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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, architecture

, customs, traditions, Yet now of all that city I remember only a woman I casually met there who detain'd

me for love of me, Day by day and night by night we were together—all else has long been forgotten by

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.

To us, my city, Where our tall-topt marble and iron beauties range on opposite sides, to walk in the

from your Western golden shores, The countries there with their populations, the millions en-masse are

Were the children straying westward so long? so wide the tramping?

Were the precedent dim ages debouching westward from Paradise so long?

Were the centuries steadily footing it that way, all the while unknown, for you, for reasons?

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

From the various libraries of this city,—public and private,—to which I have access, I have been able

One was "Leaves of Grass," published in Boston by Thayer and Eldridge, in 1860–61; the other was "Leaves

The poems were classified in each one in an entirely different manner from the other, which at times

was a Boston publishing firm responsible for the third edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (1860

David McKay (1860–1918) took over Philadelphia-based publisher Rees Welsh's bookselling and publishing

For more information about McKay, see Joel Myerson, "McKay, David (1860–1918)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia

greatest city in the whole world. 5 The place where a great city stands is not the place of stretch'd

Where the city stands with the brawniest breed of orators and bards, Where the city stands that is belov'd

city of the healthiest fathers stands, Where the city of the best-bodied mothers stands, There the great

city stands. 6 How beggarly appear arguments before a defiant deed!

How the floridness of the materials of cities shrivels before a man's or woman's look!

neck with incomparable love, Plunging his seminal muscle into its merits and demerits, Making its cities

The superior marine, free commerce, fisheries, whaling, gold-dig- ging gold-digging , Wharf-hemm'd cities

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

Underneath all, individuals, I swear nothing is good to me now that ignores individuals, The American

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

Somebody ought to write a scholarly-picturesque thorough & exhaustive history of the Dutch-Americans.

I wish I were rich enough.

City & L. Island, & study the Dutch people at first hand.

For if those pre-successes were all—if they ended at that—if nothing more were yielded than so far appears—a

gross materialistic prosperity only—America, tried by subtlest tests, were a failure—has not advanced

Both the cash and the emotional cheer were deep medicines; many paid double or treble price.

printer, carpenter, author, and journalist, domiciled in nearly all the United States and principal cities

of that time, tending the Northern and Southern wounded alike—work'd down South and in Washington city

whenever the ebb or flood tide began the latter part of day, of punctually visiting those at that time populous

Intellectual and emotional natures would be at their best: Deaths were always easier; medicines seem'd

And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?

A WOMAN waits for me, she contains all, nothing is lacking, Yet all were lacking if sex were lacking,

WE TWO, HOW LONG WE WERE FOOL'D.

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

extract only one short poem with its characteristic foot-note: FOR QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY An American

—"Very little as we Americans stand this day, with our sixty-five or seventy millions of population,

where I was born, Well-begotten, and rais'd by a perfect mother, After roaming many lands, lover of populous

pavements, Dweller in Mannahatta my city, or on southern savannas, Or a soldier camp'd or carrying my

poems that with you is hero- ism heroism upon land and sea, And I will report all heroism from an American

love, indi- cating indicating it in me, I will therefore let flame from me the burning fires that were

, the electric telegraph stretching across the continent, See, through Atlantica's depths pulses American

P.C. of June 6 th & your letter of June 9 (recd today) I am glad to learn from the latter that you were

, pure & sweet—a bit of old world English country & country life left untouched by the swarming populations

Thirty-one poems from the book were later printed as "Good-Bye my Fancy" in Leaves of Grass (1891–1892

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

for city and land for land.

CITY OF ORGIES.

CITY of orgies, walks and joys, City whom that I have lived and sung in your midst will one day make

Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me?

if I could be with you and become your comrade; Be it as if I were with you.

5 East 63 d Street, New York City. 11/30-'91.

"Mannahatta," meaning "land of many hills," is the Native American name Whitman uses for New York City

FIRST O songs for a prelude, Lightly strike on the stretch'd tympanum pride and joy in my city, How she

costumes of peace with indifferent hand, How your soft opera-music changed, and the drum and fife were

Forty years had I in my city seen soldiers parading, Forty years as a pageant, till unawares the lady

of this teeming and turbulent city, Sleepless amid her ships, her houses, her incalculable wealth, With

The blood of the city up—arm'd! arm'd!

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

John Brown (Boston: Thayer and Eldridge, 1860), a correspondent for the New York Tribune during the war

He concluded his first letter to Whitman on June 25, 1860: "I love you, Walt!

Redpath became managing editor of The North American Review in 1886. See also Charles F.

