The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-27

z. 1898.
Of the noble few. Both chop logic. both ere
mon OF understanding. neither apprehends the
| being OF poet and seer: the high works OF DO
| etic genius. the marvcIs OF holiness, are beyond
| their grasp. although both are good and useful
men. They eschew belief In other than bare
and barren reasoning. which is the life OF the
eclectic nchool. and refuse oredence to all else.
There are few minds whose Vows DO not In
all respects coincide with the doctrines OF the
eclectic school. These persons have been
| named after the German Tranacendentalists.
| a name among us at this time indicative OF all
that is fanclful. Wild. and undevout These.
| therefore. are assumed as wanting In good
| sense. unworthy the name Of philosopher. and
without the Rraces Of genuine piety; they are
called Pantheists. Emerson. Hedge. Furness.
and myself are classod In this number. Thus
there now the eclectic the transcenden-
tai. the rational doctrines, each with their rep
resentatiyes: and In each spiritualism reveals
itself as the antagonist OF the sensual philoso-
phy which has so long had tho asoendancy.
The tendency Of the age Is obviously toward
spirltualism; and though our language. lit
erature. science. art. and institutions are all
tinged with the material element yet the spir-
itual Is destined to prevail"
VIII.
We cannot follow Mr.. Sanford step By step
through his biography OF Alcott. as we would
reserve somo space for Mr.. Harris's critical
estimate. We would not. however, altogether
pass over Alcott's visit to England. for which.
as he was altogether without means, the neces-
sary money was provided ~ Emerson
mainly from his own purse. On May y, 1912,
Alcott sailed for England with ten soyereigns
l.. 4. mn f.Nr
s2O on Barring Brothers. His purpose was to
confer with the most eminent educators and
philanthropists. in the hope OF exchanging
intelligence and OF i'm porting into tho United
States whatever hints had been struck out in
England on tho subject Of literature and the
first philosophy. He found but little en-
couragement, though he did meet with few
enthusiastic persons who partook OF his own
philanthropic idealism and were eager to join
his private efforts at social reform. Carlyle
and he proved antipathetic. In a letter
written Mt the time he SAYS: Rode to Chelsea
and passed an hour with Carlyle All, mel Saul
among the prophets! 1t must have been a
dark hour with linn. He seemed Inpatient OF
int.rruntion faitblase ouite IN all social re
,u'efrup.loh' iai'niess qul''' III MI soe", 10
his very merriment had madness in It: his hui
NOR was tragic even to tears There lay
ton. n Cromwellian rebellion: nor could the
rich meiiowness OF his voice; deepened as It
was and made more musical by his broad
northern accent. hide from me the restless
decease OF all prophecy in the grave OF history.
thar tha LIVING hrs.tbad on,v with tha living
The me ia .ict. hs ne.ds rest' know his
ailnent: I know its cure Emerson will sad.
don vben Won tail him what 7 write. hut hare
that suicide by the pen in which literature
ahounds Iwill not tnrn IN INV hee, n 500 nm.
other man and the women are tragic all MRS.
Carlyle. Mrs. Fox. &cl; these doleful daugh-
ters OF Britain. they mourn even in their Joys"
Again. on Aug. 2 he writes: Il have seen
CARLYLE once more: but we auarrelled outright
ana l shaii not see MN again. Hreathess
abides not here; her home Is In the clouds
i, the groves OF Concord. Although Car.
which was OWL enough o he hardly t, ,ed
with oiv,l,tv IN their actual interconrse and
Emerson was greatly disappointed thereat. The
latter had specially commended Aicott to Car.
you" Carlyle. replied with a characteristic |
Of Sterling departure came Acott. some, two
these shores. He has been twice here at con- |
length: the second time all night. |
He is genial innocent, simple-hearted man. |
Of much natural intelligence and goodness.
with IN air OF rusticity. veracity. and dignity |
withai which IN many ways appeal to one. The |
good Alcott! with his long. lean face and figure.
with hie gray worn temples and mild radiant |
to ,acorns ana the golden age he comes |
before ono like venerable Don Quixote,
whom nobody can laugh at without loving"
mere was story current at the time.
which certainly had some foundation. that. as
nns districts OF LONDON: where material wealth
displayed; he broke out: DO We see this
mon n r,, ms ms Stooo LOT tn9usanu years
Potato GOSPEL have gone to the dogs" In his
reply to Carlyle. Emerson said; .Alcott is a
Erehl man anu Wps maze LOT Wnae IL greateI;