, 1877-12-02

he says, and truly, that the pure sentncntalist
and stole, the morbid hermit, such rs he had got
IN the ha5lt OF regarding 'rho1eau, did not us,,-
ally show such concern for weak and down.
trodden telloW-creatuges, or SO practical and
ready power to aid them. It was this that sci
him to maxim. closer study OF Thoreau. Ea
thinks there is q wonderful likeness between
this so-ca1icI 'sstolc" OF America, with his sim.
plici,ies ana attractions for the lever creatures
ETC., TO St, Francis OF Assist, whose lite has
recently been made fresh ami real By Mrs. Oil
chant. Very truly he expia!ns ,hat il was
lEoIean's love OF Nature that Iormtu the basis
OF bis peculiar sympathy and dislike 81 what
was involved, doubtful, and morally tortuous.
II has been urged against Thorean tnat
CARLYLE AND EMERSON INFLUENCED AND
wANFED MIS- MIND.
NJ rage makes very clear showing OF this
1altacy ~Ech hc considers the strong originality
and innate power of TAc1eau. Those wuo know
Emerson would JON very strongly with Mr..
Page against this theory, For We all OF II:
Know that however Wild, ana original, and iude-
pendent Mr. Enerscn's writings, especially the
earlier writings, his conduct and daily Twin:
have n:yer offered anything wild, Or original, oi
independent. ANYTHING different, in short, III any
Of the essentials, iron. his neiehbors' lives. aud
doubtless it is this ''praetlca1 common sense:
as it is termed, this "liyine like other fo!ks,'
that has saved Emerson from like estimate
with Thoreau in the minds oi i good many
peoEie. ThuIeau was practical enough in Iii.
way and for his own purposes. itc testeds
good d:A that Mr. Emerson theorixrI upon.
In scnle marked Instances he was far more
original and boldcr than Mr.. Emerson. No one
WHO knew Ihorsau would feel doubtful of his
courage In facing the world and acknowledged.
AFTER MR. EMERsoN's r1M1n PROTEST
against m TIC publishing OF his letter Of praise for
"att Whitman, one could understand the COM
ntonplaeeness of 1ai{y lfe that formed its
routine upon It's nei5hbors, while the very oppo-
pages OF revolt. Thoreau was still less like
Carlyle. But it has beeu 4 fashion to say that
this Or that PERSON followed Carlyle or Emcs-
son, when To fo!ldw him was beyond the under
standing AMI the pawer of those about him.
Mr. paSe brings out all the salient points Vi
TEoreau's character III peculiarly clear man
ner. touching upon that power OYER aud love OF
animals, his knowledge Of Nature in every
form, and bis real frcedom from anything n,o--
tid or egoslsti:: Orc OF tho Hue things tia. Ia
quotes from Mr.: Ckanning's letter about Tho
reau is this: "Hc made III useless professions,
never asked one o{ those questions wl2i:h de-
stroy all relation" Channiny speaks OF him
rs emintntly reliable. ''1Ic was ut the mercy
OF 10 caerite; OF Il reliable will ana uucompro-
m!s,ng sternness ID his moral nature, he carried
the same qualities into his relation with ctirrs,
and gave them the best be had without stiut.''
THE EFFECT or EMERSON
upon Thoreau's mind was only shown In the
exrression OF certain moods Or phases-that
Mr. Pasc does not thoroughly see this, but it
was q fact. What this English critic, however,
does SEE, aud what lie gives Us, is very impor-
taIt. There is one book Of Thoreau's,
which he PASSES over, =ingu!arly enough,
whic1, is bette: Keynote to the really fine So
cial side OF the 'E2et-Dhilosophcr than any
thing else. This is his 'Lctters to Vario1s
Persons" And not only Us key to rhureau
[liiusslf is it valuable, bat US an expression of
thought 1T once higl, and comprehensive anti
fLf n
books of any aye In bringing all this up a;-1ir
1nd in inttolu:ing Thoreau perhaps to til.
;uungcr generation Mr.. Page deserves on
.hauks. n r.