UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORN
A.
SAN D EGO
3 182201710 1965
WALT WHITMAN AND PETER DOYLE DRAWN BY H. D. YOUNG FROM A PHO TOGRAPH TAKEN BY RICE AT WASH INGTON D. C. IN 1869.
A SERIES OF LETTERS WRITTEN CALAMUS DURING THE YEARS 1868-1880 BY WALT WHITMAN TO A YOUNG FRIEND (PETER DOYLE) ^EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY RICHARD MAURICE BUCKE M.D. ONE OF WHITMAN S LITERARY EXECUTORS jfc
Jt,jt^J.&J.
"Publish
my name
and
hang up
my
picture as that of
the tenderest lover,
The
friend,
lover
was
the lover
s
portrait
of
whom
his
friend his
fondest,
Who
was not proud of his songs but of the measureless ocean of love within him and freely poured it forth." Leaves of Grass (Ed n 1892),
p.
102.
G. P. PUTNAM S SONS Jt BOSTON SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY. MDCCCXCVIII & &
ONDON
:
:
<*
ENTERED ACCORDING TO THE ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1897 BY LAURENS MAYNARD, IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON.
Written on the fly leaf of a copy of Specimen Peter Doyle at Washington, June, 1883. "
to
Days"
sent
I do well) Pete do you remember (of course you do those great long jovial walks we had at times for years, often moonlight (i866- 72) out of Washington City
or, Sundays, up and down way to "Good Hope the Potomac shores, one side or the other, sometimes ten miles at a stretch ? Or when you work d on the horsecars, and I waited for you, coming home late together or resting and chatting at the Market, corner 7th street and the Avenue, and eating those nice musk or water melons? Or during my tedious sickness and first paralysis ( 73) how you used to come to my solitary garret room and make up my bed, and enliven me and chat for "
nights,
;
and get the medicines before you went on Mrs. love to dear and Mr. Nash, .... Give duty? my I have not and tell them forgotten them, and never will. an hour or so
or perhaps go out
Dr. Drinkard had order d for
me
W. W.
WHEN
I
heard at the close of the day
how my name had been
receiv d with plaudits in the capitol, happy night for me that follow d,
And
else
when still
I
I
carous
d,
or
still it
was not a
when my plans were accomplish
d,
was not happy,
But the day when
I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of Autumn,
When
I
saw the
full
moon
in
the west
grow pale and disappear
in
the morning light,
When
wander d alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise, And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy, () then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish d me more, and the beautiful day pass d well, And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend, And that night when all was still I heard the waters roll slowly I
continually up the shores,
heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me, For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover I
in the cool night, In the stillness in the Autumn
moonbeams
his face
was inclined
toward me,
And
his
arm
lay lightly around
my
breast
and that night
I
was
happy. Leaves of Grass (td n i&ji) pp. 102-103.
I
have been privileged
to
read a series of letters ad
dressed by Whitman to a young man, whom I will call P., and who was tenderly beloved by him. They throw
and are superior to any hoped that they may be Whitman, it seems, met P. at Washington published. not long before the year 1869 when the lad was about They soon became attached, eighteen years of age. a flood of light
upon
commentary.
It is
"
Calamus,"
greatly to be
Whitman s friendship being returned with at least equal warmth by P. The letters breathe a purity and sim plicity of affection, a
naivete and reasonableness, which
are very remarkable considering the unmistakable inten Throughout them, Whitman shows sity of the emotion.
and wisest care for his young friend s wel him in material ways, and bestows upon him helps
the tenderest fare,
the
best
advice, the
heartiest
encouragement, without
Illness betraying any sign of patronage or preaching. He retired to Camden, and P., who soon attacked Walt.
was employed as of a railway, was
"
baggage-master on the freight
for long unable to visit him.
trains"
There
is
something very wistful in the words addressed from a dis son of responding tance by the aging poet to this I regret that we do not possess P. s answers. kisses." "
most readers, they would not appear highly interesting for it is clear he was only an artless and uncultured workman. JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS in Yet, probably, to
;
Walt Whitman
A
Study,
pp
78, 79.
I
HEAR
it
was charged against me that
I
sought to destroy
institu
tions,
But
really
I
am
neither for nor against institutions,
(What indeed have I in common with them the destruction of them ?) Only
I
will establish in
the
Mannahatta and
in
?
or
what with
every city of these
States inland and seaboard.
And
in
the fields and woods, and above every keel that dents the water,
Without
The
edifices or rules or trustees or
little
or large
any argument,
institution of the dear love of comrades. Leaves of Grass (Ed n 1X92)
p. 107
CONTENTS CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES OK WALT WHITMAN
S
LIFE
i
.
INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR, CONTAINING AN INTER VIEW WITH PETER DOYLE
...... ..... ...... .....
9
.
LETTERS OF 1868
LETTERS OF 1869 LETTERS OF 1870
LETTERS OK
1871
LETTERS OF 1872
LETTERS OF 1873 LETTERS OF 1874
LETTERS OF 1875
35
.
S3
.
61
LETTERS OF 1876-1880
.
.
.
81
.87 99 137 1
S9
165
I I I
I
WILL sing the song of companionship, show what alone must finally compact these, believe these are to found their own ideal of manly will
cating it in me, will therefore let flame from
I will I I
me
love, indi
the burning fires that were
threatening to consume me, lift what has too long kept down those smouldering
fires,
give them complete abandonment, will write the evangel-poem of comrades and of love, will
For who but I should understand love with all its sorrow and And who but I should be the poet of comrades? Leaves of Grail (Ed n
joy?
1891), p. 21.
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES OF WALT WHITMAN Born 3ist May, in West 1820, 21, 22, and early half of 1819.
3o.
Went to public Tended in a lawyer s
streets.
34. 37-
In printing
Long Island. At West Hills.
schools. office; then, a doctor
s.
learning the trade. Teaching country schools in Long Island.
Boarded
"
23.
LIFE
In Brooklyn, in Front street. In Cranberry, Johnson, Tillary, and Henry
24.
32
Hills,
S
45.
In
offices,
round."
New York city,
the country.
printing, etc.
Some farm-work.
Summers
in
Writes a number
and tales which are published in Demo Review 1841-5. In Brooklyn, editing daily paper, The Eagle. 47. 1848- 49. In New Orleans, on editorial staff of daily About this time went off paper, The Crescent. on a leisurely journey and working expedition of essays cratic
"
brother Jeff with me) through all the Middle and down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Lived a while in New Orleans, and worked there.
(
my
States,
After a time, plodded back northward, up the Mississippi, the Missouri, etc., and around to, and
by way
of,
the great lakes, Michigan, Huron, and
CALAMUS Erie,
to
Niagara
Falls
and Lower Canada
through Central New York, and down the Hudson." Personal Notes, W- W. finally returning
1850. 1851,
Publishing The Freeman newspaper in Brooklyn. Carpentering building houses in 53, 54.
52,
Brooklyn and selling them. 1855.
First issue of Leaves of Grass. Small quarto, 94 1 2 or nine hundred copies poems. Eight pages, printed.
1856.
(No
sale.)
Small i6mo., published by Fowler
Second issue of Leaves of Grass.
384 pages, 32 poems Wells, 308 Broadway,
&
Neu>
(Little or no
York.
sale.)
1860.
Third
issue
of Leaves of Grass.
published by Thayer
456 pages.
(2v E,ldridge,
1 1
6
\2mo.,
Washing
ton Street, Boston.
1862.
leaves Brooklyn and New York perma Goes down to the field of war. Winters nently. in Army of the Potomac, camped along partly VV.
W.
Rappahannock, Virginia. Begins his minis wounded. In the and among the Army hospitals. field i863- 64. At Washington City, as Government clerk, in 1865. Department of Interior. Is dismissed by Hon. James Harlan for having written an "indecent As comment on this book" i. e. L. of G. action W. D. O Connor writes governmental The Good Gray Poet, adjudged by Henry J. the
trations to the
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES to
Raymond American
be the most
another clerkship in
1866.
brilliant
monograph
Whitman
literature.
in
once given
at
Attorney General. Taps and Sequel to Drum Taps, poems written during the war, President Lincoln s Funeral Hymn, and other pieces, pages, 12 mo. office of
Drum
Prints
<)6
1867.
Washington. No publisher s name. Fourth edition of Leaves of Grass. 338 pages, 1 2 mo. The poems now begin the order and classifi cation
settled
eventually
publisher Notes on
s
New
upon.
York.
No
name.
Walt Whitman as Poet and Person, by
John Burroughs, published. 1868.
69,
Employed
70.
in Attorney-General s
Depart
ment, Washington. jSyi.
Delivers After
all,
Exposition), at the
New
tute.
1871.
not to Create only, (Song of the opening of the American Insti
York.
Fifth edition of Leaves of Grass, 384 pages, and to India 120 pp., both in one volume, 12 mo.
Passage
Washington, D.C.
now
the
Second
War
is
edition
Drum
Includes etc.
over,
of
Taps, Marches
(A handsome "
Burroughs
Notes
edition?) "
pub
lished.
1872.
Delivers
As a Strong Bird on Dartmouth
commencement, N. H. (now, in 1891 with thy
Pinions Free, at the
Equal Brood?) 3
Hanover, Thou Mother
College,
edition, entitled
CALAMUS 1872.
"Took a two months trip through the New Eng land States, up the Connecticut Valley, Vermont,
the Adirondack region
my
and
to
Burlington, to see
Hannah once more, returning had ;\nd, day-trip down Lake Champlain day down the Hudson."- Personal
dear sister
a pleasant the next Notes.
1873.
of this year, W. VV. prostrated by paraly Washington. Loses his mother by death. Leaves Washington for good, henceforth lives in
Opening sis,
at
Camden, New
Jersey.
Living in Camden, disabled and ill. Sixth or Centennial issue of Leaves of Grass
i874- 7S. 1876.
{printedfrom the plates of the fifth, 1871, edition}. Also another volume, Two Rivulets, composed of
prose
and poems
alternately.
(
Very handsome
and
Becoming rare. ) Health and strength now moderately improv
valuable.
1877-78. ing.
1879. 1880.
Journeys west to Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, etc. Journeys to Canada, and summers there at London Made a trip with Dr. with Dr. and Mrs. Bucke.
Bucke
to Hamilton, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal,
Quebec, down lakes and and up the Saguenay. 1
88 1.
St.
Lawrence by water
Seventh issue of Leaves of Grass, 382 pages, \zrno. Six months James R. Osgood Co., Boston.
&
after issue, J.
R. Osgood &* Co. are threatened with 4
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES and abandon
Stevens,
1882.
Massachusetts
by
prosecution
District
Attorney
the publication.
Eighth edition of Leaves of Grass\ from same plates 1 88 1 edition with last touches and corrections of
as
the author, containing all the poems from first to last
printed under W. Published by Rees Welch {afterwards David McKay), 23 South Ninth
two hundred and ninety-three
W. e-
s direct supervision. Co.,
Street,
Philadelphia, also prose writings,
autobio
graphy, Specimen Days and Collect" The author s parentage, early days on Long Island, and young manhood in New York City. Three etc.,
entitled
"
years experience in the Secession War, especially the
army
Convalescent
hospitals.
Also some literary
The
north.
criticisms,
latter part, Collect, includes
Vistas, the successive Prefaces
with
many
notes
notes,
and prose
afterward.
and jaunts west and Democratic
of Leaves of Grass,
compositions of various
^
^ pages, i2mo. Published by Rees Welch 6* Co. (afterwards David McKay.}
years.
1883.
Bucke
s
Walt
Whitman
is
published by David
McKay. 1884.
in
Camden, New
Jersey, to which city and where he remained until his 1873
Still living in
he came death.
iSSs- Sy.
Health steadily though slowly declining
lives very quietly,
though many friends (one or
CALAMUS more almost every uayj come to see him and many ways show an interest in him. 1888.
A
severe illness (increase of the old paralysis, etc.) He never regains brings him to death s door. this after this. Publishes year the volume strength
November Boughs
called,
1889.
in
also
and Prose in one large volume. The Walt Whitman birthday inaugurated
this year
Complete
Poems
celebrations were
by a dinner at
Camden
(see
Camden s compliment to Walt Whitman edited by Horace L. Traubel and published by David McKay). This year is published, in cele the volume
bration of the seventieth anniversary of the poet s birthday, the limited, autographed, pocket book edition
of L. of G. in which is included Sands at Seventy and Backward Glance er Traverd Roads. ( Out of
O
A
print, rare
189
1.
Goodbye
and
My
valuable.)
Fancy published, and immediately
after
andJinal edition of L. of G. includ all to date. Of this edition Whitman poems ing
wards
the tenth
says that he
sede it
all
as
poetic
1892.
"
:
would
like
previous ones.
by
far
his
it
to absolutely super
Faulty as
it is,
he decides
special and entire self-chosen
utterance."
Complete
Prose
Works,
Days and
including
the
previous
published by McKay uniform with above final edition of L. of G. Walt Whitman died 26th of March. Specimen
Collect
6
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES Wm.
Clarke
Sonnenschein 1893.
Whitman (Swan,
Walt
publishes
&
Co., London.) Walt Whitman s literary executors publish In Re Walt Whitman. John Addington Symonds pub lishes Walt Whitman, a Study (J. C. Nimmo,
London) also Oscar L. Triggs publishes Brown a Study in Democracy (Swan, ing and Whitman ;
Sonnenschein 1894.
The
Walt
&
Co., London).
Whitman fellowship
definitely organized
on 3ist
(International)
May
at
Reissers
,
Philadelphia.
1895.
Second annual meeting of Walt Whitman Fellow
May 31, at Mercantile Library Hall and Reissers in Philadelphia. Third annual meeting of Walt Whitman Fellowship (International) at Twentieth Century Club and
ship (International}
1896.
Hotel
Bellevue in Boston
Sloane Kennedy
(May
31).
William
publishes Reminiscences of Walt
Whitman
(Alexander Gardner, Paisley, Scot John Burroughs publishes Whitman, a
land,)
^///^(Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston) Donaldson publishes Walt Whitman (Francis P. Harper, 1897.
New
Thomas the
Man
York).
Fourth Annual Meeting of Walt Whitman Fellow ship
(International)
William the
May
Norman Guthrie
in
Philadelphia. publishes Walt Whitman 31,
Camt/en Sage (The Robert Clarke Co., Cin
cinnati).
I
WILL sound myself and comrades
only, I will never again utter a only their call, will raise with it immortal reverberations through the States, will give an example to lovers to take permanent shape and call
I
I
will
through the States. Leaves of Gras* (Ed n
1892), p. 97.
INTRODUCTION broken series of letters (perhaps three lost each one preserved, but all known to exist included) which make up the body of this little
THE for
volume, are here given with
and abandon and
literary imperfection
all
their
freedom
-verbatim.
They
none of the usual merits belonging to the published specimens of this form of composition, and are possessed
who know nothing
to those
Grass
of
of the author of Leaves of
may appear Readers, however, who know something it
is
very likely they
quite valueless. of
him
will find
them a homely, honest and wholesome flavor very far will from displeasing detect in them a sweet and in
nourishing quality comparable to that of the plain food fresh gathered from the pastures, the woods, the fields or But since in order to derive enjoyment and the garden. benefit from them, it is essential that the reader know something of the writer, I have thought well in offering
them
to the general public to prefix
some notes tending
light upon the personality of the man, Walt And first (avoiding as far as possible repe Whitman. tition of what has elsewhere been written) a few words of
to
throw
my own
personal experience. 9
CALAMUS I saw him first in 1877, three years before the last of It was one hot July day, the these letters were written.
place of meeting, Camden, New Jersey. a stranger, called to see the man whose
I
had, unasked,
own
writings (for
had read the Leaves with delight and en and the writings of others about him had thusiasm) awakened in me profound interest. The house was a three story red brick, on the street, I rang the bell. The door was opened facing the south.
many
years
I
by a pleasant-faced, almost
pretty, middle-aged woman, knew well ( and very much liked ) as Mrs. George Whitman the wife of the poet s brother. When I had told her who I had come to see she called "Walt Walt here is some one to see up the stairs
whom
you,"
I
afterwards
and showed me
into a very comfortable sitting-room I had only sat a few
to the left of the entrance hall.
minutes in the darkened and comparatively cool room when Walt Whitman entered. He walked slowly leaning his left leg, manifestly weaker than the right, on a cane He was suffering from the making him quite lame. paralysis mentioned in the letters. He was a man of about six feet in height and weighing
about two hundred pounds, erect, broad chested, dressed a white shirt with broad turnedin a light gray suit
down
His face collar open at the throat and no necktie. was broad and red, the picture of robust health, his hair and beard long and almost white. After he had welcomed me, which he did with cordiality, and we had
INTRODUCTION sat
down
to talk I
saw that
his eyes,
which were a good
part of the time half covered by heavy lids, were pale blue, that his nose was strong and straight, his lips full
and more expressive of tenderness than firmness, cheeks rosy and smooth almost as a boy
s
his
his ears
and extraordinarily handsome, his head mas and well rounded both from front to back and from side to side, his brows prominent and very high-arched. His open shirt showed the gray hair of his chest. Head and body were well and somewhat proudly carried. His ruddy face, his flowing, almost white, hair and beard, his large, fleshy
sive
spotless linen, his plain, fresh looking gray garments, ex Almost the domi haled an impalpable odor of purity.
was here is a man who is absolutely and with this came upon me an im pression of the man s simple majesty, such as might be produced by an immense handsome tree, or a large, mag nant
initial feeling
:
clean and sweet
nificent, beautiful animal.
The poet s voice, which was soft, clear and sympathetic, added much to the charm of his presence. In his speech the there was no attempt at smartness or cleverness all His was of that. reverse, indeed, language simple, sincere and direct, just as it is in these letters and in all his writings.
After sitting for a time in the room we took the street cars to the Delaware, crossed by the ferry, and then, by
an open adelphia.
car,
rode several miles up Market Street, Phil I noticed that the men
As we passed along
CALAMUS and boys,
drivers, conductors, ferry hands, laborers, shoe
blacks, news-boys
and the
rest nearly all
seemed
to
know
companion, and the unmistakable glance of affection which many of them gave in return for his quiet word or
my
of recognition was humanity and so far
nod of
Upon
something new in my experience has not been paralleled since.
it
our return to the Delaware we parted, he taking
the ferry back to
Camden,
I
Philadelphia. Any attempt the faintest notion of the effect
my
returning to
to
convey
to
hotel in
another even
upon me of that short and interview would be certainly seemingly commonplace foolish. hopeless, probably Briefly, it would be nothing more than the simple truth to state that I was, by it, lifted to and set upon a higher plane of existence, upon which I have more or less continuously lived ever since that
is,
for a period of eighteen years.
And my
feeling
toward the man, Walt Whitman, from that day to the present has been and is that of the deepest affection and All this, no doubt, was supplemented and reinforced by other meetings, by correspondence and by readings, but equally certainly it derived its initial and es
reverence.
sential vitality If
it
from that
were possible
troduction, to
reader
to
present
first,
me the
I
almost casual contact. should
like, in this brief in
man Walt Whitman
he was at the time these
as
letters
to the
were being saw of him
have given, in few words, what I Another and a better observer, John myself our for Burroughs, by, present purpose, a wonderful penned.
I
at that time.
INTRODUCTION While act stroke of luck has the following about him.* on the street car of which Peter Doyle was I give here a glimpse of him in conductor, he says ually riding
"
:
Washington on
a
Navy Yard horse car, toward the summer day at sundown. The
close of the war,| one
crowded and suffocatingly hot, with many passen on the rear platform, and among them a bearded, gers florid-faced man, elderly, but agile, resting against the car
is
dash, by the side of the intimate friend.
his
young conductor, and evidently
The man
wears a broad-brim
inside near
the door, a the working class, with two young Englishwoman, children, has had trouble all the way with the youngest, a strong, fat, fretful, bright babe of fourteen or fifteen
white
hat.
Among
the
jam
of
months, who bids
fair to
worry the mother completely
becoming a howling nuisance to everybody. As the car tugs around Capitol Hill the young one is more demoniac than ever, and the flushed and perspir ing mother is just ready to burst into tears with weari ness and vexation. The cars stops at the top of the Hill to let off most of the rear platform passengers, and the white-hatted man reaches inside and gently but firmly disengaging the babe from its stifling place in the mother s arms, takes it in his own, and out in the air. The astonished and excited child, partly in fear, out, besides
* Birds
and
Poets
Hurd and Houghton
N. Y. 1877
et seq. t
An
error
it
was
after the war, probably in 1867.
13
pp. 224
CALAMUS partly in satisfaction at the change, stops its screaming, and as the man adjusts it more securely to his breast,
chubby hands against him, and pushing off as can, gives a good long look squarely in his face as if satisfied snuggles down with its head on
its
plants as
far
it
then
and
than a minute is sound and peace another whimper, utterly fagged out. A square or so more and the conductor, who has had an unusually hard and uninterrupted day s work, gets off
his neck,
in less
fully asleep without
for his first
the
meal and
white-hatted
And now since morning. the holding slumbering babe
relief
man,
conductor the rest of the distance, keeping his eye on the passengers inside, who have by this time He makes a very good conductor, thinned out greatly. also, acts as
too, pulling
seems
the bell to stop or go on as needed, and
to enjoy the
The babe meanwhile
occupation.
cheeks close on his neck and gray beard, one of his arms vigilantly surrounding it, while the other rests its fat
and the signals, from time to time, with the strap flushed mother inside has a good half hour to breathe, and cool, and recover herself." Elsewhere the same ;
then living
writer
in
Washington and seeing Whitman
almost every day, drew from the sketch * Lethargic during an
life
the following outline
"
:
interview, passive
and
receptive, an admirable listener, never in a hurry, with the air of one who has plenty of leisure, always in per*
Galaxy,
i
Dec. 66
pp. 609 et seq.
INTRODUCTION feet
repose, simple
common
plain,
and
people,
direct in manners, a lover of meeter of savage and gentleman
on equal terms, temperate, chaste, sweet-breathed, tender and affectionate, of copious friendship, preferring always to meet as flesh and blood, and with a large,
summery, motherly soul that shines in all his ways and looks, he is by no means the rough people have been so willing to believe. Fastidious as a high caste Brahmin in his food and personal neatness and cleanli dressed, with a gray, open throat, a deep sympathetic voice, a kind, genial look, the impression he makes upon you is that of the best blood and breed ness, well
He reminds one of the first men the beginners; ing. has a primitive out-door look not so much from being in the open air as from the texture and quality of his make and
is
a look as of the earth, the sea, or the mountains, says a late champion of his usually taken,
for some great mechanic, or stevedore, or sea of or one kind or another. His laborer, man, grand marked features features physiognomy presents very
cause,
true antique pattern, almost obsolete in modern seen in the strong, square bridge of his nose, his high arching brows, and the absence of all bulging of the
faces
in
his
forehead, a face
statued Greek. life
:
and one
He feels
that he
must arrive
at his results
sympathy and absorption than by hard intel processes by the effluence of power rather than
rather by lectual
approximating in type to the does not mean intellect merely, but
;
CALAMUS and
In keeping with it. do not have the character of carefully poems elaborated specimens of gems cut and polished by the direct
by
this,
intellect, "
total application of
his
but are
warm and
vascular, like living organisms.
is an exception to most presents the rare phenomenon himself to intellectual labor without
In the matter of health he
known instances. of a man giving
He
suffering the slightest detriment to his physical powers
never knowing dyspepsia, nervousness, ennui, and entire stranger to
and
headache
until
:
an
in the
his presence
stopping too long consecutively army after the battles of the Wilderness with a collection of hospitals,
his
wounds, had inoculated his system with a malignant virus. And this robust bodily health, as we have said, is one key to his poems. The peculiar quality a quality as of the open air, the woods, the of them shore, we believe to be more or less attributable to this
gangrened
The absence of all pettiness, dallying and sensource. timentalism, follows from a like cause." I turn now to some words written of him about the same date by a man well entitled to be heard wherever Walt Whitman is the subject of discussion. A man well worth knowing for his own sake
a
man
of genius
observer, a thinker, and a powerful writer. lover of Whitman and of the cause for which lived
and worked
Three Tales pp. 239 et seq.
