Brook Farm: Historic and Personal MemoirsCodman, John Thomas
History
Brook Farm: Historic and Personal Memoirs
Codman, John Thomas
Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)
Separate and distinct from the school was a room for the young at the
Hive, where mothers could leave their children in the care of the
Nursery Group whilst they were engaged in industrial work, or as a
kindly relief to themselves when fatigued by the care of them; for a
primary doctrine was "alternation of employments." It was believed that
more and better work could be done by not being confined to one
employment all the day of labor; that it was better for the mental as
well as the physical system to have a change--in theory as often as
once in two hours. In practice, under the conditions which governed our
life, an attempt only could be made to alternate labor and to relieve
the mothers from the excess of burden that the care of young children
often is. Some very sweet and choice ladies attended to this
employment, choosing it from their attraction towards it; thus
inaugurating the day nursery system, now coming into vogue in our large
cities.
In the matter of dress, the women who chose, had made for themselves a
short gown with an under garment, bound at the ankles and of the same
material. With this dress they could walk well and work well. It was
somewhat similar to the dress worn by Mrs. Bloomer and called by her
name years after this date.
The question of the "right to vote" for women was not one that troubled
the politicians of Brook Farm. At all of the meetings for the
acceptance or rejection of applicants and other purposes, women cast
their votes without criticism, for were they not mutually interested?
And now, nearly half a century since, we are asked to form a party to
secure similar rights. Why, men and women, the party was formed when a
majority of persons now living was not born; only it was a very small
party, and, need I add--select!
Only once did we have a wedding ceremony at the farm, though the
friendships commenced outlasted the Association. The financial
conditions for marriage were not inviting. One pleasant evening, later
than this date as I remember it, we were all invited to the Pilgrim
House to a wedding of one of Mr. Dwight's sisters. Our friend Rev. W.
H. Channing officiated.
It was a homelike affair, and after the ceremony "the Poet" (J. S.
Dwight) was invited to speak to us; but no, he was not in the mood. He
was urged--for all liked to hear his kindly voice, and we thought this
a particularly pleasant subject--so he at last arose from his seat and
commenced with these words: "I like this making one." It seemed to
touch various chords in the minds of the hearers, for the applause and
laughter that followed silenced the rest of the speech and it was never
finished. Then some one proposed that all should join hands and make a
circle, as the symbol of universal unity, and a pledge to one another
that all were united in effort to continue and carry on the great work
of harmonizing society on a true and just basis of unity of interests,
attractive industry, mutual guarantees, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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