The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-21
HENRY D. qH0REAU.


Is a
der greatest obligations to those whom she treats
most unkindly. 1t is not so Intentionally, but 1t
arises from that inability, so characteristic OF
human nature, to realize our greatest needs eX-
cent so slowly that those who are prepared to
minister to these necessities pass away with
their work undone
They may bear ia their hands the choicest
treasures; may possess the secrets of the highest
living may know better than any others how to
calm and soothe the souls of men and point the
way to perfect peace, and yet be regarded as
Yagabonds by all except the chosen few per
united to participate in their life The saddest
chapters in the annals of the race are those
which recount the miseres of these unrecog
.nized sons of genius The rarer the spiritual
light the tardier its recognition. But with 1t
comes this consolation: that when recog
milton is once attained its permanency is pro
Portioned to the merit of that recognized
There is no premeditated injustice about this. 1t
ds but proof of the fact-common to nature as
Nwell-that in the evolution of life the great mass
of mankind attain, with exceeding labor, the
heights which the more favored ones gain at
single bound. Under this same law, to some ex
stent, fell Henry Thoreau. But am reminded by
the sumptuousness of the volume before me,
and the words on the title page ''thirteenth edi
siOu;D that he has fallen at last upon times differ
emit from those when he bore to his room seven
hundred books, the unsold part Of the first
edition of his first book. But it is not because
)Thoreau has changed. 1t is because we have
changed and that for the better
To the writer Thoreau has been of genuine
service. A life, the radius of whose wanderngs
could almost be bounded by the horizon shut
ting in his native village; whose peculiarities
made him enigma to most of his fellows;
whose absurdities seemed almost to outweigh
his gifts; somehow and in some way has reached
across space of many years and many leagues
Aand has helped to renew the spiritual life of
lanother humble worshiper at his shrine. 1t is
another evidence of the superiority of mind over
matter; of the spiritual the merely phys
fieal world Not long ago l made pilgrimage to
Concord. 1t was not to see the living but to feel
the spell cast over that classic village by her
dead trod her EMPOWERED street with pleasure
rendered the keener by the fact that so had they.
Their dwelling places were photographed upon
my mind because they had sheltered them. 1
ls.ood where with one hand 1 could touch the
plain brown headstone marking Thoreau's grave,
aud with the other almost reach the still lowlier
one that stands at the head Of Hawthorne's. A
stones toss brought to the yet unmarked
resting place of Emerson. Here, on a heavily
wooded knoll whose sides sloped swiftly to the
DOVER ground, sleeps Americas greatest philoso-
pher novelist and natures high priest
To these three ! came as to benefactors. With
hhem had entered into communion felt that
was in the vanguard of a mighty host Of pill
ssrims which, in the coming centuries the spirit
ual power of these men would bring to this spot.
And came away rejoicing at that dispensatiOn
of Providence which hath made US not earth
born, but heaven-born, and which grants to US,
from time to time, renewed means of attaining
a higher life.
Thoreaus greatness and service seems to me
to lie exclusively as an interpreter of nature Of
the life about him he was "a thorough, persistent
student Everything that nature offered seemed
TO him sacred Her ways were to him ways of
.pleasantness and all her paths were peace. What
insight he gained was solid, because nature was
infinite intelligence sustained by infinite will.
The society of men had far less attraction For
their opinions and prejudices he had little re-
spect With them he was abrupt ard blunt,
springing from the lack of sympathy he pos
sessed To my mind Thoreau would prove an
uncomfortable guest in circles where the fash
ferred good Indian He declined invitations to
dinner parties because there each was in every
ones way and he could not meet the individuals
to any purpose" Directing to some uses to
which certain taxes were applied he refused to
pay them and was thrown into Jail Ridicule
fell harmless upon him. Opposition he laughed
at He had supreme contempt for much that
passes for the manners and usages of society.
l.; Al. Il. II
gave him time to become the wonderful inter
prefer of nature With her he was in perfect
sympathy. Her ways and thoughts conveyed a
meaning which he held sacred. He adopted the
work Of surveying as best suited to the carrying
out of his tastes He diminished his physical
wants to gain leisure. Everything about Concord
which had life he knew and loved Every fish, bird
and plant seemed eompaaion. "What whole
some herb drinks TO be had in the swamps
now! What strong medicinal but rich scents
from the decaying leavesw
The trees were his constant delight 1t mat
tered little where he was, only so that he had
for canopy the stars, and for acarpet the green
grass. Here he became an humble student
Acknowledging no service from men, he gave to
nature credit for every blessing. Among her
flowers and grasses he reverently bent and lis
tened. The sllvery thinking of the tiny water
falls; the songs of the birds whose movements
he watched with poets eye; the ehirpng noise
of the squirrels, which eat out of his hands; the
humping of the W oodpecker the sounding of the
partridge's wing the booming of the bittern the
melodies of the W DIS playing over what were to
him eoiian harp the dropping of nuts; the rus
Ting of leaves; e cracking of the ice-bound
lake. held him lptured. Whatever pleasures
she had for his she had greater for his eve
His senses intoxicated bv her gifts Tn