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invented； not only houses； but clothes and cooked food； and possibly
from the accidental discovery of the warmth of fire； and the
consequent use of it； at first a luxury； arose the present necessity
to sit by it。 We observe cats and dogs acquiring the same second
nature。 By proper Shelter and Clothing we legitimately retain our
own internal heat； but with an excess of these； or of Fuel； that is；
with an external heat greater than our own internal； may not cookery
properly be said to begin？ Darwin； the naturalist； says of the
inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego； that while his own party； who were
well clothed and sitting close to a fire； were far from too warm；
these naked savages； who were farther off； were observed； to his
great surprise； 〃to be streaming with perspiration at undergoing
such a roasting。〃 So； we are told； the New Hollander goes naked
with impunity； while the European shivers in his clothes。 Is it
impossible to combine the hardiness of these savages with the
intellectualness of the civilized man？ According to Liebig； man's
body is a stove； and food the fuel which keeps up the internal
combustion in the lungs。 In cold weather we eat more； in warm less。
The animal heat is the result of a slow combustion； and disease and
death take place when this is too rapid； or for want of fuel； or
from some defect in the draught； the fire goes out。 Of course the
vital heat is not to be confounded with fire； but so much for
analogy。 It appears； therefore； from the above list； that the
expression； animal life； is nearly synonymous with the expression；
animal heat； for while Food may be regarded as the Fuel which keeps
up the fire within us and Fuel serves only to prepare that Food
or to increase the warmth of our bodies by addition from without
Shelter and Clothing also serve only to retain the heat thus
generated and absorbed。
The grand necessity； then； for our bodies； is to keep warm； to
keep the vital heat in us。 What pains we accordingly take； not only
with our Food； and Clothing； and Shelter； but with our beds； which
are our night…clothes； robbing the nests and breasts of birds to
prepare this shelter within a shelter； as the mole has its bed of
grass and leaves at the end of its burrow！ The poor man is wont to
complain that this is a cold world； and to cold； no less physical
than social； we refer directly a great part of our ails。 The
summer； in some climates； makes possible to man a sort of Elysian
life。 Fuel； except to cook his Food； is then unnecessary； the sun
is his fire； and many of the fruits are sufficiently cooked by its
rays； while Food generally is more various； and more easily
obtained； and Clothing and Shelter are wholly or half unnecessary。
At the present day； and in this country； as I find by my own
experience； a few implements； a knife； an axe； a spade； a
wheelbarrow； etc。； and for the studious； lamplight； stationery； and
access to a few books； rank next to necessaries； and can all be
obtained at a trifling cost。 Yet some； not wise； go to the other
side of the globe； to barbarous and unhealthy regions； and devote
themselves to trade for ten or twenty years； in order that they may
live that is； keep comfortably warm and die in New England at
last。 The luxuriously rich are not simply kept comfortably warm；
but unnaturally hot； as I implied before； they are cooked； of course
a la mode。
Most of the luxuries； and many of the so…called comforts of
life； are not only not indispensable； but positive hindrances to the
elevation of mankind。 With respect to luxuries and comforts； the
wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor。
The ancient philosophers； Chinese； Hindoo； Persian； and Greek； were
a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches； none so
rich in inward。 We know not much about them。 It is remarkable that
we know so much of them as we do。 The same is true of the more
modern reformers and benefactors of their race。 None can be an
impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground
of what we should call voluntary poverty。 Of a life of luxury the
fruit is luxury； whether in agriculture； or commerce； or literature；
or art。 There are nowadays professors of philosophy； but not
philosophers。 Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once
admirable to live。 To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle
thoughts； nor even to found a school； but so to love wisdom as to
live according to its dictates； a life of simplicity； independence；
magnanimity； and trust。 It is to solve some of the problems of
life； not only theoretically； but practically。 The success of great
scholars and thinkers is commonly a courtier…like success； not
kingly； not manly。 They make shift to live merely by conformity；
practically as their fathers did； and are in no sense the
progenitors of a noble race of men。 But why do men degenerate ever？
What makes families run out？ What is the nature of the luxury which
enervates and destroys nations？ Are we sure that there is none of
it in our own lives？ The philosopher is in advance of his age even
in the outward form of his life。 He is not fed； sheltered； clothed；
warmed； like his contemporaries。 How can a man be a philosopher and
not maintain his vital heat by better methods than other men？
When a man is warmed by the several modes which I have
described； what does he want next？ Surely not more warmth of the
same kind； as more and richer food； larger and more splendid houses；
finer and more abundant clothing； more numerous； incessant； and
hotter fires； and the like。 When he has obtained those things which
are necessary to life； there is another alternative than to obtain
the superfluities； and that is； to adventure on life now； his
vacation from humbler toil having commenced。 The soil； it appears；
is suited to the seed； for it has sent its radicle downward； and it
may now send its shoot upward also with confidence。 Why has man
rooted himself thus firmly in the earth； but that he may rise in the
same proportion into the heavens above？ for the nobler plants are
valued for the fruit they bear at last in the air and light； far
from the ground； and are not treated like the humbler esculents；
which； though they may be biennials； are cultivated only till they
have perfected their root； and often cut down at top for this
purpose； so that most would not know them in their flowering season。
I do not mean to prescribe rules to strong and valiant natures；
who will mind their own affairs whether in heaven or hell； and
perchance build more magnificently and spend more lavishly than the
richest； without ever impoverishing themselves； not knowing how they
live if； indeed； there are any such； as has been dreamed； nor to
those who find their encouragement and inspiration in precisely the
present condition of things； and cherish it with the fondness and
enthusiasm of lovers and； to some extent； I reckon myself in this
number； I do not speak to those who are well employed； in whatever
circumstances； and they know whether they are well employed or not；
but mainly to the mass of men who are discontented； and idly
complaining of the hardness of their lot or of the times； when they
might improve them。 There are some who complain most energetically
and inconsolably of any； because they are； as they say； doing their
duty。 I also have in my mind that seemingly wealthy； but most
terribly impoverished class of all； who have accumulated dross； but
know not how to use it； or get rid of it； and thus have forged their
own golden or silver fetters。
If I should attempt to tell how I have desired to spend my life
in years past； it would probably surprise those of my readers who
are somewhat acquainted with its actual history； it would certainly
astonish those who know nothing about it。 I will only hint at some
of the enterprises which I have cherished。
In any weather； at any hour of the day or night； I have been
anxious to improve the nick of time； and notch it on my stick too；
to stand on the meeting of two eternities； the past and future；
which is precisely the present moment； to toe that line。 You will
pardon some obscurities； for there are more secrets in my trade than
in most men's； and yet not voluntarily kept； but inseparable from
its very nature。 I would gladly tell all that I know about it； and
never paint 〃No Admittance〃 on my gate。
I long ago lost a hound； a bay horse； and a turtle dove； and am
still on their trail。 Many are the travellers I have spoken
concerning them； describing their tracks and what calls they
answered to。 I have met one or two who had heard the hound； and the
tramp of the horse； and even seen the dove disappear behind a cloud；
and they seemed as anxious to recover them as if they had lost them
themselves。
To anticipate； not the sunrise and the dawn merely； but； if
possible；