William Douglas
Houghton,
Mifflin
16
&
Co.
O
an
A warm Whitman
Connor,* speak-
New York
1892
INTRODUCTION 67 (just before the earlier of the He was tall here given were written ) says a brow not large, but full, and seamed stalwart his friend in
ing of
"
letters
and
:
:
with kindly wrinkles a complexion of rosy clearness heavy-lidded, firm blue eyes, which had a steadfast and :
draining regard
:
a short, thick, gray beard almost white,
:
and thinly flowing dark gray expressed a rude sweetness.
His countenance was dressed in a long,
hair.
He
dark overcoat, much worn, and of such uncertain fashion it almost seemed a gaberdine. As he stood there
that
the gracious darkling light, he looked an image of long and loving experience with men, of immovable in
composure and rosy youth
from
charity,
of serene
in reverend age.
his garments.
A
wisdom, of immortal perfume exhaled
faint
In the lapel of his coat he wore a
In his aspect were singularly blended and the child. The child in him in
sprig of holly. the
prophet
spired
love
:
the
prophet,
awe.
He drew and
he
repelled. "
In a way
aspect and alertness
quite in keeping with his unconventional sort of measured
manner he moved with a
among
the group, paying his simple and affec
tionate addresses to each person, with the air of being already on familiar terms with them, and of knowing all
about them thus establishing himself in close rapport with every one, as only a man with powerful intuitions, vivid impressions, and great magnetic force and dignity :
could have done, and leaving them with a sense as 17
if
CALAMUS
****** ******
something them.
electric
and very sweet had swept through
"He advanced with solemn and stately tread, composed and calm, but dilated to his fullest manly majesty, and from brow to foot he seemed clothed with an august
and strong illumination.
In the long soundless pause, it seemed as if heaven * * and earth were still. A change had come upon him. The rosy color had died from his face in a clear splendor, and his form, reg nant and masculine, was clothed with inspiration, as "
with a dazzling aureole. Love said the gray redeemer, lifting his clear face, bright with deathless smiling, and wet with the sweet "
waters of immortal tears,
There
love, love
!
That includes
all.
nothing in the world but that nothing in all Love is better than the world. Better than all is love. is
all."
That the friendship existing between Walt Whitman and Peter Doyle was, as compared with the average sen timent that passes under that name, exceptional and re markable there can be no doubt, but it does not seem at all clear that there was anything about it which was out of the regular
and ordinary course when considered as a Whitman. The present editor possesses
fact in the life of
series of letters
by the poet
to other 18
young men evincing
INTRODUCTION nearly as great if not as great affection on his part, and that section of the Leaves named Calamus (written long before he knew Doyle) proves the existence of previous friendships at least equally
two
letters at
such
)
random
I (
warm and
tender.
for the purpose of illustrating
Whitman "Oct.
s
would
2,
just
I
give here
could give a small volume of
what seems
to
me
phenomenal capacity for friendship. 68 Dear friend Harry Hurt I thought I but no doubt drop you a line for yourself
posted about me by my letters to Pete, as you or any of my particular friends who wish to, should read them ( he knows who I would be will I leave it to him ) Harry, you ing should read them would much enjoy going round N. Y. with me, if it were possible, and then how much I should like having you This great city, with all its crowds and splen with me. and dor, Broadway fashion and women, and amusements, and the river and bay, and shipping, and the many mag nificent new buildings, and Central Park and 5th Avenue, and the endless processions of private vehicles and the finest teams I ever saw, for miles long of a fine afternoon altogether, they make up a show that I can richly for a change from my Wash spend a month in enjoying
you keep I
am
fully
willing
ington
life.
I
sometimes think that
I
am
the particular
man who
enjoys the show of all these things in N. Y. as if was all got up just for more than any other mortal
me
to observe
and study.
Harry,
I
wish when you see
Ben. Thompson, conductor, you would say 19
I
sent
him
my
CALAMUS love and have not forgot him. Let him read this letter. I I send him a Newspaper, the N. Y. Clipper. have
marked the piece about the Five Points. I went down there myself for fun, three nights ago, with a friend of mine, a policeman, and that account in the Clipper is a only not half rank enough. very good description wish you to tell John Towers, conductor, I send him
I
my
and we will see each other again one of these days. I send him a Clipper also with an account of the Five Points Harry, you let one of them lend you the paper, it will amuse you and read the account I was there was instructive but disgusting it I two hours saw
love,
one of the handsomest white
The
other
is
68.
"Oct.
let
girls there
black and white are
about 18
you know
as follows
all
I
ever saw, only
intermingled."
:
Dear Lewy, I will write you just a line to I am here on I have not forgotten you.
and shall stay nearly all this month. Duffy is here, He has been up driving on Broadway and 5th av. line. leave,
the is
Hudson River this summer driving hotel coach. He same old Duffy. I have heard that William Sydnor,
the
on 65, was whether he tell
will
him
laid is
up
well,
sick.
I
wish to hear about him, and at work. If you see him
and again
have not forgot him, but send him my love and be back in Washington again. Tell Johnny Miller
there
Balky
I
is still
Bill,
Prodigal,
a sprinkling of the old
Broadway drivers
Fred Kelley, Charley McLaughlin, Sandy,
etc.,
etc.,
20
are
still
here.
Tom
left.
Riley,
Frank Mc-
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE Kinney, and several other old drivers are with Staging
Express.
is
rather
Adams
dull."
And finally far more important in this connection I give than anything that I or any one else could say the result of an interview with the man to whom the letters
were addressed.
In May, 1895, in company with Horace L. Traubel, I visited Doyle, whom I had known for years but had not seen for a long time.
I
explained to him that
it
was
my intention to publish these letters and asked him if he He first in felt there was any insuperable objection ? Of what use are they?" and then, upon my quired assurance that ( in some measure ) they would do for the "
world the same service they had done for him, he further Do you think Walt, if he were here, if he inquired could be asked, would be willing? Whereupon, I, "
:
""
answering affirmatively, was told that I should go ahead," doing that which seemed to me best, since he felt en "
"
in my hands. It was likewise by Doyle s safe" consent that Mr. Traubel took notes of the conversation tirely
that ensued,
and
it is
only after his revision that these The conversation was desul
are printed in this volume. tory but serves to show what
manner of man Doyle is and he himself still indissolubly ties feels what sacred by Mr. bound to Whitman. Doyle is reported almost abso lutely in his
I
own words.
was born
in
1847,
He
said
:
in Ireland, 21
and was about two
CALAMUS Father was a black years old when brought to America. smith. We lived our first years in America at Alexan
Bad times came on in Richmond, where he had been
dria, Virginia.
went
to
an iron foundry.
While there I was and when the war broke out
Fayette Artillery, the Confederate Army.
my
Getting
ton, forced to look out for myself, I
stuck to the case as
it
was.
I
might have been was there, and so became a horse-car
will talk of
Walt, nothing suits
When you
never used to take
much
time.
There were some few
favored. that
to
is,
Washing
that region
I
This other business came
mence anywhere.
entered
I
conductor.
me
I
parole in
hung round
with no particular object in view. more successful somewhere else, but I just
Father 1856-7. offered a place in a member of the
later on.
better.
I
Yes, will
are tired stop me.
newspaper men in
I
com Walt
in the old
Washington he rather
They always made a good deal of him, of course they came to him often enough for news or
opinions or such stuff. best style, you know.
He could shut a man He had a freezing way
off in the
him that he was harsh. But to know never got people yet and I it was. meant what he said. He said remember one special night, we met a half-loaded fellow a newspaper man, with some of his journalist friends since prominent, who was then pretty well acquanted with Walt. This man was offensively familiar with Walt Walt insisted on introducing his friends, and all that. would not be introduced. froze him out held him off "no"
22
"no"
in
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE was simply impossible for the intruder to make his Now, Walt was always dignified point. simple enough, and this is a sample of the manner he showed to all too alike, famous or plain folks, who stepped across what It
he thought his private border-line. How different Walt was then in Washington from the Walt you knew in the later years! You would not be
He was an athlete great, great. I knew him it. do wonderful lifting, running, walking. You ask where first met him ? It is a curious story. We felt to each
lieve
to I
other at once.
I
was a conductor.
The
night was very
he had been over to see Burroughs before he the storm was awful. Walt came down to take the car it was thrown round his shoulders had his blanket stormy,
an old sea-captain. He was the only was a lonely night, so I thought I would go passenger, in and talk with him. Something in me made me do it and something in him drew me that way. He used to say there was something in me had the same effect on him. Anyway, I went into the car. We were familiar at I put my hand on his knee we understood. He once in fact went all did not get out at the end of the trip I think the year of this was the way back with me. he seemed
like
it
1866.
From
we were the biggest Washington until 1872, when
that time on
sort of
I went on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Walt was then in the I would frequently go out to Attorney-General s office. the Treasury to see Walt Hubley Ashton was commonly
friends.
I
stayed in
;
23
CALAMUS he would be leaning familiarly on the desk where talked writing. They were fast friends
there
Walt would be a
Walt rode with me often
good deal together.
often
He rode round with me on the always at night. last trip sometimes rode for several trips. Everybody knew him. He had a way of taking the measure of the at noon,
driver s
had
hands
calf-skin gloves
winter in Georgetown presents to the men. cars as
him, or
we passed
"Hullo,
Walt!"
something
like.
made
for
them every
these gloves were his personal He saluted the men on the other
threw up his hand. They cried to and he would reply, "Ah, there!"
He
was welcome always as the
flowers in
May. Everybody appreciated his attentions, and he seemed to appreciate our attentions to him. Teach the boys to read, write and cipher? I never heard There must be some mistake. He did of, or saw that. not make much of what people call learning. But he gave us papers, books, and other such articles, too. In his habits he was very temperate. He did not smoke. People seemed to think it odd that he didn t, for every body in Washington smoked. But he seemed to have a He was a very moderate positive dislike for tobacco. drinker. to see the
You might have thought something ruddiness of his complexion
different,
but his
com
We might take a drink or plexion had no whiskey in it. It was our two together occasionally nothing more. on to to a hotel Avenue after I practice Washington go was done with
my
car.
I
remember 24
the place well
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE there on the corner. lay
my
head on
my
there, wait, watch,
would go to sleep Walt would stay undisturbed would wake
Like as not
hands on the keep
me
I
table.
me up when
In his eating he the hour of closing came. a was had but was vigorous, big appetite, simple in his tastes, not caring for any great dishes.
never knew a case of Walt
s being bothered up by a he had nothing special to do with any woman except Mrs. O Connor and Mrs. Burroughs. His disposition was different. Woman in that sense I
woman.
In
fact,
Walt was too clean, he hated No trace of any kind of which was not clean. anything I ought to know about him those in him. dissipation we were awful close together. In the afternoon I years would go up to the Treasury building and wait for him to never came into his head.
Then we d stroll out together, get through if he was busy. without often any plan, going wherever we happened to This occurred days in and out, months running. he very Towards women generally Walt had a good way But he did that with men, too. easily attracted them. get.
And it was an irresistible attraction. He had an me men and women. the
same
for
all,
I
ve had
many
easy, gentle
tell
way
no matter who they were or what their
sex.
Walt was not at the theatre the night Lincoln was shot. was me he got all that from in the book they are I heard that the President and his almost my words. wife would be present and made up my mind to go. It
25
CALAMUS There was a great crowd in the building. I got into the second gallery. There was nothing extraordinary in the I saw everything on the stage and was in performance. a good position to see the President s box. I heard the I had no idea what it was, what it meant pistol shot. it was sort of muffled. I really knew nothing of what had occurred until Mrs. Lincoln leaned out of the box and cried,
tell you what I felt that Walt s piece piece is exactly right. I saw Booth on the cushion of the box, saw him jump over, saw him catch his foot, which He got up on his feet, turned, saw him fall on the stage. "The
President
then, or saw.
there, called to this
I
I
me
damned
"
:
lingered almost the
I
saw me still we re going to
into the gallery,
Get out
building
t
in
could not hear for the hub-
suppose
A soldier came
last person.
burn
down
put
cried out something which
hub and disappeared.
needn
I
is shot!"
It is all
down
of here "
!
I
!
said
"
:
If that is
so
"
I
get out We took great walks together
ll
!
off
towards or
to
Alex
We
went plodding along the road, Walt andria, or We would talk of ordinary always whistling singing. matters. He would recite poetry, especially Shakespeare he would hum airs or shout in the woods. He was often.
always active, happy, cheerful, good-natured. Many of our walks were taken at night. He never seemed to tire.
When we to myself, further."
got to the ferry opposite Alexandria I would say ll draw the line here I won t go a step "I
But he would take everything for granted 26
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE we would
and walk back home on the other He was eloquent them. It was surprising what he knew and the concerts of the Marine Band
cross the river
Walt knew
side.
when he talked
of
of the operas, too,
all
always tempted him.
we
He
never failed these concerts
usually strayed in there together.
He
led the band.
Birds
used
it
a long time after
mother was
alive.
with your mother?
"
The
I
He
off
me
man
Scala
"The
Rival
old
to play a piece called
Walt could get
"
He was his
about the stars.
almost as good as the band. to go to New York, while
asked him:
was a
little
"Will we stop there doubtful about that.
We
both stayed in Jersey City. The Whitmans lived on Portland Avenue. We took our dinner with Mrs. Whit
We would take a bus-ride in the morning then go Brooklyn and have dinner. After we had had our din Now take a long walk to aid ner she would always say man.
to
"
Mrs. Whitman was a lovely woman.
There Walt and I had a week of it there in New York that time. It was the opera he took me always impressed upon my mind All the omnibus drivers knew him. to see Polyato." digestion."
were just the three of us eating together.
"
We
always climbed up to the top of the busses, our heels
hanging over. I would Yes, Walt often spoke to me of his books. I don know him t what are tell you trying to get And this is the idea I would always arrive at from his reply. "
at."
All other peoples in the world have had their representa here is a great big race with no repre-
tives in literature
:
27
CALAMUS He
sentative. tative.
It
was
would undertake
to furnish that represen
human being
also his object to get a real
This had never been done before.
into a book.
These
were the two things he tried to impress upon me every time we talked of books Walt especially of his books. used often
to
We
Chronicle.
put a piece in Forney s Washington I was never really talked about politics.
am
a Catholic
still
supposed to be one. But I have many years I would not know
not been to church for so
do there. He had pretty vigorous ideas on but he never said anything slighting the church. religion, I don t know if he felt different from what he He spoke. what
to
never went to church
didn
t
seem
to favor
the hereafter. "
there can
t
"
didn
preachers
like form,
t
at all.
There must be
I
ceremonies
asked him about he said
something,"
be a locomotive unless there
is
somebody
to
have heard him say that if a person was a kind of and I guess he thought all persons person right of he couldn t be destroyed in the kind persons right run
it."
I
next world or
this.
Dollars and cents had no weight with Walt at didn t spend recklessly, but he spent everything
on other people.
Money was
a thing he didn
all.
t
He
mostly think of
as other people thought of it. It came and went, that was all there was to it. He did nt buy many books, but I re
member
that once he bought a which afterward disappeared,
probably
it
was given away. 28
set of I
Alexander Dumas,
could not
tell
where,
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE I
have Walt
s
raglan here [goes
to closet
puts
it
ori\,
I
am
in the old now and then put it on, lay down, think I Then he is with me again. It s the only thing I times. When I get it on and kept amongst many old things.
stretched out on the old sofa I It is like
Aladdin
lose the old
man.
s
He
is
in a crisis
trouble
I
lamp. I
am
very well contented. for a minute
do not ever
always near by. When I am in ask myself, What would Walt "
have done under these circumstances decide Walt would have done that
"
?
and whatever
I
I do.
Walt s mood was very even, but I saw him mad as a March hare one night. He was on the hind end of my car, near him stood an old fellow ( a carpet-bag senator - I don t know his name ) near-sighted, wore glasses, peevish, lantern-jawed, dyspeptic.
each other. the old
The
first
thing
man cussed Walt
I
They rubbed
against there was a rumpus, Get out of the way, you
knew "
said,
and Walt only answered: "Damn you!" The old a loaded stick with him he raised it would have struck Walt and perhaps killed him but I came be "
man had
tween just in time. I cried: "Get in the were both in the street by this time ( they glad to see the affair
were made.
ended
All effects of
that way.
it
car, )
and
Walt!"
I
was
No
explanations vanished at once from Walt s
Walt s temper was very even, it was him to get angry and he must have been No man ever had better control over provoked.
face and manner. a rare thing for greatly himself.
He
treated everybody fairly, generously. 29
He
CALAMUS wasn t meek, but he was no fighting-cock. He always I d get had a few pennies for beggars along the street. out of patience sometimes, he was so lenient. Don t "
you think
its
said
s
"
it
wrong?"
I
never wrong,
d ask him.
"No,"
Wouldn
Peter."
t
he always they drink they did it
it away ? He shook his head: "no, and if wouldn t alter the matter. For it is better to give to a dozen who do not need what is given than to give to none at all and so miss the one that should be fed." Walt was kind to animals. He admired them, but he and ani mals never came to close quarters. His treatment of them was always generous, I never knew him cruel to man or beast. in CamHe had a dog once Tip den, but he was not fond of animals for pets or especially glad to have them round him. In Washington Walt told me he had made up his mind
to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Lincoln every
year.
I
have heard that he did
called the thing a
"religious
until his death.
it
duty."
He
Do you remember
the big black stick he carried even up to the last ? I gave it to him. It delighted him. Gifts of that sort he always valued highly the plainest, it might be, the most. I
once had the manuscript of Drum Taps Walt a present of it. But somehow, when we moved, "
"
;
made me
the manuscript disappeared was either destroyed or stolen. Part of it was in print, but most of it was written.
was pieced together in that fashion. did not appreciate it as I should now.
All his manuscript
At the time
I
3
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE Walt s manners were always perfectly simple. We would tackle the farmers who came into town, buy a water-melon, sit down on the cellar door of Bacon s
&
Pennsylvania Avenue, halve it and grocery, Seventh eat it. would People go by and laugh. Walt would only smile and say,
"They
can have the laugh
we have the
melon."
You couldn
t
get a better idea of this simplicity than
you of a visit paid him by Edmund Yates, in 1873, while he laid in the attic there in Washington, Yates called and sent up paralyzed, I being his nurse. if
I
tell
After some objections, mostly on my part, I referred the matter to Walt, who instantly said Admit him let him come When Yates got into the room his card.
"
:
in."
Walt saluted him by his first name and he addressed Walt as Mr. Whitman." No two men were ever more different. Yates elegant, dressy, cultured Walt plain, sick in bed, his room all littered and poor. But both men were per "
home.
at
fectly
never was.
animated
Yates
did
not
seem fazed,
Walt
In a few minutes they were in the midst of
talk.
When
Yates, after awhile, got up and
Good bye they seemed as if they had known each other many years. Yes, Traubel, I know who it was Walt meant when he said
"
"
:
spoke
to
woman.
you of Grant s morning visits afoot to the old Grant was then President. He would stroll
The woman he visited in known in Washington. Walt
from the White House alone. this
way was
a widow, well
CALAMUS would laugh at me trying to get the President to ride I would motion Grant he would shake his head. Then later on we would see him at the widow s window, Grant was very fond of the outside, leaning on the sill. in fact, she was much liked by men old lady generally. Garfield and Walt were very good friends. Garfield
had a large manly voice we would be going along the and we would hear Avenue together Walt and me ;
Garfield s salutation at the rear.
Walt with the cry
we heard
"
:
After
all
He
always signalled
not to create only
"
!
we always knew who was coming.
that
When
Garfield
would catch up and they would enter into a talk I would back sometimes. They spoke of books mainly but Often they would not of every other earthly thing also. first run and would the go up and down the get through I was out of it. Avenue several times together Our tramping ground was between the C apitol and the ;
fall
Treasury.
Towards the end tinued to write me.
I
saw very
He
little of Walt, but he con never altered his manner toward
me; here are a few more recent postal cards, you will see show the same old love. I know he wondered why I saw so little of him the three or four years before he died, but when I explained it to him he understood. that they
Neverthless, too
small
was only to Walt
I
this
am
sorry for
it
now.
The
have made the difference
to :
In the old days
I
I
allowed.
It
had always open doors
going, coming, staying, as 32
obstacles were
I
chose.
Now,
I
INTERVIEW WITH PETER DOYLE had to run the gauntlet of Mrs. Davis and a nurse and what not. Somehow, I could not do it. It seemed as if things were not as they should have been. Then I had I was his a mad impulse to go over and nurse him. I understood him. he understood me proper nurse loved each other deeply But there were things pre I saw them. I should have gone to venting that, too.
We
see him, at least, in spite of everything. I did not know it then, but it is all right. I
he knows
never swerved from him
enough. I have talked a long while.
warm
it
I
know
it
now,
Walt realized
now
Let us drink up
that
this
is
beer
You gentlemen
take day. the glasses, there I will drink right from the bottle. Now, here s to the dear old man and the dear old times
together.
It s
a fearful ;
and the new
times, too,
and every one that
33
s to
come!
AMONG I
the
men and women the multitude, me out by secret and
perceive one picking
Acknowledging none else, not parent, child, any nearer than I am, Some are baffled, but that one is not
wife,
divine signs,
husband, brother,
that one
knows me.
Ah
lover and perfect equal, meant that you should discover me so by faint indirections, And I when I meet you mean to discover you by the like in you. I
Leaves of Grass (Ed n
34
1892), p.
m.
LETTERS OF
1868
I
DEAR Friday, 25 Sept., 1868. received your second letter yester is a real comfort to me to get such
YORK,
NEW
BOY.
I it
day
letters
does
me
esting.
day. to-day,
good.
Every word was quite inter
from you, dear friend.
The Star came
all right,
suppose you got my second letter last Wednes There is nothing new or special to write about I
still
Sunday.
I
I
I
thought
put
down
would send you a few lines for hand and write all about myself
off
and my doings, etc., because I suppose that will be really what my dear comrade wants most to hear while we are I am doing a little literary work according separated. as I feel in the mood composing on my books. I am a small of edition Leaves of Grass for 1867 fixed having and This and some other things give me up printed.* *
Drum- Taps was
published early in 1865.
Then (upon Lincoln
s
was withdrawn from the market until Sequel to Drum-Taps, containing When Lilacs Last in the DoorYard Bloom d was ready. In 1867 an edition of L. of G. was published but these two sections were not included in it. Later in 1868, Drum-Tapt and its sequel were incorporated into the Leaves but without change of the title page. It is this work of incorpora tion and the issue of a small edition of the thus reconstituted L. of G. which is referred to in the text. assassination,
14 April)
it
35
CALAMUS a
little
occupation.
Upon
the whole though eat my
I
do much but go around a great deal
don
t
rations
and am having sleep at night like a top in a so far, quiet way, enjoying New Vork, good times, and lots of friends. Among of mother the society my every time
other things I spend a portion of the day with the pilots The river and of the ferry boats sailing on the river.
bay of
New York
tion to me.
the water
is
and Brooklyn are always a great attrac a lively scene. At either flood or ebb if in haste, and the as always rushing along It is
crowded with steamers, ships and small directions, some coming from moving out. others sea, Among the pilots are some of my going I see when them up in the pilot friends particular house on my way to Brooklyn I go up and sail to and I enjoy an hour or two sail of this kind fro several trips. indeed. much My mother and folks are well and very river
is
often
in different
craft
are engaged just these times in the delightful business of I should assist, but have hired a substitute in moving. I send the shape of a stout young laboring man. you by with the piece in mail a copy of the roadway [Magazine]
H
the same as
I
had
in
you much only
the car one day.
It will
not
inter
coming from me. I think of you very often, dearest comrade, and with more I find it first rate to calmness than when I was there. est
as something
think of you, Pete, and to know that yau are there all right and that I shall return and we will be together I don t know what I should do if I hadn t again. you to 36
LETTERS OF think of and look forward 7,
that I wish to be
to.
