Search Results

Advising me to take my summer trip to Canada and Dr.

At my entrance W. asked, "What news do you bring?"

fact is, although I had always had the kindliest thought of Boker, he was never a great element in my

'Well, my young smithkin, you don't believe that? you dissent from that?' 'Yes, I do.' 'Ah!

I have asked myself in the face of criticism of my own work: 'Should I reply—should I expose, denounce

But my final conviction has always been that there is no better reply than silence.

While I am working in my shop the very wood seems written all over with them.

He seems to be very genuine.I send you my last essay—on Ouida. Have you read her Tricotrin?

It goes against my heart to add anything to his unrest.

Said, "It may be with my head higher I will not have the hiccoughs so badly."

And by the side of my dead friend, I could only think how much greater was our actual isolation while

I send you a little box of confections by Adams exp. with my love.

I was just on my way home from work.

Referred to my father's big charcoal Whitman.

implied: I honor them: I know they are probably working in their own way to produce what I working in my

My general position is plain: the people: all the people: not forgetting the bad with the good: they

Ain't that my program?"

"He complains of the irregularity of my letters.

I am always statistically careful about the dates of my letters.

And as to the complaint made against my piece that it was too strong, "Well, why should we not be strong

I would like to add my own, but do not feel able this year.

Tell me also if you think Walts changes good to pull through the summer.I am very busy in my vineyards

, but hope to find time to get off a week or so in JulyIf Walt could come here & occupy part of my old

It is the old, old story: woe be to the man who believes in any doxy that is not mine—does not wear my

it comes close to my old walks, long, long ago—brings the whole thing back to me. Oh!

This picture more than any other to my judgment confirmed Millet—justified his position, heroism—assured

As I have often said, 'This is not my funeral: let the cortege proceed!'"

Give me a day or two more: I will do my best to be good.

very sick—and sore: tell them I feel as if the whole ground had been swept from under my feet—as if I

of a socialist than I thought I was: maybe not technically, politically, so, but intrinsically, in my

When I go to my tailor I lay down a law to him: that among the prime requisites of a suit of clothes

"I'm turned clean over—off my keel—am badly shaken.

I seem to see things all right with my mind but my body won't see things at all!" Mildly laughed.

I must get to my bed: my head reels: I feel as though a minute more on my feet—on my feet—here—would

finish me—be my last."

He reached out, took my hand. "My cane! My cane!" I put the cane in his hand. He could say nothing.

Again, "In my days the Washington monument was not yet completed—had not put its cap on.

s "joy," as he said, "partly to my risk."

W. out on my arrival—had gone to the river between 6 and 7.

I alluded to Clifford's question whether (as found in proof of my article) two t's were necessary in

W. said: "I should not wonder but that the question was valid—but if it were my case I should not crack

my skull to fix it—indeed, I doubt if it could be said that the t was wrong—only that it was unnecessary

It seemed to me the word was wisely used, and I told W. my idea of it: but he still persisted: "It is

Wonderfully cheerful in the evening on my arrival, talking most freely for more than an hour.

My last thought confirmed my first: it seemed like supererogation to impose such a statement upon the

"But Washington, New Orleans, Brooklyn—they are my cities of romance.

He asked me some questions about my health.

I could not stand before a Millet picture with my hat on." Monday July 23, 1888.

I will depute you, Horace, or Anne here, or Warrie, to take my place."

And when I told him my own preferences, "All simple tastes! All excellent simple tastes!"

I said, "In my boyhood, knowing him almost altogether from cartoons—he was then running for President—I

could parallel in nothing else than in those lines of Whitman's on Columbus— "Poor, old and paralyzed,My

"As it is now, it will not go into any of my books."

I haven't cast out all of my devils yet." Brought him new proofs which he at once glanced over.

"I do little nowadays but sit and thank my stars that I have fallen into such good hands in the time

of my need."

