Emerson and Theodore Parker — 283
There is an allegorical story current that once, immediately after Theodore Parker had parted from Ralph Waldo Emerson on the road to Boston, a crazy Millerite encountered Parker, and cried: “Sir, do you not know that the world is coming to an end?” Upon which Parker replied: “My good man, that doesn’t concern me; I live in Boston.” The same fanatic, overtaking Emerson, announced in the same terms the approach of the end of the world, upon which Emerson replied: “I am glad of it, sir; man will get along much better without it!”