CONCLUSION.
The evening meal is over. All have gathered on the broad veranda to watch the golden sunset as it dips its slanting rays in the river beyond. They are unusually quiet, even for this serious band. Last night’s merry-making has made them just a little tired, besides which their hearts are full of unuttered prayers for the future success of that new home.
Mrs. Leland is sitting in the comfortable depths of an easy chair. A sturdy little man of four summers perches upon her knee, patting grandma’s cheek, tossing her hair in his efforts to smooth it, taking her face between both chubby hands and drawing her head forward so that he can kiss her happy, smiling lips and altogether making love in the most approved child fashion.
Margaret is sitting at her feet, her arm thrown across her mother’s knee, while her eyes with a happy, tender light follow the movements of her boy, and her heart swells with fond tenderness and pride at the knowledge that he is her very own.
At grandma’s back stands Wilbur whose eyes also follow the antics of the boy when they for a few moments lose sight of the glorious sunset.
Mr. Roland is a visitor at the home tonight, and sits a little to the right of this group, quietly drinking in the scene before him in the pauses of the animated conversation he is carrying on with the brilliant little lecturer, Althea Wood, who also is a guest at the home tonight.
Farther to the left are various groups. The two pairs of sisters—Imelda and Cora, Edith and Hilda—have formed a circle, their babies forming the center of their attention. There are little prattlers while one sweet little cooing innocent lies close to Imelda’s breast.
O, the joys of young motherhood! And the group of men that were standing a little apart felt the influence of the spell and each thought his sweetheart had never looked more fair.
Alice in delicate health was reclining in an easy chair while Milton with adoring eyes stood over her chair ready to do her slightest bidding. O, if she were only safely tided over the coming hour of trial! And as the sigh escapes him his hand caressingly toys with the bright mass of shining hair.
Lawrence has his Norma perched upon his knee answering her many questions. She has grown to be quite a big girl now, but has never outgrown her early love for her papa, and ever with the old delight greets his coming. The two are so near to Alice that she can comfortably watch them, and while a smile of proud tenderness wreathes her lips, it is Milton’s hand to which they are laid.
“My baby!” She whispered the tender words.
“A little longer patience,” is Milton’s whispered reply, “and your baby will be your own!”
Her hand went up to his face with a caressing touch.
“I know,” she smilingly said, “but it was Norma I meant this time.”
He drew the hand to his lips as with a knowing smile he answered,
“Ah, I see!”
Lawrence now and then let his eyes wander to the mother of his child, then they would turn to the group of fair young women where a pair of sweet gray eyes met his in a tender glance, then to rest on the little one reclining against his bosom. Which did he love most? His eyes lit up with a glad tenderness as they rested on the little one and then he drew the fair curly head so near him, close to his heart and hid his face in the fluffy masses; could he himself answer the question?
Many other faces we see which are all new to us, but they are all men and women worthy to be called by these names.
A group of the younger people have strayed down to the sweet-scented gardens gathering flowers as they go. Osmond and Homer are fast friends. Both are young men untouched by the rough hand of fate. Their young manhood, so perfect in its strength and beauty giving them the appearance of young kings, so proud, so lofty, was their bearing. Elmer, too, could scarcely be termed a boy any longer. His twenty years sat well on his broad shoulders and the eyes of the fifteen year old Meta shone bright as stars, her cheeks flushed as he chased her through the winding mazes of the park, and when he had caught her and kissed the rosy lips she submitted as a matter of course with the most natural grace.
Osmond had thrown himself at the feet of Hattie Wallace whose nineteen summers sat lightly on her shoulders. She was such a fairy and with rosy hued cheeks she listened to the soft, love-freighted words that fell in whispers from Osmond’s lips.
Homer’s companion was a dark, soft-eyed young girl timid and shy who had been an inmate of the home for one year, where she had come with her mother who had fled in the dead of night from her husband and sought refuge in this haven of rest, and Homer was teaching the sweet Katie her first experience in the mysteries of love.
Aleda, the youngest of the Wallace girls was also there, and seventeen years had developed a truly pretty and healthy girl from the delicate querulous child. Another new comer had engaged her attention. Reading from a volume of Tennyson, a boy scarce older than herself was reclining at her feet. He too had been brought there by a mother, not one who had fled the cruelties of an unappreciative husband, as she had never applied the title to any man. He had been a child of love.
His mother, in the wild sweet delirium of a first love, had abandoned herself to her artist lover without a thought of right or wrong. And he, pure and noble had no thought of wronging her. But disease had early marked him for its own, and ere the child of his Wilma had seen the light of day his own life had closed in that sleep that knows no waking, and she was left alone to buffet the storms of life as best she could, an orphan and without friends. With a babe in her arms, of “illegal” origin, the path of her life had not been strewn with roses. But amidst all her privations and trials she had kept her love pure for her child and had fostered only instincts pure and holy in the young mind, and when she heard of the home she applied at its gates, telling her story in pure, unvarnished words, never dreaming of an effort to hide any of her past. Only by the light of truth could the delicate fair woman thread her path through the world.
