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auditor's smile or half sneer at the author's sometimes forced rhymes or prosy lines; as though that were

uniting the whole" may be lost "just in moving this trifle or that," and so you "Take away, as it were

Trippers and askers surround me, People I meet, the effect upon me of my early life or the ward and city

them, In walls of adobie, in canvas tents, rest hunters and trappers after their day's sport, The city

By the city's quadrangular houses—in log huts, camping with lumbermen, Along the ruts of the turnpike

, The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

Y., South District)—renew'd (1883) 14 yrs. 2d ed'n 1856, Brooklyn—renew'd (1884) 14 yrs. 3d ed'n 1860

ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY.

ONCE I pass'd through a populous city imprinting my brain for future use with its shows, architecture

What does it mean to American persons, progresses, cities?

A NEWER garden of creation, no primal solitude, Dense, joyous, modern, populous millions, cities and

Nay, have we not felt we were in some sort worse than those others, because, being guilty, we were praised

A thousand copies were printed.

Few if any copies of the book were sold.

When the war was over he obtained, successively, two offices under the American Government.

Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), English novelist, best known for his satirical novel Vanity Fair American

.; American writer (1825–1878) who wrote for newspapers, travel books, novels, poetry, and critical essays

the finest strain that a human ear can hear, yet conclusively and past all refutation, that there were

He has not omitted, as some editors might have done, In a City Dead House and The Flight of the Eagles

stoppage and never can be stoppage, If I, you, and the worlds, and all beneath or upon their surfaces, Were

Hugo's protest against the disapprobation of those French critics whose conventional imaginations were

very much disturbed by the astonishing leaps through time and space that were made by this untrammelled

"I assert that all fast days were what they must have been, And that they could no-how have been better

than what they were, And that to-day is what it must be, and that America is, And that to-day and America

So much for his Americanism, which has an inherent meaning and a power, in spite of all that is said

There is certainly a thing which may be called Americanism.

The following verses were admiringly quoted by Prof.

country, and they were often in the habit of displaying their pugilistic accomplishments."

Quoted in Dictionary of Americanisms (1848).

Sidgwick and William Clifford were both members of "The Apostles," the famous elite literary society

gives this account of the origin of the term "Hoosier": "Throughout all the early Western settlements were

The boatmen of Indiana were formerly as rude and as primitive a set as could well belong to a civilized

country, and they were often in the habit of displaying their pugilistic accomplishments."

Quoted in Dictionary of Americanisms (1848).

that the book is not amenable to the laws against sending obscene literature through the mails; and were

and there, With ranging hills on the banks, with many a line against the sky, and shadows, And the city

declare that Walt Whitman has not the poet's gift in the slightest measure—that he is only an ignorant American

He could not have been bred anywhere but in a certain part of New York city a generation ago—in any other

And American letters were in a peculiar transition state when he made his first appearance in print,

one can hope to understand from his book, or in any way except to go off tramping with him through cities

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's (1712-1778) (1782) were probably regarded as "coarse" because of Rousseau's candor

.; Jean-Jacques Rousseau's (1712-1778) Confessions (1782) were probably regarded as "coarse" because

than the one which is the caption of this paper, nor one that has attracted more attention in the American

clear up the passages in nature which God has left obscure; the writer does not explain that the poems were

power—pulse of the continent," offer the finest embodiment of the grandeur of applied mechanics which American

thought, and writing; and from this effort, whatever the mistakes or limitations of its method, American

In his volume all the objectionable passages which were the cause of so much complaint at the time of

range and diversity—always the continent of Democracy; Always the prairies, pastures, forests, vast cities

Their eulogies, however, were rather on the thoughts and sentiments of the author than praise of his

Milton and Goethe, at their desks, were not more truly poets than Phidias with his chisel, Raphael at

Phidias and Raphael and Beethoven were judged in accordance with the merits of what they produced.

by irrational things, I will penetrate what it is in them that is sarcastic upon me, I will make cities

(Democracy, while weapons were everywhere aim'd at your breast, I saw you serenely give birth to immortal

of Walt Whitman, who, some will have it, is by preeminence of art and nature our representative American

deepest ethical instincts of a great multitude—we should certainly hope the vast majority of those American

Would it were as clean! In form he reminds us of Martin Farquhar Tupper.

