Theluxuryofoneclassiscounterbalancedbytheindigenceofanother。Ontheonesideisthepalace，ontheotherarethealmshouseand“silentpoor。“ThemyriadswhobuiltthepyramidstobethetombsofthePharaohswerefedongarlic，anditmaybewerenotdecentlyburiedthemselves。Themasonwhofinishesthecorniceofthepalacereturnsatnightperchancetoahutnotsogoodasawigwam。Itisamistaketosupposethat，inacountrywheretheusualevidencesofcivilizationexist，theconditionofaverylargebodyoftheinhabitantsmaynotbeasdegradedasthatofsavages。
Irefertothedegradedpoor，notnowtothedegradedrich。ToknowthisIshouldnotneedtolookfartherthantotheshantieswhicheverywhereborderourrailroads，thatlastimprovementincivilization；whereIseeinmydailywalkshumanbeingslivinginsties，andallwinterwithanopendoor，forthesakeoflight，withoutanyvisible，oftenimaginable，wood-pile，andtheformsofbotholdandyoungarepermanentlycontractedbythelonghabitofshrinkingfromcoldandmisery，andthedevelopmentofalltheirlimbsandfacultiesischecked。Itcertainlyisfairtolookatthatclassbywhoselabortheworkswhichdistinguishthisgenerationareaccomplished。Suchtoo，toagreaterorlessextent，istheconditionoftheoperativesofeverydenominationinEngland，whichisthegreatworkhouseoftheworld。OrIcouldreferyoutoIreland，whichismarkedasoneofthewhiteorenlightenedspotsonthemap。ContrastthephysicalconditionoftheIrishwiththatoftheNorthAmericanIndian，ortheSouthSeaIslander，oranyothersavageracebeforeitwasdegradedbycontactwiththecivilizedman。YetIhavenodoubtthatthatpeople’srulersareaswiseastheaverageofcivilizedrulers。Theirconditiononlyproveswhatsqualidnessmayconsistwithcivilization。IhardlyneedrefernowtothelaborersinourSouthernStateswhoproducethestapleexportsofthiscountry，andarethemselvesastapleproductionoftheSouth。Buttoconfinemyselftothosewhoaresaidtobeinmoderatecircumstances。
Mostmenappearnevertohaveconsideredwhatahouseis，andareactuallythoughneedlesslypooralltheirlivesbecausetheythinkthattheymusthavesuchaoneastheirneighborshave。Asifoneweretowearanysortofcoatwhichthetailormightcutoutforhim，or，graduallyleavingoffpalm-leafhatorcapofwoodchuckskin，complainofhardtimesbecausehecouldnotaffordtobuyhimacrown！Itispossibletoinventahousestillmoreconvenientandluxuriousthanwehave，whichyetallwouldadmitthatmancouldnotaffordtopayfor。Shallwealwaysstudytoobtainmoreofthesethings，andnotsometimestobecontentwithless？Shalltherespectablecitizenthusgravelyteach，bypreceptandexample，thenecessityoftheyoungman’sprovidingacertainnumberofsuperfluousglow-shoes，andumbrellas，andemptyguestchambersforemptyguests，beforehedies？WhyshouldnotourfurniturebeassimpleastheArab’sortheIndian’s？WhenIthinkofthebenefactorsoftherace，whomwehaveapotheosizedasmessengersfromheaven，bearersofdivinegiftstoman，Idonotseeinmymindanyretinueattheirheels，anycarloadoffashionablefurniture。
OrwhatifIweretoallow——woulditnotbeasingularallowance？——
thatourfurnitureshouldbemorecomplexthantheArab’s，inproportionaswearemorallyandintellectuallyhissuperiors！Atpresentourhousesareclutteredanddefiledwithit，andagoodhousewifewouldsweepoutthegreaterpartintothedusthole，andnotleavehermorning’sworkundone。Morningwork！BytheblushesofAuroraandthemusicofMemnon，whatshouldbeman’smorningworkinthisworld？Ihadthreepiecesoflimestoneonmydesk，butI
wasterrifiedtofindthattheyrequiredtobedusteddaily，whenthefurnitureofmymindwasallundustedstill，andthrewthemoutthewindowindisgust。How，then，couldIhaveafurnishedhouse？
Iwouldrathersitintheopenair，fornodustgathersonthegrass，unlesswheremanhasbrokenground。
Itistheluxuriousanddissipatedwhosetthefashionswhichtheherdsodiligentlyfollow。Thetravellerwhostopsatthebesthouses，socalled，soondiscoversthis，forthepublicanspresumehimtobeaSardanapalus，andifheresignedhimselftotheirtendermercieshewouldsoonbecompletelyemasculated。Ithinkthatintherailroadcarweareinclinedtospendmoreonluxurythanonsafetyandconvenience，anditthreatenswithoutattainingthesetobecomenobetterthanamoderndrawing-room，withitsdivans，andottomans，andsun-shades，andahundredotherorientalthings，whichwearetakingwestwithus，inventedfortheladiesoftheharemandtheeffeminatenativesoftheCelestialEmpire，whichJonathanshouldbeashamedtoknowthenamesof。Iwouldrathersitonapumpkinandhaveitalltomyselfthanbecrowdedonavelvetcushion。Iwouldratherrideonearthinanoxcart，withafreecirculation，thangotoheaveninthefancycarofanexcursiontrainandbreatheamalariaalltheway。
