Tuition，forinstance，isanimportantiteminthetermbill，whileforthefarmorevaluableeducationwhichhegetsbyassociatingwiththemostcultivatedofhiscontemporariesnochargeismade。Themodeoffoundingacollegeis，commonly，togetupasubscriptionofdollarsandcents，andthen，followingblindlytheprinciplesofadivisionoflabortoitsextreme——aprinciplewhichshouldneverbefollowedbutwithcircumspection——tocallinacontractorwhomakesthisasubjectofspeculation，andheemploysIrishmenorotheroperativesactuallytolaythefoundations，whilethestudentsthataretobearesaidtobefittingthemselvesforit；andfortheseoversightssuccessivegenerationshavetopay。Ithinkthatitwouldbebetterthanthis，forthestudents，orthosewhodesiretobebenefitedbyit，eventolaythefoundationthemselves。Thestudentwhosecureshiscovetedleisureandretirementbysystematicallyshirkinganylabornecessarytomanobtainsbutanignobleandunprofitableleisure，defraudinghimselfoftheexperiencewhichalonecanmakeleisurefruitful。“But，“saysone，“youdonotmeanthatthestudentsshouldgotoworkwiththeirhandsinsteadoftheirheads？“Idonotmeanthatexactly，butImeansomethingwhichhemightthinkagooddeallikethat；Imeanthattheyshouldnotplaylife，orstudyitmerely，whilethecommunitysupportsthematthisexpensivegame，butearnestlyliveitfrombeginningtoend。Howcouldyouthsbetterlearntolivethanbyatoncetryingtheexperimentofliving？Methinksthiswouldexercisetheirmindsasmuchasmathematics。IfIwishedaboytoknowsomethingabouttheartsandsciences，forinstance，Iwouldnotpursuethecommoncourse，whichismerelytosendhimintotheneighborhoodofsomeprofessor，whereanythingisprofessedandpractisedbuttheartoflife；——tosurveytheworldthroughatelescopeoramicroscope，andneverwithhisnaturaleye；tostudychemistry，andnotlearnhowhisbreadismade，ormechanics，andnotlearnhowitisearned；todiscovernewsatellitestoNeptune，andnotdetectthemotesinhiseyes，ortowhatvagabondheisasatellitehimself；ortobedevouredbythemonstersthatswarmallaroundhim，whilecontemplatingthemonstersinadropofvinegar。Whichwouldhaveadvancedthemostattheendofamonth——theboywhohadmadehisownjackknifefromtheorewhichhehaddugandsmelted，readingasmuchaswouldbenecessaryforthis——ortheboywhohadattendedthelecturesonmetallurgyattheInstituteinthemeanwhile，andhadreceivedaRodgers’
　　penknifefromhisfather？Whichwouldbemostlikelytocuthisfingers？……TomyastonishmentIwasinformedonleavingcollegethatIhadstudiednavigation！——why，ifIhadtakenoneturndowntheharborIshouldhaveknownmoreaboutit。Eventhepoorstudentstudiesandistaughtonlypoliticaleconomy，whilethateconomyoflivingwhichissynonymouswithphilosophyisnotevensincerelyprofessedinourcolleges。Theconsequenceis，thatwhileheisreadingAdamSmith，Ricardo，andSay，herunshisfatherindebtirretrievably。
　　Aswithourcolleges，sowithahundred“modernimprovements“；
　　thereisanillusionaboutthem；thereisnotalwaysapositiveadvance。Thedevilgoesonexactingcompoundinteresttothelastforhisearlyshareandnumeroussucceedinginvestmentsinthem。
　　Ourinventionsarewonttobeprettytoys，whichdistractourattentionfromseriousthings。Theyarebutimprovedmeanstoanunimprovedend，anendwhichitwasalreadybuttooeasytoarriveat；asrailroadsleadtoBostonorNewYork。WeareingreathastetoconstructamagnetictelegraphfromMainetoTexas；butMaineandTexas，itmaybe，havenothingimportanttocommunicate。Eitherisinsuchapredicamentasthemanwhowasearnesttobeintroducedtoadistinguisheddeafwoman，butwhenhewaspresented，andoneendofhereartrumpetwasputintohishand，hadnothingtosay。Asifthemainobjectweretotalkfastandnottotalksensibly。WeareeagertotunnelundertheAtlanticandbringtheOldWorldsomeweeksnearertotheNew；butperchancethefirstnewsthatwillleakthroughintothebroad，flappingAmericanearwillbethatthePrincessAdelaidehasthewhoopingcough。Afterall，themanwhosehorsetrotsamileinaminutedoesnotcarrythemostimportantmessages；heisnotanevangelist，nordoeshecomeroundeatinglocustsandwildhoney。IdoubtifFlyingChildersevercarriedapeckofcorntomill。