W. added, answering another question of Harned's: "I like to keep my prices down to the level of my real

My acquaintance with Leaves of Grass dates from my early university days some ten years ago, when having

That is queer—it is one of my favorite stories—one of the very richest I know.

The failure to rhyme, I mean, for the poem itself—"O Captain! my Captain!"

But to read my own pieces!

W. greatly amused at my story of getting the Doctor's glasses.

I took off my hat—sat there unperturbed.

I have followed it right along, myself—often to the horror of my friends.

Now there ought to be someone to write up about my Dutch forebears.

I may say I revel, even gloat, over my Dutch ancestry. Burroughs? Yes, perhaps, or some other.

If my article gave such an impression, it was one not intended.

Tell him I don't want him to discuss my Philadelphia and Camden friends."

I explained my reason. Then he said with a laugh: "Bless you!"

"It was a mighty thin mess," he replied upon my questioning him, "no body to it all: only ignorance,

Give Morris my love when you see him.

He came at a time when my head was having one of its most infernal turns.

I told Johnston that Doctor Bucke had saved my life. That is true, too.

Williams'), but quickly read at my suggestion. How did he feel?

Once in my boyhood I saw his noble form and kindly face, but never have I grasped his democratic hand

from Concord, your letter reached me in Chicago, where I have been for a week awaiting the wedding of my

Give my earnest love to Walt Whitman on this memorial occasion, and tell him we think of him at Concord

I might, by setting every thing else at defiance, transport my body to the place of assembly, but by

Stopped in to see W. on my way home. He remarked my early coming. "You drop in en passant?"

"I wrote him yesterday—yes indeed—and told him that if the draft was sent for me, drawn to my order,

A young fellow called my attention to it on the boat. I related this to W.

Another of his expressions to me was this: "I do seem to have taken up my pen again.

My plan is to have my father oversee a good photographing of it—then to let it be photoengraved.

My dear Mr. Whitman, I received a few days since your last letter.

It is very pleasant to me to find you liked my ShakespereShakespeare book, but much more to know that

But I do not doubt that half-a-dozen of my friends will wish to have the books, so I should be obliged

I am commencing to feel my grip coming back."

The last three or four days have been the most desperately anxious days of my life.

And to my "yes"—"Well, what was the result?"

Again, "I wonder if Stoddart will let me have another proof-slip of my piece?"

"I don't know why the devil he copied it—my copy was as plain—at least to me."

To my "yes"—"Well, I will see—will look it up overnight."

I wonder if he got my note?" Stoddart had told me of it.No copies "Good-Bye" in covers yet.

Called my attention to it—then to what Forman said of it.He had seen the paragraph in today's Press headed

But in reply to my question, without at all enlarging, he said his condition was "only so-so."

use Carpenter's previous letter (to W.) except passage giving amount of draft, in the little book.To my

—adding with the same fire: "My 'verbal' suggestion would be for him to stop the whole thing at once.

Insisted on my taking Burroughs' Pepacton to read.

My few friends are a great host—my many enemies are a few."

Dear Walt:I have sent you the MS. of my letter to Bucke.

Do you see my dilemma?

"It was the finest I ever tasted—but I feel short of my measure of it—some one of the waiters must have

suppose I got as much as was good for me—am probably in better condition for not having all that was my

And to my word of gratefulness (from her) for his handkerchief W. said, "No, it is all right—tell her

W. remarked, "Today I received a proof of my little piece—it has gone back tonight.

went to the parlor first, remarking: "Warrie—let us go in here: I don't know whether I'm standing on my

head or my heels."

As to my "trinity of Americans—Emerson, Lincoln, and Whitman"—he laughed heartily.

W. wore his bright blue gown, and said: "I have just been out to my favorite companion—the river!

My mail today had also brought me letters from Rhys, Rolleston, Rossetti and William Morris.

89If convenient please give the bearer, for the Photo: Process Co: for me, the negative of the photo: my

But it was my fault you did not find 'em. I failed to tell Ed why I had placed them there."

