The Thoreau Society Bulletin

8 Pages·1991·0.68 MB·English

The
THOREAU SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Number 197 ISSN 0040-6406 Autumn 1991
On Thoreau's Delivery of "Cape
[Saturday Courant, 9 November 1850, 3:]
Cod" in Clinton
Bigelow Mechanics' Institute.
TWELVE LECTURES on Miscellaneous Subjects,
and ofa general interestwill be delivered in
[Editor's Note: Wehave longknown thatThoreau CLINTON HALLonWednesday evenings ofthe
delivered alecture on "Cape Cod" before the months ofNovember, December, January and
Bigelow Mechanics' Institute in Clinton, February. The first willbe given
Massachusetts, onWednesday evening, 1 On November 13th, by
January 1851. We have also known that Rev. RALPHWALDO EMERSON.
Franklin Forbes, Chairman ofthe Institute's Arrangements are made, or making, with
Committee on Lectures, wrote toThoreau on 14 HORACE GREELEY, Esq., Prof. E. S. SNELL,
November 1850 invitinghim to deliver "Cape Rev. BARNAS SEARS, E. P. WHIPPLE, Esq., Rev.
Cod" in Clinton and thatThoreau wrote thenext WM. WARE, Rev. HENRYWARD BEECHER, WM.
day accepting the invitation (see Correspondence, A DREW, Esq., and Hon L. V. BELL.
267-68). Butwe have knownlittle else about the Tickets to the whole, $1,00 for a gentleman,
lecture, its context, orhowit was received. The and 75 cents for a lady. Admission to a single
following extracts from the Clinton Saturday lecture, 12V2 cts. Tickets canbe obtained of
Courantwill help fill in the picture.] Ballard & Messinger, J. W. Caldwell, and at the
CountingRooms ofthe Quilt Co., Clinton Co.,
and the Lancaster Mills.
[Saturday Courant, 9 November 1850, 2:] FRANKLIN FORBES, Committee
BIGELOWMECHANICS' INSTITUTE.—The C. N. BLANCHARD, on
course ofLecturesbefore the Bigelow Mechanics' A. J. SAWYER, Lectures.
Institute the comingWinter, promises tobe ofa Clinton, Nov. 9, 1850.
most interesting and popular character. By the
notices issued in ouradvertisingcolumns, itwill [Saturday Courant, 16 November 1850, 2:]
be seen that RALPH WALDO EMERSON is to give B. M. INSTITUTE LECTURES.—Last
the first Lecture, onWednesday eveningnext, at Wednesday evening, Rev. RALPH WALDO
Clinton Hall, and that Horace Greeley, Esq., Prof. EMERSON gave a lecture onWealth, before the
—
E.S. Snell, Rev. Barnas Sears, E. P. Whipple, B.M. Institute the first ofa series oftwelve
Esq., Rev. Wm. Ware, Rev. HenryWard Beecher, which are tobe delivered during the present
and others, are announced as already orpartly seasonby different distinguished gentlemen.
engaged, to follow. The announcement ofsuch Like all Mr. Emerson's efforts this was mainly
an array oftalent cannot fail to make these indebted for its interest to his peculiar mode of
Lectures even more popular than those ofthe last grouping thoughts and images illustrative ofhis
—
Winter, and the Committeewho have charge of subject, another "chip" from theblock at which
this department ofthe affairs ofthe Institute he has so longbeen hacking to prove himselfa
deservehigh commendation for the course they Solon inwisdom and a Cruikshank in art.
have thus marked out for the pleasure and profit These qualities, which hepossesses in an
ofthe public. Clinton Hall will hold a large eminent degree, are not a little marred by the
number ofpersons, but we are greatly mistaken halting, and shuffling, and stumbling manner in
ifitbe found any too large for the which he presents them to his audience. Were it
—
accommodation ofall thosewho will desire to otherwise, had he the pleasing manner and port
attend. An early application for tickets for the ofthe accomplished orator, no man wouldbe
whole course is thebest and only surety of found in our land with greater ability to please
hearingany ofthem. Forparticulars see and fascinate his hearers, even though he should
advertisement. confine himselfto the philosophic truisms of
Thoreau SocietyBulletin
Benj Franklin, withwhich anAmerican audience masses, thereby enabling all to partake ofthe
.
