Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 24 April 1890

Date: April 24, 1890

Whitman Archive ID: duk.00446

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, and Stephanie Blalock



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Burlington
April 24,
1890—

Bro Walt.

A bright sky, but a very cold day—ice remains firm on the shade side of the street. I have been striving to raise enough to buy ½ ton of coal—quite exhausted—more so than at any time this season.

Han1 is despondent, weak, very nervous; you must expect her to reply, even by postal to your kind notes—

The paper you maild to her was very encourageing, and she craves for a couple of rooms near you—that she might furnish, and enjoy with you the bright Camden sunshine—

I am quite broken down at times; irritable from this epidemic—I make two coal fires and have the sitting room and kichen well warmed, when she comes down, but a man is not precisely the kind of servant a woman needs. Mrs. Church2 is very clever but she has a house full of boarders. She is very thorough and competent.

I am puzzled at times how to continue—I sleep well—yet I need rest other ways. I feel at times that I shall be compelled to give up—I have something like the eumonia at times too, in my left chest. I have no physician.


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]

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


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