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Walt Whitman to William D. O'Connor, 20 July 1883

Dear friend

Yours of 19th recd​ .2 Thanks for the corrections, & if you notice any more errors mention them to me, as I want to make out a full list preparatory to next printing—I will speak to McKay ab't​ the 25 copies & tell him I will go security—I dont know of any "office editor" to the N. A. Review—I think Allen Thorndike Rice the editor (& owner, 30 Lafayette Place New York) keeps every thing (in reading articles, judgment, &c.) in his own hands—seems to like controversial articles, attacks, &c.—any thing but dulness—yet I sh'd​ say is naturally conservative, respectable & English—he pays well, when suited—he always paid me well & gave me lots of taffy besides—but balked at my Carlyle article (pp. 170 to 178 Specimen Days) & sent back the MSS.3—A fuller acc't​ of that Russian matter4 is in the enclosed, wh: after reading, please send back to me. The American (same mail with this,) after reading please forward to Dr Bucke. Thanks for the Boston Transcript (I have sent it to Dr. B.) If George Edgar M[ontgomery]5 keeps on this way he will soon be among the avowed & emphatic advocates of L. of G.​ The N. Y. Times article of some three weeks since I have not yet seen.

I am well—have been down all this month at a secluded place I go in the Jersey woods6—pleasant weather here now—The stress, &c. ab't​ Dr Bucke's book will begin next winter here & in England.

W W

Notes

  • 1. This letter is endorsed: "Answ'd Aug 12/83." It is addressed: Wm D O'Connor | Life Saving Service | Treasury | Washington | D. C. It is postmarked: Philadelphia | Jul | 20 | 7 PM | Pa.; Washington, Recd. | Jul | 21 | 4 30 AM | 1883 | 3. [back]
  • 2. Whitman is referring to the letter of July 12, in which O'Connor mentioned corrections in Bucke's book and referred to the "office editor" of The North American Review (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Sunday, November 18, 1888, 129). [back]
  • 3. See the letter from Whitman to O'Connor of May 17, 1882. [back]
  • 4. See the letter from Whitman to O'Connor of June 18, 1883. [back]
  • 5. George Edgar Montgomery reviewed Bucke's book on July 1 in the New York Times and on July 7 in the Boston Transcript. [back]
  • 6. Whitman visited the Staffords from July 3 to 17 (Whitman's Commonplace Book, Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.). [back]
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