cannot fail to be familiar. bounties which nature and art can produce, his
NextTuesday eveningwe are to have a anecdote ofisolated effort in the pursuit and
—
lecture from HORACE GREELEY, Esq., editor of triumphant acquisition ofknowledge one ofthe
— —
the NewYorkTribune, another "man ofnote," most ennoblingpursuits, would havebeen
but ofquite a different stamp. Mr. Greeley is a rememberedwithoutbringing to mind the
—
man ofthepeople a hard and efficient worker in shattered fabric which he first presented, and it
the fields and amongst the hedges and ditches destroyed. He averred that Banks, Incorporated
neglected orused for convenience, by the old Companies ofeverykind, Colleges and Common
style statesmen and orators ofpast and present Schools, were all advances from a state ofsavage
times. His name needs but to be announced for barbarity along the road leading to complete
a lecture to insure a crowd oflisteners, and we Socialism; andyet he commended the course
need not add that somethingis sure to fall from pursued by onewho left the haunts ofmen,
his lips worth the attention and time ofthe scorned the advantages ofschools and colleges,
listener. and with a fewbooks took up his residence in the
wilderness and there pursued thework of
[Editor's Note: Since Emerson lectured in education, andwith success.
Clinton on 13 November 1850 and Forbeswrote
toThoreau the next day, we can assume that [Editor's Note: For an extract ofGreeley's
Forbes invitedThoreau to deliver "Cape Cod" "SelfCulture" lecture, an extractwhich contains
after talkingwith Emerson, who had heard the passages aboutThoreau's experiment at
Thoreau deliver "Cape Cod" before the Concord Walden Pond, see TheRose ofSharon: AReligious
Lyceum on 23 and 30 January 1850. In early Souvenir,forMDCCCCLVII, ed. Mrs. Caroline
February 1850, Emersonhad told the Lyceum M. Sawyer (Boston, 1857), 65-73; rpt. in Critical
Committee In South Danvers that the "Concord Essays onHenryDavid Thoreau's Walden, ed.
peoplelaughed till they cried" when they heard Joel Myerson (Boston, 1988), 47-50.]
Thoreau deliver "Cape Cod" {Correspondence,
255). No doubt Emerson had given Forbes a [Saturday Courant, 21 December 1850, 2:]
similarreport about the lecture.] INSTITUTE LECTURES.—Prof. SNELL's
Lecture onArchitecture lastWednesday evening,
[Saturday Courant, 23 November 1850, 2:] was not so well attended as it should havebeen.
The lecturebefore the B.M. Institute last Abetterknowledge ofthemost prominent
Tuesday evening, by Hon. HORACE GREELEY, edifices which now adorn England and the
was wellworth the attention ofhis audience, and Continent could notbe obtained without a
was so acknowledged by an undeminish—ed [sic] personal visit, and the time will not, probably,
interest evinced from beginning to end, the soon recurwhen a like amount ofinstruction and
whole time occupied by the speakerbeingbut pleasure can be so cheaply obtained.
little short oftwo hours. His lecture was upon The next Lecture will take place one week
—
SelfCulture, a theme which has received the from next Wednesday, andbe givenby Mr.
attention and deep thought ofmany ofthe THOREAUX [sic], the type ofMr. Greeley's
popular lecturers ofthe day, but we doubt ifthe isolated education.
subject has everbeen handled with a sterner
purpose to reveal the truth, orwith greater [Saturday Courant, 4January 1851, 2:]
success in makingits various phases appear INSTITUTE LECTURES.—The lecture on
interesting. Had he not prefaced his lecture with Wednesday eveninglast by Mr. THOREAU, was
an exposition ofhis Socialist opinions, occupying one ofthose intellectual efforts which serve to
some forty minutes ofthe two hours he wile away anhourverypleasantly, butwhich
consumed in the lecture and preface combined, leavelittle ornothing impressed upon the
our recollection ofthe performancewould not memory ofreal value. The subjectwas "Cape
havebeen marred by the fact that one ofhis Cod." A description ofa walk upon the sea
—
illustrations, provingthe power ofthought the shore, with reflections upon shipwrecks and their
exercise ofthe thinking faculties, rather than the effects upon the inhabitants in a certain case,
—
mere acquisition ofothermen's thoughts, to be with anecdotes, and a fewhistorical
wwihealtdmaankiensflmueenncegroevaetr,tehneidr[fseicl]loewnsa,b—lewsetrhepeematt,o remiTnhiescneenxctesl,ecmtaurdeewiulpl btehegbivuernthbeynToHfOhiMsAsStory.
had he not presented his Socialist ideas, proving DREW, Esq., assistant editor ofthe Spy.
the best interests ofmen to be in the Subject, the "Influence oftheMechanicArts upon
consolidation, or grouping together oflarge Civilization."
