complexion. He was regarded as a leader in the transcendental style of thought, but in later years was claimed as a convert to orthodox Christianity. He published “Tablets” (1868); “Concord Days,” personal reminiscences of the town (1872); “Table Talk” (1877); and “Sonnets and Canzonets” (1877), besides numerous contributions to periodical literature, including papers entitled “Orphic Sayings” in “The Dial” (Boston, 1839-'42). After taking up his residence in Concord, he allowed the peculiarities of his mind to find expression in quaint and curious arrangement of his grounds. The fence enclosing them, built entirely by himself, is made wholly of pine boughs, knotted, gnarled, and twisted in every conceivable shape, no two pieces being alike. They seem to be the result of many years of fragmentary collection in his walks. The engraving presented on the previous page is a view of Mr. Alcott's home in Concord. His life has been written by Sanborn and Harris (Boston, 1893). —
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His daughter, Louisa May, author, b. in Germantown, Pa., 29 Nov., 1832; d. in Boston, Mass., 6 March, 1888. When she was about two years of age her parents removed to Boston, and in her eighth year to Concord, Mass. At the age of eleven she was brought under the influence of the community that endeavored to establish itself near Harvard, in Worcester co. Thoreau was for a time her teacher; but she was instructed mainly by her father. She began to write for publication at the age of sixteen, but with no marked success for fifteen years. During that time she devoted ten years to teaching. In 1862 she went to Washington as a volunteer nurse, and for many months labored in the military hospitals. At this time she wrote to her mother and sisters letters containing sketches of hospital life and experience, which on her return were revised and published in book form (Boston, 1863), and attracted much attention. In 1866 she went to Europe to recuperate her health, which had been seriously impaired by her hospital work, and on her return in 1867 she wrote “Little Women,” which was published the following year, and made her famous. The sales in less than three years amounted to 87,000 copies. Her characters were drawn from life, and are full of the buoyant, free, hopeful New England spirit which marked her own enthusiastic love for nature, freedom, and life. Her other stories were conceived in the same vein, and have been almost equally popular. They are: “Flower Fables or Fairy Tales ” (Boston, 1855); “Hospital Sketches,” her first book, now out of print, reissued with other stories (1869); “An Old-Fashioned Girl” (1869); “Little Men” (1871); a series called “Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag” (1871-'82), containing “My Boys,” “Shawl Straps,” “Cupid and Chow-Chow,” “My Girls,” “Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore,” and “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving”; “Work, A Story of Experience” (1873); “Eight Cousins” (1874); “Rose in Bloom” (1876); “Silver Pitchers” (1876); “Under the Lilacs” (1878); “Jack and Gill” (1880); “Moods” (1864), reissued in a revised edition (1881); “Proverb Stories” (1882); “Spinning-Wheel Stories” (1884); “Lulu's Library,” the first of a new series (1885). Ednah D. Cheney wrote her life (Boston, 1889). — Another daughter, May, artist (Mrs. Ernest Nieriker), b. in Concord, Mass., in 1840; d. in December, 1879. At the school of design in Boston, and in the studios of Krug, Rimmer, Hunt, Vautier, Johnston, and Müller she received the best attainable instruction, and subsequently divided her time between Boston, London, and Paris. After her marriage she lived mainly in Paris. Her strength was as a copyist and as a painter of still life, either in oils or water-colors. Her success as a copyist of Turner was such as to command the praise of Mr. Ruskin, and secure the adoption of some of her work for the pupils to copy at the South Kensington schools in London. In these branches of work she had few equals. She published “Concord Sketches,” with a preface by her sister (Boston, 1869).
Alcott, William Alexander, author, b. in Wolcott, Conn., 6 Aug., 1798; d. in Auburndale, Mass., 29 March, 1859. He supported himself in youth by working on a farm in summer and teaching in winter, studied medicine at Yale, and practised for several years. In 1832 he associated himself with William Woodbridge in the preparation of school geographies and atlases, and in editing the "Annals of Education" and the "Juvenile Rambles," the first weekly periodical for children published in America. His interest in improving the condition of the public schools led to his writing numerous articles on the subject, published in the Hartford and New Haven journals. For his paper “On the Construction of School-houses” he was awarded a premium from the American institute of instruction. About 1832 he removed to Boston, and there published the "Young Man’s Guide," a book that exerted great influence by disseminating correct physiological principles. Upward of 100 books and pamphlets were published by him, including "The House I live in," "The Young Housekeeper," "The Library of Health" (6 vols.), "Moral Reform," "My Progress in Error," and a "Prize Essay on Tobacco." He spent his winters in travel, visiting school-houses, more than 20,000 of which he is said to have inspected, and lecturing. His name is identified with some of the most valuable reforms in education, morals, and physical training of the present century.
ALDAMA, Ignacio, Mexican patriot, b. in San Miguel el Grande, Guanajuato; d. in Monclova, 20 June, 1811. He was a lawyer, but devoted himself to commercial projects with marked success. From the beginning of the revolutionary war he joined Hidalgo, was soon promoted to the rank of general, and was then appointed minister to the United States, in hope of obtaining help from this nation. But, on reaching Bejar, he found that some insurgents, led by Zambrano, were preparing a revolt against the revolutionary authorities. These being overpowered by the new insurgents, 1 March, 1811, Aldama was arrested and sent to Monclova, where he was executed.
ALDANA, Ramon, Mexican poet, b. in Merida de Yucatan, 30 June, 1833 ; d. in the city of Mexico, 16 Aug., 1882. He studied philosophy and law in his native city, but soon devoted himself to journalism and politics. He produced four dramas, which bear the titles "Honor y felicidad," "Nobleza de corazón," "Una prenda de venganza," and "La cubeza y el corazón," besides lyric poems, sonnets, and numerous literary articles.
