ant getting up and down at
table so that each might help himself. Afterwards, when decline had
already set in, so far as the material basis of the undertaking was
concerned, and those who had its success most at heart had begun to
study Fourier for fruitful suggestions, the first practical hint from
that quarter resulted in Mr. Dana's organizing "a group of
servitors." These, writes Mrs. Kirby,* comprised "four of the most
elegant youths at the community--the son of a Louisiana planter, a
young Spanish hidalgo, a rudimentary Free-soiler from Hingham, and,
if I remember rightly, Edward Barlow (the brother of Francis). These,
with one accord, elected as chief their handsome and beloved teacher.
It is hardly necessary to observe that the business was henceforth
attended to with such courtly grace and such promptness that the new
_regime_ was applauded by every one, although it did appear at first
as if we were all engaged in acting a play. The group, with their
admired chief, took dinner, which had been kept warm for them,
afterwards, and were themselves waited upon with the utmost
consideration, but I confess I never could get accustomed to the new
regulation."

[* _Years of Experience,_ pp. 178, 179.]

The watchword of the place was fraternity, not communism. People took
up residence at Brook Farm on different terms. Some paid a stipulated
board, and thus freed themselves from any obligatory share in either
domestic or out-door labor. Others contributed smaller sums and
worked out the balance. Some gave labor only, as was the case with
Mrs. Kirby, then Georgiana Bruce, an English girl of strong
character. She says she agreed to work eight hours a day for her
board and instruction in any branches of study which she elected to
pursue. As an illustration of the actual poverty to which the
community were soon reduced, and, moreover, of the low money value
they set on domestic labor, we give another characteristic passage
from her book. The price of full board, as we learn from a bill sent
by Mr. Ripley to Isaac Hecker after the latter's final departure from
the Farm, was five dollars and fifty cents a week:

"When a year had elapsed I found my purse empty and my wardrobe much
the worse for wear. As I was known to be heartily interested in the
new movement, my case was taken under consideration, and, with the
understanding that I was to add two more hours to my working day, I
was admitted as _bona-fide_ member of the asso