The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-10-17

was The e-tzDl-lfneflt. uNE huluultIs AEos VI lAt
Concord School Of Philosophy. Its conception
was owing to an avowed transcendentalist, Mr.. A.
Bronson Alcott, and its organization and teaching
have been derided by men committed to take an
ideal view Of things. Much Of the ridicule which
has attended the operations Of the school has been
owing to a want Of comprehension Of this fact.
Mr. Alcott is nov the most prominent survivor Of
the great Intellectual revival OF forty wears ago.
He was one Of the great minds who formed Uni
versity Of Brook Farm and his whole life has been
conformed TO that early dream. His single aim
has been TO spiritualize living. The habits Of his
daily life have been modelled on the abstemious
standards Of the Greek philosophers, and at
the AGE Of eighty, he pursues his early ideals and
enthusiasms. 10 found a school resembling thgi
Of Plato in The Groves Of the Academe was the
dream Of Mr. Alcoit's youth, but be had long since
ceased to think Of it as practicable. During his
travels throughout the Sout and West, however,
while giving his " Conversations" he discovered
material out Of which to realize that dream. In
Jacksonville, Florida he found Plato Clubs under
the guidance and instruction Of Or. Jones, who
has devoted his life 20 that study. In 81. Louis,
BE- found clubs FOR the study Of HeCel and other
philosophers inspired BY Prof. VIM. T. Harris the
Superintendent OF public SCHOOLS IN thai city, aud
the editor Of the Journal OF SpscItirfirs Philosophy.
In ST. Louis also, under the tuition of Mr.. Denton
J. Ruidar. aufhornf " DelpLic DAys,H and Nv aller
in Helar~ he found societies for the study Of the
literature OF ancient Greece. To them with others
he uutolded his plans and found in them ardent
oo-wOrkers- In July, lsIs, the " Common school
Of Philosophy" was opened At Mr.. Alcott's place
al Concord Mas. A more fitting spot could not
have been found than this quaint old town, the
home and last resting place OF Hawthorne, Liner
son, IhureAu and many other names prominent IN
our Literature. In his prospectus, Mr. Alcott an
nouuced that the meetings would be held in the
Grounds Of his residence. The Orchard House
which adj0ins Hawthorne's Way side Inn. Phil
o-1phy was 10 De made free TO all 1t was to be a
revival Of the old Greek DAYS After each lecture,
questions were TO be asked, and the topic in hand
20 be discussed by any one who chose. OF the
men and women who formed the Faculty, the only
one who was an avUwed transcendeutallst was Mr..
Alcu.t The others were mostly enrolled under
tlp standard Of some particular philosopher or
school of philosophy, though all had received
their earliest and best impulses from transcenden-
tai sources. They were all early Emerson enthu-
sIasts. The philosophies most studied and taught,
we're those cassed under the general name Of Spec
ulatIye PHILOSOPHERS, the new ideal spiritual, I'M
grIuaItve PHILOSOPHERS. differing widely from those
Of the materialstic school, being in direct oppO-
sitiln 20 the teachings Of COuitc and Herbert
Spencer. An extract from the programme an
nouuCed for the opening session will perhaps, give
clearer idea Of the intellectual aim Of the Faculty.
Mr. Alcott. five lectures on Mysticism, the sub
jeCts being ''St John the Evangelist = "PlOtiuus,
'.raulcr.1 "Erchart." "Behmen," and Sweden.
borg DR.. Jones, Plato from Prof. Harris.
probably the greatest intellectual force OF the
number. Eve lectures On the History Of Philoso-
phy" and five on Speculative Philosophy Mr..
Kinder nye on 'Shakespeare,' four by the Rev.
Mm. II. Claiming, on Oriental and Mystical
Philosophy, three by Dr. hedney. on the Sub
lime and the beautltul, WITH many other single
special lectures the fine arts and literature by
distinguished men and women, the last being an
essay on 'ATlstucracN. by Emerson. he sessions
were to continue hye weeks, with two lectures
HInlI HF lrf % hR her a
half past seven IN the evening. In the second year
o little house, called the hillside Chapel, was
built, IN Ar. Alcots grounds by wealthy and
pAilosJphlc lady, for the use Of the school when
the weather did not permit of open ar meetings.
its style and decorations were severely simple.
bustS Of Plato, lhpreau' Emerson, festaluzZl etc.
were placed around the roOm and behind the riis-
cd platform, from which the professors delivered
the,r lectures, was an engraving OF The school Of
Athens. Most ot the audiences, outside Of the
professors and lecturers, were women and their
vital and Intelligent interest and the brlilancy OF
their intellectual acumen, displayed IN the cpnEer
s1tuns, argued high degree Of culture. As has
been Of en- remarked, If Socrates himself were 10
appear in this country, his audiences would be
composed mostly OF women. In all these lectures
strenuous effort was made 10 impress the idea
that philosophy was only rightly studied, when
sought as an intellectual ald 10 ptactlcu living. II
was not allowed as was anticipated by many thai
philosophy was 20 take the place OF religion: but
rlilgr 10 strengthen TtlElouS belief. Inc tult"N-
ing names and subjects are from part OF the pro-
Eramme OF the NTH and last summer, Just ended:
Prof. Harris, four Lectures on Man ; Immortality
m the hight Of Philosophy. Mr.. snider, four lee
lures on Homer and the Greek religions. bliss
Elizabeth Peabody, q lecture on d" Milton. Mr..
Cheney, a study Of Minerva MI. Julian Ha|-
tuorue, lecture on Novels Mr. David 4 War
reu, lecture on "IlAtUulstn, and Its relation 10
Modern Thought
Unfortunately, although the Interest and attend
anCc during the last session was equal 10 any pre-
ylous one, It was deemed undesirable to attempt
90 arrange Tor a continuance 81 the school. lhe
seriously impaired health uf Alr. Alcott, together
with his advanced age made II impossible, even u
he should De spared for HIN 70 continue to hold
the meeting, at tue Dld orchard Home. As none
ui tue professors are IN position 70 oher the
school suitable place and as there Is no tund' u
has been adjourned slHs Que. Probably however
arrangements will be made during the year 10 meet
once more and have an Emerson week. llc great
number of people who have been pleased TO pre-
dict i.uro for H. and the newspapers which have
enjoyed exercising their Vit upon It annually have
remarked on l's ending with great satisfaction, II
% Is failure u is noble one and Will perhaps
lu the future bear more fruit than some OF the
things which the world elects To call successes.
"A washington WINTER was Issued month ago,
and has made great f"fp,r though not Of the KIND
that was 90 have been anticipated. II Is amusing
10 notice that the very things the critics complain
OF as beng grave caTlcatures are the most tue
literally true-what people seem 10 want Is an
i'T' Washington, where all the oilclal persgnages
an as grandlosa AS Their pretNes- Ihe Old Wash
lngtnnlalis are, as class cultivated rehned aud
liberal, but the oMClal NE represents perfect
OF the novel j. DTS. baAlgIen htFseli' ana OF the
two young girls who compose Miss Mlltons family
one Is tile auihoT Ts daughter homaeue, now the
Countess Won Overlook, a celebrated beauty and
mu5lclsn Most OF the characters IN fact are taken
from NE; ana are easily recognized. Inc sketch