on the other side of the continent: to the advantage of which it is needless to say. "Have you any clever women in San Francisco?" she demanded suddenly, as they were driving towards home. "Well," said Nora, hesitatingly, "I believe we have a few who are not absolute idiots." "Do not be flippant, my dear; there is nothing so repellant in the young as flippancy. But what I mean is, have you no truly remarkable women women distinguished for their superior intellect, advanced veiws, etc.?" "I believe that there is a Social Science Sisterhood, if that is what you mean; but I have not the pleasure of being acquainted with any of its members." “Well, you are a young country yet, and not much can be expected of you. But your time will come to demand your rights and recognition of your equality with man." But, to Nora's relief, Mrs. Pall followed that ominous subject no farther, and remarked instead: "Do you know that you are quite the most intelligent young woman I have ever met in California? You talk with much ease, and seem nearly as well informed as many of our eastern girls." Nora was overwhelmed. She could make no reply. Caroline continued: "I don't think, from what little I have seen of you, that you are as frivolous as most girls of your age. But I do not think that you are inclined to be strong-minded, nevertheless." Nora by this time had revived. "I do not think that I am," she replied dryly. "But here we are at home. I hope you are not tired." "Not particularly, and should not be at all so had I had my bath last night." As soon as Mrs. Pall was safely deposited within her own room, Nora flew to the kitchen. "Ah Mow," she exclaimed in tones which would have impressed a wooden image with the importance of her words, "keep that fire going until half-past ten o'clock to-night. Do not let it go down for an instant. Burn a ton of coal if necessary." "All light, missee." "You sure you understand?" Evidently the temperature was satisfactory, for the next afternoon, as Mrs. Pall was making her adieux, she remarked that she had had a charming bath the night before, and that, furthermore, although the country of the S. P. R. R. was nothing to what she had been led to expect, and although Mrs. Bell's household regulations were far below the standard, and her daughters the laziest young women she had ever met in her life; and although through carelessness she had been obliged to forego her bath on the night of her arrival, when she was fatigued to death from the jolting of those dreadful cars still, upon the whole, she had enjoyed her visit extremely, and hoped to return the compliment some day in the East. G. F. Atherton. THE FESTIVAL OF LABOR. THE Festival of Labor at the Familistère, in Guise, France, is celebrated annually in May, and the Festival of Childhood in September. The readers of the CALIFORNIAN will remember an account of the latter festival in the number for January, 1881, also a translation of M. Godin's address on the occasion, For those who have never heard anything about the Familistère, it may be well to say that it is a palatial home founded by M, Godin for his workmen. It stands surrounded by lovely grounds, through which winds the river Oise. It is large enough to accommodate two thousand people, contains a fine nursery, laundry, readingrooms, library, café, restaurant, billiard room, etc. The school proper and the theater are in extra buildings, of which there are, a great many. The building is in three vast quadrangles, the two wings projecting beyond the central part, thus forming a large space or square. All three of the quadrangles are built around great glass-roofed courts overlooked by three tiers of wide galleries, upon which the various family apartments open. The money that M. Godin put into this institution for his workmen amounted to several millions, and for over sixteen years he was the sole owner and proprietor. Now an association is formed, and the workmen are sharers in all the profits of the great iron works at Guise, and those of Belgium as well. Without any exaggeration, I believe that M. Godin has immortalized his name by his grand, unselfish course toward his work men, and that to-day he stands before the world in the light of its greatest benefactor; for he has taught and is teaching by practical demonstrations what others try to do with words. People cannot understand why he should not keep control of his immense property and use all the proceeds for himself. Why does he not? Simply because his happiness depends upon doing good in the most effective and the only scientific way; that of putting honest, industrious people into the way of a higher life. Out from the miserably lighted thatched cots of France, Godin has called the rough, ignorant, hardworking men and women and their children; placed them in apartments in a palace flooded with light and aired by the most perfect ventilation in the world; given them schools, nurseries, baths, amusements, a theater of their own, good wages;-and for all these blessings they pay simply the rent of their apartments, which is about as much as the workman pays in Guise and other cities for his ordinary poor, inconvenient, crowded lodgings. And what labor, what loving, Christ-like patience, has that man shown with the selfishness, envy, and suspicion of those poor people. Of course all these bad passions were natural, because they knew an employer only as a grasping, exacting master, whose sole idea was to use them for the wealth he could wring from their exhausting toil. And now God rewards that patience and that trust in the triumph of justice, by opening the hearts and minds of the people. They know now what manner of man he is, and some of them revere him beyond all other men on earth. In 1880, M. Godin had the satisfaction of seeing his people