Comparatively，tattooingisnotthehideouscustomwhichitiscalled。Itisnotbarbarousmerelybecausetheprintingisskin-deepandunalterable。
Icannotbelievethatourfactorysystemisthebestmodebywhichmenmaygetclothing。TheconditionoftheoperativesisbecomingeverydaymorelikethatoftheEnglish；anditcannotbewonderedat，since，asfarasIhaveheardorobserved，theprincipalobjectis，notthatmankindmaybewellandhonestlyclad，but，unquestionably，thatcorporationsmaybeenriched。Inthelongrunmenhitonlywhattheyaimat。Therefore，thoughtheyshouldfailimmediately，theyhadbetteraimatsomethinghigh。
AsforaShelter，Iwillnotdenythatthisisnowanecessaryoflife，thoughthereareinstancesofmenhavingdonewithoutitforlongperiodsincoldercountriesthanthis。SamuelLaingsaysthat“theLaplanderinhisskindress，andinaskinbagwhichheputsoverhisheadandshoulders，willsleepnightafternightonthesnow……inadegreeofcoldwhichwouldextinguishthelifeofoneexposedtoitinanywoollenclothing。“Hehadseenthemasleepthus。Yetheadds，“Theyarenothardierthanotherpeople。“But，probably，mandidnotlivelongontheearthwithoutdiscoveringtheconveniencewhichthereisinahouse，thedomesticcomforts，whichphrasemayhaveoriginallysignifiedthesatisfactionsofthehousemorethanofthefamily；thoughthesemustbeextremelypartialandoccasionalinthoseclimateswherethehouseisassociatedinourthoughtswithwinterortherainyseasonchiefly，andtwothirdsoftheyear，exceptforaparasol，isunnecessary。Inourclimate，inthesummer，itwasformerlyalmostsolelyacoveringatnight。IntheIndiangazettesawigwamwasthesymbolofaday’smarch，andarowofthemcutorpaintedonthebarkofatreesignifiedthatsomanytimestheyhadcamped。Manwasnotmadesolargelimbedandrobustbutthathemustseektonarrowhisworldandwallinaspacesuchasfittedhim。Hewasatfirstbareandoutofdoors；butthoughthiswaspleasantenoughinsereneandwarmweather，bydaylight，therainyseasonandthewinter，tosaynothingofthetorridsun，wouldperhapshavenippedhisraceinthebudifhehadnotmadehastetoclothehimselfwiththeshelterofahouse。AdamandEve，accordingtothefable，worethebowerbeforeotherclothes。Manwantedahome，aplaceofwarmth，orcomfort，firstofwarmth，thenthewarmthoftheaffections。
Wemayimagineatimewhen，intheinfancyofthehumanrace，someenterprisingmortalcreptintoahollowinarockforshelter。
Everychildbeginstheworldagain，tosomeextent，andlovestostayoutdoors，eveninwetandcold。Itplayshouse，aswellashorse，havinganinstinctforit。Whodoesnotremembertheinterestwithwhich，whenyoung，helookedatshelvingrocks，oranyapproachtoacave？Itwasthenaturalyearningofthatportion，anyportionofourmostprimitiveancestorwhichstillsurvivedinus。Fromthecavewehaveadvancedtoroofsofpalmleaves，ofbarkandboughs，oflinenwovenandstretched，ofgrassandstraw，ofboardsandshingles，ofstonesandtiles。Atlast，weknownotwhatitistoliveintheopenair，andourlivesaredomesticinmoresensesthanwethink。Fromthehearththefieldisagreatdistance。Itwouldbewell，perhaps，ifweweretospendmoreofourdaysandnightswithoutanyobstructionbetweenusandthecelestialbodies，ifthepoetdidnotspeaksomuchfromunderaroof，orthesaintdwelltheresolong。Birdsdonotsingincaves，nordodovescherishtheirinnocenceindovecots。
However，ifonedesignstoconstructadwelling-house，itbehooveshimtoexercisealittleYankeeshrewdness，lestafterallhefindhimselfinaworkhouse，alabyrinthwithoutaclue，amuseum，analmshouse，aprison，orasplendidmausoleuminstead。
Considerfirsthowslightashelterisabsolutelynecessary。IhaveseenPenobscotIndians，inthistown，livingintentsofthincottoncloth，whilethesnowwasnearlyafootdeeparoundthem，andI
thoughtthattheywouldbegladtohaveitdeepertokeepoutthewind。Formerly，whenhowtogetmylivinghonestly，withfreedomleftformyproperpursuits，wasaquestionwhichvexedmeevenmorethanitdoesnow，forunfortunatelyIambecomesomewhatcallous，I
usedtoseealargeboxbytherailroad，sixfeetlongbythreewide，inwhichthelaborerslockeduptheirtoolsatnight；anditsuggestedtomethateverymanwhowashardpushedmightgetsuchaoneforadollar，and，havingboredafewaugerholesinit，toadmittheairatleast，getintoitwhenitrainedandatnight，andhookdownthelid，andsohavefreedominhislove，andinhissoulbefree。Thisdidnotappeartheworst，norbyanymeansadespicablealternative。Youcouldsitupaslateasyoupleased，and，wheneveryougotup，goabroadwithoutanylandlordorhouse-lorddoggingyouforrent。Manyamanisharassedtodeathtopaytherentofalargerandmoreluxuriousboxwhowouldnothavefrozentodeathinsuchaboxasthis。Iamfarfromjesting。
