CHAPTER XI.
Both Tom and Nellie explained to their mother everything they could.
Nellie told her that only those who are born under certain zodiacal signs were capable of teaching children and have the natural patience necessary. “We have it all down to a science. We have every child’s birthday recorded and can tell almost to a certainty their dispositions. Some can be managed through their affections and crave to be caressed; others will push you away and resent such familiarity, even when quite small; some are so fond of their pretty dresses that dressing them plainly at such times serves as a punishment; others don’t care what they wear. We have certain people thoroughly taught to attend to this one branch of their education, and we chose our lady principal from those who have been thoroughly drilled along this line. They know which children will be attracted to each other and don’t interfere with their likes or dislikes. They only need guiding. Now in their homes they don’t have the same advantages that they have here or among a number. Children born in a fire sign very rarely agree with those born in a water sign and constantly fret each other, and there is a continual spluttering and sissing such as we find where fire comes in contact with water. Among the four elements that the race represents is a vast variety of dispositions, and it takes persons of great ability as well as experience to classify them and bring out the best in each child. We believe that human beings have as good right to be bred as animals, but we don’t find they are, so wehave to make the best of them as they are. We do all we can to make each little life a pleasure to itself and to every one else. We have no favorites; one child gets the same attention as all the rest.
“Did you see our babies today, mother?” Nellie inquired.
“Why, I see them every day I go. Do you suppose I could go where they are and not see them? Your boy is growing finely and little Scoris so like her namesake. I feel that you have named her under an inspiration. She is so demure and quiet, yet so determined when she imagines she is not being treated right. Today the head nurse asked her to take a shoe to the nurse that a baby had kicked off, but Scoris shook her head. ‘Take the shoe, Scoris, dear,’ the nurse repeated. ‘No, me won’t,’ Scoris said. ‘Yes, be quick, that is a good girl.’ ‘No, me will not,’ said the mite, at the same time running and giving it as she had been told, yet resenting that she had to do it. ‘Now, me won’t,’ she continued, stamping her little foot. It was hard to keep from laughing, she looked so angry. They say she won’t be ordered without a protest, unless in one of her best moods. They know what to do, however, and she minds as a rule and has one of the best dispositions. I saw her at the sand pile afterwards and her voice could be heard above the rest and her laugh was the merriest. Then again I found her at the pond, splashing water and enjoying life as all children should. That pond is a splendid thing. I never saw children enjoy anything as much as they do that basin called ‘the pond,’ and the water being kept at the right temperature, makes it safe. They have three sizes I was told today.”
“Why, yes,” said Tom, “for all children like to splash in water and we have the right dimensions accordingto their size. Each day they are allowed to splash and wade in it. The doctors say it is healthful for them. Then usefulness is taught as young as they can understand it. Obedience is enforced in one way or another, and thus it makes harmony. We get Scoris nearly every evening and take her out during the fine weather, but if she has been rebellious, we don’t. She understands and has needed only one or two lessons.
“It is a comfort to have such intelligent women to take charge of them while we are busy attending to the affairs of the society. Not only ours but every child has everything to make them happy and contented, and all are bright and healthy. Such a contrast to the homes shared with grownup people! Those who have charge of them giving their whole attention to them and no scolding or faultfinding! Just a continual guiding and patience while the young minds are expanding. The merry laughter and fun always acts as a tonic after I have been there. Everything is done in such an intelligent manner. The way those women study the dispositions of each child and bring out only the best in each is wonderful.”
The next day the little ones who had been rebellious were so much better that they were allowed to have their table where they could see the others. One remarked: “I wish we could have flowers.” Another asked: “Can’t we have a linen tablecloth instead of the oil cloth?” The nurse said, “Yes, when you stop spilling your milk and food on this.” “And the nice dishes with flowers on them?” another said. “Yes, but you must learn to use your knives and forks correctly first, and then you may sit at the long table.”
“In this way they were taught to look upon each improvement as a promotion and tried all the harder to be neat so they could be with the rest, so you see punishmentwas not necessary, for one child taught another unconsciously.
“The flowers in the garden were enclosed so the small children could see but not reach them, and this was done to teach them to love nature; but the wire fence shows that restrictions are a part of their education, and as soon as they can be trusted or are old enough to understand they may go among them. They are not for show alone or beauty. The older ones work among them and consider it a privilege to weed or rearrange them.”
“Yes, I see,” said Mrs. Vivian, “and I think the idea of making them useful is a splendid one.”
“Oh, we do,” continued Tom. “The older children always help to gather the fruit and a strict account is kept of their labor and we place it on their shares. During the fruit season our school hours are short, for we consider industrious habits of just as much value to them as book learning. The kindergarten is kept up the same for the small ones. The work keeps the children out of mischief and makes them self-reliant, and as their future is provided for there is no need to hurry them. During the heat of the day they rest or amuse themselves. Our strawberries pay well and the children do most of the gathering. The boys also climb the fruit trees while the girls pick the lower branches for all other kinds of fruit. Their playing, sleeping and resting is all looked after. They are only allowed to work about two hours a day and we look upon it as the exercise that is necessary to develop muscle and strengthen the body, and the brain being occupied at the same time, while they are breathing good, pure air, will make them stronger men and women.
“The most of our great men have lived at some time of their lives in the country, or were so surrounded by nature that they have been able to breathe the pure air intheir earliest childhood. Certainly their clear brains have proved the virtue of it. It is wonderful what children can do on the farm when protected by the laws of the society from overwork, and it will be a benefit to them all their lives, for without healthy bodies you cannot have expert brains or well rounded lives.
“The surroundings of large cities are responsible in a great degree for the crimes committed there. Money is such a necessity, there being no other exchange for labor, it has got to come some way. Then the poor, stunted brains with only enough animal cunning to realize their present necessities, steal. Are they responsible for their action, especially when their labor is at a discount or no work to be had at all? All their muscles are stiff and in need of exercise that some regular employment would give them.
“We are not rearing children to amass fortunes for the idle.
“The society was growing rapidly, branches had sprung up near every city with their full equipments of industries, all being separate at first. Each one as they had proved their ability to manage their own affairs were applying to the original society to unite, and we are ready to do so,” Tom explained to his wife and mother.
“We own large tracts of land in every direction and control a number of mines, timber lands, rubber plantations, coal in every grade and coal oil. We own sheep ranches and cattle, besides large cotton districts in our southern climate. The society has at this time, its order houses, representing everything, all managed under the scrip system, yet using money when necessary. No new system could change the old order of things all at once. Those who imagined the working people were created for their special use were indignant that intelligent peopleshould introduce a system compelling them to pay larger salaries and decrease their dividends. They had imagined that the working people were born especially to earn a living for them. When I refer to working people, I include all who earn their living from those who work in the ditch to those who call their employment positions, it’s all labor. Intelligent people have shaken off their burdens since the society has shown them how. They have taken their experience, gained by serving others, into a co-operative system protected by the society and they are accumulating the wealth for themselves that they used to give away.”
“Yes,” Nellie answered, “and this natural result is strengthening us on all sides.”