Economy
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nfrequentednooksandcornersofthefarmthoughIdidnotalwaysknowwhetherJonasorSolomonworkedinaparticularfieldto-daythatwasnoneofmybusiness.Ihavewateredtheredhuckleberry,thesandcherryandthenettletree,theredpineandtheblackash,thewhitegrapeandtheyellowviolet,whichmighthavewitheredelseindryseasons.
Inshort,Iwentonthusforalongtime,Imaysayitwithoutboasting,faithfullymindingmybusiness,tillitbecamemoreandmoreevidentthatmytownsmenwouldnotafteralladmitmeintothelistoftownofficers,normakemyplaceasinecurewithamoderateallowance.Myaccounts,whichIcansweartohavekeptfaithfully,Ihave,indeed,nevergotaudited,stilllessaccepted,stilllesspaidandsettled.However,Ihavenotsetmyheartonthat.
Notlongsince,astrollingIndianwenttosellbasketsatthehouseofawell-knownlawyerinmyneighborhood.“Doyouwishtobuyanybaskets?”heasked.“No,wedonotwantany,”wasthereply.“What!”exclaimedtheIndianashewentoutthegate,“doyoumeantostarveus?”Havingseenhisindustriouswhiteneighborssowelloff,—thatthelawyerhadonlytoweavearguments,andbysomemagic,wealthandstandingfollowed,hehadsaidtohimselfIwillgointobusinessIwillweavebasketsitisathingwhichIcando.Thinkingthatwhenhehadmadethebasketshewouldhavedonehispart,andthenitwouldbethewhiteman’stobuythem.Hehadnotdiscoveredthatitwasnecessaryforhimtomakeitworththeother’swhiletobuythem,oratleastmakehimthinkthatitwasso,ortomakesomethingelsewhichitwouldbeworthhiswhiletobuy.Itoohadwovenakindofbasketofadelicatetexture,butIhadnotmadeitworthanyone’swhiletobuythem.Yetnottheless,inmycase,didIthinkitworthmywhiletoweavethem,andinsteadofstudyinghowtomakeitworthmen’swhiletobuymybaskets,Istudiedratherhowtoavoidthenecessityofsellingthem.Thelifewhichmenpraiseandregardassuccessfulisbutonekind.Whyshouldweexaggerateanyonekindattheexpenseoftheothers?
Findingthatmyfellow-citizenswerenotlikelytooffermeanyroominthecourthouse,oranycuracyorlivinganywhereelse,butImustshiftformyself,Iturnedmyfacemoreexclusivelythanevertothewoods,whereIwasbetterknown.Ideterminedtogointobusinessatonce,andnotwaittoacquiretheusualcapital,usingsuchslendermeansasIhadalreadygot.MypurposeingoingtoWaldenPondwasnottolivecheaplynortolivedearlythere,buttotransactsomeprivatebusinesswiththefewestobstaclestobehinderedfromaccomplishingwhichforwantofalittlecommonsense,alittleenterpriseandbusinesstalent,appearednotsosadasfoolish.
Ihavealwaysendeavoredtoacquirestrictbusinesshabitstheyareindispensabletoeveryman.IfyourtradeiswiththeCelestialEmpire,thensomesmallcountinghouseonthecoast,insomeSalemharbor,willbefixtureenough.Youwillexportsucharticlesasthecountryaffords,purelynativeproducts,muchiceandpinetimberandalittlegranite,alwaysinnativebottoms.Thesewillbegoodventures.Tooverseeallthedetailsyourselfinpersontobeatoncepilotandcaptain,andownerandunderwritertobuyandsellandkeeptheaccountstoreadeveryletterreceived,andwriteorreadeverylettersenttosuperintendthedischargeofimportsnightanddaytobeuponmanypartsofthecoastalmostatthesametime—oftentherichestfreightwillbedischargeduponaJerseyshore—tobeyourowntelegraph,unweariedlysweepingthehorizon,speakingallpassingvesselsboundcoastwisetokeepupasteadydespatchofcommodities,forthesupplyofsuchadistantandexorbitantmarkettokeepyourselfinformedofthestateofthemarkets,prospectsofwarandpeaceeverywhere,andanticipatethetendenciesoftradeandcivilization,—takingadvantageoftheresultsofallexploringexpeditions,usingnewpassagesandallimprovementsinnavigation—chartstobestudied,thepositionofreefsandnewlightsandbuoystobeascertained,andever,andever,thelogarithmictablestobecorrected,forbytheerrorofsomecalculatorthevesseloftensplitsuponarockthatshouldhavereachedafriendlypier,—thereistheuntoldfateofLaPerouse—universalsciencetobekeptpacewith,studyingthelivesofallgreatdiscoverersandnavigators,greatadventurersandmerchants,fromHannoandthePh?niciansdowntoourdayinfine,accountofstocktobetakenfromtimetotime,toknowhowyoustand.Itisalabortotaskthefacultiesofaman,—suchproblemsofprofitandloss,ofinterest,oftareandtret,andgaugingofallkindsinit,asdemandauniversalknowledge.