1868
Tell
remembered
to
Tom him
Hassett, on No, Pete. particular.
you entirely well of your cold. glad to hear that your mother is all right of her cold. I
hope
this will find
I
am
This
the time of year when they are apt to be pretty trouble I should like to have seen that match played some. is
between the Nationals and Olympic.
II
New
York, 29
Sept.,
1868.
DEAR BOY
PETE.
It
is
here to-day and I am feeling first rate. We have had quite a dark and rainy spell, but now the pros splendid
good weather, clear sky, bright sun, coolish and I shall spend an hour or two on the river to Your letter of the 27th, Sunday, came this morn day. Also two Stars, 25th and 26th, the latter with ing. Hinton s speech, the other containing an item about me. pect
is
no dust.
The previous Star
arrived with your note of 23rd written
just as you were going to see the Black
Crook
and next
morning another Star came.
Peter, you are a good boy and shall have your reward in heaven if not on earth. Now how about that cold ? I see you went to work
You seem to be under the weather more than Dear Comrade, I hope this will find you all right thought. and well as ever. I suppose you are working this week. Yesterday I spent most of the day in Brooklyn helping the folks to finish up the moving business. Got through Saturday. I
37
CALAMUS just after dark.
Somehow
I
don
have not been
seem
to
to
any amusements
care about them and
yet.
go around enough during the day. There is considerable banners swung across the political excitement here I
t
I
and big transparencies in front I have seen several splen did torch-light processions and out door meetings, etc., of course the great majority in New York and Brooklyn is I will now bid for Seymour and Blair.* you good-bye and God bless for this time you, dear Comrade, and keep streets almost every block,
of the different headquarters.
you all right. Will write a speak to the other boys in my
line to
No.
6.
And
will
next.
Ill
Nnv You
York,
Oct. 2,
DEAR BOY AND COMRADE.
1868.
a pleasure to get my letters a real pleasure to me to write to you.
say
well boy,
it is
I
it is
just write, off
hand, whatever comes up, and, as I said before, mostly about myself and my own doings. There have been some tremendous fires here one in Brooklyn eight or ten first class steam fire engines out tell Harry on No. he would see quite a change in the I can attend to here.
1 1
have more than
fire I
department.
I
find myself sur
rounded by friends, many old ones, some new ones, some young and attractive, and plenty of invitations and amuse* Democratic candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency in of 68.
fall
38
LETTERS OF ments.
and
I
wife,
1868
have received an invitation from a gentlemen friends of mine, at Providence, R. I., and shall
go there and spend a few days latter part of October. How about the cold ? I hope it is well. Dear Pete, with all my kind friends here and invitations, etc.,
and gratefully reciprocate their kind you and think of you there. Well, I have written enough for this time. Dear Pete, I
I
though
love
them
all
ness, I finally turn to
guess
I
now bid you good-bye
will
for the present.
yourself and God bless you,
my
Take care
loving comrade.
of
I will
write again soon.
IV
DEAR PETE.
Oct. 6, 1868.
There
is
nothing special The time slips away you about. mighty quick. It seems but a day or two since I left Washington yet am now on the fourth week of my fur Last night was about the greatest political show I lough. with
me
to write to
ever saw even in
and torch
New York
them, to see the sights. let
loose
I
always enjoy seeing the City
and on the rampage as
it
was
last
night to the
cannot begin to tell you how the Demo showed themselves by thousands and tens of
fullest extent.
crats
a grand Democratic meeting I was out in the midst of
light processions.
I
The whole City was lit up with torches. Cannons were fired all night in various parts of the City. As I was on my way home in a 2nd Avenue car between 12 and i o clock we got blocked in by a great part of the
thousands.
39
CALAMUS returning procession. I take it. enjoyed
Of course we had
to just stand
and
hugely from the front platform. They were nearly an hour passing us, streaming both In the procession were all sorts of objects, models sides. it
of ships forty or
fifty feet long, full manned, cars of women, etc., etc. The ranks spread across the street, and everybody carried a blazing torch. Fire works were going off in every direction. The sky was full of big balloons letting off rockets and Roman candles way up among the stars. The excitement, the rush, and the endless torches gave me great pleasure. Ever and anon the cannon, some near some distant. I heard them It sounded like a distant engage long after I got to bed.
liberty with
send you the Herald with a sort of account of The show, but it doesn t do half justice to it. were of no account at all. speeches ment.
I
the
and paper from me Saturday, your welcome letter of Oct. ist, I read Mr. Noyes western letters with also the Star. So you have something new in R. R. new pleasure. The R. R. [street railroad] business offices and rules. I
suppose you got a
Oct. 3rd.
I
letter
received
They go through these long routes very different. rush no mercy to the cattle. The 3rd Avenue R. R. lost 36 horses in one day last summer,
here
on
is
the
one of those hot days. We are having pleasant weather So long, dear just now, seems like Indian summer. Pete.
From your
loving comrade,
40
WALT.
LETTERS OF
1868
V New
DEAR
York, Oct. 9, 1868.
PETE.
It is
splendid
I was out early bright and cool. walk a short the two river squares from by only taking where I live. I received your letter last Monday, also the Star same date, and glad enough to hear from you and the oftener the better, every word is good (I am grateful to these young men on the R. R. for their love and remembrance to me Dave and Jim and Charley I sent you a Sorrell, Tom Hassett, Harry on No. n). letter on the 6th which I suppose you received next day. Tell Henry Hurt I received his letter of Oct. 5th all Political meetings here right, and that it was welcome. The coming Pennsylvania and Ohio elec every night. The fall is upon tions cause much talk and excitement. I already begin to think us overcoats are in demand. A month has nearly about my return to Washington. I an have received invitation from a passed away. his of and friends wife, mine, at Providence, gentleman R. I., and shall probably go down there and spend a few
here this forenoon
;
days
latter part of
part of in
it
just to
up
?
Shall
I tell
I
writing, etc., about 12 and loafe somewhere or
down town ant
you about it or generally spend the forenoon then take a bath fix up and go
October.
my room
out
on
fill
and
call
on someone
or on business, or perhaps is very pleas like it ride a trip with some driver friend if it
I feel
Broadway from 23rd
Street to Bowling Green, three
CALAMUS each way. (Every day I find I have plenty to do, is occupied with something.) hour You know it is every a never ending amusement and study and recreation for miles
me
hours of
pleasant afternoon on see everything as Broadway stage of a sort endless panorama living, shops you pass, and splendid buildings and great windows and on the to ride a couple of
a
in
a
You
this way.
:
broad sidewalks crowds of tinually passing
women
richly dressed
altogether different, superior in style
con
and
in fact a per looks from any to be seen anywhere else men too dressed in high style, fect stream of people and then in the streets the and plenty of foreigners
crowd of carriages, stages, carts, hotel and private coaches, and in fact all sorts of vehicles and many first class teams, mile after mile, and the splendor of such a thick
great ings
street
many
of
and so many tall, ornamental, noble build them of white marble, and the gayety and
motion on every side attraction
all
this
is
you will not wonder how much on a fine day, to a great loafer like :
me, who enjoys so much seeing the busy world move by him, and exhibiting itself for his amusement, while he Then takes it easy and just looks on and observes. about the Broadway drivers, nearly all of them are my Some have been attached to me for personal friends. years and
I
to
mentioned them the trip
I
them. in
But
a former
I
believe
letter.
I
have already I rode
Yesterday
describe, with a friend on a 5th Avenue stage [of] namesake of yours, PeteCalhoun, I
No. 26, a sort
4*
LETTERS OF
The day was
have known him 9 or 10 years. So trip muchly.
I try to
enjoyed the in
my
my
I
fine
and
I
put in something
you an idea of how New York.
letters to give
time and what
1868
I
see here in
pass part of
Of course
I
Some four or five hours every have quite a variety. I The most day always spend in study, writing, etc. I am writing two or other serves for a good change. about 225 copies of I am finished having pieces.
three
Leaves of Grass bound up,
to
Those Then there my new and
supply orders.
copies form all that is left of the old edition. will be no more in the market till I have
improved edition set up and stereotyped, which it is my present plan to do the ensuing winter at my leisure in Mother is well, I take either dinner or Washington.
Remember me to David supper with her every day. Stevens and John Towers. Tell Harry on No. 1 1 I will to
go
the
hall
the Sheriff
s
and see
again
the present.
if
I
can find that
man
in
send you my love and so long for Yours for life, dear Pete (and death the I
office.
same).
VI
New
York, Oct.
DEAR BOY PETE.
68.
14,
great excitement here over the elections, as I suppose there also.
The Democrats
licans
success
are is
on
now
their
is
returns
the
same
of in
There yesterday
certain.
As
horses. I
43
I
write the
s
Washington
look blue enough and the
high
is
Repub
suppose Grant
s
bands are out here
CALAMUS It is now parading the streets and the drums beating. we will hear the big guns and see To-night
forenoon.
the blazing bonfires. I
to-day. is
was glad
It is
to get
dark and cloudy weather here your letter of Friday gth which
also a .SVarat the
the last
same
time.
received mine of the gth and the papers I am about as well as usual. Express.
suppose you
I
the Star and
Mother is well and my brothers the same. I am going to-morrow to Should you write Providence, R. I., to spend a few days. four or five after time within days receiving this any direct to me Care of Hon. Thomas Davis, J roi-idence, R.I. My friend O Connor is quite unwell and is absent from Washington away down on the New England Coast. I I believe I received a long letter from him yesterday. told
you
I
was finishing up about 230 copies of my book, I have had them finished up and
expecting to sell them.
bound,
etc.,
but there
is
a hitch about
them
the
sale
and
I
There is a present. me and here toward L. G. among of strong enmity pretty not only that it is a great mess of crazy certain classes not be able to
shall
talk
and hard words
all
sell
at
tangled up, without sense or
mean
ing (which, by the by, is, I believe, your judgment about it) but others sincerely think that it is a bad book, im proper, and ought to be denounced and put down, and its There are some venomous but author along with it.
One said laughable squibs occasionally in the papers. I had received 25 guineas for a piece in an English
that
Magazine, but that
it
was worth 44
all
that for
any one to
LETTERS OF
1868
it. Another, the World said.: "Walt Whitman was town yesterday carrying the blue cotton umbrella of had been a drizzly forenoon) so they the future (it go it. When they get off a good squib however I laugh Dear Pete, I hope this at it just as much as any one.
read
in
"
you well and in good spirits. Remember me to Coley, John Towers, Jim Sorrell, David Stevens and all will find
the boys I
WALT.
have been debating whether
to get
my leave
extended
and stay till election day to vote or whether to pair off with a Democrat and return (which will amount to the same thing). Most likely I shall decide on the latter, but don t know for certain. Dear boy, I send you my love so long I will write you a line from Providence Pete.
VII Providence, R.
cording to
/.,
1868.
Oct. 17,
announcement
in
my
last I
DEAR
PETE.
Ac
have made a move
ment and change of base from tumultuous, close-packed, New York to this half-rural, brisk, handsome, New England, third-class town. I came on here last Thursday. I came as guest of Thomas Davis, formerly Arrived between 8 and 9 o clock M. C. from this City world-like
at night
found his carriage at the depot waiting
At the house
grounds, a mile and a half from the town
come from
for
me.
a sort of castle built of stone, on fine
his hospitable wife
45
a hearty wel
and a family of young
CALAMUS ladies
and children
a hot supper
a tip top room, etc.,
so you see, Pete, your old man is in clover. I have etc., since been round the City and suburbs considerably. I
am
going down to Newport before
I
return
Invitations,
I am, in fact, numerous already dividing my self between two hospitalities, part of the time with Mr. and Mrs. Davis and part with Dr. and Mrs. Channing, old acquaintances of mine in another part of the City.
etc., are
It is on a stopt last night at the house of the latter. hill at the side of the and which it pleasant high City entirely overlooks. From the window of my room I can look I
down
across the city, the river, and off miles upon miles The woods are a real spectacle, colored
in the distance.
Yesterday it was and balmy beyond description, like the finest I wandered around, partly walking, Indian summer.
with
all
the rich colors of autumn.
beautiful
To-day there partly in a carriage, a good part of the day. As I am writing this, what is an entire change of scene. do you think, Pete? great flakes of snow are falling sometimes the wind blows in gusts quite a thick flurry in fact a real snow storm has been going on all the forenoon, though without the look or feeling of winter as the grass and foliage are autumnal and the cold is not Still it [is] disagreeable and wet and dark severe yet.
So I will make up by and prevents me from going outto mother and one to you, of one a letters, couple writing Providence is a handsome city telling you about things. of about 70,000 inhabitants, has numerous manufactories 46
LETTERS OF
1868
everything looks
in full operation
lively.
From
the
house up here I can hear almost any time, night or day, the sound of factory bells and the steam whistles of loco
Then
motives half a mile distant.
the lights at night seen
from here make a curious exhibition. stop
we have
Pete, I could
plenty of ripe fresh fruit
At both places I and lots of flowers.
now send you a bouquet every morning far of much choicer flowers. And how
better than I used to
I hope you are are you getting along, dearest comrade ? well and that everything is going on right with you. I have
not heard from you for a good while,
you got
my
last letter of
i4th,
it
seems.
from N. Y.
I
suppose
I expect to
Should you feel to write you might direct to 331 East 55th am well as usual. I am luxuriating on
return to N. Y. about the 22nd. after receiving this
Street as before.
I
excellent grapes.
I
wish
I
could send you a basket.
At
both places I stop they have vineyards and the grapes are very good and plenty this year. Last night when I
went up at 1 1 o clock bunches each as big as before
I
turned
York.
I
my
my room fist
like to
I took up three great and sat down and eat them eat them in this way and it
change here from my asso and surroundings either in Washington or New Evenings and meal times I find myself thrown
agrees with me. ciations
in.
to
It is quite a
amidst a mild, pleasant society, really intellectual, com posed largely of educated women, some young, some not so young, everything refined and polite, not disposed to small talk, conversing in earnest on profound subjects,
47
CALAMUS but with a moderate rather slow tone and in a kind of conciliatory tion
manner
and spending
delighting in this sort of conversa I take a till late, in it.
their evenings
hand in, for a change. I find it entertaining, as I say, but I know very for novelty s sake, for a week or two It is all first rate, well that would be enough for me. good and smart but too constrained and bookish free old
So
hawk
long.
send you my Will write from N. Y. soon as like
me.
I
love, I
for a
dear Pete.
return there.
As I am just finish Just after 12 o clock noon. I am sure I see a bit of blue ing the storm lightens up yes, the sun is certainly breaking sky in the clouds P. S.
out.
VIII Providence, R.
/.,
Oct.
18,
68.
DEAR BOY AND COM
RADE, I sent off a letter to you yesterday noon, but towards evening Mr. Davis brought me up from the P. O. yours of isth, which I was so glad to get that you shall I
off. After the flurry of snow morning we had a pleasant clear
have an answer right
told
you
afternoon.
of yesterday I
took a long walk, partly through the woods,
and enjoyed it much. The weather, pretty cold and sharp and remains so yet. As I left my overcoat in Washing ton I have been compelled to get something here, so I have bought me a great iron grey shawl which I find very acceptable. I always had doubts about a shawl, but have In the already got used to mine and like it first rate. 48
LETTERS OF evening tlemen
I
went by invitation mostly ladies.
1868
to a party of ladies
We
had
a
warm, animated
among other things about spiritualism. went
in like a
house
and gen talk,
talked too, indeed It was good exercise for
afire.
I
I also made love to the women, the fun of the thing. and flatter myself that I created at least one impression
wretch and gay deceiver that I am. The truth is Peter, am here at the present time mainly in the midst of
that I
female women, some of them young and
jolly, and meet them most every evening in company, and the way in which this aged party comes up to the scratch and cuts out the youthful parties and fills their hearts with envy You would be astonished, my is absolutely a caution. to see the brass and coolness and the capacity of son, I would never flirtation and carrying on with the girls
have believed
Brought here by destiny, surrounded in this way and, as I in self defense would modestly state, sought for, seized upon and ravenously and so nice and smart devoured by these creatures it
of
myself.
them are, and handsome too there is nothing me, is there, but to go in. Of course, young man, you understand it is all on the square. My going
some
of
left for
in amounts to just talking and joking and having a devil of a jolly time carrying on that s all. They are all as I had lived. have three or four as ever good girls already
such parties here sidering tion, is
my
which you
age and
doing pretty
will certainly
heft, to say nothing of
Then away
well.
49
late
admit, con
my
reputa lost
my
CALAMUS wandered over the City and got home
way
after
one
o clock. I
go about quite a good ever saw,
City as
I
Except
in a
some
This
deal.
is
as
handsome a
of the streets run
few of the business
streets,
up steep hills. where the build
in nine-tenths of the City are compact every house stands separate and has a little or quite a deal of ground about it for flowers and for shade or fruit trees or
ings
I a garden. never saw such a prosperous looking City but of course no grand public buildings like Wash
ington.
This forenoon
banks
I
of the river
have been out away down along the and cove and making explorations
All is new to me generally. J have eat a hearty dinner.
come up and
sit
awhile in
and
returned quite tired.
I
Then
my
room.
I
thought I would But as I did not
reading I concluded to write this precious screed. Fortunate young man, to keep getting such instructive aint you ? It is now four o clock and bright and letters
feel like
I will cool and I have staid in long enough. sally forth So on a walk and drop this in the P. O. before supper. long, dear Pete, and my love to you as always, always.
WALT.
IX
New here
I
York
Oct. 22
am back
pleasant trip
again
down East
DEAR PETE Well, Have had a went down the bay there after
//(?) 1868. in
50
New
York.
I wrote
you
tories of
regular
last
Rhode
little
LETTERS OF
1868
and
around among the fac
also a visit
Some
Island.
towns.
7000 workmen in owners are men of
of
them are very large
The Spragues, two brothers, employ their factories alone. Some of the immense wealth. I write this early in
my room in 55th street after my leave extended so that I
the forenoon sitting in
break
As to getting might stay to vote, I have settled ( as I spoke of in a former letter ) to pair off with a friend of mine here who was
fast.
The going to vote for Seymour and return on time. weather is cool and clear to-day. I shall probably not make out much of a letter to you this time, Pete, as I feel 1 guess I slept too hard rather stupid yet this morning. or perhaps, as they say, I got up wrong end foremost. But 1 thought I would write one more letter for the last.
hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have for that I have enjoyed. You too have writing them done first rate and have sent me as many as I have you, and good letters too. I am now going out down town and I
across to Brooklyn to spend a few hours with my mother. I don t know whether I told you that my sister with her
two young children from St. Louis arrived the night before 1 left New York, and will stop with mother this fall and winter
her health *
Take care
2 6th
together again * i.
e.
is
not very good.
of yourself,
I
Dear Pete, we
shall return will
soon be
WALT.
the health of the
"
sister
"
of consumption igth Feb. 1873.
51
(
Jeff s wife
Mattie
)
she died
I
WILL
I will
plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies,
make
inseparable cities with their arms about each other
s
necks,
By the love of comrades, By the manly love of comrades. Leaves of Grass (Ed n
1892), p. 99.
LETTERS OF
1869
I
N. Y., Saturday evening, Aug. I have been very
DEAR PETE.
21
[1869]. sick the last three days
BROOKLYN, makes me to call
weak, and
little
it
it
use of
my
I
don
t
know what
prostrated and deadly
limbs.
I
have thought of
I have not darling boy, very much of the time. been out of the house since the first day after my arrival.
you,
my
I had a pleasant journey through on the cars Wednesday felt quite well then. afternoon and night My mother and folks are all well. We are in our new house
we occupy where the
I
part and rent out part.
now
sit
afternoon.
I
two days I see I shall hope Washington get out hanker to get out doors, and down the bay.
has been so
soon
I
have a nice room,
It is
has been extremely hot here the it
I
the latter part of writing feel better the last hour or so. It this.
too.
in
last I
How is it with you, there and dearest boy anything different with the Dear Pete, you must forgive me for being so face ? * And now
dear Pete for yourself. is
of
* At this time Doyle was suffering from an eruption on his face which he did not know the cause. Whitman took him to Dr.
who pronounced it a case an exceedingly obstinate skin
Charles Bowen, one of the army doctors, of
"barber
s
itch"
(tinea
sycosis),
53
CALAMUS the last day and evening. I was unspeakably shocked and repelled from you by that talk and proposi tion of yours there by the fountain. you know what
cold
seemed indeed to me, (for I will talk out plain to you, dearest comrade) that the one I loved, and who had always been so manly and sensible, was gone, and a fool It
and intentional suicide stood in his place. I spoke so sternly and cutting. (Though I see now that my words might have appeared to have a certain other meaning, which I didn t dream of insulting to you, never for one moment in my thoughts.) But will say no more of this for I know such thoughts must have come when you and was not yourself but in a moment of derangement, have passed away like a bad dream. Dearest boy I have and not a doubt but you will get well and entirely well we will one day look back on these drawbacks and suffer
The extreme cases of that as things long past. malady, (as I told you before) are persons that have very deeply diseased blood so they have no foundation to build on you are of healthy stock, with a sound constitution
ings
disease, which he said could best be eradicated terizing with nitrate of silver.
At Doyle
by lancing and cau
s solicitation Dr.
Bowen
undertook the treatment at once, but for a time no improvement
was apparent. In a moment of despondency Doyle declared that Whit life burdened with such an affliction was not worth living. man took this thoughtless speech too literally as appears from the letter, and it is in perfect keeping with his imperturbable faith and complete acceptance of life that he should have been shocked, as he was, by even a suggestion of suicide.
54
LETTERS OF and good blood
I
know
is
it
impossible for
it
to
darling, if you are not well when I I will get a good room or two in some quiet
My
continue long.
come back
and
1869
place, and we will live together and devote ourselves alto gether to the job of curing you, and making you stronger
and healthier than
ever.
before but never broached
my work
in the
I
have had
it
to you.
Attorney General
s
my mind
this in
could go on with office just the same I
and we would see that your mother should have a small sum every week to keep the pot a-boiling at home. Dear
My love for you is and that since indestructible, night and morning has Dear Pete, dear son, my returned more than before. darling boy, my young and loving brother, don t let the devil put such thoughts in your mind again wickedness death and disgrace here, and hell s agonies unspeakable Then what would it be afterward to the hereafter mother ? What to Pete, I send you some money you use it, dearest son, and when it by Adams Express is gone you shall have some more, for I have plenty. I I
comrade,
think of you very often.
me"!
give my love to Johnny again before long dear darling boy. I love him truly (let him
will write
Lee, my read these three
last
lines)
Dear Pete, remember
WALT. II
Brooklyn, September I
would write you
3,
1869.
DEAR PETE.
a letter to-day, as you 55
I
thought
would be anxious
CALAMUS to hear.
I
received your letter of Aug. 24, and it was a I have read it several times since.
great comfort to me.
I hope everything is going on favorably with I do think about you every day and every night. I want to hear hope you are in good spirits and health. I about the face. suppose you are working on the road.
Dear
Pete,
you.
I
There
is
nothing new or special in my affairs or doings. is pleasant here it is pretty cool and dry.
The weather
well mother first rate, and do not have such good luck, I have felt unwell most every day some days not so bad. Be sides I have those spells again, worse, last longer, sick It is enough, come sudden, dizzy and sudden sweat hard to tell exactly what is the matter or what to do. The doctor says it is all from that hospital malaria, he hospital poison absorbed in the system years ago thinks it better for me in Washington than here. About one third of the time I feel pretty well. I have taken three or four of my favorite rides on Broadway, I believe
My
folks
continue
all
brothers ditto.
I
I
described them to you in
my
letters a
year ago.
