Lena Jane Fry

“ But, on the other hand, at that time the earth is in the middle of Venus’ midnight sky, blazing with light reflected from its continents and oceans and polar snows, and looming so large and splendid that the sight must be unutterably magnificent—such a sight as a terrestrial astronomer would sit up all night to gaze at, and then feel that the swift pace of time had robbed him. ”

“ Had we become discouraged at seeing the terrible things all around us when we were at your age, you would not be enjoying all the recreation that you do now, the holidays or the advantages of travel that afford you so much pleasure. Forty years ago the government secured all the land and gave it back to the people, believing that everything created by nature belonged to all; but it did not give them a particular amount to live upon. Myself and others had to work very hard to convince the majority that it was the only just way to do. Now your income is so large that you will never use it all. ”

“ I told them, ‘You must remember that after your mother and I had raised you and worked hard to keep the place together, first paying for it when you children were too young to be of any help, we fairly begged you to stay with us and help us when you were grown up. Oh, no, the city was the only place for you then.’ Then I said, ‘Do you think we are going to work and pay out all we can rake and scrape together for hired men to work the place, so you boys can have it after our death? Have we no rights? Are you children of more consequence than we are? ”

“ Any bright person would do the best he could under existing circumstances and would even raise conditions which he considered beneath his dignity to his own level, as you may learn if you join our society. Respect yourselves and address each other as you do Mr. Forbes. Learn to appreciate yourselves, your advantages, and then create new opportunities as your ability points out the way. All useful employment is honorable, and now is the time to raise labor to its proper dignity among all honorable people.”
Many of those girls not only attended the meetings, but joined the society. ”

“ The majority of people crave independence. Did you ever see a number as large as we have here take such pride in pointing out the beauties of the place? You see it is their wealth. Their labor has been expended to make it what it is. It is so much more to be enjoyed than a park that any one can use, so, of course all take great pride in it. It is so lovely to be able to step down 110from our apartments and crossing the street enter a thick foliage, swing hammocks among the trees and look up into the beautiful green so restful to the eyes. ”

“ Many public school children among the poor are so hungry that they cannot study in many of the large cities. Then you will hear a great cry go up, ‘A bank has failed for $400,000, or perhaps more, the savings of widows and orphans, all lost by speculating.’ The bank failure seems by far the most important to the inhabitants. Buildings are erected to keep and protect money in that cost more than would support all the poor little starving children in the world. Just consider all the labor that is thrown away in earning all those millions besides the amount stored in them. ”

“ The first year passed, then the baby took up her attention. The third year came and two babies claimed her. The fourth year found her a sad-faced matron with more cares than she knew how to bear. Jack had changed. He was no longer the loving husband, but was becoming bloated and reckless with drink, so that even his little children shrank from him. This was what she had left home, mother and plenty for. This was the man she had promised to love, honor and obey. Could she love a man who neglected her children as well as herself? Could she honor this drunkard and gambler? ”

“ Wealth beyond what each could use was only foolishness. It was almost as bad as giving their labor away. They received honors when they donated wealth to the society for the benefit of little children, invalids, or the aged. Young people were given extra advantages who cheerfully helped those who belonged to them and who were unable to do all for themselves, but no member was allowed to support another if that other was better able to work for themselves than the one who was doing it. The society gave employment to all healthy men and women who were members and paid their dues. ”

“ The society papers had announced her arrival and before she knew it all kinds of demonstrations were on foot to honor her as the Honorable Scoris Vivian, who had helped to bring about the conditions under which they all were prospering. She had forgotten that she ever had heartache for everyone treated her as if she was a princess and she was beginning to believe that she liked this new country better than the old. Men who were wealthy as well as devoted to the cause of the people, asked her to marry them. ”

“ Patience is necessary in all walks in life, but was never needed more than in becoming accustomed to the new forms of government. So many would forget and fall back to the old ways at first, and those who were careless were nearly always jealous of the persevering members who surpassed them.
The scale of wages was the same as union men and women received in factories outside of the society, even if the hours were less per day, excepting in cases of piece work that was done by old or infirm people, who only worked as they were able at any time. ”

