Search Results

May 27th 1863 Walt Whitman My Dear Friend Enclosed I send you ten dollars.

This is my contribution $5. per month, and is for the months of April and May.

The contributions of Willie Durkee and my little girl are rather small but it takes all their spare funds

April 9th 188 6 My dear Walt Whitman I distributed the papers and magazines you sent me to every body

find in them so much encouragement and hope, and such a great personality, that I write to express my

York—up towards Harlem—Mott Haven—there was an old wharf on which I spent some of the happiest hours of my

Called my attention to a book in which there was a portrait of Tennyson, with his big hat.

I think the house might well be used with my article.W. said, "I am still curious about the Atlantic,

W. remarking, "I can't altogether get over my concern.

I'm afraid I'm getting to be a great materialist—not to believe anything till it's absolutely in my fist

Symonds' enunciation of an idea which has always possessed me, which is at the center of my own theories

And I think that is always my way with real good work—I don't enter into it, absorb it, first hit.

You remember I wrote it on one of my off days." "Now this is an on day and you correct it."

You mean that it would be significant as showing my condition the day I wrote it?

It is the fore-dream of my own questions: I put that question to myself every day.

My impression of it was favorable—not the common one at all.

My own curiosity to see him is great.

Yes, my intention is to be present and I shall be unless something "unforseen and unprovided for" occurs

At my remark W. asked to have the door opened.

"I pay it, as I pay my plumber—under protest. Yes, the laborer is worthy of his hire.

Also said: "I have great faith in my power of endurance.

I have no doubt now but I shall hold out my time—that is, I shall not hasten my death by anything I do

cause—make my cause theirs: quite a cluster.

It was a tempting offer—it pulled at my heart-strings: my friends over there all said, come, you will

Even some of my friends here said, go: and some were angry when I decided not to: but my own heart never

admitting that impurity is not a quality of dirt.Handed me a picture of Tolstoi out of Book News—remarking my

to take some sickle pears out of a bag on the floor.Asked him about a description of his "study" for my

This is my 'shack.'

You must have said something to stir him up on the subject of my health.

T. set rather a bad precedent immediately after my coming here!

I have finished my work at Oxford, and in the autumn I shall begin writing.

A silence on my part—and their solicitude!

He wished a duplicate plate of the title-page—"for my own use," he said, "for reasons."

I make no rule for myself about reading: I read what comes to my hand— what pleases my mood.

—rich with ore: finer even than the French to English renderings of my French friend in Washington years

My objection to them all would be that they take up verses centuries old, debate them by rule and measure

Perhaps to be around in case of my serious sickness—to watch, to care for, me: but that is provided for

W. called my attention to this in Bucke's note of the 14th."

I had my champagne and oysters—a favorite mixture. Clifford was there and a Dr. Gould.

And then he said, "Lowell threatens to be another of the old men—he is about my age."

My letters from Bucke and J.W.W. only outlines.

I won't attempt to convey my impressions of the Falls.

My heart goes out to you more than ever now that I have seen you.

For one thing you remind me so much of my dear mother.

Davis & Warry, & feel that they are more my friends than ever.

When I exhibited my prize he exclaimed: "Handsome!

My blood, your blood, went to the making of this book!

"My main thought?

My last, my final, my conclusive, message (conclusive for me) is in A Backward Glance: the steel of its

It's a chapter in my personal history that must not be lost sight of.

As he saw my big bundle he asked: "What have you got there—what is all that?"

W. acquiesced in my disposition of the various business matters.

"I, for my part, am satisfied—fully satisfied: would let it go at that.

A thousand thanks my dear Walt Whitman for all you have written.

"It would take a good deal." said W., "to persuade me from my conviction—my old conviction, born at the

And turning to the pictorial cover—"This is my design—I conceived it—it has a good familiar look, after

As it is now he is in my power: I could clap down on him in an hour—stop him outright.

