atbeholdingthecostumeofHenryVIII.,orQueenElizabeth,asmuchasifitwasthatoftheKingandQueenoftheCannibalIslands.Allcostumeoffamanispitifulorgrotesque.Itisonlytheseriouseyepeeringfromandthesincerelifepassedwithinit,whichrestrainlaughterandconsecratethecostumeofanypeople.LetHarlequinbetakenwithafitofthecolicandhistrappingswillhavetoservethatmoodtoo.Whenthesoldierishitbyacannonballragsareasbecomingaspurple.
Thechildishandsavagetasteofmenandwomenfornewpatternskeepshowmanyshakingandsquintingthroughkaleidoscopesthattheymaydiscovertheparticularfigurewhichthisgenerationrequirestoday.Themanufacturershavelearnedthatthistasteismerelywhimsical.Oftwopatternswhichdifferonlybyafewthreadsmoreorlessofaparticularcolor,theonewillbesoldreadily,theotherlieontheshelf,thoughitfrequentlyhappensthatafterthelapseofaseasonthelatterbecomesthemostfashionable.Comparatively,tattooingisnotthehideouscustomwhichitiscalled.Itisnotbarbarousmerelybecausetheprintingisskin-deepandunalterable.
Icannotbelievethatourfactorysystemisthebestmodebywhichmenmaygetclothing.TheconditionoftheoperativesisbecomingeverydaymorelikethatoftheEnglishanditcannotbewonderedat,since,asfarasIhaveheardorobserved,theprincipalobjectis,notthatmankindmaybewellandhonestlyclad,but,unquestionably,thatcorporationsmaybeenriched.Inthelongrunmenhitonlywhattheyaimat.Therefore,thoughtheyshouldfailimmediately,theyhadbetteraimatsomethinghigh.
AsforaShelter,Iwillnotdenythatthisisnowanecessaryoflife,thoughthereareinstancesofmenhavingdonewithoutitforlongperiodsincoldercountriesthanthis.SamuelLaingsaysthat“theLaplanderinhisskindress,andinaskinbagwhichheputsoverhisheadandshoulders,willsleepnightafternightonthesnow—inadegreeofcoldwhichwouldextinguishthelifeofoneexposedtoitinanywoollenclothing.”Hehadseenthemasleepthus.Yetheadds,“Theyarenothardierthanotherpeople.”But,probably,mandidnotlivelongontheearthwithoutdiscoveringtheconveniencewhichthereisinahouse,thedomesticcomforts,whichphrasemayhaveoriginallysignifiedthesatisfactionsofthehousemorethanofthefamilythoughthesemustbeextremelypartialandoccasionalinthoseclimateswherethehouseisassociatedinourthoughtswithwinterortherainyseasonchiefly,andtwothirdsoftheyear,exceptforaparasol,isunnecessary.Inourclimate,inthesummer,itwasformerlyalmostsolelyacoveringatnight.IntheIndiangazettesawigwamwasthesymbolofaday’smarch,andarowofthemcutorpaintedonthebarkofatreesignifiedthatsomanytimestheyhadcamped.Manwasnotmadesolargelimbedandrobustbutthathemustseektonarrowhisworld,andwallinaspacesuchasfittedhim.Hewasatfirstbareandoutofdoorsbutthoughthiswaspleasantenoughinsereneandwarmweather,bydaylight,therainyseasonandthewinter,tosaynothingofthetorridsun,wouldperhapshavenippedhisraceinthebudifhehadnotmadehastetoclothehimselfwiththeshelterofahouse.AdamandEve,accordingtothefable,worethebowerbeforeotherclothes.Manwantedahome,aplaceofwarmth,orcomfort,firstofphysicalwarmth,thenthewarmthoftheaffections.
Wemayimagineatimewhen,intheinfancyofthehumanrace,someenterprisingmortalcreptintoahollowinarockforshelter.Everychildbeginstheworldagain,tosomeextent,andlovestostayoutdoors,eveninwetandcold.Itplayshouse,aswellashorse,havinganinstinctforit.Whodoesnotremembertheinterestwithwhichwhenyounghelookedatshelvingrocks,oranyapproachtoacave?Itwasthenaturalyearningofthatportionofourmostprimitiveancestorwhichstillsurvivedinus.Fromthecavewehaveadvancedtoroofsofpalmleaves,ofbarkandboughs,oflinenwovenandstretched,ofgrassandstraw,ofboardsandshingles,ofstonesandtiles.Atlast,weknownotwhatitistoliveintheopenair,andourlivesaredomesticinmoresensesthanwethink.Fromthehearthtothefieldisagreatdistance.Itwouldbewellperhapsifweweretospendmoreofourdaysandnightswithoutanyobstructionbetweenusandthecelestialbodies,ifthepoetdidnotspeaksomuchfromunderaroof,orthesaintdwelltheresolong.Birdsdonotsingincaves,nordodovescherishtheirinnocenceindovecots.
