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passages are quoted as being the work of an immoral writer, and, altho'although I tried to show they were

The more or less anonymous young writers and journalists of Washington were greatly incensed—made my

and wish to see America prosperous, I do not seem able to bring myself to love America, to desire American

I thought I knew the greatest American in my dear friend Henry George, but no!

I am a great lover of cities for their crowds, their human sublimities and horrors, yet carry always

But I would be willing also to bear the expenses and keep the copyright, if the former were not out of

The Irish are much less Catholic than they were—dogmatic religion is loosening its hold upon them in

Harned happening in while we were in the midst of this talk W. explained: "We are canvassing the yeas

Oh, what scenes of human horror were to be found in this city last winter.

The note is below:"Go on, my dear Americans, whip your horses to the utmost—Excitement; money!

To make gifts comfort and truly nourish these American soldiers, so full of manly independence, is required

, or about to be—destined for the biggest real work: but somehow when he went to London the best American

has always been having for the Leaves may not have aided in showing the world that the natural laws were

hope, ere a few days are over, to become better acquainted with the personal history of your great American

Of all the American poets Longfellow has the widest popularity, and his writings are better known than

So it would seem my words were prophetic.

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

man will be none the less right because he is denied by a hundred generations, whose coronal fronts were

Harned read aloud some paragraphs from Ingersoll's North American Review paper on Art and Morality.

I took it and read it.1 East 28th St.,New York City, Dec. 29, 1887. Dear Mr.

"That makes me think of some one who once said there were two kinds of jokers—the damned good one and

Speaking of the "strain of American life" W. declared that "every man is trying to outdo every other

It'd be better if the whole tribe of the scribblers—every damned one of us—were sent off somewhere with

Your own words upon his death were very noble and touching.

I first wrote them a notice of his Journal just published, which they were pleased to say was too good

My dear Walt Whitman:In London last week I met many mutual friends who were asking after you and wondering

The news of the great Democratic victories has just reached us and all Paris—that is all American Paris—is

Again: "I reckon I was not made to understand the scribbling class—perhaps they were not made to understand

Emerson's objections to the outcast passages in Leaves of Grass," said W. tonight, "were neither moral

nor literary, but were given with an eye to my worldly success.

He believed the book would sell—said that the American people should know the book: yes, would know it

I don't know where they are: they were good letters.

His estimate of the American poets misses the chief points—is wide of the truth: he is too judicial,

Bryant is more significant for his patriotism, Americanism, love of external nature, the woods, the sea

Even Goethe and Schiller, exalted men, both, very, very, were a little touched by the professional consciousness

Tucker did brave things for Leaves of Grass when brave things were rare. I couldn't forget that."

W. said to a visitor in my hearing: "The American people wash too much."

"I only said you were misunderstood—that what you meant was that the American people did not sufficiently

Alden.W. got talking of Emerson again: "The world does not know what our relations really were—they think

personality and I always felt that he loved me for something I brought him from the rush of the big cities

We were not much for repartee or sallies or what people ordinarily call humor, but we got along together

on Emerson's side and mine: we had no friction—there was no kind of fight in us for each other—we were

Urged me to read Stedman's American Poets. I had read the essays as they appeared in The Century.

(he speaks of his sick girl here—it was in 1883)—but powerful: a look into our work-shop while we were

rough of the world—to get out into affairs, the trades—but was taken care of in parlors by friends who were

W. had been reading Gladstone's reply to Ingersoll in the North American Review.

"They were not célèbres but were none the less—perhaps the more—welcome on that account.

They were the best kind of plain men—you know the sort I mean: the best plain men are always the best

and went across the room to W. he took and held my hand and said very seriously: "It's about time we were

It is lucky for me if I take after the women of my ancestry, as I hope I do: they were so superior, so

The polite circles of that period and later on were determined to queer the reputation of contemporary

The young radicals of that time have never had justice done them: they rallied—such of them as were in

New York—about Paine and were far in advance of their time.

Another Whitman article in The American—this one by Harrison Morris.

While we were talking Harned came in.

We were both silent after that.

soul—the Adamic democracy: is significant (if significant at all) as affecting a world, not simply an American

If you were blessed with an unsurpassably good mother, I can with truth say the same of myself.

abroad," said W., "he went once to see Rossetti—the first visit—they did not seem altogether to hit it—were

When some people were here awhile ago and one of them said he was sorry I was poor I made a kick.

W. referred to Harrison Morris' paper in The American.

paper came I had heard for the first time—through a friend in Italy—a report authenticated that you were

You were thinking that poets never wrote real poems that way?" "Exactly."

"That," continued W., "is the bane of the Philadelphia fellows in The American—the style, the dress,

he is violating all the laws, the customs, of soldiering we were taught in the schools!'

But I remember one evening, in the midst of a talk, when we were all having a good time (in Washington

"I think Carlyle saw all the horrors of life in European centres of population—that Elias Hicks it made

days the stage is made up of giants and nobodies: back in that other time nobody was a nobody—there were

Did I hear you say that things you saw in Emerson's journal were very favorable to the French?

