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is living in poverty and retirement at Camden, in the State of New Jersey, over against the Quaker city

All around Washington there were towns, or rather clusters of hospitals, for the sick and wounded.

asked Whitman, pulling himself up at this point, as if he were conscious that he had for the present

However, if I were a young man as you are, I would certainly throw myself into the conflict on the side

Whitman," I here interposed, "that you were writing when I came to see you."

The Pennsylvania line traverses twelve of the American States, and has upwards of 7,500 miles of railway

cared for and well paid, and I was told that most of them own their houses, which I saw afterwards were

But when the school-days were over, and the necessities of poverty compelled him, young as he was, to

Whitman, thus encouraged, printed a further enlarged edition in 1860, and was considering the form which

suggestion of one of the secretaries, he was dismissed the service, on the ground that his writings were

Yet there were grim and repellant traits in Walt Whitman.

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

His attitude and that of Lincoln were identical.

In the war "my sympathies were aroused to their utmost pitch, and I found that mine were equaled by the

Afterwards a few visitors were admitted to see him.

His shoulders were broad, and neither age nor infirmity had broken down the original robustness of his

The broad brim of his soft, gray, felt hat shaded his eyes so that you were not sure whether they were

His eyes were dimmer now, but his heart kept its old zest.

Walt had, in fact, read most of the American poets who were his contemporaries.

The Greeks howled when they were hurt and bawled with rage when they were angry.

We were just "anybody".

of the room, and put in our brief wait in looking at the thousand-and-one things of interest that were

We turned, and there stood Walt, "framed", as it were, by the door-casings.

We moved forward and shook hands with him, and told him who we were and where we came from.

He was as genuinely interested in us as if we were old friends.

Had the present city directory of the town been in existence, I could have found it authoritatively stated

The decorations of the room were insignificant, with the exception of two portraits, one of his father

All writers, whether classic or modern, were in his phrase "fellows," —a word of which he was very fond

In the matter of the accuracy with which these productions were printed he was scrupulously exact.

Some of the parts of this manuscript were written on bits of brown straw paper, others on manilla paper

The furniture was of the plainest old-fashioned type; there were the old wooden rocking chairs, with

Piles of papers and magazines were stacked in chairs, on the floors, and several oil paintings were pendant

"My opinion of other American poets?

For a long period I placed Emerson at the head of American poetic literature, but of late I consider

Cleveland seems to me like a huge wall, great on his impedimenta, as it were.

have been olive-colored when put on in the silurian age, and the window sills, bordered with white, were

The furniture was of the plainest old-fashioned type; there were the old wooden rocking-chairs, with

Piles of papers and magazines were stacked in chairs, on the floors and stands.

"My opinion of other American poets?

Cleveland seems to me like a huge wall, great on his impediments, as it were.

He is in love with Denver City, and speaks admiringly of Missouri and Indiana.

Morris's then celebrated and fashionable "Mirror," of New York city.

I next went to the "Aurora" daily in New York city—a sort of free lance.

happen'd between the acts one night in the lobby of the old Broadway theatre near Pearl street, New York city

moderation, has been all the past month visiting, riding, receiving, and jaunting in and about the city

audience to the most cultured and elegant society of New York, including most of the artists of the city

been thrown open on two special occasions for informal public receptions in compliment to him, which were

Whitman has explored the city and neighborhood, often as near possible after the fashion of old times

spirits, believes thoroughly not only in the future world, but the present, and especially in our American

prevented from growing tedious—was the marked absence from the spot of every popular poet and author, American

Hearing of the arrival of "the good Gray Poet" in the city, on a short week's visit, a T RIBUNE man was

At the American House, where Mr.

"I have lived in or visited all the great cities on the Atlantic third of the Republic—Boston, Brooklyn

this very Denver, if it might be so, I should like to cast my lot, above all other spots, all other cities

Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University; gaps were filled by reference to a digital

Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University; gaps were filled by reference to a digital

The profits on 'Leaves of Grass' were only $20 for the same time.

When I read my poem on Lincoln in Philadelphia the other day, the profits were $700.

Poetry is a font of type, to be set up again consistently with American democratic institutions."

"How were these changes made?" "Structures grew and were made by use and lost by disuse.

Such study shows clearly how structures developed or were lost.

But the city was not so large then, nor so cosmopolitan as now.

These two houses were pleasant to look upon.

Two of the leaders of this company were then next door neighbors of Mr.

Our lives were deepened. A MORE INTIMATE ACQUAINTANCE.

In the course of our walk there were long intervals of silence between us, and altogether his words were

Thomas Proctor of this city, giving some personal recollections of Walt Whitman.

Proctor resided in the same house with Whitman, and their relations were somewhat intimate.

The dingy little two-storied domicile is so disappointingly different from what we were expecting to

was the dearest of the friendships lost to him by the publication of "Leaves of Grass;" "but there were

"Yes, it made an old man of me; but I would like to do it all again if there were need."

which we have been secretly coveting, he says, "You know I have never been the fashion; publishers were

Wolfe, Literary Shrines: The Haunts of Some Famous American Authors (Philadelphia: J. B.

