Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1875 — Mutual Criticism. [ARTICLE]

Mutual Criticism.

The following amusing description of “ mutual criticism," on which the Oneida Creek Perfectionists depend for the moral culture of each other, is taken from Mr. Nordhoff’s “ Communistic Societies of the United States”: “On Bunday afternoon, by the kindness of a young man who had offered himself for criticism, I was permitted to be present. Fifteen persons besides myself, about half women and about half young people under thirty, were seated in a room, mostly on benches placed against the wall. Among them was Mr. Noyes himself, who sat in a large rock-ing-chair. The young man to be criticised, whom I will call Charles, sat inconspicuously in the midst of the company. When the doors were closed he was*asked by the leader (not Mr. Noy«e) whether he desired to sAy anything. Retaining his seat he said that he had suffered for some time past from certain intellectual difficulties and doubts—a leaning especially toward positivism and lack of faith; being drawn away from God; a tendency to think religion of small moment; but that he was combating the evil spirit within him and hoped he had gained somewhat; and so on. Hereupon a man, being called on to speak, remarked that he thought Charles had been somewhat hardened by too great good fortune; that his success in certain enterprises had somewhat spoiled him; if he had• not succeeded so well he would have been a better man; that he was somewhat wise in his own esteem; not given to consult with others or to seek or take advice. One or two other men agreed generally with the previous remarks, had noticed hese faults in Charles and that they made him disagreeable; and gave examples to show his faults. Another concurred in the general testimony, but added that he thought Charles had lately made efforts to correct some of his faults, though there was still much room for improvement. A young woman next remarked that Charles was haughty and supercilious and thought himself better than others with .whom he was brought into contact; that he was needlessly curt sometimes to those with whom he had to speak. Another young woman added that Charles was a respecter of persons; that he showed his liking for certain individuals too plainly by calling them pet names before people; that he seemed to forget that such things were disagreeable and wrong. Another woman said that

Charles was often careless in his language; sometimes used slang words, and was apt to give a bad impression to strangers. Also~ that he did not always conduct x himself at table, especially before visitors, with careful politeness and good manners. A man concurred in this, and remarked that he had heard Charles condemn the beefsteak on a certain occasion as tough ; and had made other unnecessary remarks about the food on the table while he was eating. A woman remarked that she had on several occasions found Charles a respecter of persons. Another said that Charles, though industrious and faithful in all temporalities, and a very able man, was not religious at all. A man remarked that Charles was, as others had said, somewhat spoiled by his own success, but that it was a mistake for him to be so, for he was certain that Charles’ success came mainly from the wisdom and care with which the society had sur rounded him with good advisers, who had guided him, and that Charles ought therefore to be humble, instead of proud and haughty, as one who ought to look outside of himself for the real sources of his success. Finally, two or three remarked that he had been in , a certain transaction insincere toward another young man, saying one thing to his face and another to others, and in this one or two women concurred. Amid all this very plain speaking, which I have considerably condensed, giving only the general charges, Charles sat speechless, looking before him; but as the accusations multiplied his face grew paler and drops of perspiration began to stand on his forehead. The remarks I have reported took up about half an hour; and now each one in the circle having spoken, Mr. Noyes summed up. He said that Charles had some serious faults; that he had watched him with some care; and that he thought the young man was earnestly trying to cure’ himself. He spoke in general praise of his ability, his good character, and of certain temptations he had resisted in the course of his life. He thought he saw signs that Charles was making a real and earnest attempt to conquer his faults; and as one evidence of this he remarked that Charles had lately come to him to consult upon adifficult ,case in which he had had a severe struggle, but had in the end succeeded in doihg right.”

—A French journal connected with the metal trade gives the following curious estimate of the market value of a piece of iron costing, in its simple or rough state, the insignificant sum of one franc, or not quite twenty cents, after being employed for different manufactures: Made into a horse-shoe, it acquires a trade value of about three francs; into agricultural implements, four francs; forged into ornaments, forty-five francs; converted into needles, seventy-five fsancs; into steel buttons, 900 francs; employed as polished steel for decorative purposes, 2,000 francs; made into shirt studs, 6,000 francs; and for some other exquisitely delicate purposes in connection with the arts and sciences the value of course reaches a yet higher figure. > « » —We are told that the most lucrative position on a New York newspaper used to be the financial editorship. Clark made a fortune in that position on the Express, Mellish on the World, and Norvell on the Timet. All that is changed, and the financial editors are now forced to divide with the publishers. ’' --. —lt is said that Queen Victoria carries a buckeye in her pocket to keep the ague away, but a Queen who isn’t above having the ague had better slide into obscurity. - /