I
find
many of my old friends, and new ones too, and am received with the same warm friendship and love as ever. Broadway is more crowded and gay than ever, and the women look finer, and the shops richer then there are many new and
splendid buildings of marble or iron
they
some of seem to almost reach the clouds, they are so tall them cost millions of dollars. Staging in N. Y. has been very poor
this
summer
$9 or 56
$10 even
on
the
big
LETTERS OF
1869
New Railroading has also been slim. Broadway lines also York is all cut up with railroads I Brooklyn he was over to Brooklyn looking have seen Jimmy Foy He was well and hearty, and wished for work on a road. to be remembered to you. They pay $2^2 on many of The work is pretty the roads here and 2^ on the rest. in not so as hard, but the hours long Washington. There is all kinds of fun and sport here, by day and night and lots of theatres and amusements in full blast. I have have not been to see any of not been to any of them my
particular
women
friends
papers here have noticed
down
my
though sent for ( the have not been )
arrival
In fact my jaunt Better luck next time
to the sea-shore as I intended.
this time has
been a failure
Now
Pete, dear loving boy, I don t want you to worry I shall come along all right. me As it is, I have a good square appetite most of the time yet, good
about
and look about the same as usual, ( which and fascinating beyond description ). Tell Johnny Lee I send him my love, and hope he is well I sent him a letter and hearty. I think of him daily. some time ago, which I suppose he received about Aug. but I have not had a word from 26, and showed you him. Send him this letter to read, as he will wish to hear nights sleep is
of course lovely
about me. rade,
God
bless you, dear Pete
and farewell
till
next time,
57
my
com WALT.
dear loving
darling boy.
CALAMUS III
Brooklyn,
PETE
Friday afternoon, Sept. 10, I have received your
DEAR SON.
letters
all
to-day gether.
one by
have come
your This is the third
I
1869.
DEAR
letter of the
8th
four alto
safe
have sent you (besides that
Adams
Pete, you say my Express, Aug. 23rd). sickness must be worse than I described in my letters
and ask me boy,
I
to write
wrote just as
it
precisely really was.
be truly happy to learn that I have been mainly so for the
had no bad
how
I am. No, dearest But Pete, you will now
am
feeling
all
spells all that time.
Yesterday
right,
and
and have
last four days, I
thought
I
in fact real as strong and well as ever in my life and York most all loafed around New I young jolly.
felt
had a first rate good time. All along Broadway day hundreds of rich flags and streamers at half-mast for Gen. Rawlins
*
funeral.
From
the
tall buildings they across Broadway late in the afternoon I rode up from the Battery to look at I as the sun struck through them them, thought I
waved out
in a stiff
west wind
all
had never seen anything so curious and all
beautiful.
the shipping, ferry boats, public buildings,
On
etc., tiags
* John Aaron Rawlins, b. at East Galena, 111., 13 Feb. 31, d. at Washington, D. C., 9 Dec., 69. A General in the Northern army. Was a Douglas democrat in 60, but joined the Union Army on the outbreak of the Civil War and became Assistant Adjutant General to Grant in 1861 and Chief of Staff with the rank of Brigadier General in 1865.
Was
Secretary of
War
1869.
53
LETTERS OF at
half-mast
This
too.
is
1869
the style here.
No
black
only thousand of flags at half drapery for mourning for any big bug s mast, on the water as well as land funeral.
am
I
To-day mother and
3
I
all right too.
have
just
had
It
is
our
now towards dinner,
(my
mammy s own
cooking mostly,) I have been out all the forenoon knocking around the water is my favorite recreation of
my
life
I
could spend two or three hours every day and never get tired some of the pilots
here,
are dear personal friends of mine some, when we meet we kiss each other (I am an exception to all their cus some of their boys have grown up toms with others,) since I have
known them, and they too know me and Pete, the fourth week of my vacation
are very friendly.
most ended. I shall return the middle of next week. let him read this letter Give my love to Johnny Lee and then return it to you. Dear Jack, I received your affectionate letter of Sept. 5th. Pete, I have seen Tom he is well he is working extra on Broadway Haslett and 42nd St. R. R. He does not think of going home till Christmas. Jimmy Foy has not got work yet. I is
"
Kenilworth
"
I sent. Well, boy, I shall take a bath, dress myself and go out, cross the river, put this letter in the P. O. and then ramble and ride around the City awhile, as I think we are going to have a fine
suppose you got
now
evening and moonlight, etc. Good-bye, dear son will soon be together again. WALT.
59
we
WHAT
my pen in hand to record ? model d, majestic, that I saw pass the offing today under full sail ? The splendors of the past day ? or the splendor of the night that
The
think you
I
take
battleship, perfect
envelops
me ?
Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me ? no But merely of two simple men I saw today on the pier in the ;
midst of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends, to remain hung on the other s neck and passionately
The one
kissed him,
While the one
to depart tightly prest the
one
to
remain
in his
arms. Leaves of Grass (Kd n
60
1892), p.
no.
LETTERS OF
1870
DEAR
Saturday afternoon, July 30 PETE. Well here I am home
my BROOKLYN, Brooklyn once
mother, writing to you from more. We parted there, you
[1870].
again
with
know, at the corner of yth St. Tuesday night. Pete there was something in that hour from i o to 1 1 o clock (parting though it was) that has left me pleasure and I never dreamed that you made so having me with you, nor that you could feel I foolishly thought it was all so downcast at losing me.
comfort for good
much
of
on the other
side.
But
all I will
say further on the sub
now
I started see clearly, that was all wrong. from the depot in the 7.25 train the next morning it
ject
is, I
was pretty warm, yet I had a very pleasant journey, and About got in New York by 5 o clock afternoon.
we
half an hour before
we
arrived, I
able change in the weather
noticed a very agree
the heat had moderated
and I
in fact it has been pleasant enough every day since. found mother and all as well as usual. It is now Sat
urday between 4 and 5 more on the other side
have
to
go with
to
afternoon
I
will
write
must now hang up young lady down stairs whom the ferry and across to the cars.
for the present as there I
in the
but Pete,
is
a
61
I
CALAMUS Sunday, 6/. m.
Pete, dear boy,
I
will
write you a line
am going over to New York to I went down to the so you see ferry with I am quite a lady s man again in my old days There is I am nothing special to write about feeling in first-rate spirits and eat my rations every time. Monday, Aug. i. The carrier brought quite a bunch this forenoon for the
to-day before visit the lady
Whitman busy
J
I
go.
no
family, but
from you.
letter
one thing and
with
another,
keep real whole day is the time and go I
the
I am feeling quite well all occupied a out great deal, knocking around one place and another. The evenings here are delightful and I am always out in
them, sometimes on the river sometimes in New York There is a cool breeze and the moon shining. I think every time of you and wish if we could only be together these evenings at any rate. Well Tuesday, Aug. 2. a at will have this rate. Your letter Pete, you quite diary
came
this
from you.
and I was glad enough to get word morning I have been over to New York to-day on
a pleasure even to cross the ferry the a stiff and breeze the splendid to-day blowing
business river
is
it is
smell of the salt sea blowing up
fume
to
my nose) am sitting
It
dinner and
now
2
(sweeter than any per o clock, I have had my
here alone writing this Love to won t be so long again writing to
you, dear Pete
and
my
WALT.
darling boy.
is
I
62
LETTERS OF
1870
II
DEAR Brooklyn, Wednesday night, Aug. 3, [1870]. PETE. Dear son, I received your second letter to-day I sent you a letter Tuesday evening, which As I am now sitting in my have received. suppose you room and have no desire to go to bed yet, I will commence also another. Give my best respects to George Smith
also the Star. I
Pensey Bell and Shedd and in fact
to
they enquire after
brother George
his
my
to all
me
Dear
drowsing and nodding since especially as
we wait
also to Mr.
railroad friends son, I
last
whenever
can almost see you
Sunday, going home
there at 7th
St.
and
I
am
late
telling
and in you something deep about the heavenly bodies the midst of it I look around and find you fast asleep, and an your head on my shoulder like a chunk of wood awful compliment to
now
my
lecturing powers.
All the talk
war on the Rhine, or the murder of old Mr. Nathan, or some other murder for there are of I them send a of couple papers with plenty you them. I about whether come safe. pieces Say they here
is
believe that
either the
is all
for to-night, as
it is
Good
getting late.
Good night, my darling son here is a kiss night, Pete for you, dear boy on the paper here a good long one. I have all been out the forenoon 4/// Thursday and
until
about
2
had some business
o clock
in
New
York, which I attended, then came back and spent an hour and a half on the river, with one of the pilots, a 63
\
CALAMUS saw the yachts, several of particular friend of mine the America, out practising for the great them, including the Dauntless was out race that comes off Monday and the Cambria went down three days ago is the handsomest little craft I ever laid I also saw Henry Ward Beecher and had some on eyes I find talk with him myself going with the pilots muchly there are several that were little boys, now grown up, fine hearty fellows and remember me well always around the water sons of old pilots they make much 10 o clock at night of me, and of course I am willing. As this is lying here on my table to be sent off to-mor row, I will imagine you with your arm around my neck and me Good night, Pete. saying Good night, Walt All well fine weather and I morning, Aug. Friday 5. I am feel in good spirits. just going out and across to to New York. We had a heavy shower here yesterday afternoon 4th, the weather is not too hot here. WALT. yesterday
the America
Ill
DEAR BOY PETE. It is a [1870]. I am feeling first rate forenoon. Sunday
Brooklyn, August beautiful quiet
7,
and have had quite a good day so far. After breakfast I went out and sat a long while on the porch in front, reading the Sunday paper, enjoying the cool and shade, and A young widow next besides some real sweet music door, a friend of mother s, has been in her parlor the last 64
LETTERS OF
1870
she has a voice not three hours, singing and practising as the and ornamental opera ladies, but with powerful that
something, pleasing and tender, that goes
to the
I have sings good old hymns and songs right spot It is now between you would too enjoyed it greatly 1 The distant bells are slowly ringing 1-2 past 10 and The last two hours I otherwise it is pretty quiet have been up here reading my proof. I have four or five hours of this every day, which gives me something to do an employment like. Pete, I have just taken out your I went out on a kind last letter and read it over again 1
of
little
excursion by myself last night
all
alone
It
pleasant, cool enough and the moon shining I think of you too, Pete, and a great deal of the time. Tuesday afternoon, qth, I was out yesterday a great part
was very
over a day on the river to see the yacht race thousand spectator boats, big, little, and middle sized of the
them
drest with flags, bright colored streamers, etc. streaming over the green waters, beneath the sun shine and bright blue sky a grand sight and the
many
of
all
beautiful yachts
and pleasure boats,
with immense white
lots
and
lots of
them,
sails, like
great wings, tearing along in the breeze the bay each side alive with people on the boats the shores and 150,000 people they say hills
It
covered for miles too
was
fine.
I
Your welcome
was out again
letter of the
last night.
8th has
come
morning, dear loving son, and has pleased me, as That accident on the bridge was indeed terrible always.
this
65
CALAMUS is a disgrace to Washington, anyhow wish you to tell Mr. and Mrs. Nash and your Also cousin, and all, I send them my best respects
that bridge I
Pete,
also
Henry Hurt,
Andy Woolbridge on
yth St.
Wednes
came unhappy about your bad luck reported by some damned fool, and taken off by again But you keep a good heart, Pete a worse damned fool I have no room to write school will keep somehow more at present Dear loving son, I want to keep writ WALT. Just going out But just in the ing frequently. nick of time before I sealed this letter as I had finished dressing to go out, Mother sung out to me from the foot and I got your good welcome third letter. of the stairs I Pete, you are doing first rate. guess Pleasants was
day afternoon, this forenoon
after
iot/1.
I feel
Dear
son.
Yours
of
gth,
quite
something stronger than Kissengen
Tell Dr. Mil-
N. Y. or Brooklyn to com But I am living pare with his for the mineral drinks more to suit me in the grub line, this weather not so
burn
I
don
t
find
much meat
any place
in
mother
fruit, etc.
-
morning
I
A
s cookery, and quite a good deal of broiled steak and perfect coffee this lovely
wish you had been on hand, young man.
IV Brooklyn, August 12, [1870].
DEAR
SON.
Yours of
yesterday nth, has just this minute come, and I wish to write a few lines so that you may get them before Sun66
LETTERS OF I
day. 5
P.
M.
have not time
Dear
to write
1870
much, as
it is
now about
hope you will not feel discouraged even if it comes to the worst. It is now
son, I
at the situation,
thought that business generally throughout the country is ready to revive as soon as the hot season is done, and that everything will be brisker this fall than any time
Dear Pete, whatever happens, in such and downs, you must try to meet it with a stout ups As long as the Almighty vouchsafes you health, heart. strength, and a clear conscience, let other things do their and let Riker go to hell. You are better off worst, to-day to be what you are, than to be him with his since the war.
$10,000 a year poor thin-livered cuss that he is. My darling son, I will send you $5 every Saturday, should as I can easily spare that, and you can you be idle it won t go far, but it may take the depend upon it edge for I Many, many loving kisses to you, dear son must close, or I shall lose to-night s mail. WALT. -
off.
V DEAR PETE. I have Brooklyn, August 22, 1870. not heard from you now for nine days. Your letter of 1 3th, (last Saturday week) in which you said the orders were for you to go to work next day, was the last I have I took it for granted that received. you went to work, and have been at it since and I hope all is right with
you
but
why have you not 67
written
?
Dear
son,
if
not
CALAMUS to
work
wish
I
to
send you a
me
goes well with
that
is,
little money. Everything everything goes as well as
I am down I am feeling first-rate can be expected the bay often, and sometimes spend nearly all day on I am all sunburnt and the sea-shore a few miles down.
and weigh several pounds more than when I left A friend who hasn t seen me for a good are fatter and while said this morning "Why Walt, you red,
Washington. saucier than
ever"
but
I will
and
darling son same old WALT.
to
my
to
close
him
I
by sending shall
my
love
always be the
VI
DEAR SON. Brooklyn, August 25 [1870]. a letter for you to-day, and probably finish and send
it
The
day.
nights are pleasant.
to-day.
New
begin
to-morrow, off, so that you will have it by or before Sun but the heat is again upon us here, days
I
It is
now Thursday
afternoon, be
am
writing this in my room on Pete, one month of my leave exactly is have been out quite a while to-day over to
and
tween 3 and 4 Portland Ave.
up
I will it
I
and seeing to one thing was sweaty work. On my way back I pilot house and sailed across the river
York, to the printing office,
and another. went up in the three times
a bath stript, letter.
ate
It
Then home
a fine breeze blowing.
my
dinner
and here
I
am
all
took
alone most
taking things as cool as possible, and writing this Pete, your letter of 2jrd
68
came
yesterday, and the
LETTERS OF
1870
one written partly that night and partly 24th came this Those are the only letters I have received forenoon. since the one of i3th telling to
go
to
ever
since to hear.
gives
me
the
turned out. irritating
me
the orders were for you
work next day (Sunday). first
The
definite
Dear
son, I
thoughts and
letter
I
have been uneasy
received
this
morning
how
things have want you to try to cast aside all recollections, and preserve a
information
That is the main part of getting along and battle of life and it is a good deal I was away a good part of last week down the went away each time early in the morning, and
cheerful mind.
through the habit.
bay got
toil
I am having quite jovial times. I theatre one night lately with a friend wanted to see a piece called Fritz a miserable
home
after dark.
went to Wallack
who
s
"
"
I was glad enough to get out in the open such from away humbug. I am still feeling gay and I work several hours a day keeping things hearty.
sickish piece. air
straight among the printers and founders They are being cast in electrotype plates.*
on
my
books.
I will tell
you more about it when we meet. Well Pete, I guess this will do for to-day. I think of sallying forth soon as the sun gets pretty well down, and crossing to New York to loafe around two or three hours.
Friday afternoon, August 26. went over to New York last evening up town see some friends come home about 1 1 just in
Well to
I
* These plates were used for the i87i- 72 and 76 eds. of Leaves
of Grass.
69
CALAMUS time to escape a thunder shower. It is splendid to-day I have been over all day working, quite busy and have it is now about 4. just got home, and had my dinner It is
quite pleasant riding here in
large
enjoy
open it
cars, in
good weather
Pete, give
my
Brooklyn
it is
we have
real lively
I quite respects to Mr. and Mrs. Nash,
and
to your cousin also to Jenny Murphy not forget also Wash Milburn God ting the boys on the road and good-bye for this time, my own dear lov bless you
ing boy.
WALT. VII
DEAR PETE. I received Brooklyn, September 2, 1870. your welcome letter of Aug. 2yth and also 3ist, enclos when you write tell Ned I am here ing Ned Stewart s and that I send my love. Brooklyn, loafing around Pete, there is nothing particular to write about this time pretty much the same story every day out on the
in
and bay awhile, or going down to Coney Island beach or hours in from two to four five the every day printing office
fine
I still
keep well and hearty, and the weather is the middle of the day, and cool
warm through
morning and nights acquaintances of not so young)
I
fall in
years
ago
that
I
knew
with a good many of my the young fellows, (now intimately here before the
and some have got married war some are dead one of the latter I was up and some have grown rich he has a big house on with yesterday and last night 70
LETTERS OF Avenue
Fifth p.
M.
was there
I
1870 dinner
to
everything in the loudest sort
!)
(dinner of
style,
at
8
with
But my friend wines, silver, nigger waiters, etc. etc. etc. is just one of the manliest, jovialest, best sort of fellows no
airs,
in the
home
and
he
there
then there
tive
is
to suit
single
you and me, he wants me
no women to
make my
not do that, but shall go there very dinners and good wines are attrac
I shall
the
frequently
one
just the
house
is
Well Pete,
a fine library.
I
am on
month of my furlough to think it is almost six weeks since we parted there that night my dear I want see it seems a how much to loving boy, you I have received a good letter from Mr. long while. O Connor, and also one from John Rowland who is in the office for me. Well, Pete, Nothing new in office
the second
about half of our separation is over the next six weeks will soon pass away indeed it may be only four, as John
Rowland
told
me he might wish to go away Good-bye my loving son, and give my respects to
for the present, of the
any
WALT.
boys that ask about me.
VIII
DEAR SON. I see by Brooklyn, September 6th, 1870. of letter the that are 4th, your working as usual. I you sometimes fancy I see you and 14* and Mr. Shedd * "14"
was the number of the
man.
street car of
which Pete was
used as a name for the car by Whit Mr. Shedd was the driver on 14
conductor at this time and
is
"
".
CALAMUS going up or down the avenue
town
Navy Yard
or
scenes
or at the
the
old
end
familiar
at
George and
route
Willards the circle, the President s House Gate the etc. etc. etc. Hill, Capitol
I
am
at
Street
7th
proof-reading, etc.
keep pretty busy, writing,
I
I feel in printing office several hours every day health and several capital spirits weigh pound heavier
the
and something new
but, as a small drawback, find myself
needing glasses every time
I
for me, read or write *
this has grown upon me very rapidly since and during the hot weather, and especially since I left Washington so I read and write as little as possible, beyond my
as that occupies several hours and sometimes. We are having splendid fall my eyes both and Last night I was out weather, days nights. the scene on the river was heavenly the sky late printing matters, etc. tires
clear,
chilly
I felt almost and the moon shining her brightest and so put for home. One at last with the cold
now
of the prettiest sights
steamers, and
other
to see
is
ships,
the
great
as they lay tied
covered with gay flags and streamers
shore,
all
ship"
as they call
it
German up along "dress
flaunting out in the breeze, under sun all in honor, of course, of the
a brilliant sky and victory of the German Armies
all the spars and rigging a big red, are hid with hundreds and hundreds of flags
white *
and black
He was
glasses
is
in
about
his
flag
capping
52d year.
all.
Of course you may
The average age
forty-five.
72
to begin wearing
LETTERS OF know
that the
way
1870
the war turns out suits
me
to
death
I consider him Louis Napoleon fully deserves his fate far all the meanest scoundrel his by (with smartness) that I make a distinction, however, I ever sat on a throne.
admire and love the French, and France as a nation all foreign nations, she has my sympathy first of all.
of
was
just reading over your last letter again. you must try to keep up a good heart. You but I am afraid you are feeling, (or have say you do One soon falls into the habit felt,) somewhat unhappy.
Pete,
I
Dear
son,
of getting low spirited or deprest and moody allows himself, he will always find plenty to
if
a
man
make him
so
Everyone [has] his trouble, disappointments, rebuffs, especially every young and proud-spirited man who has to work for his living. But I want you to try and etc.
for put a brave face against everything that happens not so much the little misfortunes of life themselves,
it is
way we take them and brood over them, that About the tiresome all I have to is to say say nothing only a good smacking kiss and and taking in return many, many, many, many of them as the
causes the trouble.
"
"
which will from my dear son good loving ones too do more credit to his lips than growling and complaining at his father.
WALT.
IX
DEAR SON. I wrote you Brooklyn, September 9, 1870. a letter last Tuesday, 6th, which I suppose you have 73
CALAMUS received. 4th.
I
The last I have from you is yours of Sunday, am still here in Brooklyn, quite busy with the
printing.
who
I
have received a
me
for
is
working has to work too hard,
letter
from John Rowland, complaining that he
in the office, I
should think by his
fret
about
it
whatever happens.
It is likely
he
letter
means to back out of his bargain with me if be a bad loss and inconvenience to me But I
so,
it
will
shall not
that this will
my leave, and that I shall have to come back and do my work myself, about the end of the month. Dear Pete, I hope you are having good times, and are in good spirits. We are having quite coolish weather here. The drivers wear their over-coats mornings and evenings. As I sit here writing Friday afternoon, it is cloudy and threatens rain. I am going over to New York in an hour or so, and shall leave this in the P. O. and then go shorten
around awhile
possibly going to Niblo s Theatre, as s "Julius Caesar" to-night, with Shakespeare play they Davenport and quite a bunch of stars in the piece. Son, I am afraid I shall not make out much of a letter this time, but
you take
it
so
hard when
I
don
t
write,
I
thought I would send a few lines they would be better and fare than nothing. God bless you, my loving boy well for this time.
Brooklyn,
WALT.
DEAR PETE. Your September 15, 1870. and izth have come safe, and are welcome
letters of loth
74
LETTERS OF to
1870
dear son, I see that you are hard at work and appear I am glad to hear you practice be in lively spirits
with the arithmetic
I
wish you to try and do a
little
practice makes perfect you will see every day If you how soon and how clear it will all come to you have the Geography or Atlas, look into that a little too
with
it
one needs
to
have an idea of the world
he was one of the
(I don
first
rode with
Pete
if
there
is
t
am con poor Amos I
know but
the very
got acquainted with, and any further subscription for
railroadmen there
first) of the
too.
Amos Dye
cerned to hear of the death of
I
Mrs. Dye, I authorize you to put me down for $5. I will either send the money, or give it to her when I return. I am now in the I shall return in about three weeks. last it is seven weeks eighth week of my furlough Tuesday night since we parted there at the corner of yth Street. Well Pete, dear loving boy, I must now close for Late Friday afternoon, September 16. WALT. to-day. DEAR SON. I have time to add only a few words, in order
to put
it
in the mail this evening.
every day
at
my
printing yet
but
I
am working
I
go around consider
a while
and enjoy myself among go out in the bay friends and in The weather here my riding around, etc. able
still
is
fine,
very
I told
I don t know whether both days and nights I stand now about the war suffice it to
you how
say, that as things I
find myself
now
for the Prussians
have gone on, and as the case stands, more for the French than I ever was
far
Then
I
propose to take
my
first
drink
CALAMUS when I Pope and
with you of the
return, in celebration of the pegging out his gang of Cardinals and Priests
all
and entry of Victor Emanuel into Rome, and making it the capital of the great independent Italian nation. Good bye till next time, darling boy. WALT.
XI Brooklyn, Friday, September 23 [1870].
Your
DEAR PETE.
was Sunday and Monday came safe see you so cheerful and feeling well, as seemed
letter of last
glad to
plain by the tone of the letter.
All goes right with me.
am
feeling well, and business matters move along as favorably as could be expected, taking all things in con sideration. The weather is elegant we had rain here too last Saturday and Sunday and since then it has I am out dashing around been clear and bright every I
day and
and
i
fetch up home every night somewhere between 10 o clock, quite tired. The river and bay get more more beautiful, under these splendid September
skies, the
green waves and white foam relieved by the
white sails of the crowds of ships and sail craft for the is brisker this fall than it has been for interest shipping twelve years.
and George
Harry Hurt, Mr. Shedd, Pensey Baley Murdock, George Smith, Dr. and
Say
Bell,
to
Wash
Milburn, or any of the railroad boys, or other friends that may inquire after me, that I send them my best respects
not forgetting 76
my
friends Mr. and
Mrs.
