按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
than it does now； for unfortunately I am become somewhat callous； I
used to see a large box by the railroad； six feet long by three
wide； in which the laborers locked up their tools at night； and it
suggested to me that every man who was hard pushed might get such a
one for a dollar； and； having bored a few auger holes in it； to
admit the air at least； get into it when it rained and at night； and
hook down the lid； and so have freedom in his love； and in his soul
be free。 This did not appear the worst； nor by any means a
despicable alternative。 You could sit up as late as you pleased；
and； whenever you got up； go abroad without any landlord or
house…lord dogging you for rent。 Many a man is harassed to death to
pay the rent of a larger and more luxurious box who would not have
frozen to death in such a box as this。 I am far from jesting。
Economy is a subject which admits of being treated with levity； but
it cannot so be disposed of。 A comfortable house for a rude and
hardy race； that lived mostly out of doors； was once made here
almost entirely of such materials as Nature furnished ready to their
hands。 Gookin； who was superintendent of the Indians subject to the
Massachusetts Colony； writing in 1674； says； 〃The best of their
houses are covered very neatly； tight and warm； with barks of trees；
slipped from their bodies at those seasons when the sap is up； and
made into great flakes； with pressure of weighty timber； when they
are green。。。。 The meaner sort are covered with mats which they make
of a kind of bulrush； and are also indifferently tight and warm； but
not so good as the former。。。。 Some I have seen； sixty or a hundred
feet long and thirty feet broad。。。。 I have often lodged in their
wigwams； and found them as warm as the best English houses。〃 He
adds that they were commonly carpeted and lined within with
well…wrought embroidered mats； and were furnished with various
utensils。 The Indians had advanced so far as to regulate the effect
of the wind by a mat suspended over the hole in the roof and moved
by a string。 Such a lodge was in the first instance constructed in
a day or two at most； and taken down and put up in a few hours； and
every family owned one； or its apartment in one。
In the savage state every family owns a shelter as good as the
best； and sufficient for its coarser and simpler wants； but I think
that I speak within bounds when I say that； though the birds of the
air have their nests； and the foxes their holes； and the savages
their wigwams； in modern civilized society not more than one half
the families own a shelter。 In the large towns and cities； where
civilization especially prevails； the number of those who own a
shelter is a very small fraction of the whole。 The rest pay an
annual tax for this outside garment of all； become indispensable
summer and winter； which would buy a village of Indian wigwams； but
now helps to keep them poor as long as they live。 I do not mean to
insist here on the disadvantage of hiring compared with owning； but
it is evident that the savage owns his shelter because it costs so
little； while the civilized man hires his commonly because he cannot
afford to own it； nor can he； in the long run； any better afford to
hire。 But； answers one； by merely paying this tax； the poor
civilized man secures an abode which is a palace compared with the
savage's。 An annual rent of from twenty…five to a hundred dollars
（these are the country rates） entitles him to the benefit of the
improvements of centuries； spacious apartments； clean paint and
paper； Rumford fire…place； back plastering； Venetian blinds； copper
pump； spring lock； a commodious cellar； and many other things。 But
how happens it that he who is said to enjoy these things is so
commonly a poor civilized man； while the savage； who has them not；
is rich as a savage？ If it is asserted that civilization is a real
advance in the condition of man and I think that it is； though
only the wise improve their advantages it must be shown that it
has produced better dwellings without making them more costly； and
the cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is
required to be exchanged for it； immediately or in the long run。 An
average house in this neighborhood costs perhaps eight hundred
dollars； and to lay up this sum will take from ten to fifteen years
of the laborer's life； even if he is not encumbered with a family
estimating the pecuniary value of every man's labor at one dollar a
day； for if some receive more； others receive less； so that he
must have spent more than half his life commonly before his wigwam
will be earned。 If we suppose him to pay a rent instead； this is
but a doubtful choice of evils。 Would the savage have been wise to
exchange his wigwam for a palace on these terms？
It may be guessed that I reduce almost the whole advantage of
holding this superfluous property as a fund in store against the
future； so far as the individual is concerned； mainly to the
defraying of funeral expenses。 But perhaps a man is not required to
bury himself。 Nevertheless this points to an important distinction
between the civilized man and the savage； and； no doubt； they have
designs on us for our benefit； in making the life of a civilized
people an institution； in which the life of the individual is to a
great extent absorbed； in order to preserve and perfect that of the
race。 But I wish to show at what a sacrifice this advantage is at
present obtained； and to suggest that we may possibly so live as to
secure all the advantage without suffering any of the disadvantage。
What mean ye by saying that the poor ye have always with you； or
that the fathers have eaten sour grapes； and the children's teeth
are set on edge？
〃As I live； saith the Lord God； ye shall not have occasion any
more to use this proverb in Israel。
〃Behold all souls are mine； as the soul of the father； so also
the soul of the son is mine： the soul that sinneth； it shall die。〃
When I consider my neighbors； the farmers of Concord； who are at
least as well off as the other classes； I find that for the most
part they have been toiling twenty； thirty； or forty years； that
they may become the real owners of their farms； which commonly they
have inherited with encumbrances； or else bought with hired money
and we may regard one third of that toil as the cost of their houses
but commonly they have not paid for them yet。 It is true； the
encumbrances sometimes outweigh the value of the farm； so that the
farm itself becomes one great encumbrance； and still a man is found
to inherit it； being well acquainted with it； as he says。 On
applying to the assessors； I am surprised to learn that they cannot
at once name a dozen in the town who own their farms free and clear。
If you would know the history of these homesteads； inquire at the
bank where they are mortgaged。 The man who has actually paid for
his farm with labor on it