New England renaissance; Little strangeness between us

Let's go through education in early New England. Found a religion in early New England. The New England run its own. Run of. This is Donald born professor of humanities at Boston University. Any study of the New England Renaissance and the activities of the

transcendentalists would not be complete without at least a short discussion of a strange man who not a transcendentalist at least exacted some influence on the movement. A man who knew most of the transcendentalists intimately a man extremely independent has a mystic in his viewpoint of life yet a man with a strange attraction polling around him many friends at the same time driving them off by his door within himself. Such a man was not hurt on this is Rod Wright matter. To understand the story of Nathaniel Hawthorne you must first understand that he came from a very proper rather subdued Puritan family and Cess tree this Puritanism which instilled in the young Hawthorn such elements as quiet pride and sternness moodiness and a tendency toward solitude permeated his entire career. Born in Salem Massachusetts as a youngster he was

sickly and injury made him lame. He spent much of his time in undirected reading and study lying on the rug in the family home almost frantically consuming such books as Spenser's Faerie Queene Thompson's Castle of Indolence Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Shakespeare. He spent part of his boyhood living in Rainman Maine where he developed a love for nature in the woods. One of the peculiarities of my boyhood was a grievous disinclination to go to school and Providence favoring me in this natural repugnance. I never did go half as much as other boys partly owing to delicate health which I made the most of for the purpose and partly because most of the time there were no schools within reach. But the boy developed rapidly all the same. His father died when I started it was very young. The family went to live with their relatives in the mountains. He grew close to his uncles William Manning and Robert Manning whose lives were tied under the sun.

But what if I only operated say 100 cluster and Stagecoach company as Nathaniel moved into his teens a Salem lawyer named Benjamin L. Oliver began to tutor him in Latin and other subjects to prepare him for Boden College in Maine. Young Hawthorne found it difficult to become interested in the customary professions of his time. I do not want to be a doctor and live by men's diseases nor a minister to live by their sins nor a lawyer and live by their quarrels. So I don't see that there is anything left for me to be. Well just an author but authors are always poor devils and therefore Satan may take them ready for college. 1821 he wrote on a stage coach to Brunswick Maine accompanied by his uncle Robert inside the coach. The pair met another man who had already studied for a year a boat and a man later to become a good friend on the sign. I was while I was president of the United States Franklin Pierce of New

Hampshire. At Burton he made other friends to Jonathan solely for ratio bridge. It was great you wrote down a description of the budding young author for posterity. Oh and was a slender lad having a massive head with dark brilliant and most expressive eyes heavy eyebrows and a profusion of dark hair is figure was somewhat singular owing to his carrying his head a little on one side but his walk was square and firm and his manners self-respecting and reserved quiet and most amiable He had great pluck and determination. He was neither morose nor sentimental and though taciturn was invariably cheerful with his chosen friends there was fun and frolic in his disposition. But Jonathan silly also a close friend a man for whom Hawthorne later wrote a passionate memorial after his death in a duel. Jonathan silly found Hawthorne somewhat of an enigma.

I love Hawthorne. I admire him. I do not know him. He lives in a mysterious world of thought and imagination which he never permits me to enter the mysterious were sought and imagination. Perhaps these words best describe no simulcasts on in his life. But college is now over. He returned to Salem where his family now was in 1825. That to spend 15 years in rituals self-imposed solitude wrestling with the problem of becoming a writer. Reading and writing vigorously by eight hundred thirty eight he had published a novel and approximately 44 tales and sketches many of which were excellent. I had always a natural tendency toward seclusion and this I now indulged to the utmost so that for months together I scarcely held human intercourse outside of my own family. Seldom going out except the twilight or only to take the nearest way to the most convenient solitude which was oftenest the sea shore.

The rocks and beaches and vicinity being as fine as any in New England. Once a year I hear about. I used to make an excursion of a few weeks in which I enjoyed as much of life as other people do in the whole year is around. It isn't difficult to imagine a maturing force on standing on a rocky beach. The fading sun framing his growing hair and his massive head gazing into the perspective of the endless water. Here indeed was a self-contained horse on a person the self. The sound the one you'll hear is the one he has rushed to sleep along the road to Salem. During all these years shut up most of the time in his room he was perfecting his writing style enjoying the thrill known only to a very few writers of having

the right words come out smoothly at the right time. He had to develop his art.. Furthermore he had to convince his unconvinced family that he had what it took to be a successful author. Success came very slowly to horse on. That was five years before anything important was published 11 years before his work was reviewed in association with his name years later and 1850 after the success of The Scarlet Letter. He referred to his disappointment was typical of exaggeration. Are there ever such a werry delay in obtaining the slightest recognition from the public as in my case. I sat down by the way side of life like a man under in check but. And the shrubbery sprang up around me and the bushes grew to be saplings and the saplings became trees until no exit appeared possible through the entangling depths of my obscurity. Much of the writing production it turned out during this 13 year period of frustration he

