The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07

No American man of letters spent SO
much time in the open air communing
with nature as Henry David Thoreau,
the poet naturalist. The ninety-ffth an
niversary Of the birth Of this eccentric
genius will be remembered next Friday
by those who love him for his freedom
of thought and action and the simpli-
city of his life.
In conduct of thought he was Emer-
sonian, and in manner of deeds he was
as independent and erratic as John
Brown and Walt Whitman. Thoreau
was well acquainted with these three
men aud greatly admired them. He pos
sessed the characteristics of each Of
> them. and yet he was vastly different
from them all He was Thoreau-a man.
No person has ever succeeded in imi-
tating him and none ever will.
Thoreau was born in Concord. Mass.
July T. 1917. His ancestors on his faith
er's side were French and his mother
was the descendant of an old English
family. While youngster Henry was
of a very serious mien and because of
his temperament his companions nick
named him Judge" Thoreau did not
delight in the games OF his fellows, but
rather preferred to wander through the
woods and drift about on the river
which flowed majestically through his
native town.
Enters Harvard University.
He entered Harvard College in 1888. and
after four years Of study, was gradu-
ated, but without distinction. He was
not very fond of study and spent much
of his time reading and taking long
walks In his senior year he became
very remiss, and II was with difficulty
a that he succeeded in being graduated.
Upon leaving college he went to Maine
with the hope of procuring a position
as teacher, but the trip was made in
vain, and he finally returned to Concord
. empty handed.
He and his elder brother John then
taught for short time in the Concord
Academy. The pedagogical position was
not congenial to the future poet natu-
ralist. and he resigned to engage in
making lead pencils under the super
vision of his father, who had been in
the business for some time. Henry. dur
ing his early years, had attained great
skill in the manufacture Of pencils. and
ii was predicted by all the neighbors
that he would make a great success or
the trade which his father was follow
ing. Young Thoreau worked diligently
upon a certain kind Of pencil. and after
perfecting IT, carried IL to the experts
at Boston, who pronounced it to be
one of the best made in the country.
After his return from Boston, a friend
asked him If he intended to remain In
the lead pencil business.
why should To- replied Thoreau. Il
certainly would not do again what 1
have done once"
At the age of twenty-one years
Thoreau began Iecturing in the Concord
Lyceum. His first lecture was on 80
tat Tha n, lad h,- k,f
strange theories and his idiosyncrasies,
and out of curiosity thronged to hear
him. AS he became better known, he
visited the neighboring cities and towns
to deliver lectures. From time to time
up to his death he lectured at the
Lyceum.
Unfortunate in Love.
tt ere was interpolated in Henrys
early life a pathetic love episode, which |
undoubtedly contributed a touch of sad
ness to the temperament of the poet !
naturalist While teaching at Concord, |
he and his brother John fell in love with /
the same girl. The maiden was Ellen |
Sewall, a granddaughter of a Mrs. Ward, |
who was a close friend of the Thoreaus !
Because of the intimacy OF the two /
families. Ellen and the two boys came |
frequently together, and a strong
friendship terminating in deep love
sprung up between them. Ellen was
seventeen years old, and was extremely
beautiful
John outwardly expressed his love for
the young girl and wooed her assiduous-
ly, but Henry nursed his love for her
in secret, and told of 1t to no one.
Finally realizing how ardently John was
In love with Ellen, Henry resigned him
self in favor of his brother. John re-
manned faithful to Ellen up to the time
Of his death some years later. 1t is
certain that however much Henry loved
the young girl, she was not attached
to him, for upon the death of John she
married a New England
clergyman. Henry's resignation meant
a great sacrifice to the young literary
man. Traces of sadness may be found
in poems written during this period.
While he makes no direct mention Of
Ellen, 1t is obvious that it is she to
whom he so often refers with a poets
sorrow.
In August, 1888, he went on a voyage
with his brother John along the Con-
cord and Merrimac Rivers for the pur-
pose OF getting greater insight into
journal of the entire trip, and from
these notes wrote his Week on the
Concord and Merrimac Rivers" which
was published ten years later. When
the book was placed upon the market
It met with but little sale. Thoreau
took 200 copies home from the publish
ers, and arranging them in his book
cases. shortly afterward remarked TO a
friend: MY. what q respectable library!
And to think that they are all Of my
,wn writing"
Lover of Open.
From his youth upward Thoreau was
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