The Society Of Brothers
(Page 3 of 3)
November/December 1971
By Barry Fishler/ Cover Photos By Andrew Schneider
So the toys made by the brothers remain simple . .. variations of spheres, cubes, cones and rods. And they're built for youngsters to play with, not for adults to covet through department store windows. A great deal of the Society's business comes from kindergartens, nursery schools and the like . . . a fact that testifies to the sturdiness and flexibility of its products.
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The brothers give special care to those "little" qualities which tend to be left out of assembly line toys ... qualities like practicality and interchangeability. Community Playthings are made to be pushed pulled, sat on, knocked over, picked up and just plain enjoyed. They're also made to go together. Any wooden railroad car can be attached to the end of a like-sized train, the automobiles will fit into the appropriate rack on the transporter trucks, and so on. Every toy must pass a stringent inspection at each step of its assembly too, and the less-thanperfect ones just don't make it.
The Society's concern for the children's playthings it makes is merely a reflection of its regard for the children in its own community. After going through the eighth grade at the commune's school, each child is sent to an outside high school and given two years of higher education before being asked if he or she wished to remain with the Society. It's a hefty decision, and the members want every youngster to have a perspective on the world before making the choice.
If a youth does decide to stay, he will be choosing a life that includes two common meals a day (breakfast is taken with one's own family), assigned housing based on the size of the family and a life in accordance with the Society's expression of Christian brotherhood where all property is held in common and all decisions and policies are ultimately traceable to unanimity. The young person will also be accepting life in a semi-closed community where visitors with a sincere interest are welcome . . . as long as they write or call ahead and come with the understanding that—if their stay permits—they will share in the work and life of the commune.
The brothers' dedication to their work and to their Christian communal life style doesn't automatically create a completely cloistered life at the community, however. There's smoking and drinking in moderation, and athletic facilities dot the area. Really, the only things missing are the souvenir salt shakers and the porcelain pictures of George Washington.
Hard at work, and at peace with themselves and one another, the brothers don't seem to notice.
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