CONCORD, August 18, 1857.
DEAR SIR,--Your Wilson Flagg[80] seems a serious person, and it is
encouraging to hear of a contemporary who recognizes Nature so
squarely, and selects such a theme as "Barns." (I would rather "Mount
Auburn" were omitted.) But he is not alert enough. He wants stirring
up with a pole. He should practice turning a series of somersets
rapidly or jump up and see how many times he can strike his feet
together before coming down. Let him make the earth turn round now the
other way, and whet his wits on it, whichever way it goes, as on a
grindstone; in short, see how many ideas he can entertain at once.
His style, as I remember, is singularly vague (I refer to the book),
and, before I got to the end of the sentences, I was off the track. If
you indulge in long periods, you must be sure to have a snapper at the
end. As for style of writing, if one has anything to say, it drops
from him simply and directly, as a stone falls to the ground. There
are no two ways about it, but down it comes, and he may stick in the
points and stops wherever he can get a chance. New ideas come into
this world somewhat like falling meteors, with a flash and an
explosion, and perhaps somebody's castle-roof perforated. To try to
polish the stone in its descent, to give it a peculiar turn, and make
it whistle a tune, perchance, would be of no use, if it were possible.
Your polished stuff turns out not to be meteoric, but of this earth.
However, there is plenty of time, and Nature is an admirable
schoolmistress.
Speaking of correspondence, you ask me if I "cannot turn over a new
leaf in that line." I certainly could if I were to receive it; but
just then I looked up and saw that your page was dated "May 10,"
though mailed in August, and it occurred to me that I had seen you
since that date this year. Looking again, it appeared that your note
was written in '56!! However, it was a _new_ leaf to me, and I _turned
it over_ with as much interest as if it had been written the day
before. Perhaps you kept it so long in order that the manuscript and
subject-matter might be more in keeping with the old-fashioned paper
on which it was written.
I traveled the length of Cape Cod on foot, soon after you were here,
and, within a few days, have returned from the wilds of Maine, where I
have made a journey of three hundred and twenty-five miles with a
canoe and an Indian, and a single white companion,--Edward Hoar, Esq.,
of this town, lately from California,--traversing the head waters of
the Kennebec, Penobscot, and St. John.
Can't you extract any advantage out of that depression of spirits you
refer to? It suggests to me cider-mills, wine-presses, etc., etc. All
kinds of pressure or power should be used and made to turn some kind
of machinery.
Channing was just leaving Concord for Plymouth when I arrived, but
said he should be here again in two or three days.
Please remember me to your family, and say that I have at length
learned to sing "Tom Bowlin" according to the notes.