Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, October 1889

 duk.00415.001_large.jpg U. A Woodbury Prop. Van Ness and American Hotels L. S. Drew H. N. Glark Managers Burlington Vermont. The Van Ness House Has a Safety Hydraulic Passenger Elevator Fire Escape and the Grinnell Automatic Sprinkler Van Ness House [cut away]EViews of the Lakes and Mountains from all parts of the House Burlington Vt. Oct. 1889 Bro Walt.

Han1 is not quite so well—rather ambitious and tried to do as ordinarily to day—yet I think she is stronger. Weather is much against her—Chilly—sheivering​ —does not see any person yet. Visitors stay too long and talk too much, whch is very distressing—I rather discourage such—indeed I am positive at times—she appreciates any thing  duk.00415.002_large.jpgcoming from you most affectionately—keeps your letter in hand.

I wish she was near Lou2 and George3—I am at times much discouraged and too nervous to wait upon her—my apprehensions professionaly​ render me often eccentric and confused—

I shall be obliged perhaps to get an assistant, yet I hope not.

Mention to George—My anual​ interest 15 dollars only is due in November—I have 10 dollars toward it—I contrive somehow—

Yours truly Charlie

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Notes

• 1. Hannah Louisa (Whitman) Heyde (1823–1908), youngest sister of Walt Whitman, married Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a Pennsylvania-born landscape painter. Charles Heyde was infamous among the Whitmans for his offensive letters and poor treatment of Hannah. Hannah and Charles Heyde lived in Burlington, Vermont. For more, see Paula K. Garrett, "Whitman (Heyde), Hannah Louisa (d. 1908)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
• 2. Louisa Orr Haslam Whitman (1842–1892), called "Loo" or "Lou," married Whitman's brother George Whitman on April 14, 1871. Their son, Walter Orr Whitman, was born in 1875 but died the following year. A second son was stillborn. Whitman lived in Camden, New Jersey, with George and Louisa from 1873 until 1884, when George and Louisa moved to a farm outside of Camden and Whitman decided to stay in the city. Louisa and Whitman had a warm relationship during the poet's final decades. For more, see Karen Wolfe, "Whitman, Louisa Orr Haslam (Mrs. George) (1842–1892)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
• 3. George Washington Whitman (1829–1901) was the sixth child of Louisa Van Velsor Whitman and ten years Walt Whitman's junior. George enlisted in 1861 and remained on active duty until the end of the Civil War. He was wounded in the First Battle of Fredericksburg (December 1862) and was taken prisoner during the Battle of Poplar Grove (September 1864). As a Civil War correspondent, Walt wrote warmly about George's service, such as in "Our Brooklyn Boys in the War" (January 5, 1863); "A Brooklyn Soldier, and a Noble One" (January 19, 1865); "Return of a Brooklyn Veteran" (March 12, 1865); and "Our Veterans Mustering Out" (August 5, 1865). After the war, George returned to Brooklyn and began building houses on speculation, with partner Mr. Smith and later a mason named French. George also took a position as inspector of pipes in Brooklyn and Camden. Walt and George lived together for over a decade in Camden, but when Walt decided not to move with George and his wife Louisa in 1884, a rift occurred that was ultimately not mended before Walt's 1892 death. For more information on George Washington Whitman, see Martin G. Murray, "Whitman, George Washington," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]