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W. reading Record, which he laid down instantly on my entrance. Had gone through the Press.

"Hardly: but I know it—I have sized it up: he has my respect: his erudition is profound.

"I frequently wake up so, but I get my nerve back as the day wears on."

"Yes," he said: "my appetite went back on me—lost its edge."

"I wrote on your account, not my own." I said: "I'd rather never have gone to him."

Sat so for the greater part of my half-hour's stay—closing the window finally himself.

I showed him where he had put it yesterday after my reading.

till I am interfered with—till my freedom is invaded: and what I offer for the individual—to me as a

W. said: "I am glad to hear you say that: it confirms my own theory: I never lived out my idea: I let

Do you understand my bad English?

I think I shall remodel my piece (that I sent Walsh of Lippincott's) and make it into a review of the

Kennett Square, Penna.Nov. 12, 1866.My dear Sir: I send to you by the same mail which takes this note

, a copy of my last poem The Picture of St.

The age is over-squeamish, and, for my part, I prefer the honest nude to the suggestive half-draped.

If I had stopped to dispute with my enemies, even to dally or luxuriate with my friends, the book would

Gave me My Book and I to take over in the morning—that "to be the opening piece."

That's because I don't always agree with my- self about Stedman.

W. jumped on me for my "radical violence."

"He has not sent the poem back—has not answered my note in any way. I do not understand it."

That may be true: I wouldn't go to the stake for my opinion on this subject."

My two acquaintances were both born and bred in the city; they both were sent to good schools; both had

And yet no man can differ more from my friend H OM than does my friend T OM .

My friend H OM is, at the same time, very much of a gentleman in his manners.

Now all that my friend H OM is not , my friend Tom B EPRIM is .

When I meet H OM in the street, he always grasps my hand, and salutes me by my first name.

I went the other day by appointment to visit him at his home in Camden, and after my usual quantum of

A few commonplace words and I settled my mind to business.

I project the future—depend on the future for my audience.

I know perfectly well my path is another one. Most of the poets are impersonal; I am personal.

In my poems all revolves around, radiates from, and concentrates in myself.

then: "Well—do so then: and I will come down when I am ready—and shall not hurry—shall quietly finish my

tell an Englishman in his talk—but lately one or two instances have come up which completely stagger my

But he did not despair of America: "There were years in my life—years there in New York—when I wondered

Worth my while to look up?"

—and assenting with a "do—be sure to do it then" when I suggested bringing my own paper down.

My mail contains letter from Bucke, 17th, which anticipates an early end for W.: 17 March 1892My dear

"So you did—he is in the next room"—at which she called my name and I responded.

He repeated the sentence after me, "Will give me 25 books—five for my own use, 20 for my friends?

Wd. you give him my love & reverence, if manageable.At the crisis of his recent illness I was of course

And again, "On my right side I choke. One way or another I suffer all the time."

W. said, "The thing appears to have been in today's Press—I sent my copy to Bucke.

If you can get occasion, I wish you would thank Walsh for me—tell him of my gratitude.

W. remarked, "It arouses all my dormant desires. What a treat to go over!

I expressed to W. my doubts about naming the magazines which had rejected him (in a note entitled "Two

Laughingly: "I even dictated to the Truth fellows the date on which to print my piece, but they took

Yet in my heart I do feel some fear that his forebodings are not unreasonable.

My determination invincible.

He grasped my hand and held it, saying, "I am glad to have it again: it carries me into my right humor

My New Ideal piece out. Had no copy with me. Have sent copies to Ingersoll and Baker.

Thought my souvenir would be "thoroughly unique: I almost enviges you!"

"Every fine day I have my stalwart attendant wheel me out, often to the Federal street ferry, where,

As Carlyle says in his life of John Sterling, many of my seances with O'Reilly are written in star-fire

meeting at Young's was a most memorable one, and Emerson was kind enough to select the passages from my

England are imperative and I must soon sail for merrie England, and after a short stay I will keep my

promise to visit you and to renew my pleasant memories of the Pacific slope.'

