Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1895 — TOPICS OF THESE TIMES. [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

• ' A FRENCH EDEN. The above title will suggest to the average mind ideas totally at variance with the enterprise to which we will direct attention. Visions of licentiousness and wanton dissipation will arise as a natural seqt en?e so any proposed Eden that Frenchmen, would be likely to consider desirable. The reputation of Paris—the very word “Frenchy”—is so firmly established in the American mind that the idea of good morals, or great humanitarian reforms, seem quite impossible in the same connection. Yet Paris has been a potent factor in modern civilization, anti the boulevards of that gay capital have been the field on which many master minds have expended their energies. Every ism under the sun finds toleration there, and Socialists and Anarchiststs flourish as in no other place on earth. Repressive laws are indeed-in existence, but fail of their abject, as a rule. M. Gravelle, (he will need 1 ots of sand before begets through) is the erratic sponsor of the proposed Edenic enterprise. He is an artist and a bachelor, and has a reputation as a pamphleteer—altogether a man of ideas and considerable experience. He is at war with existing conditions, but is devoid of anarchistic tendencies. He does not wish to harm his fellow men —but rather hopes to do them good by a shining example of self sacrifice. He charges civilization with partiality in giving to one man patent leather shoes and to the millions no shoes at all. To get even he thinks civiliza-tion-should be abolished and that mankind should return to the primeval state. So zealous has M. Gravelle been in advocating his peculiar ideas that a wealthy landowner in the province of Cantal. named Garvier, has offered to furnish the reformer with land and all necessary supplies if he will find four other men besides himself to act as “Adams"—all in turn to find their “Eves” by the time the land shall have been-duly fenced off and stocked with animals. The proposition has been accepted by Gravelle, who has already arranged with four of his associates to go into the new Eden, which will be all ready for their reception, on the 15th of next April. May 1 they and their “Eves” will enter the iron gate, which will be locked after them. The “Adams” and “Eves” will dwell in the caves in the hills of their domain, and after , the clothing which they will wear into Eden is worn out they will clothe themselves with the skins of the animals that will be given them by M. Garvier. The colonists—the official title of their principality will be the “Colony of Nature”—will devote their time tq eating, hunting, fishing and sleeping. They think they will be able to do without bread, and have not as yet determined whether to raise any corn or wheat. They must depend entirely on the resources of their colony to supply all of their wants. They will have no money and__propose to pay their taxes to the government in peltries. If the government refuses to take that it may do without taxes, so fa l " as they are concerned. Altogether it looks like an idealic retreat for tramps of the “Weary Waggles” stripe. Nature, by M. Garvier, offers them food, clothing and lodging, and asks nothing in return. America should have such a retreat for “tired” people who find civilization too much for their capacities, and they should be compe lied to go there or go to work.