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During these years, when they were apart, Whitman wrote Harry intimate letters: "Dear Harry, not a day

There later were troubles with Duckett, but Whitman recalled in 1889 that "he was often with me: we went

to Gloucester together: one trip was to New York: . . . then to Sea Isle City once: I stayed there at

the hotel two or three days—so on: we were quite thick then: thick: when I had money it was as freely

There later were troubles with Duckett, but Whitman recalled in 1889 that "he was often with me: we went

to Gloucester together: one trip was to New York: . . . then to Sea Isle City once: I stayed there at

the hotel two or three days—so on: we were quite thick then: thick: when I had money it was as freely

But the great American poem when it comes will certainly not be written with deliberate intent.

already begun to wear the grizzled beard and silvering locks that have become almost the badge of American

been a confirmed invalid, he has assumed more entirely the grayness that was ascribed to him, and were

It was in April, 1860, when I had been seized at night by the Untied States marshal, under an unlawful

Whitman, who is inspector of gas-pipes in the city of Camden.

Thoreau was also a writer for the Democratic Review in those days before the flood,—so were Hawthorne

And the good women—God bless them—who were the first at the sepulchre and the last at the cross—how kind

his oral opinion that I might drink some light wine once a day till the returns in South Carolina were

host of English friends whose words of praise, warm and earnest, have kindled up the great poet's American

admirers, till Longfellow himself begins to appreciate the poet of American manhood, whose large utterances

cities,nd fittohave for his background and accessories their streaming- populations and ample and richfacades

Therefore he speaks plainly about which hitherto were many things tacitly in or were touched upon by

It were well to closeupon thisnote.

What are our cities?

" Do you term that perpetual, pistareen, paste-pot work " American art, American drama, taste, verse

to keep that mark fresh and deepening for seven-and-twenty years, is no little achievement for an American

"Were it the will of heaven an osier bough Were vessel strong enough the seas to plow."

The clear recognition and pathetic portrayal of the home affection in the Americans, not less than their

The book deserves study even as a metrical anomaly, were it not entitled to consideration upon much higher

On the floor at his feet was a "paper file," containing a small sheet on which some memoranda were written

, and on a larger table, in the centre of the room, were several letters bearing English postage stamps

You think it a mere accident that all hearts were touched by one man's words, and that all generations

Should we be really more wicked if the sun were not a Puritan and dared to look on the world through

not quite suited for the expression of American democracy and American manhood.

The man, the American man, the laborer, boatman, and mechanic.

The great painters were as willing to paint a blacksmith as a lord.

How monotonous it would become—how tired the ears would get of it—if it were regular.

(Query—Why only American?) Bryant he likes.

indelibly fix it and publish it, not for a model but an illustration, for the present and future of American

letters and American young men, for the south the same as the north, and for the Pacific and Mississippi

Of pure American breed, of reckless health, his body perfect, free from taint from top to toe, free forever

cruise with fishers in a fishing smack—or with a band of laughers and roughs in the streets of the city

Apollo Summer Garden," which Whitman wrote about in a New York Leader column of 19 April 1862 entitled City

images 84 and 86) contain notes that constitute a draft of a portion of the seventh installment of the City

Surfaces 67 and 69 (images 66 and 68) are early drafts of The City Dead-House, a poem that first appeared

Such approaches to American literature were necessary to offset the earlier perception ofthe nation's

I wish it were not so.

And these names were not said; they were sung in a surge of enthusiasm and adoration.

Americanism.

Many important American poets were completely unknown in Slovenia, but this was not the case with Whitman

New York City Chapter 4. Boston, 1860 Chapter 5. Washington, D.C. Chapter 6.

and of these the Irish formed about 45 percent; of the city's total population, 30 percent were Irish

Few realize the Irish were in America before the American Revolution and that many were involved in the

In New York City conditions were no better.

So many of them remained in the city that in 1860 New York was the most Irish city in the United States

Both Knickerbocker and Young American circles were composed of gentle- men and thus closed to Whitman

McWilliams, Jr., The American Epic: Transforming a Genre, 1770–1860, 223, 225. 12.

Even fifty-cent paperback editions of American authors were “out of reach to most working-class readers

City and the Rise of the American Working Class, 1788–1850, 53–60; Elliott J.

