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living？ Methinks this would exercise their minds as much as
mathematics。 If I wished a boy to know something about the arts and
sciences； for instance； I would not pursue the common course； which
is merely to send him into the neighborhood of some professor； where
anything is professed and practised but the art of life； to
survey the world through a telescope or a microscope； and never with
his natural eye； to study chemistry； and not learn how his bread is
made； or mechanics； and not learn how it is earned； to discover new
satellites to Neptune； and not detect the motes in his eyes； or to
what vagabond he is a satellite himself； or to be devoured by the
monsters that swarm all around him； while contemplating the monsters
in a drop of vinegar。 Which would have advanced the most at the end
of a month the boy who had made his own jackknife from the ore
which he had dug and smelted； reading as much as would be necessary
for this or the boy who had attended the lectures on metallurgy
at the Institute in the meanwhile； and had received a Rodgers'
penknife from his father？ Which would be most likely to cut his
fingers？。。。 To my astonishment I was informed on leaving college
that I had studied navigation！ why； if I had taken one turn down
the harbor I should have known more about it。 Even the poor student
studies and is taught only political economy； while that economy of
living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely
professed in our colleges。 The consequence is； that while he is
reading Adam Smith； Ricardo； and Say； he runs his father in debt
irretrievably。
As with our colleges； so with a hundred 〃modern improvements〃；
there is an illusion about them； there is not always a positive
advance。 The devil goes on exacting compound interest to the last
for his early share and numerous succeeding investments in them。
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys； which distract our
attention from serious things。 They are but improved means to an
unimproved end； an end which it was already but too easy to arrive
at； as railroads lead to Boston or New York。 We are in great haste
to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas； but Maine and
Texas； it may be； have nothing important to communicate。 Either is
in such a predicament as the man who was earnest to be introduced to
a distinguished deaf woman； but when he was presented； and one end
of her ear trumpet was put into his hand； had nothing to say。 As if
the main object were to talk fast and not to talk sensibly。 We are
eager to tunnel under the Atlantic and bring the Old World some
weeks nearer to the New； but perchance the first news that will leak
through into the broad； flapping American ear will be that the
Princess Adelaide has the whooping cough。 After all； the man whose
horse trots a mile in a minute does not carry the most important
messages； he is not an evangelist； nor does he come round eating
locusts and wild honey。 I doubt if Flying Childers ever carried a
peck of corn to mill。
One says to me； 〃I wonder that you do not lay up money； you love
to travel； you might take the cars and go to Fitchburg today and see
the country。〃 But I am wiser than that。 I have learned that the
swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot。 I say to my friend；
Suppose we try who will get there first。 The distance is thirty
miles； the fare ninety cents。 That is almost a day's wages。 I
remember when wages were sixty cents a day for laborers on this very
road。 Well； I start now on foot； and get there before night； I have
travelled at that rate by the week together。 You will in the
meanwhile have earned your fare； and arrive there some time
tomorrow； or possibly this evening； if you are lucky enough to get a
job in season。 Instead of going to Fitchburg； you will be working
here the greater part of the day。 And so； if the railroad reached
round the world； I think that I should keep ahead of you； and as for
seeing the country and getting experience of that kind； I should
have to cut your acquaintance altogether。
Such is the universal law； which no man can ever outwit； and
with regard to the railroad even we may say it is as broad as it is
long。 To make a railroad round the world available to all mankind
is equivalent to grading the whole surface of the planet。 Men have
an indistinct notion that if they keep up this activity of joint
stocks and spades long enough all will at length ride somewhere； in
next to no time； and for nothing； but though a crowd rushes to the
depot； and the conductor shouts 〃All aboard！〃 when the smoke is
blown away and the vapor condensed； it will be perceived that a few
are riding； but the rest are run over and it will be called； and
will be； 〃A melancholy accident。〃 No doubt they can ride at last
who shall have earned their fare； that is； if they survive so long；
but they will probably have lost their elasticity and desire to
travel by that time。 This spending of the best part of one's life
earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the
least valuable part of it reminds me of the Englishman who went to
India to make a fortune first； in order that he might return to
England and live the life of a poet。 He should have gone up garret
at once。 〃What！〃 exclaim a million Irishmen starting up from all
the shanties in the land； 〃is not this railroad which we have built
a good thing？〃 Yes； I answer； comparatively good； that is； you
might have done worse； but I wish； as you are brothers of mine； that
you could have spent your time better than digging in this dirt。
Before I finished my house； wishing to earn ten or twelve
dollars by some honest and agreeable method； in order to meet my
unusual expenses； I planted about two acres and a half of light and
sandy soil near it chiefly with beans； but also a small part with
potatoes； corn； peas； and turnips。 The whole lot contains eleven
acres； mostly growing up to pines and hickories； and was sold the
preceding season for eight dollars and eight cents an acre。 One
farmer said that it was 〃good for nothing but to raise cheeping
squirrels on。〃 I put no manure whatever on this land； not being the
owner； but merely a squatter； and not expecting to cultivate so much
again； and I did not quite hoe it all once。 I got out several cords
of stumps in plowing； which supplied me with fuel for a long time；
and left small circles of virgin mould； easily distinguishable
through the summer by the greater luxuriance of the beans there。
The dead and for the most part unmerchantable wood behind my house；
and the driftwood from the pond； have supplied the remainder of my
fuel。 I was obliged to hire a team and a man for the plowing；
though I held the plow myself。 My farm outgoes for the first season
were； for implements； seed； work； etc。； 14。72＋。 The seed corn was
given me。 This never costs anything to speak of； unless you plant
more than enough。 I got twelve