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I quoted my dentist who got off an old saw while he was working on one of my sensitive teeth: "Seeing

My dear Whitman: I find your book and cordial letter, on returning home from a lecturing tour in New

I have had the first edition of your Leaves of Grass among my books, since its first appearance, and

My first notion is one of disappointment.

It's not in my line at all.

keep, if not fairly, at least not markedly worse and I hope to find you "right side up with care" on my

But the main thing I want to talk about to you today is my visit yesterday to Lord Tennyson.

But after all I fear I can give you but a faint notion of the pleasure my visit was to me.

Give Horace my love and show him this letter, tell him to keep it.

oblivious to my presence.

W. had just finished his dinner, and talked well during the 20 minutes of my stay.

"Yes," he said to my inquiries, "I woke well this morning—pass along reasonably well.

Yes, the summer has been a severe one—but the profuse sweatingness, so to call it, has been in my case

For instance, where he says—the world is my country, to do good is my religion.

Called my attention to brief editorial in the Boston Herald.

Davis had gone and my exclamation: "How beautiful in their own element!"

honey—don't make enough of the other side of the critter—and there is another side, as all you—all my

To my demur, explaining: "I know that is the harsh view—that there is another.

I spoke of having read "Song of the Rolling Earth" aloud in my room—of the delight it gave me.

It is about here somewhere among my trash and would serve well for you to know.

My taste is alien—on other currents: I do not seem to belong in the Swinburne drift.

I find it difficult to account for my dear woman's taste.

It's a good sight for my old sore eyes: leaded, double-leaded.

Dowden sent it to me himself: I have always kept it near my chair—I wanted it handy.

On another occasion he said of it: "Sylvester is on several sides my friend—my friend, I think, for general

49 Comeragh RoadWest Kensington, London W.16 Aug. '91Yesterday came to my hands your card of 2d inst.

My visit here has been a great success—I have been well received and treated on all hands, I shall feel

richer for it for the rest of my life.Keep good heart, dear Walt, till I get back—but in any case be

I shd. have acknowledged yr wedding card & offered my congratulations, wh.

"Yes, my own, too. But we must take care, not to offend against him.

Gave me a letter for Kennedy to mail on my way home.

Traubel:Pardon my long delay. How the time flies!

For if there's anything I pride myself on, it's my toleration, hospitality.

My feelings never hard, though frank and clear, I hope, at all times.

That has always been my impression." He referred to the Holmes' Atlantic Monthly piece.

"My today's mail has been chiefly an autograph mail.

Not a day but the autograph hunter is on my trail—chases me, dogs me!

I settle myself in my chair, get the glasses on my nose, and lo! every note is for an autograph.

Amer—about April 10, I shall return here again and my address will be—— I am writing this at my desk—as

My mind advises me that I must suspend operations for to-nighttonight.

I took it in my hands.

he asked,and on my acquiescence—"So me, too. I think it one of the best—the very best.

he explained—Flynn came in the other evening and took it away in his arms.As we sat there talking, my

Adding: "My use of the word has been contested.

Yet I am sure of my correctness.

Bucke had also written: "I have been thinking over the Riddle Song and have made up my mind that the

"Horace, I made the puzzle: it's not my business to solve it.

But I wanted something down there and thought I would start off on my own hook and get it.

There's something peculiar in my notion about this book.

Give the new mother my love: tell her I glorify her in my thanksgivings—that Walt Whitman glorifies her

Left article with Bonsall on my way to Philadelphia.

He explained, "It is my intention to have them all bound up—to have them brought here.

For one thing, it is too trifling; for another, it is against my habit, my confirmed determinations.

, only of such as came into my mind at the moment.

They must go as they came—my hand, word, knowing nothing of birth or death.

. & I will bring out my book on you sometime, perhaps sooner than we any of us know.

I wrote from London Canada to Frederick Wilson peremptorily ordering him to return my ms to me.Do write

W. then: "That is striking—it is what I am trying to say—why Kennedy's book fails to excite my enthusiasms

Expressed gladness, asked after him: "Give him my love.

—"Not a bit—on the contrary, the closer contact enlarges my appreciation.

or two, I have wished for about a page—will no doubt have something to say myself—but cannot make up my

I always keep to my own method—to write as moved to write, and what: and what depends upon the moment

Remarked, "How much the drop-light does for my eyes!" It was "an eye-saver, sure enough."

W. counsels me, "Give all of my friends there best remembrances, and give Brinton my special affection

Laughed at my "lynx-eyes," etc.

For my part I didn't think either Parnell or Gladstone in themselves important—that they stood for anything

"My copy of the Critic did not come this week. Was there anything in it I should see?"

I then promised to bring him my copy.