However,ifonedesignstoconstructadwellinghouse,itbehooveshimtoexercisealittleYankeeshrewdness,lestafterallhefindhimselfinaworkhouse,alabyrinthwithoutaclue,amuseum,analmshouse,aprison,orasplendidmausoleuminstead.Considerfirsthowslightashelterisabsolutelynecessary.IhaveseenPenobscotIndians,inthistown,livingintentsofthincottoncloth,whilethesnowwasnearlyafootdeeparoundthem,andIthoughtthattheywouldbegladtohaveitdeepertokeepoutthewind.Formerly,whenhowtogetmylivinghonestly,withfreedomleftformyproperpursuits,wasaquestionwhichvexedmeevenmorethanitdoesnow,forunfortunatelyIambecomesomewhatcallous,Iusedtoseealargeboxbytherailroad,sixfeetlongbythreewide,inwhichthelaborerslockeduptheirtoolsatnight,anditsuggestedtomethateverymanwhowashardpushedmightgetsuchaoneforadollar,and,havingboredafewaugerholesinit,toadmittheairatleast,getintoitwhenitrainedandatnight,andhookdownthelid,andsohavefreedominhislove,andinhissoulbefree.Thisdidnotappeartheworst,norbyanymeansadespicablealternative.Youcouldsitupaslateasyoupleased,and,wheneveryougotup,goabroadwithoutanylandlordorhouse-lorddoggingyouforrent.Manyamanisharassedtodeathtopaytherentofalargerandmoreluxuriousboxwhowouldnothavefrozentodeathinsuchaboxasthis.Iamfarfromjesting.Economyisasubjectwhichadmitsofbeingtreatedwithlevity,butitcannotsobedisposedof.Acomfortablehouseforarudeandhardyrace,thatlivedmostlyoutofdoors,wasoncemadeherealmostentirelyofsuchmaterialsasNaturefurnishedreadytotheirhands.Gookin,whowassuperintendentoftheIndianssubjecttotheMassachusettsColony,writingin1674,says,“Thebestoftheirhousesarecoveredveryneatly,tightandwarm,withbarksoftrees,slippedfromtheirbodiesatthoseseasonswhenthesapisup,andmadeintogreatflakes,withpressureofweightytimber,whentheyaregreen....Themeanersortarecoveredwithmatswhichtheymakeofakindofbulrush,andarealsoindifferentlytightandwarm,butnotsogoodastheformer....SomeIhaveseen,sixtyorahundredfeetlongandthirtyfeetbroad....Ihaveoftenlodgedintheirwigwams,andfoundthemaswarmasthebestEnglishhouses.”Headds,thattheywerecommonlycarpetedandlinedwithinwithwell-wroughtembroideredmats,andwerefurnishedwithvariousutensils.TheIndianshadadvancedsofarastoregulatetheeffectofthewindbyamatsuspendedovertheholeintheroofandmovedbyastring.Suchalodgewasinthefirstinstanceconstructedinadayortwoatmost,andtakendownandputupinafewhoursandeveryfamilyownedone,oritsapartmentinone.
Inthesavagestateeveryfamilyownsashelterasgoodasthebest,andsufficientforitscoarserandsimplerwantsbutIthinkthatIspeakwithinboundswhenIsaythat,thoughthebirdsoftheairhavetheirnests,andthefoxestheirholes,andthesavagestheirwigwams,inmoderncivilizedsocietynotmorethanonehalfthefamiliesownashelter.Inthelargetownsandcities,wherecivilizationespeciallyprevails,thenumberofthosewhoownashelterisaverysmallfractionofthewhole.Therestpayanannualtaxforthisoutsidegarmentofall,becomeindispensablesummerandwinter,whichwouldbuyavillageofIndianwigwams,butnowhelpstokeepthempooraslongastheylive.Idonotmeantoinsisthereonthedisadvantageofhiringcomparedwithowning,butitisevidentthatthesavageownshisshelterbecauseitcostssolittle,whilethecivilizedmanhireshiscommonlybecausehecannotaffordtoownitnorcanhe,inthelongrun,anybetteraffordtohire.But,answersone,bymerelypayingthistaxthepoorcivilizedmansecuresanabodewhichisapalacecomparedwiththesavage’s.Anannualrentoffromtwenty-fivetoahundreddollars,thesearethecountryrates,entitleshimtothebenefitoftheimprovementsofcenturies,spaciousapartments,cleanpaintandpaper,Rumfordfireplace,backplastering,Venetianblinds,copperpump,springlock,acommodiouscellar,andmanyotherthings.Buthowhappensitthathewhoissaidtoenjoythesethingsissocommonlyapoorcivilizedman,whilethesavage,whohasthemnot,isrichasasavage?Ifitisassertedthatcivilizationisarealadvanceintheconditionofman,—andIthinkthatitis,thoughonlythewiseimprovetheiradvantages,—itmustbeshownthatithasproducedbetterdwellingswithoutmakingthemmorecostlyandthecostofathingistheamountofwhatIwillcalllifewhichisrequiredtobeexchangedforit,immediatelyorinthelongrun.Anaveragehouseinthisneighborhoodcostsperhapseighthundreddollars,andtolayupthissumwilltakefromtentofifteenyearsofthelaborer’slife,evenifheisnotencumberedwithafamily—estimatingthepecuniaryvalueofeveryman’slaboratonedollaraday,forifsomereceivemore,othersreceiveless—sothathemusthavespentmorethanhalfhislifecommonlybeforehiswigwamwillbeearned.Ifwesupposehimtopayarentinstead,thisisbutadoubtfulchoiceofevils.Wouldthesavagehavebeenwisetoexchangehiswigwamforapalaceontheseterms?
