Helen was given her choice, then amid the exclamations of joy and satisfaction of being the first to appear in all these samples sent out from the manufacturers, the conversation soon turned to the discussion of dress-makers. They abounded in the Colony, but the one who made Nellie’s dresses was preferred. It was apparent that her style was superior and the work of the best.
“Now, girls, all you have to do is to look lovely as becomes a thriving and wealthy community. These presents make it possible, and remember you are producing wealth and should be making use of the best of everything. In this exchanging of interests and materials we must make a good appearance. We owe it to ourselves as leaders and it will have a great effect on the people at large.”
“Nothing succeeds like success,” continued Tom. “The appearance of it stimulates the ones who are afraid to venture. A nicely dressed person always lives in our memory.”
The girls laughed.
“Well, if you don’t believe this, try the effect of walking down the dreary, dirty streets in any of our large cities and see if it doesn’t have a depressing effect. Then cross over to the ones that are bright with all that prosperity gives to enhance the general appearance of both the houses and the people and see if the memory of the latter will not be stimulating in comparison, especially when you have it in your power to improve your own surroundings, as this society gives you. The main thing is to fix your aim high. To build a grand house it is necessary to dig and make lots of dirt in laying the foundation and so it has been in achieving the end we had in view, but when we meet together to enjoy the well-earned recreation, we must see to it that our bodies are properly clothed, for they will show the amount of our ability and will prove how much we know of the power of concentration, or the law of attraction. No one should be ignorant of these things.”
“Well, Tom, I believe you have studied human nature from every standpoint,” said Scoris. “I will certainly profit by all these lovely things, for I was beginning to be ashamed to go out anywhere. I have saved so much of my salary to secure shares that I have hated to spend anything for clothes, but I believe you are right. My whole life is before me, and I may as well enjoy it.”
A day or two later, when Tom and Nellie found themselves in their home again, Tom said, “We have had a pleasant time and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I am glad to get home again. These apartments we are using this year are so superior to anything we ever had in the city. Fresh air is certainly a luxury, and an atmosphere free from dust is another.”
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:
