Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-08-27

uib VI my remaining tne enJlT6
course; but heard the week ON Plato intro
duced by an amusing bit of by-play. A
Bostonan smiled down upon a western
sister, saying, 81 suppose you are not well
acquainted with Plato,n
The answer came with entire simplicity.
"a friend and have been studying him q
good deal for the last six years"
"ln translation of course urged the Bos-
tonian"
ooh, no, always in the original" was the
reply. CONSERVATION and hasty retreat
Well, the week on Plato is ended, and l
hear from friend that she got a few clear
conceptions, though on the whole, she is still
vague as to the oneness of nothingness and
the finitencss of infnity. She thinks she
sees that what is isn't and what isn't be-
comes, but is not wholly convinced that "the
mind is always Using or thinging things"
One lecturer said these uitdi points were, at
first, a little obscure, and the audience
actually had enough sense left to greet the
assertion with roars of laughter.
But all work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy; so to relieve the phiosophic mind
there are occasional picnics and receptions
One breezy metaphysician, of the feminine
gender, though quite unknown to everybody,
gushngly invited all the students to her
the lecturers and some of the people of Con-
cord. She declared her intention beforehand
of making her lat homes complete success"
! When the multitude was assembled in her
diminutive apartments she asked two of the
School of Philosophy speakers if they had
anything to say. Naturally, they had not.
| The courtesy was returned-"have you moth
| ing to give us yourselfi" The fair hostess
! proved to be poet who had been doomed to
sing unheard. Here was her opportunity.
She breathed out her Utmost soul One of
the deepest thoughts was
"Oh. rose, love thee
Fair rose / love thee stilll"
There was no appearance of affectation or
concet, the abnormal sentimentalism was
wholly sincere. She had come a long distance
she said. to throw herself at the feet of
one lecturer-one of the masculine gender
naturally.
Concord and its inhabitants are the chief
glory of the School of Philosophy. Among
pleasant experiences was IA delightful informal
reception at Mr. and Mrs Hoar's, and several
happy meetings with Louise Alcott Con-
versation with the charming wife of Frank
B. Sanborn made me doubly sorry in missing
his lectures
Miss Acott calls herself, in referring TO her
fathers protige, the School of Philosophy,
IA naughty outsider The description APP
plies to most Concord people. The doctrine
of the Hillside chapel is not food to their souls.
1t is exceptional to see an "old inhabitant
present. They smile good naturally at the
whole venture. and, with patronizing tone,
foretell its decease from season to season.
What has kept it alive is to them and to
many others mystery.
But to return to Miss Alcott; she is O
woman given TO practical effort and really
has no leisure to devote to frutless theorizing
She talks exactly like her books, and is just
as frank, Just as charming rs they. She has
a keen sense of humor and recognizes the
cant of the "isns" heard her graphically
describe a community her father once started
1t was more thorough going than Brook
Far1n-no compromise there with degenerate
humanity The wearing of linen was theil
supreme doctrine: no other material fol
clothes was permitted. One disciple declared
nudity was the chief necessity, and would
have ridden his naked hobby but for the re
monstrances of good Mrs. Alcott At las
this son of Adam adopted fig leaf, in shape o.
linen sheet. with hole in the center FOL
his head to slip through In thi
meagre attire he wandered away over thu
hills into the forest primeval. He fed OF
and brought home insensible at the end o
three days. Another disciple thought cooked
food the root of all evil, and ate his potatoes
beans and peas raw. Another joyous mem
Der believed Juliet's philosophy whats in
name,n and used to say damn YOU for 600
bless you" holding that as he was known t,
be a man running over with the milk o
human kindness a curse from him was tende
greeting Still another festive gentleman
there was who claimed the right to d.
Just what he felt like at any given mo
ment Often at the midnight hour littl
Louise was awakened by the shrieks an,
bowls of this aspiring soul He would roll Oh
the floor, making melody the while, the ex
PLANTATION being: II feel like it." But through
the fiery furnace Louise Alcott passed WI
scathed She is a brave, common sens
woman, who quite singlehanded has wo
an honored name in American literature
Her fineness of feeling and good judgmen
came out strongly upon one point. A well
; intentioned but unwise person persuaded MI
; Alcott to go to the school one morning
Miss Alcott opposed this until opposition wa
frutless / shall never forget the womanl
tenderness the injured pride in her tone, a
she said in referring TO the occurrence,
dislike exhibitions Of infirmity.' AS W
parted from Miss Alcott she said, Get u
school of the philanthropies andIll join"
HARRIor STANTON BLATCH.