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the most rapid strides of any nation。 But consider how little this
village does for its own culture。 I do not wish to flatter my
townsmen； nor to be flattered by them； for that will not advance
either of us。 We need to be provoked goaded like oxen； as we
are； into a trot。 We have a comparatively decent system of common
schools； schools for infants only； but excepting the half…starved
Lyceum in the winter； and latterly the puny beginning of a library
suggested by the State； no school for ourselves。 We spend more on
almost any article of bodily aliment or ailment than on our mental
aliment。 It is time that we had uncommon schools； that we did not
leave off our education when we begin to be men and women。 It is
time that villages were universities； and their elder inhabitants
the fellows of universities； with leisure if they are； indeed； so
well off to pursue liberal studies the rest of their lives。
Shall the world be confined to one Paris or one Oxford forever？
Cannot students be boarded here and get a liberal education under
the skies of Concord？ Can we not hire some Abelard to lecture to
us？ Alas！ what with foddering the cattle and tending the store； we
are kept from school too long； and our education is sadly neglected。
In this country； the village should in some respects take the place
of the nobleman of Europe。 It should be the patron of the fine
arts。 It is rich enough。 It wants only the magnanimity and
refinement。 It can spend money enough on such things as farmers and
traders value； but it is thought Utopian to propose spending money
for things which more intelligent men know to be of far more worth。
This town has spent seventeen thousand dollars on a town…house；
thank fortune or politics； but probably it will not spend so much on
living wit； the true meat to put into that shell； in a hundred
years。 The one hundred and twenty…five dollars annually subscribed
for a Lyceum in the winter is better spent than any other equal sum
raised in the town。 If we live in the Nineteenth Century； why
should we not enjoy the advantages which the Nineteenth Century
offers？ Why should our life be in any respect provincial？ If we
will read newspapers； why not skip the gossip of Boston and take the
best newspaper in the world at once？ not be sucking the pap of
〃neutral family〃 papers； or browsing 〃Olive Branches〃 here in New
England。 Let the reports of all the learned societies come to us；
and we will see if they know anything。 Why should we leave it to
Harper & Brothers and Redding & Co。 to select our reading？ As the
nobleman of cultivated taste surrounds himself with whatever
conduces to his culture genius learning wit books
paintings statuary music philosophical instruments； and the
like； so let the village do not stop short at a pedagogue； a
parson； a sexton； a parish library； and three selectmen； because our
Pilgrim forefathers got through a cold winter once on a bleak rock
with these。 To act collectively is according to the spirit of our
institutions； and I am confident that； as our circumstances are more
flourishing； our means are greater than the nobleman's。 New England
can hire all the wise men in the world to come and teach her； and
board them round the while； and not be provincial at all。 That is
the uncommon school we want。 Instead of noblemen； let us have noble
villages of men。 If it is necessary； omit one bridge over the
river； go round a little there； and throw one arch at least over the
darker gulf of ignorance which surrounds us。