O earth that hast no voice, confide to me a voice, O harvest of my lands—O boundless summer growths,

you dread accruing army, O you regiments so piteous, with your mortal diarrhoea, with your fever, O my

Nor do I forget you Departed, Nor in winter or summer my lost ones, But most in the open air as now when

my soul is rapt and at peace, like pleasing phantoms, Your memories rising glide silently by me. 6 I

All till'd and untill'd fields expand before me, I see the true arenas of my race, or first or last,

O earth that hast no voice, confide to me a voice, O harvest of my lands—O boundless summer growths,

you dread accruing army, O you regiments so piteous, with your mortal diarrhoea, with your fever, O my

Nor do I forget you Departed, Nor in winter or summer my lost ones, But most in the open air as now when

my soul is rapt and at peace, like pleasing phantoms, Your memories rising glide silently by me. 6 I

All till'd and untill'd fields expand before me, I see the true arenas of my race, or first or last,

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

I know I am august; I do not trouble my spirit to vindicate itself, or be understood; I see that the

My foothold is tenon'd and mortis'd in granite; I laugh at what you call dissolution; And I know the

My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs; On every step bunches of ages, and larger bunches

Before I was born out of my mother, generations guided me; My embryo has never been torpid—nothing could

Left word with my father for me to say to W. his feet were too bad for him to try to get to Mickle street

Consults with my father concerning these.

My life from my bed to my chair, from my chair to my bed again, is tedious, but endurable."

With my help W. closed the blinds, shoved the chairs about into position and lighted the gas.

dedicate" my book.

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.

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

I wish to see my benefactor, and have felt much like striking my tasks and visiting New York to pay you

my respects.

As usual, W. was not at home at the moment of my arrival, though coming soon after.

My dear Mr. Traubel,You will be alarmed at my corrections.

But they are absolutely necessary & you must let me pay for the proof changes—My "involved style!"

"My head has been in a queer chaotic condition—as though in a whirl of phlegm."

I was not in my best condition—this trouble was on me—and so we did not say much."

and "My 71st Year." with his own written corrections."

Ed told me at one time he thought he could push it over—so I thought it my duty to get rid of it—remove

Said to me as I came in, "You arrive just at the right minute: I am just returned from my trip."

It is a very interesting little volume, without which my "W.

I am glad my letter was in time for the Postscript of the volume.Thanks for your article on last Birthday

Had my notes in his breast pocket, marked "Horace," descriptive of room, etc.

Had slipped shoes and stockings off, but on my entrance put latter on, asking me to a seat.

Consumed nearly the whole time of my stay questioning me on our yesterday's walk.

I often think that pica is, after all, my type: it is so ample, so satisfies the eye; and then I am inclined

s letters)—"It is what my grandfather called Unitarianism, 'a feather bed to catch a falling Christian

Still thinks he has la grippe—cold in head, sore throat—but he looks very well.Said to me, "I got my

I expressed my pleasure over the notes he gave me yesterday.

You need not quote much: if you give them as my words, they will be taken as mine without that guarantee

"I advised him—perhaps he might make up a Dutch piece—about my ancestry—in a shape the Critic would take—and

"This will be my last public appearance, without a doubt: it is not in me to make a trial again: at least

In my own work—in Leaves of Grass—I have known no anxiety greater than to keep abreast of these results—not

Spoke particularly of "wishing Agnes [my sister] to be present—and Mrs. Harned, too."

Bucke tomorrow, I must save all my strength."

which says, the August number of Lippincott's is to contain a poem by Walt Whitman called 'Good-Bye My

It is like the arbor business on my birthday. Have you Doctor's letter with you? Yes?"

Had he seen how Tucker in Liberty had taken up my debate with Trumbull?

—"to rest and let the billows brush over him"—he said, "You have hit the secret there—that has been my

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.

s on my way home. Found him very comfortable—looking well—reporting himself so-so.

