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Look at Wendell Phillips—great and grand as he was: with him light and darkness were all for the one

Europe, the fact of landholding means one man out of a hundred, in this country 60-70ths of the population

"is, to have small holdings in fee simple, the whole population of America participating and enjoying

line again—"the poor in a lump is bad"—and—and—"Look about at the great body of people in all the cities—in

genius—of that force and faith at the base of American institutions."

Things were not just as he wanted them, and he was strangely irascible for a few minutes.

And these out of democracy's average—out of the thousands, millions, of our population.

To me it is markedly American—more our trait than any nation's else—marks our young men.

Morning clear & fresh & beautiful—the landscape & farmsteads American!

The effects of the wreathing spray were beyond description & unique.

remember whether I said so to Chubb when he was here, but I know it was my feeling to say of our American

Since the war I have sat down contentedly, convinced that we were to be righted at last. Oh!

And not the most to this end is to come of the civilizee himself—the man of cities, knowing as he is,

and prosperous—for civilization, cities, are also a great curse.

I know in the armies the clearest-brained, cleanest-blooded, of all the soldiers—were the farmer-boys

are typical—these are all out of what you would call our lower orders, vagabonds, the rift of our population

average life, grow conventional; but here they are now, for what you can make of them, typical of our population

They were boys for whom water, air, sun had for several years done their best.

I can, but he can hardly at the best expect much help from me in that," adding that bibliographies were

anyhow not according to my ambitions," that he could not "enter into them," and that though others were

The best fellows at this—the best of all—were the niggers in Washington.

A typical American.

Judge Forman and the Dutchman, Jeremiah Johnston—were great men in their day in such matters. Oh!

When I was a young man, these men were interested with others in educating Indians.

If I were young I would preach this with a loud voice: but I am not young—yet I can give this to you

Instanced Texas: Henry George's declaration that it could almost or quite feed the population of the

The directions were extremely simple.

Said nothing about the American piece. I forgot to ask. W. was rather cranky to-nighttonight.

Lincoln asked who you were, or something like that.

Lincoln did n'tdidn't say anything but took a good long look till you were quite gone by.

I asked him if his days were long—if one day did not often seem two.

He was elected to the Assembly from one of the districts of the city.

It is interesting, too: all these fellows were of foreign birth.

He had himself clipped a bit from an English paper commenting on the heroism of American sailors at Samoa

And when I spoke of America as "greater than any or all, her own or other that ever were conceived,"

Did you see anything of the city?" Said, "Yes, Eldridge was here—I suppose ten days ago.

traveled much abroad—seen everything there—churches, cathedrals, theatres, everything—that the Capitol exceeded

Indeed, yes—I often stopped in on William there: they were great days."

Asked me if I "did not realize Washington to be a beautiful city?"

When I went to McCollin's today, found they had printed 19 of the 20 pictures; but the 19 were of no

I guess they were right but somehow I felt as if I had to make the fight."

M.: "Walt Whitman was the Jack Cade of American literature.

when he gets more than he can assimilate, when the culture turns around to carry him, culture has exceeded

What America did for the Fourth France did for the Fourteenth: both acts were of the same stock.

You remember I was at that period full of designs for things that were never executed: lectures, songs

And asked me about special fellows, some of whom I had met, some of whom were gone or I missed.

As to its exceeding the pages Stoddart allows me, "I do not mind your writing to Stoddart—or going to

This city was comparatively small then, and Walt Whitman was as conspicuous a citizen as any—knew everybody

Summer his all the year round convenience and comfort, and the broad collar was turned over a silk American

thereafter every photographer in town displayed colored pictures of Walt, especially to show his American

There were omnibuses in those days—"stages" they called them—and every driver knew Walt Whitman; and

"It must have been from 1860 to 1865."

The old American poet's birthday offering was very striking, coming from a Democrat of Democrats, and

"They are, or were, both of them men of the old-school—Henry especially so, with something of modern

There is a large population in Brooklyn of the 15[,]00[0] to 20,000 dollars-a-year people—for whom Talmage

And how Western it is—royally American—sharp, bright, compact, nervy, positive, agile.

story of "Wilfred Besant" this morning: BESANT'S BOGUS BROTHER.How an English Imposter is Fleecing American

The tale of distress which he told in this city, as well as in other cities and towns of the East, has

and he was able to gather money here and there....It is not generally known how many people in this city

I had seen that the two poems, "As in a Swoon" and "After an Interval," were from printed copy.

