Charles W. Eldridge to Walt Whitman, 22 September 1883

 yal.00293.001_large.jpg Boston, Sept 22, 1883 Dear Walt:

In New York on Thursday I saw Marvin and was glad to hear from you through him.—He said you had not seen the Nation review of Dr Buckes book and had expressed a desire to do so. So having a copy I cut it out and enclose it. You will see it makes some outrageously false statements about you at which your friends were naturally indignant, but I am surprised that William was green enough to suppose that he could get any reply printed in that organ of the Philistines; and he probably made it so severe as to preclude its publication  yal.00293.002_large.jpg any way even supposing them to have been suddenly smitten with a conscience. A very improbable supposition.—

You have heard that I have finally received the "grand bounce" from an ungrateful government. The fact is I have been rather badly treated by an uncircumsized dog from Kentucky, but such a thing was bound to happen sooner or later, and better now than later.

I am still in the prime of life, have health, some means and many friends, and if under these circumstances I did not cheerfully accept the situation I should be unworthy ever to have read Leaves of Grass, with its philosophy of hope and the morning.—

I enclose you my professional card. If after a fair trial I do not succeed in earning a living  yal.00293.003_large.jpg in this way I shall probably drift back into my old trade of Publishing.

I hope you are as comfortable as usual, and enjoying as much of life as you describe in some of the later notes in Specimen Days.—

I should be delighted to hear from you, and believe me ever

Faithfully Yours Charley.  yal.00293.004_large.jpg from C W Eldridge | Boston Sept '83