　　Onesaystome，“Iwonderthatyoudonotlayupmoney；youlovetotravel；youmighttakethecarsandgotoFitchburgtodayandseethecountry。“ButIamwiserthanthat。Ihavelearnedthattheswiftesttravellerishethatgoesafoot。Isaytomyfriend，Supposewetrywhowillgettherefirst。Thedistanceisthirtymiles；thefareninetycents。Thatisalmostaday’swages。I
　　rememberwhenwagesweresixtycentsadayforlaborersonthisveryroad。Well，Istartnowonfoot，andgettherebeforenight；Ihavetravelledatthatratebytheweektogether。Youwillinthemeanwhilehaveearnedyourfare，andarrivetheresometimetomorrow，orpossiblythisevening，ifyouareluckyenoughtogetajobinseason。InsteadofgoingtoFitchburg，youwillbeworkingherethegreaterpartoftheday。Andso，iftherailroadreachedroundtheworld，IthinkthatIshouldkeepaheadofyou；andasforseeingthecountryandgettingexperienceofthatkind，Ishouldhavetocutyouracquaintancealtogether。
　　Suchistheuniversallaw，whichnomancaneveroutwit，andwithregardtotherailroadevenwemaysayitisasbroadasitislong。Tomakearailroadroundtheworldavailabletoallmankindisequivalenttogradingthewholesurfaceoftheplanet。Menhaveanindistinctnotionthatiftheykeepupthisactivityofjointstocksandspadeslongenoughallwillatlengthridesomewhere，innexttonotime，andfornothing；butthoughacrowdrushestothedepot，andtheconductorshouts“Allaboard！“whenthesmokeisblownawayandthevaporcondensed，itwillbeperceivedthatafewareriding，buttherestarerunover——anditwillbecalled，andwillbe，“Amelancholyaccident。“Nodoubttheycanrideatlastwhoshallhaveearnedtheirfare，thatis，iftheysurvivesolong，buttheywillprobablyhavelosttheirelasticityanddesiretotravelbythattime。Thisspendingofthebestpartofone’slifeearningmoneyinordertoenjoyaquestionablelibertyduringtheleastvaluablepartofitremindsmeoftheEnglishmanwhowenttoIndiatomakeafortunefirst，inorderthathemightreturntoEnglandandlivethelifeofapoet。Heshouldhavegoneupgarretatonce。“What！“exclaimamillionIrishmenstartingupfromalltheshantiesintheland，“isnotthisrailroadwhichwehavebuiltagoodthing？“Yes，Ianswer，comparativelygood，thatis，youmighthavedoneworse；butIwish，asyouarebrothersofmine，thatyoucouldhavespentyourtimebetterthandigginginthisdirt。
　　BeforeIfinishedmyhouse，wishingtoearntenortwelvedollarsbysomehonestandagreeablemethod，inordertomeetmyunusualexpenses，Iplantedabouttwoacresandahalfoflightandsandysoilnearitchieflywithbeans，butalsoasmallpartwithpotatoes，corn，peas，andturnips。Thewholelotcontainselevenacres，mostlygrowinguptopinesandhickories，andwassoldtheprecedingseasonforeightdollarsandeightcentsanacre。Onefarmersaidthatitwas“goodfornothingbuttoraisecheepingsquirrelson。“Iputnomanurewhateveronthisland，notbeingtheowner，butmerelyasquatter，andnotexpectingtocultivatesomuchagain，andIdidnotquitehoeitallonce。Igotoutseveralcordsofstumpsinplowing，whichsuppliedmewithfuelforalongtime，andleftsmallcirclesofvirginmould，easilydistinguishablethroughthesummerbythegreaterluxurianceofthebeansthere。
