On Being Alone

Linck’s 1949 essay from his book Paulina Preferred borders on a stream of consciousness rambling, complete with punctuation marks abundantly decorated throughout as he attempts to replicate the natural cadence of hearing these ramblings first hand. But throughout the pauses, his mission remains a clear advocation for spending time outdoors and reflecting inward. The required pieces of equipment are listed only as ways to further engage with a space he holds dear, Nature. This capitalized transformation of the word to a proper noun holds reverence, and looks to Natural spaces as a living, but singular entity. 

Linck prescribes that “we drowse before an open fire; a fire from which sparks dart heavenward to vie with twinkling stars, while smoke slowly wreaths upward from a comforting pipe. In all it makes a picturesque scene worth of recording in our book of memories”, and recognizes that we have passed a threshold in our interactions with Nature,This is evidenced by the setting for his piece, a small cabin that feels no further removed than Thorough’s Walden. However, his reconciliation lies in understanding that we cannot pretend to have a fully natural lifestyle and no longer have the ability to return to it. It is momentary, and Nature as that entity is something we must actively seek out.

On Being Alone is not a reflection of time spent in solitude, but a call to action to ensure it is a part of life that we each make time for less we risk losing what little connection we have left.

This edition of fifteen is reproduced faithfully to the original printing. Included are original spelling of some words considered to be typographical errors