Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Published Writings
  3. Periodicals
  4. Journalism
  5. per.00877

How About Business?

About This Item

  • Title: How About Business?
  • Date: 26 August 1858
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: per.00877
  • Source: Brooklyn Daily Times, 26 August 1858: 2. Our transcription is based on a digital image of a microfilm scan of the original issue. Microfilm of original issue held at Pennsylvania State University Libraries. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the journalism, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Editorial note: This piece is unsigned, as was the case for most of Whitman's journalism. However, this editorial is part of a series of texts that deal with a coherent theme that has been identified by the Whitman Archive journalism team as likely authored by Whitman. This decision is based on a combination of historical and (auto)biographical accounts, similarity to contemporary Whitman writings, a history of scholarly attribution, extant clippings retained by Whitman, computational stylometric analysis, and, in some cases, manuscript evidence in Whitman’s hand.
  • Contributors to digital file: Kaylen Michaelis Thara Michaelis Brandi Faulkner Stefan Schöberlein Karie Cobb
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "How About Business?." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 17 July 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: per.00877.xml (TEI)
image 1image 2image 3image 4cropped image 1

HOW ABOUT BUSINESS?

In our rejoicings over the success of the Atlantic Telegraph,1 and in the political contest soon to come on, we must not forget those more tangible and material interests which, after all, in the words of the old French chansonnet, “make the world go round.”

At present, these parts are assuming an active business appearance. Now that the heated term has well nigh disappeared and we have already had a forewarning of the approaching autumn, with its bracing air and healthful breezes, business and professional men who have retired from the city for recreation are reminded that the period has arrived for commencing active operations once more. New York is fast filling up with returning absentees, and we are told that orders from the South already exhibit a large call for various kinds of merchandize. One of the best signs that can, at present, be pointed out in this connection is that buyers appear disposed not to exceed the capacity of their available means. Comparatively few credits are asked, and a safe business is done, such as it is.

There can be little doubt that we are—somewhat slowly, it may be—but steadily, convalescing from the nearly fatal attack of financial embarrassment which threw us off our balance and laid us up, a year ago. Much has been learned by the past, and in the future we shall be more cautious. The bitter fruits of the years of expansion beyond reasonable limits, have not been without their lessons. Experientia docet.2

Notes:

1. The Transatlantic Telegraph was the first cable connection between the United States and Europe, built by Cyrus West Field and the Atlantic Telegraph Company. It sent its initial message—a note from the British Queen—in 1858 and, although the cable spanning from Canada's Trinity Bay to Ireland was only in operation for three weeks, had a major impact on transatlantic relations of the antebellum period. [back]

2. Experienta docet means "experience teaches" or "experience is the best teacher" in Latin. [back]

Back to top