IhavethoughtthatWaldenPondwouldbeagoodplaceforbusiness,notsolelyonaccountoftherailroadandtheicetradeitoffersadvantageswhichitmaynotbegoodpolicytodivulgeitisagoodportandagoodfoundation.NoNevamarshestobefilledthoughyoumusteverywherebuildonpilesofyourowndriving.Itissaidthataflood-tide,withawesterlywind,andiceintheNeva,wouldsweepSt.Petersburgfromthefaceoftheearth.
Asthisbusinesswastobeenteredintowithouttheusualcapital,itmaynotbeeasytoconjecturewherethosemeans,thatwillstillbeindispensabletoeverysuchundertaking,weretobeobtained.AsforClothing,tocomeatoncetothepracticalpartofthequestion,perhapsweareledoftenerbytheloveofnovelty,andaregardfortheopinionsofmen,inprocuringit,thanbyatrueutility.Lethimwhohasworktodorecollectthattheobjectofclothingis,first,toretainthevitalheat,andsecondly,inthisstateofsociety,tocovernakedness,andhemayjudgehowmuchofanynecessaryorimportantworkmaybeaccomplishedwithoutaddingtohiswardrobe.Kingsandqueenswhowearasuitbutonce,thoughmadebysometailorordressmakertotheirmajesties,cannotknowthecomfortofwearingasuitthatfits.Theyarenobetterthanwoodenhorsestohangthecleanclotheson.Everydayourgarmentsbecomemoreassimilatedtoourselves,receivingtheimpressofthewearer’scharacter,untilwehesitatetolaythemaside,withoutsuchdelayandmedicalappliancesandsomesuchsolemnityevenasourbodies.NomaneverstoodthelowerinmyestimationforhavingapatchinhisclothesyetIamsurethatthereisgreateranxiety,commonly,tohavefashionable,oratleastcleanandunpatchedclothes,thantohaveasoundconscience.Buteveniftherentisnotmended,perhapstheworstvicebetrayedisimprovidence.Isometimestrymyacquaintancesbysuchtestsasthis—whocouldwearapatch,ortwoextraseamsonly,overtheknee?Mostbehaveasiftheybelievedthattheirprospectsforlifewouldberuinediftheyshoulddoit.Itwouldbeeasierforthemtohobbletotownwithabrokenlegthanwithabrokenpantaloon.Oftenifanaccidenthappenstoagentleman’slegs,theycanbemendedbutifasimilaraccidenthappenstothelegsofhispantaloons,thereisnohelpforitforheconsiders,notwhatistrulyrespectable,butwhatisrespected.Weknowbutfewmen,agreatmanycoatsandbreeches.Dressascarecrowinyourlastshift,youstandingshiftlessby,whowouldnotsoonestsalutethescarecrow?Passingacornfieldtheotherday,closebyahatandcoatonastake,Irecognizedtheownerofthefarm.Hewasonlyalittlemoreweather-beatenthanwhenIsawhimlast.Ihaveheardofadogthatbarkedateverystrangerwhoapproachedhismaster’spremiseswithclotheson,butwaseasilyquietedbyanakedthief.Itisaninterestingquestionhowfarmenwouldretaintheirrelativerankiftheyweredivestedoftheirclothes.Couldyou,insuchacase,tellsurelyofanycompanyofcivilizedmen,whichbelongedtothemostrespectedclass?WhenMadamPfeiffer,inheradventuroustravelsroundtheworld,fromeasttowest,hadgotsonearhomeasAsiaticRussia,shesaysthatshefeltthenecessityofwearingotherthanatravellingdress,whenshewenttomeettheauthorities,forshe“wasnowinacivilizedcountry,where———peoplearejudgedofbytheirclothes.”EveninourdemocraticNewEnglandtownstheaccidentalpossessionofwealth,anditsmanifestationindressandequipagealone,obtainforthepossessoralmostuniversalrespect.Buttheyyieldsuchrespect,numerousastheyare,aresofarheathen,andneedtohaveamissionarysenttothem.Beside,clothesintroducedsewing,akindofworkwhichyoumaycallendlessawoman’sdress,atleast,isneverdone.
