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Bucke passed my baggage (including books) through customs without investigation. Then away.

I did some writing on the trip down but neither the environment nor my mood encouraged me much.

"Well, I don't know if it would be called that: he said something, so did I—I suppose my part of little

Bucke calls this my 'bible.'

It is about my dear sister at Burlington.

It is written by a woman who helps my sister: my sister has jaundice—is in bed—can do little for herself

Conway always excites both my interest and my suspicion."

W. said last: "How can I ever pay my debt to you?"

My own explanation was, that somebody or other plagued him for a piece—offered him 50 pounds, guineas

To my idea, "Arnold is not discriminate' W. returned, "I don't know—I should hardly say it that way:

of his demonstrations—his praises; perhaps the fact that I was so addressed tended to excuse him in my

My brother George was there, and they sat together and had quite a chat.

had many such espousers in Washington [some] time ago—perhaps have still—these fellows belonged among my

Only a word, my friends, only a word.

After all, the main factor, my friends, is in meeting, being face to face and meeting like this.

I thought I would like to come forward with my living voice and thank you for coming and thank Robert

After we had shaken hands, I said immediately, handing them out, "I have kept my part of the bargain:

W.: "Good, good—that would be my gospel, too, and this will help him to see America.

"Do so, do so—I will give you a copy of my book to take him. It will help you to open up."

My Annual Report is finished and sent off. I begin lectures to students Monday.

Wallace says, "I feel that my mission is about done. I might go home now, as well as later."

only wrote me the flattering note yesterday—sent the book—but came up like a man long ago and asked my

My reading is wholly without plan: the first thing at hand, that is the thing I take up."

I hope you will continue writing me such notes as these, "My food nourishes me better."

My love to W.W.J. B.W. asked: "Is the postmark West Park?

W. says: "Maybe I've put my foot in it: maybe I'd better kept my mouth shut."

I had not repeated this to W., who today said to me: "Carpe diem is my motto."

I supposed so—felt it in my bones. It is too warm here now?"

It was my idea that he should make this his headquarters—then stretch out some—see more of the States

To my notion that we must not have a reader of books, W. laughed out an "amen!"

Have not been at the office today—but had my mail & the Col's sent to the Col's house, where I have been

Express to me to my home address: 19 E. 80th St.

Who wants my autograph."—"It is a heavy penalty sometimes."

So he wrote my name on the face of it with pencil.Spoke of his happiness that I would go home with Bucke

And for my part I think he has gone about under fortunate conditions.

W. calls attention to "an English offer to publish my works abroad—for all England and for English readers

Botolph Club years ago to arrange for my lecture in Boston—my lecture on the murder of Lincoln.

There will be no more occasions like that: my time is gone—my time for gadding about on speechifying

"He prints editions each time upon my special grant," explained W.

purpose—was within my means: so here I came, have been ever since."

I shall mail you my latest piece in a magazine to be out presently.

He commended my statement to Baker that W. took no part in the details.

and as you say I am most generally alluded to as 'Walt Whitman,' probably from the long insistence of my

I am very warmly disposed towards the South: I must admit that my instinct of friendship towards the

What you tell me goes to confirm my old faith in the masses.

He says: "My head must be much better: otherwise the clatter would have worried me."

I found a copy of The Esoteric under my feet. He regarded me with amused eyes.

publish his book, I will strive to refurbish my contribution and make it better.Dr.

Adding after my nod of assent, "Well, if there's anyone in the world he ought to know by this time—would

Did you go to hear my good friend Herne read while he was in Philadelphia.

He is my convert to the Single Tax. By the way does W. W. indicate interest in it still?

Give him my love.

The last one—the closing one—just the last year—in this room—since my sickness.

abuses me, calls me 'accursed,' is evidently written by a woman who for some reason or other thinks my

I told him of my saying to narrow alignments: "However you have a platform that shuts me off, my platform

Published in Good-Bye My Fancy, 1891. Courtesy Library of Congress went there.

My first idea was to have the poems together, making a page, but he wished to use them each by itself

But so far these big books have not given me back my money.

Found him in very good condition, with the best of cheer to dispense—so much this, that my toil and its

I had the idea to make my new piece—"Walt Whitman and Some of His Comrades."

"My time is completely over. I am too much of age." Had he seen this in the Post?

Called my attention to a letter from Kennedy. "Sloane complains I do not write. I suppose I do not.

But he deserves my best good will."

My heart foreboding much, I rang the bell, Mrs.

my boy I have gone far under!

Then: "I have done nothing to-daytoday: for the first time my appetite has positively, wholly, given

I reached down, kissed him: he kissed me, saying thickly: "Bless you, my boy! bless you!"

It is my nephew—the second son of my sister.

