CHAPTER XLII. THE END OF BROOK FARM. IT only remains to tell what we know of the causes that brought the Brook Farm Phalanx to its end. Within a year from the time when it assumed the task of propagating Fourierism, i. e. on the 3d of March, 1846, a disastrous fire prostrated the energies and hopes of the Association. We copy from the Harbinger (March 14) the entire article reporting it: "FIRE AT BROOK FARM.--Our readers have no doubt been informed before this, of the severe calamity with which the Brook Farm Association has been visited, by the destruction of the large unitary edifice which it has been for some time erecting on its domain. Just as our last paper was going through the press, on Tuesday evening the 3d inst., the alarm of fire was given at about a quarter before nine, and it was found to proceed from the 'Phalanstery;' in a few minutes the flames were bursting through the doors and windows of the second story; the fire spread with almost incredible rapidity throughout the building; and in about an hour and a-half the whole edifice was burned to the ground. The members of the Association were on the spot in a few moments, and made some attempts to save a quantity of lumber that was in the basement story; but so rapid
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