Number 197, Autumn 1991
[Saturday Courant, 11 January 1851, 2:] brought out the first ofa series of
INSTITUTE LECTURES.—The lecturebefore supplementaryvolumes. Ifanything, it is
the B. M. Institute lastWednesday evening, by even more carefully edited than Rusk.
Thomas Drew, Esq., is consideredby many as Between the new texts and the annotations, a
about thebestlecture ofthe course thus far wealth ofnewinformation is brought to light.
delivered,—totally obscuring the fine-spun Most important are the manynewletters to
theories ofEmerson and placing "Cape Cod" Mary Moody Emerson and Caroline Sturgis.
amongst those "trifles, light as air," which serve Although there are no newletters in the
to amuse, butnot instruct, the listener. . . . Thoreau-Emerson correspondence, there are
manycorrections and re-datings ofthe
knownletters. NoThoreau student shouldbe
without this volume. The longintroduction
has much to say about the period. It
"No pages in my Journal incidentally gives a newversion ofthe
beginning oftheir friendship: that Emerson
are so suggestive as those
gaveThoreau a series ticket to his 1837-8
which contain a rude sketch.' Boston lectures, and thenwhenhe learned
26 April 1857 Thoreau was walking the 34 miles to Boston
andback to hear them, invited him to hear
them at Emerson's home instead. The lack of
an indexto this volume is a serious
handicap, butwe assume this will be
remedied with a general indexat the end of
the series.
3 April 1858 Feigenbaum, Enid. "AllWet atWalden: A
Villanelle." The Voice ofWalden 32 (Summer
1991): 3.
Garber, Frederick. Thoreau's Fable ofInscribing.
Princeton: Princeton UP, 1991. 226 pp. $35.
Garber's newThoreau volume is devoted to
exploringwhat he believes to be one of
Additions to the Thoreau Thoreau's major themes: how one gets to be
Bibliography at home in theworld. It is a difficultbook.
Indeed, Garber himselfasks if"our language
Walter Harding is not an adequate instrument to askwhat we
want to know." At times we thinkhe tends to
find more inThoreau's prose thanThoreau
Baida, Peter. Thoreau's Success Book" in Poor himselfintended (though that maywell be
Richard'sLegacy:AmericanBusiness Values due to our own insufficiency). On the other
fromBenjaminFranklin toDonaldTrump. hand, he often gives us new insights into
NewYork: Morrow, 1990. 92-98. OnWalden. Thoreau's thought, such as his relationships
Beam, Alex. "Regarding Henry." Boston Globe. withTherien, Rice, andJohn Field. Not an
8 August 1991. Adiatribe againstThoreau. easybook, but one that can stimulate new
Boudreau, Gordon. TheRoots ofWalden. thought onThoreau.
Review. AmericanLiterature. June 1991. Gunn, JanetVarner. "Waldenand theTemporal
Dempsey, James. "Dialing fora Higher Calling Mode ofAutobiographical Narrative." In
and Beamingin onThoreau." Worcester Albert Stone, ed., AmericanAutobiography.
Telegram Gazette. 28 August 1991. Reply to Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. 1981. 80-
Beam, above. 94.
Emerson, RalphWaldo. TheLetters of. Edited Harding, Walter. Thoreau's Sexuality." Journal
by Eleanor M. Tilton. Vol. 7: 1807-1844. ofHomosexuality 21 (1991): 23-45. While
NewYork: Columbia University Press. 1990. there is a pronounced vein ofhomoeroticism
623 pp. One ofthe great monuments of inThoreau's outlook, no evidence has been
American literary scholarship is Ralph Rusk's found ofany active homosexuality on his
1939 six-volume edition ofEmerson's letters, part. (So long as the supplylasts, I will be
edited impeccably and with superb happy to send a copy ofthis article to anyone
annotations. It is a central reference book for who sends me a self-addressed, stamped
all students ofthe period. NowTilton has [$0.52] envelope. See address below.)
Thoreau Society Bulletin
Henley, Don and Dave Marsh, eds. HeavenIs OnThomas Blanding's interest inThoreau.
UnderOurFeet. Stamford, CT: Longmeadow Neufeldt, Leonard. The Economist. Reviews:
Press, 1991. 292 pp. $18.95. For those of Journal ofEnglish and GermanicPhilology,
you who care about conservation in general January 1991; ModernPhilology, May 1991.
and Walden Pond in particular, this is the Palches, Lois. "The Impact Madeby Henry
book foryou. Don Henley, the recording Thoreau." ConcordJournal. 20 June 1991.
artist, came to the rescue whenhe learned Peck, Daniel. Thoreau's Morning Work. Review:
WaldenWoods was being endangered by real- New England Quarterly, June 1991.
estate developers and formed the Walden Sattelmeyer, Robert. Thoreau'sReading.
