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Richard Maurice Bucke to Walt Whitman, 9 November 1882

My dear Walt

I have your card of 6th1 and we shall count on your coming here early in Dec. to spend the winter with us—the next question is shall I go to Philadelphia for you or meet you at the Falls? You can get a train by which you can run through to the Falls without change so that there would not be any difficulty in coming that far alone if you were feeling pretty well (I must caution you however about talking too long to those goodlooking girls at Homersville as you might get left). But would it not be as well (or necessary) for me to go to Philadelphia to arrange for the publication of my book2 in the Spring? Or can you arrange this without me? And if I do not go myself will it not be necessary to send the M.S. with copies of the illustrations? Let me know at your earliest convenience what you think of all this: We are all well and Mrs. B., as well as myself, is much pleased at the prospect of seeing you so soon—don't disappoint us.

I am affectionately yours R M Bucke

Notes

  • 1. Whitman's postcard to Bucke appears to be lost. If Whitman intended to visit Bucke in the winter of 1882, he made no mention of it in any of his extant letters. [back]
  • 2. Bucke is likely talking about his 1883 biography Walt Whitman here—a book for which Whitman wrote long passages himself and heavily revised others. [back]
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