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W. was not at home on my first arrival. Had gone out, they told me, full two hours before.

I said, "They have more grit than stuff"—and both at once took in my idea.

job)—make the best rough strong job of it, convenient without regard to finish—it is only a dummy for my

on Brown Bros., Philadelphia.Oldach bound up some copies of "Good-Bye" but left the portrait out, at my

"I did not feel like ittilluntil nightfall—then when I got to work my head gave out.

I find my digestive apparatus still fitful—still unwilling to do its work smoothly.

I thought I was having my last little dance.

"Look on page 66—see if my picture is there—Herbert's." Yes, it was there.

Washington.I send herewith the copy of my American Institute Poem.

"I have friends: some, who think my notions of Chase do me little credit—but do what I will, evidence

And to my negative—"It has no difficulties to me," he said, "I see it is hypercritical: let it go as

By the way have you seen Ed and how is he getting along give him my regards if you see him.

It was sent along with the birthday copy of my "Notes".

I stopped at 509 Arch on my way down to ferry and enclosed J.'s letter in another of my own to W.

written Johnston that Wallace must stay with me—this is to be told him immediately he knows he is to come—my

Then stopped and added: "I suppose you get disgusted coming here every day to hear my perpetual whine—my

"Both my fingers and my memory gave out." Very calm.

I remember well how one of my noblest, best friends—one of my wisest, cutest, profoundest, most candid

"My memory is shamefully abusing my faith nowadays."

My dear sir,I send by this mail the second part of my study of your works.

Was in bathroom on my arrival, but came shortly over into his bedroom.

way across the room to find, then back again to the stairway to send flying down: would not accept my

They call this noise 'patriotism'—a queer patriotism it is, to my mind!"

Before I left he called my attention to a long sad letter from Mrs.

As to my protests that this was a rally on friends, who did not come for analyses but for celebration

So I insisted on my refusal. Till then he would not start.

living and writing and sleeping place (has been likened to some big old cabin for a kinky sailor-captain

things mine these days I consider myself very fortunate—very fortunately situated"—with a smile—"even if my

is not for them I care, or their magazines, but the public ear—I wish to reach the public—to deliver my

is so, then I must take the first opportunity to clinch it—to make even more emphatic statement of my

He wished no one to have "any concern about my friendships"—they would, "take care of themselves."

"Some kind words from my friend William Carey there—William Carey.

Some don't like my long lines, some do: some don't like my commas, some do: some cuss my long catalogues

My proper habitat is out-of-doors."

I spend all my time at work about the place and like it much.

"Yes, they do, and I was about to say so, but you took it out of my mouth.

bless my heart! I never thought of it at all, the whole day through.

That's a good sample of my memory these days.

My occasional contributions more than pay for it. Glad he likes it.

I should get no pay anyway for my contributions."

and on my assent, "I see then, how it is.

B. was always my friend—that his allusions were always kind—that he quoted 'Leaves of Grass' without

Hotel Caranne153, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 11 July, 1891 Reached Paris, exceedingly tired, but my

Send me papers and works: my permanent address is my uncle's, in the country, as follows: M.

Strange how—the room very dark—he knew me at once, called my name, extended his hand.

It now takes all my energy merely to get to the chair and back to the bed again.

"I knew the habitats of Hicks so well—my grand-parents knew him personally so well—the shore up there

What all this comes to is, that just that sort of a debate is going on in my mind now, whether to condemn

For thirty years I have had it in my plans to write a book about Hicks.

the procrastinations, stranded, with nothing but a few runaway thoughts on the subject to show for my

For instance, I like every day to take a bath—make it my rule, nearly—particularly in this weather—it

I don't think any of the doctors—the best doctors—have arrived at my doctrine yet—that each person who

So I took my quinine—and what did it do but set my head spinning, this way"—indicating—"like a wheel.

I find Swedenborg confirmed in all my experience. It is a peculiar discovery.

And that would be my doctrine, too!"

I on my way home.

With him half an hour, having a delightful talk, he fanning himself all the time of my stay.Dr.

Also of Beemer, Bucke's assistant and friend of W.Gave me a bag containing three apricots to give to my

W. sent a twig of the flowers to my father—"I want him to see them.

Stoddart deducted $10 from my payment ($60) to pay for our copies of magazine.

the patchwork of paper was this, evidently a dismissed alternate for "Good-Bye" title-page: "GoodBye My

If I can make that much gain I may be able to do my work.