　　Thedeadandforthemostpartunmerchantablewoodbehindmyhouse，andthedriftwoodfromthepond，havesuppliedtheremainderofmyfuel。Iwasobligedtohireateamandamanfortheplowing，thoughIheldtheplowmyself。Myfarmoutgoesforthefirstseasonwere，forimplements，seed，work，etc。，$14。72。Theseedcornwasgivenme。Thisnevercostsanythingtospeakof，unlessyouplantmorethanenough。Igottwelvebushelsofbeans，andeighteenbushelsofpotatoes，besidesomepeasandsweetcorn。Theyellowcornandturnipsweretoolatetocometoanything。Mywholeincomefromthefarmwas$
　　besideproduceconsumedandonhandatthetimethisestimatewasmadeofthevalueof$4。50——theamountonhandmuchmorethanbalancingalittlegrasswhichIdidnotraise。Allthingsconsidered，thatis，consideringtheimportanceofaman’ssoulandoftoday，notwithstandingtheshorttimeoccupiedbymyexperiment，nay，partlyevenbecauseofitstransientcharacter，IbelievethatthatwasdoingbetterthananyfarmerinConcorddidthatyear。
　　ThenextyearIdidbetterstill，forIspadedupallthelandwhichIrequired，aboutathirdofanacre，andIlearnedfromtheexperienceofbothyears，notbeingintheleastawedbymanycelebratedworksonhusbandry，ArthurYoungamongtherest，thatifonewouldlivesimplyandeatonlythecropwhichheraised，andraisenomorethanheate，andnotexchangeitforaninsufficientquantityofmoreluxuriousandexpensivethings，hewouldneedtocultivateonlyafewrodsofground，andthatitwouldbecheapertospadeupthatthantouseoxentoplowit，andtoselectafreshspotfromtimetotimethantomanuretheold，andhecoulddoallhisnecessaryfarmworkasitwerewithhislefthandatoddhoursinthesummer；andthushewouldnotbetiedtoanox，orhorse，orcow，orpig，asatpresent。Idesiretospeakimpartiallyonthispoint，andasonenotinterestedinthesuccessorfailureofthepresenteconomicalandsocialarrangements。IwasmoreindependentthananyfarmerinConcord，forIwasnotanchoredtoahouseorfarm，butcouldfollowthebentofmygenius，whichisaverycrookedone，everymoment。Besidebeingbetteroffthantheyalready，ifmyhousehadbeenburnedormycropshadfailed，I
　　shouldhavebeennearlyaswelloffasbefore。
　　Iamwonttothinkthatmenarenotsomuchthekeepersofherdsasherdsarethekeepersofmen，theformeraresomuchthefreer。
　　Menandoxenexchangework；butifweconsidernecessaryworkonly，theoxenwillbeseentohavegreatlytheadvantage，theirfarmissomuchthelarger。Mandoessomeofhispartoftheexchangeworkinhissixweeksofhaying，anditisnoboy’splay。Certainlynonationthatlivedsimplyinallrespects，thatis，nonationofphilosophers，wouldcommitsogreatablunderastousethelaborofanimals。True，thereneverwasandisnotlikelysoontobeanationofphilosophers，noramIcertainitisdesirablethatthereshouldbe。However，Ishouldneverhavebrokenahorseorbullandtakenhimtoboardforanyworkhemightdoforme，forfearI
　　shouldbecomeahorsemanoraherdsmanmerely；andifsocietyseemstobethegainerbysodoing，arewecertainthatwhatisoneman’sgainisnotanother’sloss，andthatthestable-boyhasequalcausewithhismastertobesatisfied？Grantedthatsomepublicworkswouldnothavebeenconstructedwithoutthisaid，andletmansharethegloryofsuchwiththeoxandhorse；doesitfollowthathecouldnothaveaccomplishedworksyetmoreworthyofhimselfinthatcase？Whenmenbegintodo，notmerelyunnecessaryorartistic，butluxuriousandidlework，withtheirassistance，itisinevitablethatafewdoalltheexchangeworkwiththeoxen，or，inotherwords，becometheslavesofthestrongest。Manthusnotonlyworksfortheanimalwithinhim，but，forasymbolofthis，heworksfortheanimalwithouthim。Thoughwehavemanysubstantialhousesofbrickorstone，theprosperityofthefarmerisstillmeasuredbythedegreetowhichthebarnovershadowsthehouse。Thistownissaidtohavethelargesthousesforoxen，cows，andhorseshereabouts，anditisnotbehindhandinitspublicbuildings；butthereareveryfewhallsforfreeworshiporfreespeechinthiscounty。