September weather, wondering how it is with you, dreaming of that September eight years ago when you were

He has come over, I think, to stay a year or so—will settle—get a room or two rooms in the city and put

Any edition American or English which for any reason whatever is abridged is abhorrent and inexcusable

My dear Sir, Some years ago when I had occasion to address you, you were so good as to say you should

The American agent to whom my last application for this was forwarded says: "I don't think there is an

I don't feel as if civilization, progress, life (American or other), hangs in any way upon the existence

Dutch ancestry, was born on May 31, 1819, at Huntington, in that island, thirty miles from New York City

He was much in the great city, employed both as printer and newspaper writer or editorial assistant.

His notes or diaries, part of which were published, give many touching anecdotes of the brave sufferers

, who were of both sides in the war.

I suppose in all our millions of population—our 80 millions—teeming, spreading—there are not a dozen

Emerson was cultured—generations of culture were in him—but he was more, too—he was a superb gift to

his own kind—after the real kind: a hail fellow to the Elizabethan men, yet one in himself purely American

They were his halcyon days—I saw him often.

Bush at Jersey City side of ferry—introducing me to a Mr. Goldmark (brother-in-law of Adler).

They were very curious about Whitman—questioning me happily—in ways to which I enjoyed responding.

Sat up till I had finished "Victor Hugo: En Voyage"—North American Review.

my experiences South—all my experiences in the hospitals, among the soldiers in the crowds of the cities

, with the masses, in the great centers of population—allowing for all idiosyncrasies, idiocrasies, passions

it, years back from the start—but in my very first contact with the human Yankee all my prejudices were

I like you to know just how our crowd got along with each other—what we were saying to each other in

You had not then flashed on the scene—you were a youngster then—but you ought to be informed of all the

About a thousand copies were printed, which were sold in less than a year.

The Van Velsors were noted people for horses.

The clothes were mainly homespun. Journeys were made by both men and women on horseback.

Books were scarce.

Some of the men were dying.

John Burroughs's "Notes on Walt Whitman" was first published in American News in 1867.

When the author of “Leaves of Grass” was in Boston in 1860, Emerson was his frequent and cordial visitor

This general statement of the relations between the two men explains the talk upon Boston Common in 1860

And my arriere and citadel positions—such as I have indicated in my June North American Review memorandum—were

not only not attacked, they were not even alluded to.”

Chadwick may try to say that if Walt Whitman had any case to state, that hour with Emerson in 1860 was

When the war broke out, there were some of us in Washington—O'Connor, Burroughs (I think), others—all

All the Tories, aristocrats, snobs, cockneys, were against us then—the group of our friends was very

Now he said, "Warrie was down to Atlantic City on Sunday—came up yesterday morning.

I confess when he told me this many of my first impressions were sent flying or at least thrown into

"For a few minutes—en route to Atlantic City."

I was bred in Brooklyn: initiated to all the mysteries of city life—populations, perturbations: knew

I never sympathized with—always resented—the common American criticisms of the Queen."

The War was on, I was strong in my strength—superb of body—I had much to give: there were thousands,

"Tom said, John Brown, Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, were the five men out of that period, brought

I had a visitor—a Quaker lady—to-daytoday: she came—was from the city: her name, Brotherton: she asked

Not more than half the leaves of the book were cut.

The leaves cut were not consecutive—they jumped all over.

There were papers and there was some music.

They were at it all the evening.

The North American ReviewNew York, July 14, 1885.

tread onto this dust which Miss Gilder could not forget—this dust, which made her forget that you were

And that social pressure, the life of the big cities, threatens everyone with the same fate."

City editor of Times speaks to Clifford of W. as "a chestnut and a humbug."

This feeling extended not only in a great city like New York, but beyond—for instance, out through the

cities of the state (I saw lots of it!)

Frank Williams and his wife were over today—also Osler—but there were no other visitors, except, of course

"And do you know, Walt, we thought Sunday that you were dying?"

Washington.I send herewith the copy of my American Institute Poem.

, will deliver a poem at the American Institute Fair upon the occasion of its opening.