LETTERS OF
1870
also Father Boyle Nash (By the bye, Pete, I have taken a great fearful drink of whiskey, in honor of the news that arrived night before last of Victor Emanuel
Rome
entering
I
couldn
now between
t
wait.)
and 4
Later
afternoon
have been pitching in 3 a dish of stewed beef and onions mother to great heavy and shall presently cross over to cooked for dinner It is
New York and mail some amusement with Buckley find
long now yourself,
letter
shall
probably go to
a friend this evening most likely I hope this will Serenaders. Pete, dear son.
s
you
this
I
and everything lovely It will not be be back till then, take care of
all right,
before
I shall
loving son.
my
WALT.
XII Brooklyn, SON.
DEAR
Friday I
am
eat a hearty dinner with
handsome
yet).
rain
now pouring down
just
disappointment to tion
was
to
come
It is
my
29
[1870].
room, having just who has this month
my mammy, ( my eyes
entered on her 76th year, but to is
September
afternoon,
sitting here in
a dark
looks young and and cloudy day and the
in torrents. It is a great * funeral celebra as s many, Farragut off to-day, and all the military, and de
partments here, and hundreds of societies, orders, schools, and most of them did etc. had prepared to turn out
in
* David Glasgow Farragut, the celebrated American admiral, Tenn. 5 July 1801, d. Portsmouth, N. H., 14 Aug. 7077
b.
CALAMUS turn out this forenoon, only to get soaked with rain, and I saw one crack battalion covered with mud all so spruce ,
and handsome, with white pants, and silver gray coats, and everything so bright and trim when they marched down and an hour and a half afterwards, they looked like draggled roosters that had been pumped on we have had weeks and weeks of the very finest weather up to early this morn ing and now it is the worst kind to be out in. Still we want rain so very much, one don t feel to complain. Pete, 1 it was a good long, you write about the Signal deserves credit for persevering and Allen Corps I and and think he hope he will do well studying for he is sober, and tries to get ahead will too any
received your last lively letter,
letter,
the 26th
and welcome
Thornett is a very intel young man I like he has one fault, ligent manly fellow, cute, plucky, etc. that is he will drink, and spree it and a bad one True it is none of my business, but I which spoils all it would be that feel perhaps the making of him, if he and find it his pleasure in some other way would give up, see Allen should Pete, you again, give him my love Did you mean for me for Thornett also. the same and I what think of to write your joining the Signal Corps?
how he
is
a
But are you proficient enough
in
studies?
I
heartily
do something advise you to peg away at the arithmetic the foundation of all such arithmetic is at it every day things (just as a good stone wall is the foundation for a and become a good arithmetician first of all house ) 78
LETTERS OF you surely
will, if you keep
how much for study
leisure I
don
pegging away a
you have t
mean
when
I
after
all,
your leisure, but say one then keep looking over the
come back
with
little every day that might be used
all
hour out of every three
Geography
1870
I
will
bring a
little
minutes writing every day, and correcting by the dictionary I would warrant you be pocket Dictionary
1
5
coming a correct speller and real handsome writer in a and when one is a fair arithmetician and year or less spells and writes finely so many things are open to him. As things stand at present I expect to be back by or WALT. before next Sunday.
79
BEHOLD this swarthy face, these gray eyes, This beard, the white wool unclipt upon my neck, My brown hands and the silent manner of me without charm
;
Yet comes one a Manhattanese and ever at parting kisses me lightly on the lip with robust love, And I on the crossing of the street or on the ship s deck give a kiss in return,
We We
observe that salute of American comrades land and sea, are those two natural and nonchalant persons. Leaves of Grass (Ed n iSga),
80
p. 105.
LETTERS OF
1871
1871.
home
DEAR PETE.
I
n
between and 12 all found mother up waiting safe and sound for me It was dark and stormy, as rain had quite a pleasant journey about 9 arrived
last night
BROOKLYN,/^2i, had
set in
took a chair in the reserved seat car, 50 cents extra
thought plenty of room and a very easy riding car while I was sitting up here now in my room waiting for dinner
would write a
I
The weather
forenoon.
line
is
to
boy Pete.
very fine
Thursday
now here
plenty
I went over to New York yesterday afteienough took a ride up and down Broadway noon and evening am now laying off and taking it easy in my room
cool
fall just as natural into it very pleasant here habits of doing nothing lie on the sofa and read the come up punctually to my meals papers sleep a great
find
deal I
and take everything very
quietly.
will finish this scribbling letter,
and send
Friday
Pete,
off
so you
it
am
feeling well and enjoying a myself doing nothing, spending great deal of time with a and out few hours every day on the my mother, going will get
it
for
river or over to
I
Sunday
New York
and that everything
is
I
hope you are feeling
lovely 81
I
believe that
is
all right, all this
CALAMUS Love to you, dear son, and you must keep a good heart through all the tribulations and botherations,
time
not only of railroading but life generally. I find that Foster the Car assassin is an old driver and conductor "
"
I knew quite well he was a very good man, very it is the saddest respectable, only a fool when drunk case I know. He has three fine children the public is
that
down upon him savage WALT.
and
I
suppose no hope
for him.
II
Brooklyn, July pretty
still,
7,
much
DEAR PETE. Well here I am 1871. the same thing, doing nothing and
taking things easy. By your letter I see that you too are jogging along about the same, on your car, with an occasional
let
or on the bay,
enjoy
it
I
he
is
formerly. feeling
had a but
it
loving
Pete,
I
somewhat
fine is
shower pretty
kiss for
in
my
jaunts around the City,
you were with me, as you would have seen Mr. Hart, formerly of the
wish
much.
Chronicle
Often
up. I
about will
dull
the
same
not write
appearance
as
this time, as I
am
in
much
and stupid this forenoon. We and there is some breeze
last night,
warm and oppressive Pete, here is a you, dear son, and much, much love for
you, as ever, from your affectionate
comrade and
father.
WALT. Ill
Brooklyn, Friday July 14 [1871.] pretty much the same with me, as 82
DEAR PETE. when
I
wrote
It
is
my
LETTERS OF former
busy
comfort
home here
with my mother, not but anything particular taking a good deal of It has been very hot here, but one stands it
letters
at
1871
still
here than in Washington, on account perhaps of I am still feeling well, and am out around
better
the sea-air
every day.
nesday
There was quite a brush in N. Y. on Wed the Irish lower orders, Catholic, had determined
Orange parade, Protestant, should be put down and threw stones military fired on mob between 30 and 40 killed, over a hundred wounded but it was all you have seen all about it in papers up in a distant part of the City, three miles from Wall street five sixths of the City went on with its business just the I saw a big squad of same as any other day prisoners carried along under guard reminded me of the they that the
mob
fired
squads of rebel prisoners brought in Washington, six The New York police looked and behaved years ago. splendidly
no
fuss,
brown, bearded, able, stock, though,
many
of
few words, but
action
great
American looking fellows, (Irish I had great pleasure in them)
something new, to me, it quite set me looking on them to see such chaps, all dusty and worn, looked like up veterans Pete, dear son, I received your two letters, and was glad to get them. Mother has been quite sick,
and
I
have been sort of nurse, as she
being home at present this morning, under my doctoring. of
my
letters
sisters
that
everything goes 83
is
here alone, none
she
is
much better
Pete, I see
by your on right with you on the
CALAMUS road
give
my
best regards to
my
friends
among
the
Dear son, I shall now soon be and conductors. will and we be back, together again, as my leave coming I am now going to take a bath and is up on the 22nd, Love to you, my dress myself to go over to New York. WALT. dearest boy, and good bye for this time. drivers
IV 16 July, 1871.] By the sea-shore, Coney DEAR PETE. I will write you a /. m. few lines as I sit here, on a clump of sand by the sea
[Sunday,
Island,
Sunday 3
having some paper in my haversack, and an hour or two yet before I start back. Pete, I wish you I have just had a were with me the few hours past shore
the waves are splendid swim and souse in the surf slowly rolling in, with hoarse roar that is music to my ears
the sun
the breeze blows pretty brisk from southwest, and is partially clouded from where I sit I look out
on the bay and down the Narrows, vessels every direction in the distance
ocean steamship streaking it up toward the lines of hills and mountains, far, Jersey coast, a around me, as I
don
t
New York far
and
away on the
with blue vapor here but I nothing but barren sand could sit here, to that soothing, veiled
little
sit it is
know how long
sailing in
a great big black long
I
and then the salt rumbling murmuring of the waves DEAR SON. I wrote the breeze. Friday, July [21], 84
LETTERS OF
1871
preceding nearly a week ago, intending to finish and send it then Mother Nothing very new or special with me I has been quite unwell, gets better, then worse again The weather have applied for a few days further leave we have had but three here remains nearly perfect
or four uncomfortably hot days the past five weeks Pete, if you every day a fine breeze smelling of the sea.
are
still
all is going on smooth, you can send you might get Mr. Milburn to send it to Post Office Order give it to him with this
working, and
me that me by
$50.
envelope, and
Order to
me
ask him to go to P. O. and send a P. O. it will save But Pete, you the trouble
dear boy, if anything has turned up in meantime, you I am needn t send it, as I can get along otherwise doing in and business both health here prospects well, my book is
doing
first
hangs high
rate
so everything
is
lovely
Your loving comrade and
and the goose
father.
WALT.
V DEAR Brooklyn, Monday forenoon, July 24 [1871], I received the $50 to-day all right, and a real help
PETE.
tome
I have money but I cannot have the use of it so this comes first rate. I spent now yesterday down on the sea-shore, was all by myself, had a splendid went down in the good day, took my dinner with me
just
boat twelve miles in the morning, and back in a big open horse car toward evening through the fields and woods very pleasant indeed
staid a long while in the water
85
CALAMUS Mother
weather perfect
is better to-day she has several ups and downs I am as well as a fellow can be eat and sleep tremendous
been pretty
sick, with
week or so longer shall be back first if week Well Pete, part nothing happens believe that is all this morning Good bye, my darling WALT. son, and a long, long kiss from your loving father. shall stay here a
of
next
I
VI Brooklyn, July 28 [1871, Friday }. DEAR SON. I shall return on Monday next, in the 12.30 train from Jersey City (the train I usually come in ). Pete, I have received
Mother seems to-day full as well as I have been on to New right about miles from here a former friend of Haven, 75 mine is in a dying condition there from consumption, and expressed such a strong desire to see me, that I went on. I thought he would die while I was there he was all
your
usual
letter of 26th. I
continue
all
wasted to a skeleton, faculties good, but voice only a low I returned last night, after midnight. Well, whisper time here is short I have had a good bub, my quiet
some respects yet and I feel satisfied will soon be we My darling son, very together again, your loving comrade, WALT. visit
the best in
86
LETTERS OF
1872
107 North Portland Av., Feb. DEAR PETE. Dear, dear son. 1872. We are having a very cold spell here, the severest of the winter freezes up the 16,
BROOKLYN,
and burst them yesterday, bad cold, my
through the house,
pipes
causing great trouble
too have got a
I
head all stopped. I came through all right on time Mother quite a pleasant trip full
as well as usual
with mother
I
am having
quiet
last
Saturday,
is
very well,
good
times,
home
house more than usual on ac cold (but go out two or three hours
stay in the
count of the bitter
during the day). to I
I will only write this very short letter but send you my love, my darling son you think about you every day, dear son will write more
this time,
soon Pete,
time ing
here I
is
a kiss for you, dear loving son. WALT. out a poor scraggy letter to you this
am making I
feel pretty well,
Good bye
but don
for to-day,
my
t
seem
to feel like writ
Your
loving boy.
true
Father and comrade always. II
Brooklyn,
Your
letter
Friday noon, Feb. 23 [1872]. received this morning speaks 87
DEAR SON. of
the mild
CALAMUS weather there here as at
I
would
first.
but
much
so
state
have rather blocked but
here, so far
Dear
son,
I
I
has been and remains very cold I don t go around half as much
cold hangs on, though not so bad as of the weather, and my cold, etc.,
My
like.
The
it
so that
me from
having
see you
are off *
I
that you are feeling well in health, I wish time as the law allows there,
some
my
make up
expect to
take
it
by and by.
it
letter
by your
and having as good a
we could be together
of these moonlight nights
cold for comfort
usual enjoyment
for
but here
it is
too
(the water pipes here froze again last I causing night, go out a couple of hours trouble) I have middle of the day, but keep in nights got the
new
edition of
-
my book
under way
and
it
will
be
satis
make
It will be in one volume, and will factory I think a better appearance than any of the former ones
you go up
to the
Debates
to
come out ahead
good speaker (very
much
I
of
enjoy the
them
I
all
Do
see by the
Schurz
Senator
having high times
papers they are
appears
the Senate?
in
he
is
a
real
way he shakes them
like a first class terrier in a pit, with
up, a lot of
Pete, I send you $10 enclosed, as you may need Should you want more, you write, as I have plenty have had am writing this up in my back room, home
rats). it
I
a nice breakfast of hot potatoes and first-rate Oregon home-made salmon, with the best coffee that s made *
/ . e.
off
work.
LETTERS OF
1872
bread and sweet butter everything tip-top well enough you must try to do the same WALT. bye for this time, my own loving boy
get along so good
Ill
DEAR Brooklyn, Monday evening, March 4 [1872]. it is I am sitting here in my room home, alone SON. and cold and as hard and outside wintry heavy snowing there has not been one mild clay here for the past two thirds of the time spiteful and gusty
ever
three weeks
and this with bitter cold wind and clouds of dust seems to me I have felt the cold more than for the last three But I reckon I have said enough on this point. winters I write anything interesting to you as I do cannot Pete, I have attended not go anywhere nor see anything new to the bringing out
the plates were I
am home
day noon.
all
am
I
throat, pretty
edition of
(
and
I
bad
not
book, but as
my
much
of a job half the days also ). Tues it is
afraid this letter
was attacked
make out
is
not destined to be
last
night
with
sore
this
morning to worry the weather has been so infernal
still I
a fair breakfast
last
new
ready before,
every night
very cheering
down
the
evening towards sundown, begun the spitefulest I ever knew, great clouds suddenly come
wind and cold
up, inky black, fast,
it
didn
t
was
and
all
of a
sudden snow
a dense fog, in the least it dissipate like
89
fell
so thick and
so thick the hard wind this lasted
about half an
CALAMUS hour, and was about the highest old weather exhibition I snow ffell two inches thick in fifteen ever witnessed
Dear
minutes.
Pete,
how
about Sailer and the R. R.
are you getting along? I
?
how
suppose slow and aggra
vating enough by what you said in your last. Dear Pete, I don t think I shall stay here as long as I originally I shall be back, by, or before, the end of this intended
month mother
and it
I
am
writing these lines
home
in the kitchen
sitting in the rocking chair sewing something * Eddy is grinding some good coffee in a coffee mill is
smells good fire here
hot
(I have retreated to the kitchen for the I am not like I am in Washington
now
My you would laugh to see me hovering over the fire ) don t get dis darling son you must keep a good heart and can love to you, baby, I enclose $10. couraged WALT.
send you whatever you want
IV Brooklyn, Tliursday forenoon
SON.
am
[
March
7,
1892].
DEAR
here, Pete, kept pretty close it seems to be the weather but quarters by something There is nothing special to of a let up this morning.
Well,
I
in
still
* Edward Whitman, a Walt younger brother who was imbecile. He provided for "crippled."
Whitman always spoke of him as Eddy during a large part of his W. (
for his maintenance in his will.
weeks
after
W.
W
s.
own
W
s.
)
life
and made provision
But Eddy died
death.
90
in
1892 only a few
LETTERS OF but
write about
I
I
thought
1872
would send you a
line this
sent you a letter two days ago with $10.
I
morning. (the second $10
have sent) write me whether you I hope you are not discouraged by right. It won t be very long the way things work on the road Give my love to now before I shall be back with you received
I
it all
Mr. and Mrs. Nash success in the thing else all this
"graduate
give
Wash Milburne
tell
him my
and every
of pharmacy" line,
Pete, I believe that
love.
WALT.
time, dear baby,
wish him
I
With a
kiss
is
from your
loving father.
107 North Portland Ave., Brooklyn, March 15 SON. I will just write you a line, as you
DEAR
[1872].
may be
me
The weather has Saturday. I have been cold enough yet to the Italian Opera twice, heard Nilsson both times, she is very fine One night Trovatore, and one, Robert, with both good. I expect to return in about two Brignoli looking for word from up a little, but it is
let
weeks I
I
am
writing
with a
fire
Mother had a bad
mencing Sunday yesterday breakfast
this here in the kitchen,
my own room this visit,
have deserted
We
last
I
could just be here and
mammy
it is
home,
so cold even
spell three days,
com
about as usual to-day and splendid buckwheat cakes for
but
have
sometimes
as
makes the best
is
fry
eat
them myself breakfast
-
I
I
coffee in the world,
9
1
wish you think
my
and buck-
CALAMUS wheats ditto best yet
is
it
mince-pies ditto. My new edition* looks from the same plates as the last only in
one Volume bound handsomely in green cloth my I send books are beginning to do pretty well you the publisher
s
slip.
Well, Pete,
I
believe that
is
all
this
Remember me to any of the boys on the road that also Adrian Jones, that works in may inquire for me the theatre it is now after ten, Friday forenoon, clear, and I am going over to New York to cold, and windy time.
have a
lot
steamer.
We
will
of
my books
Dear
I
son,
sent to England by tomorrow s send my best love, as always.
soon be together again, dear son.
WALT.
VI
DEAR Brooklyn, Friday forenoon, March 22 [1872]. I received letter PETE, Pete, you must your yesterday. be quite steady at work, and no time to spare. Well, it is just as satisfactory considering all things. cold weather has just kept on here, as before cold all the a of time and then damned bitter enough spell not one single stinging cold every now and then extra
perhaps
The
mild
am
warm day
since
have been home
six
weeks
I
middling well, go out some every day, but not much I fall back on Best thing is my eating and sleeping
them altogether plenty of cover *
I
I
sleep splendid, have
a
get up pretty early though
good bed, and make
the 72 edn. of the Leaves." The 71 edn. was issued in the 72 in dark green cloth. pale green paper covers i. f.,
"
92
LETTERS OF
1872
fire, and set things agoing, before mother comes out she has had some bad times with rheumatism, etc. one hand and arm quite disabled still she is very
the
cheerful, looks well in
cooking,
etc.,
the face,
than most young
buckwheat cakes,
breakfasts,
and does more work We have grand
women coffee,
etc.,
eggs,
etc.
just wish you could come in mornings and partake. two * always breakfast together, and it is first rate
back upon sleeping and eating, Should be glad to see Parker Milburn
We So
you see
I
will
I send you a paper by mail. Well, to-day believe that is all, this time. Good bye, my
call
Pete, I
fall
son
darling
So the new
shirts turn out
(as I said)
hope he
a success do
have a great mind to be jealous Give my love to Wash Milburn, Adrian Jones, and all the R. R.
they?
I
boys.
Your loving
old
WALT. VII
DEAR Brooklyn, Friday afternoon [March 29, 1872.] I have received your letter, and the paper it seems a with the account of Mr. Huntington s death BOY PETE.
sudden and sorrowful thing Pete, I shall continue here I see you are working [it] appears quite another week I continue pretty well Mother is middling steady This last two days the weather has been real pleasant I have been out most of the time It is now between 4
and
5
I
am
writing this up in * i.
e.
his
my
room,
mother and himself. 93
home
am
CALAMUS going out, and over to New York this evening Nothing special to write about Pete, my darling boy, I have
been writing some long feel
little like
very
letters on business, etc. and writing (so I will just dry up for this a good buss to you dear son from your
occasion), here is loving father always.
VIII Brooklyn, Friday forenoon, April
be back
5 [1872].
DEAR SON.
Washington next week where in the middle of the week. I am well I
expect to
is
pretty well
in
some Mother
received your letter three days since
I
Pete, things must be going on about the same as ever. As I write it is pleasant weather, and I am going out to get the
good of
you, dear boy.
Pete, take care of yourself
it
till
I
see
WALT.
IX Brooklyn, 107 North Portland Are., June 14 [1872]. and DEAR SON. I got home all right Saturday night have been having quite a good time. There is nothing Mother is well as usual. I shall print my very new
College
poem*
in a small
book
it
will
be small
and
was read by W. W. at "Commencement," Dartmouth College, N. H., 26 June, 72, on invitation of the United It was afterwards printed in a small volume Literary Societies. which was called by the name of this poem As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free and other Poems. Washington, D.C. i8jz. In the
The poem
referred to
:
current Leaves (1891-2) "
Thou Mother wih
it
will
thy Equal
be found, Brood."
94
p. 346,
under the heading:
LETTERS OF
1872
I am hav intended as the beginning of a larger one will send you one in it set up at the printing office ing ten or twelve days. Pete, how are you getting along? is
I see suppose on 14 the same as when I was there head have the men that the migrated mostly papers by I
from Washington, and that
it is
said to be hot
and
dull
Do you
see anything of Mr. Tasistro?*enough I am I received the letter he sent to the office for me there.
we are having writing this in the house in Portland Av. and I Good bye, my darling boy a showery afternoon try to
will
letter)
write
again
soon (and a more interesting
WALT.
X Brooklyn, June 18, 1872. a better time here than I had
DEAR
my
PETE.
I
am
having
The weather
last visit.
pretty hot during the middle of the very pleasant No moonlight but mornings and nights perfect day, but I go on the walks out beyond Uniontown here
is
river
and cross
was beautiful
to
and
fro in the pilot house.
Saturday
I
spent at Coney
Last night
Island
went
has some middling will break up here, pretty bad spells with rheumatism
in
swimming
*
Count Michael
Mother
is
only
Tasistro, of French-Irish parentage,
nally to this country with a hunting party of
came
origi
French noblemen.
He
remained here permanently and, becoming poor, supported himself by teaching French and by literary work. He died while engaged in
the translation of the
Comte de 95
Paris History of the Civil
War.
CALAMUS and go with
brother George to Camden, N. J M in suppose you got a letter from me last wrote you the day before. Pete, dear
my I
September. Saturday, as
I
you should want any of your money send me word. It is either $120 or $130 (I am not sure but I have a memorandum in my desk at Washington) I son,
am
if
feeling real
boy.
well,
and
I
hope you are
too,
my
loving
WALT.
XI
DEAR Hanover, N. H., Thursday, June 27 [1872]. SON. I will write you just a line to show you I am here and alive and kicking. I delivered my All went off before the College yesterday. after feeling un very well. (It is rather provoking since Sunday last I usually well this whole summer,
away
north,
poem here
have been about half sick and
am
to
go
to
Vermont Pete
to Brooklyn.
been taken
I
so yet, by spells.)
received your
write to
off
am
for a couple of days,
letter, that
me Saturday
I
and then back
3oth, or
you had
Sunday
direct to usual address I
will
send you
when
107 Portland Ave., Brooklyn. the little book with my poem, (and
Pete, did my get back to Brooklyn. I the poem appear suppose Washington papers ? Patriot If so send or Chronicle or Thursday Friday
others)
I
in
me one here, as
one
of each). is a curious scene It a old New beautiful write, England village,
(or I
150 years old, large houses and gardens, great elms, 96
LETTERS OF plenty
of
hills
every
thing
1872 but
comfortable,
very
not an African to be seen all day not a grain Yankee not a car to be seen or heard of dust green grass no smell of coal tar. As I write a party everywhere
are playing base ball on a large green in front of the the weather suits me first rate cloudy but no
house rain.
Your loving WALT. XII
DEAR
Brooklyn, June 30 [1872].
your
letter of
Tuesday
last,
thing was going on all right. ing myself in a quiet way
Boy.
