Here I sit in my favourite seat on a bank overlooking Rivington Lake—(where we sat Sunday afternoon, May 31st.) I must write to you tonight (my last chance this week) but as it is a beautiful evening I decided to ramble out here first—to enjoy the lovely scene & the fresh air. And now while resting here I may as well draft my letter.
loc_vm.01220_large.jpgThe sun is setting behind me—the lake below flecked with ripples reflects the gray blue sky—the gently undulating country just beyond green & wooded here & there—with purple moorland hills behind. To the right, across the lake, is the charming little hamlet of Rivington, with the Pike beyond.—The birds are singing their evening concert—a thrush especially calling loudly close by.
A most peaceful & sweet ending to a glorious day. No gorgeous display of sunset hues, but sober, calm, vital & beautiful. loc_vm.01221_large.jpg L. of G. is with me & my thoughts are of you. Especially so as we have received today your account of your birthday "spree" in Camden1—(celebrated by us here)
Dr. J.2 came to see me this morning, in great delight,—to shew me your kind good letter just received,3 & to consult me as to the best way of copying it. He also shewed me a good letter he had received from Warry.4 We have wondered many a time how you got through that day, & looked forward to some account of it. It was a great pleasure to us to learn that you triumphed so grandly over your infirmities loc_vm.01222_large.jpg & that the dinner was such a great success. We rejoice too that you were apparently no worse for it next day, & hope that you have kept better since. Dr. J. came to see me again at noon, & in the afternoon brought me one of two copies of the "Camden Post" received from Warry.
It pleased us very much to learn from Warry's letter that you had expressed a wish that we, too, were all present That could not be, but our thoughts were with you, & our heart's best love & good will.
loc_vm.01223_large.jpgI hope that your 73rd year, so auspiciously begun, may be marked by greater immunity from pain, by some recovery of strength, & by further accession of lovers & friends.
I do wish to hear that you are able to get out more & that you are reaping benefit from the summer weather.
Sure am I always—as I ramble here—that nature has found no voice to express her like yours—as also that she transcends all expression, & promises new & diviner meanings evermore, as we advance on our endless course.
loc_vm.01224_large.jpgMay this letter, written in her presence, convey some slight aroma of her cheer & beauty to your room.—If only you sat here with me now.
God bless you, & my heart's best love to you always. J. W. WallaceP.S. I like the profile photo, immensely, & hope to receive one for myself.
Correspondent:
James William Wallace
(1853–1926), of Bolton, England, was an architect and great admirer of
Whitman. Wallace, along with Dr. John Johnston (1852–1927), a physician in
Bolton, founded the "Bolton College" of English admirers of the poet. Johnston
and Wallace corresponded with Whitman and with Horace Traubel and other members
of the Whitman circle in the United States, and they separately visited the poet
and published memoirs of their trips in John Johnston and James William Wallace,
Visits to Walt Whitman in 1890–1891 by Two
Lancashire Friends (London: Allen and Unwin, 1917). For more
information on Wallace, see Larry D. Griffin, "Wallace, James William (1853–1926)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998).