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

floes, White drift spooning ahead where the ship in the tempest dashes, On solid land what is done in cities

fiddle, others sit on the gunwale smoking and talking; Late in the afternoon the mocking-bird, the American

rude carts, cotton bales piled on banks and wharves; Encircling all, vast-darting up and wide, the American

and down, casting swift shadows in specks on the opposite wall where the shine is; The athletic American

should expect it would the way things are going generally in the country—increasing debt, stationary population

Three of O'Connor's stories with a preface by Whitman were published in Three Tales: The Ghost, The Brazen

Thirty-one poems from the book were later printed as "Good-Bye my Fancy" in Leaves of Grass (1891–1892

Hamlin Garland (1860–1940) was an American novelist and autobiographer, known especially for his works

about the hardships of farm life in the American Midwest.

CITY OF SHIPS. CITY of ships! (O the black ships! O the fierce ships!

City of the world!

City of wharves and stores—city of tall façades of marble and iron!

Proud and passionate city—mettlesome, mad, extravagant city!

(Washington City, 1865.)

I see in Bob the noblest specimen—American-flavored—pure out of the soil, spreading, giving, demanding

published in The North American Review.

published in New York in 1888 by the journal's editor Charles Allen Thorndike Rice and The North American

David McKay (1860–1918) took over Philadelphia-based publisher Rees Welsh's bookselling and publishing

For more information about McKay, see Joel Myerson, "McKay, David (1860–1918)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia

ages that men and women like us grew up and travel'd their course and pass'd on, What vast-built cities

and phrenology, What of liberty and slavery among them, what they thought of death and the soul, Who were

O I know that those men and women were not for nothing, any more than we are for nothing, I know that

Do their lives, cities, arts, rest only with us? Did they achieve nothing for good for themselves?

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

city of spires and masts! City nested in bays! my city! ALL IS TRUTH.

, To India and China and Australia and the thousand island para- dises paradises of the Pacific, Populous

cities, the latest inventions, the steamers on the rivers, the railroads, with many a thrifty farm,

I note that you were then "about the same," & though we cannot but feel disappointed at the news & wish

it were better still we are thankful that under the circumstances it is no worse This prolonged "bad

In this month's National Review I came across a quotation from Stedman and Kay' "Library of American

—which we sent to him were almost as like the originals as if they had been photographed.

If I only knew for certain that you were better I should be ever so much more at ease.

affiliated with the Labour Church, an organization whose socialist politics and working-class ideals were

He published many volumes of poems and was an indefatigable compiler of anthologies, among which were

(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1885) and A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to

Hooks, "Ellen MacKay Hutchinson ([1851]–1933)," Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers 30:2 (2013

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

the sea-bird, and look down as from a height, I do not deny the precious results of peace, I see populous

cities with wealth incalculable, I see numberless farms, I see the farmers working in their fields or

spacious and haughty States, (nor any five, nor ten,) Nor market nor depot we, nor money-bank in the city

All the great cities exhibit them—probably New York most of all.

They taint the splendid & healthy American qualities, & had better be well understood like a threatening

or, What are the cardinal points to be insisted upon for the all around development of the coming American

See William White's article in The American Book Collector, XI (May, 1961), 30–31, where Wood's second

the states so as to encourage manufacture at home (in Mich or N.Y.) and in that way increase the population

it probed the worse it appears—is a significant item of business & social life, rottening the whole city

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

Whitman is referring to a financial scandal involving the City Treasurer of Philadelphia, John Bardsley

Bardsley was accused of misappropriating and embezzlement of city funds.

Fritzinger and his brother Harry were the sons of Henry Whireman Fritzinger (about 1828–1881), a former

the earth and the sea never gave us, Not through the mighty woods we go, but through the mightier cities

What, to pavements and homesteads here, what were those storms of the mountains and sea?

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

ground before me, Continually preceding my steps, turning upon me oft, ironically hissing low; The cities

wait, I am fully satisfied, I am glutted, I have witness'd the true lightning, I have witness'd my cities

In one, among the city streets a laborer's home appear'd, After his day's work done, cleanly, sweet-air'd

suite of noble rooms, 'Mid plenteous books and journals, paintings on the walls, fine statuettes, Were

All, all the shows of laboring life, City and country, women's, men's and children's, Their wants provided

Lafayette Av e Baltimore M.d June 2 nd . 1891 Mr Walter Whitman, Dear Sir, Yesterday's "Sun" of this city

face to face.— I mention these facts in the hope that they might bring the case to your memory.— They were

ceased to feel deeply grateful to you for your kindness to my dear brother; for your visits to him were

Prentiss served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

He enlisted at Richmond and served as a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War.

the scaffold;) I would sing in my copious song your census returns of the States, The tables of population

Grass out there, said there were many there suits them—was unwell & had to dismiss him—am afraid I am

Jessie and her older sister Manahatta ("Hattie") (1860–1886) were both favorites of their uncle Walt.