As might be expected, she had been received with open arms. Wilma, the mother of Horace, our young poet, and Honora, Katie’s mother, could now be seen as they stand arm in arm watching the golden sunset and the children whose future promises to bring with it less of the pain that has so early drawn silver threads through their own brown locks.
The world at large knew not the full meaning of this home as yet. The world is yet too completely steeped in superstition and ignorance to have permitted its existence had the full meaning been known. The “Hunter Co-operative Home” it had been called, and thus it was known to the world. It was known that babes had made their advent therein, but none but the initiated knew that marriage as an institution was banished from its encircling walls.
Would you ask us if happiness was so unalloyed within those walls that no pangs of regret or of pain could enter there? Well, no! We are not so foolish as to make such claim. There are hours of temptation; there are moments of forgetfulness; there are sometimes swift, keen, torturing pangs that nothing earthly can completely shut out. Our heroes and heroines are not angels. They are—when the very best of them has been said—only intelligent, sensible and sensitive men and women—but men and women who are possessed of high ideals and who are striving hard to reach and practicalize them. They live in a world of thought. They do nothing blindly, inconsiderately; their every action is done with eyes wide open. In trying to gain the goal they have set themselves to reach, they strive not to think of self alone. The future of those who have been entrusted to their care, the young lives their love has called into existence, exacts from them much of self-denial. They are individualists, yet not so absolutely such that they do not realize that sometimes the ego must be held in check so as not to rob another of his, or her birthright.
You ask again, “Does this home life, as you have pictured insure against the possibility of the affections changing?”
And again we answer, No! Certainly not. Such changes will and must come. Yet it is not to be expected that where there is liberty, in the fullest sense of the word, life will be a constant wooing? Is it not the lack of liberty that deals the death blow to many a happy, many a once happy home? to many a home that was founded in the sweetest of hopes, the brightest of prospects, only to be shattered and wrecked in a few short years? aye, even a few short months or weeks? And when such a change does come, in spite of all efforts to prevent, how great a thing it must be to know yourself free! free to embrace the new love without the horrible stigma of “shame!” as our modern society now brands it, and which stigma causes such unspeakable misery, such endless suffering.
And if a woman desires to repeat the experience of motherhood, why should it be wrong when she selects another to be the father of her, instead of the one who has once performed this office for her? Why should the act be less pure when she bestows a second love, when the object of this second love is just as true, just as noble, just as pure-minded as was the first one? Why should an act be considered a crime with one partner which had been fully justified with another?
Reader, judge me not hastily. Judge not my ideas, my ideals, without having first made a careful study of life as you find it around you. My words are backed by personal experience and observation, experience as bitter as any that has been herein recorded. Indeed I doubt if I should, or could, ever have given birth to the thoughts expressed in these pages had it not been for that experience—which is one of a thousand—and when you have carefully weighed my words, think of the good that must result to future generations when unions are purely spontaneous, saying nothing of the increase of happiness to those who are permitted thus to choose, and to live.
When, O, when will the great mass of humanity learn and realize that in enforced motherhood, unwelcome motherhood, is to be found the chief cause of the degradation that gives birth to human woe. When will they see that unwelcome motherhood is the curse resting upon and crushing out the life energies of woman; while on the other hand, the consciousness of being the mother of a desired babe, a child conceived in a happy, a loving embrace, needs no other blessing, no other sanction, no other license, than such act itself bestows.