What other American poet has ever been honored like this? A few years ago Charles G.

Those old writers were made for an age of smartness: they write in sounding phrases, make stiff speeches

He spoke of the cities he liked best: Brooklyn, Washington, New Orleans, St. Louis, New York.

"But Washington, New Orleans, Brooklyn—they are my cities of romance.

They are the cities of things begun—this is the city of things finished." He paused.

Asked me who were yet to be heard from in the American symposium.

"the delicate pipes" with which this work was done—Clifford interpolating that in the factory they were

When Chubb inquired of the big cities—whether they did not militate against America, W. responded: "I

think I can say without hesitating about that—no: I accept all the cities—all that America so is—then

ask for more," that America were "less going wrong in what she has than what she has not."

He is a man who needs to be studied out, and that I can't do, even if I were inclined to.

Your letters of July 9 last, and Oct. 8 were welcomed.

I asked W.: "Walt, don't you sometimes put that American neglect business a bit too strong?"

I said: "You were face to face with your enemies here: in England you were only face to face with your

Symonds, Dowden, Rossetti, those others, were exceptional and few."

"Don't you think you were too optimistic?" He wanted to know "how."

cities, and fit to have for his background and accessories their streaming populations and ample and

The "North American Review," unquestionably the highest organ of American letters, in the course of a

They are certainly filled with an American spirit, breathe the American air, and assert the fullest American

During those years, Washington was a city in whose unbuilt places and around whose borders were thickly

all sufferers, they were all men.

Some were as far back as 1860. One of that year, from the Springfield Republican, was very abusive.

Some were pinned in. Some were pasted.I sat there half an hour. Absorbed.

Harned said to me: "Walt is telling me our American literature is hodge-podge of hodge-podge!"

up by his deeds: the departments were full of Republicans left over.

W. said: "Horace and I were talking about it yesterday: I said to Horace 'it makes Mat a great man.'"

He felt as Bucke does that they were left by the old bronchial trouble—not serious in themselves.

successful till this morning, when I came on the poems entitled 'Native Moments' & 'Once I Passed thro' a Populous

City.'

That proved that things were well. I went home, satisfied in spirit. Wednesday, March 9, 1892

He assured me the accounts of the ball were not unfair. W. listened to all I thus repeated to him.

But these were the Elite of New York?

They were driven at a devil of a rate—it was damnable—the whole old constitution of affairs!"

Thence much talk of probabilities in connection with the future of American art.

American art today is not in a temper to receive it.

Stedman and his family were seated in the opposite box. Others present were Samuel L. Clemens, H.

These attacks ofthe were Walt press probably regarded by Whitman much as the sailors were by Voltaire's

The subject of each is the city morgue, Reading the American poem, you are melted to tears, your deepest

fancy your Oh, women were the prizeforyou !

But the humiliated they were acquitted.

cities,nd fittohave for his background and accessories their streaming- populations and ample and richfacades

Therefore he speaks plainly about which hitherto were many things tacitly in or were touched upon by

It were well to closeupon thisnote.

What are our cities?

" Do you term that perpetual, pistareen, paste-pot work " American art, American drama, taste, verse

He went over from this city with a photographer, and at noon Mr.

A couple of good negatives were secured, and then the old man was assisted back to his bedroom, his books

Told him of debate at Unity Church last night on the future of American literature—Morris, Harned, Jastrow

Jastrow said something to the effect that the great future American poets would no doubt be built on

world—the new world—is born in the free air, near the sea—lives an early life in the early life of a big city—absorbs

Jefferson, who, strictlyspeaking, were rather the fathers of American democracy than of the vast Continental

Karl Knortz, a German- American scholar of New York City, has had firstand last a good deal to say in

In New York the bells of Trinity spire were instantly rung, a salute fired in City Hall Park, and servicesheld

Titles with no page reference are those of poems occurring in early American editions,which were laterdiscarded

Dead-House, The 284 1871 [City of Friends, The] i860 City of Orgies 105 i860 City of Ships 230 1865

No, how American—emotional from the jump!"

