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Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 15 March 1890

About This Item

  • Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 15 March 1890
  • Date: March 15, 1890
  • Creator(s): Charles L. Heyde
  • Whitman Archive ID: duk.00443
  • Source: Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. 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.
  • Contributors to digital file: Blake Bronson-Bartlett Ian Faith Alex Ashland Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Heyde, Charles L.. "Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 15 March 1890." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 11 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: duk.00443.xml (TEI)
 duk.00443.001_large.jpg Van Ness House L. S. Drew & H. N. Clark Managers U. A. Woodbury, Proprietor. Burlington, Vt. 15 Mar. 1890 Saturday— Bro Walt.

You will be pleased to know that Han1 continues to improve, although the weather is barbarous—cold, damp— —

She walks better, about the house—cooked some potatoes for herself, shared with me. Mrs Church2 takes her a small piece of beef, twice a week, which strengthens her very much. I am quite poorly—grippe—attacks my stomach—yet I succeed in managing the  duk.00443.002_large.jpg fires, and keep the house comfortable—

I am grateful to you, kind old friend, for the needed aid you send us—Walt is so good—Han says—

Charlie—

Should have failed ago, brother Walt, but for you this winter.

Thanks again

Correspondent:
Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a French-born landscape painter, married Hannah Louisa Whitman (1823–1908), Walt Whitman's sister, and they lived in Burlington, Vermont. Charles Heyde was infamous among the Whitmans for his offensive letters and poor treatment of Hannah. For more information about Heyde, see Steven Schroeder, "Heyde, Charles Louis (1822–1892)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).

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. As yet we have no information about this person. [back]
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