The Portland daily press., 1882-12-12


One day a tall, slender, blonde and white
nalrsd man was found busily engaged upon
Mr. Emerson's grounds, contriving and build
ing with pile of sticks, which he had heaped
togetner, fantastic something which might
be called arbor, bower or summer house The
architect was A. Bronson Alcott, and this the
hrst and last house evolved from his inner con-
seriousness. Aicott is an institution of Concord
aud Characterization, and 10 account of
them would be complete which did not include
some sketch of him. Since Wordsworth has
Celebrated the ped Ter in an epic, it NAV not
De thought disparaging to say that this singular
individual was in early life a traveller thu ough
the Southern States In that capacity, even
Wlthln short time of his appearance as build-
er OF the ideal bower in Emerson's garden
But his experience certainly did not whet in
hlm any brewdness which would entitle him
TO % considered an exemplary Yankee. AL
colt, with large and interesting family, one
daughter OF which has become distinguished
as an anthoress, was humanity speaking, ut
teily unable to support it He was utterly I'M
aole TO do anything for which the great world
was willing to trade; it with the exception of
the little Emersons) did not wish his summer
houses, sun less those mystical ideas which his
genius only authorized him TO utter not to
write. But Alcott, despite certain inconyen-
Vehlences, believed that there were still
Kindly ravens who would feed proph-
cts IN extremity. On one occasion
ne IN some way became possessed
- NS4loA SVtN piece, WH6redb J00f6
was rejoicing in his household. On the same
day traveller in distress knocked at his door,
ana telling plteous story, besoneht five dol
lars TO enable him to get home somewhere
promising to return it. Alcott told him that
ne had not hve-piece, but if a twenty would
do he had that. The man naturally accented
.ne alternative, and went his way rejoicing.
Mrs. Alcoit, Oh hearing of the transaction was
much provoked and did not share her hus-
Ddho nope OF again seeing the money. On
a nav an
description of the rogue, and an account of
now ne had on false pretences swIndled several
others. Nevertheless, a few DAYS after wards
Aicott received letter containing the money,
IN which the swindler declared that though he
mad taken the money of other people when ev-
er he could, without conjunction, he eould not
make up his mind totretain the money of n
man so simple-hearted and generous as to give
MIN four times the amount that he had asked
Mr.. Aleott has certainly not eseaned the tri-
ais which an energetic Platonist would natur-
ally incur IN disseminating his ideas in verv
practical age and country. The logician and
the humorist were his mortal foes On one oc-
CASTOR the simple-bear philosopher. having
DIVIDED the entity Man into the Knower, the
lhlnKer, the Actor, was int rruped by relig-
iously trained lady with the question whether
the Knower, which she understood phoneticaI-
~ was the same that was saved in the Ark
Some student of Cambridge was wicked
enough to mystify the philosopher and the
company by inquiring what he thought "of the
late theory Of Verdauitus Grun, that the moon
is a mass OF sweltztr Gaseous matter CONCEALED
from the uberous GLANDS of the tactical nebula?"
Whlch one OF his arc mpces earnestly main
tanned to be the philosophy of Zeno modern
lzed. Some earthly mines also set afloat the
following as one of the "Orphic utterances:''
And why, too, we may trembllngly ask, is
the lose placed in the front OF the cOunte aance,
stretching toward the Infinite, but that it NAV
attain. as IL fOrasInaI of bQ INIT
ble.D
Before such man, as may be imagined, the
caSulsts OF Boston could prevail only among
those who would not admit hat he should
nave hearing. He did not hold long argu-
nents III Controversies, bat gave formidable
replies IN single sente noes He was once ac-
cused by DIR Gannett, before the ministerial
conference, OF using uncbrstiau language con-
corning Judge Curtis, who belonged to Dr.
GahnetCs church, that which DIR. Claiming
once mlnistered to. Judge Curtis's offence, for
which Parker had publicly denounced him
was the vehement effort which he had made fo
return to slavery William and Ellen Crafts
who had JOurneyed a Thousand niles for free
dom, she disguised as a Southern gentleman.
her husband beiI & his body servant II was
the same William Crafts no last year at New
castle defended, against DR. Hunt, his right to
be considered man. He and his wife were
Cor cealed some days in Parkers study, whilst
Parker wrote at the door, with several loaded
pistols. and the gun which his father had used
III The Revo ution, by his side. Curtis, howev-
err was about to prevail, when the fugitives
were smu=ged if 10 England. Then Parker
attacked him. In his az oogy Parker began
You SEE, Mr.. Chairman aud gentlemen, the
thing was This: member of DR.. Gannett's
church tried to kidnap two of mine" Under
the explosion OF laughter which followed this
DR.. GanDett beat retreat, and tire matter
ended,