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Walt Whitman to Mannahatta Whitman and Jessie Louisa Whitman, 2 October [1877]

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to Mannahatta Whitman and Jessie Louisa Whitman, 2 October [1877]
  • Date: October 2, 1877
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: mhs.00016
  • Source: Missouri Historical Society. 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.

    Notes for this letter were created by Whitman Archive staff and/or were derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller, 6 vols. (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), and supplemented or updated by Whitman Archive staff.
  • Contributors to digital file: Alicia Bones Elizabeth Lorang Anthony Dreesen Kevin McMullen Nicole Gray
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Mannahatta Whitman and Jessie Louisa Whitman, 2 October [1877]." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 04 December 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: mhs.00016.xml (TEI)
 mhs.00016.001_large.jpg 431 Stevens Street1 Camden Oct​ 2 My dear girls (for this letter is for you both)

I will just write you a few lines without formality—

It is evening—has just struck 8—I am sitting up in my room alone—I still feel pretty well for me—went over to Phila:​ & took a long pleasant ride out to the Park in the open car, this afternoon—return'd​ about an hour ago, & had my supper—Lou is well—she went over to Phila:​ this forenoon, & this afternoon & evening she has had company, (Aunt Libby, & her daughter & daughter's husband—they are down stairs now)—George is well,—he has been to New York to-day, & has just return'd​ , & is down stairs eating his supper—  mhs.00016.002_large.jpg Eddy is well & hearty—Tip ditto—We all get along pretty much in the old way—To-day I rec'd​ an order for five full sets of my books from England, accompanied by the money2—(which of course doesn't hurt my feelings a bit)—

I havn't been over to the Gilchrists' for about two weeks, as they are all deeply absorbed in Mrs. G's illness (from the operation)—but Lou was there a few minutes to-day—didn't see Mrs G, she is doing well, & will probably be up in a couple of weeks, or so—Lou saw Beatrice—Herbert is in New York, (up the Hudson) visiting at Mr Burroughs's—

I have rec'd​ a good letter from your father, dated Sept 243—he was well, & busy in his new office—So, my darlings, you see I have just rattled off all the domestic gossip & have now only room to send love from

Uncle Walt  mhs.00016.003_large.jpg  mhs.00016.004_large.jpg

Notes

  • 1. The envelope for this letter bears the address: Miss Mannahatta Whitman | Care of Mrs Archer | Patapsco Seminary | Ellicott City | Maryland. It is postmarked: Camden | Oct | 3 | N.J. [back]
  • 2. See Whitman's October 2, 1877 letter to Edward Carpenter. [back]
  • 3. This letter is apparently lost. However, on July 22, Jeff had written to inform Whitman that he was about to lose his position at the St. Louis Water Works because of political pressures, but that he was actively engaged in consultation work for Henry Flad & Co., civil engineers. [back]
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