New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-20
TUOREAU'S LETTERS.

| THOREAU'S LETTERS.
LETTERS TO VARIOUS PERSONS. BY Henry d. THO
ngAu. limo. Up. 229 Iicknor Fields
Tn IN. L" Editors Notice" prefxed to this volume
nv Mr.. r. w. Emerson, IL is stated that nearly all
these letters have been printed from the origlhai
autographs furnished by tho persons to whom they
were addressed, and with very few verbal correc'
tons They possess a curious interest from their
Transparent revelations OF the mind Of an original
if not very profound, thinker. Like the previous
writings Of Mr.. Thoreau on which the choice repu-
tation which he has attained in limited circle OF
readers is founded, they are of almost purely In
tellcotual cast remarkable for their clearness OF
perception. but deriving little light from the imag
nation and less warmth from the affections Inc
writer was a literary as well as social hermit
! lie delighted TO commune with his own thoughts,
to sit and walk by himself, to keep his own COM
pany on all occasions, rather than listen 10 the
suggestions Of others He seemed to cherish the
consciousness that the forces Of nature were ex-
hsusted in his own mental construction, with the
exception OF small residue which was used IN the
endowment Of few select spirits which no might
deem kindred with his own. For the common
specimens of humanity which live and move in the
Quoted he had nothing but contempt and aversion.
Hence he is never genial, though sometimes wise
His letters betray no trace Of emotions they arc
uniformly cold and hard, often oracuar In their
tone; but occasionally suggestive Of high and ad-
mirablc thoughts. Though destitute Of all flow OF
feeling, with no SAVIOR Of human sympathies, many
Of his sentences have the point and significance OF
aphorsms, and deserve TO be treasured in the me'n-
DRY for their homcly sense and often for their Wig
orous terseness of expression. We have marked q
few examples in turning over the leaves Of the
volume which show that the writer thought for
himself, though he loved by proxy.
| HIS SAVAGE SATURE
grow savagcr aud savager every day. as " fed on
raw meat, and my tameness IL only the repose on IN
ismnblcness. dream u looking abroad Summer and
Winter With free gore from some mountain. side while
ny eyes Ieyo.ye IN Egg ptan slime of hesth- 10 be
nature looking into nature, with such easy sympathy as
The ue-eyed in the meadow looks In the lace OF
the sky. From snch recess would put forth sud-
lime thoughts Dolly. MS the psnt puts forth leaves
N0Sabignis go on to the oil o. see the sun SET ~
one wonG go home at eyening-he hustle OF the village
has ali day and LEFT ne quite In the rear but
the sunset and fnd that 1t wait for my slow
virtue.
Il on TIE DEATH or CHILD.
| As FOR Wade hs died the mist rises from the
brook which the sun will soon dart his rays through.
DO the towers die every Autumn He had not even
taten here. not startled TO hear that DC Wns
dead. il seemed the most nstuD,l event that could
happen. Hr fine organization demanded II. and ma
ture gently Welded It's reqnest IL would nave been
strange II he had lived Neither will nature manifest
nnv sorrow ut his DEATH bat the note Of the lark
viii be heard down In the meadoy and fresh dandeons
all spring from The Old stocks where he pueked them
last Sumner.
on SPEAKING TRUTH.
What you about your studies furnishing you with
" Hinio idiom only reminds me that we shall all DO
well n We learn much NJ t. talk-'o speak truth.
The only fruit h!oh much living yields seems 20
be- often only some trivial succsss-the ability to do
some slight thing better. We make conquest only Of
husss aud shells for tie most parat least apparently
l-hut sometimes these are cinnamon and spices you
know. Even the grown hunter you speak ~ Stays
thousand bnfalOes, and brings OF only their DIES And
Tongues. What immensesacrihcer what hecai"mbs and
hOlocauss the gods exact for very slight ayors How
much sincere life before even utter one sincere
word What was learning IN College was chiefly.
think to express myself and now. tha. the old
orator prescribed LIST acton 2d. action; 3D. action my
teachers should have prescribed Ia me- LIST sincerity
ID sincerity; Sd sincerity The old mythology II IN
complete without god or goddess Of sincerity. on
whose affairs might offer up all tho products OF our
farms. workshops, and studies. IL should be
our Lar when sit the hearth. and Tuelsr
Genius when walk abr00d This Is the only panacea.
mean sincerity in dealings with ourselves mainly
any other is comparatively easy. But must stop be-
fore get TO l7thly. believe have but text and
one sermon
CRITICISM ON eUARLEs.
have been reading lately what of Quaress poetry
could get He u contemporary OF Herbert. and
Kindred spirit. think you would like him. IL Is rare
10 md one who was 20 much OF poet and 30 little VI an
artist. He wrote long poems almost epcs for length
about JONAH Esther. job Samson and Solomon. inter-
spersed with meditatons alter ACUTE original pan
Shepherds Oraces. Comedies. Romnnces. FaDcies and
Med atons, Quintcssence Of meditaiion.-and En-.
chiridons Of Meditation all diyine,-and wha, he calls
his Morning Muse, besides prose works curious as
the rest He was an unwearied Christian, and a re-
former OF some old school witha Hopeessly quaint
as be lived all alone and knew nobody but his wife
who appears to have reverenced him. He never
doubts his genius; II is only be and hs God In all the
world. lie ures language sometimes as greatly as
Shakespeare; and though there IA not much straight
grain in him, there Is plenty Of tough crooked timber
In m age when Herbert Is revived, Quarles surely
ought not " be forgotten.
| THE TRAHscKNDEsTAL l.
Ny actual life is fact. In view Of which have no
aspiration have respect Its from these That speak
Every mans position Is In fact too simple 10 BIO de-
scribsd. have sworn no oath. have no designs on
society, nature God. 1 am simply what am or
l begin TO be that lire in the p-s'ent only remem.
Der the past and anticipate the future. love 10 live
love reform better than its modes. There Ii history
Of how bad became better. 1 believe something and
there IL nothing else hut that know that am /
interest In me- whose creature and yet whose Kindred
In one sense. am l. know that the enterprise ia
worthy. know that things work well. have heard
| no bad news.
Yon speak Of poverty and dependence Who are poor
| and dependents Who are rich anil independent |
When vas 1t that men agreed 70 respect the
and not the REALITY Why should tho appearance ap.
par Are We well acquainted then, with the reality |
There who Goes not lie hourly in tho respect he
pays TO false appearance. How sweet IL would be 10
treat men and things for An hour for Just what they
arei We wonder that the sinner does not his
sin When we arc weary with travel we lay dow our
load and rest by the waysde So when We are weary
with the burden Of life why do We not Law down this
load OF falsehoods which we have volunteered to sustain
and be refreshed mortal vast Let the beauti
LAT N NOT