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Robert G. Ingersoll to Walt Whitman, 24 March 1892

About This Item

  • Title: Robert G. Ingersoll to Walt Whitman, 24 March 1892
  • Date: March 24, 1892
  • Creator(s): Robert G. Ingersoll
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.02356
  • 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: Cristin Noonan Amanda J. Axley Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Ingersoll, Robert G.. "Robert G. Ingersoll to Walt Whitman, 24 March 1892." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 25 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.02356.xml (TEI)
 loc.02356.001_large.jpg Mch 24. 921 My dear friend,

I was pained to hear that you are sufffering more and more,2 but was glad to know that your brave spirit has never been bowed—and that in all  loc.02356.002_large.jpg your agony your heart keeps sweet and strong.

I think of you a thousand times a day, and of the great good you have done the world. You have uttered such brave,  loc.02356.003_large.jpg free and winged words—words that have thrilled and ennobled the hearts and lives of millions—that my admiration has deepened to obligation.

Again I thank you for for your courage, and again I lovingly say farewell—and yet I hope to see you soon

Yours always R G Ingersoll  loc.02356.004_large.jpg  loc.02356.005_large.jpg see notes Mar 25 1892

Correspondent:
Robert "Bob" Green Ingersoll (1833–1899) was a Civil War veteran and an orator of the post-Civil War era, known for his support of agnosticism. Ingersoll was a friend of Whitman, who considered Ingersoll the greatest orator of his time. Whitman said to Horace Traubel, "It should not be surprising that I am drawn to Ingersoll, for he is Leaves of Grass. He lives, embodies, the individuality I preach. I see in Bob the noblest specimen—American-flavored—pure out of the soil, spreading, giving, demanding light" (Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Wednesday, March 25, 1891). The feeling was mutual. Upon Whitman's death in 1892, Ingersoll delivered the eulogy at the poet's funeral. The eulogy was published to great acclaim and is considered a classic panegyric (see Phyllis Theroux, The Book of Eulogies [New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997], 30).

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Walt Whitman | Camden, | N.J. It is postmarked: New York | Mar 24 | 730 PM | 92; Camden, N. J. | Mar 25 | 6AM | 92. [back]
  • 2. On December 17, 1891, Whitman had come down with a chill and was suffering from congestion in his right lung. Although the poet's condition did improve in January 1892, he would never recover. He was confined to his bed, and his physicians, Dr. Daniel Longaker of Philadelphia and Dr. Alexander McAlister of Camden, provided care during his final illness. Whitman died on March 26, 1892. Whitman's nurse Warren Fritzinger read this letter to the poet on March 25, 1892, the day before Whitman died (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Friday, March 25, 1892). [back]
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