Sent May 9—'681
My dear Charles Hine,2
I received with gladness the authentic sign & proof that you are on hand &
doing, viz. "Watsons Art Journal"3 with notice &c.—I am anxious
to see the picture. I am sure it must be a thing of beauty, glowing, human, &
true. Believe me, my friend, I have not forgotten you, nor your old kindness &
friendliness. Also Mrs. Hine & the daughter—to whom I send best
remembrances.
As soon as I come to New York again, I will visit you at the studio. In the meantime,
I send you by same mail as this a copy of my last edition, also a little book,
written by Mr. Burroughs,4
(a second Thoreau,) and a newspaper, with letter5—the book & letter all about my precious
self—& I dare say may interest you. If the books are not brought by the
carrier, you must send to p. o. for them. I have seen Faris6 here, but now he has
gone back to N. Y. I am working in the Attorney General's office—have a
pleasant berth, moderate pay, but sufficient—
I am well, weight nearly 200, & eat my rations every time. You must write, &
let me know whether the books come safe.
Notes
- 1. This draft letter is
endorsed, "Chas Hine | sent May 9 '68 | 800 Broadway | N. Y." [back]
- 2. Charles Hine
(1827–1871) did an early oil painting of Walt Whitman, the engraving of
which was the frontispiece for the 1860 edition of Leaves of
Grass. In 1889 Whitman observed of Hine's portrait: "I don't know but
the best of all" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden [1906–1996], 4:378).
Hine's reply to Whitman's letter is not extant, nor is Whitman's second letter
written shortly before June 17, 1868. On June 17,
1868, Hine wrote: "Be assured of the high estimate I place upon your
gift, and the glowing thoughts to which you have given utterance. 'Leaves of
Grass' forever!…My dear old friend, I love you." Whitman visited Hine
shortly before his death, a visit mentioned in Whitman's July 26, 1871, letter to William D. O'Connor and his July 28, 1871, letter to Peter Doyle. [back]
- 3. In Watson's Art Journal, 9 (April 25, 1868), 11–12, appeared
"'Sleep': Painted by Charles Hine." The article described his painting of a
female nude, and concluded: "We know no picture of modern date that is in any
way comparable with it. It is a work, necessarily sensuous, but utterly devoid
of sensuality." [back]
- 4.
Notes on Walt Whitman, As Poet and Person (New York:
American News, 1867). [back]
- 5. Hinton's letter in the
Rochester Evening Express. [back]
- 6. The New York Directory
for 1867–1868 listed Henry L. Faris, banker, and John E., broker. [back]