Wolfe, Literary Shrines: The Haunts of Some Famous American Authors (Philadelphia: J. B.

Whitman's relations with Boston were of quite another kind.

But these visits were notable occasions in his life.

cities so far as the native social element, that which distinguishes them as American, was concerned

"Whereupon we went and had a good dinner at the American House."

The passionate toll and clang—city to city, join- ing, sounding, passing Those heart-beats of a Nation

Seas and Lands, Chapter VI: Men and Cities CHAPTER VI: MEN AND CITIES.

low-lying farmsteads around Baltimore and northward—so that many fields of maize, tomato, and melon were

the American Republic.

In a very few minutes, I may venture to say, we were like old friends.

I., "Men and Cities," in Seas and Lands (New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891), 72–83.

I., "Men and Cities," in Seas and Lands (New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891), 72–83.

It seemed to me a spiritually deepened image of contemporary Americans: an ideal laborer, as the Americans

He had a smack of Americanism, American individuality, smack of outdoor life, the wash of the sea, the

W HITMAN : "Americans are allowed to be different.

These men were really worthy of his friendship.

These were the last words Walt Whitman spoke to me.

His limbs and feet were wrapped in heavy gray blankets.

And then we kissed him farewell, and were out in the soft, almost sping-like air, feeling as if it were

were the words I wrote next day in my diary.

The grand head and serene face were to dawn upon me in a few moments.

The feet were well proportioned and clad in broad-toed, easy shoes.

In the recesses on either side of the chimney were portraits of the poet's father and mother.

some of them were on the floor.

Of books there were many, and, like the pictures, they were scattered everywhere around the room; on

They were young ladies just ready to bloom into early womanhood—pupils from Bryn Mawr College.

Pretty soon the writer made an incidental remark about the growth of the new Philadelphia City Hall,

I looked at him closely; his hands were strong and clean, his nails cared for.

subjects—make all except inspirations and intentions; must mould mold and carve and sing the ideal American

I wanted to know what the surroundings of this man were.

I always had an idea that poets were fed on finer food than falls to the lot of ordinary mortals, but

Camden is reached by a ferry crossing the Delaware River from this city, and, but for being in a different

No American publisher will issue his works: the booksellers seem to regard him as a fair victim for fraud

magazine will accept his MSS., and the orthodox compendia of poetry contain none of his notably American

These notes were pencilled down sometimes on battlefields, and are often very thrilling.

T HERE is as yet nothing distinctive in American literature except its tendency.

discovered an American poet.

probably had in his pockets whilst we were talking.

These were all inarticulate poets, and he interpreted them.

soldiers who were in the hospitals.

attributed to him, invited me to accompany him on a little visit to Walt Whitman who was then in the city

Miller— We had a square you-tell-me-and-I'll-tell-you talk about American poets and we agree tremendously

[At this point tears were visible in the speaker's eyes]. Do you think he meant it all?

Upon another occasion we were talking about various studies to which a writer should devote himself.

No one in our limited galaxy of great poets has been more characteristically American than Walt Whitman

The man was Whitman, and the proofs were those of his new edition.

of magnificent distances" also a city of astonishing architectural contrasts.

These were his war pieces, the Drum Taps, then nearly ready for publication.

Whitman and Chase were the two men I saw most of, at that time, in Washington.

There were two of these, and they were especially interesting to me, as I knew something of the disturbed

We were a long time coming to this recognition.

There were potions to be mixed, and wrappings to be released and bound again.

I saw, as Emerson wrote, that in his book were incomparable things incomparably said.

And even the improprieties which barred it from the bazaars, the leaves, which were not fig leaves, were

Other editions were among the current literature of the railway stall and the shop.

WHITMAN AND HIS FRIENDS IN 1890 IN CAMDEN O N Tuesday, July 15, 1890 , I landed at Philadelphia—"the city

I did so, and his next words were, "And how are you?"

Cuthbertson, of Annan, has), and that we were anxious to possess it. "Why?" he asked.

people were "very evanescent."

"My sympathies," he said, "were aroused to their utmost pitch, and I found that mine were equaled by

We were very cordially welcomed by Mrs.

"Ed. said they were brought by negroes."

Americans.

"A typical American or typical American character hardly exists.

Judges, lawyers, doctors, etc., were there, and they were all said to be men of more or less note; but

black-barred bees hummed as they flitted from the nectar-laden chalices; flies, moths and "bugs" of all kinds were

there in almost countless numbers; and the katydids were loudly whispering their self-contradictory

"He was a tall, straight man, but not so tall as his father and his uncle, who were about 6½ feet high

however, in the extraordinary effect which Whitman's personality had at times on those whose natures were

These are the real burdens of his book, and they were the chief factors in his personal influence.

His surroundings were those of the average citizen he represented, and he lived in a plain, old-fashioned

His accent and articulation were of a purity and clearness entirely free from any local peculiarity or

And when he was feeling better his smiling cheer and geniality were like the sunshine.

There were three parcels: one for Dr.

And I thought that you were more frail than you are.

In the city I met Mrs.

While we were at lunch Mrs.

I thought that Americans were generally better speakers than the English. "They are, are they?

