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immaterial heaven will appear as much higher to the American
mind； and the intimations that star it as much brighter。 For I
believe that climate does thus react on manas there is
something in the mountain air that feeds the spirit and inspires。
Will not man grow to greater perfection intellectually as well as
physically under these influences？ Or is it unimportant how many
foggy days there are in his life？ I trust that we shall be more
imaginative； that our thoughts will be clearer； fresher； and more
ethereal； as our skyour understanding more comprehensive and
broader； like our plainsour intellect generally on a grander
seale； like our thunder and lightning； our rivers and mountains
and forests…and our hearts shall even correspond in breadth and
depth and grandeur to our inland seas。 Perchance there will
appear to the traveler something； he knows not what； of laeta and
glabra； of joyous and serene； in our very faces。 Else to what end
does the world go on； and why was America discovered？
To Americans I hardly need to say
〃Westward the star of empire takes its way。〃
As a true patriot； I should be ashamed to think that Adam in
paradise was more favorably situated on the whole than the
backwoodsman in this country。
Our sympathies in Massachusetts are not confined to New England；
though we may be estranged from the South； we sympathize with the
West。 There is the home of the younger sons； as among the
Scandinavians they took to the sea for their inheritance。 It is
too late to be studying Hebrew； it is more important to
understand even the slang of today。
Some months ago I went to see a panorama of the Rhine。 It was
like a dream of the Middle Ages。 I floated down its historic
stream in something more than imagination； under bridges built by
the Romans； and repaired by later heroes； past cities and castles
whose very names were music to my ears； and each of which was the
subject of a legend。 There were Ehrenbreitstein and Rolandseck
and Coblentz； which I knew only in history。 They were ruins that
interested me chiefly。 There seemed to come up from its waters
and its vine…clad hills and valleys a hushed music as of
Crusaders departing for the Holy Land。 I floated along under the
spell of enchantment； as if I had been transported to an heroic
age； and breathed an atmosphere of chivalry。
Soon after； I went to see a panorama of the Mississippi； and as I
worked my way up the river in the light of today； and saw the
steamboats wooding up； counted the rising cities； gazed on the
fresh ruins of Nauvoo； beheld the Indians moving west across the
stream； and； as before I had looked up the Moselle； now looked up
the Ohio and the Missouri and heard the legends of Dubuque and of
Wenona's Cliffstill thinking more of the future than of the
past or presentI saw that this was a Rhine stream of a
different kind； that the foundations of castles were yet to be
laid； and the famous bridges were yet to be thrown over the
river； and I felt that THIS WAS THE HEROIC AGE ITSELF； though we
know it not； for the hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest
of men。
The West of which I speak is but another name for the Wild； and
what I have been preparing to say is； that in Wildness is the
preservation of the World。 Every tree sends its fibers forth in
search of the Wild。 The cities import it at any price。 Men plow
and sail for it。 From the forest and wilderness come the tonics
and barks which brace mankind。 Our ancestors were savages。 The
story of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf is not a
meaningless fable。 The founders of every state which has risen to
eminence have drawn their nourishment and vigor from a similar
wild source。 It was because the children of the Empire were not
suckled by the wolf that they were conquered and displaced by the
children of the northern forests who were。
I believe in the forest； and in the meadow； and in the night in
which the corn grows。 We require an infusion of hemlock； spruce
or arbor vitae in our tea。 There is a difference between eating
and drinking for strength and from mere gluttony。 The Hottentots
eagerly devour the marrow of the koodoo and other antelopes raw；
as a matter of course。 Some of our northern Indians eat raw the
marrow of the Arctic reindeer； as well as various other parts；
including the summits of the antlers； as long as they are soft。
And herein； perchance； they have stolen a march on the cooks of
Paris。 They get what usually goes to feed the fire。 This is
probably better than stall…fed beef and slaughterhouse pork to
make a man of。 Give me a wildness whose glance no civilization
can endureas if we lived on the marrow of koodoos devoured raw。
There are some intervals which border the strain of the wood
thrush； to which I would migratewild lands where no settler has
squatted； to which； methinks； I am already acclimated。
The African hunter Cumming tells us that the skin of the eland；
as well as that of most other antelopes just killed； emits the
most delicious perfume of trees and grass。 I would have every man
so much like a wild antelope； so much a part and parcel of
nature； that his very person should thus sweetly advertise our
senses of his presence； and remind us of those parts of nature
which he most haunts。 I feel no disposition to be satirical； when
the trapper's coat emits the odor of musquash even； it is a
sweeter scent to me than that which commonly exhales from the
merchant's or the scholar's garments。 When I go into their
wardrobes and handle their vestments； I am reminded of no grassy
plains and flowery meads which they have frequented； but of dusty
merchants' exchanges and libraries rather。
A tanned skin is something more than respectable； and perhaps
olive is a fitter color than white for a mana denizen of the
woods。 〃The pale white man！〃 I do not wonder that the African
pitied him。 Darwin the naturalist says； 〃A white man bathing by
the side of a Tahitian was like a plant bleached by the
gardener's art； compared with a fine； dark green one； growing
vigorously in the open fields。〃
Ben Jonson exclaims；
〃How near to good is what is fair！〃
So I would say；
〃How near to good is what is WILD！〃
Life consists with wildness。 The most alive is the wildest。 Not
yet subdued to man； its presence refreshes him。 One who pressed
forward incessantly and never rested from his labors； who grew
fast and made infinite demands on life； would always find himself
in a new country or wilderness； and surrounded by the raw
material of life。 He would be climbing over the prostrate stems
of primitive forest trees。
Hope and the future for me are not in lawns and cultivated
fields； not in towns and cities； but in the impervious and
quaking swamps。 When； formerly； I have analyzed my partiality for
some farm which I had contemplated purchasing； I have frequently
found that I was attracted solely by a few square rods o