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Camden NJ America1
Thursday Evn'g Oct 4 '88—
Still keeping my sick room but fair spirits & no worse—great debility of
legs & without body strength & control—Book printing has proceeded
& sheets now at bindery—will send you a copy of Nov:
Boughs2 soon—Herbert Gilchrist3 comes
occasionally—is well. Dr Bucke4 is
well—busy—writes daily—Cold here—I have a new wood
stove—better—Love to you, to y'r father5 & all
W W
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Correspondent:
Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe
(1864–1945), daughter of Hannah Whitall and Robert Pearsall Smith, was a
political activist, art historian, and critic, whom Whitman once called his
"staunchest living woman friend." For more information about Costelloe, see
Christina Davey, Costelloe, Mary Whitall Smith (1864–1945),"
Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and
Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).
Notes
- 1. This postal card is
addressed: Mrs: Mary Whital Costelloe | 40 Grosvenor Road | the Embankment | London England. It is
postmarked: Camden, N.J. | Oct 4 | 8 PM | 88; Philadelphia | Paid. [back]
- 2. Whitman's November Boughs was published in October 1888 by Philadelphia
publisher David McKay. For more information on the book, see James E. Barcus
Jr., "November Boughs [1888]," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 3. Herbert Harlakenden Gilchrist
(1857–1914), son of Alexander and Anne Gilchrist, was an English painter
and editor of Anne Gilchrist: Her Life and Writings
(London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1887). For more information, see Marion Walker Alcaro,
"Gilchrist, Herbert Harlakenden (1857–1914)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D.
Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 4. Richard Maurice Bucke (1837–1902) was a
Canadian physician and psychiatrist who grew close to Whitman after reading Leaves of Grass in 1867 (and later memorizing it) and
meeting the poet in Camden a decade later. Even before meeting Whitman, Bucke
claimed in 1872 that a reading of Leaves of Grass led him
to experience "cosmic consciousness" and an overwhelming sense of epiphany.
Bucke became the poet's first biographer with Walt
Whitman (Philadelphia: David McKay, 1883), and he later served as one
of his medical advisors and literary executors. For more on the relationship of
Bucke and Whitman, see Howard Nelson, "Bucke, Richard Maurice," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 5. Robert Pearsall Smith
(1827–1898) was a Quaker who became an evangelical minister associated
with the "Holiness movement." He was also a writer and businessman. Whitman
often stayed at his Philadelphia home, where the poet became friendly with the
Smith children—Mary, Logan, and Alys. For more information about Smith,
see Christina Davey, "Smith, Robert Pearsall (1827–1898)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]