Immediately on my entrance, almost, he spoke of a volume he took up in his hands—Roden Noel's "Essays

W. much enjoyed my story, exclaiming: "That's John Bull—that's the bull of him—supercilious, disdainful—thinks

—and as a general thing they go right: though it goes against my grain to send off a letter or what not

Rossetti.No. 4Washington, Dec. 3, 1867 My dear Mr.

of the full volume of my poems.

I cannot and will not consent, of my own volition, to countenance and expurgated edition of my pieces

My Prefatory Notice explains my principle of selection to exactly the same effect as given in this present

I had previously given it a title of my own, Nocturne for the Death of Lincoln; and in my Prefatory Notice

At my suggestion that Longaker should have been over, he declared, "We do not need him.

But it observed my warning: "Don't become alarmist." And so did Ledger.

Saying, too, "My mind is too active: I wish it would rest. It is as active as 40 years ago."

Wished my own article in about ten days, if possible.

the darkey says—all the day up to this afternoon, when Mary made and brought me a cup of hot tea—at my

"If it is not, it is my fault—there is plenty of wood here and I have all the time there is.

He had received my Engineering Record.

I wrote on the blank side and mailed the letter out to my niece, Jessie—at St. Louis."

I have never yet fully made up my mind whether I should most like to have that fine balance of critical

"I had my swear out about it: I hope there was no risk run: so far I feel all the better for it—have

[This was money in my possession belonging to Walt. J. B. 1912.]What a blank there in New England!

I sent you my last report.Faithfull,W. D. O'Connor.—Emerson gone! The world grows darker.W. D.

tissue which I do not seem to get in my own established environment.'

Considerable talk followed my return to him of Bucke's letter spoken of yesterday. "Oh!"

"Warrie, give me my handkerchief. It is back here." Much coughing."This is Christmas morning.""Oh!

I found by drinking coffee or tea or even milk punch it stirred up my brain, so I stopped.

It's my fault altogether."3:40 P.M. Burroughs went up and into the room.

McAlister says at this hour, "I still adhere to my opinion. The rally is only temporary." 7:50 P.M.

He saw me flitting about with my black dress on and said to me, 'O Mary!

He tells an anecdote of my brother which is thought characteristic."

But for my own part I want it clearly understood that I do not in the least share such a notion: not

He knew my step—and of course knew my voice. "Shall I strike a light?"

I turned the letter over in my mind a good deal today, and this evening, as I ate my dinner, the light

I spoke of my preference, rather for the independent instinct of the Irish woman.

W. then: "Yes—so do I: I abate nothing of my democratic sympathies.

"He is one of my prime favorites—the earliest of all."

I reminded him of my original favor.

"Is my time at last here? Alas!" Was he curious to see the book?

I had and yet have a sort of idea that my books (I am getting ready, or about have ready, my completed

But my means, meagre at best, have gone, for my expenses since, and now, while not hitherto actually

bodily ills would seem to leave me—then I'dI would feel almost like my complete self again: what my

My Burns is not of particular value. As I have said, it is not an old copy.

Amusedly said, "I tried to make my daughters see it the other night—read it to them—but no, they would

mechanic and with Star & Sons, although a western man.Now, at Chicago, I have just bought "Good-Bye My

Friday, December 5, 1890Left Philadelphia in 5 P.M. train—no baggage but my umbrella, a comb, a toothbrush

No one up there but girl who directed me to my room. Did not see Johnston at once.

But by and by, as I sat in the room reading, he appeared in undress at the door between my room and another—coming

Stopped upon my entrance. Talked freely at once. "What news do you bring?"

Then he questioned me about my "day's doings."

He was on to my point. "Well—he was warmer then than he was later on."

I slept in my boat or under it all the time.

Well—Brinton ought to know: with John and with him on my side I am well defended.

—that I invited him here, that he was my guest!—the young scamp that he is!

You know, my friends tell me I am very slow to get mad: very slow: I rarely get mad but when I do I'm

"But Mary respected the death-wish: the situation grew worse and worse: I had my carriage then: Bill

I suppose it comes from my being much run down.I am glad you liked the photo.

I have no doubt her article is good, and when I have read it, I mean to write her my thanks.

Good of you to attend to the complete vol. for my friend Muirhead—wh.

And he added, "Paine was one of my first loves and is one of my last, and he will yet achieve a high

Described my day's letter to Symonds. "I like it well—I like it all."

It was a good answer—would have been my own." A few more words, then farewell.

After I had left he called Warrie, "My grog, boy."

you into one of Whistler's nocturnes," etc. and he laughed, "Well, I was going to quote a saying of my

To my inquiries saying, "I did not know him personally—that is, to speak to him, but I have seen him.

I am ever to say has been said in the old channels—in 'Specimen Days'—in 'November Boughs'—and yet my

"From my very first days up I have brushed myself—had a flesh brush: it has been a source of refreshment—not

I like your idea much better—much: it more exactly reflects me, my mission."