Amanwhohasatlengthfoundsomethingtodowillnotneedtogetanewsuittodoitinforhimtheoldwilldo,thathaslaindustyinthegarretforanindeterminateperiod.Oldshoeswillserveaherolongerthantheyhaveservedhisvalet,—ifaheroeverhasavalet,—barefeetareolderthanshoes,andhecanmakethemdo.Onlytheywhogotosoiréesandlegislativehallsmusthavenewcoats,coatstochangeasoftenasthemanchangesinthem.Butifmyjacketandtrousers,myhatandshoes,arefittoworshipGodin,theywilldowilltheynot?Whoeversawhisoldclothes,—hisoldcoat,actuallywornout,resolvedintoitsprimitiveelements,sothatitwasnotadeedofcharitytobestowitonsomepoorboy,byhimperchancetobebestowedonsomepoorerstill,orshallwesayricher,whocoulddowithless?Isay,bewareofallenterprisesthatrequirenewclothes,andnotratheranewwearerofclothes.Ifthereisnotanewman,howcanthenewclothesbemadetofit?Ifyouhaveanyenterprisebeforeyou,tryitinyouroldclothes.Allmenwant,notsomethingtodowith,butsomethingtodo,orrathersomethingtobe.Perhapsweshouldneverprocureanewsuit,howeverraggedordirtytheold,untilwehavesoconducted,soenterprisedorsailedinsomeway,thatwefeellikenewmenintheold,andthattoretainitwouldbelikekeepingnewwineinoldbottles.Ourmoultingseason,likethatofthefowls,mustbeacrisisinourlives.Theloonretirestosolitarypondstospendit.Thusalsothesnakecastsitsslough,andthecaterpillaritswormycoat,byaninternalindustryandexpansionforclothesarebutouroutmostcuticleandmortalcoil.Otherwiseweshallbefoundsailingunderfalsecolors,andbeinevitablycashieredatlastbyourownopinion,aswellasthatofmankind.
Wedongarmentaftergarment,asifwegrewlikeexogenousplantsbyadditionwithout.Ouroutsideandoftenthinandfancifulclothesareourepidermis,orfalseskin,whichpartakesnotofourlife,andmaybestrippedoffhereandtherewithoutfatalinjuryourthickergarments,constantlyworn,areourcellularintegument,orcortexbutourshirtsareourliberortruebark,whichcannotberemovedwithoutgirdlingandsodestroyingtheman.Ibelievethatallracesatsomeseasonswearsomethingequivalenttotheshirt.Itisdesirablethatamanbecladsosimplythathecanlayhishandsonhimselfinthedark,andthatheliveinallrespectssocompactlyandpreparedly,that,ifanenemytakethetown,hecan,liketheoldphilosopher,walkoutthegateempty-handedwithoutanxiety.Whileonethickgarmentis,formostpurposes,asgoodasthreethinones,andcheapclothingcanbeobtainedatpricesreallytosuitcustomerswhileathickcoatcanbeboughtforfivedollars,whichwilllastasmanyyears,thickpantaloonsfortwodollars,cowhidebootsforadollarandahalfapair,asummerhatforaquarterofadollar,andawintercapforsixty-twoandahalfcents,orabetterbemadeathomeatanominalcost,whereishesopoorthat,cladinsuchasuit,ofhisownearning,therewillnotbefoundwisementodohimreverence?