Pardee and I were mutual favorites. And I had great faith in him. A reticent boy—is he so still?

uneasy about you except that the last few days I began to think whether it could be possible that you were

Let me know when you see the arrival of Wallace's boat (City of Berlin) as I may not see it here—am a

(I see City Berlin reached L'pool 14th inst.)All well here—all goes quietly at Asylum.

s we all went upstairs—about 1:50—and were there the greater part of an hour.

gray-haired darkeys on market days—talk with him, question him, get at his queer notions—and they were

To W. the darkeys were "a superstitious, ignorant, thievish race," yet "full of good nature, good heart

"The best real Southern samples" were "rare birds here but a plenty at Washington" and these were best

old music lasts—perhaps because, for one thing, the only one or two Wagner performances I have seen were

Oh, what scenes of human horror were to be found in this city last winter.

The note is below:"Go on, my dear Americans, whip your horses to the utmost—Excitement; money!

Twelve were for him. I had twelve sent to McKay. Oldach made his charge one twenty-eight.

I asked: "Were you always as stubbornly deliberate over trifles as you are today?"

Miss Stafford and a newspaper man were turned away.

New York, May 12, 1860.My dear Walt,The books are duly delivered.

Were I near you I should like to have the honor of paying my personal respects to you.

Returned me the North American Review—remarking: "John's article is fine—the best he has ever written

I spoke of a man in the city—a scholar—who told me he thought the dictionary a failure.

I asked if there were not other such words in Leaves of Grass, and he admitted there were, only this

Said among other things about immortality that "only the tyros" were "certain" either way.

Gilchrist walked in the front door just as we were leaving. I had a few words with him.

They were on their way to W. I wrote a little note.

seventy-second birthday of Walt Whitman, "the good gray poet," was celebrated at his home in this city

Letters were read from Lord Alfred Tennyson, Richard Watson Gilder, Edmund Stedman, and others.

That is Robert Buchanan's recipe for awakening the higher intelligence of the young American.

I took it and read it.1 East 28th St.,New York City, Dec. 29, 1887. Dear Mr.

"That makes me think of some one who once said there were two kinds of jokers—the damned good one and

Speaking of the "strain of American life" W. declared that "every man is trying to outdo every other

would not like to be too certain about that 'greatest poet of the century'—perhaps he said greatest American

"If it were true, it would set our heads very high." I said, "But it is true."

Clifford was in and said to me today that Fenno, managing or city editor at the Times, assured him with

Was it a distinctly unhealthy city? "I should say so—at least, Washington itself is not.

Probably no city in the world can beat Washington in respect to this malarial curse.

ideas of what the city should be—who made everything, as they say vulgarly, bang up."

Did you see how they did us up in the American supplement to the Encyclopedia Brittanica?

Washington was an American out and out." Mention of Lincoln.

Frank Williams wife is at Atlantic City—communication cut off—W. saying: "Yes, I read in this night's

fellows, even so great a man as Victor Hugo seemed to start out with the assumption that there was no city

And when M. referred to what he supposed were changes in Concord—"I guess the main lay of things is the

Morris suggested: "They give the American point of view." And W. assented: "Yes, a good deal that.

In one of his letters Julian says that men who give that last finish were not new men, but men of fathers

Were the stars not full out? Was it cold? Then of my trip. Always brightens up when so humored.

Spoke of "American ballade rondeau writers—their small calibre, mean aims—the mere literary hangers-on

Yet W. felt that "Ruskin's notions of professional integrity—in art, literature—were noble, admirable

of: I think even their feet were extremely sensitive."

I make no bones of petting them just as if they were—have long given up formalities and reserves in my

But we must take each step with exceeding care.

On Christmas you were wanted to make the dinner at home perfect. We all spoke of you.

s face was very grave and there were tears in his eyes.

American &c? Also expressed great pleasure in M.'s opinion that St. G.'

s condition, then about American municipal and social development.

His first contact with Walt Whitman was from Rossetti's collection of American poetry, and the first

He said, when asked if the book had in any way repulsed him at the start, "There were parts that did

I told him who were with me. "Bring them up for a minute: yes, all welcome, welcome!"

The others were soon there. Hearing them outside W. exclaimed, "Come in!" Tom first.

Traubel,I have only time at present to acknowledge receipt of the cable message you were kind enough

to send us, with its glad tidings of Whitman's condition, & which came to hand this morning.We were afraid

that he had had a bad relapse & were very anxious to hear further.

I rescued also from his waste papers a portrait he had marked "1860"—usually given about 1850 as date—and