burned the influence of his entire experience of learning the hard way the art of writing in that little room in Salem was later reflected in the characters and descriptions. He introduced into the house of the Seven Gables and his other works. It was in this atmosphere that Hawthorne developed living on the edge of poverty and obscurity. He found himself I was ill at ease with the wealthy and the intellectual of the period. Then he began to come out of his shell a bit. That was in 1837 when he published twice told tales and was given a healthy financial advance on it. There were other encouraging signs to the struggling young writer too. Several articles had been accepted by journals of the time newspapers and magazines had been kind in their reviews of twice told tales and the famous Longfellow soon to be a friend wrote these remarks about the volume. Beautiful sketches are interspersed among the stories like green leaves among flowers. Do this little work we would say ever a sweet book

like children we say. Tell us more. The second and enlarged edition of twice told tales prompted Edgar Allen Poe's well-known comments on the principles underlying the short story. But it is of Hawthorne's tales that we desire principally to speak a skilful literary artist has constructed a tale that some moderate professional success ended the self-imposed apprenticeship years of the great Nathaniel Hawthorne's the time thought and study of the days between 18 25 and 1837 were to be an excellent investment in the days of Hawthorne's future which stretched across on the artist. But what about horse on the man. Did he have no pleasures at all. We had many. Even during the sterile years of self training he took long walks often with close friends. There was more than adequate evidence that he had an adequate interest in those of the opposite sex ranging well away from frivolous flirtations to out on

Fortune a proposal or two at a time as he traveled extensively throughout New England always carefully noting for future reference of people and places he met the years eight hundred thirty eight thousand eight hundred forty five brought new elements to the career of young Hawthorne courtship marriage and life at the old manse in Concord. It was in one thousand thirty eight that Hawthorne met and fell in love with so fi a Peabody daughter of a dentist and sister of Mary Peabody who was to marry Horace Mann and the famous blue stocking. Elizabeth Peabody Elizabeth familiar with Nathaniel's writings especially twice told tales was anxious to meet the budding writer. She maneuvered a visit from him at her house on Charter's street. I was alone in the drawing room but Safire was still an invalid was in her chamber. As soon as I could I ran upstairs to her and said oh it's the fire you must get up and dress and come down the Hawthorns a year and you never saw anything so splendid as he is.

He is handsomer than Lord Byron. She laughed but refused to come remark in that sense. He had called once he would call again. So I went down to them again and we passed a very pleasant evening. So fire Peabody and invalid from the age of 12 worship Ralph Waldo Emerson. Now 27 she was high strung quick witted quick tempered high spirited generous without limit and above all profound and vital in her affections. Hawthorne of course did call again and again and again. He was a friend of Elizabeth's but he was in love with so five by the spring of 1839 so fire and Hawthorne had come to an understanding although they didn't marry until 1842. Now after two years in a political job at the Boston custom house for someone quitting transcendentalism he found was casting its shadow around him emmissions nature had appeared in 1836 the dial. Edited

by Mark would follow the start of the 1940 the Peabody sisters were closely associated with the transcendentalism movement and since hos own was closely associated with the Peabody sisters he was stretched into the midst of the new changes and deep philosophical discussions. Elizabeth Peabody owned a bookstore on West Street which was one of the centers of transcendental activity passed on found by house on West Street both fascinating and forbidding. Fascinating because so if I was there for bedding because of the constant intellectual buzz which went on that intellectual quality which bored him almost to distraction. The bookstore was a busy place indeed the stopping carriages the incessant doorbell testified to the sack. Here in the Peabody bookstore conduct of conversations David and people like Frederick Henry the only one of the

transcendental group who had first hand knowledge of the German philosophy on which the ideas had published many translations in the German transcendental club in its early days were no head to the club. I went to Mr. Harper to be perfectly frank about it Mr. hedge. I haven't delved into good a very much my wife could tell you much about him though if you wish some information. Well I don't exactly want information about him you see I know his work well and I wish just one thing you have to excuse me sir I haven't. There was the clergyman and also arrestees Brunson interested in both religious and social conditions. He was nicknamed the wild giant from Vermont and Orestes was a friend of Channing's and Thoros. There was also there on the Peabody bookstore Jones Barry an eccentric

sort of man a rope a stereo that nobody could understand. He represented the individual spirit in action. He was the poet of the transcendentalists Also present was the Christian socialist and Rik Lama William Henry Channing never was a poor little village infested with such a variety of queer strangely dressed oddly behaved models most of whom took upon themselves to be the important angels of the world's destinies. Yet were simply boys of very intense water. Mr. Mann I have a ticket for one of his doctors which I have secured for you. Please use it. I'm not at home unless it's a fire. My evenings are very precious to me. I would much rather. Be at Mr. Bancroft House this evening. Please come back.

