The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-05
OBITUARY.
Amos Bronson Alcote, Founder OF the Con-
cord School of Philosophy.


Amos Bronson Alcote, Founder Of the Con-
cord School of Philosophy.
Boston, March 4--Amos Bronson Alcott
founder OF the famous Concord School of
Transee pdentai Philosophy, and author Of phil
day. at the age OF eighty eight years.
Amos Bronson Alcott was born at walcott,
Conn, Nov. g. 1859. While still boy he sailed
for Norfolk. Va. with trunk of merchandise.
which he peddled among the planters. who re-
ceived him Hospitality and loaned him books.
Returning to Connecticut. he taught infant
schools with such eminent success, skill and
sympathy as to attract attention In 1928 he
removed to Boston and opened an infant school
in Masonic Temple, which in its methods
in advance of public opinion, and was denounced
by the papers. although defended warmly by
Mr.. Emerson. Mr.. Alcott gave up the school,
moved to Concord and interested himself in
natural theology, and in educational. dietetic.
civil and social reforms. On the invitation of
Mr.. James P Greaves, the friend and fellow
laborer OF Pestalozzi, OF London, in 1872. Mr..
Alcott went to England and solicited aid to
carry out certain fantastical schemes for the
adjustment of community in America which
should keep not only the ten commandments
but the eleventh also. On his return TO Amer
lea he brought with him two English enthusi-
asts and converts to his ideas They bought
farm called Fruit Lands" at Harvard. Mass.
ard with Mr.. Acotts family and two three
others all went to Fruit Lands to found a
community. They used no animal FOODS. no
wooden goods, as such belonged to the sheep;
cotton, it was the product of slave labor;
no leather, etc. Money was vetoed; barter
to be restored The society failed. the English
men went home and the farm sold. Mr..
Alcott removed to Boston. gave up his radical
ideas of reform. and soon after, at the
solicitations of his lifelong friend. Mr..
Emerson, returned to Concord, and has since
led the life of peripatetic philosopher,
conversing in cities and villages. wherever
invited, divinity, human nature, ethics,
dietetics. and wide range of practical ques.
tons These casual meetings assumed q formal
character, and led to extended winter journeys
in the West. where he had many circles of
friends lr Alcott attached great importance
to diet and control of the body and still more to
race and complexion. His writings para
graphical, or, at the most, short essays.
Mr. Alcott had four daughters. of whom
Louisa May is a weil-known authoress. The
most popular of her works is Little Women"
(1S67l This was followed by San Old-fashioned
Girl" IN 1862 and Little Men," in 1871 Mr..
Alcott may be regarded erratc genius.
philosopher of the Pythagorean type. and, while
not great writer, great talker reformer and
philanthropist, and. the whole, one of the
most unique productions of called New Eng
land Characterization.
Mr.. Alcott travelled several seasons through
the West, holding parlor conferences in the
circles that appreciated him. His last visit
in January, 1881, whom he made stay of three
weeks in Indianapolis. making his headquarters
at Mr. Oscar c. McCullochs, but being the
guest of several families. with whom he had al
ways been welcome. His first public appear
ance here was in the lecture-room OF Plym-
outh Church. where he gave his adj
dress on Concord Authors" He gave
that evening the home life of Mr. Emerson, aud
the Genesis of the Emersonian Essay" He
said little of Hawthorne whom he evidently
did not understand or appreciate His best
things were about Emerson and Thoreau. On
Saturday, Jan. %, Mr.. Alcott addressed the
public school teachers, on Sunday he preached
to large audience at Plymouth Church,
"Immortality." and on Sunday evening he adj
tha of 70 Ia
high-school children be spoke for an hour, telling
the story of the education of his four daughters,
Louisa. Anna Amy and Elizabetn; telling how
they became writers. linguists. painters or
housekeepers, their tendencies were. He spoke
of himself the father of the Little Women
Mr. Alcott held conversations at Mr.. Sewalfs,
Mr.. Lewis Joness, and before the Woman's
Club. Indeed he held meetings made ad-
dresses morning noon aud night; sat up late;
early, talking nearly eighteen hours daily,
and enjoying excellent health, fully proving, in
his good health and robust frame, at eighty -four
years of age. the sanity of his dietec.ic views.
Mr. Alcott kept daily journal of his visit here:
the West" and contended that of all West
ern cities he enjoyed Indianapolis most
To Mr.. and Mrs. McCulIoch, who passed the
day Concord with Mr. Alcott Sept Z follow
ing. he said that he purposed visiting Indian
acolis again the coming winter. Although his
visit to Indianapolis was not financial one but
made to his friends of the Summer School
and others who wished to know him, ample
making over a thousand dollars during the trip.
with which he built himself new library In his
Concord home. Hisv to Indianapolis will not
be forgotten.
In his Fable for Critics" Mr. Lowell draws
Mr.. Aicott's literary portrait as follows:
Yonder, calm a cloud. Alcott stalks in dream,
And fancies himself in the groves, Academic,
With the Parthenon nigh and the olive tree DER him,
And a fact to perplex him or bore him.
With snug Plato's, when night comes to
walk to,
And people from morning to midnight to talk to,
And from midnight till morning in their
listening.
So ne muses. his face with the joy of it glistening
For his highest conceit of happest state is
Where they lived upon acorns, and hear him talk
gratis;
And indeed, believe, talked better;
Each sentence hangs perfectly poised to a letter;
He piling words, but there's royal dust hid
In the heart of each sky-percing pyramid.
While he talFs he is great but goes like taper
IF you shut him closely with pen ink and paper;
Yet his fingers itch for 'em from morning till night
And he thinks he does wrong if he don't always |
write;
In this as in all things a lamb among men,
He goes to death when he goes to hi pen,