Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, [8 October, 1890]

Date: [October 8, 1890]

Whitman Archive ID: duk.00452

Source: Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and 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: Brandon James O'Neil, Ian Faith, Breanna Himschoot, and Stephanie Blalock



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8 Oct. '901

Bro Walt

Studio, now, over the kitchen—head of stairs—Octr 8.—Miserable, cold, damp weather—

Han2 about the same: has made a couple of visits, near by, to old acquaintances— who congratulated her—on coming out. Hard times, however. The 5 dollars you sent, put [by?] until yesterday—recieved [illegible] dollars from Lou3—I added [2?]5 cents—all I had—and had [a?] ton of coal sent up and fixed for winter—wood for the Kitchen stoves, expires in about 2 days—where shall we get a couple of dollars then, to replenish? You write that you wish Han was near You—she would like it—


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. Richard Maurice Bucke, a Canadian physician and one of Whitman's literary executors, wrote the date of this letter in red ink at the top of the page. Heyde provides the date of "Oct. 8" in the body of the letter. [back]

2. 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]

3. 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]


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