Clifford wrote today: "My love to dear Walt Whitman.

He raised his head from the pillow: "My love to dear John Clifford!

I often find myself misplacing names, things—find that I must go back and rectify my errors—retrace my

steps—review my work."

tonic—I have been taking it—I am sure it contains strychnia: it does me good in general, but affects my

I have had trouble with my hearing for several months past—quite a decided loss of power": which I have

be merely transitory.Last night I had mentioned to W. that the printer wanted a paragraph added to my

I can see the Duchess now as so often in my young days,—thrusting her head in at the flies."

I described Cooper's early influence over my father: that Cooper's books had much to do with my father's

pencil and on his knee wrote the following: Mickle St CamdenJan: 9 '90Dear J BThis will be given you by my

Mary Davis has been making them today—and they take my time—and we like to share a good thing when we

the samples I had had—asked them to give the postal to the man with the job in hand and to give him my

Had left my manuscript at door this morning, now he returned.

"This is my Hindoo kerchief.

s on my way to Philadelphia (8:20). He was sleeping—I did not disturb him.

Give him my love. He grows dearer every day.Love to you & Mrs. TraubelYours always,R. G.

—in such a tone as drew all my life together into one sense of recognition and response.

There my memory is treacherous." How alive he seemed!

He had me arrested, but the sympathies of the community were all on my side."

It is indeed to these mostly my habits are adjusted. I have good health.

My dismissal from employment in 1865, by the Secretary of the Interior, Mr.

Nothing in my life, or my literary fortunes, has brought me more comfort and support every way—nothing

to Ellis and Green, of London, to publish my poems complete and verbatim.

And he has a companion in that: my dear enemy Dick: Richard Henry Stoddard.

"That is something that is often said even by my friends: I do not appreciate it: I have made my decision—must

as it was laid on my arm."

My mother spoke to me: she said (laid her hand on my arm): 'I know what you are thinking—I know you feel

My dear mother was wonderful wise and cute.

Whitman, that my idea is not that there is evil in the book: my idea is that by taking certain things

I have told you about one of my meetings with Beecher?

But though it excited an inward retort, I said nothing—held my peace.

He was as cordial as ever, and held my hand all through the talk, which lasted 20 minutes or more.

And again, "If you ever have occasion to write to Walsh or meet him, give him my congratulations."

My doctors and attendants cont. first rate. Horace ever faithful. Am propped up in bed.

"My first feeling about Howells' piece," he said, "is wholly indifference."

"That depends: I am not at all settled in my own notions on the subject as yet."

If I say it's not in my line then it's not in my line: that's the end of it: that settles it: do you

"Perhaps I would: perhaps I wouldn't: not my line: that's my say: let's stop right there."

I think you will like it as well as my first letter.

As to his good health—"Well—here I am—I can still answer to my name."

"I doubt whether the old fellow can: with my taste, appetite, gusto, I do not come away entirely satisfied

By and bye, noting I drew near the fire to wind my watch, he turned his chair about—got up and fixed

"I'll strike a light"—and refusing Morris' offer of help—"I act just the same when my friends are here

Morris assented and W. thereupon swinging about in his chair to the center table said: "I take pride in my

Illustrated American) W. spoke of: "It is pretty good—has good points—but it emphasizes the rowdy: that is my

They were talking of Edwin Arnold on my entrance. Ingersoll hearing me sprang up with warm hand.

W. shook his head, "No, Colonel, no—my work is all done."

Brown, my daughter, and by Miss Maud, my other daughter, to say to you, that you must not leave us yet—that

He took my hand with a good sound grasp. And he is better, anyway, than I expected to find him."

And on the way out to the carriage, "Don't forget me to the wife, Traubel: give her my love.

trips up—my flying trips."

"I see you will have it so: but there are difficulties, too—my red, florid, blooded, complexion—my gray

As for me I think the greatest aid is in my insouciance—my utter indifference: my going as if it meant

I had a couple of Boston pictures of Morse in my pocket.

Whitman,Dear Sir: My friend and yours Mr.

I like Boyle—my first impression was a very good one.

W. said immediately as to my cold hand, "How good that is! How it takes me out of doors.

This hand of yours has become my daily escape from these walls!"

He brought me my proof—there"—pointing to a chair in which I could faintly catch its long line—"and I

You remember my old story—that every woman, every man—has his or her mate, waiting somewhere on the globe

If he did he has paid me the greatest tribute of my life.

