An escape from the pomposity and pettiness of Boston on a Saturday morning.
We took a drive up Route 2 on our way to Vermont. As we passed Walden Pond, we started talking about Transcendentalism-Thoreau, Emerson, the Alcotts. My wife had just read an article about the subject and she regaled me with details of Bronson Alcott and Fruitlands, the Utopian community he founded just off Route 2 in the 1800s. Despite the proto-vegan diet, back to nature sensibilities, and Transcendental mojo, the Fruitland Utopian community only lasted seven months before they all went back to Beantown.
We got to Vermont at dusk and witnessed the most incredible display of fireflies we have ever seen. There were thousands of them floating on and off in the field around the old farm house. It was like we were in one of those snow globes and someone had shaken it. Except it was fireflies, not snowflakes. It was like the stars had come down to the field and the forest. Amazing.
Later, as the firefly spectacle abated, I started thinking that Fruitlands must have failed because they brought too much Boston pomposity and pettiness with them.
It’s really quite an achievement they made it seven months!
Copyright 2014 Magnus Incognito