Your good long letter of the 18th 19th and 20th2 is just to hand and I am on the whole well enough satisfied that your health is as well as you report it. I hope that between Horace3 and yourself something will be done in the matter of having a catheter used morning and evening there is little doubt that that is the main thing required just now for your comfort.
I am glad to hear of the proposed "Whitman" no. of Lippencott4 in March5—hope they will carry out the scheme. I wish you would carry out my scheme (thought of no doubt a hundred times by youself) to write a series of reminiscences—memoranda—autobiographical jottings—little personal items. I guess any of the journals would be glad to have such M.S. and there is nothing your friends would enjoy so much or that would be so valuable to posterity—perhaps you are at it?
Your affectionate friend R M BuckeA good6 xmas and do. New Year to you—I have a feeling now that you will see quite a few more of them with us yet—and I hope have some first–rate good times with us yet
R M B loc_sd.00126.jpg loc_sd.00123.jpg loc_sd.00124.jpg see notes Jan 20 1891Correspondent:
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).