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Walt Whitman to William D. O'Connor, 7 May 1888

I send you some papers to while away the time—Was out yesterday driving in the country—never did the spring impress me more—it was just the right temperature—the very sun & wind and grass with sort o' human relations—(what a beautiful object is a young wheat field! what color!)—Had a good supper, oysters & champagne, at my friends the Harneds2 in the evn'g—I only eat two meals a day—

W W

Correspondent:
William Douglas O'Connor (1832–1889) was the author of the grand and grandiloquent Whitman pamphlet The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication, published in 1866. For more on Whitman's relationship with O'Connor, see Deshae E. Lott, "O'Connor, William Douglas (1832–1889)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).


Notes

  • 1. This letter is endorsed: "Answ'd May 16/88." It is addressed: Wm D O'Connor | 1015 O Street | Washington | D C. It is postmarked: Camden, N.J. | May 7 | 4 30 PM | 88. [back]
  • 2. Thomas Biggs Harned (1851–1921) was one of Whitman's literary executors. Harned was a lawyer in Philadelphia and, having married Augusta Anna Traubel, was Horace Traubel's brother-in-law. For more on him, see Dena Mattausch, "Harned, Thomas Biggs (1851–1921)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
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