SEEKERS OF UTOPIA WAKE-UP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 15

SEEKERS OF UTOPIA WAKE-UP.

GRItMAN FOLLOWERS OF YANKEE PROPHET CALL HIM FALSE. The apostles of Raymond Duncan, of Sau Francisco, who revived the antique Grecian costumes, and who, until lntely, resided in Berlin, are complaining bitterly of the deceptiveness of his promises regarding the Utopian Greek colony he founded i>t Hepenas, near Athens. Duncan, who is a brother of Miss Isndore, was a long time one of Berlin's curious, owing to the habit of dressing exclusively in antique Greek negligee, consisting -A flowing white robes, uncut hair, and sandals. His wife. Penelope, a genuine Greek, was similarly clad. With the object of founding a eoleny in Greece to put his ideas in practice, Duucan gave a scries of lectures on the subject before German vegetal Inn societies last winter, and soon acquired au enthusiastic following. NO MONEY AND LITTLE WORK. The ir.aiu principles of his colony, called Lotcdolera, or "Lightbringer," were to he the absence of money as an economic factor, and the working day of two hours was to be devoted to light agricultural labour. Camps replaced the houses. All European clothing was to be burned upon entrance to llio colony. Symbolical of the abandonment of civilization, each colonist was expected to weave for himself a garment modelled after thosu of the old Greeks and procure his own food, consisting of roots and vegetables, direct from the soil. The "Raymond Duncan Association" was formed to promote the intercets of the colony. Supporters who already have joined Duncan at Lotodotcra appear seriously dlsap))c:;:led. Wrathful letters received by the association make revelations regarding the alleged Utopia which caused the society to pass a resolution openly wnrning the pii!>lic against their leader and his undertaking. COLONISTS CLAIM TO BE VICTIMS. The colonists, it is alleged, are simply exploited ill the inteiests of Duncan and the Drucaiess, who are reported as living in luxury, while their followers arc obliged to practise the simple life promised. Lotodotera paradise, a tract of ground six cui'.cs square, is unpropitiously located on the' summit of a rocky hill, entirely unsuited to cultivation, and usunlly in a state of dionslit. The chief complainant of the Duncans' alk-.ii.-il misrepresentations is a German glcssWuwcr from Saintveith, who, after spending - Uis savings in an effort to attain happiness at Lotodotera, now has earned enough money as an asphalt worker in Athens to pay lite fare heme. Tin rts<cu.tion has directed a letter to Duucan fcimally charging him with misrep: ( si'iit.ition.