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John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 29 October 1882

About This Item

  • Title: John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 29 October 1882
  • Date: October 29, 1882
  • Creator(s): John Burroughs
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.01142
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schoeberlein Kirsten Clawson Eder Jaramillo Nicole Gray
  • Cite this page: Burroughs, John. "John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 29 October 1882." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 16 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.01142.xml (TEI)
 loc.01142.001_large.jpg see notes June 18 1888 West Park Oct 29. 82 Dear Walt.

I was much disturbed by your card. I had been thinking of you as probably enjoying these superb autumn days down in the country at Kirkwood, & here you are wretched & sick at home. I trust you are better now. You need a change. I dearly wish that as soon as you are well enough  loc.01142.002_large.jpg you would come up here & spend a few weeks with us. We could have a good time here in my bark-covered shanty & in knocking about the country. Let me know that you will come.

The "Specimen Days &c" came all right. I do not like the last part of the title; it brings me up with such a short turn. I have read most of the new matter & like it of course. I have not seen any notices of the book yet.  loc.01142.003_large.jpg I have just recd​ an English book—Familiar Studies of men & books—by Stevenson with an essay upon you in it. But it does not amount to much. He has the American vice of smartness & flippancy. I do not think you would care for the piece.

I am bank examining nowadays, but shall be free again pretty soon.

O'Connor writes me that he is going to pub​ his Tribune letters in a pamphlet, with some other matter; I am glad to hear it. He draws blood every time.

 loc.01142.004_large.jpg

I fear poor old Alcott will not rally; indeed he may be dead now. I had a pleasant letter from him the other day. I had sent him a crate of Concord grapes.

I am very stupid to-day. For the past two weeks my head has been ground between the upper & nether millstone of bank ledgers & it is sore. We are all well. Julian is a fine large boy. Drop me a card when you receive this; also write me when you will come up.

With much love John Burroughs
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