They were very sad. No welcome had the poet for Art or Face, but to Death his door flew open wide.

There were four pilgrims—two little girls, a young lady and myself.

One would as soon expect to find a bard in Long Island City.

The only things that relieved its prosaic aspect were a violin and a music-stand wit ha few sheets of

The first door at the end of the hall, front, was the one we were to pass through.

The blinds were closed and there were no curtains at the windows, and it was no easy matter to pick one's

After dinner, which was always as good as one at Delmonico's, clay pipes and literary criticism were

Walt liked to be considered a poet, but his "yawps" were wretched failures, and every publisher refused

He thought he could write great poems if he were on the top of the Sierras or among the great trees of

They were sitting opposite each other at the table. George was for rebellion and Walt was opposed.

Halpine and I were lunching with him at lower Delmonico's. Brady was the best Bohemian I ever knew.

The handsome third (1860-61) Boston edition, published by Thayer & Eldridge, commenced well and paid

Whitman's darkest times were from 1873 to 1876.

Whitman had made a good fight, but the fates were adverse.

Lists of purchasers of the $10 edition were sent over to Whitman, accompanied by the money.

Among the names were those of G. H. Lewes, Vernon and Godfrey Lushington, Dante G. and William M.

And the good women—God bless them—who were the first at the sepulchre and the last at the cross—how kind

his oral opinion that I might drink some light wine once a day till the returns in South Carolina were

host of English friends whose words of praise, warm and earnest, have kindled up the great poet's American

admirers, till Longfellow himself begins to appreciate the poet of American manhood, whose large utterances

While in the market, the other day, with a party of us, we were all weighed; his weight was 200 pounds

Next the very finely gotten up Boston edition of 1860, in ordinary 12mo., which size has been adhered

All stood up, ready, as it were, to fall into the ranks for him.

It first commenced with a letter from the English laureate, full of courtesy to his American brother,

I rubbed my eyes a little to see if this sunbeam were no illusion; but the solid sense of the book is

Bucke amongst the crowd on the wharf waiting the arrival of the ship, and with him were Horace Traubel

We were joined immediately by Mrs.

"Horace read it to me as we were waiting for Wallace. I guess Symonds is in a bad way—dying.

Then, if he found that things were not so bad, he was relieved and pleased.) W. W.

The new moon was shining, and the lights on the river as we crossed it were very beautiful.

, and were attended with increasing regularity and in larger numbers.

, ideas and training, who were united only in a common friendship.

We were all about the same age and belonged to nearly the same social stratum.

When we were met together, however, we were conscious of a composite character and of a certain emotional

Religious in the ordinary sense of the word, however, they certainly were not.

Picturesque Old Man and He Also Has the Strongest Confidence in His Own Merits—An English Fad Throws Quaker City

Walt lives across the river in a quiet old town, just opposite this city.

How he Commenced to Write and the Way his Works were Received.

"How did you know we were aboard the train?"

You may say, in fact, that with true American instinct I feel like lecturing.

"Thought you were throwing away your life, did they?" asked the doctor.

Legally, however, the blacks were slaves.

The floor around it, and one or two chairs near it, were strewn with scrawled half-sheets of note-paper

His tone and manner were perfectly cheerful, and went far to explain the affectionate interest he is

You were explaining the plan of your work?"

Above all I am an American, and my love has always been with this great republic of ours and its people

But apart from the host who criticized my work and called me bad names, there were many friends who thought

The two volumes, 'Leaves of Grass,' and 'Two Rivulets,' published in '76, were sold mainly on the other

not suited for the expression of American democracy and American manhood.

The great painters were as willing to paint a blacksmith as a lord.

How monotonous it would become, how tired the ear would get of it, if it were regular!

"That any American woman should say, 'Ah, me!

It pleased him very much, yet the tears were in his eyes. He asked me if I enjoyed religion.

His insertions were circumspect and left no jar on the ear.

The "Note at Beginning" and "Note at End," in the big volume, and the title page, were new, and were

Both notes were quite impromptu.

Burns Weston were present.

Subtle inquiries were advanced and passed.

When the guests were assembled Whitman himself came down-stairs and opened the proceedings as indicated

He was in bad physical condition—had spent a bad day—and we were almost compelled to carry him from his

Whitman . [ Laughing ]— Next to Camden, Chicago is the luckiest city on the planet to-night!

Whitman .— I see—Rosetti speaks of the Doctor's American reports.

Whitman .— I did not know you were such a speechmaker, Harry! So you object to Bucke's argument?

It is all in strange contrast to the bustle of the great Quaker City across the river.

We were ushered into a little sitting-room, and were greeted by a lady and gentleman seated opposite

We walked up two half flights of narrow wooden stairs and were at the chamber of the poet.

His lower limbs were covered by some kind of cloth, stertched loosely over his knees.

The walls were bare.

Though I do not think (if the Queen herself were to come here) any people would go now.'

There were a number of youths, boys and girls who had read a good deal, but had had little chance of

'Depend upon it the Greek sculptors were right.

'Since you were last here, Herbert, I have read Bulwer's What will He Do with It .' Do you like it?

spent in roving, were the best, the most important of our life."