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W. in his room writing what I found to be some more notes for my use in magazine article.He returned

The book startles me into my old fear that someday perhaps the whole country will groan to Emersonism

He told me he could not understand my extreme admiration for Walt Whitman.

But my shock was with Mrs. Costelloe.

It carries out my, our, idea, as we formed it from your letter.

O my! They are as hearty as any set I was ever led into!

And you, Bucke, did you get all my letters?"

He put Carlylean fire into my mouth—made me saturnine: said things for me I didn't say for myself.

I know I am different: there is no smell of preparation about my conversation: I would disdain that.

I called Billy and said: 'I'm nearly tired to death: take me somewhere—anywhere: take me to my room.'

He was born and raised in my town, and is well known as a literary man, and to me and to the citizens

"No—the alternative is enough to make me shudder: I'll have to go unsworn until something worthy of my

How many's the argument I had on this very point with my friend Mrs.

I could never do that—my whole make-up is opposed.

seventy-first year—to review my habits.

W. then added with a laugh: "That is a part of my quarrel with Horace here about Emerson.

Davis—"My friend"—he called her—and to Ed also, in a similar phrase.

It appears to me, or was my impression, that he belongs or belonged to New England, was a Bostonese."

But he added to this after a pause, "Although my copy would not satisfy the dilettante writer or reader

In fact, all my study is to put and keep the printer on his feet.

I am not decided yet whether to include this in my 'Annex.'

And I intended writing Tom a little note about it—to give him my thanks."

But say, also, that my friends hardly understand—some of them—the real severity of my bladder trouble

I have had to revise several of my notions about photos.

But, Horace, the picture attracts me—puts blood into my old corpus!"

And oysters are my dish. Think of them—their best specimens!

yesterday—"but only a very little—a shade better: though, as you understand, a little is a great deal in my

Linton once used his portrait in a book he prepared for Bohn—asked my permission, which I granted.

The minutes to a man in my straits are golden.

I seem to have only one thing in mind—only one: the book, the book, only the book—and you, who are my

"Yes I did: I never gave my assent to any abbreviated editions which I didn't live to regret.

He sat eating and talking during nearly the whole time of my stay.

my preference.

But neither do some of my friends understand my love for the prairies—my statement, insistence, that

But I understand why I make my claim—I know—I see its justification—its necessity.

Fixed up my Gutekunst picture for me as I waited.

enjoying the prospect, I think, and all that comes in its train.Spoke about questioners: "They are my

W. in trying to remember something to tell me, suddenly exclaimed, "My memory is very bad and becoming

He admitted, "Yes, they may be true, but my memory is bad, always has been bad.

Adding, "My memory is more a memory of impressions than of facts.

was the guild feeling—the newspaper guild there, especially the young fellows, were always loyally my

That would nowhere touch my purpose—the impulse by which I made the statement."

Nothing that I can read seems to change my opinion of Carlyle.

The morning after my return some wretch poisoned my dog and the loss has quite upset me.

Alcott praised my Emerson piece, but Sanborn appeared not to know anything about my writings.

I did not feel like calling on him of my own motive. Alcott said he was well.

He evidently wanted to pitch into my Eagle, but was afraid of the claws.

Said to me very quickly after my coming: "I have had visitors today—several.

And to my doubting—"It was the man Arnold, from England—Edward Arnold, author of 'Light of Asia'—you

Called my attention (though it was not needed, the room so fragrant) to a cluster of woodbine on the

the following, which Morris gave me as "the only part" of his letter from Sarrazin not contained in my

I don't know what it indicates—but my spirit is getting into rebellion.

Repeated to W. the purport of my discussion with McKay.

W. instantly said, "No, my disposition is immediately to say no, to negative him.

I have waited long and long and long to pronounce my determination.

O'Connor has called my attention to this: Washington, November 24, 1868. My dear Mr.

There's a doubt in my mind! Indeed I had forgot the book—it is not sent.

I find that I am large—that all my meannesses and doubts have dropped off." "Oh! that is noble! Oh!

And several times he declared, "You have opened my eyes to the best future I can see for the 'Leaves.

Indeed, I think my own Lincolnism was a good deal the result of William's pressure—Gurowski's.

That has been my own experience.

Still, I know my own condition—don't need him to tell me about that—can't be fooled."

He still insisted: "I know my condition better than any doctor."

I fell to-nighttonight—had a cup of water in my hand."

He is as dear to me as my old clothes!"

W. waited for my reply. I said some things.

Dear as the principle of free trade is to me—near as it is to my heart—fully as I am convinced that in

And when I said: "Walt Whitman at 70" was one of my suggestions of a title, he said: "Yes, that is very

I asked if he wished a set of sheets of my own little book. "Oh yes! and then I can write Dr.

