I have yours of 23d1 (posted
24th) it came to hand last evening, it and also Mrs
Costelloe's2 (accompanying it) were heartily welcome. Am glad that you seem to be no
worse—but what is this about Harry Stafford?3 I fear from what you say he is in
a bad way, but what is it?4 It has been a terrible winter all about here for sickness
and deaths and I guess it is no better your way from what you say—I want to
know if there is any prospect of you giving a lecture on or about 15 April5—if
there is I shall try to be on hand. If I go I shall probably spend a day or two in
Phila', then a day or two in Baltimore, a day or two in Washington and a few days at
the seaside (Atlantic City perhaps) just
loc_es.00734.jpg
to get a little change and a mouthful of fresh sea air. Did I tell you that we have
arranged for the money to get tools to make the meter? I think Gurd6 will go east for
the tools about 2d April and will be back here with them (I hope) early in
June—so far all looks well for the meter and if it actually turns out
according to appearance at present I may be a better off man after this year in which
case I hope to see more of you and (if that is possible) do more for you. Mrs Bucke7
and little Pardee8 are still in Sarnia, they are having a good time and it is doing
them good I guess—All quiet here, plenty of work, but as long as we can do it
we must not grumble at that—still, if I had my own way I would have a little
less work and a little more rest
I hope to see you before very long and am, with love, your friend
R M BuckeCorrespondent:
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).