Page:Thoreau - His Home, Friends and Books (1902).djvu/118

96 beneficial. Hawthorne mentions in his note-books that one reason for Thoreau's removal to New York was poor health. His last illness had several premonitory symptoms in attacks of bronchitis during these earlier years. In letters, he mentions, briefly as ever, "his tenacious sickness," colds, lethargy, bronchitis. He formed a friendship with Horace Greeley, destined to be of much practical aid later; he also saw and admired the elder Henry James and his stalwart, sincere manhood. It was evident that New York men who met Thoreau regarded him as a representative of the Transcendentalists, in truth, as one of their expert logicians. He had published "Walk to Wachusett" in the Boston Miscellany and a few other articles for which, he wrote, he "was awaiting a shower of shillings." He must have met many discouragements as well as kindnesses from New York publishers in these earlier decades of American literature. He decides, "on the whole, however, it is a very valuable experience." With a droll survey of the few magazines and their contributions "which cost nothing and are worth no more," he adds,—"they say there is a Lady's Companion that pays,—but I could not write anything companionable." He enjoyed the libraries, he studied the crowds, he frequented the shore and interviewed the seamen. It was under this environment that