WhenIaskforagarmentofaparticularform,mytailoresstellsmegravely,“Theydonotmakethemsonow,”notemphasizingthe“They”atall,asifshequotedanauthorityasimpersonalastheFates,andIfinditdifficulttogetmadewhatIwant,simplybecauseshecannotbelievethatImeanwhatIsay,thatIamsorash.WhenIhearthisoracularsentence,Iamforamomentabsorbedinthought,emphasizingtomyselfeachwordseparatelythatImaycomeatthemeaningofit,thatImayfindoutbywhatdegreeofconsanguinityTheyarerelatedtome,andwhatauthoritytheymayhaveinanaffairwhichaffectsmesonearlyand,finally,Iaminclinedtoanswerherwithequalmystery,andwithoutanymoreemphasisofthe“they,”—“Itistrue,theydidnotmakethemsorecently,buttheydonow.”Ofwhatusethismeasuringofmeifshedoesnotmeasuremycharacter,butonlythebreadthofmyshoulders,asitwereapegtohangthecoaton?WeworshipnottheGraces,northeParc?,butFashion.Shespinsandweavesandcutswithfullauthority.TheheadmonkeyatParisputsonatraveller’scap,andallthemonkeysinAmericadothesame.Isometimesdespairofgettinganythingquitesimpleandhonestdoneinthisworldbythehelpofmen.Theywouldhavetobepassedthroughapowerfulpressfirst,tosqueezetheiroldnotionsoutofthem,sothattheywouldnotsoongetupontheirlegsagain,andthentherewouldbesomeoneinthecompanywithamaggotinhishead,hatchedfromaneggdepositedtherenobodyknowswhen,fornotevenfirekillsthesethings,andyouwouldhavelostyourlabor.Nevertheless,wewillnotforgetthatsomeEgyptianwheatwashandeddowntousbyamummy.
Onthewhole,Ithinkthatitcannotbemaintainedthatdressinghasinthisoranycountryrisentothedignityofanart.Atpresentmenmakeshifttowearwhattheycanget.Likeshipwreckedsailors,theyputonwhattheycanfindonthebeach,andatalittledistance,whetherofspaceortime,laughateachother’smasquerade.Everygenerationlaughsattheoldfashions,butfollowsreligiouslythenew.WeareamusedatbeholdingthecostumeofHenryVIII.,orQueenElizabeth,asmuchasifitwasthatoftheKingandQueenoftheCannibalIslands.Allcostumeoffamanispitifulorgrotesque.Itisonlytheseriouseyepeeringfromandthesincerelifepassedwithinit,whichrestrainlaughterandconsecratethecostumeofanypeople.LetHarlequinbetakenwithafitofthecolicandhistrappingswillhavetoservethatmoodtoo.Whenthesoldierishitbyacannonballragsareasbecomingaspurple.
Thechildishandsavagetasteofmenandwomenfornewpatternskeepshowmanyshakingandsquintingthroughkaleidoscopesthattheymaydiscovertheparticularfigurewhichthisgenerationrequirestoday.Themanufacturershavelearnedthatthistasteismerelywhimsical.Oftwopatternswhichdifferonlybyafewthreadsmoreorlessofaparticularcolor,theonewillbesoldreadily,theotherlieontheshelf,thoughitfrequentlyhappensthatafterthelapseofaseasonthelatterbecomesthemostfashionable.Comparatively,tattooingisnotthehideouscustomwhichitiscalled.Itisnotbarbarousmerelybecausetheprintingisskin-deepandunalterable.
Icannotbelievethatourfactorysystemisthebestmodebywhichmenmaygetclothing.TheconditionoftheoperativesisbecomingeverydaymorelikethatoftheEnglishanditcannotbewonderedat,since,asfarasIhaveheardorobserved,theprincipalobjectis,notthatmankindmaybewellandhonestlyclad,but,unquestionably,thatcorporationsmaybeenriched.Inthelongrunmenhitonlywhattheyaimat.Therefore,thoughtheyshouldfailimmediately,theyhadbetteraimatsomethinghigh.
