C xxii ] 



be observed in Concord." Sometimes this extolling of 

 his native region was too much for the patience of his 

 listeners. One lady — the mother of Senator Hoar — 

 complained, "Henry talks about Nature just as if she 

 had been born and brought up in Concord." (This 

 remark, of course, was intended as a mild criticism, 

 but Concord people to-day are inclined to view it as 

 really involving a threefold compliment: a compli- 

 ment to the speaker for her unconscious discernment 

 of Thoreau's genius, a compliment to Thoreau for his 

 lofty appreciation of Nature, and a compliment to 

 Nature herself as indicating her good sense in being 

 willing to be born and brought up in Concord!) 



It is not necessary, however, to assume that Na- 

 ture wears a special halo in Concord. Doubtless Mr. 

 Emerson was correct in saying: "I think his fancy for 

 referring everything to the meridian of Concord did 

 not grow out of any ignorance or depreciation of other 

 longitudes or latitudes, but was rather a playful ex- 

 pression of his conviction of the indifferency of all 

 places, and that the best place for each is where he 

 stands. He expressed it once in this wise: 'I think 

 nothing is to be hoped from you, if this bit of mould 

 under your feet is not sweeter to you to eat than any 

 other in this world, or in any world.'" Or, as Thor- 

 eau said in another place: "Think of the consummate 

 folly of attempting to go away from here! When the 

 constant endeavor should be to get nearer and 'nearer 

 here. Take the shortest way round and stay at home. 