Woods Project to raise funds. He and Marsh Review: Journal ofAmerican Studies, April
have persuaded sixty or so famed people, 1990.
ranging from President Carter, Edward Sherwood, Mary P. "Setting the Record Straight
Kennedy, E. L. Doctorow, Jesse Jackson, about Hiking atWalden." ConcordJournal. 4
Bette Midler, James Michener, Gregory Peck, July 1991.
Meryl Streep, Arlo Guthrie, Whoopi Goldberg, Struthers, Anne. "Alcott's Axe." HudsonReview
Cesar Chavez, KurtVonnegut, to Wallace 43 (Spring 1990): 66. Poem.
Stegner each to write a short essay on the Thoreau, Henry D. Walden. Trans, into Czech
rape ofWaldenWoods. And what a great byZdenek Franta. Prague: Laichter, 1902.
book it makes! It is one ofthosebooks you . The Same. Trans, into Czech by Milos
will want to keep byyourbedside and dip Seifert. Prague: B. Z. Nekovarik, 1924.
into each night. Read them all, but he sure . The Same. Trans, into Czech by Milos
not to miss the ones by Henleyhimself, Seifert. Prague and Bratislava: J. Otto, 1933.
Kennedy, Redford, Jackson, and Ed The Same. Trans, into Czech by Zdenek
.
Schofield's lead-offessay, which sets the tone Franta. Prague: J. Laichter, 1949.
ofthe whole book. All profits from thebook The Same. Trans, into CzechbyJosef
.
go to the WaldenWoods Project. Schwarz. Prague: Odeon, 1991. We are
. The Same. Review. ConcordJournal 5 indebted to Frantisek Kozisek for this list of
September 1991. the Czech translations of Walden.
Holcomb, Blithe C. "When Home Is a Historic Usher, Jim. "Students Camp to Beat ofDifferent
Town." Christian ScienceMonitor. 3 July Drummer." Arab [Alabama] Tribune. 29 May
1991. Thoreau's impact on a Concordian. 1991. High-school students fromAlabama
Johnson, William C, Jr. What Thoreau Said: make a pilgrimage to Walden Pond.
Walden and the Unsayable. Moscow: U of WaldenWoods Project. Walden Woods: Cradle of
Idaho Press, 1991. 172 pp. An analysis of American Conservation. Boston 1991. A
Waldenin the light ofthe critical theories of large, detailed map oftheWaldenWoods
SamuelTaylor Coleridge and Owen Barfield, area.
and with comparisons to theworks of Zaroulis, Nancy. Massachusetts:A Novel. New
Franklin and Kierkegaard. I find therein a York: Fawcett Columbine, 1991. 709 pp.
good discussion ofThoreau's use ofthe first- $19.95. Ablockbusting, multi-generational
person technique. An analysis ofthe "triadic" novel tracing a Massachusetts family from
structure of Walden I find unconvincing. Too the Mayflower to today. One ofits central
much ofhis argument depends upon puns characters visitsThoreau both at Walden and
that I am not at all certainThoreau ever injail. The novel ends in a present-dayrally
intended, even though he was an inveterate to save theWaldenWoods. Many ofthe
punster. To useJohnson's ownwords (quite Walden sections paraphraseThoreau's own
unfairly, perhaps), I find myself"gettinglost writings. Much ofthe book's plot centers
in the at times abstruse concerns of around the conflicts between the Irish and
criticism." And I am astonished that after Boston bluebloods. Areal gripper ofa novel,
going into deep analysis ofthe rest ofthe
book, Johnso—n completelyignores the I am indebted to the following for information
"Conclusion" to my mind, one ofthe most sent in for this bibliography: L. Beaulieu, J.
R
significant chapters. Burger, W. Bottorff, R. Galvin. Hamilton, E.
K
Kihara, Buicho. "Henry DavidThoreau: Living Johnson, Kasegawa, D. Ledbetter, W. Mott, M.
His OwnWay." In Lives ofGreatMen: Second Mould, W. Olsen, R. Poland, E. Schofield, E.
Series. Tokyo: Shincho-sha, 1991. 9-30. Smith, C. Tweedy, F. Yoos, and A. Zwinger.
