William Morris, his homes and haunts . Surrey,where the river Wandle was most suitable for the pro-cess of the dyeing department, were taken over in processes of tapestry and the printing of cottongoods—the Morris chintzes—were practically new de-partments added after the removal of the works toMerton; and the record of this year is a maze of craftlabour in Morriss career: his energy was almost super-human. Then came a dramatic change in his life. In 1881the Radical Clubs of London had combined into a** Democratic Federation. At first it was nothingmuch more than an advanced Liberal A
William Morris, his homes and haunts . Surrey,where the river Wandle was most suitable for the pro-cess of the dyeing department, were taken over in processes of tapestry and the printing of cottongoods—the Morris chintzes—were practically new de-partments added after the removal of the works toMerton; and the record of this year is a maze of craftlabour in Morriss career: his energy was almost super-human. Then came a dramatic change in his life. In 1881the Radical Clubs of London had combined into a** Democratic Federation. At first it was nothingmuch more than an advanced Liberal Association, buta very short time availed to change its outlook. Whenon the 13th of January 1883, the name of WilliamMorris, designer, was added to its list of members, hecould say : I am truly glad I have joined the onlySociety I could find that is definitely Socialistic. Onthe very same day, it is interesting to note, he waselected an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College, is scarcely a paradox to add that on the day he was. / ? / ; / \ I THE ARRAS LOOMS, MERTON ABBEY(After a photo, by permission of Mr. H. C. Marillier) THE POLITICAL PERIOD S7 thus officially recognised by orthodox Society, he onhis side took the definite step of cutting himself offfrom orthodoxy. A few months before this, he hadsold his most valuable books, in order that he mightuse the money for Socialist propaganda. The nextfew years were one intense struggle, on his part, toshow his fellow-citizens that Socialism was the onlyremedy for social disorder. Literature and his businesswere tossed on one side in the blaze of his friends looked on with wonder; Burne-Jones, theclosest and oldest friend of all, has written that it wasthe only time when I failed Morris. . When hewent into it, I thought he would have subdued theignorant, conceited, mistaken rancour of it all—that hewould teach them some humility, and give them somesense of obedience, with a splendid birds-eye view ofall that
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