AsforaShelter,Iwillnotdenythatthisisnowanecessaryoflife,thoughthereareinstancesofmenhavingdonewithoutitforlongperiodsincoldercountriesthanthis.SamuelLaingsaysthat“theLaplanderinhisskindress,andinaskinbagwhichheputsoverhisheadandshoulders,willsleepnightafternightonthesnow—inadegreeofcoldwhichwouldextinguishthelifeofoneexposedtoitinanywoollenclothing.”Hehadseenthemasleepthus.Yetheadds,“Theyarenothardierthanotherpeople.”But,probably,mandidnotlivelongontheearthwithoutdiscoveringtheconveniencewhichthereisinahouse,thedomesticcomforts,whichphrasemayhaveoriginallysignifiedthesatisfactionsofthehousemorethanofthefamilythoughthesemustbeextremelypartialandoccasionalinthoseclimateswherethehouseisassociatedinourthoughtswithwinterortherainyseasonchiefly,andtwothirdsoftheyear,exceptforaparasol,isunnecessary.Inourclimate,inthesummer,itwasformerlyalmostsolelyacoveringatnight.IntheIndiangazettesawigwamwasthesymbolofaday’smarch,andarowofthemcutorpaintedonthebarkofatreesignifiedthatsomanytimestheyhadcamped.Manwasnotmadesolargelimbedandrobustbutthathemustseektonarrowhisworld,andwallinaspacesuchasfittedhim.Hewasatfirstbareandoutofdoorsbutthoughthiswaspleasantenoughinsereneandwarmweather,bydaylight,therainyseasonandthewinter,tosaynothingofthetorridsun,wouldperhapshavenippedhisraceinthebudifhehadnotmadehastetoclothehimselfwiththeshelterofahouse.AdamandEve,accordingtothefable,worethebowerbeforeotherclothes.Manwantedahome,aplaceofwarmth,orcomfort,firstofphysicalwarmth,thenthewarmthoftheaffections.
Wemayimagineatimewhen,intheinfancyofthehumanrace,someenterprisingmortalcreptintoahollowinarockforshelter.Everychildbeginstheworldagain,tosomeextent,andlovestostayoutdoors,eveninwetandcold.Itplayshouse,aswellashorse,havinganinstinctforit.Whodoesnotremembertheinterestwithwhichwhenyounghelookedatshelvingrocks,oranyapproachtoacave?Itwasthenaturalyearningofthatportionofourmostprimitiveancestorwhichstillsurvivedinus.Fromthecavewehaveadvancedtoroofsofpalmleaves,ofbarkandboughs,oflinenwovenandstretched,ofgrassandstraw,ofboardsandshingles,ofstonesandtiles.Atlast,weknownotwhatitistoliveintheopenair,andourlivesaredomesticinmoresensesthanwethink.Fromthehearthtothefieldisagreatdistance.Itwouldbewellperhapsifweweretospendmoreofourdaysandnightswithoutanyobstructionbetweenusandthecelestialbodies,ifthepoetdidnotspeaksomuchfromunderaroof,orthesaintdwelltheresolong.Birdsdonotsingincaves,nordodovescherishtheirinnocenceindovecots.
However,ifonedesignstoconstructadwellinghouse,itbehooveshimtoexercisealittleYankeeshrewdness,lestafterallhefindhimselfinaworkhouse,alabyrinthwithoutaclue,amuseum,analmshouse,aprison,orasplendidmausoleuminstead.Considerfirsthowslightashelterisabsolutelynecessary.IhaveseenPenobscotIndians,inthistown,livingintentsofthincottoncloth,whilethesnowwasnearlyafootdeeparoundthem,andIthoughtthattheywouldbegladtohaveitdeepertokeepoutthewind.Formerly,whenhowtogetmylivinghonestly,withfreedomleftformyproperpursuits,wasaquestionwhichvexedmeevenmorethanitdoesnow,forunfortunatelyIambecomesomewhatcallous,Iusedtoseealargeboxbytherailroad,sixfeetlongbythreewide,inwhichthelaborerslockeduptheirtoolsatnight,anditsuggestedtomethateverymanwhowashardpushedmightgetsuchaoneforadollar,and,havingboredafewaugerholesinit,toadmittheairatleast,getintoitwhenitrainedandatnight,andhookdownthelid,andsohavefreedominhislove,andinhissoulbefree.Thisdidnotappeartheworst,norbyanymeansadespicablealternative.Youcouldsitupaslateasyoupleased,and,wheneveryougotup,goabroadwithoutanylandlordorhouse-lorddoggingyouforrent.Manyamanisharassedtodeathtopaytherentofalargerandmoreluxuriousboxwhowouldnothavefrozentodeathinsuchaboxasthis.Iamfarfromjesting.Economyisasubjectwhichadmitsofbeingtreatedwithlevity,butitcannotsobedisposedof.Acomfortablehouseforarudeandhardyrace,thatlivedmostlyoutofdoors,wasoncemadeherealmostentirelyofsuchmaterialsasNaturefurnishedreadytotheirhands.Gookin,whowassuperintendentoftheIndianssubjecttotheMassachusettsColony,writingin1674,says,“Thebestoftheirhousesarecoveredveryneatly,tightandwarm,withbarksoftrees,slippedfromtheirbodiesatthoseseasonswhenthesapisup,andmadeintogreatflakes,withpressureofweightytimber,whentheyaregreen....Themeanersortarecoveredwithmatswhichtheymakeofakindofbulrush,andarealsoindifferentlytightandwarm,butnotsogoodastheformer....SomeIhaveseen,sixtyorahundredfeetlongandthirtyfeetbroad....Ihaveoftenlodgedintheirwigwams,andfoundthemaswarmasthebestEnglishhouses.”Headds,thattheywerecommonlycarpetedandlinedwithinwithwell-wroughtembroideredmats,andwerefurnishedwithvariousutensils.TheIndianshadadvancedsofarastoregulatetheeffectofthewindbyamatsuspendedovertheholeintheroofandmovedbyastring.Suchalodgewasinthefirstinstanceconstructedinadayortwoatmost,andtakendownandputupinafewhoursandeveryfamilyownedone,oritsapartmentinone.
Inthesavagestateeveryfamilyownsashelterasgoodasthebest,andsufficientforitscoarserandsimplerwantsbutIthinkthatIspeakwithinboundswhenIsaythat,thoughthebirdsoftheairhavetheirnests,andthefoxestheirholes,andthesavagestheirwigwams,inmoderncivilizedsocietynotmorethanonehalfthefamiliesownashelter.Inthelargetownsandcities,wherecivilizationespeciallyprevails,thenumberofthosewhoownashelterisaverysmallfractionofthewhole.Therestpayanannualtaxforthisoutsidegarmentofall,becomeindispensablesummerandwinter,whichwouldbuyavillageofIndianwigwams,butnowhelpstokeepthempooraslongastheylive.Idonotmeantoinsisthereonthedisadvantageofhiringcomparedwithowning,butitisevidentthatthesavageownshisshelterbecauseitcostssolittle,whilethecivilizedmanhireshiscommonlybecausehecannotaffordtoownitnorcanhe,inthelongrun,anybetteraffordtohire.But,answersone,bymerelypayingthistaxthepoorcivilizedmansecuresanabodewhichisapalacecomparedwiththesavage’s.Anannualrentoffromtwenty-fivetoahundreddollars,thesearethecountryrates,entitleshimtothebenefitoftheimprovementsofcenturies,spaciousapartments,cleanpaintandpaper,Rumfordfireplace,backplastering,Venetianblinds,copperpump,springlock,acommodiouscellar,andmanyotherthings.Buthowhappensitthathewhoissaidtoenjoythesethingsissocommonlyapoorcivilizedman,whilethesavage,whohasthemnot,isrichasasavage?Ifitisassertedthatcivilizationisarealadvanceintheconditionofman,—andIthinkthatitis,thoughonlythewiseimprovetheiradvantages,—itmustbeshownthatithasproducedbetterdwellingswithoutmakingthemmorecostlyandthecostofathingistheamountofwhatIwillcalllifewhichisrequiredtobeexchangedforit,immediatelyorinthelongrun.Anaveragehouseinthisneighborhoodcostsperhapseighthundreddollars,andtolayupthissumwilltakefromtentofifteenyearsofthelaborer’slife,evenifheisnotencumberedwithafamily—estimatingthepecuniaryvalueofeveryman’slaboratonedollaraday,forifsomereceivemore,othersreceiveless—sothathemusthavespentmorethanhalfhislifecommonlybeforehiswigwamwillbeearned.Ifwesupposehimtopayarentinstead,thisisbutadoubtfulchoiceofevils.Wouldthesavagehavebeenwisetoexchangehiswigwamforapalaceontheseterms?