American he is, of the ruder and more barbaric type, a prairie cow boy in a buffalo robe, with a voice

and were not.

rearrangement with reference to the sub-titles and to each other, leave them, we are told, as they were

If all poets were in the habit of using this recitative rhythm as a vehicle for their thoughts, what

A Perfect Poem-Picture of American Democracy. The Hermit Thoreau's Opinion of Our Good Gray Poet.

I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end, But I do not talk

stoppage and never can be stoppage, If I, you and the worlds, and all beneath or upon their surfaces were

No doubt there have always been dens where such deeds were unblushingly recited, and it is no merit to

judgment, under the circumstances, is worthy of all commendation, but he might write differently today were

Songs of Parting,' under which the last is 'So Long,' a title that a foreigner and perhaps many an American

There were plenty of criticisms to make, even after one had finished crying Oh!

A cardinal sin in the eyes of most critics is the use of French, Spanish, and American-Spanish words

He shows crudely the American way of incorporating into the language a handy or a high-sounding word

and his mode of expression is immense, often flat, very often monotonous, like our great sprawling cities

of the leading publishers of the United States is a literary event, for through it the greatest American

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

He looks exceeding well in his broad hat, wide collar and suit of modest gray.

unknown before, Subtler than ever, more harmony, as if born here, re- lated related here, Not to the city's

is already established as a popular American classic.

Trippers and askers surround me, People I meet, the effect upon me of my early life or the ward and city

them, In walls of adobie, in canvas tents, rest hunters and trappers after their day's sport, The city

By the city's quadrangular houses—in log huts, camping with lumbermen, Along the ruts of the turnpike

, The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY.

ONCE I pass'd through a populous city imprinting my brain for future use with its shows, architecture

What does it mean to American persons, progresses, cities?

A NEWER garden of creation, no primal solitude, Dense, joyous, modern, populous millions, cities and

what were God?)

Ruskin insists that there are errors and blemishes of such exceeding and immedicable vileness that, if

Having got at his secret, you soon learn to take stock of the American bard.

When we reflect that, among the American poets thus slightingly waived aside, were, to mention no others

In his ideal city "the men and women think lightly of the laws."

Tammany Hall is famous as the democratic machine in New York city politics.

Both painters were denounced by John Ruskin in similar terms in Modern Painters, The Complete Works of

1813–1873) was a Scottish explorer of Africa, and Paul Belloni Du Chaillu (1835—1903) was a French-American

Fiske," was a leading American actress of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Tammany Hall is famous as the democratic machine in New York city politics.

London: Chatto & Windus) S EVERAL years have now passed since Walt Whitman's poetical works and claims were

entirely uniform; sometimes he speaks as a federation of nations, sometimes as if mankind at large were

This is what he calls "robust American love."

the rising and sinking waves—over the myriad fields and the prairies wide; Over the dense-packed cities

pseudonym of Johann Paul Friedrich Richter) (1763-1825) was a German novelist and humorist, whose works were

pseudonym of Johann Paul Friedrich Richter) (1763-1825) was a German novelist and humorist, whose works were

neat form, Walt Whitman's ridiculous rigmarole, by an extreme stretch of critical courtesy called " American

If it were only decent prose we might stand it; but it does not rise to the dignity of a dessertation

While the words "Walt Whitman's American Institute Poem" appear on both the volume's cover and one of

Whitman wrote the poem following a request by the Committee on Invitations of the American Institute

While the words "Walt Whitman's American Institute Poem" appear on both the volume's cover and one of

Whitman wrote the poem following a request by the Committee on Invitations of the American Institute

We were aware of this, and expected in an American poet some one who would sing for us gently, in a minor

And to explain it evident and sufficient causes were producible, and were produced.

The splendour, picturesqueness, and oceanic amplitude and rush of these great cities, the unsurpassed

but such a picture only represents the worst side of the life of great cities.

Only I will establish in the Mannahatta, and in every city of These States, inland and seaboard, And

the woman of the Indian tribes, are represented in the "Songs of the Sierras" as never before in American

ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY.

ONCE I pass'd through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architec-

American masses!

RECEPTION JAPANESE EMBASSY, JUNE, 1860. 1 OVER the western sea, hither from Niphon come, Courteous the

to American persons, pro- gresses progresses , cities? Chicago, Kanada, Arkansas?

