The lecture on Wednesday evening, was by H. D. Thoreau, Esq., of Concord, Mass. The subject was announced in the papers as "Home, or domestic economy," but the real topic was "Myself—I." The lecture was unique, original, comical, and high-falutin. It kept the audience wide awake, and most pleasantly excited for nearly two hours.... It was like the dashing out of a comet that had broken loose from its orbit—hitting here and there, a gentle rap at this folly, and a severe one at that—but all in good nature.
       — Anonymous, "The Lyceum," Eastern Argus Semi-Weekly [Portland, Maine], March 23, 1849.