As in duty bound, I went first to the place of business
where I am employed, to shake hands and say good-bye to
my employer.
"I am going," I said, "to spend a month naked alone in
the woods."
He looked up from his desk with genial kindliness.
"That's right," he said, "get a good rest."
"My plan is," I added, "to live on berries and funguses."
"Fine," he answered. "Well, have a good time, old
man--good-bye."
Then I dropped in casually upon one of my friends.
"Well," I said, "I'm off to New England to spend a month
naked."
"Nantucket," he said, "or Newport?"
"No," I answered, speaking as lightly as I could. "I'm
going into the woods and stay there naked for a month."
"Oh, yes," he said. "I see. Well, good-bye, old chap--see
you when you get back."
After that I called upon two or three other men to say
a brief word of farewell. I could not help feeling slightly
nettled, I must confess, at the very casual way in which
they seemed to take my announcement. "Oh, yes," they said,
"naked in the woods, eh? Well, ta-ta till you get back."
Here was a man about to risk his life--for there was no
denying the fact--in a great sociological experiment,
yet they received the announcement with absolute unconcern.
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