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Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 3 May [1890]

About This Item

  • Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 3 May [1890]
  • Date: May 3, [1890]
  • Creator(s): Charles L. Heyde
  • Whitman Archive ID: duk.00447
  • 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, 3 May [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.00447.xml (TEI)
 duk.00447.001_large.jpg Van Ness House L. S. Drew & H. N. Clark Managers U. A. Woodbury, 
 Proprietor. Burlington, Vt. 189 May 3—'90 Bro Walt,

Han1 is gaining yet of course impatient— Any word or notice of you she studies closely—

Hard times with me for money—

I sent a painting to New York—to Aquila, Rich, 84 William St2—reported safe—and carefully hang​ up— —

I am wearing a batterd​ old hat—Shame on Burlington Vermont——allmost​ begging for victuals—or provisions at times—Yet hope to surpass my troubles yet.

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. Heyde is referring to the Aquila Rich Paint Company, which had an office at 84 William Street in New York. [back]
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