Search Results

"What I experience or portray shall go from my composition without a shred of my composition.

You shall stand by my side and look in the mirror with me."

"I am the teacher of Athletes; He that by me spreads a wider breast than my own, proves the width of

my own; He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher; The boy I love, the same

I was on my way to the opening meeting of the Unitarian Conference in Philadelphia.

It taught me my own definiteness of address—what my friends call my superfluity.

If my memory serves me, I went that day.

Harper's Bazaar, and W., at the name Harper's exclaimed—"That reminds me—did I tell you that I got my

As to his mail (Warren had just been to the Post Office): "This whole week my mail has been small, and

Looking back over my own time—looking into the period starting with '61—'62—I have nothing to regret,

It is a vivid touch out of life—I see it as if physical phenomena, this moment before my eyes.

I demand that my whole emotional nature be powerfully stirred.

I never saw him—but in my early years, in Brooklyn, when I loafed a good part of my spare time on the

With W. nearly an hour—though on my first coming he spoke of "the bad day" he had had, "a weary congregation

Will send you $5 the first of every month.Inclosed find $10, which please hand to Walt with my love,

I am very very busy and cannot say more tonight.Sincerely yoursJ H Johnston Will you destroy my letter

W. said, "I sent them copies of my leather-covered book: did they get them?"

That has often been on my mind."

W. said immediately after my entrance, "And what of Wallace, Horace?

But my conception is so at odds with any churchey theological ideas on the subject, I often think perhaps

W. very amusingly described his condition to Bucke, "My head easily gets in a whirl now.

Now I feel as if my brain had an envelope like the outer crust of a pudding—a dense, mucoussed cover

My deafness is directly chargeable to it."

Washington September 15 1863 Dear Mother Your letters were very acceptable—one came just as I was putting my

unionists I have met in the hospitals, wounded or sick—one young man I guess I have mentioned to you in my

must have been a giant in health, but now he is weaker, has a cough too)—Mother, can you wonder at my

mother, I have writ quite a letter—it is between 2 & 3 o'clock—I am in Major Hapgood's all alone—from my

at 4 o'clock at a Mr Boyle's —I am going—(hope we shall have something good)—dear Mother, I send you my

I think I never in my life felt so wholly blue and unhappy about any one's going away as I did and have

One reason that I have not written to you before is that I have been so unhappy I thought my letter would

Our affairs remain as they did when you left, & that is one cause of my delay.

hideous, William forbids my giving any of them away.

Walt that I hope he will come home soon, & see papa, & tell him I send my love to him & a kiss.

that Walt acted as a substitute father to his brothers and sisters, as he suggests in an early story, "My

"I nourish active rebellion," Whitman challenges (section 14); "Camerado, I give you my hand!

with him I love" (1860 Leaves), but even for Whitman, the decision to publicly "tell the secret of my

Perhaps he was thinking of Vaughan when he wrote, "This the far-off depth and height reflecting my own

that he would "confront peace, security, and all the settled laws, to unsettle them" ("As I Lay with My

what he had recently described in "A Backward Glance O'er Travel'd Roads" as his program to "exploit [my

The dominant themes in the two annexes, "Sands and Seventy" and Good-Bye my Fancy," as well as in "Old

Speaking to Horace Traubel about their subject matter, Whitman said, "Of my personal ailments, of sickness

This questioning mood may be found in "Queries to my Seventieth Year," published about a month before

Still the lingering sparse leaves are, he says, "my soul-dearest leaves confirming all the rest, / The

Why do you tremble and clutch my hand so convulsively?

Aye, this is the ground, My blind eyes even as I speak behold it re-peopled from graves, The years recede

That and here my General's first battle, No women looking on nor sunshine to bask in, it did not conclude

I saw him at the river-side, Down by the ferry lit by torches, hastening the embarcation; My General

But when my General pass'd me, As he stood in his boat and look'd toward the coming sun, I saw something

Why do you tremble and clutch my hand so convulsively?

Aye, this is the ground, My blind eyes even as I speak behold it re-peopled from graves, The years recede

That and here my General's first battle, No women looking on nor sunshine to bask in, it did not conclude

I saw him at the river-side, Down by the ferry lit by torches, hastening the embarcation; My General

But when my General pass'd me, As he stood in his boat and look'd toward the coming sun, I saw something

I cannot tell how my ankles bend, nor whence the causes of my faintest wish, Nor the cause of the friendship

That I walk up my stoop, I pause to consider if it really be.

A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the meta- physics metaphysics of books."

I blow through my embouchures my loudest and gayest music to them. Vivas to those who have failed.

In the faces of men and women I see God, and in my own face in the glass.

Carried on my shoulder twenty copies of November Boughs, which I put down on the sofa. "Books, eh?"

queried W., as he shook my hand. At once began to question me about the day.

"I prophesy its success," said W., "though, as you know, prophesy is not my long suit."

"Horace, I understand that—I understand:—it removes all my doubts."

Give my love to your mother.