Stansell, City of Women, 91. See also Reynolds, Beneath the American Renaissance, 463. 16.

oceans and inland seas, over the continents of the world, over mountains, forests, rivers, plains, and cities

Consequently, Walt Whitman, who presents himself as the Poet of the American Republic in the Present

Meantime we submit, as appropriate in this connection, the following critical remarks from the North American

taste and skill in book-making, that has ever been afforded to the public by either an English or an American

Year 85 of the States (1860—61). Walt Whitman

politics, art or literature, we present here a finely-executed portrait of W ALT W HITMAN , the new American

publication of a superb edition of whose poems "Leaves of Grass" is bringing him permanently before the American

day and generation. was born in Brooklyn, Long Island, May 31, 1818, and is yet a resident of the "City

I rubbed my eyes a little to see if this sunbeam were no illusion; but the solid sense of the book is

In 1856 he issued another and somewhat enlarged edition, which were speedily disposed of.

WALT WHITMAN as distinctively and transcendently the representative Poe of America-as holding to American

: Where the city stands with the brawniest breed of orators and bards; Where the city stands that is

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

the grand city stands.

The thought of the comradeship of Americans is never absent from the poet's pages.

Pericles (c. 495-429 BC) advanced both Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire, ushering in the city's

He believes hugely in himself, and in the part he is destined to take in American affairs.

He appears, moreover, at intervals, to have wandered over the North American continent, to have worked

his way from city to city, and to have consorted liberally with the draff of men on bold and equal conditions

All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own, Else it were time lost listening to me.

All the stuff which offended American virtue is to be found here.

Not a little ludicrous eulogy of this sort has been poured of late upon the American poet whose name

The brag, and bluster, and self-assertion of the man are American only; the fulsome 'cracking-up' of

pavements; Dweller in Mannahatta ‡ , city of ships, my city— or on southern savannas; Or a soldier camped

probably had in his pockets while we were talking.

that men and women were flexible, real, alive! that everything was alive!

[From the Philadelphia City Item] WALT WHITMAN. BY HENRY P. LELAND.

Those old-world conquerors, the Romans, carried just such tools, and Americans of all nations now extant

raftsmen, and farmers and red-cheeked matrons, and omnibus-drivers and mechanics; and for all true Americans

Malaga, Spain, was once a major Moorish city and port, famed for its figs and wine.

In 1487 the city fell to Isabella and Ferdinand, the Christian conquerors.

Malaga, Spain, was once a major Moorish city and port, famed for its figs and wine.

In 1487 the city fell to Isabella and Ferdinand, the Christian conquerors.; Quevredo is a misspelling

some poems of Whitman's in which he seems to yearn towards the East from a westward outlook, as if he were

He dreams a dream of "a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth," which

To a small job printing-office in that city belongs the honour, if such, of bringing it to light.

A demand arose, and before many months, all the copies of the thin quarto were sold.

If he will but learn to tame a little, America will at last have a genuine American poet.

instances, to shock many people, and contains specimens of every thing that is characteristic in the American

speaking, an abhorrence; but in this case several chance expressions which Walt Whitman permitted himself were

so very rude that his poems, as a whole, were deprived of that fair judgment which by rights belongs

Bucke informs us, were given away, most of them were lost, abandoned, or destroyed. ∗ According to Mr

'On the whole, it sounds to me,' were his words, 'very brave and American, after whatever deductions.

First we may notice that in spirit he is intensely American.

There is little in them that is distinctively American.

Were it not that we have Mr.

communist and utopian communities in the United States, including La Reunion in Texas and North American

His poems may be said to be essentially filled with an American spirit, to breathe the American air,

and to assert the fullest American freedom.

American books was known to be as profound as that of Sydney Smith —had discovered an American poet.

cities, and fit to have for his background and accessories their streaming populations and ample and

He famously remaked, "In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book, or goes to an American

He famously remaked, "In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book, or goes to an American

play, or looks at an American picture or statue?"

publication in the Liberator , please see Ezra Greenspan's article, "An Undocumented Review of the 1860

publication in the Liberator, please see Ezra Greenspan's article, "An Undocumented Review of the 1860

Whitman says that "the volumes were intended to be most decided, serious, bona fide expressions of an

If the critic or the laborious reader were to devote himself to this "poem," what would he find in it

Cicero, Virgil, and Horace were not trammeled by the polished completeness of Latin.

In all his labor there were system, consecutiveness, and art; otherwise, he would have failed.

Whitman desires an original American literature, his plea is praiseworthy.

It is time, however, that an attempt were made to arrive at a sober estimate of his real value; and to

Nor does it mean that the merit of the author was quite unrecognized: on the contrary, by some who were

But the mass of his countrymen were not and are not strong enough to accept him; they have perhaps too

If we were asked for justification of the high estimate of this poet, which has been implied, if not

They themselves were fully at rest, they suffered not; The living remained and suffer'd.