List of Radical Literature
| Anarchy, Economics of. A Study of the Industrial Type. By Dyer D. Lum. Paper; 60 pages. (Scarce). | .25 |
| Autonomy. Self-Law; What are its Demands? A fragmentary exposition of the basic principles of individualism in its relation to society and government. By Moses Harman. This pamphlet of 29 uncut pages contains an account of the autonomistic marriage of Lillian Harman and Edwin C. Walker, and their subsequent arrest, trial and imprisonment. The pamphlets are not up to the standard in typography and press work, but they contain data valuable to all lovers of personal liberty. | .05 |
| Bar Sinister and Licit Love. By Oswald Dawson. Contains first biennial proceedings of the Legitimation League (1895) with full page half-tone pictures of Lillian Harman, Edith Lanchester, J. Greevz Fisher and J. C. Spence. Bound in boards, with handsome cover in green, black and gold. 300 pages, | .25 |
| Be Thyself. A Discourse by William Denton. Paper, 33 pages. 1882 (scarce). | .05 |
| Bombs, The Poetry and Philosophy of Anarchy. By William A. Whittick. With full page portrait of the author; paper; nearly 200 pages, | .30 |
| Creed of Liberty. A brief exposition of philosophical anarchism, by William Gilmour, London. Paper, 11 pages. | .02 |
| Catechism on the Science of a Universal Religion, or What We Can and Must Do in Co-operation to Secure a True Religion of Universal Happiness, by Gabriel Z. Wacht. 1890; 117 pages; paper, 7c; cloth, | .15 |
| Causes of Hard Times and The Money Question, by Albert Chavannes. 1893; paper, 24 pages, | .05 |
| Co-operative Congress, Kansas, Proceeding of. Held at Topeka in April, 1886. 118 pages; paper, | .12 |
| Co-Operation, Practical. A series of short articles by E. C. Walker. Paper; 18 pages, | .05 |
| Commonwealth, The Future, or What Samuel Balcom saw in Socioland. By A. Chavannes, 1892; paper, 114 pages, | .25 |
| Common Sense Thoughts on the Bible for Common Sense People. By William Denton. Seventh edition, enlarged and revised; thirty-eighth thousand, | .10 |
| Cityless and Countryless World; an Outline of Practical Co-Operative Individualism. By Henry Olerich. Regarded by many persons as a more interesting and consistent economic reform novel than Bellamy’s “Looking Backward.” Bound in red silk with gold title. Nearly 450 pages, $ | 1.00 |
| Dawn of Civilization, or England in the Nineteenth Century. A Radical Social Reform novel by J. C. Spence, formerly a vice-president of the Legitimation League. Handsomely bound in boards, blue and gold cover, with full page portrait of the author; 176 pages, | .25 |
| Divorce. A review of the subject from a scientific standpoint in answer to Mgr. Capel, Rev. Dr. Dix, The New England Divorce Reform League and others who desire more stringent divorce laws, by Edward B. Foote, M. D., author of “Plain Home Talk.” 1884; 60 pages; cloth, | .25 |
| Digging for Bed Rock, Observations and Experiences. By Moses Harman. 1890; paper, 24 pages, | .05 |
| Diana, A Psycho-Physiological Essay on Sexual Relations. For married men and women. Sixth edition. Revised and Improved. Paper, 60 pages, | .25 |
| Gospel Fabricators, or a Glance at the Character of Men who Helped to Form the Four Gospels. By W.S. Bell. Paper; 44 pages, | .15 |
| Government Analyzed. By John R. Kelso, A.M. This book seeks to show that all governments, like all gods, are the mere personifications of mythical monsters invented by selfish and crafty men as instruments with which to rob and enslave the ignorant toiling masses. A book which is sure to open the eyes of governmentalists who read it. Bound in cloth; 520 pages; edition limited; original price, $1.50. Our price, | .90 |
| Human Rights. By Madison Hook, with an Introduction by E. C. Walker. 1891; paper, 19 pages, | .05 |
| How to Prevent and Cure Colds, Hay Fever, La Grippe, without medicine or drugs. By Harriet C. Garner. A valuable little pamphlet formerly sold for $1. | .10 |
| Health and Longevity without the Use of Drugs. By James Russell Price, M. D., Professor of Hygiene, and T. Julian, M. D., author of “Nervous Diseases and Their Treatment,” Cloth, | .50 |
| Devil, The Angel of Light. How he beat the Salvation Army in two trials and secured $75,000 judgment against it. Paper, 16 pages, | .05 |
| Eight Hour Movement, Lecture delivered by Judge John P. Altgeld (afterwards governor of Illinois) before the Brotherhood of United Labor in Chicago, Feb. 22, 1890; paper; 16 pages (scarce), | .10 |
| How to Live a Century. By Juliet H. Severance, M. D. 1891; paper; 30 pages, | .10 |
| Horrors of Modern Matrimony as Viewed from a Moral and Sanitary Standpoint. A solemn protest against the present demoralizing management of that institution. By Dr. R. Greer. Paper, | .15 |
| Helen Harlow’s Vow, a radical sex reform novel by Lois Waisbrooker, paper cover, | .25 |
| In Brighter Climes, or Life in Socioland. A realistic novel by Albert Chavannes, author of “The Future Commonwealth,” “Vital Force,” etc. Paper, 254 pages; 1895. | .25 |
| In Hell and the Way Out. A Non-Partisan Political Handbook. A Comparative Study of Present Conditions and a Plan of Social Democracy outlined. Inscribed to the Farmers and Trades Unionists of America by one of their number. Advocates the Initiative and Referendum. By Henry E. Allen Paper, 64 pages. | .10 |
