New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-31
RALPH WALDO EAERS0N.
BY FREpERINA BREMEN.

-.
RALPH WALDO kAERs0N.
BY FREDERIGA Bremen.
Emerson. rather philosopher than poet
vet poetical in his prose philosophical essays
stikcs me as a new and peculiar character
He seems to me as an American Thorild, who
by his own strong, powerful nature, would
transform the world, seeking for law and m
spiration merely within his own breast Strong
and pure, self-collected and calm, but at the
sar1le time fantastical, he puts forth from his
trauscendental point of view, his aphorisms on
nature and history, on God. (whom he does not
look upon as personal God, but as a superior
soul in harmony with laws,) and on men, criti-
cising men and their works. from the ideal of
the highest truth, and the highest beauty
ssThe world, says Emerson, :. has not seen a
man." and he looks forward with longing to
that man, the man of the New World, in whose
advent he believes. The new man regards no
laws but those within his own breast; but
there he finds the unfalsfed wells Of truth and
beauty. The new man believes in himself alone /;
he demands every thing from himself, and does
all for himself, reposes upon himself and in
himself The new man is a stole, but not stern
as such he is beautiful and very gentle
Wherever he comes, life blooms in the circle
of friends it becomes an holiday; nectar and
ambrosa pour forth at his approach but he
himself needs no friend. Emersons Language
is compressed and strong, simple, but singularly
plastic His turns of thought are original old
ideas are reproduced in so new and brilliant a
manner, that one fancies them heard for the
first time The divining- rod Of genius is in his
hand. He is master in his own domain His
strength seems to me peculiarly to be that OF
the critic, q certain grand contempt and scorn
of the mediocre, of the weak and paltry where
ever he sees it, and he sees it much and in many
things. He chastises it without mercy; but, at
he fu1 ad1 Ema
sons performances in thisway are really quite
regal They remind one Or our King Gustavus
Adolphus the Great, when he took the criminal
soldier by the hair, and delivered him over to
punishment, with the friendly words, g Come
my lad, it is better that the body now suffer
chastisement. than that thy soul go to hell .
Yet there is more in Emerson even than the
intention of enlightenment. The writings of this
scorner of imperfection, of the mean and paltry,
this bold exacter of perfection in man, have for
me fascination which amounts almost to magic!
Ioften object to him; quarrel with him; see
that his stoicism is esidedness, his pantheism
an imperfection, and l know that which is |
greater and more perfect, but am under the |
influence Of his magical power believe my
self to have become greater through his great
ness, stronger through his strength, and | |
breathe the air Of o higher sphere in this world
which is indescribably refreshing to me. Elmer |
son has more ideaIty than is common among |
thinkers of the English race, and one might say
that in him the idealsm of Germany is welded
to the realism of Britain.
Ihave, as yet, never gone step to see q lite
rary lion; but Waldo Emerson, this pioneer in
the moral woods of the New World, who sets his
ak to the roots of the old trees, to hew them
down, and to open the path for new planting,
would go a considerable way to see this man.
And see him i will-him who, in society as
strictly evangelical as that Of Massachusetts,
and Boston, Emerson was the minister of a
Unitarian congregation in Boston,) had the
courage openly to resign his ministration, his
church, and the Christian faith, when he had
come to doubt of its principal doctrines; who was
noble enough, nevertheless, to retain universal
esteem and old friends; and strong enough
while avoiding all polemical controversy ano
bitterness of speech, to withdraw into silence
to labor alone for that truth which he fully &C
knowledged, for those doctrines which. the
heather and the Christian alike acknowledge
Emerson has a right to talk about strength ant
truth, because he lives for these virtues AM
it will benefit the world which is slumhering IL
the Church from the lack of vital Christianity
to be reused up by such fresh winds trom tn
Himalays of hea.henism. Yet how can Emerson
overlook - Yet l will not ask abou
it, Emerson is just and true. Would tina
many we're like him!
Last Of all, l come to the poems of Waldo
Emerson small in dimensions, but great il
their spirit and tone and read aloud littl'
dithyrambic poem, which is characteristic of thu
individuality of the poet. Other American
poets speak to society Emerson always merel,
to the individual; but they are all to me as
breeze from the life of the New World, in Ger
tain illimitable vastness of life, in expectation
in demand, in faith, and hope--a something
which makes me draw a deeper breath, and, a.
it were, in larger, freer world
.
little avenue of spruce frs which leads from hi
house, bare headed lamid the falling snow, II
is q very peculiar character, but too cold AM
hypercritical to please me entirely; strong
clear eye, always looking out for an ideal. which
he never finds realized on earth; discovering
wants, shortcomings, imperfections, and toe
strong and healthy himself to understand Other
peoples weaknesses and sufferiDgs, for he eyel
despises suffering as weakness unworthy OF
higher natures. This singularity of character
leads one to suppose that he has never been ill.
Sorrows, however, he has had, and has felt them
deeply, as some of his most beautiful poems
prove nevertheless, he has only allowed him
self to be bowed for short time by those griefs
the deaths of two beautiful and beloved
brothers. as well as that of q beautiful little
boy, his eldest son. He has also lost his first
wife, after having been married scarcely year.
Emerson is now married for the second time,
and has three children He interested me,
without warming me- That critical crystalline
and cold nature may be very estimble, quite
healthy, and in it's way, beneficial for those
who possess it, and also for others, who allow
themselves TO be criticised by it. But--for me
Davids heart with Davids songs!
/ shall return to this home in consequence
of very kind invitation to do SO from Emmer
son and his wife, and in order that | NAV see
more of this spinx like individual From this
vorshipper Of nature, who does not belonu 10
any church, and who will not permit his chill
dren to be baptized, because he considers tho
nature Of child purer than that Of full grown
sinful man, we went to sleep at the house OF a
stern old Puritan, where We had long prayers
kneeling with our faces TO the wall.
During the four days that remained in En-
,nerson's house, had real enjoyment in tn,
study Of this strong, noble, eagle.hke nature
/ enjoyed the contemplation of him in his de
meanor, his expression, his mode of talking, ant
his everyday life, as enjoy contemplating tn
calm flow of river, bearing along, and between
iovery shores, large and small vessels-as
love to see the eagle crcling in the clouds, rest
ing upon them and its pinions. In this cain
elevation, Emmerson allows nothing to reacl
him, neither great nor small; neither prosperi
Pantheistic as Emerson is in his philosophy
in the moral view with which he regards tn
world and life, he is in a high degree pure, no
d;vsy q