14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THOREAU. 



ance he had formed, he honored with exceptional re 

 gard. Before the first friendly word had been spoken 

 for Captain John Brown, after the arrest, he sent no 

 tices to most houses in Concord, that he would speak 

 in a public hall on the condition and character of 

 John Brown, on Sunday evening, and invited all to 

 come. The Republican Committee, the Abolitionist 

 Committee, sent him word that it was premature and 

 not advisable. He replied, &quot; I did not send to you 

 for advice, but to announce that I am to speak.&quot; The 

 hall was filled at an early hour by people of all par 

 ties, and his earnest eulogy of the hero was heard by 

 all respectfully, by many with a sympathy that sur 

 prised themselves. 



It was said of Plotinus that he was ashamed of his 

 body, and t is ver} r likely he had good reason for it, 

 that his body was a bad servant, and he had not 

 skill in dealing with the material world, as happens 

 often to men of abstract intellect. But Mr. Thoreau 

 was equipped with a most adapted and serviceable 

 body. He was of short stature, firmly built, of light 

 complexion, with strong, serious blue eyes, and a 

 grave aspect, his face covered in the late years with 

 a becoming beard. His senses were acute, his frame 

 well-knit and hardy, his hands strong and skilful in 

 the use of tools. And there was a wonderful fitness 

 of body and mind. He could pace sixteen rods more 

 accurately than another man could measure them with 

 rod and chain. He could find his path in the woods 

 at night, he said, better by his feet than his eyes. 

 He could estimate the measure of a tree very well by 

 his eye ; he could estimate the weight of a calf or a 

 pig, like a dealer. From a box containing a bushel 

 or more of loose pencils, he could take up with his 