And I was willing for that to let all my profit go—and more if it was necessary."

gesturing with great energy and saying to me—"I wish I really could repeat the lines—they are noble—have my

I had a fall last evening and dislocated my left shoulder (it was the right arm last time, three months

To the Editor of the Times— My attention has just been called to an article in your Saturday's issue,

My object in addressing you this note, is not to enter into an argument with him upon the propriety of

the costumes worn on the occasion alluded to; as that would be entirely out of my line, but merely to

Although it is not my province to notice his personal allusion, I cannot but think that sympathy might

I am glad that you like & endorse my Notes & I thank you cordially for your kindly remarks concerning

them— It may interest you to know that "the boys" gave me a "surprise party" on the evening of Dec. 8 —my

pleasant evening we had at the Bolton Art Club when I gave the members & their friends an account of my

I shall have great pleasure in sending a copy of my Notes to each of the friends whose names & addresses

In his March 9, 1892, letter to Traubel, Greenhalgh wrote that "Walt has taught me 'the glory of my daily

In all the departments of my life Walt entered with his loving personality & I am never alone" (Horace

My dearest Brother How very good you are to send me so much,—It was a great surprise, I dont don't know

know you feel so much interest in me, but Walt dear I shall mind fearfully your spending more money on my

—I have always thought if I was dangerously sick, my greatest wish would be to see you.

I am alone, my being sick has been bad for him I know '84 Hannah Whitman Heyde to Walt Whitman, 20 October

like to hear about the poor young men, after I have once begun to mention them—Mother, I have changed my

house was sold & the old lady I hired the room from had to move out & give the owner possession—I like my

new quarters pretty well—I have a room to myself, 3d story hall bedroom, I have my meals in the house

all—I will surely have to come home as soon as this Richmond campaign is decided—then I want to print my

Germantown 7 mo 1—57 My Dear Friend I received yours of the 29th last evening and hasten to comply with

enough light to find the true way, one thing has never failed me, that is to do this moment whatever my

Whitman is about to publish another edition of Leaves of Grass, leaving out all the objectionable parts, my

He that receives the inspiration knows the best, but I with all my ultra radicalism would be delighted

. | & wrote postal card August 14th/82 29 Lange Strasse Dresden My dear master I wish you could send

We went over one glacier, where my friend distinguished himself by falling into a crevasse.

Shall introduce quotations liberally & see what they think of my translation.

A shameful business altogether, which makes me thankful that I am not an Englishman except against my

in one ear and out the other her mother lives in brooklyn Brooklyn has her second husband she was in my

be alone) well walter Walter i have the whis p er s of heavenly death it lays here on the table by my

and have had one person ask me to let her take it hom i said no i would rather not let it go out of my

liked it it was so solemn) i got your letter this day with 2 dol dollars i am feeling better to day my

A scotch mist this morning so I could not go on as usual with my out-door painting but the afternoon

Expect to stay in the neighborhood another week, when I shall shift my diggings as my bedroom window

will not open: a small cottage, otherwise to my mind.

Walter Storms April 26—75 Pascack Apr. 20 1875 My dear Friend, Mr.

to hear from you so soon after writing nevertheless, I was just as glad to hear from you, I wrote in my

inches of snow and people rode with the sleigh, there are no gardens made yet, but I have plants in my

I am not much of a young man yet, I am 17 years old, all but a few days, but very small for my age I

consideration is swallowed up in the consciousness that you like what I have written—that you feel that my

My principal corrections—the ones I feel specially desirous to have made are as follows: I.

Bucke sent me my foot-note, and I have made the change (Page 100.).

to think of anything—in fact, I have been in too much trouble to think effectually—that is to give my

'73 Friday morning—9 o'clock Dearest mother, The sun shines out bright & cheerful this morning—& in my

first sick) —I think I am feeling better to-day, & more like myself—I have been in the habit of soaking my

cold—so I have stopt stopped it, & I have a notion I feel better from stopping it— —I have just had my

here, rooms enough to live in for you & Ed and me —I realize it more, far more now, than ever—even for my

with a shed kichen with no fireplace in the house except in the kichen. . . . what do you think of my

It is all out of my hands now, and I do hope everything will turn out well.