My personal feeling is strong against a precipitate step, as this would be.Ed says W. woke up in just

HIS FAREWELL ENGAGEMENT "I will then gather all my work of the last three years in verse and make my

I publish my own books and have done so ever since my first little volume entitled, 'Leaves of Grass'

Give my love to Mr. Morris.

—finally making contract in my name, Morris witnessing.

I do not wish to appear, but my friends, who know my ways, will readily see who it is from."

s addresses, he remarking, "My friends always used to do that—do it still.

You remember my friend in Washington with his stacks of trunks—the Adam Express man?

McKay had called my attention to what was a defect in copyright page—W.'

so long acknowledged his extraordinary genius it's not likely I'd take a turnabout at this late day: my

It is illustrated in my friend Mr.

made some personal reference to Smith as "a good fellow: hospitable, kind: level-headed, too—truly my

He said: "Whittier cannot be considered my enemy: he is friendly: not an early comer—among those who

Cartloads of 'em—cartloads—when I was younger: indeed, that was a most important formative element in my

I was on my way to the opening meeting of the Unitarian Conference in Philadelphia.

It taught me my own definiteness of address—what my friends call my superfluity.

If my memory serves me, I went that day.

Harper's Bazaar, and W., at the name Harper's exclaimed—"That reminds me—did I tell you that I got my

I got my ticket for Philadelphia. Back to tea and to the dance.

W. responding, "Never mind, Frank—that's but a part of the evidence of my good will.

He replied: "No—I don't need to: I have been worried for several days: one of my near relations is in

Called my attention to four memorandums he had made up for McKay.

After this he broke through his mock reserve: "I answered them—I kept no copy of my answer.

mean—as Stedman did occupy: for Stedman is showing more and more consideration—has shifted his affection my

That is my arcanum!

I spoke in my usual strain of Salvini, and W. listened and questioned as if it were all new to him, evidently

I showed him a crayon of Morse my father had made for me.

No one else from my family but wife and Mrs.

He, too, is heard from definitely.After my first mail I received postal from Johnston dated yesterday

My dear Traubel:I expect to be over tomorrow, and to be at Green's by 4:30 P.M.

My own say will be a short one." Would he speak first?

He had said on my morning call: "I feel bad—had a bad night—did not sleep at all."

It is one of the strongest of my good-humored pictures.

Some of my pictures are strong but too severe—don't you think so?

I was looking fixedly at the portrait in my hand. He noticed it. "What's the matter?"

"On the whole, I'd rather not: if I do I won't have enough for my own purpose."

So I put my stuff together and came to Camden. That was in the first period of my paralysis.

I have friends, enough money, comfort—as good things as my age, my condition, will permit.

guard, my promise, yet past all possibility of demand.

I almost think if I had to ask fulfillment, the rock, now my saviour, my peace, would be my wreck, my

ruin, my night!

But you cannot know how these days of my waiting, this night-coming time of my life, are confident, happy

I do not mean by that that The Century is my ideal of a magazine: it is ideal of a kind: that's what

I had my own way of looking upon the transactions of that exciting period: I did not want to see them

appetite—to spoil my supper."

My brother George was much more excited at that time than I was: George, now up there at Burlington:

I was afraid of Ripley but Reid confirmed my impression that Greeley is or has been favorable, and he

Evidently recognized my step, for no sooner than had I opened the door but he exclaimed—"Ah!

Mead was satisfied wih my suggestion of the Gutekunst portrait. Wished also a picture of the house.

Probably saying this last from something he saw in my face.

You know, Horace, at times my brain simply will not stand that.

Law, Esq.,2020 Broadway, Camden, N.J.,My dear friend:Much obliged to you for the copy of your excellent

My Whitman epistle is really about the best I ever did, and I am only sorry it is written in a language

I feel however that if I cannot go to Phila. it will be one of the great calamities of my life and I

But had received slips, reprint of my third Post piece, from Johnston.

It was a holy peace—a quiet passing understanding—my memory meanwhile drowsily playing with all the events

Whether because he saw my protest—inarticulate—whether I looked objection (which I hardly intended to

I have met him several times, and that was my impression.