I
received
and was glad to hear every I am well, and still enjoy I
have been home every
but out quite a good deal in the evening since I come is the weather splendid here plenty cool enough. day This has got to be a great place for boating all the
and most every young man sometimes of a belongs to a boat or yacht club pleasant day, especially Sunday, you will see them out all the yachts look over up and down the bay in swarms beautiful enough, with white sails and many with white hulls and their long pennants flying it is a new thing n o clock, Friday forenoon. Pete, to see them so plenty, I am sitting in my room, home, finishing this have just had a bath, and dressed myself to go over to New York, shall go down and put this in the partly on business P. O. here shall walk down, as it is a very pleasant rich
men have
forenoon.
their yachts,
When you
write
97
tell
me
if
you have read
CALAMUS Charles Reade
one here this
I
time
Foul Play
"
if not, I have send you Dear son, I believe that is all send my love, dear son, and a good loving
s
novel of
"
will I
Give my best regards and inform them I expect to be back in about three weeks Good bye, my darling boy, from your comrade and father. WALT. kiss
I
think of you every day
to all enquiring friends,
XIII
DEAR SON PETE. I have Brooklyn, July 12 [1872]. but am feeling better now, and soon expect to be all right. Mother too is unwell. I expect to re been sick
main here ten or twelve days write a short letter this time
Pete,
longer.
Love
to
I will
you, dear
only son.
WALT.
XIV New
DEAR York, Friday afternoon, July 19 [1872]. I received your letter yesterday nothing am better than I was when I wrote very new with me shall return to Washington next week, you before BOY PETE.
somewhere about the middle of the week. Pete, you must try to keep good heart Perhaps this will find if not, you must keep up a cheerful you at work again I have heart all the same. just been spending a couple I like him real well. of hours with Joaquin Miller $10. enclosed.
WAI.T.
98
LETTERS OF
1873
I
DEAR PETE. I have been very unwell [1873]. at least at the present moment. am better again St. next door to am stopping at Mr. Ashton s, 1202
but I
K
the
southwest corner of
me
K
and i2th* two days ago,
wrote you a line Did you not get it ? WALT.J
see
I
come up and to
Milburn
s
II
Camden,\
day^ June
May 2
31.
[1873],
I
between half-past
too late to see you that evening. am about the same as to my
expect to return Mon 5 and 6, but probably
Come up Tuesday. sickness
I
no worse.
WALT. * In Washington. I
This note was probably written between ist and 26th Jan. 73. it and the next letter in this volume intervene Letters in
Between
Sickness (26 Jan. to 16 in
May, 73) written to In Re Walt Whitman, pp. 73-92.
|
left
his
mother and printed
Walt Whitman left Washington the 2oth May pretty sick and for a time lived with his brother arm and leg paralyzed
George
He see
in
Camden, N.
J.
almost certainly did not return to Washington as intended infra
letter of 28
Aug.
73.
99
CALAMUS III S/., Camden, N.J. Wednesday forenoon, June 18 [1873]. DEAR PETE. It has been a good move of me coming here, as I am pleasantly situated, have two rooms on 2nd floor, with north and south windows, so I can have the breeze through I can have what I wish in the grub line, have plenty of good strawberries and my brother and sister are very kind It is very quiet, and
322 Stevens
There is not much going in for getting well so far I but feel change comparatively comfortable since I have been here and better satisfied My brother is I feel like
work (inspecting pipe manufactured here at the foundries for water works and sewers in northern cities) full of
he
is in
here, to
a great stout fellow weighs building a handsome new house
splendid health
more than
do be done
he
I
is
latter part of
Thursday August. have had some bad feeling in the but it will head yesterday afternoon and this morning no doubt It is warm weather over here, days, but pass Nothing very new
\<)th.
I
when you get the .S /arsave two in a wrapper with can send you a one cent stamp. for fear you haven enclose some, (I 2oth. hot weather here and needs Friday Pretty any). pleasant nights so far
it
and send
to
Pete,
me
t
I am about the same rain badly a v/hile, and then have a bad spell
head
at times, but
try to.
Give
my
feel
keep up a good heart respects to
all
100
pretty well for in the
have distress
or at any rate
enquiring friends
tell
LETTERS OF
1873
them I expect to return to Washington in about a couple of months tell me who you meet, and every little thing, I and who asks about me, etc., as it will interest me. have made a raise of some new summer clothes, real nice thin black pants and vest, a blue flannel suit, and Love to Wash Milburn let him some white vests. read this letter along
Write
he wishes
if
Good bye dear
how you
are getting
WALT.
son.
IV
DEAR \Camden^\ Thursday erening, June 26 [1873]. I send a note I received note I PETE. to-day. you your first take it to Mr. Noyes, Mr. Edmunds, an additional line I (to whom it is enveloped,) and get and then, if you conclude to have requested from him
have written
to
go up and take
try for the carrier s place,
Mr. Edmunds.
I
must
tell
you another
written (wrote yesterday) a short note
to
it
yourself to I have
thing.
Mr. Dubarry,
your superintendent, asking him if you couldn t be better placed when the changes of the Baltimore connection are made.
not amount to anything but I took a Pete, I am not having a very good head troubles me yesterday was as bad as It
notion to write
time
my
may it.
from well as ever to-day I am a little a out few and have been But I keep up a easier, steps. son and WALT. dear must too. good heart, you
ever
If
as far
you conclude not to
try for the carrier s berth,
letters go.
101
let
the
CALAMUS
322
Stevens
[1873]. old story
bad
since
am
I
Monday,
/.,
[/#/) ]
7
only able to write the same
last wrote, I
I
suffered
spells
N.
Camdcn,
St.,
DEAR SON.
have had some pretty all last week, and
intervals
at
yesterday, with the strange and painful distress in the But I feel better to-day head, I have had so much of
Every time I still
I
feel better,
strange place, telling
I
if
I
Are things
I
you and your think about you every night did not fly around when I was
just the same, as far as
crew are concerned? I
received
your letter for the chance get any and about Mr. Noyes friendli it.
too late to
letter carrier s position
ness
t
can help
me you was
much encouraged dare to trust myself in a
find myself
don
stick here, as I
reproach myself that
I I
Washington, to find some better employment now I am here, crippled, laid up for God you knows how long, unable to help myself, or my dear boy. well,
and
in
for
-
I
visits
do not miss anything of Washington here, but your if I could only have a daily visit here such as I
had there I there is not much go out very little here one car line passing convenience here, for me to go out about two squares off, consists of four cars, running semi-occasionally the other way, has
and another
line,
about
3^
squares
I get out and believe 6 or 7 cars take a ride in them sometimes my best jaunt is going in them to the ferry, and crossing on the boat to PhilaI
102
LETTERS OF
1873
But a great portion delphia, to and fro, several times of the time I do not feel able to go out alone fortu nately I do not of them, so far,
am
As
out
noon and
I
I
am
have any dizzy so
am
I
spells,
nor any symptoms
not worried about that
when
I
a very pleasant cool after here sitting by the window in a big easy
write this
it is
you feeling well, and good spirits. good long letter and tell me it will do how does the new everything you good time go on the road, since Baltimore Tunnel connection ? how about Washington Tasistro every body? Get a good sheet of paper, and sit down in the Park,
chair.
Pete,
I
with
hope
this will find
Write
in
me
your lead pencil
a
I
send you an envelope
also
some one cent stamps. Love to you, dear boy keep I do yet up a good heart though it is a long and hard pull sometimes with me lately. WALT.
VI Camden, Tuesday afternoon, July 15 [1873]. PETE. There is nothing new or different with
am no
DEAR I me
better in any respect, don t know what is going to of it all are having pretty hot weather
We
come out
here just now, but it does not affect me much it near as oppressive here as the Washington heat ceived your
letter,
my
dear son
write
more to-morrow.
have
little
to
write to
with the paper
is
not
I re I will
Wednesday afternoon. Pete, I you about, as I remain anchored
CALAMUS here
chair.
As
the time.
all
son,
darling
s
think
I still
weather
shall
I
to get to the sea-shore, either
and
not so
is
write
I
am
former
Mother s death is on only can show time does not lift the cloud from me at all coast,
I
room, in her old arm Spend a great deal of my time here, as I haven t half a block tires me. Pete, going out lately
my mother
in
felt like
my
the house nearly
in
sitting
shall
make here
hot
a start
to-day.
but time
my mind I
yet,*
want much
Island or the Jersey
Long if I
it
It
get strong enough
So long,
my
darling
boy.
WALT. VII Camden,
PETE
DEAR SON 24, 1873. old story with me the best
Thursday noon, July
It is still the
:
same
I can say is that I don t seem to get worse, even if I don t get better. Your letter came, and the Star, with If must be very hot there in the item about Tasistro. but stand it better than most any one I Washington, you
know.
I
never
too
used to think anything of heat
but last summer I felt the heat or cold, from 20 to 50 first time. for the Pete, as I have told you severely, several times, will
for
I
still
think
I
shall get over this,
and we
but be together again and have some good times all that it is best for you to be prepared for some
thing different ever,
and
if
my
strength can
t
stand the pull for
continued must sooner or later give out *
Mrs.
Whitman
died
104
May
23, 1873.
LETTERS OF Now
Pete,
you haven
don t
t
lost
1873
begin to worry boy, or cry about me, for me yet, and I really don t think it is
but I thought it best to give a word of a thing should be I am quite comfort such caution, I went out at able here and have everything I want yet
likely
if
y^.
past 5 yesterday afternoon, and rode in the cars here and crossed the Delaware from Camden to
to the ferry,
Philadelphia four or five times very pleasant. To-day is burning hot, but I am feeling as well as usual. Friday Pretty hot again to-day here, but not 25///, 4 o clock. so oppressive to bear as in Washington I am feeling shall try to get out a few steps about as usual to-day after
son.
send this
I
Good bye
for this time, dear loving
WALT. VIII
Pete you must read this over Sunday, as a ten minutes talk like, about all sorts of
odds and ends.
i DEAR SON. [1873]. received to-day, and enclosed I send you as I shall want to want you to write soon
Camden, Friday afternoon, Aug.
Your
letter
$20.
know
I if
it
is
reached you
safe.
the worst distress in the head
I
now
am
feeling relieved of
two days bad enough the first three days in the week but yesterday and to-day it has mostly let have been out to-day, and over to Philadelphia it up is hard work, especially as I have no one to go with me
had
it
straight along
105
for the last
CALAMUS but
I
Is put a bold face on, and my best foot foremost there in the store ? or has he gone on his
Wash Milburn
vacation in the country? answer think of writing a few lines to him
but for
me
your next
in
Hot weather
I
here,
don t suffer much from it though I think it is bad I more and much from the cool season, if I me, hope I
Pete, I too see quite a good deal of and hear more some 70 rods off is the great Railroad, of and the Camden depot Amboy, bells and whistles and trains rumbling continually, night and day, and lots of if I R. R. men living near, around here only felt just a
get through this
little
I should get acquainted with many of the men, I should much could very easily do if I would. to go on the trips so handy and cheap, right as you
better
which like
I
might from
my
door, to
etc., to say nothing of
Cape May, or numerous
the
to
Long Branch,
fine
jaunts
from
Philadelphia G. R. R., or up or down the Delaware by If you was only here to convoy me but I Steamboat
suppose no one is to have every thing wanting (Pete, dear son, there was $89. coming to you, of the money you
my me
put in
from
charge, and
your own
Friday afternoon
I
now
there will be 569. yet due you As I write it is 4^ o clock soap) am sitting here alone, in the 2nd
I received every thing quiet here story front room When you write, the other letter, and Sunday Chronicle
tell
me who you
see,
and everything.
far better than the formal visit
I
like
ones some send
such
me
I
letters
had a
from a good, kind-hearted, rather queer old fellow 1
06
LETTERS OF
1873
named Ingram, from Philadelphia
he said he see* in was laid up very sick in Philadelphia paper Camden so he came over and hunted for hours through the hot sun, found me at last he evidently had thought I was keeled up, and hard up, and he came to offer help I he has been a great traveler, is English by birth found him good company, and was glad to see him he the
I
has been twice
so you see there are good souls
left
when you
see Judge Fisher tell him I shall yet be Pete, back all right one of these days, and in the mean time tell him I send him my love also my love to Mr. and
Mrs. Nash the next time you go there the present,
my
heart, for I do,
me
sometimes.
So good bye
for
darling son, and you must keep good
though
it is
pretty
glum around and over
WALT.
IX Camden, August 22 [1873]. DEAR SON. 1 received and was inter your letter of last Saturday and Sunday ested in reading all the particulars you wrote about the
and the young man, your friend the fireman it was indeed a sad fate There has been great washing away and trouble with R. R. tracks here about too for myself I never remember an August with R. R.
etc.,
poor fellow,
much
me whether your road has is also and repaired damages, running through again think of and Washand see about everything you people *So in MSS.
so
rain
Write to
107
CALAMUS ington, etc., that would interest me I am still about the quiet life here.
as
I
live
a very
same as when
I
last
am no worse and not much better though I perceive my general strength is at least as good as any time since I have been sick my head still troubles me wrote
with pain and distress a good deal of the time I hobble out a little every day when not prevented by the rain
and console myself with thinking that everything with a great deal worse 1 can put up with all but the death of my mother that is my great sorrow
me might be
-
me just as much now, or more, than Have you seen Mr. Eldridge since his return to Washington ? Have you seen anything of Mr. O Connor? (You know he is now Chief Clerk of the You must have had a sweet time Light House Board) with Dr. Duncan and Dr. Blake, ( though I must confess
that sticks at the
I
affects
time.
rather like the latter,
points) it
I
suspect he has some real good of time, I think
sometimes when one has plenty
very good, for a change, to
let
when you
such fellows buzz you to
with them think them as acting a part for your amusement how well if they do it they could only do it on the stage, it would make their fortune So Mr. Tasistro still lives he deserves great credit for his perseverance and vitality I hope he will come to the top of the heap yet I cut out the piece below from a Philadelphia paper, thinking it As I sit here in my arm chair, fin might interest you
their heart s content,
fall in
of
ishing this,
it is
3 o clock Friday afternoon, 1
08
it
clouds up
LETTERS OF
1873
it was if for rain, we had a shower last night quite cool, but has been pretty warm here for two days, and is now I am feeling as if I would and should come
again as
out
all
send
right yet
me
So long,
had a nice dinner
Sunday Herald Aug. dear son. WALT. the
dear son,
Pete,
24.
don
t
forget
X Camden,
Thursday
evening,
[Aug.
28, 1873].
PETE,
I have DEAR SON. I am not sinking nor getting worse had some very bad times, and have some pretty bad ones
and my leg is about as use mostly with my head less as ever still I am decidedly no worse, and I think now I am even getting better it is slow and with great yet,
but I have the feeling of getting more and easier in the head something like what I was before Mother s death I cannot be reconciled to alternations strength,
it is the nothing that great cloud of my life ever happened before has had such an effect on me but I shall get well, yet, dear son, probably, ( of course
that yet
not certainly
we
will
)
and be back
be together again.
in I
Washington think
I
this fall,
am now
and
about as
I
was the day you came down to Baltimore Depot with me I have 2oth May, I think. Friday after dinner. of this rains of the heaviest the week, thought nights you here almost ever known, great trouble and loss to rail roads was you in any tight spot ? that described in a That was afearyour last made me feel little nervous 109
CALAMUS Wawasset
ful disaster of the
So Tasistro
sad beyond description
The
Kldridge has returned to he stopped here and paid leave
-John Burroughs has an
Chronicle
me
to get
it
Pete,
down
is
now towards
to the Ferry boat,
so you see
I
am
a 3 or 4 hour s visit
article in the
Scribner s Magazine, just out, in
from
-
came Mr. from his month s Washington
around yet
is
Sept.
which
I
number
am
of
extracted
3, and I am going to try and cross to Philadelphia
not altogether
disabled
but
it
is
when the weather is cooler, (which awful tough work will be soon ) I shall be better off in Washington, as it is very lonesome to me here, and no one to convoy me I want to get a couple of unfur I shall return there nished rooms, or top floor, somewhere on or near the Pete, if you see Charley Toner give him my and ask him to give you his address to send me Cartee s) Treasury. He works in the Printing Bureau ( Goodbye, my dear loving boy. WALT.
car route love,
M
XI
DEAR BOY PETE. Sept. 5 [1873]. with cheering wishes and prophecies, came for all such things last Tuesday, God bless you, boy, Camden, Friday noon,
Your
letter,
help
much
I
had a bad
spell
this
morning
have
still it seems certain something of the kind pretty often and that I am my general strength improving, generally,
is
better,
I
am
not
near as bad as
no
I
was
five
weeks
LETTERS OF have some hours
1873
which 1 feel quite like myself heart and again nearly all the time keep up good * has So I see Beau must dear son. Hickman too, you ago
in
in the paper this morning I died of a stroke of paralysis see a piece about his body being resurrected from Potter s field.
Pete,
road
P.
I
see a collision of
some
trains on the B.
reported in the tunnel at Baltimore
&
yesterday
morning early in which a brakeman named Hankinson was instantly killed I was over to Philadelphia yester is a large reading room, the Mercantile loth St. where I go occasionally it is quite have they have all the papers from everywhere
there
day
Library,
handy the
Washington Chronicle, Capital,
ride
in
etc.
Then
I
took a
the Market St. cars, and was caught in a violent the moment I got home 2 past 7 coming home
y
rain at
and cleared off a beautiful moonlit night. It is and pretty hot here to-day I am sitting here in the front room, in the same big old mahogany chair I gave mother 20 years ago, by the open window writing it
stopt,
clear
am
Pete, the feeling better since breakfast. sent last came all I have papers you right Monday received a letter from Chas. Eldridge and another
this
I
from Walter Godey, the young man who *
is
working for
Hickman was a familiar character in Washington, a decayed dandy, who made periodical visits through the Capitol and the Departments, picking up a living from the contributions of con gressmen and government officials, many of whom were his regular "
Beau
"
patrons. II
I
CALAMUS me
as
my
all was going on well send a couple of papers to-day noth send the Herald. Did I tell you that a
substitute in the office
in the office
I
ing particular doctor I have talked with here says my real disease is the brain not being properly furnished and nourished with blood 1
(it is
a disease the doctors call cerebral anaemia)
the doctor says it has been long a coming, and will be long a going says I will get over it though says the paralysis comes from that, and that it (the paralysis) is I am following Dr. Drinkard s no WALT. advice, taking medicine, living very carefully.
formidable
not very
XII
Cam den,
DEAR BOY Sept. 12 [1873]. a very fine September day here it must be down in sun the shines delightful Virginia just warm and is a there which makes it enough slight haze, just PETE.
Friday afternoon,
It is
right
I
have been out just a
back
I
am
but was glad to get but feeling tolerable, my leg still gives out in a few minutes walk I have had two or three quite
good
am
spells this week, sufficient to arouse
in a pretty
some
am
little
bad way
yet
however,
pretty steady small expectations, enough better to be perceptible,
I if
my am
hopes, but not without
not great ones.
and to make me in of better still I have so many times hopes being (but a little fall to bad as ever, back as better, got only again I have just had or worse) nice dinner, beefsteak, my I
LETTERS OF My
potatoes, etc.
appetite
cooks very nice, gets
sister
still
1873
and
holds out
me what
I
want.
my
Pete, your
i also the Herald and Repub came safe send you Philadelphia papers. My brother Jeff has been on here this week from St. Louis got in a car
letter of Sept.
,
I
lican
in St. Louis, 6 Saturday evening, week ago, took off his boots for easy shoes, and ( sleeping, he says, very well and sound in his bed on the car, ) had his meals regular
and got
in
He He
Monday
same car, ( which went on to New York) is now out on a good yacht excursion, from N. Y. the sound and sea, for a week quite a voyage
morning, out in
here at Philadelphia about 9 o clock
in the
but is to return last only stopped here 3 or 4 hours month both my brothers are stout and hearty,
of the
and
full of
and and interested in it thoroughly hear quite often from John Burroughs
business,
doing well. I he has bought a spot of land, right on the Hudson river, about 80 miles from N. Y. and is building himself a house there, right
and the a
2
yz
on a steep bank with the road on one side, on the other ( but sufficient space between )
river
I have heard from Charley story stone house I got a very nice letter from him Thursday
Towner
A long he said you met him Tuesday and told him I wanted to get a house in conjunction with
while ago,
where I could have a couple of Charley and his family and could see to them and that was one rooms, they I wanted to write to him to see if we could about, thing
do
it
now
but he
tells
me "3
his wife is quite
sick
L
CALAMUS quite pricked up
ears to read
my
the
short
interview
between Mr. Dubarry and you, and what he said about I see you are a little nervous, Pete Still the true point wonder, nor blame you like a good soldier, or officer ), to keep on (
the schedule^ etc.
and
I
don
t
to attain is
the alert, to do one
the rest to
God
s
duty
Almighty.
without fail and leave was reading the paper here
fully, I
I see a list of some new inventions work first rate, among the rest this * for car coup I wonder if there is It is awful anything in it ling the way men are slaughtered of late years on the trains there must be three or four hundred every year, take and the papers put em in in items the country through
this
morning, and
said to
down somewhere
of three or four lines,
out of the
way
such a thing as the killing of that young man Harkinson. in the Baltimore tunnel, a grand magnificent young man,
no doubt
(while half the papers
in the
land have had
long obituaries and notices of the death of that rotten old apple, Beau Hickmanf). Well, son, I have made out brother and I have quite a letter for you this time about the balloon been talking splurge in New York is quite a balloonist, in his belief brother -believes my
My
that something will yet to
go
yet,
perhaps
come
of
it
this afternoon
*
Referring to a short newspaper which he pastes in his letter. t See note on page 1 1 1
article
.
"4
see they advertise it is a wild under-
I
but
on
"
A New
(
ar
"
Coupler
LETTERS OF taking shall to I
still
1873
I (perhaps an advertising humbug ) anyhow. seems remain here for the present everything
be going on smooth in the office at my desk, from what hear from my substitute He writes me now and then*
does
my work very am much
well,
in
and more work besides, I shall be able
hopes some news before long about Pete,
I
Dear to
send
my improvement for good about my coming back to
and something definite So long, dear son Washington you must try up a gay heart and let the world wag on as WALT.
to it
keep may.
Camden, Friday afternoon, Sept. 19 [1873]. DEAR BOY PETE. Your letter came all right last Tuesday. I still
no worse, and no better. It is the same keep the same I have a great deal of pain in my head yet old story. no let up. Dear son, I would like to write you a good but 1 cannot to-day. We have had long amusing letter a rainy night and forenoon but as 1 write the sun is out and I must shining again get out and drag myself around a little for a change. Farewell, my loving son, till
next time.
WALT.
1
send a small bundle of papers.
XIV DEAR SON Camden, Friday noon, 261/1 Sept. [1873]. PETE. Your letter of yesterday came this forenoon
CALAMUS was a week ago
runaway of cars in the tunnel a and mighty lucky to get off as you all did he told me Pete, I got a few lines from Parker Milburn you had a very bad sore on a finger of right hand they are plaguey bad things I am in hopes yours will partly that
rather serious
make up "the
in giving you a little resting spell. I sent you Children of the Abbey," an old novel that used to
all the rage did you get it ? To-day here is a great turn out and dedication of the Masonic Temple in Phila
be
handsome and noble building. A and to-day is really perfect. The Camden Free Masons marched by here this morning, it
delphia
truly a
is
rain last night here,
about 250, the finest collection of men I thought I ever saw, but poor music, all brass, a lot of fat young Dutch
men blowing hullabaloo
they would burst, and making a hell of a Pete, I am about the same may be a little
as
if
in general strength had bad spells a good some very bad the earlier part of the week I am making some but feel better yesterday and to-day
improved deal
all
calculations of the cool weather
think
it
may be
favor
me
did not go out any yesterday shall try to I don t know a of hours out this afternoon couple get am entirely alone a soul here, sometimes sit alone able to
and think,
for
two hours on a stretch
have not formed
acquaintance here, any ways intimate My is very kind in all housekeeping things, cooks what I want, has first rate coffee for me and some
a
single
sister-in-law
thing nice in the morning, and keeps 116
me
a good bed and
LETTERS OF room
1873
is very acceptable (then, for a and the friendly presence magnetism my size, I do not run foul of needed, somehow, is not here still still I generally keep up very good heart any)*
which
of
all
fellow of
think
get well to fade out
I shall
them Towner for
I
am
but
familiar things
house
is
I
have
I
my bad
spells I wait
letter from Charley still by the open window mother died, with all the old
have got a
finishing this
the rooms where
in
When
done, and
my all
shall
I
drawing to a close, as the new move on Monday. WALT.
