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