Perhaps so Safire but Providence has given me some business to do which I'm very thankful. This is a. Joint Ripley's translations of modern European literature was sold at the bookstore as well as utopian experiment books which were supposed to embody plain living and high sinking in a common economy. Thoughts on how his opinion as to the feasibility of this idea also. As for socialism it is my lifelong creed that a man has no claim upon his fellow creatures beyond bread and water and a grave unless he can win it by his own strength or skill. Moreover it's quite possible that in its relation to society at large Brook Farm may stand in a position of new hostility rather than a new brotherhood. In April 18 41 However in spite of his lack of sympathy with MOTOS

the prompt book from Hawthorne decided to give it a try. He invested $1000 of his money in the project he hoped to support surprised his wife at the farm which he wasn't able to do to put on more books from was planned as a place where men would think and work. This meant to house on a place where he could write and live but the physical labor upon exhausted him. He got no writing done. Later he satirized a project in the Brightest Day a romance and the celestial railroad book from was not a financial success nor to hos own at least an ideological success he was not at home with a great intellectual minds of men like said to a Paca who occasionally visited Brook problem mind at practice. William Allan George William criticise and charge a Dana by the spring of 1842. He had had enough of a book from he left it still stinging from the

experience of Brook Farm. He went to live in Concord at the old man's words of fire. Now his bride their marriage was to provide the greatest happiness he ever knew. Nobody but we never knew what it is to be married. I thank God above all things that are my life. In the old man's heart Darren found his pen again. He wrote musses from the old man's and many other pieces there. His neighbor Ralph Waldo Emerson was at the peak of his popularity. The two man harps on Emerson are as different as two men could be the stamp of his Puritan ancestry was still on a horse on Emerson had managed to overcome many of the inhibitions of his Puritan background where Emerson was an optimist. Pressed on was still a pessimist. Emerson wrote deep nonfiction for Thrones writing was fiction. Symbolic somber dealing with the idea of sinfulness and the frustrated

potentialities of mankind. The Scarlet Letter. The House of Seven Gables but was part of this theme. Needless to say the two of them Ralph Whero and Faneuil didn't fully understand each other. Up the road my arms however so fire strength from talks improved. Nothing new and so fire surrounded themselves with their friends who frequently came to the old man's to visit Hawthorne was on friendly terms with the other literary men of Concord even though he was not a transcendentalist and did not subscribe to many of their new theories of Margaret Fuller he said. She has stuck herself full of borrowed qualities he made a comment about Channing a protege of Emerson's and original in a small way. He is likely to become more dull and commonplace than even those who keep the ordinary path of life and Amos Bronson a great mystic innovator. There is the spirit of a system in him but not the body of

it even though he admired Emerson as a poet of deep beauty and austere tenderness. He saw nothing from him as a philosopher. He did like and approve of Henry David Thoreau. When Thora left Concord in 1843 Hawthorne wrote on my own account I should like to have them remain here. He being one of the few persons I think with whom to hold intercourse is like hearing the wind among the boughs of a forest tree and with all his wild freedom there is high in class a cultivation and him too while he is not an agreeable person. His books are the work of a true man and full of true thought. So fire who had been active with their friends and family in the transcendentalism movement was at first inclined to quibble with him on his independence but she moved slowly around to his point of view. It is so refreshing to find one person without theories of any kind without party a scepter in tendency. He does not meddle with truth and it lays upon him like the less said sunshine full and broad.

When men nail platforms over the depths of soul we cannot get farther than the platform. But to be drawn forever into a lower deeps seeing only space beyond space. This is the truth and chance and one author Randall Stork says that the old man's power. Nice and cost on us a file of the new Adam and Eve. At least this would have been so that Bill's not come due regularly with little money with which to pay them publishers were slow on their payments and not signing once a file of close to bankruptcy. Occasionally even slipping over the edge of it in 1845 the couple moved to Salem Massachusetts where the assignor continued to write and negotiated for a political job which would improve their financial position. Children came to them in 1846 force on became so they have for the District of Salem and

