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！
bank where they are mortgaged。 The man who has actually paid for
his farm with labor on it is so rare that every neighbor can point
to him。 I doubt if there are three such men in Concord。 What has
been said of the merchants； that a very large majority； even
ninety…seven in a hundred； are sure to fail； is equally true of the
farmers。 With regard to the merchants； however； one of them says
pertinently that a great part of their failures are not genuine
pecuniary failures； but merely failures to fulfil their engagements；
because it is inconvenient； that is； it is the moral character that
breaks down。 But this puts an infinitely worse face on the matter；
and suggests； beside； that probably not even the other three succeed
in saving their souls； but are perchance bankrupt in a worse sense
than they who fail honestly。 Bankruptcy and repudiation are the
springboards from which much of our civilization vaults and turns
its somersets； but the savage stands on the unelastic plank of
famine。 Yet the Middlesex Cattle Show goes off here with eclat
annually； as if all the joints of the agricultural machine were
suent。
The farmer is endeavoring to solve the problem of a livelihood
by a formula more complicated than the problem itself。 To get his
shoestrings he speculates in herds of cattle。 With consummate skill
he has set his trap with a hair spring to catch comfort and
independence； and then； as he turned away； got his own leg into it。
This is the reason he is poor； and for a similar reason we are all
poor in respect to a thousand savage comforts； though surrounded by
luxuries。 As Chapman sings；
〃The false society of men
for earthly greatness
All heavenly comforts rarefies to air。〃
And when the farmer has got his house； he may not be the richer
but the poorer for it； and it be the house that has got him。 As I
understand it； that was a valid objection urged by Momus against the
house which Minerva made； that she 〃had not made it movable； by
which means a bad neighborhood might be avoided〃； and it may still
be urged； for our houses are such unwieldy property that we are
often imprisoned rather than housed in them； and the bad
neighborhood to be avoided is our own scurvy selves。 I know one or
two families； at least； in this town； who； for nearly a generation；
have been wishing to sell their houses in the outskirts and move
into the village； but have not been able to accomplish it； and only
death will set them free。
Granted that the majority are able at last either to own or hire
the modern house with all its improvements。 While civilization has
been improving our houses； it has not equally improved the men who
are to inhabit them。 It has created palaces； but it was not so easy
to create noblemen and kings。 And if the civilized man's pursuits
are no worthier than the savage's； if he is employed the greater
part of his life in obtaining gross necessaries and comforts merely；
why should he have a better dwelling than the former？
But how do the poor minority fare？ Perhaps it will be found
that just in proportion as some have been placed in outward
circumstances above the savage； others have been degraded below him。
The luxury of one class is counterbalanced by the indigence of
another。 On the one side is the palace； on the other are the
almshouse and 〃silent poor。〃 The myriads who built the pyramids to
be the tombs of the Pharaohs were fed on garlic； and it may be were
not decently buried themselves。 The mason who finishes the cornice
of the palace returns at night perchance to a hut not so good as a
wigwam。 It is a mistake to suppose that； in a country where the
usual evidences of civilization exist； the condition of a very large
body of the inhabitants may not be as degraded as that of savages。
I refer to the degraded poor； not now to the degraded rich。 To know
this I should not need to look farther than to the shanties which
everywhere border our railroads； that last improvement in
civilization； where I see in my daily walks human beings living in
sties； and all winter with an open door； for the sake of light；
without any visible； often imaginable； wood…pile； and the forms of
both old and young are permanently contracted by the long habit of
shrinking from cold and misery； and the development of all their
limbs and faculties is checked。 It certainly is fair to look at
that class by whose labor the works which distinguish this
generation are accomplished。 Such too； to a greater or less extent；
is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England；
which is the great workhouse of the world。 Or I could refer you to
Ireland； which is marked as one of the white or enlightened spots on
the map。 Contrast the physical condition of the Irish with that of
the North American Indian； or the South Sea Islander； or any other
savage race before it was degraded by contact with the civilized
man。 Yet I have no doubt that that people's rulers are as wise as
the average of civilized rulers。 Their condition only proves what
squalidness may consist with civilization。 I hardly need refer now
to the laborers in our Southern States who produce the staple
exports of this country； and are themselves a staple production of
the South。 But to confine myself to those who are said to be in
moderate circumstances。
Most men appear never to have considered what a house is； and
are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they
think that they must have such a one as their neighbors have。 As if
one were to wear any sort of coat which the tailor might cut out for
him； or； gradually leaving off palm…leaf hat or cap of woodchuck
skin； complain of hard times because he could not afford to buy him
a crown！ It is possible to invent a house still more convenient and
luxurious than we have； which yet all would admit that man could not
afford to pay for。 Shall we always study to obtain more of these
things； and not sometimes to be content with less？ Shall the
respectable citizen thus gravely teach； by precept and example； the
necessity of the young man's providing a certain number of
superfluous glow…shoes； and umbrellas； and empty guest chambers for
empty guests； before he dies？ Why should not our furniture be as
simple as the Arab's or the Indian's？ When I think of the
benefactors of the race； whom we have apotheosized as messengers
from heaven； bearers of divine gifts to man； I do not see in my mind
any retinue at their heels； any carload of fashionable furniture。
Or what if I were to allow would it not be a singular allowance？
that our furniture should be more complex than the Arab's； in
proportion as we are morally and intellectually his superiors！ At
present our houses are cluttered and defiled with it； and a good
housewife would sweep out the greater part into the dust hole； and
not leave her morning's work undone。 Morning w