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us improve our opportunities； then； before the evil days come。
What is it that makes it so hard sometimes to determine whither
we will walk？ I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in
Nature； which； if we unconsciously yield to it； will direct us
aright。 It is not indifferent to us which way we walk。 There is a
right way； but we are very liable from heedlessness and stupidity
to take the wrong one。 We would fain take that walk； never yet
taken by us through this actual world； which is perfectly
symbolical of the path which we love to travel in the interior
and ideal world； and sometimes； no doubt； we find it difficult to
choose our direction； because it does not yet exist distinctly in
our idea。
When I go out of the house for a walk； uncertain as yet whither I
will bend my steps； and submit myself to my instinct to decide
for me； I find； strange and whimsical as it may seem； that I
finally and inevitably settle southwest； toward some particular
wood or meadow or deserted pasture or hill in that direction。 My
needle is slow to settle；varies a few degrees； and does not
always point due southwest； it is true； and it has good authority
for this variation； but it always settles between west and
south…southwest。 The future lies that way to me； and the earth
seems more unexhausted and richer on that side。 The outline which
would bound my walks would be； not a circle； but a parabola； or
rather like one of those cometary orbits which have been thought
to be non…returning curves； in this case opening westward； in
which my house occupies the place of the sun。 I turn round and
round irresolute sometimes for a quarter of an hour； until I
decide； for a thousandth time； that I will walk into the
southwest or west。 Eastward I go only by force； but westward I go
free。 Thither no business leads me。 It is hard for me to believe
that I shall find fair landscapes or sufficient wildness and
freedom behind the eastern horizon。 I am not excited by the
prospect of a walk thither； but I believe that the forest which I
see in the western horizon stretches uninterruptedly toward the
setting sun； and there are no towns nor cities in it of enough
consequence to disturb me。 Let me live where I will； on this side
is the city； on that the wilderness； and ever I am leaving the
city more and more； and withdrawing into the wilderness。 I should
not lay so much stress on this fact； if I did not believe that
something like this is the prevailing tendency of my countrymen。
I must walk toward Oregon； and not toward Europe。 And that way
the nation is moving； and I may say that mankind progress from
east to west。 Within a few years we have witnessed the phenomenon
of a southeastward migration； in the settlement of Australia； but
this affects us as a retrograde movement； and； judging from the
moral and physical character of the first generation of
Australians； has not yet proved a successful experiment。 The
eastern Tartars think that there is nothing west beyond Thibet。
〃The world ends there；〃 say they； 〃beyond there is nothing but a
shoreless sea。〃 It is unmitigated East where they live。
We go eastward to realize history and study the works of art and
literature； retracing the steps of the race； we go westward as
into the future； with a spirit of enterprise and adventure。 The
Atlantic is a Lethean stream； in our passage over which we have
had an opportunity to forget the Old World and its institutions。
If we do not succeed this time； there is perhaps one more chance
for the race left before it arrives on the banks of the Styx； and
that is in the Lethe of the Pacific； which is three times as
wide。
I know not how significant it is； or how far it is an evidence of
singularity； that an individual should thus consent in his
pettiest walk with the general movement of the race； but I know
that something akin to the migratory instinct in birds and
quadrupedswhich； in some instances； is known to have affected
the squirrel tribe； impelling them to a general and mysterious
movement； in which they were seen； say some； crossing the
broadest rivers； each on its particular chip； with its tail
raised for a sail； and bridging narrower streams with their
deadthat something like the furor which affects the domestic
cattle in the spring； and which is referred to a worm in their
tails；affects both nations and individuals； either perennially
or from time to time。 Not a flock of wild geese cackles over our
town； but it to some extent unsettles the value of real estate
here； and； if I were a broker； I should probably take that
disturbance into account。
〃Than longen folk to gon on pilgrimages；
And palmeres for to seken strange strondes。〃
Every sunset which I witness inspires me with the desire to go to
a West as distant and as fair as that into which the sun goes
down。 He appears to migrate westward daily； and tempt us to
follow him。 He is the Great Western Pioneer whom the nations
follow。 We dream all night of those mountain…ridges in the
horizon； though they may be of vapor only； which were last gilded
by his rays。 The island of Atlantis； and the islands and gardens
of the Hesperides； a sort of terrestrial paradise； appear to have
been the Great West of the ancients； enveloped in mystery and
poetry。 Who has not seen in imagination； when looking into the
sunset sky； the gardens of the Hesperides； and the foundation of
all those fables？
Columbus felt the westward tendency more strongly than any
before。 He obeyed it； and found a New World for Castile and Leon。
The herd of men in those days scented fresh pastures from afar；
〃And now the sun had stretched out all the hills；
And now was dropped into the western bay；
At last HE rose； and twitched his mantle blue；
Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new。〃
Where on the globe can there be found an area of equal extent
with that occupied by the bulk of our States； so fertile and so
rich and varied in its productions； and at the same time so
habitable by the European； as this is？ Michaux； who knew but part
of them； says that 〃the species of large trees are much more
numerous in North America than in Europe； in the United States
there are more than one hundred and forty species that exceed
thirty feet in height； in France there are but thirty that attain
this size。〃 Later botanists more than confirm his observations。
Humboldt came to America to realize his youthful dreams of a
tropical vegetation； and he beheld it in its greatest perfection
in the primitive forests of the Amazon； the most gigantic
wilderness on the earth； which he has so eloquently described。
The geographer Guyot； himself a European； goes fartherfarther
than I am ready to follow him； yet not when he says： 〃As the
plant is made for the animal； as the vegetable world is made for
the animal world； America is made for the man of the Old
World。。。。 The man of the Old World sets out upon his way。 Leaving
the highlands of Asia； he descends from station to station
towards Europe。 Each of his steps is marked by a new civilization
superior to the preceding； by a greater power of development。
Arrived at the Atlantic； he pauses on the shore of this unknown
ocean； the bounds of which he knows not； and turns upon his
footprints for an instant。〃 When he has exhausted the rich soil
of Europe； and reinvigorated himself； 〃then recommences his
adventurous career westward as in the earliest ages。〃 So far
Guyot。
From this western impulse coming in contact with the barrier of
the Atlantic sprang the commerce and enterprise of modern times。
The younger Michaux； in his Travels West of the Alleghanies in
1802； says that the common inquiry in the newly settled West was；
〃'From what part of the world have you come？' As if these vast
and fertile regions would naturally be the place of meeting and
common country of all the inhabitants of the globe。〃
To use an obsolete Latin word； I might say； Ex Oriente lux； ex
Occidente FRUX。 From the East light； from the West fruit。
Sir Francis Head； an English traveler and a Governor…General of
Canada； tells us that 〃in both the northern and southern
hemispheres of the New World； Nature has not only outlined her
works on a larger scale； but has painted the whole picture with
brighter and more costly colors than she used in delineating and
in beautifying the Old World。。。。 The heavens of America appear
infinitely higher； the sky is bluer； the air is fresher； the cold
is intenser； the moon looks larger； the stars are brighter the
thunder is louder； the lightning is vivider； the wind is
stronger； the rain is heavier； the mountains are higher； the
rivers longer； the forests bigger； the plains broader。〃 This
statement will do at least to set against Buffon's account of
this part of the world and its productions。
Linnaeus said long ago； 〃Nescio quae facies laeta； glabra plantis
Americanis〃 （