loc_sf.00013.jpg
Camden
Saturday Afternoon
July 21 '88
1
Rather easier to-day—am writing a little & at my proofs (the little
new book "Nov: Boughs"2)—have just rec'd three letters, one from my
English friend Ernest Rhys,3 friend of Herbert Gilchrist,4 and one from Dr
Bucke5—Nothing special, but I will enclose them all (as I believe you are
entertain'd—like I am by such)6—I wish you to send the three back to me in the envelope—write
a line to tell how you all [got] back—I liked your
visit—have enjoy'd the chicken—did you get back all right? did you get
the money all right at the bank?—pleasant weather here to-day—cloudy—
Sunday noon July 22
Am sitting up by the window—a little headache, & heavy feeling—but
I must take the thick with the thin—moderately cool & rainy—very
bearable for July—I am comfortable—good spirits—
Walt Whitman
loc_sf.00014.jpg
loc_sf.00011.jpg
loc_sf.00012.jpg
Correspondent:
Susan M. Lamb Stafford
(1833–1910) was the mother of Harry Stafford (1858–1918), who, in
1876, became a close friend of Whitman while working at the printing office of
the Camden New Republic. Whitman regularly visited the
Staffords at their family farm near Kirkwood, New Jersey. Whitman enjoyed the
atmosphere and tranquility that the farm provided and would often stay for weeks
at a time (see David G. Miller, "Stafford, George and Susan M.," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings [New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998], 685).
Notes
- 1. On the back of the first
page of this letter, part of Mrs. Stafford's address, ("Glendale"), and the date
of July 24 has been written multiple times. This letter is addressed: Mrs: Susan
Stafford | Kirkwood | (Glendale) | New Jersey. It is postmarked: Camden, N.J. |
July 23 | 8pm | 88. Whitman's name and address are printed on the envelope as
follows: WALT WHITMAN, | CAMDEN, | NEW JERSEY. [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. Ernest Percival Rhys
(1859–1946) was a British author and editor; he founded the Everyman's
Library series of inexpensive reprintings of popular works. He included a volume
of Whitman's poems in the Canterbury Poets series and two volumes of Whitman's
prose in the Camelot series for Walter Scott publishers. For more information
about Rhys, see Joel Myerson, "Rhys, Ernest Percival (1859–1946)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 4. 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]
- 5. 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]
- 6. Whitman may be referring to
the July 9–10, 1888, letter he received from
Ernest Rhys. In his letter of July 21, 1888 to
Richard Maurice Bucke, Whitman refers to a July 19, 1888, letter he had just
received from Bucke, but Bucke's letter does not appear to be extant. Herbert
Gilchrist had written to Whitman on July 8,
1888. [back]