The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Walt Whitman to Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe, 18 November 1890
Date: November 18, 1890
Whitman Archive ID: loc.01398
Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 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: Andrew David King, Cristin Noonan, and Stephanie Blalock
 image 1 |  image 2 |
Camden NJ US America1
Nov: 18 '90—
Seems a long time since I have heard f'm or written to you—Am still here (still holding out after a fashion)—am writing a little, mentality—(sort o') & good right arm—I sent you my "Old Poets" essay,2 & shall send bits when printed—
Love to the childer & all
Walt Whitman
Correspondent:
Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe
(1864–1945) 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 letter is addressed: Mrs. Costelloe | 40 Grosvenor Road | The Embankment | London | England. It is postmarked: CAMDEN, N.J. | NOV 19 | 6 AM | 90; 2. [back]
2. Whitman sent "Old Poets" to the North American Review. He returned proof on October 18 and was paid $75 (Whitman's Commonplace Book, Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.). The article appeared in the November 1890 issue. [back]