Economyisasubjectwhichadmitsofbeingtreatedwithlevity，butitcannotsobedisposedof。Acomfortablehouseforarudeandhardyrace，thatlivedmostlyoutofdoors，wasoncemadeherealmostentirelyofsuchmaterialsasNaturefurnishedreadytotheirhands。Gookin，whowassuperintendentoftheIndianssubjecttotheMassachusettsColony，writingin1674，says，“Thebestoftheirhousesarecoveredveryneatly，tightandwarm，withbarksoftrees，slippedfromtheirbodiesatthoseseasonswhenthesapisup，andmadeintogreatflakes，withpressureofweightytimber，whentheyaregreen……Themeanersortarecoveredwithmatswhichtheymakeofakindofbulrush，andarealsoindifferentlytightandwarm，butnotsogoodastheformer……SomeIhaveseen，sixtyorahundredfeetlongandthirtyfeetbroad……Ihaveoftenlodgedintheirwigwams，andfoundthemaswarmasthebestEnglishhouses。“Headdsthattheywerecommonlycarpetedandlinedwithinwithwell-wroughtembroideredmats，andwerefurnishedwithvariousutensils。TheIndianshadadvancedsofarastoregulatetheeffectofthewindbyamatsuspendedovertheholeintheroofandmovedbyastring。Suchalodgewasinthefirstinstanceconstructedinadayortwoatmost，andtakendownandputupinafewhours；andeveryfamilyownedone，oritsapartmentinone。
Inthesavagestateeveryfamilyownsashelterasgoodasthebest，andsufficientforitscoarserandsimplerwants；butIthinkthatIspeakwithinboundswhenIsaythat，thoughthebirdsoftheairhavetheirnests，andthefoxestheirholes，andthesavagestheirwigwams，inmoderncivilizedsocietynotmorethanonehalfthefamiliesownashelter。Inthelargetownsandcities，wherecivilizationespeciallyprevails，thenumberofthosewhoownashelterisaverysmallfractionofthewhole。Therestpayanannualtaxforthisoutsidegarmentofall，becomeindispensablesummerandwinter，whichwouldbuyavillageofIndianwigwams，butnowhelpstokeepthempooraslongastheylive。Idonotmeantoinsisthereonthedisadvantageofhiringcomparedwithowning，butitisevidentthatthesavageownshisshelterbecauseitcostssolittle，whilethecivilizedmanhireshiscommonlybecausehecannotaffordtoownit；norcanhe，inthelongrun，anybetteraffordtohire。But，answersone，bymerelypayingthistax，thepoorcivilizedmansecuresanabodewhichisapalacecomparedwiththesavage’s。Anannualrentoffromtwenty-fivetoahundreddollars(thesearethecountryrates)entitleshimtothebenefitoftheimprovementsofcenturies，spaciousapartments，cleanpaintandpaper，Rumfordfire-place，backplastering，Venetianblinds，copperpump，springlock，acommodiouscellar，andmanyotherthings。Buthowhappensitthathewhoissaidtoenjoythesethingsissocommonlyapoorcivilizedman，whilethesavage，whohasthemnot，isrichasasavage？Ifitisassertedthatcivilizationisarealadvanceintheconditionofman——andIthinkthatitis，thoughonlythewiseimprovetheiradvantages——itmustbeshownthatithasproducedbetterdwellingswithoutmakingthemmorecostly；andthecostofathingistheamountofwhatIwillcalllifewhichisrequiredtobeexchangedforit，immediatelyorinthelongrun。Anaveragehouseinthisneighborhoodcostsperhapseighthundreddollars，andtolayupthissumwilltakefromtentofifteenyearsofthelaborer’slife，evenifheisnotencumberedwithafamily——
estimatingthepecuniaryvalueofeveryman’slaboratonedollaraday，forifsomereceivemore，othersreceiveless；——sothathemusthavespentmorethanhalfhislifecommonlybeforehiswigwamwillbeearned。Ifwesupposehimtopayarentinstead，thisisbutadoubtfulchoiceofevils。Wouldthesavagehavebeenwisetoexchangehiswigwamforapalaceontheseterms？
ItmaybeguessedthatIreducealmostthewholeadvantageofholdingthissuperfluouspropertyasafundinstoreagainstthefuture，sofarastheindividualisconcerned，mainlytothedefrayingoffuneralexpenses。Butperhapsamanisnotrequiredtoburyhimself。Neverthelessthispointstoanimportantdistinctionbetweenthecivilizedmanandthesavage；and，nodoubt，theyhavedesignsonusforourbenefit，inmakingthelifeofacivilizedpeopleaninstitution，inwhichthelifeoftheindividualistoagreatextentabsorbed，inordertopreserveandperfectthatoftherace。ButIwishtoshowatwhatasacrificethisadvantageisatpresentobtained，andtosuggestthatwemaypossiblysoliveastosecurealltheadvantagewithoutsufferinganyofthedisadvantage。
