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Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 7 April 1890

About This Item

  • Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 7 April 1890
  • Date: April 7, 1890
  • Creator(s): Charles L. Heyde
  • Whitman Archive ID: duk.00444
  • 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 Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Heyde, Charles L.. "Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 7 April 1890." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 26 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: duk.00444.xml (TEI)
 duk.00444.001_large.jpg Van Ness House L. S. Drew & H. N. Clark Managers U. A. Woodbury, Proprietor. Burlington Vt. April 7, 1890, Bro Walt.

Good kind Friend—Your letter, enclosing $2—most gratefully received. I assure you. How you help us along—How could we ever survive, but for your goodness—

Han1 is but poorly as yet. A beautifull​ day overhead, and an adventurous robin chirping at 4 O:Clock this morning—I heard him from my window—but cold chilly, freezing nights prevail—I am quite unsteady on my legs, from effects of the grippe—and  duk.00444.002_large.jpg my stomach is weak, but I feel stronger this morning and encouraged—

God bless you Walt, he has qualified you all through your life, with a benevolent disposity, and a sustaining philosophy—

Han talks of you nearly all the time—she can now promenade on the back piazza where you may remember the sun used to fall so benignly——

Dear Friend Gratefully yours ever Charlie

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]
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