I had a letter from Kerr, of Unity, saying he would publish my O'Connor article, which I had sent him

Rose on my entrance, and went, with my assistance, to the chair.

"Have you heard of my latest splurge? No? Well—listen: I pulled a tooth today!

The fact is, I am on the move again, in spite of my disabilities."

"My eyes are poorly. It's so hot. You read it—read it for yourself—read it aloud."

"I am unable to do it myself: my pen can't go even on crutches."

Glad he approves idea of a little piece from Clifford.W. called my attention to "a couple of waifs—letters

"But," he added, "after all, the big book is the book, in my estimation: has a quality not imparted by

My effort has always been to pack, condense, solidify—to get my material into the smallest space compatible

When the big publishers—Harpers, the Century folks—issue a book, they use as many as my whole edition

My alarm was instant.

He held my hand warmly and firmly.

I may dance my last dance any day now.

He took my hand—held it saying: I feel more and more my dependence upon you—I feel more and more that

I questioned him sharply today and that is my impression."

everywhere his own atmosphere of freedom, spontaneity, love—a great exhibit.Wrote both Warren and W. of my

But he said: "I am not myself today: I am very uncomfortable in my head: very uncomfortable in my belly

Went off to town to keep my appointment with Bucke.

My dear Walt:I snatch five minutes from writing up the wrecks.

I shook my head.

Said to Bucke: "I am not at my worst—neither at my best."

"I gave him my sweetest and best. What better can I do?" Asked, "Have you seen Youth's Companion?

I must give you a copy then: I must have several here: he is one of my old—as also new—enthusiasms.

I insist on my cheap little figure"—here he raised his right foot into view and pointed to it with his

an argument: then, beyond all that, I should say this is anyhow not a question to be argued: after my

I took the slip out of my pocket and did so.

I folded the letter and the slip together, put them back in my pocket and looked at W. "Well?"

Asked me with a smile, "Did you get my proof?"

And to my yes, went on in a way to show he was nettled that things proceed so slow.

I put your copy in my piece to save trouble." Must look it up.

I shall get another copy as soon as I can get out—being for the moment housed—and shall then eat my cake

Of course I cannot venture to give my opinion on the matter.

My eyes grow moist as I realize the sad, sad situation.

May heaven guide you to wisdom, my dear friend, my comrade indeed, my brother beloved.

'Good-Bye, My Fancy'—based, absorbed in, the natural.

And as he pressed my hand, he said slowly, "Good night." Mrs.

And this launched us, my own talk, I suppose, verging on enthusiasm; he interjecting many questions.

Intensely interested in all I told him of the Ingersolls—firing at me question after question to enlarge my

I don't know if time and my own thought will justify that opinion—though it is not improbable.

My invitation to attend some sort of Whitman meeting, uptown [Philadelphia] Wednesday—residence of Adams

get up—whispered, 'Get on your feet—show yourself, if no more' or something of that sort—so up I got—my

and good: if not then I shall run the risk and keep the sheets in my own hands."

book is of another order: it is the collected statement of my life— of my work: a statement of what

"It probably is a whim—my whimsicality—but so it must be."

Insisted on my taking the nickel for the paper.

This will be my birthday gift to the world, my last, my parting, gift: the world has made many birthday

I send my unutterable sorrow. What can I do?"

Harned's views are my own that Mr.

Bucke says, "My God! It was like to wreck us all!

Bucke with me to my home to see Anne and talk.

My telegram from Ingersoll relieves us all.No heart for details for Bolton.

And I told you what his vague answer was—that my four lines had appeared—that I came out there in company

with all my friends—Chamberlain, Boyle O'Reilly—naming others.

I send money to some poor friends—relatives, some of them—my sister, others—but, as I have told you,

I hate the whole thing more and more: the older I get, the fuller my conviction.

W. every day asks me about my copy of the Atlantic.

"If I keep this way I fear for my promise to the club: still, I guess I won't: I guess there'll be a