STRANGELY impudent agitation has just been started with regard to what is called "Walt Whitman's Actual American

Whitman, it may be explained, is an American writer who some years back attracted attention by a volume

of so-called poems which were chiefly remarkable for their absurd extravagance and shameless obscenity

"The real truth," says an American journal, which has taken up the subject apparently in the interest

All the established American poets studiously ignore Whitman."

"Walt Whitman's Actual American Position" was an unsigned article published in the West Jersey Press

83, they were staunch patriotsor " rebels," and several of the name were soldiersunder Washington, two

Those were his exact words.

If,for instance,by " some vast, instantaneous convulsion, American civilization " were lost,where isthe

They are certainly filledwith an American spiritbreathe the American air,and assert the fullest American

Of those that were plaeed in the stores none were sokl.

shall listen to all sides, and filter them from your- self yourself . 3 I have heard what the talkers were

Trippers and askers surround me; People I meet—the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city

All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own; Else it were time lost listening to me.

; The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.)

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end, But I do not talk

All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own, Else it were time lost listening to me.

, The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.

If our colors were struck, and the fighting done?

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

attributed to him, invited me to accompany him on a little visit to Walt Whitman who was then in the city

Miller— We had a square you-tell-me-and-I'll-tell-you talk about American poets and we agree tremendously

[At this point tears were visible in the speaker's eyes]. Do you think he meant it all?

Upon another occasion we were talking about various studies to which a writer should devote himself.

No one in our limited galaxy of great poets has been more characteristically American than Walt Whitman

moderation, has been all the past month visiting, riding, receiving, and jaunting in and about the city

audience to the most cultured and elegant society of New York, including most of the artists of the city

been thrown open on two special occasions for informal public receptions in compliment to him, which were

Whitman has explored the city and neighborhood, often as near possible after the fashion of old times

spirits, believes thoroughly not only in the future world, but the present, and especially in our American

Had the present city directory of the town been in existence, I could have found it authoritatively stated

The decorations of the room were insignificant, with the exception of two portraits, one of his father

All writers, whether classic or modern, were in his phrase "fellows," —a word of which he was very fond

In the matter of the accuracy with which these productions were printed he was scrupulously exact.

Some of the parts of this manuscript were written on bits of brown straw paper, others on manilla paper

shall listen to all sides, and filter them from your- self your-self . 3 I have heard what the talkers were

Trippers and askers surround me; People I meet—the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city

All I mark as my own, you shall offset it with your own; Else it were time lost listening to me.

; The blocks and fallen architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.)

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?

have been olive-colored when put on in the silurian age, and the window sills, bordered with white, were

The furniture was of the plainest old-fashioned type; there were the old wooden rocking-chairs, with

Piles of papers and magazines were stacked in chairs, on the floors and stands.

"My opinion of other American poets?

Cleveland seems to me like a huge wall, great on his impediments, as it were.

T HERE is as yet nothing distinctive in American literature except its tendency.

discovered an American poet.

probably had in his pockets whilst we were talking.

These were all inarticulate poets, and he interpreted them.

soldiers who were in the hospitals.

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

What points are to be urged for the awakening of the higher intelligence of the Young American?

There is no part of the city so greatly in need of improvement, both sanitary and pecuniary, as that

of itself; but all the efforts than can be made are required to improve the central portion of the city

The U.S. government are but doing tardy justice to the city of Brooklyn, in filling up this “miasmatic

Both manuscript drafts were probably originally continuous with manuscript drafts on another leaf, from

Both manuscript drafts were probably originally continuous with manuscript drafts on another leaf, from

.; Both manuscript drafts were probably originally continuous with manuscript drafts on another leaf,

cellar l recess c tent f dungeon f pillory f kennel f citadel, a place of defence defense in or near a city

On the attempted Suppression of "an American, one of the Roughs, a Kosmos," and "Yawped over the roofs

An attempt to suppress an attorney were better, Who thinks the free flight of the soul to fetter.

Upon thy brow the light of genius shone: New paths in Poesy's mysterious meads Were trod by thee with

Thy fervid thoughts were born to sweetly bloom, And bring a solace to the human heart.

also later served as president of the New York Chamber of Commerce and as a Commissioner of New York City's

At a sale of Autographs, & Books a few days ago the following prices were obtained, "Autograph letter

, Whitman, Walt, Poet," $80.00 Leaves of Grass 1 st Edition 18.00 Which prices were the highest paid

Frederick Gutekunst (1831–1917) was a well-known ninteenth-century American photographer in Philadelphia