Trippers and askers surround me; People I meet—the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city

them; In walls of adobie, in canvas tents, rest hunters and trappers after their day's sport; The city

of the human voice; I hear all sounds running together, combined, fused or following; Sounds of the city

; The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.)

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

As if it were necessary to trot back generation after generation to the Eastern records!"

"I will report all heroism from an American point of view." "America always!

I assert that all past days were what they should have been.

It is done in this fashion: "I see the cities of the earth, and make myself at random a part of them;

And do you rise higher than ever yet, O days, O cities! Crash heavier, heavier yet, O storms!

Language in the manuscript is also similar to language that appears in the poem "Poem of Joys" (1860)

Language in the manuscript is also similar to language that appears in the poem "Poem of Joys" (1860)

The first several lines of "Pictures" (not including this line) were revised and published as "My Picture-Gallery

" in The American in October 1880.

46).; This manuscript may relate to the poem titled "A Song of Joys," which first appeared in the 1860

(1860, p. 259).

his way from city to city, and to have consorted liberally with the draff of men on bold and equal conditions

He pictures the pageant of life in the country and in cities; all is a fine panorama, wherein mountains

gleams of sunlight, babes on the breast and dead men in shrouds, pyramids and brothels, deserts and populated

All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own, Else it were time lost listening to me.

All the stuff which offended American virtue is to be found here.

the Orientalism of the book is manifestly unconscious, it is really meant to be, and is, intensely American

He dreams a dream of "a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth," which

We many notice here that among the young Americans whom this strange poet or prophet has inspired, one

To a small job printing-office in that city belongs the honour, if such, of bringing it to light.

If he will but learn to tame a little, America will at last have a genuine American poet.

An Englishman might have written ninety-nine hundredths of American poetry.

The spirit that pervades is essentially American. It is more.

The philosophy and theology are decidedly American, the ethics are altogether of New York.

full of truly American exaggeration.

Everything American is the subject of his praises:— "These states are the amplest poem.

Trippers and askers surround me; People I meet—the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city

In walls of adobie adobe , in canvas tents, rest hunters and trappers after their day's sport; The city

of the human voice; I hear all sounds running together, combined, fused or following; Sounds of the city

; The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.)

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

fool'd 114 Native Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Once I Pass'd through a Populous City

ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY.

ONCE I pass'd through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architec-

(RECEPTION JAPANESE EMBASSY, JUNE 16, 1860.)

to American persons, pro- gresses progresses , cities? Chicago, Kanada, Arkansas?

"The Two Vaults," a poem that is recorded in a New York notebook that probably dates to the early 1860s

A note about an editorial on "American Expansion and Settlement Inland" is written on the back of this

"The Two Vaults," a poem that is recorded in a New York notebook that probably dates to the early 1860s

Notebook (1861–1862).; Transcribed from digital images of the original.; A note about an editorial on "American

The sternest enemy of the American philosopher and of the great fog-bank school to which he, in some

These dreary pieces of laboured humour are not as popular now as they were twenty years ago, but Walt

J OHN H OLLINGSHEAD . ∗ Leaves of Grass Boston (U.S.): Thayer and Eldridge. 1860–61. J. T. S.

These are slightly misquoted lines from the 1860 , pp. 46-47.

.; These are slightly misquoted lines from the 1860 Leaves of Grass, pp. 46-47.

City Lunch N.Y.

Express, Oct. 21, 1856 "But for the American party, the Northern, sectional, geographical party of Wm

To you endless an To you, these, to report nature, man, politics, from an American point of view.

Lo, interminable intersecting streets in cities, full of living people, coming and going!

Ohioan and Kentuckian, a friendly neighbor, W Sauntering the streets of Boston, Portland, long list of cities

(See Bowers, Whitman's Manuscripts: Leaves of Grass [1860] A Parallel Text [Chicago: The University of

It is of course possible, however, that parts of the notebook were inscribed before and/or after the

Much of the notebook is devoted to draft material for the 1860 poem eventually titled "Starting from

brief passage (on the verso of leaf 25) seems clearly to have contributed to "Song at Sunset," another 1860

It is unclear which pages were inscribed first; furthermore, several of the leaves have become detached

I know a rich capitalist who, out of his wealth, built a marble church, the most splendid in the city

intended to scare away unrest The genuine m M an is not, as would have him, like one of a block of city

The first several lines of the notebook (not including this line) were revised and published as "My Picture-Gallery

" in The American in October 1880.

