Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/696

 676 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

conducive to good health, and tended to lengthen life. Sexual selection was not governed by economic considerations, as in ordinary society. There were no opportunities to make fortunes, and one person's economic prospect was as good as another's. Sexual selection was therefore governed by personal affinity, looks, etc., and not by money considerations.

The criticism has been made that sufficient provisions were not made for the care of children old enough to run about while the mother was at work. During the school months they were all at school, but through the vacations the mother could not look after them while she was at work, and it was thought by some that the children degenerated somewhat for this reason ; others, again, held a different opinion.

EDUCATIONAL PHENOMENA.

The smaller children received kindergarten training, and as they grew older they attended school. The school year at the colony was ten months long, but the state paid the teacher for only five months. This salary was turned over to the colony, which furnished a teacher. Several members also gave instruc- tion after working hours in French, elocution, gymnastics, and a few other branches. There was a foreman of recreation who superintended the theatricals given every two weeks. Music lessons were also given. The Progress League, composed of the children, gave an entertainment every two weeks. Instructive experiments in chemistry were occasionally made at these enter- tainments. The foundation of a college building was laid, but it was never carried farther. There was a public library contain- ing one or two thousand volumes. It was open evenings, and books were loaned to members. It was well patronized. There was a brass band of some fifteen or sixteen pieces, which gave concerts at regular intervals.

ARTISTIC PHENOMENA.

Art was not very prominent, but it was more in evidence than it would have been in a competitive village. One of the colonists spent nearly a year in painting a drop curtain for the stage; and also painted a portrait of Ruskin. He had classes in