6:00 P.M. Warren reported to me at the door that W. had not spent a good day. W. himself answering me repeated this information. "I am having bad times: head, belly, bladder. It has lasted now for days, days." This gave me entrance for questioning him about use of a catheter. Would not give his consent to have a doctor. "Wait, wait," he urged. Looked rather bad; room hot. Asked me, "This room is just right now?" I answered, "I think it is—for you: it would be too warm for me." Day had been beautiful, but he had not gone out. "A little too cold," he explained. Then, "Herbert Gilchrist was here this afternoon; I was glad to see him. He said he would stay over a little time in Philadelphia—had had dinner with Morris, he said. Herbert looks well." I got my Lippincott's proof last night after leaving W. They wished it back immediately. Returned it this forenoon without showing it to W. He was not dissatisfied, but thought, "It shows the usual editorial feeling that their way is the only way—that others' ways are only humors, not to be humored!" Laughed over it. Gave me postals to mail: one to Mrs. Stafford, one to Youth's Companion acknowledging money for "Ship Ahoy!" The notes—mine about Jeff in Post. I had bundle of papers. W. asked for some to send to his sister. Said, "Herbert tried to get a picture of the room," but did "not know with what success." Had he yet found the Emerson letter? "No, but I shall, and it belongs to you: you may have it, now hereafter, instantly it comes to light. I know about where it is: today I have been in too bad a way to go searching for it."
"There was a letter from Kennedy today," he said after some silence, "and he says you may have his piece—may use it. His letter is quite peculiar, fine: has fire—spirit." Then, "Here it is, and with the piece, too—and some letters from Doctor."
Transcript Office, Boston Jan 19 '91, 3 P.M. Dear WW;Yes of course let Traubel have it (the Dutch article). I am just as well pleased, & glad the Lippincott project is not abandoned, too. I think Traubel's paper just the place for it. I always think more highly of these little truth-telling papers than of the big lying or at least conventional journals. Glad to hear always of yr health, Walt, or rather no health. My mind is fallow now, but I suppose it is for the best. I hardly know my old self as seen in my old Index articles. However, Sursum! Resurgam! Forward! Am reading a pocket Shakespeare, nothing like a pocket ed. of a writer.
I do a good many editorial jottings & review Belmont theatricals always for Transcript. We have had a magic ice-spectacle here—trees all candied.
[William Sloane Kennedy]Had them in a rubber together: four letters and the manuscript. Had written on last, "Kennedy's Dutch piece: take three impressions and give me for proof." Desired "quite a number of slips," and said, "I shall want to send something over to the proof-taker—a coin or other—if he does it for me. I know he may not want it—need it—but it is the part of comradeship: they appreciate that."