"I have told you I knew Stedman at Washington—he had my position before me.

When the Secretary of the Interior cut my head off—I went over to the Attorney General's office—took

"I put my name in all," he explained, "yet in one or two it already appears several times.

I left with him a copy of New Ideal containing my paper on Parker and Johnson.

"It does my eyes good—is handsome." Had laid out American for me.

"You know—I pride myself on my inclusiveness—that I embrace everybody—and that must stand."

My friendships are my own—for Ingersoll or another.

W. said, "Chances are against my going," but I was "to order" if I thought best, and Wallace could go

W. laughed with great heartiness, rolling his head round on the pillow my way, "That's so—Whitman don't

W. had said, "Give them all my love there—the baby and all. Yes, my dearest love.

My main impulse was to authoritatively clap it down forever that this was my love for William and by

But to my impression that Burroughs seemed to shrink from both Ingersoll's and O'Connor's "violence"

This suggested my remark: "Garland asked that you send an autograph copy to Howells."

I wrote down what came into my head at the time—what then seemed required."

"No—I had my doubts the other night but they were only momentary doubts.

My surprise is, how they can receive me?

Your book, always to be handed down and transferred by my clan, reached me on my fifty-fifth birthday

To my remark, "I do not think Hawthorne could take Lincoln's measure," W. assented: "No indeed—it is

All my boyhood dreams seemed to rise in reproach to the fact.

The water "falling like a veil before my (his) face," etc.I wrote W. in early morning, but no time or

The Emerson letters were brought out (I had them in my pocket) and read aloud—Frank Williams the 1855

On my way to Camden we debated whether to go to W.'s at all.

I am here with most of my duds off—have been taking a wash, bath. Now must take care myself."

Then suddenly looking over my way (I was hid by the round table, piled full, that was between us, and

I would like to look at it at my leisure and long." After which our good-byes.

s on my way home—5:45—but found he had just closed his blinds and meant to lie down.

"It is one of my resources." Harned had been in last night.

letters from the fellows there—from Johnston, Wallace—are mainly made up of thankfulness to me, to my

I felt to say to them, Diogenean-like, "All I ask is, that you keep out of my light."

It is my own feeling exactly.

The Brown habitues were more to my taste.

he came to Brown's studio though not in my time.

If my friends would understand me— if the group of my friends wished to recognize the salient meanings—if

My own choice would have been hard to tell—I embrace, include, all.

my proof-desk.

"The past 3 or 4 days," he said, "have not been my worst, I have not been in my worst condition: so that

Three or four days will tell the tale—I shall soon know my man.

He will have to learn the ways—my ways, the ways of the place, people. We'll see, we'll see!"

"Happily, I am spending one of my good periods now—until the man, any man—he or any other—gets into the

work was to meet (the three of us) at Green's and arrange for finishing details, Baker leaving all in my

And before it passes out of my mind, Horace, let me ask you: Wallace says you report Pete Doyle in Baltimore

I want to have it done, for my own purposes. And if you will inquire, why, do so!

Curiously—at tea—Wallace said, "I read some of my notes to Mrs.

Johnston had advised Warrie to do this thing (not of course knowing of my labor).

Wallace seemed rather aghast by the extent of my accumulations.

My ground is a peculiar one: I know nothing on the other side of the question—the side of statistics,

I build up my conviction mainly on the idea of solidarity, democracy—on the dream of an America standing

I have kept quiet through practically my whole career—almost utter silence—and have never had occasion

and then upon my saying "yes": "Well—give him my love: tell him I know as little about that Herald author

I set up some of it myself: some call it my hand-work: it was not strictly that—there were about one

these will ease my days here!"

group rose to leave, and W. said: "Hearing the little girl had come to see me, I put this big apple in my

"I suppose I'll see some of the posters in my wanderings," he said.

I received following letter from Baker today:New York, Oct. 9, 1890 My dear Traubel:Enclosed find proof

And to save further signs of dissent W. objected: "No—that is not my view: I do not think that is settled

"It is my opinion that there will be a reaction: we will see"—here he paused: "It will be seen before

This is bound to come: I rest my faith in the final good sense of the nation.

Finally at my suggestion it was understood that I should take it with me in the morning.

He at once replied: "Yes: my reasons against it might be stated that way."

W. in his room, reading Scott—laying the volume face down, on my entrance.

I think Edward Emerson is constitutionally my enemy.

And to my yes, "What?"

And to my explanation what, "Let me predict, then, that it will be of no avail.

But then," he added—"for my sake too—for all our sakes!" Friday, November 8, 1889

I must keep on my course, whatever turns up."