ItmaybeguessedthatIreducealmostthewholeadvantageofholdingthissuperfluouspropertyasafundinstoreagainstthefuture,sofarastheindividualisconcerned,mainlytothedefrayingoffuneralexpenses.Butperhapsamanisnotrequiredtoburyhimself.Neverthelessthispointstoanimportantdistinctionbetweenthecivilizedmanandthesavageand,nodoubt,theyhavedesignsonusforourbenefit,inmakingthelifeofacivilizedpeopleaninstitution,inwhichthelifeoftheindividualistoagreatextentabsorbed,inordertopreserveandperfectthatoftherace.ButIwishtoshowatwhatasacrificethisadvantageisatpresentobtained,andtosuggestthatwemaypossiblysoliveastosecurealltheadvantagewithoutsufferinganyofthedisadvantage.Whatmeanyebysayingthatthepooryehavealwayswithyou,orthatthefathershaveeatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steetharesetonedge?
“AsIlive,saiththeLordGod,yeshallnothaveoccasionanymoretousethisproverbinIsrael.”
“Beholdallsoulsaremineasthesoulofthefather,soalsothesoulofthesonismine:thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie.”
WhenIconsidermyneighbors,thefarmersofConcord,whoareatleastaswelloffastheotherclasses,Ifindthatforthemostparttheyhavebeentoilingtwenty,thirty,orfortyyears,thattheymaybecometherealownersoftheirfarms,whichcommonlytheyhaveinheritedwithencumbrances,orelseboughtwithhiredmoney,—andwemayregardonethirdofthattoilasthecostoftheirhouses,—butcommonlytheyhavenotpaidforthemyet.Itistrue,theencumbrancessometimesoutweighthevalueofthefarm,sothatthefarmitselfbecomesonegreatencumbrance,andstillamanisfoundtoinheritit,beingwellacquaintedwithit,ashesays.Onapplyingtotheassessors,Iamsurprisedtolearnthattheycannotatoncenameadozeninthetownwhoowntheirfarmsfreeandclear.Ifyouwouldknowthehistoryofthesehomesteads,inquireatthebankwheretheyaremortgaged.Themanwhohasactuallypaidforhisfarmwithlaboronitissorarethateveryneighborcanpointtohim.IdoubtiftherearethreesuchmeninConcord.Whathasbeensaidofthemerchants,thataverylargemajority,evenninety-seveninahundred,aresuretofail,isequallytrueofthefarmers.Withregardtothemerchants,however,oneofthemsayspertinentlythatagreatpartoftheirfailuresarenotgenuinepecuniaryfailures,butmerelyfailurestofulfiltheirengagements,becauseitisinconvenientthatis,itisthemoralcharacterthatbreaksdown.Butthisputsaninfinitelyworsefaceonthematter,andsuggests,beside,thatprobablynoteventheotherthreesucceedinsavingtheirsouls,butareperchancebankruptinaworsesensethantheywhofailhonestly.Bankruptcyandrepudiationarethespringboardsfromwhichmuchofourcivilizationvaultsandturnsitssomersets,butthesavagestandsontheunelasticplankoffamine.YettheMiddlesexCattleShowgoesoffherewithéclatannually,asifallthejointsoftheagriculturalmachineweresuent.
Thefarmerisendeavoringtosolvetheproblemofalivelihoodbyaformulamorecomplicatedthantheproblemitself.Togethisshoestringshespeculatesinherdsofcattle.Withconsummateskillhehassethistrapwithahairspringtocatchcomfortandindependence,andthen,asheturnedaway,gothisownlegintoit.Thisisthereasonheispoorandforasimilarreasonweareallpoorinrespecttoathousandsavagecomforts,thoughsurroundedbyluxuries.AsChapmansings,—
“Thefalsesocietyofmen—
—forearthlygreatness
Allheavenlycomfortsrarefiestoair.”
Andwhenthefarmerhasgothishouse,hemaynotbethericherbutthepoorerforit,anditbethehousethathasgothim.AsIunderstandit,thatwasavalidobjectionurgedbyMomusagainstthehousewhic