New World Destiny

February 2.

Sir Francis Head says that in America "the moon looks larger" than in Europe. The same writer says, "the heavens of America appear infinitely higher," " the stars are brighter."

These are encouraging facts, symbolical of the height to which the philosophy and poetry and religion of her inhabitants may one day soar. For I believe that climate does thus react on man, and that there is something in the mountain air that feeds the spirit and inspires. Are not these advantages of the New World?

We shall be more imaginative; we shall be clearer, as our sky, bluer, fresher; broader and more comprehensive in our understanding, like our plains; our intellect on a grander scale, like our thunder and lightning, our rivers and our lakes, and mountains and forests.

Will not man grow to greater perfection intellectually as well as physically under these influences? Or is it unimportant how many foggy days there are in his life?

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, February 2, 1852