7.31.2014

perhaps the cure was worse
...Thoreau's Journal: 31-Jul-1855

Mr. Samuel Hoar tells me that about forty-eight years ago, or some two or three years after he came to Concord, where he had an office in the yellow store, there used to be a great many bull-frogs in the mill-pond, which, by their trumping in the night, disturbed the apprentices of a Mr. Joshua Jones who built and lived in the brick house near by and soon after set up the trip-hammer. But, as Mr. H was going one day to or from his office (he boarded this side the Mill-Dam), he found that the apprentices had been round the pond in a boat knocking the frogs in the head; got a good-sized tub nearly full of them. After that scarcely any were heard, and, the trip-hammer being set up soon after, they all disappeared as if frightened away by the sound. But perhaps the cure was worse than the disease, for I know of one, then a young minister studying divinity, who boarded in that very brick house, who was so much disturbed by that trip-hammer that, out of compassion, he was taken in at the old parsonage.

4 comments:

michael jameson said...

the killing of any animal without cause or just cause is a criminal act! in my books anyway!, i understand children and their uneducated ways!, and i myself have hunted and trapped out of hunger! and it still disturbed me, and i gave thanks for it!! but grown men killing for sport when the animal has no chance against today's weaponry and these adults feel ever so proud of themselves!!,sometimes we have to judge the actions of others and make a stand!. michael jameson oldantiqueguy@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

They weren't killing for sport,they were killing for peace and quiet. They weren't using "todays weaponry",firstly it was over TWO HUNDRED years ago that this happened,and secondly, they were most likely using the oars they paddled out with!As far as being proud of themselves-I'm willing to bet they were pretty impressed with themselves and went to sleep fully enjoying the silence! Just sayin...

michael jameson said...

even worse!! its not that difficult to put a bit of cotton in your ears? do we now kill the deer for making noise? our neighbors ? what and how many murders should take place so your slumber is nicer! just sayin....

Unknown said...

Whereas, the cure opened a Pandora's box?