Whatmeanyebysayingthatthepooryehavealwayswithyou，orthatthefathershaveeatensourgrapes，andthechildren’steetharesetonedge？
“AsIlive，saiththeLordGod，yeshallnothaveoccasionanymoretousethisproverbinIsrael。
“Beholdallsoulsaremine；asthesoulofthefather，soalsothesoulofthesonismine:thesoulthatsinneth，itshalldie。“
WhenIconsidermyneighbors，thefarmersofConcord，whoareatleastaswelloffastheotherclasses，Ifindthatforthemostparttheyhavebeentoilingtwenty，thirty，orfortyyears，thattheymaybecometherealownersoftheirfarms，whichcommonlytheyhaveinheritedwithencumbrances，orelseboughtwithhiredmoney——
andwemayregardonethirdofthattoilasthecostoftheirhouses——butcommonlytheyhavenotpaidforthemyet。Itistrue，theencumbrancessometimesoutweighthevalueofthefarm，sothatthefarmitselfbecomesonegreatencumbrance，andstillamanisfoundtoinheritit，beingwellacquaintedwithit，ashesays。Onapplyingtotheassessors，Iamsurprisedtolearnthattheycannotatoncenameadozeninthetownwhoowntheirfarmsfreeandclear。
Ifyouwouldknowthehistoryofthesehomesteads，inquireatthebankwheretheyaremortgaged。Themanwhohasactuallypaidforhisfarmwithlaboronitissorarethateveryneighborcanpointtohim。IdoubtiftherearethreesuchmeninConcord。Whathasbeensaidofthemerchants，thataverylargemajority，evenninety-seveninahundred，aresuretofail，isequallytrueofthefarmers。Withregardtothemerchants，however，oneofthemsayspertinentlythatagreatpartoftheirfailuresarenotgenuinepecuniaryfailures，butmerelyfailurestofulfiltheirengagements，becauseitisinconvenient；thatis，itisthemoralcharacterthatbreaksdown。Butthisputsaninfinitelyworsefaceonthematter，andsuggests，beside，thatprobablynoteventheotherthreesucceedinsavingtheirsouls，butareperchancebankruptinaworsesensethantheywhofailhonestly。Bankruptcyandrepudiationarethespringboardsfromwhichmuchofourcivilizationvaultsandturnsitssomersets，butthesavagestandsontheunelasticplankoffamine。YettheMiddlesexCattleShowgoesoffherewitheclatannually，asifallthejointsoftheagriculturalmachineweresuent。
Thefarmerisendeavoringtosolvetheproblemofalivelihoodbyaformulamorecomplicatedthantheproblemitself。Togethisshoestringshespeculatesinherdsofcattle。Withconsummateskillhehassethistrapwithahairspringtocatchcomfortandindependence，andthen，asheturnedaway，gothisownlegintoit。
Thisisthereasonheispoor；andforasimilarreasonweareallpoorinrespecttoathousandsavagecomforts，thoughsurroundedbyluxuries。AsChapmansings，“Thefalsesocietyofmen——
forearthlygreatnessAllheavenlycomfortsrarefiestoair。“
Andwhenthefarmerhasgothishouse，hemaynotbethericherbutthepoorerforit，anditbethehousethathasgothim。AsI
understandit，thatwasavalidobjectionurgedbyMomusagainstthehousewhichMinervamade，thatshe“hadnotmadeitmovable，bywhichmeansabadneighborhoodmightbeavoided“；anditmaystillbeurged，forourhousesaresuchunwieldypropertythatweareoftenimprisonedratherthanhousedinthem；andthebadneighborhoodtobeavoidedisourownscurvyselves。Iknowoneortwofamilies，atleast，inthistown，who，fornearlyageneration，havebeenwishingtoselltheirhousesintheoutskirtsandmoveintothevillage，buthavenotbeenabletoaccomplishit，andonlydeathwillsetthemfree。
Grantedthatthemajorityareableatlasteithertoownorhirethemodernhousewithallitsimprovements。Whilecivilizationhasbeenimprovingourhouses，ithasnotequallyimprovedthemenwhoaretoinhabitthem。Ithascreatedpalaces，butitwasnotsoeasytocreatenoblemenandkings。Andifthecivilizedman’spursuitsarenoworthierthanthesavage’s，ifheisemployedthegreaterpartofhislifeinobtaininggrossnecessariesandcomfortsmerely，whyshouldhehaveabetterdwellingthantheformer？
Buthowdothepoorminorityfare？Perhapsitwillbefoundthatjustinproportionassomehavebeenplacedinoutwardcircumstancesabovethesavage，othershavebeendegradedbelowhim。
