The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Daniel G. Brinton to Walt Whitman, 28 Feburary 1887
Date: February 28, 1887
Whitman Archive ID: loc.06061
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: Alex Ashland, Stefan Schöberlein, Kevin McMullen, and Stephanie Blalock
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D. G. BRINTON, M.D.,
115 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.
The Medical and Surgical Reporter (Weekly,)
The Compendium of Medical Science (Quarterly),
AND OTHER
MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS.
Feby 28, 1887.1
My dear Mr. Whitman:
I wish to express to you the great satisfaction, which I have heard on all hands, felt by the members of the Club at your reading, and remarks, on last Tuesday evening.2
Your selections were most happy, and your rendering of them impressive. Every one present, both members and guests, with whom I have spoken about it, has regarded it as a memorable occasion, and a thoroughly successful meeting.
With best wishes I remain yours sincerely
D. G. Brinton
Correspondent:
Daniel Garrison Brinton
(1837–1899) was a surgeon in the Union Army during the American Civil War
and then practiced medicine in Pennsylvania. He went on to become a professor at
the Academy of Natural Sciences, where he taught archaelogy and ethnology, and,
later, he worked as a professor of linguistics and archaeology at the University
of Pennsylvania. Whitman admired Brinton, who would speak at the poet's
funeral.
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Mr. Walt Whitman, | 328 Mickle St. | Camden | N.J. It is postmarked: Philadelphia, Pa | Feb 28 | 2 PM | 87; Camden, N.J. | Feb | 28 | 4 PM | 1887 | Rec'd. The following return address is printed on the envelope: D. G. BRINTON, M. D., | Medical and Scientific Publications, | NO. 115 SO. 7th Street, | Philadelphia. [back]
2. On February 22, 1887, Whitman read some of his poems (he recorded that they were "Word by the Sea"—probably "A Word Out of the Sea, " an earlier title of "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"—and "Mystic Trumpeter") at the "Contemporary Club" in Philadelphia. [back]