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James W. Wallace to Walt Whitman, 2 June 1891

About This Item

  • Title: James W. Wallace to Walt Whitman, 2 June 1891
  • Date: June 2, 1891
  • Creator(s): James W. Wallace | Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.04715
  • 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 Marie Ernster Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Wallace, James W. and Walt Whitman. "James W. Wallace to Walt Whitman, 2 June 1891." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 26 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.04715.xml (TEI)
 loc_vm.01199_large.jpg Anderton, near Chorley. Lancashire, England 2. June 1891 My dear old friend,

For a fortnight now we have had no word from anyone as to your condition, & it pains me very much to think that it may be that there has been no improvement in it. We are wearying to hear about you; but I cherish the hope that the preparations for your birthday,1 the additional correspondence it would entail, & the sending away of copies  loc_vm.01200_large.jpg of your 2nd Annex2 are a sufficient explanation of the silence. My loving good wishes to you anyhow.

After a week of dull skies, low temperature & frequent rain, Saturday & Sunday (May 30 & 31) were gloriously fine, warm & sunny.—

R.K. Greenhalgh3 came here to spend the week end with me, & on Sunday afternoon Johnston4 & Dixon5 came out.—Greenhalgh & I spent most of the time out doors, rambling about the beautiful country at Rivington. (L. of G. with us, from which I frequently read aloud.)  loc_vm.01201_large.jpg On Sunday afternoon Johnston, Greenhalgh & I went to a shaded bank, where we sat amongst the trees, overlooking the lake & the sunlit country & hills & moors beyond. I there talked informally for an hour or so about you & more especially about your religious teaching—reading extracts from L. of G.—Our seclusion, the marvellous beauty of the day & of the widespread peaceful landscape, (entirely rural) the rustling of leaves in the breeze & the songs of birds—all contributed to our study & talk, & gave effect to your words.—

 loc_vm.01202_large.jpg

Johnston had to leave soon after tea—after which Dixon G. & I went to a small wood near here, where we sat, looking towards the sunset—the air balmy & sweet, the birds singing their evening concert & a cuckoo calling near. I again led the talk—this time, as befitted the hour & scene, about your present condition, & all that it implies—reading some of your later poems. We thought of you with swelling hearts of tenderness, & love, & it was agreed to send you some expression of our heartfelt love & prayerful "God speed."

 loc_vm.01203_large.jpg

It was a memorable day for us all—not to be forgotten. The full glory of the day, the mellow tenderness & beauty of the evening, the sweet influences of the early summer, and—running through it all—our thoughts of you, our speculations as to how you were & what you would be doing, of your friends who are also our friends—all combined to make it sacred & blessed.

Our unending love to you, honour & blessing—dearest of friends, greatest & most loved of benefactors.

Wallace  loc_vm.01204_large.jpg

Correspondent:
James William Wallace (1853–1926), of Bolton, England, was an architect and great admirer of Whitman. Wallace, along with Dr. John Johnston (1852–1927), a physician in Bolton, founded the "Bolton College" of English admirers of the poet. Johnston and Wallace corresponded with Whitman and with Horace Traubel and other members of the Whitman circle in the United States, and they separately visited the poet and published memoirs of their trips in John Johnston and James William Wallace, Visits to Walt Whitman in 1890–1891 by Two Lancashire Friends (London: Allen and Unwin, 1917). For more information on Wallace, see Larry D. Griffin, "Wallace, James William (1853–1926)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).

Notes

  • 1. Whitman's 72nd (and last) birthday was May 31, 1891. [back]
  • 2. Whitman's book Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) was his last miscellany, and it included both poetry and short prose works commenting on poetry, aging, and death, among other topics. Thirty-one poems from the book were later printed as "Good-Bye my Fancy" in Leaves of Grass (1891–1892), the last edition of Leaves of Grass published before Whitman's death in March 1892. For more information see, Donald Barlow Stauffer, "'Good-Bye my Fancy' (Second Annex) (1891)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
  • 3. Richard Greenhalgh, a bank clerk and one of Whitman's Bolton admirers, frequently hosted annual celebrations of the poet's birthday. In his March 9, 1892, letter to Traubel, Greenhalgh wrote that "Walt has taught me 'the glory of my daily life and trade.' In all the departments of my life Walt entered with his loving personality & I am never alone" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Sunday, March 20, 1892). James Wallace described Greenhalgh as "undoubtedly a rich, royal, plain fellow, not given to ornate word or act" (Sunday, September 27, 1891). For more on Greenhalgh, see Paul Salveson, "Loving Comrades: Lancashire's Links to Walt Whitman," Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 14.2 (1996), 57–84. [back]
  • 4. Dr. John Johnston (1852–1927) of Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, was a physician, photographer, and avid cyclist. Johnston was trained in Edinburgh and served as a hospital surgeon in West Bromwich for two years before moving to Bolton, England, in 1876. Johnston worked as a general practitioner in Bolton and as an instructor of ambulance classes for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways. He served at Whalley Military Hospital during World War I and became Medical Superintendent of Townley's Hospital in 1917 (John Anson, "Bolton's Illustrious Doctor Johnston—a man of many talents," Bolton News [March 28, 2021]; Paul Salveson, Moorlands, Memories, and Reflections: A Centenary Celebration of Allen Clarke's Moorlands and Memories [Lancashire Loominary, 2020]). Johnston, along with the architect James W. Wallace, founded the "Bolton College" of English admirers of the poet. Johnston and Wallace corresponded with Whitman and with Horace Traubel and other members of the Whitman circle in the United States, and they separately visited the poet and published memoirs of their trips in John Johnston and James William Wallace, Visits to Walt Whitman in 1890–1891 by Two Lancashire Friends (London: Allen and Unwin, 1917). For more information on Johnston, see Larry D. Griffin, "Johnston, Dr. John (1852–1927)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
  • 5. Wentworth Dixon (1855–1928) was a lawyer's clerk and a member of the "Bolton College" of Whitman admirers. He was also affiliated with the Labour Church, an organization whose socialist politics and working-class ideals were often informed by Whitman's work. Dixon communicated directly with Whitman only a few times, but we can see in his letters a profound sense of care for the poet's failing health, as well as genuine gratitude for Whitman's continued correspondence with the "Eagle Street College." See Dixon's letters to Whitman of June 13, 1891 and February 24, 1892. For more on Dixon and Whitman's Bolton disciples, see Paul Salveson, "Loving Comrades: Lancashire's Links to Walt Whitman," Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 14.2 (1996), 57–84. [back]
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