See Holloway, "A Whitman Manuscript," American Mercury 3 (December 1924), 475–480.

See Holloway, "A Whitman Manuscript," American Mercury 3 (December 1924), 475–480.

One passage seems to have contributed to the 1860–1861 poem that Whitman later titled "Our Old Feuillage

"If the general" and "If you are happy" in the untitled third poem of the "Debris" cluster in the 1860

—What real Americans can be made out of slaves?

not equally interested in the preservation of those states or cities—or that portion was degraded form

first printed in the second (1856) and third (1860–1861) editions.

Whitman revised the text on leaf 23 verso to include a rather long passage that exceeded the space available

edition of Leaves of Grass but that the notebook also contains material clearly related to things that were

first printed in the second (1856) and third (1860–1861) editions.

Whitman revised the text on leaf 23 verso to include a rather long passage that exceeded the space available

rivers, forests , —all are Not distant caverns, volcanoes, cataracts, curious islands, birds, foreign cities

.— This manuscript was probably written between 1850 and 1860.

lines are similar in subject to lines in the poem "To One Shortly to Die," first published in the 1860

Fragmentary lines written on the back of this manuscript leaf were used in the poem eventually titled

This manuscript was probably written between 1850 and 1860.

lines are similar in subject to lines in the poem "To One Shortly to Die," first published in the 1860

manuscript are similar in subject to lines in the poem "To One Shortly to Die," first published in the 1860

for instance, the line: "You are to die—Let others tell you what they please, I cannot prevaricate" (1860

from digital images of the original.; Fragmentary lines written on the back of this manuscript leaf were

springing from all trades and employments, and effusing them and from sailors and landsmen, and from the city

Nature had given him a strong constitution, and his features were those of a dreamy sensualist.

to American persons, progresses, cities?—Chicago, Kanada, Arkansas?

Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a Kosmos, Disorderly, fleshy, sensual, eating, drinking

vulgar inditings of an uneducated man, free from any Old World philosophy, or Old World religion, were

Review of Leaves of Grass (1860–61)

states his character, and replies to this question in the following general terms: 'Walt Whitman, an American

pseudonym of Johann Paul Friedrich Richter) (1763-1825) was a German novelist and humorist, whose works were

pseudonym of Johann Paul Friedrich Richter) (1763-1825) was a German novelist and humorist, whose works were

Leaves of Grass Boston: Thayer and Eldridge. 1860–61. pp.456.

Walt Whitman is sane enough to do the poetry for an American newspaper or two: from whose columns these

supposed to answer this question: All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own, Else it were

Presently he dissects his own individuality a little more closely: Walt Whitman, an American, one of

Review of Leaves of Grass (1860–61)

and the family at large accumulated by past ages, With all which would have been nothing if anything were

I assert that all past days were what they should have been, And that they could no-how have been better

than they were, And that today is what it should be— and that America is, And that today and America

fellow Dutchman, Jan Matthys, along with other Anabaptists, briefly established a theocracy in the city

The Münster Rebellion ended when Protestant and Catholic armies took over the city; van Leiden was executed

fellow Dutchman, Jan Matthys, along with other Anabaptists, briefly established a theocracy in the city

The Münster Rebellion ended when Protestant and Catholic armies took over the city; van Leiden was executed

Boston, Thayer & Eldridge. 1860 Washington, Philp & Solomons.

and the opening words of his critique on the latter were graduated to a point no finer than to say, "

If the Aristarch of "Scotch Reviewers" were still in the flesh, and felt called, in the spirit of the

characterize this singular production by saying that Walt Whitman, who describes himself as ——an American

Review of Leaves of Grass (1860–61)

Leaves of Grass (Boston: Thayer and Eldridge, year 85 of the States—1860–61. London: Trübner.)

On that occasion we were spared the trouble of setting forth the new poet's merits, as he or his publisher

, which we were satisfied to reprint along with a few extracts illustrative of the volume they recommended

We are almost ashamed to ask the question—but do American ladies read Mr. Whitman?

A sort of catalogue of scenes of American life, which, according to Mr.

London: Trübner and Co. 1860.