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hoed them。 The stars are the apexes of what wonderful triangles！
What distant and different beings in the various mansions of the
universe are contemplating the same one at the same moment！ Nature
and human life are as various as our several constitutions。 Who
shall say what prospect life offers to another？ Could a greater
miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for
an instant？ We should live in all the ages of the world in an hour；
ay； in all the worlds of the ages。 History； Poetry； Mythology！ I
know of no reading of another's experience so startling and
informing as this would be。
The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my
soul to be bad； and if I repent of anything； it is very likely to be
my good behavior。 What demon possessed me that I behaved so well？
You may say the wisest thing you can； old man you who have lived
seventy years； not without honor of a kind I hear an irresistible
voice which invites me away from all that。 One generation abandons
the enterprises of another like stranded vessels。
I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do。
We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow
elsewhere。 Nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to our
strength。 The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well…nigh
incurable form of disease。 We are made to exaggerate the importance
of what work we do； and yet how much is not done by us！ or； what if
we had been taken sick？ How vigilant we are！ determined not to live
by faith if we can avoid it； all the day long on the alert； at night
we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to
uncertainties。 So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to
live； reverencing our life； and denying the possibility of change。
This is the only way； we say； but there are as many ways as there
can be drawn radii from one centre。 All change is a miracle to
contemplate； but it is a miracle which is taking place every
instant。 Confucius said； 〃To know that we know what we know； and
that we do not know what we do not know； that is true knowledge。〃
When one man has reduced a fact of the imagination to be a fact to
his understanding； I foresee that all men at length establish their
lives on that basis。
Let us consider for a moment what most of the trouble and
anxiety which I have referred to is about； and how much it is
necessary that we be troubled； or at least careful。 It would be
some advantage to live a primitive and frontier life； though in the
midst of an outward civilization； if only to learn what are the
gross necessaries of life and what methods have been taken to obtain
them； or even to look over the old day…books of the merchants； to
see what it was that men most commonly bought at the stores； what
they stored； that is； what are the grossest groceries。 For the
improvements of ages have had but little influence on the essential
laws of man's existence； as our skeletons； probably； are not to be
distinguished from those of our ancestors。
By the words； necessary of life； I mean whatever； of all that
man obtains by his own exertions； has been from the first； or from
long use has become； so important to human life that few； if any；
whether from savageness； or poverty； or philosophy； ever attempt to
do without it。 To many creatures there is in this sense but one
necessary of life； Food。 To the bison of the prairie it is a few
inches of palatable grass； with water to drink； unless he seeks the
Shelter of the forest or the mountain's shadow。 None of the brute
creation requires more than Food and Shelter。 The necessaries of
life for man in this climate may； accurately enough； be distributed
under the several heads of Food； Shelter； Clothing； and Fuel； for
not till we have secured these are we prepared to entertain the true
problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success。 Man has
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