XV Camden, Friday afternoon, Oct. 3 [1873]. DEAR PETE, I received your letter the first of the week, SON. and was interested in your account of your week, of lay
DEAR
off, and of the playing of the band under Schneider and Petrola also about City R. R. men I send my to all of I love and best respects them have had a bad for three days I have had a suc spell again this week
ing
cession of those blurs again only very much worse than last night I slept pretty well, and haven t ever before had any of them yet, to-day, but my head feels sore and
ready to have them, almost I
am
sitting here,
and dizzy
I
*
don
A
if
I
move
across the room
feeling pretty bad, t
go out any more
nautical
term="
117
run up
my head unsettled but am up and
against."
CALAMUS dressed will
it
enough think
Still
Pete,
I
pass over, and to
come back
do not get discouraged hut think I shall feel better, and strong
to
best to face
Still
Washington.
my
situation
I
don
t
know,
pretty serious. I send and if I should get bad, I will cer you a card I will write tainly send you word, or telegraph Monday I
it
it is
We have moved into my brother s Tuesday next new house I am up in the 3rd story room, fronting
or
the sun
south
is
in
shining
October weather here
brother had
My
very handsome, on second
floor,
fronting west, built for me, but it is
much more
retired,
1 1
I
o clock A. M.
my
is
beautiful
a large room,
with large bay
window
moved up here
instead,
and has the sun
fortable here indeed, but utterly.
it
bright
heart
is
I
am
very
com
blank and lonesome
sitting by tfie
window
1st floor.
have just been talking with a young married R. R. man, Thomas Osier, I fell in with he has a bad boneI
gathering on his left hand, a sort of felon, suffered had it lanced yester greatly with it 5 days and nights and is better he stood the open window ist day, by floor,
and talked with me, while he
I
sat in
an
arm-chair
man
you could tell by the cut of his jib, low collar, cap, clean shirt (for holi day) dark complexion, and hard dark hands, I took quite
inside
is
a regular R. R.
a fancy to him and, of course,
I
suppose he did to
believe he works on the locomotive
me how you
Pete,
me
you must
I
tell
I like such a letter put in the past week written two or three different times
as your last one
tl8
LETTERS OF It
gave
of
how
1873
me
and also a good idea of what you are doing in I a line have written look Washington things Hinton and
to Col.
3 o clock
P.
shall write a line to Eldridge.
head
My
M.
touchy and sensitive
I
don have
is
very sore and
feeling
go out
t
I
have re-written
What little 1 to leave I have left mainly my will to my lame brother Ed., poor man Pete, I have left you $200. and my gold watch (but it will be much better for us to
we
shall
corner
the
and
light
hopes
and view
side
west
to
This afternoon
plenty of
am
quite in I have as better of my spells to-day, getting I have felt actual spells though any pretty sick
But
day.
bite
south
fronts
air
I
am
I
not had all
spend the money together, and I have no doubt do so). This house is quite pleasant it is on
for
have been up all day, and eat quite a Pete, I have written plainly, because I
I
dinner
want you
to
me
I
but
through early next
be prepared tell
you
anything should happen to
if
I
honest,
and that week don 1
shall t
be
still
think
I
shall pull
news WALT.
able to write better
you be alarmed
yet.
XVI 43 1 Stevens Oct. 9
[1873].
St. cor.
West, Camdcn,
DEAR
SON.
Your
N.
J.
letter
you did perfectly right
Thursday noon, of 8th,
came
believe you are the greatest comfort I have, and if I get well our love and attachment will be closer than ever. As I write it this
morning
119
I
CALAMUS about noon, and I am sitting up in my room, with a window open and the bright sun streaming in. have is
I
confused spells of the head, and have just had one, last ing about 20 minutes they are not so bad and pros I have to trating as those of last week just sit still and wait this
till
they pass over.
I
eat
my
breakfast with relish
salmon, graham bread
morning,
But did not rest well
last
night.
John
and
coffee,
etc.
Burroughs has he has settled
to see me. staid a day and night He is building up and sold out in Washington and left a home on the Hudson river, 75 miles from N. Y. has I of on west side of river. am 10 acres land feeling quite bad to-day about a 13 year old boy, Rob Evans, I he has had his eye very know here, next door but one
been
badly hurt, I fear it is put out, the doctor has given it up I thought by an arrow yesterday, the boys playing a of would do deal he him, quite good anything for me
was French, and is dead the boy suffers very and the misfortune is a very, very sad one. It and everything looks so sunny and after 12 ]/^
his father
much is now
inviting out, I a few minutes
am
going to try to get out on the walk for but I don t navigate as well as I did
before
I left Washington. Friday afternoon, y? past 2. I Another beautiful day enjoy it, but cannot go around in itI went out yesterday, not far but was badly over come before I got back. At present my head cannot
stand anything.
than usual.
I
Still,
to-day
have eaten
I
my 120
am
feeling rather better
dinner
beefsteak
and
LETTERS OF potatoes, with
pumpkin
and a cup
pie
moderately but with quite a as these spells are, to
come
(
1873
and seems as
of tea
Dear
relish. if
I
eat very
Pete, serious
they will continue
have abiding hopes and trust of my though I don t want to be too confident,
I still )
on,
recovery yet
and wanted you
be prepared
whatever might hap I Charles pen. Eldridge am glad you have got some acquainted with him I I
to
for
shall write a line to-day to
know him thoroughly he man has some ways and
is
a thoroughly
good and true
notions of his own, but the main things are as solid as the hills Hinton too is a real
Now, dear son, don t worry about me good, kind man - I think in all probability we shall yet be together and that I shall come round to be wholly or partially better but whichever way
your latest two one before the
it
goes with me, it will be have been first rate
letters last,
many
it is
times,
all I
right
read the
very dear to me.
WALT.
XVII 431 Stevens Thursday.
that the bundle I
wanted.
orable
My that
Camden, Oct. 16 [1873], 2 p. m. sent you a postal card yesterday all right, with the right things
St. cor. West,
DEAR
SON.
I
had come
what may be called fav keep up without having any of
condition
is I
still
is still
those decidedly bad spells and in general while ago (
such as
it all
was
)
blurs, I feel
as before
I
as
I
as well
call
them, of a
and as strong
was taken with those
CALAMUS I
spells.
go out again a
little.
Pete,
I
told
you about a
Tom
Osier, 26 years old, that I met young and talked with, that had a felon on his occasionally I took hand a Well, quite fancy to him and he to me railroad man,
he
is
dead, killed instantly
I
(
have marked the piece
went around yesterday to where he lived, it is near here, he was married, leaves a I saw young widow, and a nice little two year old boy in the
paper already sent
them
his
-
I
)
body broken and scalded,
lay in
the front
Whenever you have the Star or Republican, once in a while you can send them (you can send two for a I see c. stamp ) I don t mind their being a little old I am feel the Chronicle and Capita) at the reading room room.
i
ing
full
as well as usual to-day, and think of going out it is so pleasant this afternoon.
and across the ferry
I went out yesterday afternoon Friday afternoon across to Philadelphia, and up to the Mercantile Library
Reading Room,
I I
have spoken of. Yesterday, and yes better than usual but am not so
felt
terday evening the worst of well to-day
But
I
have been out a
case
my
little
is
to-day.
these fall backs
My
walking does
not improve any at all. Then to make things more ( cheerful, there are many deaths here about from paralysis.) I
quite miss poor
Tom
Osier.
I
am
in the habit of
sit
forenoon* by the first floor window, reading the papers and Tom would often stop a few minutes and talk to me at the window, on his way to and from the ting of the
*
So
in
MSS.
122
LETTERS OF He would
depot
to like to stop
had self,
and
his eye hurt
my
is
1873
never come in the house, but seemed way with me. My boy that
talk that
doing rather badly
About my
too.
general strength not only holds out, but
I
think
Your postal rather improves, which helps a good deal. also a letter from Eldridge enclosing the card came key.
Good bye
for this time,
my
loving boy.
WALT.
XVIII 431 Stevens
St. cor.
Friday afternoon. well
as
when
I
West, Camden,
N.
/., Oct.
am
DEAR SON PETE.
I
wrote
have
last
tions, but upon the
whole
I
I
24 [1873], doing as
still
many
alterna
have no reason to com
head has some bad spells, plain of the last ten days. and a touch or more nearly every day, and my locomotion is still as clumsy as ever but for all that I am happy
My
in not having any of those spasms of three weeks since, and indeed I have glimpses again of my real self have had two or three such, of an hour or two each which I felt very encouraging. Your letter came Tuesday, and I wrote you a few lines on a postal card, which I suppose I went to Tommy Osier s, the you received next day. it was near young R. R. man s, funeral last Sunday here poor fellow, he used always to stop a minute at the window and talk off-hand and cheerful Pete, he often made me think of you, dear son he was and an size was son. I go he your age only
123
CALAMUS now about every
out
day, my strength out this afternoon.
is
certainly
About one shall go improving hour ago the big Adams Express wagon drove up to the it was 2 doz 2 Ib. cans of door, with a box for me fresh
Oregon salmon from
am
I
Jeff
very fond of
(my
day the
things
my
brother it
every
pretty fair, but I must have just can t eat any others) Pete, your is
appetite I
Louis, from
St.
for breakfast, can eat
it
want,
description of the old Evangelical alliances fellows, as if they had just walked out of Noah s ark, made me laugh
you just hit it O Connor she
heartily
from Mrs. to
in
Washington
I
have
is in
just got a long letter
Massachusetts
How
November
Nash, and Ed, and all ? give them my love shall yet want him to build me that small house
my
love to
Wash Milburn
-
I
am
returns
are Mr. and Mrs. tell I
Ed.
I
send
writing this up in
my
room, 3 o clock, pleasant weather, sun shining, window I
open
this time,
am
my
feeling quite fair to-day.
loving boy.
Good bye
for this
WALT.
XIX 431 Stevens noon,
Oct. 31
St. cor.
[1873.]
West, Camdcn, N.J., Friday after
DEAR BOY PETE.
remains
about the same
notice
but
stated
in
confused
my
I
hold
I
of
My
condition
get ahead any to favorable as I have
t
own, as and am free yet from the very the head and spasms of three weeks
my
late letters,
spells
don
124
LETTERS OF Besides
ago.
strength
is
I
1873
think
the best
it
upon the whole, my general has been yet for an interval
now and then
it All very encourag certainly is. (But my disease seems to have such ups and downs have learned to fear to make calculations, almost).
every ing I
The weather
here
fine
is
cool
mornings and nights,
indeed quite cold at times but the bulk of the day I think the cool weather season is beneficial to perfect
me.
I
am
sitting here writing this with
one of the win
dows wide open, and the afternoon sun streaming in. I got a letter this morning from Mr. Eldridge that he had paid Godey, my substitute, the money I sent out for his October pay Washington must be looking pleasant this fall. Write me how you are fixed, and I like to hear all the particulars about your work on the R. R. for this time,
loving boy.
have had
WALT.
It is
Good-bye
now
a
little
and potatoes Don t you think that pumpkin pie and a cup of tea It is a glorious afternoon and I am doing very well ?
after 2
is
my
I
my
going down to take a ware in the ferry boat.
dinner, beefsteak
trip It
once or twice across the Dela
makes
a pleasant
little
trip,
as
most as wide as the Potomac from yth St. wharf has two little islands in the middle, which sometimes we steer between, and sometimes go round Then these nights, Pete last night I was out, came home
the
river
about 8
here
the
is
moon
shining bright as silver
of our old walks, dear son.
I
thought
CALAMUS XX 43
1
Stevens St. cor. West, Camden, N. Jersey,
Sunday after By accident your
DEAR SON PETE.
noon, New. 9 [1873].
usual letter was not sent to P.
(). so that you could get it which may have made you some uneasy Saturday but you need not be, as I still continue to hold my own,
full
as
good as
at
previous advices
I
still
remain clear
I cannot any of those real bad spells of the head. walk any better yet but otherwise am getting along
of
received your postal card acknowledg shall go out get out every fair day about 4 to visit a family here, Col. Johnston, the jolliest man I ever met, an artist, a great talker, but real, natural I
very favorably ing the*
first-rate
man
10.
1
off-hand cheerfulness and comical-sensible talk,
an good information too, travelled in Europe has a hour or two does me real good he wife, daughter a
of
and son,
Pete, go Sunday evenings to tea send you a paper with a piece in about Richmond affairs, manufactures, etc., I thought you might like to all
good
I
I
look over
Here there
great talk of the
is
proposed send you pictures of the I am sitting here in my room 3rd story buildings soon. We have had quite a storm but at present the sun 1 am shines out, by spells feeling quite comfortable Centennial Exposition
I
I
will
would almost think of coming back
but have learned not to
The
make
* omitted in
126
to
Washington
calculations too soon or too
MSS.
LETTERS OF
I shall remain here for the present If Hinton tell him I am getting along favor him Mr. Linton, the artist, has lately called tell Hinton to be sure and come and call on
so
sanguine
you see ably
1873
Col.
tell
upon me
Tell Wash Milme, should he come to Philadelphia I send them my love, and that I
burn, and Parker also,
be back to Washington this winter tell Parker I was sorry to hear of his illness As I write the wind is crooning and whistling around the house at a great rate it is a music That is a bad though I like to hear business, the shooting of Ryan and the three good fel shall
lows, in at their
Cuba bloody
the Spaniards will probably just keep on till the U. S. (and perhaps England)
tricks
them out of Cuba which in my be done without I opinion ought suppose you delay knew Ryan by sight, he was around Washington so much steps in and kicks to
Well, good bye for this time, dear loving boy.
WALT.
XXI 43 1 Stevens 14 [1873].
St. cor
West, Camden, Friday afternoon, Nov.
DEAR PETE, DEAR
SON.
I
am
sitting here in
my room
there is no particular again writing to you we are having some pretty cold change in the situation weather here I go out a little every day, but my walk ing does not improve any
I
had a
partially
bad
spell
yesterday afternoon, and did not go out, but it passed over, and to-day I feel as well as I usually have lately 127
CALAMUS I
shall get out this afternoon, and over to the Reading in Philadelphia (Looking over the papers, I see
Room
occasionally very interesting
tint s
about myself
Lake, Utah, had me dead about the same time had me
in Salt /fern,
a speech
at a public dinner,
received your
making ). I have suppose you got mine last Tuesday and bean boiled beef, dinner, soup, pumpkin Philadelphia,
so you see
and
after 2,
this will find
I
I
I
might be doing worse
am you
It
my
loving boy
last.
in I
just had my pie, all good is
now
just
and hope
feeling quite comfortable all right,
a paper
and the Philadelphia
WALT.
XXII 43 1 Stevens St. cor. West, Camden, N. /., Friday afternoon, Nov. 21 [1873]. DEAR SON PETE. Nothing very new with I continue about the same me my general strength I go out a little most every it has been yet I was quite nonbut it is weather here cold day, very in who at affair with Frank Rives d that s Bergazzi plus
the best
know
was he drunk or loony ? It the exact words seems unaccountable to me from what I gather from your letter you did exactly right. If I hadn t met with and been the subject of some queer characters myself I should such strange and unaccountable remarks is
he
tell
?
Is he
me more
some one
of
it
I
?
what he said
hardly think anything of the sort possible. have sent a pied myself lately writing 128
I
have occu
letter
to
the
LETTERS OF
1873
Graphic describing the Capitol, which they have accepted,
and may publish Saturday or Monday. Have also writ will send you one when ten a poem which I have sold As I write this holding the paper on my lap, it appears. I am sitting here in the parlor by the heater have had drank a of dinner which I believe wine, quite goblet my has flown into my head. ( My brother West and another friend here, have both sent
and
drink
I
it
me
presents of good wine
occasionally, half water
have taken a
little
you a couple
of shirts
but this time
Pete, I thought I
extra)
I
would send
so I have ordered them
made
here, got as near the measure as I could they will be done in some ten days, perhaps less, and then I will send
them.
I like
mine so
well, I
them, with collars on. this winter.
overcoat
I
have had yours made
like
have had no new togs made
I wear my old gray suit, and the old black and when very cold or stormy my gray
you could see me now leaning against Milcounter, you wouldn t see any difference from last a different story ) winter I have ( but my heart tells been in all day, and must get out a little the evenings shawl
burn
If
s
are the most tedious with the days,
me
I
can manage
but these long cold evenings.
I
think
to put in if
I only
had the right quarters in Washington, my own quarters and a good woodfire, and you with me as often as possible, I should be comparatively happy. WALT.
129
CALAMUS XXIII 431 Stevens St. cor. West, Camden, A ./., Friday [Afar.] 28M, [1873] 2 p.m. DEAR SON PETE. Here I sit again by the heater in the parlor, writing my weekly letter I have just had my dinner, some cold turkey and a glass of Missouri wine, etc. Had been out to the 1 O. some five .
Am my time getting along very satisfactorily (for I am now satis with things not being very bad with me ) and my but have to take
or six squares distant still
fied
strength
is
undoubtedly
bring improvement etc.
The
letter
in
better,
which
I
hope
walking, and in
my
you spoke
of
will in
my
about Penn.
time
head, etc. av.
in
the
In the Graphic of Tuesday last, paper was not by me a Nov. 25, they print portrait of my beautiful phiz, and a criticism on my books, one of the best and friendliest I *-
have seen yet will like
it
if
if you can get one in Washington you not you may see it at Graphic office in I have not received any Also Monday s
Washington Nov. 24 Graphic prints my letter about the Capitol as I said before you seem to Your letter came Tuesday have done what was unavoidable in the Rives muss and but I have a horror of bar room fracases and fights As a general thing, I don t think J know you have too it (
necessary to resent the insults of drunkards or fools, unless there is something unavoidable in the case)
Did you get the *
Scottish
/.
e
Was
Chiefs
I
sent
?
not written by me.
30
Good
bye,
my
LETTERS OF
1873
I hope this will I am doing quite well dear, loving boy WALT. find you feeling well in health and jolly in spirits.
Pete,
I will
probably send the shirts early next week by
Express.
XXIV
431 Stevens St. cor. West, Camdcn, Dec. 5 [1873], after DEAR PETE. I am still holding on about the 12 M.
same
it is
pretty certain
don
1
that s about the best I can say little
walking power shirts this
oped
when
every day
is still
t
get behindhand, and continue to get out a
the weather will permit
very bad indeed
Pete,
but I
my
sent the
morning by Adams express they are envel paper box about 2 feet long by i wide
in a flat
I hope they will get there Saturday (but possibly may must pay the freight not reach you till Monday ) ( you
there till
)
I
hope they
last night, is to
rate
Middlesex
will
fit-
wear over
the blue one, I got the
flannel, cost
$5.
(same
it
wasn
stuff,
as
it
done
t
is
first
my summer
is not intended to be washed often made of ) - but can be when must then be washed by necessary
shirts are
seme one experienced
I sent washing nice flannels sent me some my portrait (as they ) also I letter letter received last Tues my Capitol your good I send for Dear Christmas son, day. you $10 your pres
in
Graphic with
ent
perhaps you
some good cotton
will
need a pair
flannel for
of winter boots,
underclothes
or
(
or
some
I received a good letter from Mr. Eldridge thing) Mrs. O Connor was to come home last Tuesday I sent
CALAMUS a paper to Parker Milburn
with
my
also
portrait
to
I hope Charley Towner you carried yours up to Mr. Nash, as I know it would interest and amuse him and Mrs. I see Nash give them both my love ( just a line in the paper that Mr. Nash had given some reminiscences at
a meeting of the oldest inhabitants ) I see the B. and P. R. R. had a bad freight car accident last Wednesday night at Patapsco, but no injury to human life or limb I have not been quite so well in the head yesterday and but am around as usual, as it is nothing very to-day
We
heavy
are having a mild spell here, this
is
the third
It is now just after i day, with partial rain and fog I am sitting here writing this in the parlor by the heater my dinner is about ready, and I am going FA-eryis very complete and correct here but O, I need Your old your dear loving face and hand and voice.
thing
WALT.
XXV 431 Stevens St. PETE.
of Bill
West, CamJen,N.J., Dec. 12 [1873]. bad enough to hear of the death
cor.
DEAR BOY
I felt
and
Burns
in
such a sudden cruel way,
poor
he has had a reckless unsatisfactory life young man and very shiftless all of which deficiencies many understood perfectly well
him
Have
after all
child
?
which
(
if
quite a while ago
and they
fit
so
)
I
but
I
had an affection
I
for
not heard that he had a wife and
he has
left
but was parted from
came all The blue shirt
Pete, so your shirts
you, do they
?
good 132
safe, (
did
LETTERS OF wear
I write ?) is to
over, loose
1873 it is
made
large for that
the looks of them, the blue shirt collar low with a nice black silk neck handkerchief,
I like
purpose turned down
over a clean white shirt without necktie
tied loose
I
think they are very becoming to young working men when you hear, I sent 3 Graphics to Mr. and Mrs. Nash
me
came
I send you some papers safe nothing new with me, or my condition my principal malady is about the same, (no worse) but I have had for three or four days a wretched cold in
tell
if
they
There
to-day
is
the head, sore throat, most lost my voice for two days am better rather to-day, begin everything bad enough to speak so I can
As
I
write
it is
be understood
-
now between
1 1
be and 12
shall
all right a.
soon
m.
Friday I am sitting here very mild, sunshiny forenoon in the parlor looks south, looks down a pleasant street, West street, full view, makes quite a nice view for me to it is
and look out
sit
the
comes around
letter carrier
in
about an hour from now, and takes my letters to P. O. I have become sort of acquainted with most of the carriers, ferry men, car conductors
very good indeed
and
in Philadelphia
help
and
drivers, etc. etc., they are
me on and
they are nearly
off all
the cars, here young fellows
Well Pete, dear loving boy, bid you good bye for this week. WALT. it all
helps along
I will
XXVI 431 Stevens St. cor. IVest, Camden, N.J., Dec. 19 [1873].
DEAR BOY
PETE. Well, 33
I
am
12 M., sitting
Friday herein
CALAMUS as I write the the parlor again writing my weekly letter rain is pouring and it is a thick and dark day enough I am feeling pretty bad, but it seems to be mostly from a
any how I am having one of I have bad of which spells, gone through so many my had a bad night last night but have eat my breakfast this morning, and have no doubt I shall feel better before many days. Pete, I received your letter and the Herald last Monday all right. Did Mr. and Mrs. Nash get the I sent them ? I have been out most 3 Graphics every and have been across the river to Phil the past week, day It has been a very pleasant week, and I have adelphia enjoyed sailing across the Deleware, and the splendid sunsets most every evening it is my greatest enjoyment all about folks and things in Washing write Pete, you severe cold in the head
it will be read, is interesting to me everything you scratch down, as I sit here a great deal of the time, ( and
ton
time
is dull
have written
and lonesome (
I
believe
I
at the best
)
mentioned about
My
pieces
it)
have not
I
but the money has been yet appeared in the Magazine are in me for and them, paid they type, and I have read I will either send them to the proofs you, when printed, or send you word, so you can get them yourself Did I send you both my letters about the Capitol in the Graphic"*. I believe I did, but if not I can I send yet you to Well, day s Philadelphia Press nothing special in it good bye for this time, dear loving boy. WALT. Pete, how about running on here to see me for a day or two ? 34
LETTERS OF Couldn week ?
1873
you come, convenient, say latter part of next you can, I will fix the time.
t
If
XXIV 431 Stevens
Noon
West, Camden, N.J., Dec. 26
St, cor.
DEAR BOY PETE.
[1873]. the last two days and nights
I
have been looking for you but I have about given
you up now. I have been kept in pretty close, as we have had real winter here, snow and bad weather, and I have been quite alone, as bad walking my brother
and
off to
to return
about the same aging
I
think
Tuesday
?