And that reminds me to say, Horace, that there's one break in my piece—at least, one mistake—or not even

One place there you remember I spoke of my return to Washington and reception by O'Connor and his noble

I should not have permitted it—should have put my foot down on that.

"That is wholly true: you give me my resolution back: I have something I want to say: I still expect

he is eminently present to me always here: no matter what happens, remains vitally with me, sharing my

"Ed, this is one of my friends—this is Horace Traubel." Ed scanned me.

I await it with interest.Please give my best regard to Mr.

W. said: "Tom—here is Ed Wilkins: Ed, this is my friend Tom Harned."

placed on the middle table, then opening his note-book, hunting up T.Tennyson's address—which he put on my

They even proposed a privilege from me that Moore should go among my friends and collect the money!

But I would get my copy.

And would get up, despite my protests, and go to the table. "It will do me good.

Also a letter from Mead, saying he will be glad to have my article and illustrations.

But for my own part I would put it in quite another way.

s demonstration of democratic art.Had forgotten about my Burroughs book today.

Asked about the weather: urged me to throw my coat off: altogether most cordial.

He added: "My first doubts are my last. I think the little woman (was it Lucy Larcom?)

Then I would re-examine my premises. Yet each attempt was fruitless."

Changed his cover design at McKay's and my suggestion.

I keep it among my records. Monday, November 26, 1888

Called my attention to a passage within—this: "The article in 'American' by H.S.

Non-committal as to W., who remarked: "I consider Thomas McKean, who has charge of the Ledger—as not only not my

I entered the room with the big envelopes under my arm.

And with my big envelopes along, too!"

I swung my hand across the big face of the envelope, "There is a chance for you to spread out a big Walt

And he questioned me frankly for the bases of my high estimate.

thinks of W.I like Stoddart's idea of a Whitman no. and hope he will carry it out—Would he care for my

He took my hand and went across the room toilsomely.

Which is good, after my trouble." "Time for what? Have you suggestions to make? I hope so."

Then he leaned forward to the bed, handing me from it a copy of my August Lippincott's and Bucke's "Whitman

"I am quite ready in my own work when I find a good thing I want to say said by another, to use him—quote

Other poets have written and written with unmistakable power, grandeur, but my mark has been a distinct

And emotionally, at least, he accepts me—accepts my book."

commenced to write a postal, asking who was responsible for it—for somehow I felt as if I owed him my

He will take my O'Connor picture, reproduce it there.

And, Horace, you must be my tale-bearer, to bring me an account of it all tomorrow.

My love to Brinton—give him my love—and tell him to come over."

He motioned me to a seat—questioned me about my day's work, etc.

W. said: "I am confident of it: but I always plant myself on my own plans in the end."

But my book has aroused his suspicions.

I said something in my note to Bucke to-daytoday about the possibility of W.'

Lanier was once my friend—once thought himself on my side: he shied off later—could n'tcouldn't stand

Bucke strengthen my faith in immortality."

"It is indeed," he said, "I know nothing that better satisfies my own feeling, conviction."

He seemed to like my opinions, judgment.

So a good part of my work was to spare him work—to go over the correspondence,—give him the juice, substance

You would want bits here and there in outline of my aims, purposes, whatever?"

the plan he has outlined is a good one, though what you tell me of the picture he will use excites my

It was one of my peculiar experiences." Had been working on some poems today.

"Up to my usual standard, which isn't high at all."

"My impression is, yes, but I don't really —.

"They are my angels, to deliver me out of these walls!"

It always excites my respect—always stirs me!"

In my father's case I'm afraid they'll find a little difficulty in identifying the body."

Was aroused at my entrance. "Oh! it 'sit's Horace!" How had he been to-daytoday?

is my audience literary, artistic, scientific—to be pleased as such?

I pointed my finger that way. He looked around.

Karl Knortz and his judgment on my translation, which letter I asked him to forward to you.

Take my love to all the boys: the typos: tell them Walt Whitman not only was but is one of them.