The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Sir Edwin Arnold to Walt Whitman, 12 September 1889
Date: September 12, 1889
Whitman Archive ID: loc.07863
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: Ashlyn Stewart, Breanna Himschoot, Alex Ashland, and Stephanie Blalock
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Arlington Hotel
Washington
Sept. 12th1
Sir Edwin Arnold, who is passing through Philadelphia to-morrow, (Friday) desires to express in person to Mr Walt Whitman his great admiration and gratitude, and will take leave to call upon him at Camden, in the afternoon or early evening
Edwin Arnold2
Correspondent:
Sir Edwin Arnold
(1832–1904), the British poet and journalist, had visited Whitman in
Camden in September 1889 and wrote frequently about it. See for example, "Arnold and Whitman," which was published in the September 26, 1889,
issue of The Daily Picayune. Whitman found the visitor
interesting but too effusive: "My main objection to him, if objection at all,
would be, that he is too eulogistic—too flattering" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Friday, September 13, 1889).
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Mr Walt Whitman | Camden | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania U.S.A. Edwin Arnold. It is postmarked: Washington. D.C. | SEP 12 | 430 PM | 89; RECEIVED 2 | SEP | 12 | 12PM | 1889 | PHILA.; Camden. N.J. | SEP | 13 | 6 AM | 1889 | Rec'd. [back]
2. This signature is written on the front of the envelope that Arnold addressed to Whitman. [back]