The best part of my success is that it has come while I am doing a work whose spirit is in part Whitman's

My extended travel and study of literature make me capable of speaking decisively here.Once again Hail

—adding upon my assent, "I guess they are Walsh's—yes, Walsh's."

Further, "And Stoddart, too—yes, now you remind me—by all means—and with my best affection.

W. reading Stedman's Poets of America, which he put down on my entrance.

Then he said: "If you write to Stedman to-morrowtomorrow, give him my love: tell him I still keep my

but cheerful, inclined to accept all things as they come: reading some: writing some: spending all my

My Dear Friend. W. H.

Piper, using my name.

I wasted many of my own opportunities."

He would not permit my defense of Oldach.

I put my hand over my heart. "From in here." He wanted to know: "Have you a safe guide in there?"

I explained: "I don't mean my future beyond this life but my future here." W.'s face lighted up.

W. poked his thumb up before my eyes.

That was one of my pleasures in George Kennan's articles in the Century: when he struck a bad [hard?]

That seemed especially made for my benefit!

I remember my Washington experience: here were lives just wavering in the balance—life on that side,

—especially the actors, in which I flatter myself—tickle my egotism—by assuming I have quite a clientage

Referred to "The Canadian preacher who set out to make me define—was bound to make me define my attitude

escaped, though I never like to be baffled in a question of that kind—like to have paraphernalia—words—at my

pain (bad cold "profusely illustrated" with facial neuralgia) yesterday morning and am again over at my

My own mail included letters from Bucke and Kennedy.At McKay's later in day found our Washingtonian preferred

Sit here on the bed—tell me the news," he taking my hand and I sitting there, detailing such things from

I consider Baxter one of my best friends."

"Do you think the meter's success means my failure, Walt?" "It might."

W. said: "That's another of my illusions shattered."

W. exclaimed: "My God! has it come to that? am I fallen so low?

W. asked: "I wonder if my words will be included?

Bucke said: "I hope you won't take offense at my freedom?"

My dear Sir:Dr.

Bucke left me, to my publisher Schabelitz, of Zurich, Switzerland, and offered the MS. to him.

Rolleston accept my assistance and wait so long. Shall I write to him, or will you do it?

Clifford saw my father's picture of W. for the first time at my sister's Sunday—thought it the best he

"My dear daddy used to advise me—my boy always keep on good terms with the cook."

In my usual round found W. had passed a pretty good night.

Was not asleep and I went in, shook hands with him, and wished him my good morning, as he wished me his

In next room stopped to read my mail, which I had just received at Post Office, and contained letters

He is quite a brook but Whitman is a Mississippi that runs through all lands.Give my love to the brave

I did not stay much beyond this—yet he held my hand, on "good-bye," in such a way, I took my disengaged

W. reading Lippincott's, which he put down on my entrance.

My sister was here: George's wife, I mean—my sister-in-law: she did not stay long: she is a comforting

"I have been more on my bed than on my chair today." Little reading. "I only skimmed the papers."

Meanwhile I am up to my eyes—and over my eyes even to blindness—in the slough of a fearful road to that

to have of my object in calling on you.

I left Chadwick's (manuscript) reply to my "spirituality" paragraph in last Conservator.

And I can say amen to all that, too, it is my sentiment—just as you say it—and as you say it, it is conclusive

I say, go on—buffet it how you will: your buffet, your challenge, has my respect."

Says he "realized the weight of my argument against the extraneous matter" in "Good-Bye My Fancy"—but

for—but haven't the least remembrance of the other, at least, that is as I see it now, though I know my

Symonds' piece reminded me, reminds me, of Captain Cuttle—the queer Captain Cuttle."

"The Captain would say in his own inimitable style: 'If the ship has gone down then she has gone down—if

My hope is, as the boys say, that it 'gets its roots in': you have heard that expression, eh?

My friends could never understand me, that I would start out so evidently without design for nowhere

"All my life here," he said, "is made up of pathetically little things: yet I don't know but all life

And on my remark that Tennyson certainly expressed more strength than—for instance—was expressed in Whittier

an essay—"The Relation of English to German Literature in the Eighteenth Century") was a friend of my

Brinton said in the course of a letter I received today: "Thanks for conveying my wishes to W. W.

W. exclaimed upon my reading: "That is certainly fine—fine—fine!

I am in any danger that people will think so of me, I had better watch myself more closely—for fear my