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Walt Whitman to William D. O'Connor, 18 June [1882]

Only a word to catch this evening's mail—the second letter in today's Tribune fully follows up the first—& I should say settles the Chadwick points—Dear friend, I only wanted to say again how entirely satisfied I am with your championship, matter & spirit—

Walt Whitman

The "savage" letter of "Sigma" following seems a very curious one.2 I am more than half inclined to think it some crafty friend who takes the mask of foe—


Notes

  • 1. This letter is endorsed: "Answ'd June 19/82." It is addressed: Wm D O'Connor | Life Saving Service Bureau | Washington | D C. It is postmarked: Camden | Jun | 18 | 6 PM | N.J.; Washington, D.C. | Jun | 19 | 4 AM | 1882 | Recd. [back]
  • 2. On June 15, O'Connor notified Whitman of the appearance of his article in the New York Tribune and of what Whitelaw Reid termed "a savage article on the other side." On June 19, O'Connor tentatively proposed that Spofford, the Librarian of Congress, was the author of the letter signed "Sigma" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Tuesday, June 12, 1888, 314), but on June 29, he decided upon Richard H. Stoddard ( Wednesday, November 7, 1888, 49). [back]
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