Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. I.djvu/263

Rh a few moments' reflection, he replied, his manner was as calm, and his voice, if possible, more gentle and melodious than common, forming a strong contrast to that of the questioner. “Assuredly,” replied he, “I consider that every one who combats and suffers for any truth and right, will in the end obtain the victory; if not in his first appearance, then certainly in his second.” The inquirer was silenced by this reply, but looked angry and irresolute.

By degrees, however, the conversation, through the influence of Emerson, divided itself, as it were, into two streams, and which in fact might be called the two principal tendencies of the age; the one was Socialism, which seeks to perfect man and human nature by means of social institutions, and which seemed to have many adherents in the assembly: the second, under the guidance of Emerson, who would perfect society by means of each separate human being perfecting himself. The former begin with society, the latter with the individual. One of the company, who was called upon by Emerson to express his opinion, said “that he held the same views as Emerson, inasmuch as man must first begin the work of perfection in himself. He must adorn himself as a bride to make himself fit for a union with the divine spirit. It was by means of this union that the most perfected humanity would be attained to!” To these remarks Emerson replied by a beautiful, grateful smile. “You see that I,” continued the speaker, “like my great countrymen, Swedenborg and Linnæus, lay great stress upon marriage” (you may guess certainly who the speaker is now).

“You then regard marriage as of the highest importance in life?” said Alcott, very much pleased.

“Yes, the spiritual marriage; it is the only one which is necessary.”

With this reply Alcott seemed less pleased. For the