My dear Traubel:Your kind & welcome letter rec'd.

I am excessively busy—hence my scratches and scrawlses—and also my briefness.Heartily yoursBaker."

pointing to some papers that protruded from my pocket.

way, but because it is my way."

I was on my way to Unity Church to hear Wande speak about King Lear.

"You know I never read my own poems." "Or recite?" "I don't recite because I don't know them.

And after a pause, I saying nothing between, "You are well enough aware that I don't sing my own songs

With my help went over to his chair, turning up the light, sitting down heavily: legs of little value

The War was on, I was strong in my strength—superb of body—I had much to give: there were thousands,

conviction against it, my contempt for it, grows stronger and stronger."

"I have been singularly fortunate in my doctors," he said: "I often think of Dr.

I spoke of my going to Germantown to hear Brinton lecture. W. inquired: "What will he speak about?"

He had noticed the snarling of the dog on my entrance down stairs, and remarked: "There are good dogs

I suppose it is in the line of my piece on Hicks?"

Bring him over, of course only for my usual few minutes—but I will be glad to see him."

He spoke of Parnell, but I in fact take so little interest it all went by my ear.

After a bit he rose, sat on the edge of the bed, his back my way.

Asked me, "I'll get you, if you will, Horace, to untie this handkerchief about my neck.

Then after I had re-taken my seat he called me up again. "One good turn deserves another.

Bucke's letter of 23rd answered my question: how had W. recently been writing him (in what spirit and

Give her my love—best wishes to you—wish I could spend a couple of weeks in your neighborhood.So long

My experience is a peculiar one: something like this"—working his hand circularly—"it is as if things

Had not suffered any from the fall in temperature.We talked of my work—of my bookkeeping: how at times

He had been "put in charge of the Attorney General's letters: cases were put into my hands—small cases

to them all so passed some of them over to me to examine, report upon, sum up: which I did mainly by my

I had a copy of Harper's Bazar in my pocket.

His own speech is to me just the thing—his voice just the right pitch for my ears."

W. said now, upon my questioning if there could have been the least idea there of resenting the aid of

I said my explanation of it as only of general meaning—having rather to do with the abstract view of

No one can know it as I know it—not my nearest friends of the old days—not even William O'Connor, not

Kendal interview, over which, as Harned puts it: "Walt came up to my house and drank with me a glass

I sit in my room here—my den, my little corner—and wonder—wonder." I asked after his health.

the first two pages to me as a series: they have done it for Tennyson, for Swinburne, for others to my

"His 89 years are a marvel to me—excite my wonder.

Harned had said to me, "They shan't collect that money except over my body."

I gave my check for $1500 to Tom just now.

And to my, "Well, and Clifford likes it!" W. exclaimed, "That's best news!

I put in, "If there is no law why should I not rob my brother's house?"

With their admission of the fraud, I had them right in my fist and I made 'em squirm.

Yet said in reply to my question: "I can say I am here—little else, nothing else."

Gets great pleasure out of my recital of average experiences—particularly street incidents: likes me

He asked me about my reading.

I can't see that it leads to anything worth while: but I 'mI'm not responsible for it: I wash my hands

I drifted into fuller details of my talk with Brinton.

He passed slowly over to the chair, leaning the one side on the cane, the other on my arm.

"My father was always a Democrat—a Democrat of the old school." "Was he anti-slavery?"

He went on to say, however, anent my remark that nearly all Quakers were opposed to slavery: "My father

"They make quite a bulk: I gave them to my own people—my dear friends: some of them close, O so close

My relations with the boys there in Washington had fatherly, motherly, brotherly intimations— touched

As to his mail (Warren had just been to the Post Office): "This whole week my mail has been small, and

Looking back over my own time—looking into the period starting with '61—'62—I have nothing to regret,

It is a vivid touch out of life—I see it as if physical phenomena, this moment before my eyes.

I demand that my whole emotional nature be powerfully stirred.

I never saw him—but in my early years, in Brooklyn, when I loafed a good part of my spare time on the

This with reference to my promise yesterday (my suggestion, too) to see Wilson Eyre—have him go to Camden

I informed W. of my idea to buy the 328 house, to preserve and guard.

Referred to it: "Yes—my piece appeared today—and today came the proof of the other piece, too—'Old Age's

It was indeed a striking piece of work, and on my remark that it was the best Century page for a long

The noble breadth of page seems to lend itself to my lines."

W. taking my repetition of this thus: "I feel it is true.

Clemens) for Walt Whitman.I write from my bed. Where's the book?SincerelyR. W.

My father had asked for the latter but I would not leave it with him, regardful of my promise to W.