New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-19
EMERSONIAN1.
,purvrscENCES OF A RELATIVE.
REMINISCENCEo Or n HbLh'
on, " p0ruh Waldo Emerson" by Dnpfd green H"'N"S'
WV u. d. Cuppiss. Uphdm Co.

"REMINISCENCES OF hELaIlFE
From Rorph Waldo Enersonr by Daeid 0ree" Ha'e"''
u. D. Cuppiss. Uphdm Co.
FMERsOY's PIOUs GRANDFATHER ~,
Still another anecdote has been presefVeu VI ~ 4,
u,skins which is worth relating Tor the glimpse IL
affords Of his home life. One day. while the ia1'ny
we're nj dinner the disery. which was separated oy
only a thrty-foot passageway from the house was
discovered TO be on fire. The large group OF children
started at once and eagerly from their places out
we're instantly checked by their father, VINO tapPng
nnon the table to command attention, revereny ouo
briefly returned thanks for the meal. saying az WIS
HE wont: The Lord be praised for this ana an MS
merciesr Thea after short pause, he addeu' No"'
boys, rum
HIS MODE OF COMPOSITION. ~
Ue explained to me his mode of composing. lie
sad that usually after breakfast he went to WAX III
the woods in pursuit of thought very much as ooy
90 out in summer catch butterflies. he was no, ho'
always successful any more than the boys were but
when successful, no boy was ever happier WIZ hi5
butterfly than he with his Thought: Having captrcu
his thought he pn pin through 10. aud TOOK nohe
and p sced it in hts collection lie eIpiaineu Inil no
made note OF his thought but. generally Only III ms
mind; and that he kept what he called a inougn /.
Rock in which he entered each thought, having hrse
worked it over and clothed 1t IN fitting garo oome-
times he would 90 again in the afternoon INTO LA uI1
woods. and there or perhaps ny the roauslus' th
find another thought which he would treat IN tne
same manner. But this was exceptional he was
satisfied ii he succeeded in securing one thought uy'
The thoughts entered after the other III the
Thought Book without regard to their connecuon
Whenever he wished to write an essay or lecture ne
made free use Of the Thought Book. selecting ana
AL.
ng them together a child strings beads on thread
Alter thi. explanation was loss to account ior
the mosaic character OF much of his writing
ITS RELIGION.
7 remember that hr expressed great admiration for
Swedenborg 1t is not improbable that he was at tna1
time engaged in writing his essay upon Swedenoorg,
which contains all and more than Ill that he sald TO
me of him. though it lacks, of course the charm wtGh
MIR Emerson's voice impaired to the spoken words.
assumed from his enthusiastic utcrances that he was
a Swedenborgian But this he would not fully allow
On nv asking him how, then, be would define ms
no.ion he answered with greater deliberateness and
lancer panses between his words than usual: am
more of Quaker than anything else. believe IN the
still SMALL voice. and that voice ia Christ within u.s.
THoREAU AND EMERSON.
Meeting Mr. Emerson one day, think IN thc summer
OF s3S, at my fathers Office III boston, ihduired'
incidentally, whether he saw much OF my ciassinate
Mr. Henry ID. Thorcau, who was then living III
Concord, and with whom had lately correspondent
think concerning school which was IN quest OF q
teacher. "Of Thoreau }" replied Mr. Emerson, Sis
face lighting MP with a smile of enthusiasm. on.
res we could not do without him. " hen Mr.. Carly
comes TO America | expect to introduce Ihoreau 10
him as the man Of Concord" | wa certainly very
greatly surprised at these words They set an estimate
upOn Thoreau which seemed 10 me. to say the eiiSt
eKtrayagant In college Mr Thorcau had made no
Great impression He f1- from being distinguished
"a scholar He was not known to have any literary
tastes was never a contributor to the eOliege
periodical, The Harvardiana u" was not tmhk
interested certainly not conspicuous IN any OF tne
literary or scientific societies of the Undergraduates
and Withal WAS of an unsocal disposition and kept
himself much aoof from his classmates At the Tame
we graduated doubt whether any OF hls acqualnt-
auces regarded hlm as giving promise oil future
| dist melton. -
But though so brief period had elapsed since ON
college DAYS remarkable rcactiOn-to use chemical
| fpure--had taken place in Thoreau. due TO his
ircouent contacts and intimate intercourse win Mr.
Emerson beginning from the very time OF his leaving
college and concerning which had previously nc
kno ledge Social prOpnquities have often much to
| do both in moulding characters and III determining
| orr dcstine- Thoreaus opportunity did not come to
him in college il was waiting ior him Ill his Own
village. go .,
| Not long after the interview with Mr.. Emerson
above referred to- happened to meet Thoreau In Mr.
Emersons study NJ Concord. think 1t was the hrst
| time we had conc together after leaving college.
was quite startled by the transformation That had
taken place in him His short figure aud general cast
OF conncuance were, of course unchanged Out III Ills
manners i'm the tones and infections OF his voice. IA
his modes of expressOn in the hesltatiOus and
pauses of his speech he had become the counterpart
al llr Emerson. MIR Thnreau's college voice bore no
resemblance 10 Mr.. EmersOns and was 50 familiar to
INV ear that could readily have identified him by 1t IN
the dark. much struck with the change, ana
with the resemblance in the respects referred to
between Mr. Emerson and Mr.. ThoIeau, that remem-
Der to have taken the opportunity they sat near
together talking, OF listening 10 their conversation
with closed eyes, and 10 have been unable 10 determine
with certainty which was speaking. IL was notable
instance OF unconscious imitation. Ncyfrtheless INA
not surpass my comprehension. do not know to
what subtle influences TO ascrlbe II. but after con-
versing with Mr. Emerson Tor even brief lime, |
ALWAYS found my self able and inclined TO adopt his
voice and manner OF speaking.