Text inJapanese. Please keep me informed ofitems I have missed
Negri, Gloria. "Leading a Life ofQuiet and new ones as they appear. Walter Harding,
Emulation." Boston Globe. 21 May 1991. 19 Oak Street, Geneseo, NY 14454.
Number 197, Autumn 1991
A Reminiscence of Emerson Ware's, and Mother neverwearied inlisteningto
their pure conception ofChrist's characterand
and Thoreau teachings, which Charming &Ware exemplified in
Steven R. SheWurne theirlives—parnobile fratrinis. Once or twice a
week I used to go, after schoolhours, to Mr
[Editor's Note: The followingparagraph appears Emerson's to splitkindlingwood for the Cook
In a holographletterwritten about 1883 by David who used to complain to Mrs Emerson that
Edwards Tenney, who was at the time an inmate "Henrywasn[']tworthhis porridge to do the
ofthe Massachusetts State Prison in Cambridge. chores." The s—aid "Henry" was that classic
The letter, written to George Hayward ofConcord, Genius, H.D.T . who was tarrying for a season
Massachusetts, was originally ten pages long (five with the "Magnus Apollo" thathemight,
leaves ofverycloselywritten pencil text), but the peradventure, imbibe somewhat ofthe
first leafis missing. Sherburne's mother Emersonian afflatus: He was popularly supposed,
purchased the fourleaves as part ofalot at an bythehousehold, to be their "fac totum," but he
antique-furniture auction in early 1989. She shamefullyneglected his duties, as that
gave theleaves to him, and he in turn placed household tyrrant [sic], the Cook declared! hence,
them onloan in the Concord Free Public Library. Iwas called in to relieve the embryo philosopher
Your editor is solelyresponsible for the ofhis onerous duties: this was before hewent
transcript.] into voluntary exile, and set up housekeeping on
his ownhook, atWalden Pond, where no
Myreference to Emersonrecalls personal unphilosophic Cook could "molest" him ormake
rNeomifnaciescwehncoemsIoflohoikmedwuhpeonnIilnivmedyiynouCtohn,coorudt.side horimbraoformasitdiocfk:aTYhaonrkeeaeugiarll'wsayupsbrreamiidnidngstmoengoufethe
ofmy own family, is so photographed, so to oldAthenian cynic; I call him ourYankee
speak, on my mind as is the expressive Diogenes: I ver[il]ybelieve that StephenA[.]
philosophic face ofAmerica's greatest thinker. Douglas got his famous SquatterSovereigntyidea
His countenance alwaysbeamedwithwhat I from the Concord peripatetic philosopher! I
should call a sedate smile: Therewas thinka Manwho canramble amongthe Sand-
benevolence, and an indescribable somethingin hills ofCape Cod andwrite an interestingbook
that smilewhichwas peculiar to him alone. He thereon is arare Genius: I feel grateful to this
was the gentlest and most amiable ofmen, such eccentricbut kindly-hearted man formanylittle
as nonebut a truephilosopher couldbe. My favors in myboyhood.
good motherused to assist Mrs Emerson inher
sewing and she saw much ofMr Emerson and
entertained profound reverence for his character,
regardless ofhis transcendentalism, or any
other ism; She, good soul, believed Mr Emerson
was a perfect Christian in his character, and I
thinkmy Motherwas right in her appreciation of 20 March 1858
him; He was indeed a Christian, butwithout a
"creed." He has been indiscriminatelycriticized
by "professing" Christians since his death, but he
was one ofthepurest and noblest products of I Discover Thoreau
our civilization, amicus human! generis: "For
Craig R. Kesler
modes offaith, let graceless bigots fight, his can't
bewrong, whose life is in theright." You are
right, Pope, and by this criterion Emersonwas a I metThoreau in the 60s, in the Midwest, thanks
my
Christian, though he maynot have subscribed to to English teacher, Mrs. Gingrich. Frankly,
any sectarian "dogmas" formulatedby until senior high, I'd never heard ofthe man. I
beeccnleefsaicatsotrisc,alfsorynhoedsg.aveI rmeygagrodohdiMmoatsheornethoefmy rWeaalddeWnalwdheilnea"nCdivi"lCiDviilsoDbiesdoibeendciee"nclee,ft"mliekicnogld.