The P.M.G usually treats me rather cavalierly over my own things: the young fellows who do the literary

Did you ever read his Story of My Heart?

I, too, often doubt any absolute empire, even the most cosmic, over the human will: that is my feeling

Took the Carlyle book from my hands—looked at picture of Mrs. C.

"I don't know what from, but my head was struck by a strange qualmishness.

My dear sir:Please accept my lasting acknowledgements for the copy of November Boughs so kindly sent

I sought only through Tom Harned a line from your hand to place in my copy of Leaves of Grass.

If you ever come my way I know a place hard by where a bottle of the reddest Burgundy may be found that

today, that last night you brought me palpable evidence of the book's completion—that I held it in my

For my own part, I would not rise out of my chair here to go into the fight—to cast a vote."

and having my "yes"—he quizzed, "What is it all about? What is it all for?"

Took an absorbed interest in my account of Clifford's noble speech—its unwelcome—its courage.

After awhile noticing my interest, he asked: "You find it attractive, do you?

Much better"—and when I spoke of the weather as inducing it, possibly, he said— "I am more apt to say, my

I give you the same privilege I demand for myself—the privilege of believing that in my own affairs,

My hands are all over honey—honey"—and washed them as I waited.

He said: "I was a great spouter in my early days—even later on—had my favorite pieces—these among them

Yes, 'A Voice Out of the Sea,' my own piece was one—one of many.

In a case so obvious it would seem as though things might very easily be brought to a head in my behalf

W. gave me what he called a "document" to go among my "war records."

children in age yet—so good, so sweet, so brave, so decorous, I could not feel them nearer to me if my

W. laughed: "If I had my way," he said more gravely, "I'd try my medicine first on the rich—make them

I contend that I am the safest of men—that my gospel is the safest of gospels.

I thought to send him a copy of my last book."

I want you to send him my love for that letter when you write."

And, "I wish I could go with you: it would stretch my old legs!"

I live my days through here—get nowhere (to the washroom, nowhere else).

And when I spoke of dreamless nights my own, W. exclaimed, "How grand! It is a report, the best!

"There are several I particularly wish to send—to my folks and one or two others."

Thought my book a fraud, thought me a fraud—as, no doubt, I am."

It came close to my own way of thinking.

My friend Collins has had another letter from Mr. W. C.

It would give distinction to my gathering. Is this too big an order?"

I go to Philadelphia and to my desk with a heavy heart.

My dear Traubel:I am more pained than I can express to see, by the morning papers, that dear, good, great

My hope is that the reports are exaggerated, but I fear the worst.

After my own tussle with the Angel, however, I am constrained to send a message of Life and Hope.

We regard Bob's telegram as an acceptance—a response to my morning's telegraphic message.

I reached forth my hand and literally, by a great effort, lifted him. What was new?

Yes, it is audacious—that's my word—and I have a curious story to tell you about that.

She was the screamer, moaner, who had alarmed me on my entrance some days ago and of whom Mrs.

—exactly my word!" Further, "This is an artist's picture—an artist's picture in the best sense.

My name has no place there—it is not my book—I have nothing to do with it.

I spent considerable time in New York and a number of weeks on Long Island, my native place.

So many of my good friends are here that I must call it my home.

There are men and women—not here though—who bear my intuition and understand by their hearts.

in his "den" surrounded by a litter of books and papers: "When Osgood wrote me, offering to publish my

I must overlook the work myself and you must humor me in letting me have things my way.'

Sir: Referring to my letter of the 3rd instant, enclosing a telegram from the United States Marshal for

were obstructed on the occasion mentioned, which give full particulars of the occurrences mentioned in my

Sir: I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of a letter from my assistant at the Court of Claims,

interests of the Government to incur the small expense suggested in the letter.— There is no fund under my

Sir: On account of my sickness and absence, your letters of September 19th and September 22d instants

to breaches of the Neutrality Laws of the United States, near Brownsville, in Texas, never came to my