Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-15


certain inconveniences, believed that
there were still kindly ravens who would
feed prophets in extremity. On one oc-
casion he in some way became possessed
of twenty dollar gold piece, whereat
there was rejoicing in his household. On
the same day traveller in distress knock
ed at his door, and telling piteous story,
besought five dollars to enable him to get
Alcott told him that he had not five piece,
but if twenty wouddo he had that. The
man naturally accetepd the alternative,
and went his way rejoicing. Mrs. Alcott,
on hearing of tho transaction. was much
provoked and did not share her husbands 8
hope of again seeing the money. Onthe
next day the newspaper contained full
description of the rogue, and an account
of how he had on false pretences swindled
several others. Nevertheless, n few days
Afterwards Alcott received letter contain
ing the money, in which the swindler de-
clared that though he had taken the mon
eyof other people when ever he could,
without compunction, he could not make
up his mind to retain the moneyof n man
so simple-hearted and generous as to give
him four times the amount that he had
asked for.
Mr.. Alcott has certainly not escaped
the trials which an energetic Platonist
would naturally incur in disseminating
his ideas i'll very practical age and coun-
try. The logician and the humorist were
his mortal foes. On one occasion the sim
ple-hearted philosopher, having divided
the entity Man, into the Knower, the
| Thinker, the actor, was interrupted by 0
religiously trained lady with the question
whether the Knower which she under
stood phoneticully was the same that was
saved in the Ark. Some student of Cam
bridge was wicked enough to mystify the
philosopher and the company by inquir
ing what he thought "of the late theory
of Verdanitus Grun, that the moon is {
mass of sweitzerocaseous matter, con-
gealed from the ubcrous glands of the lac
teal nebula q which one Of his accom-
plices earnestly maintained to be the phil
osophy of Zeno modernzed. Some earth
ly minds also set ahot the following as
one of the "OIphic vtterance' And
why, too, we may tremblingly ask, is tn,
nose placed in the front of the countet
nance, stretching toward the lnfiuite, bu
that it may stain, AS it were, a forcsmell
of the illimitable."
Before such man, as may be imagined
the casuists Of Boston could prevail only
among those who would not admit thai
he should have hearing. He did moi
hold long arguments in controversies, bu
gave formidable replies in single sen
tences. He was once accused by DIR
Gannctt. before the ministerial confer
ence, of using unchristian language con
cerning Judge Curtis, who belonged Il
DIR. Gannctt's churcl--ihat which ID
Charming once miuistered to. .judg
Curtis's offence, for which Parker hat
publicly denounced him, was the vehcm
ent effort which he had made to return f
slavery William and Ellen Crafts, wilt
had journeyed Il Thousand miles for free
dom, she disguised us Il Southern gen
tleman. her husband beng his body ser
want. 1t was the same William Craft
who last year at Newcastle defended
against DIR. hunt. his right to be consid
cred a man. He and his wife were con
cealed some days in Parkcr's study, Wills
Parker wrote ut the door, with scveri
loaded pistols, and the gun which III
father had used III the Revolution, by hi
side. Curtis, however, was about to pre-
vail, when the iugitiyes were smuggle
off to England, Then Parker attacke
Curtis, and therefore DIR. Gannett ut
tackled him. In his apology Parker be
gan "You see, Mr.. Chairman and ger
tlemen, the thing was this II member {
DIR. Gannett's church tried to kidpap tw
of mine" Under the explosion OF laugl
ter which followed this DIR. Gannett be;
a retreat, and the matter ended.