priviledge [sic] ofselectingbooks from his library Sometime during that reading a small seed
forme to read, and itwas one ofmy constant was planted; strong, hardy, and patient: In
habits to read thesebooks aloud to my Mother as Waldenwere subtle pearls and a story for me. I
she sat at herwork evenings. She it was who read it, passed a quiz, and moved on, maybe
selected "pieces" for me to memorize for school to The ScarletLetter, TheIliad, or Romeo and
declamation: Mr Emersonpresented my Mother Juliet; it's hard to remember.
with all ofDr Channing's writings and ofHenry I had a remedial course at Colgate University,
Thoreau SocietyBulletin
greatly expanded to include most ofThoreau's involved with, not in terms ofescape, but in
majorworks. I passed another quiz, did well on terms ofreform, and particularity ofreform of
the final, and again moved on. I was always in a oneself."
hurry, with things to accomplish. When Waldenarrived, I read it with a level of
I located inAtlanta, eager, anxious, and passion and interest I have never experienced.
ready to succeed. My "bean-field" became The more I read, the greaterbecame mybenefit
marketing and advertising. And for 15years I and focus. Finally, it all made so much sense.
tended the dollar and watched myharvests come And itwas so straight-forward: "simplify,
in: a larger home, German car, Baker furniture, a simplify, simplify." The seed planted almost 25
Rolex, and another more exotic vacation. In time, years before sprouted and began to take root. It
I even came to own an island retreat offthe coast was likeThoreau's strongand beautiful bug at
ofExuma Bahamas. I was on—a merry-go-round, last released from the old table ofapple-tree
a whirl-wind, in the fast lane almost literally wood.
exhumingmy own bodybefore I had died. Six- Since the arrival of Walden, I continue to
dayworkweeks, 16-hour days, several offices, read and studyThoreau. And I hope to complete
too many employees, a daughterwho didn't really my master's degree. I have studied over 50
know me, awifewho no longerliked me, and one books by or aboutThoreau. He and I are best
divorcelater, my accomplishmentsjust didn't friends. I have enhanced my understanding and
seem to add up. I leftAtlanta and relocated to have traveled many absorbingroutes. Daily, I
Virginia to make some changes. openThoreau's Journaland disappear to saunter
Mynewbusiness was a fresh challenge in a outside the walls in snow-filledwoods, paddle
newniche ofmarketing. I thought I had around the pond in search ofthe loon, orwatch
simplified mylife. From my previous business and mourn the loss ofanother "noble tree that
environment inAtlantawith a large computer, once waved in solitarymajesty over the
trucks with mynameprominently displayed on sproutland."
the side, and multi-million-dollar sales, I Ironically, my days are far too short. They
adjusted mywork down to a "shop" with a small are productive, profitable, and exhilarating. I'm
number oftalented people, a PC, a handful of very fortunate finally to understand and live like
—
word processors, and a faxmachine all in all, Thoreau.
just a smallerversion ofthe priorproblem, run "As long as possible live free and
by the same man with similar goals and drives. uncommitted. It makes little difference whether
Over theyears, I continued to read Thoreau, you are committed to a farm or the countyjail."
mostly Walden. It was often mybedside reader, Few might understand howvery profound those
likeThoreau's Iliad. I read it, but didn't absorb two sentences from Waldenare. I'm grateful I
it. Certainly I didn't liveby it. I was still dancing do. My horizons are nowbroader and more
to the drummer ofTiffanys, Mark Cross, BMW, promising than everbefore. "Though the view
and Neiman Marcus. from my doorwas more contracted, I did not feel
I never chose to live deliberately; I was forced crowded or confined in the least. There was
to. The merry-go-round spun faster, thewhirl- pasture enough for my imagination."
wind became ablur, the fast lane ran out ofgas. As though to underscore my newlife, my
I made several bad business decisions, and some existence here, or myvocation, Thoreau said,
key clients went out ofbusiness. My enterprise "With a little more deliberation in the choice of
faltered, then collasped. I was financially ruined. theirpursuits, all men would perhaps become
Then Iwent to prison. essentially students and observers, for certainly
Thoreau spent one night inhis "hollow their nature and destiny are interesting to all
apartment"; I have already spent over 500. I alike." And also, "Myresidence was more
wish I could ask my friends: "Why areyou not favorable, not only to thought, but to serious
here?" But that is as unrealistic as to think my reading than a university." Here my mind has to
periodicjournal entries would one daybe readby compete with the cacophony offar too many
the descendants ofGhandi orTolstoy. radios andTVs, and enough voicepollution to
Once settled in my steel-and-concrete 6x8- subdue a dozen frat parties. But I succeed
foot "inkstand," I requested the privilege ofa easily.
singlebook, one that Walter Harding said in his Periodically, I review why I was in such
Variorum Waldencould be read for avariety of "desperate haste to succeed, and in such
themes from travel to the good life. Itwas the desperate enterprises." And I continue to put
onebook I knewwouldbe a good companion, no more distance between what is past and what will
matter how many times I read it. I could find now continue to be. And I make more new
enjoyment in it, or it could be "abook to become discoveries withThoreau.