When the war ended, he became a pipe inspector for the City of Camden and the New York Metropolitan Water

Walt Whitman, I was extremely pleased, last evening, to receive the copy of Ingersoll's lecture you were

great & notable utterance—strong, manly brave & free—worthy of its subject, & worthy of a great American

orator to an American audience.

I see in Bob the noblest specimen—American-flavored—pure out of the soil, spreading, giving, demanding

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

me out of a hole—I offer to pay $3000 (have paid 1500 & offer 1500 more) wh' it looks now as they were

that & am mighty glad so—Forman writes me that Heineman, Balestier, & Lovell want to purchase the American

Wolcott Balestier (1861–1891) was an American writer who went to London, England, in 1888 as an agent

Lovell (1853–1932) relocated to New York City and established a publishing company dedicated to reprinting

that we received a cable message from Traubel this morning, with the welcome intelligence that you were

I intend to order a few copies of it in addition to the American copies ordered through Traubel.

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

I see in Bob the noblest specimen—American-flavored—pure out of the soil, spreading, giving, demanding

really , but for some reason she is silent on the subject—she did not speak of you at all though we were

I told her something from the Danish for a book some of us were about to bring out.

All goes well, I am hearty and having a good time but shall be glad to get back and see my American &

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

wast not granted to sing thou would'st surely die.) 5 Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid cities

day and night with the great cloud darkening the land, With the pomp of the inloop'd flags with the cities

not what kept me from sleep,) As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west how full you were

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

men, I saw them, I saw the debris and debris of all the slain soldiers of the war, But I saw they were

So the English folk want to buy the American copy right?

If I were you I would sell it—so much down and a small sum per vol. (3, 4 or 5 p.c. of selling price)

dated November 22, 1891, Whitman noted that "Heineman, Balestier, & Lovell want to purchase the American

David McKay (1860–1918) was a Philadelphia-based publisher, whose company, founded in 1882, printed a

One more utterance from our old original individualistic American poet, now, as he tells us, in his seventy-second

year, and not expecting to write any more; this, indeed, written as it were in defiance of augury.

. [—] I hope now not to be so crowded and to have more time to write and keep track of my american affairs—I

Sarnia is a city in Ontario, a hundred miles west of London.

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

Traubel left behind enough manuscripts for six more volumes of the series, the final two of which were

Horace Traubel and Bucke were beginning to make plans for a collected volume of writings by and about

McKay, 1893), which included the three unsigned reviews of the first edition of Leaves of Grass that were

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

Because the letter was incorrectly addressed, the envelope has been stamped "Forwarded," the city "Boston

A fair portion of its contents were devoted to Whitman appreciation and the conservation of the poet's

To think that the sun rose in the east—that men and women were flexible, real, alive—that every thing

To think the thought of death merged in the thought of materials, To think of all these wonders of city

To think how much pleasure there is, Do you enjoy yourself in the city? or engaged in business?

7 It is not to diffuse you that you were born of your mother and father, it is to identify you, It is

The threads that were spun are gather'd, the weft crosses the warp, the pattern is systematic.

wast not granted to sing thou would'st surely die.) 5 Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid cities

day and night with the great cloud darkening the land, With the pomp of the inloop'd flags with the cities

not what kept me from sleep,) As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west how full you were

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

men, I saw them, I saw the debris and debris of all the slain soldiers of the war, But I saw they were

equilibrium in the pure hearted Mother, have given the dear little baby girl such a start in life as I wish were

the man, shown by his taking a stand in opposition to his friends even, when conscience required it, were

New York must seem to him a very inhospitable place for his train was run into just as the city was reached

in which he recalls a day spent with you in the hospitals and expresses his appreciation of all you were

Franklin Johnston became the president and publisher of the trade publication American Exporter and a

a well-known American political theorist and revolutionary.

the start of the American Revolution, inspiring patriots to call for independence from Great Britain

Moncure Daniel Conway (1832–1907) was an American abolitionist, minister, and frequent correspondent

Traubel (1858–1919) was an American essayist, poet, and magazine publisher.

In the 1860s, he taught at Cornell University in New York.

He was the author of numerous works on a wide range of subjects from the American Civil War and European

Bucke and his brother-in-law William John Gurd were designing a gas and fluid meter to be patented in