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Now, this let ter I send you has only come out of the reading of your late article in the North American

Gannett say, a friend of his a lady who knew you, said you were "coarse."

If I were younger I would strive with all my to do something worthy of my worship of your genius, worthy

Welcome are American friends!

friend, "Bumble-bees & Bird Music" safe to hand this morning—does me good—makes me feel exactly as if I were

Sea rolling up on broad smooth sands there, but with treacherous reefs just beyond on which there were

And the castle on its wooded height in the very midst—& the great cavern below that runs through the city

Drink is the giant evil of the city as of the north generally—Such a sensible rugged healthy looking

If Per were here he would return your friendly message. Bees best love.

Even now do I go with and heartily believe in the North American Review article.

Pieces that were evidently written later, and intended to be eventually put under Leaves of Grass now

Hence, at one time, our admiration for orators that were ornate to the verge of inanity.

Dire were the grimaces of the mourners in high places, and dire are their grimaces still.

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

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.

Yet the prevalent tone of his verses is curiously Asiatic, as though he were an incarnation of Brahma

and were not.

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

As to the poems, Emerson long ago said they were poetry; Tennyson, Swinburne, not to speak of vapid critics

Much every day were there room to say it. Short and clear let the words be.

We answer, that what these all were to the distinctive spirit of their generations, though in utter contrast

Osgood & Co. of this city. Mr.

All who came in contact with the venerable poet were charmed by his cheery kindness, his wit and humor

Subtler than ever, more harmony, as if born here, related here, Not to the city's fresco'd rooms, not

what joys were thine! Mr.

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

all to the front, Invisibly with thee walking with kings with even pace the round world's promenade, Were

to keep that mark fresh and deepening for seven-and-twenty years, is no little achievement for an American

"Were it the will of heaven an osier bough Were vessel strong enough the seas to plow."

The clear recognition and pathetic portrayal of the home affection in the Americans, not less than their

The book deserves study even as a metrical anomaly, were it not entitled to consideration upon much higher

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

Walt Whitman is, par excellence, the poet and priest of democracy—the American type of democracy; the

In "Leaves of Grass" Walt Whitman has personified—or rather, idealized—the genius of American democracy

It is the Kosmos as viewed from the standpoint of the American idea of democracy—the sovereignty of each

On the whole it is to me very brave and American. We ought to rejoice greatly in him.

If these were merely the mouthings of individual pride, they would inspire deserved disgust.

Few American authors have the reputation abroad which Whitman has attained.

THE FIRST AMERICAN POET .

In the year 1860, we published a literary paper called "The Fireside," in which we devoted a page to

Moreover he is a genuine American man, the most original and truest Democrat of his time.

Westminster Review 74 n.s. 18 (October 1860), 590. Moncure Conway, Dial (August 1860), 517-19.

The First American Poet

Westminster Review 74 n.s. 18 (October 1860), 590.; Moncure Conway, Dial (August 1860), 517-19.; "Marco

Bozzaris," poem about the fighter for Greek independence by the American poet Fitz-Greene Halleck; "

upon the angry bull, the majority of cultivated minds begin to see that Walt Whitman is the most American

of poets and one of the brightest lights of American literature.

Without attempting to argue the point it may be said that were all records of America destroyed and Walt

Dire were the grimaces of the mourners in high places, and dire are their grimaces still.

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

It if were possible to see the genius of a great people throwing itself now into this form, now into

valued them for the "barbaric yawp," which seems to them the note of a new, vigorous, democratic, American

Several ladies called, and a number of "outsiders," and all were received with due empressment empressement

There were over three hundred visitors in the course of the evening, some from England.

gave some times of his printer life, as a young man (1838 to 1850), and his working in different cities

In the course of the evening various little speeches were made, and Mr.

Near by were a pile of corrected proof-sheets bearing the heading "Leaves of Grass."

His ruddy features were almost concealed by his white hair and beard.

making the book is to give A Recognition of All Elements compacted in one— e pluribus unum , as it were

I have also accepted as a theme the modern business life, the streets of cities, trade, expresses, the

"Of the American poets," he said, "I would place Emerson first, then Bryant, Longfellow and Whittier.

In that city they have had a Philosophical society for some years, and now Griggs & Co, the principal

The papers in the volume were chiefly written in Canada since Mr Smith has lived there, and several of

They were collected into a book in Canada, but subsequently taken by the publishing house of Macmillan

The American features are not all that the æsthetic fancy craves, but they are not so hopelessly lost

If it were possible to see the genius of a great people throwing itself now into this form, now into

to his old habit, the poet spent an hour or more on the ferry, swinging pendulum-like between this city

The publishers were capital fellows.

I like the city itself exceedingly, and I think it will in a short time become a cosmopolitan city such

Don't ask me to class Philadelphia with Boston, New York, or the wide-awake Western cities.

I cannot class it with other cities, and you must not compel me to talk about it.

They were especially interested in the old Whitman burial hill and cemetery, containing the poet's ancestors

The house, barn, and other buildings were all gone and the ground ploughed over.

The publishers were capital fellows.

I like the city itself exceedingly, and I think it will in a short time become a cosmopolitan city such

I cannot class it with other cities, and you must not compel me to talk about it.

