Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/272

 262 occupy himself with the elements of science. Neef left Switzerland for Paris to introduce there the system of Pestalozzi. In Paris he met Maclure, and was induced by him to come to America. "It is my highest ambition," said Neef, "to be a country school teacher amid a hardy, vigorous community." And this he became in New Harmony.

He was an intimate associate of the Owens. His daughter Caroline became the wife of David Dale Owen, and Anne the wife of Richard.

There were besides these, who were a part of the community, other men of note in science who spent longer or shorter periods in the community as visitors. Among them was the eccentric, "mattoed" Rafinesque, whose stay was so short and whose story so long that I must pass him by with a word. Sir Charles Lyell was for a time the guest of the Owens.

Reared among such surroundings, and with such men as friends and teachers, it is not strange that the sons of Robert Owen were imbued with a love of Nature, nor that they formed high ideals of the work they should do in life.

Robert Owen, in accordance with his own theories, gave his children the best education which the world could offer, and they made good use of their opportunities. Robert Dale Owen, the eldest son, had a strong taste for philosophy and literature, and was long known as a charming essayist, one of that circle of writers who gave to the Atlantic Monthly its high literary character. He too was a part of the "boat-load of knowledge" and took an active part in the affairs of the community. He became a member of the State Legislature, and exerted a powerful influence in shaping the school system of Indiana. He must ever remain one of the prominent figures in the history of the State.

William Owen, the second son, died early at New Harmony.

David Dale Owen was the third son, and Richard Owen the youngest of the family. These two were intimately and constantly associated.both in their early education and in their later work. They were alike in taste and disposition, and, if we can trust the portraits of David Dale Owen, they were very much alike in personal appearance. They were born at New Lanark, in Scotland, David in 1807, Richard in 1810. They studied first at home under private tutors, and afterward were sent to Hofwyl, in Switzerland, to the famous school of Emmanuel Fallenberg. Later they studied chemistry under the famous Dr. Ure in Glasgow, and in 1827 they came to America together in a sailing vessel, landing at New Orleans. Until 1832, when Richard Owen was twenty-two years old, he had never been separated from his brother for a single day.