prelude."
    
To launch a Socialistic experiment in transition surroundings on a basis of non-coercive solidarity,—the task is not easy !
    
I have to admit that the pounds, shillings, and pence question was a severe test of sincerity to those who as yet had not fully thought out their newly-adopted principles. It created earnest discussion, some heart-burning, and, even when settled, a few scruples and doubts.
    
The settlement was as follows:—
    
Whoever possessed an income, whether from land, saved capital, or individual labour, became bound to yield two-thirds of the same to the Community, retaining one-third for his or her own private use. Thus, Mrs. Ward's annual income of £600 per annum yielded £400 for the general expenses, and £200 for individual expenditure ; while Miss Jose, whose life-long toil had secured to her only £80 a year, threw into the general purse £53 6s. 8d., and Vera brought nothing at all save personal services.

The possession of money is simply an accident of birth, or outward condition, and must not directly affect the acceptance or rejection of candidates for the Unitary Home. The requisite possessions are inward, not outward, viz., a gentle, sympathetic nature, and qualifications for becoming a worker. The work of each would depend partly on personal choice, but subject to the determining will of the group. The income of the group, from what ever source received, must be kept steadily at a point that will easily cover the expenses of a comfortable, elegant, secure home; and this, while maintaining a sufficient staff of workers within doors, may necessitate the finding of remunerative work for many members outside, or may, on the other hand, set some of the workers free to engage in unremunerative public service on the lines already laid down.        Margaret's fortune, notwithstanding the purchase of La Maison, gave an income as nearly as could be computed of £1,840 per annum. Two-thirds of that sum, viz., £1,226 13s. 4d., made a strong backbone for the yearly income, and Margaret rejoiced to think that, in contrast to poor Brook Farm, the " crushing difficulties " that might lie in the path of La Maison were not likely to prove " financial." Already three members as penniless as Vera had been welcomed under its roof — Rose, now Mrs. Francis Ray, her young sister Lucy, aged sixteen, and Dr. Basil Karrattray.

Lucy was destined for self-support as early as possible, and the feeble mother in Devonshire scanned advertisement lists for a nursery-governess crevice in the unsocial social ring with a pain at the heart born of timid fears for her innocent darling's happiness.

To her the relief was incalculable when Mrs. Ward pro posed to receive her on trial for a month, previous to the opening of the Unitary Home, in which, should mutual satisfaction result from the visit, she would be cherished as a daughter, her further development promoted and guided, and her activities directed to the special function of giving such personal services as chronic invalidism imperatively requires.

Dr. Basil was still within the Rectory, like a vessel in port with a broken shaft ! To bring the figure nearer the fact, however, one must think of the vessel straining to leave the port, panting and blowing with self-generated steam, while, alas! Utterly disabled.
    
Like Walter Cairns, his passionate youth had culmi nated in a marriage engagement, and, behold, at twenty- seven, when he ought, one would think, to be within reach of the world's goal in the race of life, viz., self dependence and marriage, he is tied hand and foot at the starting point!

Rose's marriage brought him into contact with Vera, Margaret, Joe Ferrier, and Mr. Ray ; and what resulted therefrom was cordial hands outstretched to draw him into La Maison — a new haven of refuge from whence he, in thorough repair, might once more make or not, as time alone would reveal, canvas flying, for the open sea.

Meanwhile, for restoration of health, mental activity and a sphere for the same must be found. La Maison must have a Laboratory. The library must be furnished with the most recent books on medical science. The young doctor will study to keep his knowledge abreast of the times; he will practise if opportunity occurs; he will teach such science as he is familiar with to such scholars as may appear; he will act as guardian and guide to the inmates of his home in all matters relating to sanitation or health.
    
The Plimsoll income was small, nothing more than the Govemment annuity of a captain's widow, and the pittance for the boys from the same source.
    
Walter Cairns' private income was no larger. But with Mr. Spiers, Mr. Kay, Frank, and Mons. Martin's means added in the ratio above described, the Finance Committee might reckon on resources amounting to about two thousand two hundred pounds per annum.