Camden
P M Nov: 13 '881
A remarkably fine sunny day, & I went & sat in the warm bright bask of it from 12 to
1—Not much different in my condition—what there is, bends favorably. I am still
imprison'd in my sick room—Please send the "Open Court"2 (in the bundle) to Dr
Bucke3—Am comfortable & in good spirits—few visitors lately—
Walt Whitman
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 addressed:
Wm D O'Connor | 1015 O Street | Washington | D.C. It is postmarked: Camden (?) |
Nov (?) | 8 PM | 88; Washington, Rec'd. | Nov 14 | 7 AM | 88 | 1. [back]
- 2. The
Open Court for November 8 contained an article by Moncure D. Conway
entitled "The Spiritualists' Confession." For more on Conway, see Philip W.
Leon, "Conway Moncure Daniel (1832–1907)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998), 148. [back]
- 3. 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). [back]