New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14
4 NEW VIEW OF IHOREAU.
THE GENTLE SIDE OF THE POET
NATURALIST.
FAMILIAR LETTERS OF HENRY DAVID THO
REAU. Edited. with an Introduction ana Notes

FAMILIAR LETTERS of HENRY DAVID THO
REAG. Edited, with an INTRODUCTION and Notes
by f. H. sanborn. Houghton, Mifilin d CO.
rnerson's description OF Thorcau's personality
and ANALYSIS OF his character have been accepted
a. the evidence OF one who had unusual oppor-
tunitles for studying the Poct-Natura.is as Chan-
Ming called him. and whose judgment was espe-
cialy worthy OF credence. According TO Emerson.
rhoreau was "a Protestant Tontrance. OF
militant temperament. superior and didacuc In his
intercourse with young men who sought his coun-
sel always manly and able but rarely tender
That his controversial habit proved to be. In Emer
sons apt phrase. "a little chilling to the social
affections" IL not surprising Its effect upon those
who knew Thpreau and admired him for his inde-
pendence and courage is humorously Illustrated
nv the remark OF one OF his friends. which Emer-
son quotes: IL love Henry. but cannot Ike him;
and as for taking his arm. would as soon thinK
OF taking the arm OF an elm tree.
We, Emerson was by no means blind 10 the ex-
istence OF another and more amiable side OF his
friends character-a side which revealed Itself In
n liking for sympathy and In affection for young
people and which ordinarily lay In the background.
80 TO say. OF the more dominant traits OF mis- ma
ture IL IS this aspect OF Thoreaus personality, In
his relations with his parents, his brothers and SIS
ters and his intimate friends. that Is shown forth
IN this series Of familiar letters. Interesting and
valuable as they must prove 10 every student OF
Thoreau's life and writings. they are not likely to
alter materially the impression which his extra
ordinarily full revelation has left on the minds
of his readers Again and again In his CORE
spondence the idea recurs. like an organ point.
unon which is built tho whole complicated harmony
OF his life that he Is not for society and society
is not for him. IL want whole continent TO
breathe in" he wrote to his father and mother
from Staten Island. "and good deal OF solitude
and silence, such as all Wall Street cannot buy,
nor Broadway. with its wooden pavement" Mid
way in n etter OF Harrison Blake occurs this pas
sage II preaching. mind you to bare walls;
that is to myself and II you have CHANGED to
come In and occupy pew, do not think that my
remarks are directed at you particularly, and so
leave the seat I'm disgust. This discourse was
written long before these exciting times" In an
other letter 10 the same friend he says that he
would rather talk to his neighbor "of the bran
which, unfortunately was sifted out OF my bread
this morning" than OF the affairs Of Turkey. which
were then nlling the newspapers
The best OF these letters are those addressed to
Emerson, while the latter was abroad. and while
Thoreau was In charge OF Emerson's household.
They are Lively and Intimate In tone, are full OF
views and gossip about the members OF Emerson's
family and the and doings In the village OF
Concord. refer with affection and playfulness to
the children. and have. In word. great deal
OF the milk OF human kindness IN them. The mar
rative OF the escapade OF the bibu.ous Hugh. tho
gardener, has indeed, n comic aspect, when one
thinks OF how II must have brought Emerson. who
WAS then with Carlyle and other English philos-
ophers and poets back to the realities OF life In
Concord OF certain grim humor there Is an
ca sionaI trace In the letters. but Its expression
usually takes the form OF playfulness OF manner.
and rarely indicates the possession OF a genuine
sense OF the righteousness OF things or OF the In
congruty OF ideas.
Tho letters contain nterssttpg gumpses Of The men