“ In order to comprehend how great the earth must appear from Venus when the two are in line with the sun, it will only be necessary the coming winter to look at Venus herself, shortly after sundown—at the same time remembering that the splendor which dazzles our eyes comes from but a small fraction of the illuminated surface of that planet, while the earth as seen from Venus will show its whole round face like a full moon! ”

“ There is another thing, girls, that I want to tell you; whenever you are called ‘factory girls,’ as you are so often by shop girls, just keep a dignified silence. Your labor is just as necessary as theirs and if you only considered it a little, you are of as much importance also. Every intelligent person should honor his own industry and remember that he is fulfilling his mission in life, and if all did so, heartaches would cease. ”

“ I never thought of having children all in one place and special people to take care of them. Certainly the children are the better for the good system it necessitates. I was impressed with the graceful bearing of the girls and the manliness of the boys. All speak to each other in such a polite, kindly way. When you consider that some are born of parents who are ignorant of the refinements of social life, it is surprising. ”

“ Scoris replied, “and it has brought out many a hidden talent just by giving it an opportunity to unfold. Ideas are like seeds planted in the ground—they must have a chance to bloom or they are no better than a weed. ”

“ She had secured a number of shares in the society, saying to herself, “marriage is not the only aim in life, and I will devote myself to art. I am weary of seeing my creations used for advertisements—of working for a firm that looks upon me as a part of its machinery. If our society was older advertisements wouldn’t be needed. ”

“ Paul Arling and his mother had just nicely settled in the Colony and Scoris was glad to get away for a time to overcome what she considered her foolish attachment for him. She had always thought it more womanly to let others see that you care for them, than to hide it, so while they had lived in the city the family had been more intimate than she intended they should in the Colony. Like many others she had found that to let a man see that you care for him is a mistake until they are ready to declare themselves. ”

“ The society not only secures to every member a profit on his earnings, but the net earnings of the society as a whole. When a man plants fruit trees and is paid for his labor his individual claim is satisfied, but the society owns the fruit each year, and the same applies to their labor in the building. The society will exact rent from the builder, if he should occupy the building until he owns sufficient shares to represent his right to occupy the house, and the man who plants the fruit trees belonging to the society will have to pay for the fruit of those same trees, if he eats it. ”

“ In the beginning of the society many city members sent their aged parents to the colony to live. It gave them a chance to do light work when they were able, and their permanent shares could be added to those members at the old peoples’ death.
Those who held highest rank were always given the best offices. They also controlled the councils, because they gained their titles for honesty and truthfulness first, then for special services to the society, bravery in times of danger, self-denial in giving up their wealth for the love of the people. ”

“ Those large combinations study economy in every way and so do we. In signing our agreements to pay for your labor in scrip or shares we do it to protect the society, but very often we haven’t as much scrip as we have money, so we do pay a portion in money at such times. Then of course we know at the present time, you need it for some things that we cannot supply, so we usually pay you a percentage in coin. We cannot even issue scrip until we have its worth, either in product or some wealth that would redeem it. ”

“ Why, I think we mothers are doing our part in life supplying the world with its men and women, without supporting them.” “Well,” replied Gondell, “little children are dependent upon their mothers and the majority of mothers on their husbands, their husbands in turn are dependent upon some one to employ them, who has money. In fact they are the worst kinds of slaves, for if the rich owned them, they would be sure of being fed, clothed and given a shelter.” ”

“ The society wishes to honor you because your life has been honorable in every way. You are a woman of good, sound judgment and are badly needed in the Council. Only honorable members can sit in the Council and we are anxious to have an equal number of men and women preside. Only women can understand all that is in a woman’s life, and they must not shirk from their duty. Both women’s and children’s interests are involved and until the members become more accustomed to seeing their interests as fully recognized as the men, they will suffer. ”