C xxiv ] 



that he was fresh from scenes of superlative grandeur 

 in the Canadian Alps, was enthusiastic over the view 

 from this little hill, declaring it one of the most beau- 

 tiful he had ever seen. After all, Thoreau's comment 

 applies to any view, from whatever summit: "There 

 is just as much beauty visible to us in the landscape 

 as we are prepared to appreciate, — not a grain 

 more"; and if he could see more from Annursnack 

 Hill than most people can see from the top of Pike's 

 Peak, — why, the simple truth is that he was better 

 prepared to appreciate what he saw. 



The years which have passed since Thoreau wrote 

 the last page in his journal have witnessed many 

 changes in Concord — some of which he would have 

 welcomed but most of which he would have deplored. 

 White Pond and the Leaning Hemlocks were long 

 ago "prophaned" by the railway. Baker Farm, Lee's 

 Hill, Conantum, Fair Haven Hill, Nashawtuc, Punk- 

 atasset, Bear Hill, and Three Friends' Hill are crowned 

 by sumptuous private residences. Large areas over 

 which Thoreau used to roam, exulting in their wild- 

 ness and freedom, are now placarded everywhere with 

 the forbidding sign "No Trespassing." Clamshell 

 Bank, that priceless (to him) relic of Indian days, 

 comes within the domain of a large hospital. The 

 J. P. Brown Farm now belongs to the Concord Coun- 

 try Club, and its extensive grass lands in which Thor- 

 eau took peculiar delight have been " converted into 

 an elaborate golf course, Nut Meadow Brook, which 