Number 197, Autumn 1991
Thoreau Society Sessions at the colorful patchwork quilt fashionedby the
MLA differentbackrounds ofourvisitors.
1991 Convention
During this summer's Jubilee, wewere
particularlyglad to welcome, among others,
Eachyear theThoreau Society sponsors two travelers from China, Japan, and Russia. Their
sessions atthe Modern LanguageAssociation's presencereminded me ofsome unexpected
convention. This year's Society-sponsored MLA events that have taken place at 156 Belknap
sessions will beheld on Friday, 27 December, in Street.
the San Francisco Hilton Hotel's Continental Several years ago as Iwas preparing to close
Ballroom, Parlor 7. The sessions are open only to the Lyceum on a gray, rather unattractive
members ofthe MLA. Novemberafternoon, a taxi stopped at the front
Joel Myersonwill preside over the first door. Out ofit stepped an elderly gentleman in a
session, whichwill be held from 3:30 to 4:45 whiterobe with steel-rimmed spectacles on his
p.m. and is titled "Emerson's FZssays: A nose and sandals onhis feet. He introduced
Sesquicentennial Celebration." The following himselfas a friend ofMahatma Gandhi who, he
panelists will speak at the session: Alfred G. said, had always planned a pilgrimage to
Litton, "TheVirtue ofthe Senses': Emerson's Concord, which this visitorwas nowmakingin
Epistemology and the Southin 'Prudence"'; Gandhi's honor.
Armida Gilbert, "The Soul Is Light': Emerson's On anotherfall day I went down to Walden to
Anticipation ofthe NewPhysics"; Alan D. Hodder, see howlong itwould take avisitor to walk
"'Self-Reliance' and the Rhetoric ofConversation"; briskly from the street to the site ofThoreau's
and Philip Gura as respondent. house (the things a curator is asked!). When I
Michael Meyerwill preside over the second startedback, itwas getting quite darkand not a
session, whichwillbe held from 5:15 to 6:30 soulwas in sight. Suddenly, from the woods
p.m. and is titled "AFiftieth Anniversary came the sound ofa flute; someone was playing
Celebration oftheThoreau Society." The Debussy's Afternoon ofaFaun. I never saw the
followingpanelists will speak at the session: player; I neverknewhis name; but in my mind I
Lawrence Buell, "Thoreau in the Society of often thankhim for that perfect moment.
Thoreauvians"; Richard J. Schneider, "An The world does indeed come to Concord.
Overview ofthe ForthcomingApproaches to
TeachingThoreau"; and Michael West,
"RecoveringThoreau's Humor for the Classroom."
&
Notes Queries
TheThoreau Jubilee brought forth a great
deal ofpublicity, including articles in the
followingpapers: Boston Globe, 7 and 20 July
1991; ConcordJournal, 20 June and 25July
1991; New YorkTimes, 14 July 1991; Scituate
Mariner, 4 July 1991; Woonsocket [R.I.] Call, 9
July 1991; [Worcester] CatholicFreePress, 19
July 1991; and WorcesterTelegram Gazette, 3, 9,
11, and 24 July 1991.
There has been quite a furor atWalden Pond
24 November 1857 this summerbecause someone has beenposting
on the trees there official looking signs saying
that nude bathing therewas nowpermitted.
Reservation officials denied the validity ofthe
Lyceum Curator's Corner signs. Protest letters were written to the
Anne McGrath newspapers. Thepolice announced that ifthey
could find the offender, theywould fine him or
her a hundred dollars per sign posted. It
The World Comes to Concord reminds us oftwo facts: HenryThoreau would be
Visitors to theThoreau Lyceum are encouraged in trouble ifhe cameback now, for he invariably
towrite their names and countries oforigin in swam there in the nude. Andwhen, back in the
the guestbook. This is not done to form a list of 1930s, two college boys werebrought up before
potential Society members, but to add to the Judge Prescott Keyes in the Concord court for
s Thoreau SocietyBulletin
swimmingnude in Walden Pond, he immediately the towns ofConcord, Carlisle, Lincoln, Wayland,
dismissed the case, saying, "Damn it, that's Sudbury, Billerica, and Bedford.
