New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-12

house-one who Judging from his looks and actions,
had gained very little inspiration, though living so
near the famous thinker. met one or two workers
farmers they looked like-but they seemed ont
of place., and hung their heads as
if by way of apology for being ontside disturbing the
general quiet Gardens looked trim and i'm order.
but wondered how they were kept So for all day
long as walked the streets saw no person at WORK
III them even began to have doubts. as continued
my researches. that any one lived in Concord1begnn
to think that after all it might be only myth, only
q dream, the horses, the men, and the women, suGn
few as met only constituting picture. But TINS
pleasant fancy was spoiled by the sound of nelgn-
boring dnner-bell greeting my ears and sudden re-
membrance that | was exceedingly hungry. Bn,'
tOr all that Concord is dream-land, dreamy II
lage place for practical men TO go # they want 70
get poetic inspiration nnd Tor men OIL inspiration -
But am forgetting my main buslmess-the visit u
Aleott.
The philosophers gate. as well as the front door,
stood open. as if inviting the stranger TO come IN
and paItake of such hospitality rs there was 20 DC
given, My knock was answered by pleasant
ing elderly lady.
Is Mr.. Acott at home !"
6 He Is Wall, in Sir." Aha
Tie distance was not far to walk. door on the
left of the little hall was opened. walked through
it and stood face to face with the famous tnhe,i
liam stranger, Sir" ! said by way of introduce
ton but trust You will DO willing 10 spare ile "
few moments of your time
" / am always glad TO see any one" ne answered. !
more especially young men, when they come Oh
good errands." ~. ,,o,,
| inwardly rejoced first. that was young man;
and second that had come principally on goeu
cuand that Is, 10 hear my most views OH Cei'"hi
subjects. ,.,f
lie excused himself for n moment busying himself
in arranging some books and papers: III the mean
time had chance TO take look at him. lie - man
who must be at least Co 20 years OF age. HIS mar
is white and long a little thin on the crown oil MS
head. He is tall, stOopS as he walks, wears spec
taccs when he reads or writes; has blue eye some
what dmmed by age. dreamy looking but with not
so much of the "far-away' look as Emersons b.
His voice is very pleasing, his countenance serene
and peaceful-lOOking being occasionally hgnted
mn bv n smile. The apartment in which we were was
his library and study There were four small, oiu-
fashioned book in various parts oil the Iooii
each filed with books a large table on one SIDE OF
the room contained writing materials ,portoiollos,
and a row of books at one end OF 1t: There were
several engravings hanging ON the wall.
Whose picture is that p | inquired, after some
general conversation. at the same time polntngto
framed engraving hanging near the lnantelpltce'
The subject of it, man, must have been about % or
20 years of age, had thin face no beard ana
THAT" said he, is Thoreau. Have you never
read any of his works "
told him had read many of them with great in
tcrest. but none of them had delighted me 80 much
as Walden. or Life in the Woods confessed also
to being a great admirer of Emersons writings.
"Wcll. YOU find each time you read Emerson you
learn something new. do you notT
/ confessed that was the case az
81 should advise all young men, said he, TO
graduate from Mr.. Emerson'S College. regard MN
scholar of the future will be he now Is Years ago
no man so talked against and underrated as Air
Emerson. But. to-day, though cannot say he Is the
most popular author have, yet he Is better under
stood than formerly. and universally respected even
by those who do not agree with HIM"
ITO return to 1hOreau" l remarked what was
his opinion of his experiment after he had gwen
"Thoreau simply went into the woods, borrowed
an AK of one. hammer of another &c. bniit MN hls
hut determined 10 see on how little man could live
and sustain life think he reduced his wants To M
small figure as one could possibly well DO, Though
| do not know but what they might be still further
lessened.' 8, =.
Did he think that il would be advisable to live In
the way he did for all ones liiet -,
mo. lie only wanted TO get tnsle OF the nc
with nature-a savage life wanted 10 live for timc
As IL were on the borders of civilization, As he did"
"Was he great Teadcrf
"Not great reader. He read Pliny works on
natural history Socrates some poetry Few novels,
and many books of travel, of which class of reading
he was particularly fond
WAS he socahlc =
ole was friendly 10 those who were in sympathy
with him. but he never went out of his way 90 see
any one The experiment of living on small means
continued Mr.. Alcoit' was some years ago tred on
practically solve the problem of low liyingand high
thinking 1t consisted of man and wife, four or five
crildYen and two three outsiders. They bought n
place Of one hundred acres. on which the men
worked, the women attending 10 the household
duties. lhey were Vcg1taIians' lMr. Alcott suDse-
quently told me that he had been vegetarian for
thirty years and found himself the better for it,
They wore no clothes the material for the making of
which came from animals. They did not ride any
though they lost time, which made II about a. broad
as II was long. They paid no taxes Though born IN
n Republic. they believed the individual had the
ri h 10 say whether not lac would be governed by
its laws OF he citizen oft. When property tax was
to be paid they refused 90 pay IT, II the demand wac
persisted IN. the authorities were obliged 60
take q part of their land; no taxes were
paid voluntarily. They did not hire help.
believing that that was only another system of
slavery, uihess there was good understanding cX-
isiing between the employer and employe-unle,s
the labor was n labor OF love They wore no cotton
clothes ms cotton came from the South and was pro-
duced by slaycs-they were opposed 10 slavery. All
they asked of the world was 10 be let alone but the
world would not do that. IL not prepared for
that experiment then, and II - not now But the
time may come when il viii be-
But DO yOu not think, with things even as bad rs
they are that persons can live much more economi-
caly than they do-that class OF persons, mean.
who desire TO spend time IN reading study and ned
tatonf Is there not some way Of solving that prob
lemr
have t. live IN the country rather than the town;
cultivate the garden grow corn POTATOES, tomatoes,
peas and such other vegetables rs would be needed.
of course dong all the work themselves There
should be some fruit on the place when they took II,
though it might be done even If there were no fut
on ii in the beginning They should he yegctanans.
Clothing would not cost much. Persons living ~
that way would not have TO dress 30 elegantly as If
they lived in the city II they plain neighbors,
plain clothes, and those Of coarscr quality could be
worn. Let the place De small II you nave large
place you only have much more trouble aud care
upon your mind-so much more gIOund 10 work and
worry about. One could not travel much. There is
great expense in that. Yes, small family in that
way could live on an incredibly small sum-
After some further conversation. the details of
which could not with prOprety be given, the subject
of books was introduced.
"What books would you advise young men TO
read 7"
Read what your mind most Graves for Read
what answers your questions and says yes or no.
If your mind is of IN ethical turn, read books on
ethics. If of philosophical character, read
ested in science, then the best scientific
productions 'Youmans Culture Demanded
by Modern Life is good book. showing what are
the most recent discoveries in science. Read Soc