I have lived to regret my Rossetti yes—I have not lived to regret my Emerson no.

But how much does a man succeed in setting me right, in arriving at my purpose, in getting my measure

(yes, my motive) who wants to expurgate me?

Then he exclaimed: "Horace, take my advice: never take advice!"

Take my word for it—don't take advice!" Rabelais was somehow talked about.

After a bit he rose, sat on the edge of the bed, his back my way.

Asked me, "I'll get you, if you will, Horace, to untie this handkerchief about my neck.

Then after I had re-taken my seat he called me up again. "One good turn deserves another.

Bucke's letter of 23rd answered my question: how had W. recently been writing him (in what spirit and

Give her my love—best wishes to you—wish I could spend a couple of weeks in your neighborhood.So long

"My position had been simple: sitting here day after day in this litter"—looking around—"my one idea

My dear Mr.

As to Walt Whitman, I am glad that my little note pleased the good and grand old man.

I often feel that the succession of events and of work is a thing hardly in my own hands.

It has been about me now for fifty years: I am very close to it: it is one of my bibles."

And to save further signs of dissent W. objected: "No—that is not my view: I do not think that is settled

"It is my opinion that there will be a reaction: we will see"—here he paused: "It will be seen before

This is bound to come: I rest my faith in the final good sense of the nation.

Finally at my suggestion it was understood that I should take it with me in the morning.

He at once replied: "Yes: my reasons against it might be stated that way."

W. lying on the bed but did not stay there long after my coming. Greatly interested in the weather.

Called my attention to Lippincott's. "I want you to take it along.

Asked about Tolstoy's My Religion and My Confession: did not know but he "might read them"—at any rate

Harned—my love—my greetings of the season—enough for her, for the baby—then for all the rest?"

Horace, think of having a doctor settled down on my doorstep!

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!"

"Yes, I don't know but that now I like it better than my own: I know Bucke don't—know you don't."

quality, which comes uppermost—most forces itself upon my attention.

Remarked: "My friend Julius Chambers, I see, has gone on The World."

"there have been ten or twelve sent to me for my signature."

I looked over my shoulder at the door of the adjoining room. "Ned Wilkins!

I said my question was: Do I want to go back to it? W. approving.

My inquiry then was: "Then you don't like Brown?" "No.

"No," he said, "but I have my eye out sharply for it: it seems as if it must be there in the mix—yet

W. said: "My father had been an acceptor of Paine: Paine had been much vilified."

My dear Mr.

"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!"

was along-shore at about that place I had learned to swim as a boy, and W. was greatly interested in my

My dear Mr.

to grasp your hand on your birthday.Yours very truly,William Carey "I guess I'll have to let you do my

was all right: Johnson said the advertisements of pictures for autographs were honestly put forth, in my

I left with him proof of his "autobiographic note," which he promised to send up to my house tomorrow

I said: "Let Ed get it of my mother when he goes up to the house"—to which—"That's so—that will do—though

I was so drawn to them—they seemed so significant—I took my scissors—cut them out—and shall try to keep

them, if I can—if they don't get mislaid and buried, like so much of my material.

He spoke of this today and as illustrating his notion gave me a letter from his table and called my attention

I was compelled to [take] many car rides in my transit to "the city."

birth—to such an one there is a debt due of allegiance and profound gratitude.I thank you Sir, with all my

I go to my home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, tomorrow.

W. writing on my entrance. Did not appear well, nor was he.

I think I must not forget to include the boy in my story."

He writes to tell me he had seen my Brazilian poem in a Parisian paper—says he likes it—congratulates

My impression of Father Taylor is very vivid because I heard him repeatedly.

Then, "My friends must understand that: it is one of the bottom principles of 'Leaves of Grass.'"

On the table was the appendix to "Good-Bye My Fancy." I picked it up and examined.

I replied, "I am only glancing at it—my impression is a good one: I always like your personal chit-chat

To my assent proceeding, "And yet there are some who would doubt all that—doubt it utterly.

If he meddles with your book in New York, I will do my utmost in all directions to have him removed from

His taking up for that miserable Chadwick against me, misrepresenting and falsifying my argumentation

The Unitarian Index did a rascally thing lately in reprinting Chadwick's letter verbatim, without my

Underwood excused himself for not printing my answer on the ground that it was too "personal"!!!!!

I would fain make my own Copy complete to the present times, so would thank you for a line giving me

But why need I ask when I see now before my minds eye several passages in your Poems that answer all

appeared to you, and if it was to you the truth it seems to have been to me in thus sending to you, as my

comrades men and women such as you sing in your Poems. there again you see I find fresh spirit for my

were not so close fisted, I should predict that they would buy copies of the book by the score, but my

I am doing fairly well—am getting where I pay expenses now, with my entertainments.

A wealthy lady of culture by chance came to one of my evenings at B's church, & was thus pleased , she

bought my Carlyle & Emerson, & engaged me for two parlor entertainments at her own home.