the onlyway to swim inWalden Pond." (See The WaldenWoods Project reports that the
ConcordJournalfor 25 July, 1 and 8 August U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently received a
1991.) $350,000 appropriation, which it will use to
The Houghton Library at Harvard University purchase the development rights to a 25-acre
has on exhibitTicknor & Fields' copy ofthe parcel on Sudbury Road. The parcel lies entirely
original contract forThoreau's Walden; or, Life in within WaldenWoods and was theproposed site
—
the Woods written in fine Spenserian ofa housingproject to be called Concord
penmanship. The contract is part ofthe library's Commons.
holdings ofthe records ofthe Houghton, Mifflin In late September, the WaldenWoods Project
Company and its predecessors. sponsored threebenefit concerts at Madison
Malcolm M. Ferguson owns seven postcards Square Garden in NewYork City featuring Don
from the early 1900s, "Published by Gleason & Henley, BillyJoel, Sting, Jimmy Buffett, and
Ordway." The cards show scenes ofthe region Bonnie Raitt. The concerts raised approximately
around Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire and $1.8 million, according to KathiAnderson,
look as iffrom Herbert Gleason photographs. director ofthe project.
Another similar card is "Published by Geo. W. Alongwith several other organizations, the
Gleason & Son." Manypostcards were published Thoreau Societyco-sponsored a special reception
bylocal merchants, often printed in Germany for in the Mansfield Room ofthe U.S. Capitol
sale in Dublin, Peterborough, and vicinity. Building on 30 September, 5:30-7:30 p.m. to
Fergusonwould appreciate hearing from anyone celebrate the publication ofHeavenIs UnderOur
who mayhave additional information on these or Feet. Some ofthe contributors to the book (Don
similar postcards. His address is 1489 Main Henley, EdmundA. Schofield, John McAleer, and
MA
Street, Concord, 01742. Michael Kennedy) held book-signings at Boston-
TheAmerican literarycritic ofthe early 20th area shoppingmalls in late September; and
centuryWaldo David Frankwas named byhis several ofthe contributors turned out to
parents for Emerson andThoreau. celebrate thebook's publication at a large
The Princeton Edition ofThe Writings of reception in the NewYork Public Library's
HenryD. Thoreauannounced that Robert Celeste Bartos Forum on 17 October.
Hudspeth, professor ofEnglish at the College of InformationAssociates, a subsidiary ofDun
the Redwoods, will editThoreau's & Bradstreet Software, ran an advertisement
correspondence. in the Chronicle ofHigherEducationof 16
Toni Welshwould like to knowwhatThoreau October 1991 thatbegins, "LetThoreau step to
meant whenhewrote, in the last paragraph of thebeat ofa different drummer. Hewanted to go
"Baker Farm" in Walden, about "Adam's it alone. You don't have to."
grandmotherand boggy ways." We suspect The cover story of USA Today's "Life" section
"Adam's grandmother" may havebeen a common on 4 October 1991 featured an article on the
saying ofthe time. Please send information or "Battle ofWaldenWoods," alongwith a color
conjectures toyour editor. photograph ofour president, Edmund A.
TheThoreau Society ofJapan held its semi- Schofield, and a reproduction ofthe Rowse
annual meeting at Ginowan City, Okinawa, on 25 drawing ofThoreau.
October. The Reverend Luke Hirotsugu Inoue,
President ofEichi UniversityinAmagasaki, was
re-elected president ofthe Society; and Professor
Yuji Nakata ofKonanWomen's Universityin The Thoreau Society, Inc. is an
Kobe was re-elected vice president. Speakers at informal gathering ofstudents and
the meeting included Ms. Hiromi Murakami on admirers ofHenry DavidThoreau.
"Thoreau's Communionwith Nature," Ms. Hisae EdmundA. Schofield, president; Eric
Miwa on "Thoreau'sThirst," and Dan Bisgaard on Parkman Smith, treasurer; Bradley P.
"Thoreau and India: The Question ofInfluence on Dean, secretary. Dues: $20; students
an Independent Mind." $10; family $35; benefactor $100; life
According to an article in the Concord $500. Address communications to the
Journal 31 October 1991, p. 13, "The federal secretary at Route 2, Box 36, Ayden, NC
government appropriated $1.5 million to the 28513; send dues to theThoreau Society,
. . . MA
Great Meadows NationalWildlife Refuge to Inc., 156 Belknap Street, Concord,
purchase land along the Sudbury River." The 01742.
refuge is currently comprised of3,026 acres in