| Isabel’s Intention. A story by Mariette, dealing with the social evil in a new and radical way. London edition. Paper, 30 pages, 5 cents. Original edition published in “Our New Humanity,” together with other valuable essays of social problems, | .25 |
| Is Spiritualism True? By William Denton, 1888; paper, 43 pages, | .10 |
| Jefferson, Thomas; Father of American Democracy. His political, social and religious philosophy. By Gen. M. M. Trumbull. Paper, 29 pages, | .10 |
| Legitimation, Outcome of. A lecture by Oswald Dawson, delivered in Holborn Restaurant, London, under the auspices of the Legitimation League; paper; 16 pages, | .05 |
| Liberty: Political, Religious, Social and Sexual. By A. F. Tindall, A.T.C.L.; an essay towards establishing an Anti-Persecution Society to defend the rights of individuals against state interference and Puritan persecution. Paper, 8 pages. | .05 |
| Loma, A Citizen of Venus. By William Windsor. One of the most startling books ever published. A scathing criticism of the civilization of the nineteenth century; pathetic, romantic, revolutionary. Handsomely printed and bound in silk cloth, with gold title. 426 pages. $ | 1.50 |
| Love, Marriage and Divorce. A discussion between Henry James, Horace Greeley and Stephen Pearl Andrews, including the final replies of Mr. Andrews, rejected by the New York “Tribune,” and a subsequent discussion, occurring twenty years later between Mr. James and Mr. Andrews. Handsomely printed on fine paper; 121 large pages, | .35 |
| Mary Jones, or the Infidel School Teacher. By Elmina Drake Slenker. Paper; 40 pages, | .20 |
| Mind, The Nature of, and Its Relation to Magnetism; also an Inquiry Whether Individuality can Persist after Death. By Albert Chavannes. 1898; paper; 50 pages, | .25 |
| Mutual Banking, A Simple Plan to Abolish Interest on Money. Reprint of Colonel W. B. Green’s masterly work. The very best book yet written on the money question; paper; 78 pages, | .10 |
| Perfect Motherhood. By Lois Waisbrooker. Indicates the powerful effect of environment during antenatal existence upon the character of the child; paper, 25c; cloth, $ | 1.00 |
| Personal Rights and Sexual Wrongs. By Oswald Dawson. Handsomely bound in boards, yellow and gold illuminated cover. Contains four full page half-tone portraits of Ezra H. Heywood, Moses Harman, Lillian Harman and Lois Waisbrooker, | .25 |
| Proudhon and his Bank of the People. Being a defence of the great French anarchist, showing the evils of a specie currency and that interest on capital can and ought to be abolished by a system of free and mutual banking. By Charles A. Dana, late editor of the New York “Sun;” paper, | .15 |
| Red Heart in a White World. A suggestive manual of Free Society; containing a method and a hope. By J. William Lloyd. Handsome illuminated paper cover in white, red and green; 50 pages, | .10 |
| Revival of Puritanism. An expose of the spirit “which makes cowards of editors and teachers, and spies and blackmailers of officials; which emasculates our literature and degrades our art, and which harries, robs and imprisons the few who are so organized that they will not sacrifice to what they hold to be a falsehood, even though death be the alternative.” By E. C. Walker. Paper; large pages, | .10 |
| Revolution, The Next. A series of tracts or essays on sex reform, republished from back numbers of Lucifer, each, | .10 |
| Ruled by the Tomb. A discussion of free thought and free love by Orford Northcote; paper; 24 pages, | .10 |
| The Social Question. A discussion between Juliet H. Severance, M. D., and David Jones, editor of the “Olive Branch.” If you think women’s minds are inferior to those of men and that they are not logical reasoners, read this pamphlet and see how a woman physician defends the right of women to ownership of their persons; paper; 48 pages. Edition limited, | .15 |
| Unrevealed Religion. An address by J. K. Ingalls. “To the unrevealed religion, that which springs from a normal love of Truth and Justice and of Freedom, the race owes all its material, social and spiritual progress;” paper, | .10 |
| Wherefore Investigating Company, a novel dealing with the land question and social freedom, by Lois Waisbrooker. Paper; 313 pages, 75c; cloth, | $1.25 |
| Why the Undertone? An open letter to Judge Joseph E. Gary, who in 1893 sought to justify his participation in 1887 in the lynching, under hypocritical guise of law, of men who entertained and expressed unpopular opinions. By Sarah E. Ames. Published June 25, 1893, the date of the unveiling of a monument at Waldheim cemetery to the memory of the victims of mob spirit masquerading under the pomp and panoply of justice. Edition limited, | .20 |
The above list comprise only a few of the books sold by us. Address M. Harman, 1394 W. Congress St., Chicago, U. S. A.
Send twenty-five cents to us for trial subscription to Lucifer, the Light-Bearer, the exponent of the ideas promulgated in this book.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
- Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling.
- Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.