Immediately after my return from Germany (28 February) I did write to you and sent you a long article

If my thoughts did not weaken and wither, when I try to give them expression in the English language,

something rotten in the state of Denmark, still are true, I have the greatest belief of the vitality of my

peasant on Fijen (one of our fertile isles) wrote to me in the spring for two years ago to thank me for my

Clausen, termed in Schmidt's letter "my old friend and countryman," corresponded with Schmidt after he

My lameness is very bad, and I am very exhausted before many hours pass each day.

My special trouble now is what they call schlerosis —an induration of the lower part of the spinal cord

I have never been troubled with costiveness in all my life, but now, like yourself, I have a partial

paralysis of the bowels, and must, under medical orders, resort to artificial means, and this is my remedy

Monday My dear walt i got your letter on saturday Saturday and got those you sent through the week i

better now Jeff left the pills and i think i will take some to night to see if it wont won't break up my

Judith and i get all the papers you send and all the money and it comes very good sometimes i tell you my

dear Walt worry walt about my trouble with nance and georgey it did make me feel bad and sorry for her

this one and what with Plumbers, Carpenters, Chimney-sweeps, painters, and house cleaners I have had my

Camden May 25 My dear friend Yours of 20th recd received —At this present writing I don't think the Tribune

Scribner article a year or two ago the extracted half a column of his condemnatory views & opinions on my

often presents & in all primal poetry & attempt at returning to Creation's birth-innocence—let alone my

technical esthetic & conventional & technical literary points applicable—But you know, dear friend, my

W. called my attention to a box on the floor.

For my name, work, appears many times.

heart to stand still at the inscription that met my eye!

My heart was strangely moved by this incident.

My best friends have been women. Put that in your pipe and smoke it."

To-day my soul is full of the love of the body.

"Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul. ∗∗∗∗∗ While they discuss

The first doubt lodged in my mind against the claims of the Christian Church and ministry was the first

To my surprise and horror, they spent the whole time in regaling one another with smutty yarns.

I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.

W. saw the bundle in my hand, asked about it, so I tore it open in the semidarkness.

Davis for the present—have her put them in water—then in the morning I'll have them in my room—enjoy

Adding: "and while you're in, Ed, go upstairs in my room—you'll find there on the chair a little package

W. had questioned me on my first coming: "Is it too cool out here for me?"

I referred to my intention of writing to Stedman this week.

"Parisian Street Life" was the piece by Miss Larned which he had marked for my sister.

He would indeed like to read "Underground Russia," which I named as among my books.

this correspondent (Harriot Stanton Blatch: London, May 9), had said to her: "Ah, here's another of my

s book.W. called my attention to the fact that Stoddard "has been essaying again"—and commented: "It

But afterwards he more or less acquiesced in my explanation.

No one else from my family but wife and Mrs.

He, too, is heard from definitely.After my first mail I received postal from Johnston dated yesterday

My dear Traubel:I expect to be over tomorrow, and to be at Green's by 4:30 P.M.

My own say will be a short one." Would he speak first?

He had said on my morning call: "I feel bad—had a bad night—did not sleep at all."

when I would come in, he woke up, & I would lean down & kiss him, he would reach out his hand & pat my

aye even their young & precious lives, in their country's cause—Poor dear son, though you were not my

So farewell, dear boy—it was my opportunity to be with you in your last rapid days of death—no chance

(in Portland avenue, 4th door north of Myrtle, my mother's residence.)

My address here is care of Major Hapgood, paymaster U S A, cor 15th & F st, Washington D C.

Good-bye, my fancy: 2 d annex to "Leaves of grass." D. McKay. por. 8º, $1.

Review of Good-bye My Fancy

addressed to him under the impression that he is now acting as Attorney General—which is not the fact, as my

Wesson has been brought to my attention by several written and verbal communications.

There is an impression upon my mind that it was decided at the Rolls that the United States has legal

capacity to take as a Legatee—but I am unable to verify the accuracy of my recollection by a reference

Patton whom you were authorized in my letter of the 1st instant to prosecute in the State Courts of New

But if authentically advised that no real cause for prosecution exists, the direction in my letter of

I am indeed alone, both children, my father & mother, all four of my brothers are gone.

I have had a sorrow lately in the death of my elder sister.

In a day or two I go to visit my father who is in his ninety–first year & who has been saddened by this

My dear mother is living & well; we speak of you. I wish you to give my best respects & love to Mr.

I shall have to try a head of him presently for my American Gallery: Emerson, Thoreau, and Walt" (The

first rate— I spent yesterday down on the sea-shore—was all by myself—had a splendid good day—took my

first part of next week if nothing happens— Well, Pete, I believe that is all this morning—Good bye, my

It happens that I was one of these children—my Father was Solicitor of the Treasury, Edward Jordan.

My vacation, between these dates will be spent in Elizabeth New Jersey, so that we can come down to Camden

March 13, 18 68 My dear Doctor, Your note has just come to hand, stating that you intend a visit to Washington

My friend, if that is your sole object here, & you depend upon any thing of that kind, (unless you have