CHAPTER X.
At this time the society was in its sixth year and many changes had taken place. Tom Vivian had proved to the most skeptical that wealth producing and distributing among the members was the only just way of doing business. He and Nellie were talking it over one day when he exclaimed quite abruptly:
“Nellie, I have just found out that our sister Mira has signed away her legacy that she should receive now on her twenty-first birthday. She signed it away two years ago. I wish we could find out where she is, for mother is grieving herself to death, it is so long since we have had any word from her. I find Geron is sorry that he ever mortgaged his place. He seems to be very blue, and that may be partly the reason mother is looking so worried. We must cheer her up when she comes.”
“I will do my best, Tom dear. I think the sight of the children will do her good, they are so bright and happy.Everything is systematized here and our apartments are so cheery and bright that I feel sure she will enjoy her visit.”
Mrs. Vivian came the next day and Tom and Nellie showed her all the improvements made since her last visit. She seemed most interested in the children’s department, but thought the idea of having them in a public nursery might be all right as long as the parents were in constant communication. “But I cannot see that it is best to separate them.”
“But, mother, we are not separated. We can have them here as we like, only the advantage to them is greater.”
Next day Mrs. Vivian took her place in the nursery and was there long enough to be convinced that this kind of place was the best on earth for children. The top floor was the infants’ department from a month old to the age when they could walk. Every contrivance to teach the oldest ones to use their feet and at the same time protect their bodies was here to aid them until they were strong enough to stand on their feet. Swinging chairs and frames to push around in learning to walk were placed around on the bare floors, which were white and clean. In another apartment were little cots in a row and an arrangement (if one became restless) was attached to each cot so that it could be rolled out into another room.
The nurses had eighteen hours for themselves in their own homes and six in the nursery. These short hours made them much more patient than mothers who have usually from two to six children to take care of, besides cooking and taking what time they can get to rest at night.
Telephones were in all the buildings and the night watchmen in the apartments were kept at close range so that the parents might be called at any time.
The next floor was where the older children live. These from the time they were old enough to learn are placed in the kindergarten three hours daily. The rest of the time is spent in resting and amusing themselves. Another grade, still older, are taught to be useful for a short time each day, to form industrious habits. Then they amused themselves the rest of the time and were under the watchful eye of the nurses and teachers.
In the evening Mrs. Vivian was ready to tell of her experience.
“Well, I am surprised,” she said. “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. At the table particularly they handled their knives, forks and spoons as if bred and born in a social atmosphere of ease and refinement. I must say, Tom, that I don’t understand this. I have always supposed that children born of parents who only understood work could not be taught these things but would show their breeding at least for three generations.”
“Well, mother, you are right to a degree, for the breeding of human beings has been so terribly neglected that it requires the constant attention of our nurses to watch and guide these unformed minds in the principles of right living and thinking. The latter is the most important, of course, for thought precedes action; everymeans is employed to direct their thoughts into the right channels. We employ a number of artists to guide the first impressions of these young minds. Every picture on the wall teaches some lesson, and the reward of loving deeds must be taught by those in charge. The nurses must be in good health, patient and bright, for the future of these children demands it. In the beginning of this colony we carefully selected women who were not only educated, but adapted to teaching, guiding and nursing. We realize that the early life of children is the most important, for the impressions gained then and the habits formed are hard to change. We don’t allow any harsh dealings with them, though determination is absolutely necessary.”
The next day Mrs. Vivian reported her experience. “Well,” she said, “the more I see of the simple arrangements the more perfect the system seems to me. I only saw the long tables yesterday, where all sat up as straight as soldiers, with their napkins spread over their laps, instead of being tucked into the necks of their waists, but today I discovered there are grades, and the newcomers are placed at a table behind a screen until the nurses see how they behave. Those who have been there a long time are not allowed to see the little strangers until they are taught to behave properly. A roar and a scream of laughter was heard from some new children. As I glanced their way I saw a teaspoonful of milk thrown with good aim in the face of one of them by a culprit who looked as innocent as if he couldn’t do such a thing. Only the twinkle in the eye that the children could see gave evidence of the guilty one. Bits from the table were scattered upon the floor and one was holding her plate with both hands, actually licking it. Presently, one after the other jumped down and seeingone left, ran around and drew her chair from in under her. Down she came, spilling her milk all over her clothes. All were laughing and choking with their mouths full and began running around the building. Still not one word was said to them. The other children, at a signal from the lady principal, stepped down from their chairs, waited in line until told to move, which they did as orderly as soldiers on parade, and passed from the room.
“The small table and the polished floor were left in the same disorder until all the rest of the dining room was straightened and the children out of sight. Then the little strangers were called in and told to pick up everything and remove the cloth. They immediately resented the authority, so the nurse told the one she had noticed licking her plate that when little girls didn’t obey orders they were not allowed to have any more preserves and that all their cake was taken and given to the good children. It had the desired effect and she gave in, seeing which the others did also. The worst boy was only a daring, bold, fun-loving urchin who had never been taught his own rights, much less those of others, so the nurse said, ‘Come, let us hurry or we will miss all the fun they are having outdoors.’ She showed them how, and they laughed at the mistakes made, but they did their best, just the same. The floor had to be swept and they were amused at the unusual play, as they considered it, for the nurse kept them laughing until all was done. When they were through they found all the other children had gone and were told they could put on their flannel suits and wade in the pond and throw all the water they liked on each other so long as it did not hurt them. They still looked longingly around to see where the rest of the children were. The nurse told them they would alwayshave to play by themselves until they had learned to be tidy. They saw the rest having a good time, while they were like chickens in a coop, thrusting their little, chubby hands through the wire fence, trying to get out, with wistful glances turned to the nurse in charge. She played horse to amuse them, still they realized that they were not having the same privileges that the rest were, and it had the desired effect. A lesson in obedience had been taught; they had learned that even fun in the wrong place and at the wrong time was a mistake. If they bring those children under the same discipline that the rest are I will give them more credit than any one I ever knew.”