New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-12
IN HOUR WITH Il PHILOSOPHER.

A VISIT TO A. BRONSON ALCOTT-THE QUIET
VILLAGE or CONCORD-A PHILOSOPHERS
HOUsE-ALCOTT'S OPINION on EMERSON,
THOREAU AND HIS STYLE OF LFE-IIOW TO
LIVE PHILOSOPHICALLY-1HE BEST BOOKS
TO READ, ETC, ETC.
[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
CONCORD, Mass, Aug. 81 have spent the past
hour with a man who for whole lifetime, has been
faithful TO his early dream-with one who, from
early manhood to age serene in the truest sense
has been emphaticallya phosopher-nay, even more
than a lover of wisdom, follower of it.
If l remember rightly paragraph ] read in a
metropolitan newspaper not many months since, it
stated that A. Bronson AlcOtt when n young man.
had retired to little cottage in the pleasant village
Of Concord, Massachusetts, determined. if possible,
to live there all his life, pursuing the study of
philosophy. and cultivating his mind 10 the highest
possible point; that he did not believe himself capa-
Dle to speak more properly did not feel willing, to
indulge in any of the works Of the world having
come TO the conclusion that his "cal was 10 be a
thinker or, as call it, "A dreamer. AS far as /
have been able to learn he has been faithful TO that
idea to this day. and though the world has ridiculed
and ll-treated him. as the world always rdicules
and ltreats any one who strikes out from the ord-
nary course OF things ne has steadily heid ms way
answering it's SCOTS with silence which sayors OF
the purest gold. AS Emerson says, 1.-The highest
virtue is always against the law"
] confess that / called on Mr. Alcott partly from
curiosity 10 see one who has always been known as
prominent transcendentalist and partly from the fact
that desired his opinion on certain subjects which
had long occupied my mind. AS some of his views
may interest many, especially young men, viii give
report Of such Of his conversation as was not Of
private nature.
1t is not ten minutes walk from the hotel in Con-
cord (the only one in the place to the residence OF
the philosopher which rs but short distance rom
that Of Mr. Emerson II is pleasantly situated on an
eminencc short distance from the road. IL has The
appearance Of having been III former days aI Oh
country farmhouse but has received SO many re-
pairs as 10 have quite modern appearance III Is
shaded by thick growth Of vines. The little porch
commands view of many meadows and fields OF
corn, and III the distance. OF range OF hills; There
is an appearance of comfort and quietness ab0u The
house which one seldom finds even in the country
1t is place in which one would like nothing better
than TO devote his life TO study and contemplation OF
nature.
Concord itself is very quiet place. There very
few sOrcs--sc9rcc any sounds of life and activity.
Now and then, during my walks, ] heard bird
sing but tho merry s0ngser did not keep his carol
were few insects hulnming; they were tho pI1nci-
pal singers Concord is place, above all others,
where would think poets, dreameTs, and phoso-
piers would live. hoard no sound Of the anvil.
think the good people wonld fairly 90 mad If some
night an anvil chorus" or any other chorus Tor
that matter would break the stiffness Of the Summer
ar. heard 10 carpenters hammer, no creaking
carts no crying babies II wondered ii
they did ever have babies there,
and finally came TO the conclusion that they did not
that they were all imported; blinds were closed; no
one was sitting on the p0rches; heard no oaths;
saw 10 one intoxicated; found only one barroon,