Theverysimplicityandnakednessofman’slifeintheprimitiveagesimplythisadvantage，atleast，thattheylefthimstillbutasojournerinnature。Whenhewasrefreshedwithfoodandsleep，hecontemplatedhisjourneyagain。Hedwelt，asitwere，inatentinthisworld，andwaseitherthreadingthevalleys，orcrossingtheplains，orclimbingthemountain-tops。Butlo！menhavebecomethetoolsoftheirtools。Themanwhoindependentlypluckedthefruitswhenhewashungryisbecomeafarmer；andhewhostoodunderatreeforshelter，ahousekeeper。Wenownolongercampasforanight，buthavesettleddownonearthandforgottenheaven。WehaveadoptedChristianitymerelyasanimprovedmethodofagri-culture。
Wehavebuiltforthisworldafamilymansion，andforthenextafamilytomb。Thebestworksofartaretheexpressionofman’sstruggletofreehimselffromthiscondition，buttheeffectofourartismerelytomakethislowstatecomfortableandthathigherstatetobeforgotten。Thereisactuallynoplaceinthisvillageforaworkoffineart，ifanyhadcomedowntous，tostand，forourlives，ourhousesandstreets，furnishnoproperpedestalforit。Thereisnotanailtohangapictureon，norashelftoreceivethebustofaheroorasaint。WhenIconsiderhowourhousesarebuiltandpaidfor，ornotpaidfor，andtheirinternaleconomymanagedandsustained，Iwonderthatthefloordoesnotgivewayunderthevisitorwhileheisadmiringthegewgawsuponthemantelpiece，andlethimthroughintothecellar，tosomesolidandhonestthoughearthyfoundation。Icannotbutperceivethatthisso-calledrichandrefinedlifeisathingjumpedat，andIdonotgetonintheenjoymentofthefineartswhichadornit，myattentionbeingwhollyoccupiedwiththejump；forIrememberthatthegreatestgenuineleap，duetohumanmusclesalone，onrecord，isthatofcertainwanderingArabs，whoaresaidtohaveclearedtwenty-fivefeetonlevelground。Withoutfactitioussupport，manissuretocometoearthagainbeyondthatdistance。ThefirstquestionwhichIamtemptedtoputtotheproprietorofsuchgreatimproprietyis，Whobolstersyou？Areyouoneoftheninety-sevenwhofail，orthethreewhosucceed？Answermethesequestions，andthenperhapsImaylookatyourbawblesandfindthemornamental。
Thecartbeforethehorseisneitherbeautifulnoruseful。Beforewecanadornourhouseswithbeautifulobjectsthewallsmustbestripped，andourlivesmustbestripped，andbeautifulhousekeepingandbeautifullivingbelaidforafoundation:now，atasteforthebeautifulismostcultivatedoutofdoors，wherethereisnohouseandnohousekeeper。
OldJohnson，inhis“Wonder-WorkingProvidence，“speakingofthefirstsettlersofthistown，withwhomhewascontemporary，tellsusthat“theyburrowthemselvesintheearthfortheirfirstshelterundersomehillside，and，castingthesoilaloftupontimber，theymakeasmokyfireagainsttheearth，atthehighestside。“Theydidnot“providethemhouses，“sayshe，“tilltheearth，bytheLord’sblessing，broughtforthbreadtofeedthem，“andthefirstyear’scropwassolightthat“theywereforcedtocuttheirbreadverythinforalongseason。“ThesecretaryoftheProvinceofNewNetherland，writinginDutch，in1650，fortheinformationofthosewhowishedtotakeuplandthere，statesmoreparticularlythat“thoseinNewNetherland，andespeciallyinNewEngland，whohavenomeanstobuildfarmhousesatfirstaccordingtotheirwishes，digasquarepitintheground，cellarfashion，sixorsevenfeetdeep，aslongandasbroadastheythinkproper，casetheearthinsidewithwoodallroundthewall，andlinethewoodwiththebarkoftreesorsomethingelsetopreventthecavinginoftheearth；floorthiscellarwithplank，andwainscotitoverheadforaceiling，raisearoofofsparsclearup，andcoverthesparswithbarkorgreensods，sothattheycanlivedryandwarminthesehouseswiththeirentirefamiliesfortwo，three，andfouryears，itbeingunderstoodthatpartitionsarerunthroughthosecellarswhichareadaptedtothesizeofthefamily。ThewealthyandprincipalmeninNewEngland，inthebeginningofthecolonies，commencedtheirfirstdwelling-housesinthisfashionfortworeasons:firstly，inordernottowastetimeinbuilding，andnottowantfoodthenextseason；