And to my remark that Aldrich however was much more likable than Stoddard, except for some of S.Stoddard's

s phrase, "The Last Bard," describing my father's picture—had attracted me.

W.: "Yes, I have noticed it, too: though it hardly forced my attention.

And then: "I sent my own word in to Whitney: not to him direct, because I do not know him—but to Dick

W. said: "Never mind—I shall not miss it: I always keep my eyes open for Bob."

"I made my choice and sent it back." Received his copies of Lippincott's.

Mine laid on bed and he quickly called my attention to it. Alluded to novel in the magazine.

My days will get me over the bridge if I never see it!"

My dear Mr. Whitman:Allow me to introduce to you Mr.

My eye caught on the woodpile a bunch of manuscript. I picked it up. "What is this?

I stopped: that was always the case—always my habit."

He is seven years my senior, I believe: Herbert says, shows age, is round-shouldered, stoops."

After a pause: "My mental work was always taken easy: more-over, I have never forgotten what I owe my

could not or would not understand their deeper meaning, nor recognize their subtler beautiesRepeating my

I send papers to friends and friends of my friends—often to people I have never met.

Detailed the incident: "It was my old Alabama admirer, who came up here several years ago—was talked

My old friend did not cease his admiration, so far as I know.

Referring to use of words, W. remarked: "In my abolition days, some of my friends were furious at my

possible, though I don't know why I need to say that, either, for I know the importance, the necessity, of my

getting out clearly enough of my own notion!"

And further: "My question anyhow has no application to his platform addresses, his public work, writing

saying it—to having it known to come from me—but it would not seem to me in good taste to print it over my

And yet the other way excites my distaste. I can hardly tell you why.

It is a book separate "the words of my book nothing, the (trend) of it everything."

I may be over in Philadelphia shortly & then I shall call and pay my respects to Whitman and yourself.I

And as he returned me the letter, "That reminds me of my letter to Bucke today.

It is no new thing to me—indeed, is a very old thing—it came to me, almost, in my youth.

Aroused by my entrance he was at once cordial and inquisitive. Talked well. Looked well.

Yet I have made up my mind to be cheerful: to sustain myself by what philosophy I can."

"Yes, I often think of it, especially of late days—how fortunate I have been in my friends: I doubt if

This is the very centre, circumference, umbillicus, of my whole career.

So it was with me: I had to cut up my capers.

"William O'Connor and Nellie O'Connor occupy a large place in my memory—not in my memory alone, but in

that larger life—my emotional, sympathetic, poetic, life—which has most importantly commanded me.

—all my feeling, once divided, seems to flow out to Ellen alone.

force, accretion, gift, effulgence—soul-force, let us call it, for want of a better word: the making of my

I have always felt, what my mother often said to me, that these old folk of the grand type were made

It had made W. read 'Old Poets' again, as I found him doing on my entrance.

My laughing question, "Do you never get tired reading your own articles," seemed vastly to excite him

Said to me, "I have a new idea about the portraits—have changed my mind: will get several envelopes made

I shall bind it in my volume with the lecture.

Looked over [Harper's] Young People.W. had written me my "dedication" as follows. Would it do?

Washington, giving you my new address, as yesterday came the Conservator, with the 112 M St. on it.

My love to Annie, & to you. I hope that you are both well.

He took a slip and his blue pencil and wrote at my dictation. Where was the address book?

Finally at my urging said, "Well, a dozen, then."

"I forgot my copy—lost it here—fully intended to send it."

"Is this my little growl?

Well—you must let me have the growl—listen patiently—my growl is worse than my spring."

William O'Connor used to say this was rather a contradiction between my life and my philosophy.

I know I ought to know Weiss and Johnson—they are my men, I am their man—but I own up to my entire ignorance

Ask my enemies if I ain't extreme.

All my intimate friends who have known me for many years—know well enough that that appearance of age

Some have said to me that I look younger now than I did in my youth.

Ingram came in and stayed about fifteen minutes during my stay.

That is my surmise only—of course—but I am willing to bet on it.

W. said: "You have my card?—make use of it!"

"I am improved, I think—so to call it—but my improvements as a rule are not very radical."

when I was a young man—I knew a man in New York named Holt: a curious, interesting man who excited my

He had come from Cold Spring, Long Island—where, by the way, my mother might be said to have come from

W. on his bed, but arose on my entrance, going heedfully to his chair.

In the portrait I am titivated out of all my good looks!"

I confessed my concern.

He said: "I've had the same concern myself: my body is nowadays so easily shoved off its balance: but

It cuts to the marrow—at least to my marrow: is a sort of confession of faith on my part.

without lowering my colors.

I am always more or less on tenter hooks about my health these times."