The North American Review fellows wrote: They must have a piece—anything—anything—must—must—a piece and

Asked me if The American was liable to fire off at him again this week?

W. said they were "things you should have to put away in your storehouse."

I guess they were right but somehow I felt as if I had to make the fight."

M.: "Walt Whitman was the Jack Cade of American literature.

when he gets more than he can assimilate, when the culture turns around to carry him, culture has exceeded

What America did for the Fourth France did for the Fourteenth: both acts were of the same stock.

You remember I was at that period full of designs for things that were never executed: lectures, songs

American spirit.

Take the Bolton group—how American! How American skies seem to float into them.

I thought you were over to the Club." I was on the way now. Read him Illustrated American.

I wish it were more!

They were only here a few minutes, but they were bright minutes."

When he goes I want him to have the big book—Complete Poems and Prose; and if it were attached to him

paragraph—undoubtedly written by him—in which he says that the writer has seen a letter written by an American

There were hosts, the like of him.

As to George Humphreys' book, "You were right in your guess. I sent the book yesterday."

it.If you can aid this cause by introducing the subject among your friends & admirers & the general American

Pan-American Congress in Philadelphia next week. "Have you your poem finished?" I asked.

For, he said, "The Colonel would set them on fire, if he were there—were to let himself out."

W. with a smile, "Sure enough—enough: if only it were justified."

O'Connor's love of children, demonstrations towards them, were exquisite."

Were they his words?" Adding, "I always felt somehow that I could count on Aleck.

Miss Porter told me this afternoon that she and Miss Clarke were amusing themselves writing an imaginary

I have been speaking in notes recently about Pan-American Congress.

Kennedy would unquestionably protect himself behind the anonymity of the paragraph, saying that no names were

should have known better, though his promises to say nothing about it—to faithfully maintain quiet—were

s postal to Johnston was American, with a penny stamp plumped on.

And Rossetti knew him; they were under more or less easy terms—friendly.

As to American art, "It wants nothing—asks to be let alone."

They were astonished at W.'s frank free talk and endurance.

W. told me, when we were alone with Wallace, "I have had an offer from England, from someone, to handle

In course of evening went upstairs among my papers, treasures, and were there till the wee sma' hour.

I suppose if all our friends were gathered together they'd make quite a cluster."

'Leaves of Grass' gives out its best to Americans—by whom I don't necessarily mean American-born, but

American spirit.

But we were very late going.

And bad eggs were plenty!"

But W. did not hear him.As we were about to go, W.

s we all went upstairs—about 1:50—and were there the greater part of an hour.

gray-haired darkeys on market days—talk with him, question him, get at his queer notions—and they were

To W. the darkeys were "a superstitious, ignorant, thievish race," yet "full of good nature, good heart

"The best real Southern samples" were "rare birds here but a plenty at Washington" and these were best

old music lasts—perhaps because, for one thing, the only one or two Wagner performances I have seen were

I remarked, "Walt, you know—or should know—and he should know, that if you were wiped out of every penny

They were great events those days."

In New York City? Oh! Of course meetings there had mainly to be indoors.

There was the old tabernacle—I suppose the greatest American arena, those times—certainly giantesque!

They were so deadly in earnest—so many of them such grand speakers!"

It is the very thing we were in search for and never could deliberately find.

writings are in certain points open to criticism, they yet show extraordinary power, & are more deeply American

I have fixed these pictures up, thinking they were better to go over.

W. now remarks, "I knew Young—knew him pretty well—though we were never intimate. True blue, John!

They were good to look at? "Yes, and not less good to eat. I have one left."

was a good speaker, a splendid speaker: luminous, good presenter of 'logical conclusions,' as they were

When minister abroad, before the war, they were so sure he was to be President, they paid him special

But things were otherwise ordered, thank God!

s places and nooks, chairs, etc., were all pointed out to Wallace, who absorbed with evident relish.

But we were aroused. Into the parlor: there the old fireplace.

s condition, then about American municipal and social development.

His first contact with Walt Whitman was from Rossetti's collection of American poetry, and the first

He said, when asked if the book had in any way repulsed him at the start, "There were parts that did

I told him who were with me. "Bring them up for a minute: yes, all welcome, welcome!"

The others were soon there. Hearing them outside W. exclaimed, "Come in!" Tom first.

He and Bonsall were partners.

They were good days." Then suddenly, "But you fellows are awful late. What's up?

I thought you were already over the river."

When I returned W. exclaimed, "So you knew where they were? You seem to be all eyes!"

: "The most striking figure was Jacob Stæmpfli, the Swiss arbitrator, our strenuous friend, more American

would not like to be too certain about that 'greatest poet of the century'—perhaps he said greatest American

"If it were true, it would set our heads very high." I said, "But it is true."

Clifford was in and said to me today that Fenno, managing or city editor at the Times, assured him with