secondly，inordernottodiscouragepoorlaboringpeoplewhomtheybroughtoverinnumbersfromFatherland。Inthecourseofthreeorfouryears，whenthecountrybecameadaptedtoagriculture，theybuiltthemselveshandsomehouses，spendingonthemseveralthousands。“
Inthiscoursewhichourancestorstooktherewasashowofprudenceatleast，asiftheirprincipleweretosatisfythemorepressingwantsfirst。Butarethemorepressingwantssatisfiednow？WhenIthinkofacquiringformyselfoneofourluxuriousdwellings，Iamdeterred，for，sotospeak，thecountryisnotyetadaptedtohumanculture，andwearestillforcedtocutourspiritualbreadfarthinnerthanourforefathersdidtheirwheaten。
Notthatallarchitecturalornamentistobeneglectedevenintherudestperiods；butletourhousesfirstbelinedwithbeauty，wheretheycomeincontactwithourlives，likethetenementoftheshellfish，andnotoverlaidwithit。But，alas！Ihavebeeninsideoneortwoofthem，andknowwhattheyarelinedwith。
Thoughwearenotsodegeneratebutthatwemightpossiblyliveinacaveorawigwamorwearskinstoday，itcertainlyisbettertoaccepttheadvantages，thoughsodearlybought，whichtheinventionandindustryofmankindoffer。Insuchaneighborhoodasthis，boardsandshingles，limeandbricks，arecheaperandmoreeasilyobtainedthansuitablecaves，orwholelogs，orbarkinsufficientquantities，orevenwell-temperedclayorflatstones。Ispeakunderstandinglyonthissubject，forIhavemademyselfacquaintedwithitboththeoreticallyandpractically。Withalittlemorewitwemightusethesematerialssoastobecomericherthantherichestnoware，andmakeourcivilizationablessing。Thecivilizedmanisamoreexperiencedandwisersavage。Buttomakehastetomyownexperiment。
NeartheendofMarch，1845，IborrowedanaxeandwentdowntothewoodsbyWaldenPond，nearesttowhereIintendedtobuildmyhouse，andbegantocutdownsometall，arrowywhitepines，stillintheiryouth，fortimber。Itisdifficulttobeginwithoutborrowing，butperhapsitisthemostgenerouscoursethustopermityourfellow-mentohaveaninterestinyourenterprise。Theowneroftheaxe，ashereleasedhisholdonit，saidthatitwastheappleofhiseye；butIreturneditsharperthanIreceivedit。ItwasapleasanthillsidewhereIworked，coveredwithpinewoods，throughwhichIlookedoutonthepond，andasmallopenfieldinthewoodswherepinesandhickorieswerespringingup。Theiceinthepondwasnotyetdissolved，thoughthereweresomeopenspaces，anditwasalldark-coloredandsaturatedwithwater。ThereweresomeslightflurriesofsnowduringthedaysthatIworkedthere；
butforthemostpartwhenIcameoutontotherailroad，onmywayhome，itsyellowsandheapstretchedawaygleaminginthehazyatmosphere，andtherailsshoneinthespringsun，andIheardthelarkandpeweeandotherbirdsalreadycometocommenceanotheryearwithus。Theywerepleasantspringdays，inwhichthewinterofman’sdiscontentwasthawingaswellastheearth，andthelifethathadlaintorpidbegantostretchitself。Oneday，whenmyaxehadcomeoffandIhadcutagreenhickoryforawedge，drivingitwithastone，andhadplacedthewholetosoakinapond-holeinordertoswellthewood，Isawastripedsnakerunintothewater，andhelayonthebottom，apparentlywithoutinconvenience，aslongasIstayedthere，ormorethanaquarterofanhour；perhapsbecausehehadnotyetfairlycomeoutofthetorpidstate。Itappearedtomethatforalikereasonmenremainintheirpresentlowandprimitivecondition；butiftheyshouldfeeltheinfluenceofthespringofspringsarousingthem，theywouldofnecessityrisetoahigherandmoreethereallife。Ihadpreviouslyseenthesnakesinfrostymorningsinmypathwithportionsoftheirbodiesstillnumbandinflexible，waitingforthesuntothawthem。Onthe1stofAprilitrainedandmeltedtheice，andintheearlypartoftheday，whichwasveryfoggy，Iheardastraygoosegropingaboutoverthepondandcacklingasiflost，orlikethespiritofthefog。
SoIwentonforsomedayscuttingandhewingtimber，andalsostudsandrafters，allwithmynarrowaxe，nothavingmanycommunicableorscholar-likethoughts，singingtomyself，——
Mensaytheyknowmanythings；
Butlo！theyhavetakenwings——
Theartsandsciences，Andathousandappliances；
ThewindthatblowsIsallthatanybodyknows。