No copies w orth me ntioning were sold of any issue.

"You have eliminated, then, none of the lines which were deemed objectionable?"

about the book emphasized Whitman’s increasingly conservative stance, and many of the sexual passages were

edition, but the book eventually appeared in November without one.Initial sales of the Osgood edition were

strong, and reviews were almost universally positive.

about the book emphasized Whitman’s increasingly conservative stance, and many of the sexual passages were

edition, but the book eventually appeared in November without one.Initial sales of the Osgood edition were

strong, and reviews were almost universally positive.

about the book emphasized Whitman’s increasingly conservative stance, and many of the sexual passages were

edition, but the book eventually appeared in November without one.Initial sales of the Osgood edition were

strong, and reviews were almost universally positive.

about the book emphasized Whitman’s increasingly conservative stance, and many of the sexual passages were

edition, but the book eventually appeared in November without one.Initial sales of the Osgood edition were

strong, and reviews were almost universally positive.

THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, NEW YORK, N. Y.

With the cooperation of yourself and other American thinkers of the first note , the Review must become

You were a little boy then, but he represented himself as Christ, and a follower of his called himself

So they were quiet, and I continued.

Lewis and his son Percy were both artists.

American Literature and Life Mr. JOHN ALBEE. Two Lectures on Faded Metaphors Rev. DR. BARTOL.

January 1881 My good friend, It was a kind thought of yours sending me your article from the North American

or affecting in the words, or title, Sobbing of the Bells, (you know you sent to Boston Globe), we were

gal and a mighty nice little thing she is too; just such a one as you would like, and I know if you were

Aunt Lizzie has been to see us twice since you were here, and is coming down to stay three or four days

My mother is away staying with Beatrice in Edinburgh city, recruiting her health, which has most sadly

theatric manner a kind, good heart, oh, so kind, I feel as if I would do anything for her, her manners were

Were her last words to Grace.

I hear that the young American artists are doing capitally filling their pockets.

They were translated into all languages; he was ranked with Homer and Virgil; Goethe and Napoleon Bonaparte

were his warm admirers—and the collections of English poetry do not now include a line of his composing

Salt Lake City, U.T., 15 April, 1881.

Wit—humor—these, moreover, were lacking in Wordsworth, and without them no modern poet can hope to be

respect, the French Revolution would have struck deeper chords in him than it did; but the chords were

We should have no objection to buying it provided it were put in order.

The sketch of Carlyle in the London paper was the best I have seen, your own words upon his death were

I first wrote them a notice of his Journal just published, which they were pleased to say was too good

Wilkins, two students of Trinity College, Dublin, were the first to draw my attention to your poetical

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

Dakota" which has always been to me like a saunter through spicy, summer-warm woods, when the brooks were

I have read too your views in the North American Review on The Poetry of the Future.

received all your Papers, Whitch which you sent me, and also seen your New Book, Is for sale in our city

I have ordered my book to be sent to the American papers you mentioned.

: in the second edition (1856) as "Poem of the Proposition of Nakedness" and in the third edition (1860

One of the hints of the "riddle" were the "two words": "Two little breaths of words comprising it, /

Their words may not have been arraignable by law, (though in many cases they were so) but they were such

to repudiate unjust rents, and I would have thrown myself heart and soul into this movement if it were

See Walter Grünzweig, Constructing the German Walt Whitman (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1995

And Dillon's words were repeated and elaborated on numerous occasions prior to September, 1880, by other

With this "Coercion Act," the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended and authorities were given the power to

There are very few ideas in Germany about American literature, past, present, or future.

was to be expected of American literature; just the conventional praise and blame—plenty of the former

And his tone of mind is just that of his countrymen in general towards things American.

I always ask Americans about you here.

I heard you were coming to England this year—I suppose that's not true.

See Walter Grünzweig, Constructing the German Walt Whitman (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1995

footnote on p. 200 of the article "Poetry of the Future" in the February 1881 issue of the North American

These were prominent literary figures of the time. J. G.

Tyrrell, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and many of the contributors were present and former Trinity

John William Draper's History of the American Civil War (3 vols., New York, 1867–70; London, 1871).

Things look to me every way as if the people were awaking. I see your friend R. M.

See Walter Grünzweig, Constructing the German Walt Whitman (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1995

It begins, "Whitman, it may be explained, is an American writer who some years back attracted attention

by a volume of so-called poems which were chiefly remarkable for their absurd extravagance and shameless

O'Grady in Ireland, I in Saxonland—if we three were together we would tread the clouds!

The historical writings of Standish O'Grady (1846–1928) were an inspiration to the great Irish Literary

North American Review, received this morning. I was delighted with it.

I agree entirely with all you say there about the American poets— γόνιμον δὲ ποιητὴν ἂν οὐχ εὕροις ἔτι

The law of contract does not touch that question at all, for the contracts were made upon the false assumption

See Walter Grünzweig, Constructing the German Walt Whitman (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1995

Probably "The Poetry of the Future," North American Review, 32 (1881), 195–210.

Reprinted in the American (May 1881) and Leaves of Grass (1881–82).; Our transcription is based on a