Itshouldnotbebytheirarchitecture，butwhynotevenbytheirpowerofabstractthought，thatnationsshouldseektocommemoratethemselves？HowmuchmoreadmirabletheBhagvat-GeetathanalltheruinsoftheEast！Towersandtemplesaretheluxuryofprinces。Asimpleandindependentminddoesnottoilatthebiddingofanyprince。Geniusisnotaretainertoanyemperor，norisitsmaterialsilver，orgold，ormarble，excepttoatriflingextent。Towhatend，pray，issomuchstonehammered？InArcadia，whenIwasthere，Ididnotseeanyhammeringstone。Nationsarepossessedwithaninsaneambitiontoperpetuatethememoryofthemselvesbytheamountofhammeredstonetheyleave。Whatifequalpainsweretakentosmoothandpolishtheirmanners？Onepieceofgoodsensewouldbemorememorablethanamonumentashighasthemoon。Ilovebettertoseestonesinplace。ThegrandeurofThebeswasavulgargrandeur。Moresensibleisarodofstonewallthatboundsanhonestman’sfieldthanahundred-gatedThebesthathaswanderedfartherfromthetrueendoflife。Thereligionandcivilizationwhicharebarbaricandheathenishbuildsplendidtemples；butwhatyoumightcallChristianitydoesnot。Mostofthestoneanationhammersgoestowarditstombonly。Itburiesitselfalive。AsforthePyramids，thereisnothingtowonderatinthemsomuchasthefactthatsomanymencouldbefounddegradedenoughtospendtheirlivesconstructingatombforsomeambitiousbooby，whomitwouldhavebeenwiserandmanliertohavedrownedintheNile，andthengivenhisbodytothedogs。Imightpossiblyinventsomeexcuseforthemandhim，butIhavenotimeforit。Asforthereligionandloveofartofthebuilders，itismuchthesamealltheworldover，whetherthebuildingbeanEgyptiantempleortheUnitedStatesBank。Itcostsmorethanitcomesto。Themainspringisvanity，assistedbytheloveofgarlicandbreadandbutter。Mr。
　　Balcom，apromisingyoungarchitect，designsitonthebackofhisVitruvius，withhardpencilandruler，andthejobisletouttoDobson&Sons，stonecutters。Whenthethirtycenturiesbegintolookdownonit，mankindbegintolookupatit。Asforyourhightowersandmonuments，therewasacrazyfellowonceinthistownwhoundertooktodigthroughtoChina，andhegotsofarthat，ashesaid，heheardtheChinesepotsandkettlesrattle；butIthinkthatIshallnotgooutofmywaytoadmiretheholewhichhemade。ManyareconcernedaboutthemonumentsoftheWestandtheEast——toknowwhobuiltthem。Formypart，Ishouldliketoknowwhointhosedaysdidnotbuildthem——whowereabovesuchtrifling。Buttoproceedwithmystatistics。
　　Bysurveying，carpentry，andday-laborofvariousotherkindsinthevillageinthemeanwhile，forIhaveasmanytradesasfingers，Ihadearned$13。34。Theexpenseoffoodforeightmonths，namely，fromJuly4thtoMarch1st，thetimewhentheseestimatesweremade，thoughIlivedtheremorethantwoyears——notcountingpotatoes，alittlegreencorn，andsomepeas，whichIhadraised，norconsideringthevalueofwhatwasonhandatthelastdate——wasRice
　　Yes，Idideat$8。74，alltold；butIshouldnotthusunblushinglypublishmyguilt，ifIdidnotknowthatmostofmyreaderswereequallyguiltywithmyself，andthattheirdeedswouldlooknobetterinprint。ThenextyearIsometimescaughtamessoffishformydinner，andonceIwentsofarastoslaughterawoodchuckwhichravagedmybean-field——effecthistransmigration，asaTartarwouldsay——anddevourhim，partlyforexperiment’ssake；
　　butthoughitaffordedmeamomentaryenjoyment，notwithstandingamuskyflavor，Isawthatthelongestusewouldnotmakethatagoodpractice，howeveritmightseemtohaveyourwoodchucksreadydressedbythevillagebutcher。
　　Clothingandsomeincidentalexpenseswithinthesamedates，thoughlittlecanbeinferredfromthisitem，amountedto
　　Oilandsomehouseholdutensils