Page:Aristopia (1895).pdf/141

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with its local government of three supervisors, town clerk, justice of the peace, and constable. In each was located a store of the commonwealth. Each had its school and school officers. For teachers of these schools young women were brought from England, scions of "gentle" but impoverished families who preferred coming to America to the slavish life of a dependant or governess for some ill-tempered woman of rank or wealth.

Good roads were made to connect the settlements. The burden of making these roads was not laid upon the settlements, but the work was done by a body of laborers in the employ of the commonwealth, although really paid by the governor. Signals were arranged, to consist of three reports of a cannon, to give warning of an attack upon any settlement. At this signal the people were to retire to the forts and the attacked settlement was to receive all possible succor from its neighbors. No hostilities with the Indians had yet occurred, but the settlers were warned not to put any trust in the savages which might some time prove fatal. At the same time, the Indians were treated with justice and friendliness. Such land as the settlers of Aristopia needed