But if the weather continues as it is now, I must take another hour for my outings—a noon hour or thereabouts

As to my own copies, he advised: "Take one now—take it along with you": and then jokingly: "It will arm

And finally: "When you write him, send along my love: such a word as that deserves something!"

shall require a closed carriage—but still I will be there: nothing in the ordinary way can now move my

It justifies my faith—gladdens us both. Walt sat there and regarded me happily as I read it.

My theory is, that the boy wrote it out fully enough, but [it] was not accepted beyond this length."

My letter to Hay comes back from someone in Cleveland with his London address added; too late to reach

my big tree.

I am sure I shall want to do if I ever reach my 72d.

Give him my love.

As to his health, "I am by no means gaining—I seem to stick in my low estate—no lift any way."

In a case so obvious it would seem as though things might very easily be brought to a head in my behalf

W. gave me what he called a "document" to go among my "war records."

children in age yet—so good, so sweet, so brave, so decorous, I could not feel them nearer to me if my

W. laughed: "If I had my way," he said more gravely, "I'd try my medicine first on the rich—make them

I contend that I am the safest of men—that my gospel is the safest of gospels.

Davis, who retired on my entrance. W. said he had not been well today.

"This is one of my bad days—a cold-in-the-head day. I have not been out at all.

My sister Agnes had sent him down a bunch of flowers. "Good girl! good girl!"

And after my answer: "Oh! the obvious way—the way it is spelled. Well, I don't know!"

I do not think it can be accused of me that I have been ungenerous with respect to my books: on the contrary

Wished to know if Bucke had seen my father's W. picture.

And then he asked my father's opinion of Eakins' picture. "He thought it a fine work?"

And then to my father's one criticism—that the complexion did not do W. justice, his being the finest

And to my "no"—"Well, I guess there's nothing in it.

I gave him my list—suggested several new names.

With W. for full half an hour, though I was on my way to Philadelphia and intended to stay only a few

"I was just about to get up—go to my chair"—doing so now (the cane always on the bed beside him).

My idea was—"make yourself whole and have the plates as profit." To this he assented.

This is a safer place for me—this little town, this little room, my own bed and chair."

reading Gladstone's reply to Ingersoll—"It is a great weariness—but I stuck to it, thinking it probably my

Its protestations seem to me a sort of Captain Cuttle business—the 'yes I do,' 'no I don't,' 'perhaps

Horace Traubel, a personal friend of mine, the same as you would with me, and consider him as my fully

last cent—at least you'll get it: I am no good anymore, that way speaking: I am tied down here fast to my

the sofa in the parlor and complaining of ill health—of being "constipated, listless"—and saying: "My

blood is so sluggish—my pulse is so low."

Everything don't come my way but lots of things do." Talked for a long time recumbent.

A kind of love passage—that's my sort of fight. But let me tell you a little more about Rhys.

Some day I'll die—maybe surprise you all by a sudden disappearance: then where'll my book be?

W. saw the bundle in my hand, asked about it, so I tore it open in the semidarkness.

Davis for the present—have her put them in water—then in the morning I'll have them in my room—enjoy

Adding: "and while you're in, Ed, go upstairs in my room—you'll find there on the chair a little package

W. had questioned me on my first coming: "Is it too cool out here for me?"

I referred to my intention of writing to Stedman this week.

I went down to the Cemetery—Harleigh: I want you to go there, too—see my lot.

And curiously, he is the first man of the kind, in such a position, whose views coincide with my own.

No—no—I do not think he is anything but what he appears—my impression was a good one, favorable: the

Not only asked to buy my whole stock of books—but the copyright as well.

I am willing to sell books and books—but my freedom?"

And to my affirmative (entered in with explanations, etc.), "Well, try for it—see somebody at once about

Asked me if I had given my father Black and White? "I thought it a strong array of pictures.

Was intercepted by the circus parade on Federal Street on my way down.

W. had heard the bands, and asked me about it on my coming. He sat in his room, not doing anything.

We talked of my interview with McKay yesterday afternoon.

was mad that people would not see what he thought he saw in it and said: 'Give it to me—give it in my

a poem to be read at the debuting, adventing, of a big affair—a big exposition; is now included in my

He inquired just the other day, "I wonder if my Harper's poem is lost irretrievably?"

To my: "I do," he answered: "The situation as I see it now is a good deal worse than I had supposed."

body thus and so: the question is my mind's question, not my body's: the mind, not the body, must answer

Knowing my name would be called I slipped out the back door. Salter asked for W.'

B. said: "I have no call to speak for Walt about this but my impression is that while he believes the

so—in my friends than in my enemies."

And to my opinion that the feeling was prevalent among private Democrats, whatever of public I did not