|
|
 Henry David Thoreau American Writer  Small Parlor Grand Piano Historic Print  Walden, or Life in the Woods Poster  An Observant Eye The Thoreau Collection at the Concord Museum  Autumnal Tints Audio CD Reading by Brett Barry.  "Wild Apples" and Other Natural History Essays  Walden and Other Writings Kindle Edition  Kindle 6" Display, U.S. & International Wireless |
It
is often said that melody can be heard farther than noise, and the
finest melody farther than the coarsest. I think there is truth in
this, and that accordingly those strains of the piano which reach me
here in my attic stir me so much more than the sounds which I should
hear if I were below in the parlor, because they are so much purer and
diviner melody. They who sit farthest off from the noisy and bustling
world are not at pains to distinguish what is sweet and musical, for
that alone can reach them; that chiefly comes down to posterity. Hard and steady and engrossing labor with the hands, especially out of doors, is invaluable to the literary man and serves him directly. Here I have been for six days surveying in the woods, any yet when I get home at evening, somewhat weary at last, and beginning to feel that I have nerves, I find myself snore susceptible than usual to the finest influences, as music and poetry. The very air can intoxicate me, or the least sight or sound, as if my finer senses had acquired an appetite by their fast. November 20, 1851 Other Entries October 29 November 1 November 6 November 10 November 11 November 14 |