I have just had "On Walden Pond" ruined for me

[intaglio]

My partner made a comment that Thoreau's mother did his washing. Of course I queried it and asked where she heard it she could not remember so I Googled ...

Ok, so Waldon was only a mile from Concord and only 2 miles from his mother's place. He visited Concord almost every day, Mother and sister used to bring round "goodie" baskets every Saturday, he used to raid the cookie jar and in Harding's "The Days of Henry Thoreau," it is reported that "The joke making the rounds in Concord was that when Mrs. Emerson (Wife of Ralph Waldo, who often dropped in at Walden) rang the dinner bell, Thoreau came running from the woods and was first in line with his outstretched plate."

It ruins the whole thing to envisage a modern day Thoreau, probably living in his mother's basement, blogging ...

[rug]

1. He was also supported by his father's pencil factory.

http://uh.edu/engines/epi339.htm

And his aunt paid his poll tax.

http://www.trivia-library.com/a/united-states-and-american-history-1846-and-henry-david-thoreau.htm

[tigereye]

2. there's something rather hllarious about this....

[intaglio]

3. It isn't right

Lonely days lonely nights, romantic isolation, the stars, autumn colours ...

It's like learning that Oscar Wilde didn't indulge in gay sex ...

[Brother Buzz]

4. My BIL swims in Walden pond every day and lives in his mother's basement

He does all the laundry and cooking as she's 95 years old, but every day, weather permitting, he's up at the pond holding court on the banks of the pond after his swim. Interesting, he is a dead ringer for Thoreau, and many think he should become a paid docent.

[KamaAina]

5. On the other hand, a parody Thoreau Facebook page would be priceless

Ralph Waldo Emerson wants to know why you just don't pay the piddling fine and go home.

[intaglio]

6. Lol!

@ Ralph Maybe but I haz washing. CU 2morrow?

[Bucky]

7. Also, Henry Fonda totally didn't deserve the Oscar for that sentimental clap trap