This letter is to give you love and greeting from an English Socialist and his wife. We heard a little while ago that you were seriously ill, but hope you are now much better.
Forgive all that is amiss in the enclosed papers, and look on them as the first
efforts of a child to speak words he can already understand. What we want to tell
you is, that here in old England, in the midst of infidelity and sentimental
pessimism, your strong and beautiful thought has found its way loc.01091.002_large.jpg into the hearts and lives of two
lovers, making them wiser and happier in every way. We are no longer ashamed of
ourselves, but accept life as we find it. Acknowledging ourselves your disciples, we
take you at your word as you have given it to us in your books, and believe that you
will welcome us into your personal confidence and love. We should like to know that
you feel this and accept it, and should infinitely treasure even a single line from
your hand in return; but if you are ill, or feel it anyhow a burden, do not trouble
about it, for we shall not fear you have forgotten us.
It would be futile to try and thank you for what you have taught us; we loc.01091.003_large.jpg know that our
thanks would best please you if shown in trying to help others in the same way. This
we do, and promise still to do; so wherever you are you will know that here your
spirit is at work. We have a brother in the States, and long to visit them
ourselves: can it be that we shall ever have the joy of meeting you face to
face?
With our truest love and thanks, and prayers for your joy and health
We are, dear Walt Whitman,
Your devoted pupils and friends Reginald A. Beckett Katie E. BeckettCorrespondent:
Reginald A Beckett and his
wife Katie E. Beckett were British socialists and admirers of Whitman. Reginald
Beckett, also a poet and journalist, authored "Whitman as a Socialist Poet,"
which was published in the July 1888 issue of To-Day
magazine. He also published in serials such as the Christian
Socialist and the Labor Prophet, a periodical
that he began editing in 1896 (Kirsten Harris, Walt Whitman
and British Socialism: 'The Love of Comrades' [New York: Routledge,
2016], 20, 109). Little additional information is known about Katie E.
Beckett.