New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-26
HOME TRAVEL.

HONE TBAsEL'
The transcendentalists say that travelling Is Tue
FOOLS paradise that one gets nothing by gadding that
no may not get by staying at home; and yet al Tue
leading spirits of that philosophy with whom We have
been acquainted have been immense meandererS-
Thoreau Margaret Fuller, Emerson, aud others 1888
known out Of Boston. It may he urged that they
have journeyed upon "a mission In these summer
DAYS of universal locomotion and linen busters we
beg leave to say a word in behalf of people who go
it" for the sake OF going Here for instance Is Inc
William Penn Fire Company of Philadelphia. reck
lessly casting off all responsibility, leaving Quakerdon
to conaagraton if destiny so will it, rushing red
shifted body to Boston. received there by enother
red shrted body deyouring collations cold and not
aud abandoning themselves to what the telegram calls
pleasing demonstrations" In another quarter. we
hear of Free and Accepted Masons sCjourning with
their hospitable brethren. Sons OF Temperance in
the West are drinking ice-water with Sons OF Iem'
perance in the East In short there is recreation for
everybody except the members OF the Brass Bands
and the engine-drivers and conductors. We are noe
ill.naured enough to scrunze too closely the Ill OF
all this; although doubtless with peryerse ingenuity
We vvuid End IL &c we pleased. We prefer to dwell
upon the bright side. and to educe the advantages
great country like ours is too much like fortui-
tous concourse of miscellaneous people in mortal need
of an introduction TO each other. The shareholders
used 10 COMPLAIN that We criticised without knowing
them; but when, unless man left his tongue and
conscience at home il required about as much moral
and physical courage to travel in South Carolina as IN
Central Africa the North was shy of other than
money making trips into those regions, which induce
men untitled by climate for mere pleasure travelling
which is usually undertaken in the Summer. Nobody
cares to have his trunk inspected by Vigilance Com.
mittec. r. therefore We of the North did not know
tho South well, il was the South's own fault. 1t
should not have been so shy OF criticism nor so Ss-
pcious of observers, as if they came for nothing but
to take note of the holes in the coats of the elevators
Only now is it possible for our Southern brethren"
to know us better; aud certainly shall be all the
better friends for the knowledge. And what is true
of the South we believe is equally true OF the Great
West The Federal Union can be no more than
sentiment always at the mercy of sectional interest
and of local passion, without population tolerably
homogeneous. Railways and steamboats, are great con-
SENATORS of the Union because they really diminish
the space over which it is spread and keep vast empire
from becoming unweldy. Indeed, without them the
Union would be political, social and commercial inn
possibility. Measured by square miles, our territory
is enormous but reduced to days travel it no longer
frightens us with the mpossbility of good neghbor
hood.
As we think all intelligent travel in some degree
useful we certainly believe it mans first duty, if
there be any duty in the matter to examine his own
country, and to become well acquainted with its
features. population and resources. An American
who has never Niagara the prairics, the Misss-
sipp might be asked dsagreeable questions If he
went touring in Europe. His foreign curiosity is
bad economy of time and Of money! and there was
truth in the sarical that good Americans when
they die 90 to Paris" "Smelfungus" says Sterne,
abiding to Smoliett travelled from Dan to Beersheba,
and declared that all was baroness" Wecan hardly
imagine bright and sharp-sighted American coming
back from an exploration OF his own land without
crying out in wonderful admiration: " All is fer
tility" nor do we see how the knowledge gained by
such journeying can fail to be in the highest degree
practically useful to every one engaged in active pur.
suits. 1t is always a good thing when business and
pleasure can be united and it will diminish no mans
patriotism to know from personal observation the
beauty and the greatness of his own country.
But there are other considerations. For prosper
worked in the world. Our play is more wearisome
than the toll Of other nations In banking and in
trade, in founding cities and opening mines, in laying
out and building roads, by land and by sea, we waste
ourseyesby over-continuous effort, and we literally
perish for want OF rest and recreation. Our pace
would be too fast il We went but five miles at it, and
we keep it up for fifty. There is little need of urging
our people to industry; discussion from unhealthy ap
plication would DO more timely, for there is not
lazy ounce in our whole body polite. We earnestly
and honestly advise all our readers in some way to
take their rest and pleasure. Ii they cannot go hfty
miles, let them 60 ten; If they live inland, lot them
seek the shore; if by the sea, let them taste the
pleasure Of the country; if they can do no better
(Which is hardly POSSIBILITY let them go to bed, and
stay there week without thinking Of their notes,
their shops, and them worrying speeulations. Let
them devote few lays to cultvatingan acquaintance
with their own wives and children. Above all. let
them be temperate and rational. For rushing thou
sand miles, dsY aud hight, uiglt aud dAy, ~ 4 Iyl