ItmaybeguessedthatIreducealmostthewholeadvantageofholdingthissuperfluouspropertyasafundinstoreagainstthefuture,sofarastheindividualisconcerned,mainlytothedefrayingoffuneralexpenses.Butperhapsamanisnotrequiredtoburyhimself.Neverthelessthispointstoanimportantdistinctionbetweenthecivilizedmanandthesavageand,nodoubt,theyhavedesignsonusforourbenefit,inmakingthelifeofacivilizedpeopleaninstitution,inwhichthelifeoftheindividualistoagreatextentabsorbed,inordertopreserveandperfectthatoftherace.ButIwishtoshowatwhatasacrificethisadvantageisatpresentobtained,andtosuggestthatwemaypossiblysoliveastosecurealltheadvantagewithoutsufferinganyofthedisadvantage.Whatmeanyebysayingthatthepooryehavealwayswithyou,orthatthefathershaveeatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steetharesetonedge?
“AsIlive,saiththeLordGod,yeshallnothaveoccasionanymoretousethisproverbinIsrael.”
“Beholdallsoulsaremineasthesoulofthefather,soalsothesoulofthesonismine:thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie.”
WhenIconsidermyneighbors,thefarmersofConcord,whoareatleastaswelloffastheotherclasses,Ifindthatforthemostparttheyhavebeentoilingtwenty,thirty,orfortyyears,thattheymaybecometherealownersoftheirfarms,whichcommonlytheyhaveinheritedwithencumbrances,orelseboughtwithhiredmoney,—andwemayregardonethirdofthattoilasthecostoftheirhouses,—butcommonlytheyhavenotpaidforthemyet.Itistrue,theencumbrancessometimesoutweighthevalueofthefarm,sothatthefarmitselfbecomesonegreatencumbrance,andstillamanisfoundtoinheritit,beingwellacquaintedwithit,ashesays.Onapplyingtotheassessors,Iamsurprisedtolearnthattheycannotatoncenameadozeninthetownwhoowntheirfarmsfreeandclear.Ifyouwouldknowthehistoryofthesehomesteads,inquireatthebankwheretheyaremortgaged.Themanwhohasactuallypaidforhisfarmwithlaboronitissorarethateveryneighborcanpointtohim.IdoubtiftherearethreesuchmeninConcord.Whathasbeensaidofthemerchants,thataverylargemajority,evenninety-seveninahundred,aresuretofail,isequallytrueofthefarmers.Withregardtothemerchants,however,oneofthemsayspertinentlythatagreatpartoftheirfailuresarenotgenuinepecuniaryfailures,butmerelyfailurestofulfiltheirengagements,becauseitisinconvenientthatis,itisthemoralcharacterthatbreaksdown.Butthisputsaninfinitelyworsefaceonthematter,andsuggests,beside,thatprobablynoteventheotherthreesucceedinsavingtheirsouls,butareperchancebankruptinaworsesensethantheywhofailhonestly.Bankruptcyandrepudiationarethespringboardsfromwhichmuchofourcivilizationvaultsandturnsitssomersets,butthesavagestandsontheunelasticplankoffamine.YettheMiddlesexCattleShowgoesoffherewithéclatannually,asifallthejointsoftheagriculturalmachineweresuent.
Thefarmerisendeavoringtosolvetheproblemofalivelihoodbyaformulamorecomplicatedthantheproblemitself.Togethisshoestringshespeculatesinherdsofcattle.Withconsummateskillhehassethistrapwithahairspringtocatchcomfortandindependence,andthen,asheturnedaway,gothisownlegintoit.Thisisthereasonheispoorandforasimilarreasonweareallpoorinrespecttoathousandsavagecomforts,thoughsurroundedbyluxuries.AsChapmansings,—
“Thefalsesocietyofmen—
—forearthlygreatness
Allheavenlycomfortsrarefiestoair.”
Andwhenthefarmerhasgothishouse,hemaynotbethericherbutthepoorerforit,anditbethehousethathasgothim.AsIunderstandit,thatwasavalidobjectionurgedbyMomusagainstthehousewh