bubbly and Inspector other revenue for the Port of Salem. His salary twelve hundred dollars per worker was not too strenuous. I spent some three hours of before noon the surveyors office at the Custom House. Usually I spent that time pacing from corner to corner or lounging on the long legged stool with my elbow on the desk my eyes wandering up and down the columns of the morning newspaper. Enjoyed this mixing with the common man more than being exposed to the literary suck of Concord and book form. It broadened his human perspective. After my fellowship with toil and impracticable schemes with the dreamy brother in of Brook Farm. After living for three years within the subtle influence of an intellect like Emerson's after those wild three days on the ass about indulging fantastic speculations beside our fire of fallen

boughs with Ellery Channing after talking with Oro about pine trees and Indian relics in this hermitage at wild and after growing for study as by sympathy with the classic refinement of Longfellow's Hearthstone it was time at length that I should exercise other faculties of my nature and nourish myself with food but which I had hitherto had little appetite. Even the old inspector a man of the docks was desirable as a change of diet to a man who had no knowledge. How Foreign was now busy with his new job his children and his writing. The closeness between him and his wife grew deeper as the years passed of the transcendentalists he said there was a little strangeness between us but there was no strangeness between the fan you know and so Faya only a deep and abiding love and confidence he centered his friendships with thorough Hillyard and Longfellow. But on June 8th 1849 trouble came again. He was removed from his position at the Custom

House in July his mother to whom he was very close died. He was desolate and ill. Hearing of the situation a Boston publisher james t fields went to Salem to help him. Mr. Fields as in that what brings you to Salem. You Nathaniel me. Yes we are concerned about you. Why be concerned about me. There are many other writers you can publish my productive days are over I have neither the inclination or the power to write the great and good which you wish. That is not so. If you can but organize yourself and your thinking Oh great. Please sit down here here by the stove. Thank you. Now about your work. Now is the time for you to publish what I know during these years and

say Len you must have got something ready for the press. Nonsense. Who would risk publishing a book for me the most unpopular writer in America. I would. What madness. It is not madness. It would be my privilege. I have nothing worthy of print nothing. But you have been writing. I have nothing worthy of print nothing. Please I must catch the Boston train shortly. Isn't there anything you can show me anything you can give me. What have you been writing. I tell you I have produced nothing. Nothing. There is a set of draws on the other side of this room. I can see a page or two sticking out of the top of one of them. Is it not so that your new manuscript is there nonsense or is it not so. The manuscript must be in that furniture. I told you before feels I have nothing to publish. And that's the end of it. Very well then I should take my leave. But should you change your mind please be kind enough to write me. Very well. I shall then a good day to you.

Thank you thank you. Yes please. Stop a moment. Here is the manuscript. How in heaven's name did you know this thing was there. It is either very good or very bad I don't know which. Thank you thank you very much. Good day. That manuscript was the outline of the Scarlet Letter considered by many to be hot stones greatest. The first edition of two thousand copies were sold out in 10 days a second edition of 3000 copies sold well a month after publication from this pass on made about four hundred fifty dollars in royalties. There is much more to the Western story this is but a passing chapter of it as a literary artist he excelled virtually all the transcendental lessons that we stress. But we've shown you something of the person who was on the right or passed on.

Both men were characterized by great reserve and an absence of self-confidence. The person passed on through upward to great heights of personal happiness with a wife whose disposition and attitude balanced his right to a cross on found challenge in the theories of the transcendentalists but not approval of those theories. There is a little strangeness between us he wrote. Strangeness between us in his relationships with the transcendental this. Strangeness between us and the relationship between the person who was on. And the right of us and there was something in him in his own way of the idea of us and the reform of the best that is in man is never told of his genius cast a shadow.

A friend commented thus. Good thoughts on that and not that. At the same time into the New England renaissance. This has been the New England run of songs written and produced the Boston University for the National Association of educational broadcasters in cooperation with the fund for adult education. The New England Renaissance was produced and directed by George W. Sloan Jr. assisted by William Bugg and Mel Gray. Our script was written by Sidney a diamond Dr. Richard C. carpenter was a research consultant Professor Donald born and Rod Wright Meyer were narrators are cast included John Codman Jr. Lawrence

Fisher Milt Henson Stan Martin said Irv wish and Connie would the music for this program was taken from Charles Ives composition three places in New England. Be sure to listen again next week to the New England Renaissance and program number nine. Revolt against materialism. The broadcast will deal with the basic philosophy of the entire transcendental ist movement. We shall also take you to the old Corner Bookstore as it is today. Portions of this broadcast were based on the following publications with annual Hawthorne By Mark Van Doren published by William Sloan associates in Faneuil Hawthorne a biography by Randall Stewart published by Yale University Press and Hawthorne and his circle by his son Julian Hawthorne published by Harper and brothers. This is the ne e betake network.