united with him in a carefully organized association, which should work well; for there is now coming on to the stage at the Familistère a young generation which has been educated wholly or in part in the fine schools of the institution. The Festival of Labor of May, 1881, lasted three days, and included two grand balls in the central court (decorated as usual with flags and banners and escutcheons, wrought in evergreens and flowers, mottoes and devices like steam-engines with life-size automatons at work, the force being a hydraulic motor), games of many kinds, music, prizes of various kinds, etc. The following is a very literal translation of M. Godin's address on the occasion: "Dear Co-laborers and Friends: Faithful to the custom we have established, we find ourselves assembled on the first Sunday of May to render anew our homage to labor. "The zeal you manifest in the organization of this festival proves the interest you have in it, and its importance in your eyes. Ah! how wise you are in thus honoring labor! How fortunate it would be if the whole world could follow your example, and if associative labor, honored and loved, could be accepted by all, not only as justice due to labor, but as the only medium of social order, and the emancipation of the laboring masses. "But the time is not yet, though labor is slowly rising from the abased condition where centuries of ignorance have placed it: many still look upon it as a forced task, from which every one would like to be free. Others regard labor simply as a duty, being the means of individual and social progress. Few appreciate the divine role that labor plays in the world-labor which entertains most capable, but also the most devoted to and nourishes society, and renders possible principle and the most just. Do not forget the progress of humanity. Each individual this lesson; keep in view in all your elections is too busy in satisfying his immediate per- that the prosperity of the association desonal wants to take into account the bene- pends upon those at the head of the enterfits that labor, organized in the spirit of prise. Let cool reason guide you in choosing justice and mutuality, may accord to all all your committees and councils of direction. men. Here, as everywhere, we have seen Never act from passion or intrigue. Learn dissatisfaction and distrust; but to-day asso- how to distinguish the best and the most ciation opens your hearts to the hope of a able among you, and give these your votes. better future. Association has taught you And if it happen that abilities useful to your already that labor should be the object of association present themselves from outthe highest honors. The dissatisfaction and side, give them your hand. Do not hesitate distrust of the laborer is of course natural, to receive them among you. [Here follow for the past has shown him no guaranties of instructions relative to the election of cerany kind, and the present still refuses them. tain officers about to take place, which will After having had oppressors and masters not be likely to interest the ordinary reader. in the past, to-day he has employers who Therefore they are omitted from this transspeculate in the products of his labor. lation.] "For you, my friends, the regime of exploitation no longer exists. An association, uniting your forces and your wishes, assures you plenty of work, and that work guarantees you its legitimate fruits. I see, therefore, and with great pleasure, confidence growing and strengthening among you. Your pros pects are cheering for the future. Shelter, food, clothing, the education of your families, wise economies, medical aid and support during sickness, and freedom from care in old age, a fraternal society united by the sentiment of common interests, are all guaranteed to you, and cannot now fail except by the gravest errors on your part; for you are the masters of your future prosperity and of the happiness of your families. Never lose sight of the fact that the future of the Familistère Association depends upon its wise administration. For this your constitution and by-laws were necessary, and they were instituted in view of calling to that administration men of the greatest justice, intelligence, and ability-qualities indispensable to the future prosperity of your association. The indispensable rule of the association is the practice of justice. Every derogation of this rule must prove a cause of dissolution and ruin. To exact favors or privileges excites rivalries and dissension; therefore, those whom you place in the first rank must not only be the "About the year 1820, in England, Robert Owen, a great industrial leader, endeavored to ameliorate the fate of the workmen in his employ. In a few years he effected remarkable results, which at the time became widely known. But he was not the sole owner of his establishment, and his associates were unwilling that he should put into practice his ideas of organization. Robert Owen then retired from the New Lanark establishment and went to America, where he attempted to found a new association; but those with whom he was associated were incapable or dishonest. The enterprise failed, but he published his doctrines, and his writings won disciples. Twenty-five years later, when Robert Owen and his ideas seemed to have been forgotten, a few working men in the city of Rochdale, Lancaster County, England, got together and organized themselves on the principles taught by Robert Owen. These men, twenty-eight in number, without any resource except their own faith, determining to realize an amelioration of the condition of working men, decided to found a co-operative enterprise. That enterprise is known to-day as 'The Society of the Equit able Pioneers of Rochdale.' Those working men were so poor that after twenty-two