The sky, the river, the sun—they are my curatives."

And it was to my surprise, too, he replied that there was—and when I asked its name, he gave me, Puget

He laughed over my phrase "prosaically poised."

"That is my sufficient reward.

"That is so: I was just in my beginnings then—just coming out."

I owned up to my suspicions of Carnegie.

"The Bible: my black book—the English Bible." We found it.

My mail brought me intelligence from Burroughs of the "publisherial" fate of his late writing on W.:

My love to Walt.

"Good night," I said, "Good night," and he pressed my hand and replied with his own "Good night!

My many exuberant letters of forenoon already knocked off their feet.

It is hardly fair to use these strong words but there are no others to express my meaning.

W. said, "I am looking forward to my friends—to have them read all these pieces: there's a new flavor

These two months I am up and as strong as ever.I am now quite used to my new situation, and my opinion

In this way I secured my "bread and butter" and, now, can set to my intellectual task; I can read, write

The question comes up in my mind whether they have the Ingersoll pamphlets yet—any of them."

It will be my last—my last! I haven't the least doubt of it now."

"He took a few sketches here—I thought them wonderful meagre at the time—to my mind they seemed to come

flower from the bunch which was in a mug on the table and saying—"Take this to Aggie—give the dear girl my

I remember my call this day a year ago. He gave me a copy of Passage to India. A year hence!

Give my love to W.W.

Some of my friends want your books and are forwarding the money through me.

I have been showing the photographs you gave me to my sister Dora—whose likeness you have.

preparations for my winter course of lectures.

You have more chapters than me to write still: my last chapter is done."

I expressed my own protest, but he insisted, "Have it your own way, anyhow!"

And to my reply, "We have heard nothing for six weeks," he exclaimed, "You must write her up—find out

Then my good-bye!

The more sure I am in my faith the less I feel such antagonism—as my faith grows, my irritability wanes

When I tell W. of the value I think belongs with "Good-Bye My Fancy"—that it has music and power—he says

My new writing on Walt takes quite a different turn from the old.

I have my material all out, & I have now to sort out & reject & put it together.

My deepest love to the dear old man. I keep well, but need a change.

My evening's talk with W.

W. said to my description, "How glorious! I can feel it all.

s on my way home—spent a good half an hour.

W. went on: "I have written my wish on the top of the leaf—they will understand.

I put in: "Listen to my guess: I guess the book will come from 60 to 75 pages." He smiled.

"I shouldn't wonder—that is exactly my guess."

"I laid it out for you yesterday, but it slipped my mind when you were here."

He started up instantly on my quiet entrance. "Oh!"

You have touched a chord that always induces my sympathy."

I looked at my watch. He asked: "Haven't you time?"

over the manuscript to my colleague.

I wanted to send Minden my translation of Starting from Paumanok, with my preface to the work and Freiligrath's

Give them all my love—all my love!" And almost as J. held his hand feebly dropped into a doze.

My love to the wife, to all the children—bless 'em all—bless—bless!"

"Well then you have the substance of my changes."

In my left hand the candle. Warrie leaned over and lifted W. into a sitting posture.

Give them all my love—Annie, Tom, Herbert. O the children—the children!"

Even at the last, when an answer was given to my question, it was still so indefinite I could not make

it out—do not know to this day if my 8 dollars were actually received.

I have often struggled to say that, in my own way, but a less way." Friday, January 10, 1890

What had been my feeling?

He probably got hold of my piece—knew I had been present at the concert: my habits, enjoyment: inserted

My book is my best letter, my response, my truest explanation of all.

In it I have put my body and spirit.

I wrote to Stedman for W. to-daytoday: sent the message out of my sheet of notes.

s and in to see him—no preliminaries—he knowing my step and greeting me, "Welcome, Horace—and love!

They are my greatest dread: they tear me up by the roots." Asked, "How is Whittier?"

W. turned his face half my way, put his right hand up to his ear and listened, eyes open.

When you write him, Horace, do not forget my word—love, only love—it is all I can send now."

Stopped in on my way to Unitarian Church, where Law was to lecture on Alexander Wilson.

Wrote my name on its face. "This may have an especial value—on several accounts.

English rescuers in the dark years of my Camden sojourn.

No one, not my best friends—know what it means to me.

"I think I can lay my hand on it. Why, do you want it?

of the poem—"This print strikes me with envy—I never see anything so good but I am persuaded out of my

Asked me about my father's portrait, whose now complete state I described to him.

It came into my mind I had not written to him for a fortnight, so today I sent off a short message, but

a more rapt auditor and that I weighed every word—with this advantage: that I was here, read it at my

Not up during my stay.

W. on bed this evening during my whole stay.

my printer's in N.

Y., & which I can send you an order for,) you now have all my books in the market.

The title page is very handsome, and the Lucretian motto delights my soul.