calls for a subscription of two pence a week they had not collected money enough to purchase a sack of flour. But nothing discouraged them. Through their faith and by their untiring perseverance they succeeded in raising the sum of seven hundred francs; and with this meager sum they opened a little store in a street whose English name signifies the lane of toads [Toad Lane]. "But that little shop, opened by twentyeight poor weavers, was managed by men of faith and courage, and despite the raillery and the quodlibets of the public, the 'co-operative store' grew, and in time did a flourishing business. It is now a large enterprise, with a capital of over seven million francs; and its example has led to similar enterprises in all parts of England. "You see in this what twenty-eight poor working men can do, commencing with the humble assessment of two pence a week for the foundation of working capital. Their union gave them power to conquer all the difficulties of organizing and managing, as well as all foes from without. We shall soon publish in our weekly paper the interesting history of those brave working men. "Our festival is honored to-day by the presence of my friend Mr. Edward Vansittart Neale, one of the noblest champions of co-operation in England. He has powerfully contributed to the development of cooperative enterprises, and to the abolition of legal shackles which would paralyze every society like that of Rochdale. He also has consecrated his time and his fortune to the cause of working men. "I should have been happy could Mr. Neale have met here our common friend, M. Francisco Vigano, the defender and propagator of the principles of association in Italy, who came to visit the Familistère, and left only eight days ago. "I have shown you, my friends, what can be done by the co-operation of a few devoted men. Permit me now to show you a picture of the results of ignorance and routine. "Ireland, as you know, presents to-day the spectacle of an unhappy people, robbed of the soil, and condemned to the greatest misery. Not long ago, during one of the famines common in that country so favored by nature, but so cursed by the cupidity of man, a London society of the friends of Ireland decided to send succor to her starving people. A gentleman named Forster was delegated to carry a part of the fund raised to Bradford. On his arrival, he found the fishermen on the sea-shore reduced to the most frightful distress. They were forced to eat the sea-weeds, or die of starvation. Mr. Forster asked them why they ate such things when the sea offered them an abundance of fish. They answered, 'We cannot fish, for we have neither boats nor nets.' Thereupon, Mr. Forster, with all diligence, hastened to procure boats and nets for them. Offering them these outfits, he said, 'Now you have the means of gaining your bread. Go and take the fish, sell it, and buy whatever you need.' 66 But they, comprehending nothing beyond the routine to which they were accustomed, answered, to the great astonishment of Mr. Forster, Who will pay us our wages?' "Why, the fish that you will catch and sell will pay you,' replied their benefactor. "O, we are not going to fish unless we get pay for our work!' replied the wretched people." "Mr. Forster then saw that in order to get them to work he must pay them wages, and this he agreed to do. Then they immediately went to work. The fish were abundant, sold rapidly, and at good prices. Everybody wanted fish; and Mr. Forster, after paying good wages to the fishermen, soon realized enough, not only to pay back the investment in boats and nets, but also a large profit. Thinking, then, that such results would open the eyes of the fishermen, he went to them again, laid the whole matter before them, renewed his offer of boats and nets, and urged them to unite and manage the fishing business in their own interest. But all his reasoning was in vain. The fishers refused. They could not understand any kind of industry except working for wages, agreed upon in advance. "Such are the effects of ignorance and routine, which man must outgrow before he can be in a condition to improve his condi- their comrades, so that together you may tion by organized labor in association. We have no longer any difficulties of this kind to overcome. The boats and the nets which I have helped you to are equivalent to grand and superb ships. These are the great workshops of Guise, and of Laeken in Brussels, and the Familistère; and in your managers you have good pilots to lead them. Labor is organized, the association is accomplished, and you are enjoying the fruits of your industry. If there are among you cooperators who do not understand what we are doing, they at least comprehend that the association is profitable to them, and they follow those who do understand. May the most enlightened among you make every effort to spread the light in the minds of give to the world a grand example of power and of the blessings of labor associated in the interest of laborers. You have in your hands the grandest means for prosperity. With the faith and the unity of the pioneers of Rochdale, in twenty years you will have reimbursed all the capital invested, and become the veritable owners of the Familistère, the industries, and all the stock of the enterprise. The good will and the concord now manifest among you leads me to believe that before that time, even, you will be in full possession of the social capital. Consider the prospective happiness which this offers you and your families, and let your good will and your courage rise equal to the occasion." Marie Howland. WAGNER. DIED IN VENICE, FEBRUARY 13TH, 1883. THEIR faces veiled in grief, the muses bend Above thy couch of death. How cold and still Great master, mighty singer, art thou mute? J. M. Sanders. |