)
to-morrow Saturday
I
am
strength still keeps quite encour better than any time yet my walk
my is
ing no better, and - but as I said in it
Delaware on Wednesday on a
went visit,
sister
Christmas
I
still
my
a
good deal
letter of
somehow
than any time since
I
of distress in the
Monday
last, (
head
did you get
more like myself Your last letter so much about Washington, and feel a little
was taken down
was quite a treat As I write I sit here in folks, one thing and another the parlor we have had an awful time from the fire there going out in the heater, and making it up again is so much complicated machinery about one of these heaters with
all
the late improvements
wood fire morning. WALT.
stove and
yet
It is
135
give
snowing by
me my
fits
old
here this
A
GLIMPSE through an interstice caught, Of a crowd of workmen and drivers in a bar-room around the stove late of a winter night, and
I
unremark d seated
in a
corner,
Of a youth who loves me and whom I love, silently approaching and seating himself near, that he may hold me by the hand, A long while amid the noises of coming and going, of drinking and oath and smutty jest, There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word. Leaves
136
of
Grass (Kd n 1892), p.
109.
LETTERS OF
1874
1
431 Stevens St. [1874].
DEAR
cor.
BOY.
West, I
am
Camden, N.J.,Jan. 2, 12 M. about the same consider
if
anything, though slowly enough you the Dictionary, I will see about it soon. You spoke about the post of baggage master on the through New York train and the appointment being Who appoints them ? Tell me more in Philadelphia.
myself improving,
Pete, I will get
fully
about
several
it
in
your next.
To-day
papers.
I
I got your last have received a
letter,
letter
and from
we have had a long rainy and dark Charles Eldridge mild no snow on the ground now time here, but I As
the trains are going by, about 400 and smoking there are 20 a day in full WALT. I send you a picture for your view from here. New Year s.
go out
I write,
feet off, ringing
II
431
WELL
Stevens St.
cor.
West,
PETE, MY DEAR LOVING
Camden, Jan. 9 [1874]. I have just come in
BOY.
from a 15 minutes walk outside, with
now
my
little
dog
it
the bright sun shin ing, and the air and everything as pleasant as one could a week of rainy, dark and disagreewish ( after most is
YI past
i
Friday afternoon
37
CALAMUS I have the same old ) story and thankful tell, enough to have nothing worse to it is probable I am communicate really slowly gaining I have occasional bad Your letter though spells yet. was received I was thinking whether something could not be done about getting the position of through baggage and feel inclined to try for you master (you know Did there is nothing of that sort done without trying )
able but warmish weather to
"
I sent by P. O. Rolling Stone you get the story have had a visitor from New York this forenoon "
old acquaintance, a printer ago, very sickly
and foreman,
and expecting
I
?
I
an
knew 20 years
to die, at that time
nou<
and well, really jolly and magnetic, and good I company, and a good fellow, ( like Parker Milburn ) quite lively
have an occasional
visitor,
but not
many --
Pete,
see anybody coming to Philadelphia you think like to see, give
any one
for a
em my
address
change
Your
old
I
am
I
if
you would
glad to see most
WALT.
Ill
West, Camden,N.J., Friday forenoon 431 Stevens Sf. i6/// Jan. 1874]. i-j Well, son, how do you make out [ this cold weather ? for I suppose you are having it there c<>r.
1 1
we
quite a snow storm here three and since then it has cleared off bitter (thermometer at 10 above an hour ago, at our cold, and Still I go out some, though very stiff west door ) what bad and queer, lately some spells in my head rather
as
are here
we had
or four nights ago,
138
LETTERS OF
1874
have said in former letters about my general strength still otherwise I am in a bad way yet, and don t holds good consider myself out of the woods, have not been so well I
as usual the last week.
Graphic just out get
it,
If
as I
you come across the Weekly have commenced a series of
pieces about things just before and during the war. series is to continue through four or five numbers.
The
Get Mrs. Nash I Golden and received the one for Mr. Pete, send me also the letter, Herald, and Repnb. Grain I had rather have it than one of the latter, occasionally As (but you needn t put yourself out to get it ) any I write the sun is shining bright and clear as can be the ground is white with snow in all directions, it is not as I crossed the river yesterday anywhere toward dusk, the old fellow, the charg^ * of the ferry house, told me that between 12 and 2 o clock the previous
melting
night over 30 persons crowded in there, poor
houseless
he keeps a keep from freezing to death all night hot some were stove red great young, some creatures, to
the orders some evidently real respectable people are to not allow it, but he hadn t the heart to turn em out
old,
God
help the homeless and
moneyless
this
weather.
WALT.
IV 431 Stevens St. cor. Monday noon [1874]. *
West, Camden,
DEAR LOVING
Intended for charge
139
N.
SON.
Jersey, Jan. 19, I
received your
CALAMUS letter this little
forenoon.
Pete,
change enclosed
I
all I
thought I would send you a have by me to-day ( but
have plenty at my command ) It is wet and foggy and a of ice so I am compelled to-day, glaze everywhere to remain in. I am better the last 24 feeling decidedly I
am
hours guess
I
surely getting through the winter very well come out with the frogs and lilacs in the
shall
I keep a bully good heart, take it altogether and you must too my darling boy. WALT.
spring
43 1 Stevens
St. cor.
Camden, N. Jersey, Friday,
West,
2yd, 1874]. DEAR BOY PETE. Your letter came Wednesday you must try to cultivate and keep up a gay and cheerful heart, and shed off bothera tions, and the impositions of employers, etc., as a duck i
Y-Z
P.
M.
\Jan.
sheds water
in a rain
storm
that s
so-so Pete
have through his whole life, I had a very bad night last night
still I
think I shall
come
best capital
the
fellow can
out of
find. it
s
I
a
am only
a tough pull are hav
We
it.
after snow and cold the first ing it very mild here now of the week too mild, like April to-day, cloudy and have a some rain. I keep myself some busy writing *
piece in
Harper
s
Monthly
just
out
March number without occupying my mind through
have another
in the
*
i. e.
I
(
February
Can the day
keep writing more or 140
less.
t
)
seem
shall
to
do
nights are
worst for
me
month
But
I
LETTERS OF
1874
can
has been so now for a
rest well
t
must not
I
fill
my
with
letter
my complaints
-To-day just a year since I was paralyzed ( 23rd Jan. Good bye, my a year it has been to me What 75 ) is
me
write
loving boy
all
WALT.
the news and gossip.
VI 43 1 Stevens Sf. afternoon, Jan. 30, having another of
over
I
West, Camden,
cor.
o clock [1874].
2
my
bad
N.
Jersey,
DEAR
spells to-day
Friday
PETE.
but
it
will
am
I
pass
have had a pretty good time most of the week
I was getting decidedly better will pass over). and that this Every yet, (and guess here. As I write this I same with me on the thing goes am sitting here alone as usual in the parlor by the heater I have just been out, but it was so chilly and raw I didn t venture off the block, but came back in 5 or 6 till
last night I
minutes
thought
am
the
air
feels
Camden and Amboy
like
snow.
The
trains of the
are going by on the track about 50
often train or 60 rods from here, puffing and blowing and locomotives singly, after train, following each other
whisking and squealing, up the track and then down and I often sit here and watch them long again I think I shall even to think of you. out, get try again
ing* in the
sometimes
open
air,
it
makes me
feel better, after I get
and move around a * In
the evening.
141
little.
out
7.15 evening,
CALAMUS I am writing this over in the Mercantile I have felt better since Library, loth St. Philadelphia 4 o clock and have come out and crossed the river, and
Friday
taken quite a ride up Market St. cars.
The
fare 7 cents
the working hours are from the
2
St.
miles in the Market
cars are very nice, old style, cushioned, if you get a transfer you have to pay extra
new alarm punch, every
16^
to 18
they have
fare or ticket, rings a
little
I suppose you have seen it every time you punch they say it is quite a success, and they are introduc
bell
ing
them
in
other cities
but
it
will get
played out
how you are getting along and all about the I I am one know folks, every feeling as well as usual, as I finish this letter Good bye for this time my loving son. WALT. Don t you get discouraged at work, or on I feel that we shall yet be together, and have the road good times, just being with each other, no matter how Pete write
poor.
VII 431 Stevens
St.
cor.
West, Camdcn,
N.
Jersey,
Friday
DKAR BOY PETE. Both your letters noon, Feb. 6 [1874]. also one from my friend F.ldridge, he came this week too speaks of meeting and talking with you. It winter here, the ground all covered with snow, as
is real I
look
I rise not the least thaw to-day, as it is cloudy had breakfast a little late while pretty mornings my and nice brown bread sweet ago, mutton-chop, coffee,
out
42
LETTERS OF
1874
eat with very fair appetite I enjoy meal than other breakfast better (eat a light any my Feel generally dinner pretty late, and no supper) butter, very nice
about the same as before described (nothing to
my
brag
of
I
no worse no
better,
have mentioned about
anyhow). from our house the cars run by crossing the ferry
the next corner, (200 feet or less) a half mile or so to the the Delaware here is full three quarters of a mile ferry
wide
it is
a noble river, not so wide as the
Potomac
nor with fine banks like Arlington, but grander, and with more style, and with powerful rushing tides, now great processions of broken ice, many little and some great big cakes the boats are very fine and strong, go crashing right
ahead, with a loud noise, breaking the cakes often a foot I enjoy crossing these days more it does
thick and
me good
the ferry
men
are
all
very kind and respect
have been reading a book Merrie England in the Olden Time, a London book, with pictures, full of fun I and humor have enjoyed it much There is an
ful
I
awful amount of want and suffering from no work, here a young man was here yesterday about had seen me in
wanted help
Washington
see
the
I
gave him a
cars and locomotives skurrying
by as
little
I
I
close.
WALT. VIII 431 Stevens 2]/2
P.
St. cor
M. [1874].
N. Jersey, Feb. Here I am yet in
West, Camden,
DEAR
PETE.
MS
13,
my
CALAMUS I am up and around, but not I am having a return, very well (though not so severe,) of those old blurs that used to trouble me have had a
big chair in the parlor
succession of them
but
day
all day to-day so far begun yester have no doubt they will pass over. It is
I
and is cloudy and sulky here to-day, partially thawing I have been out, managed to walk around raining now the
had
block, but
there
is
ceived
to return
nothing new
I
got
shall feel better
my
Pete,
have
last letter
re
O
I have no doubt I Connor sickness comes and goes and my
from Mrs.
letters
did not feel well.
your
I shall probably have to stay in same the day and evening, which is very dull and
relief spells the
the rest of
stupid for me write what will
up
I
am
in
I
must not
blue, would rather cheer you
continuing the pieces in the be ended with one or two more)
still
Graphic (will to have a piece tain.
But
quite dismal
fact
make you
Just as
Weekly
expect next Harper (March), but am not cer close the carrier has tapped at the win in
I
he brings me a letter from Boston, and in it a check, paying a debt due me a long time, and which I
dow
which puts me in better spirits had quite given up for your WALT. present my dear, loving son good bye
IX 43 1
Stevens
afternoon, 2
^
Pete, dear son,
St. cor.
West, Camden,
\Feb. 20, 1874]. I
have
just
N.
Jersey,
DEAR BOY
PETE.
Friday Well
had my dinner (stewed chicken 44
LETTERS OF good) and here
and onions chair, in
the parlor, writing
Nothing
to
of
brag
1874 again in the same old weekly screed to you
I sit
my week
this
have passed a
dis
mainly I suppose from a bad, bad cold agreeable week have suffered badly from it, every way in the head and shall get through with it, but keep up and around Have not written any for publi when the time comes
have not
cation the past fortnight
My
ing (the just
the
reading the last proof to-day)
March Harper*
last, (I
am
books
lately
am
this, I
as
I
I
have a poem
believe I mentioned in
have colored
it
in
my
with thoughts of
Pete, I received
your letter last have not sent you any papers but will, again As I sit here, con
and Herald
Monday cluding
told that I
very likely)
myself or
felt at all like writ
Weekly Graphic pieces are about concluded I am next week s, the 6th number, ends them
I
feeling quite
Take care
comfortable.
of yourself, my darling boy your old WALT, as always. in I am a little extra funds as Pete, to-day I enclose you
thinking (like Mrs. Toodle s coffin) in use sometime come haps $5.
"
it
might per
"
431
West, Camden, N. Jersey, Feb. 27 Nothing very different or new have had rather a hard week, (continued
Stevens
[1874]. with me
DEAR I
St.
cor.
SON.
*
"
The Prayer of Columbus." 145
CALAMUS from the former one) but still 1 don t get flat am I to be as well as 1 am received your letter and paper. We too have had the same snow
often thankful
I see you have had in Washington and sunny to-day here, though middling cool
storm
it is I
bright
am
sit
I have it is about 10 ting here in the parlor alone I amuse the locomo had my breakfast myself by seeing
I see them and trains go by very plainly out of 800 feet off are or window they they only 7 one after another I often go by constantly right Did you see my have got used to them and like them
tives
the back
in
last pieces
out,
is
the Weekly Graphic t (the sixth paper, just I sent you a couple of Philadelphia
the last)
I was papers yesterday glad you wrote me about Wash I have not heard from him in a long time Peddrick (he
did
me
a good turn once in the
office, just
out of good
never forget it) Pete, write whoever I met a in and about see, anything Washington you man last Wm. here from Colein, Washington night, young will,
and
shall
I
Love to Mr. an engineer in the fire room Treasury* and Mrs. Nash and to Parker and Wash Milburn and
in short to all
my
friends-
your old WALT.
XI 431 Stevens St.
cor.
DEAR BOY
[1874]. *
.
e.
in the fire
West, Camden, N. Jersey March 6 I was PETE. quite shocked to hear ,
room
of the Treasury Building.
,46
LETTERS OF Milburn
of Parker
s
1874
he was never very rugged,
death
but he kept up so well, and always had some cheerful, I was far from anticipating this lively thought or saying I think he had very noble traits, and both you and I liked
him thoroughly
I will try to
Pete,
I
hope he
write a few words to
Wash
is
better off
Pete
I
have
received both your letters I go out often in the Market St. cars past the West Philadelphia depot you speak of,
but never get out or go in there, as
it
is
a great depot,
hurrying people, and hacks and drivers, and trains coming and going continually and people rushing and too much excitement for me So you saw crowding I in saw him the a few minutes Colein, Treasury only in a street car, but he could give you some report of me from his own eyes, and that I know satisfied you better full of
-
am
feeling quite an improvement, or let up, the last two days and nights on the bad spell I spoke of in my last letters have slept better the last two nights. To-day I
it is cloudy and feels a little like snow it has been Pete, go up coming very mild here too sometime when you start out early in the afternoon and
as I write here,
see Mrs. O Connor, 1015 O street near nth she will I hope be very giad to see you. won fail t to I you go. am feeling quite comfortable to-day as I write. Pete, I
sometimes think every day loving son
I
if I
was fixed so that
should get well
I
good bye from your old WALT. 147
had you with me for this week,
my
CALAMUS XII 43 1 Stevens
St. for.
West, Camden,
N.
Jersey, Thursday,
DEAR BOY
PETE. I have been \March 12, 1874]. in all day, I don t think I ever knew such long continued this is now the fourth or fifth day gales of wind and as I write and it is night day howling and whirl I havn t been out as bad as ever ing just any to speak 5
P.
M.
y>
of for three days
the gales are too
much
for me.
My
up and feeling more comfortable continues, with some interruptions night before last, and for some time yesterday I was in a bad way again but had a s last and am rest comfortable night night, good to-day spell of let
am
decidedly more improving than going behind have thought frequently of Parker Milburn all his ways and his good points come up in my mind and now the news comes of the sudden death of Mr. I
think
hand
I
I
Your
Sumner
letter
came Monday and
the
Herald.
Not very well to-day Friday, March 13, 12 M. to my troubles a very bad cold in the head and me, again
this
is
the
third attack
this
To add all
winter
over but
The papers are filled with SumThe cold, dry gale con ner s * death, funeral, life, etc. I get letters from Mrs. O Connor. tinues here. Don t fail to go up and make her a call, when convenient. You remember Arnold Johnson that used to live over on the
enough
of grunting
* Charles
Sumner,
anti-slavery
Senator from Massachusetts,
b. at
statesman and United States Boston 1811, d. 1874.
148
LETTERS OF
1874
well he has come back to by the Insane Asylum is Chief Clerk again and Light House Washington, has to a O Connor and Wm. Board, clerkship in changed * I am alone in the here the sitting Treasury. hill
Library
same old
seat in the parlor writing.
Good bye
for this
WALT.
time dear boy.
XIII
^
P.M. [1874]. 431 Stevens St. Camden, March 20, 4 PETE. Nothing particular or new in my con had quite I have been to the Doctor s to-day dition
DEAR BOY
a long interview
no great satisfaction
I
still
have
and yet I keep up good pretty uncomfortable times I will make out only a short letter heart in the main. this time, I see.
Good bye my
do better next week.
loving son, I will try to
WALT.
XIV 431 Stevens
St. cor. West,
Camden, N.Jersey, [March 26, I have just had my din 1874] Thursday afternoon 2 lima roast ner beans, graham bread and sweet beef, a of tea, and some stewed cranberries butter, with cup y>.
I
eat quite a
good dinner, and enjoyed
sider myself getting along very well.
it all.
I still
con
O, if this only ever so moderate
holds out, and keeps on favorably, even if and slow But I seem to have so many of these gleams *
The
library of the Treasury
149
Department
?
CALAMUS that delude me into thinking I am on the way to re covery, but soon cloud over again, and let me back as bad as ever But every time I feel pretty easy, I still
keep thinking, naw better
time.
this
I
am
certainly
going to get much
short
Pete, your
letter
came
to-day,
dear son, come whenever you can. postal card, if you were here this week,
written on the cars
As
I
said on
you would
my me more
like myself, (with the exception I than have been for fourteen months walking) whether it will continue or not, God only knows but
find
of
we
will
to-day,
we
hope it
for the best.
appears
to
me
As
I
sit
here writing to you
every way hopeful, and likely
Everything is quiet, yet have good times. little is out on the rather lonesome. stretched dog My that
shall
He hardly lets length, snoozing. without close at follows heels step being my slow walks, and stops or turns just as I do. rug
at full
me go a me in my
We
have
had a most windy blustering March, but it is pleasanter and milder yesterday and to-day (I saw the new moon over my right shoulder a week ago, of course a surf Will finish this of letter and send it sign good luck) March to-morrow. noon. Pleasant and bright Friday* 27, weather have been out on the sidewalk in front, once walk slow and or twice, with my shawl around me have of feeble some bad headache Went quite spells in the West afternoon, Philadelphia depot yesterday by saw plenty of R. R. men the Market Street horse cars and conductors about the place, lounging and waiting 150
LETTERS OF their
time
them
as
thought if 1 could only see you among here writing I can see the trains of the
I sit
Camden and Amboy, makes
off
1874
it
quite
in full view,
As
lively
some 40 I
write, I
or 50 rods
am
feeling
pretty comfortable, and am going out awhile after I finish but had a bad night last night. this Hope this will find
you
all
right
for this time, dear son.
good bye
WALT.
XV 431 Stei ens 12
M.
St. cor.
[1874].
different in
my
West, Camden,
N.
Jersey,
April
10,
DEAR PETE.
Nothing very new or have hardly or condition, anything else
but been doing as well since I last wrote, as before Received your letter last Monday, still hope to pull up. and the Herald. Not much of a letter this time, my lov as I don t seem to be able to write much ing boy though, as I sit here, I am not feeling any worse than died last Thurs Ashton has lost his little child usual. :
day. nor.
have just received two letters from Mrs. O Con How does all go with you ? Pete, darling, shan t I I
send you a
little
money ?
WALT.
XVI 431 Stevens
St. cor.
West, Camden,
DEAR SON. P.M. [1874]. ahead this week Nothing i
letter of last
Sunday
I
N.
Jersey,
send you a
April
letter a
16,
day
received the new with me #//// and the Herald
also the
CALAMUS had a day or two
very acceptable, from John Bur and he has built a house roughs Saturday Sunday on the Hudson River about 80 miles from N. Y. has a little farm there, 9 or 10 acres, very nice As I write I I
s visit,
last
am
feeling comfortable, (but every day and every night its bad spell, or several of Some them)
seems to bring
how I still feel that I shall come round, and that we shall be together and have some good times again but I don t know. Your WALT. XV1J 431
Camden, N. Jersey, May i, 2 P.M. I have been out PETE. halting around
Stevens
St.
DEAR
[1874].
for a walk, as
it
is
quite pleasant to-day
But
I
believe
have overdone the matter, as I have a pretty bad feel ing the last hour or two both in the head and left side, and as I sit here writing. So your limited express seems I
be a real success if it keeps up as well as it has begun I have no doubt it will increase, and be patron ized, and become a permanent institution (I had got the idea, somehow, at first that the same crew went through from Washington to New York, and so was some to
in
hopes of seeing you
my
Godey,
still
in Philadelphia)
No change
in
the young man, Walter prospects works as my substitute in the Solicitor s
condition
or
had any word from Eldridge in two O Connor in some time (have you been up there?) Do you see Hinton or Tasistro ? office
I
haven
t
months, nor from Mrs.
152
LETTERS OF My
sister
has just called
me
1874
my
to
dinner
so
I
will
Your old WALT.
close for this time.
XVIII 43 1 Stevens St. 3}^ P.M. [1874].
cor.
West, Camden,
DEAR
PETE.
I
N.
Jersey.
hope you
will
May
22,
be able
If I knew when and you said in your last where you would arrive in Philadelphia, I would try to meet you As I wrote you before, you must come to Market St. ferry, Philadelphia, a mile and a half or 2
to come, as
miles from
Federal
R.
R. depot, and cross over by boat to (The Philadelphia horse cars run
Camden run down
St.,
Sundays
Camden ones do
to the foot of
Market
St.
but the
not very far from the in am I much the same ferry very my Camden). disabled and want of for 16 months, (and exercise being
but
not
it
is
other wants too) have saddled me with serious dyspepsia and what the doctor calls gastric catarrh, very
many
obstinate, causing
than
my
God
really
but
paralysis
enough, thank
and as
me
more
though
I
have
also have middling
I
and pain bad spells
suffering
good ones
have just had my dinner, nice salt oysters, raw, fresh, and am feeling quite comfortable I
write this
Dear son,
I
shall look for you.
WALT.
XIX 431 Stevens [1874].
St. cor.
DEAR BOY
Camden^ N. Jersey, June 25 have weathered it out pretty well
West,
PETE.
I
CALAMUS at present moment I am sitting here cover d week with sweat, with nothing on but shirt and pants to-day I suppose you have and yesterday the very hottest kind
this
it
is nothing new in my case, and no than usual of anything sudden but it
Pete, there
too.
prospect more
seems pretty clear that there
is
no substantial recovery
probable, (hardly possible) for me this way it is of course impossible to
how long tell
it
will last
take
I
all
it
without growling things are steadily growing worse with me But I must not worry you and may-be there is some I busy myself a little every thing more favorable ahead I
day writing
want
to fix
my
books
in
a
little
better
shape, this summer partly busy with a new volume so that they will all be comprised in two volumes ( not
So you don very much really new matter, but some) come on to Baltimore now, ( as I take it from your last - Love to you, dear son. WALT. Love to Mr. and
t
)
MT>.
Do
Nash Is
you ever see Mrs. Tasistro still around ?
O
Connor or Eldridge?
XX 43
1
Stevens St.
[1874].
ior.
West,
Camden, N. Jersey, July
i
o
I am still here suffering DEAR, DEAR SON. have great distress in my head, and an
pretty badly
almost steady pain in
up on me and somehow times let
same
left
side
part of the time
old story
)
I
still
but
my
worst troubles
the evenings are
keep up
expect to get better.
154
in spirit, I
my
and,
have been
best (
the dis-
LETTERS OF charged from
my
1874
clerkship in the solicitor
s office,
Treas
by the new Solicitor, Mr. Wilson. I think of laying and up here in Camden, I have bought a cheap lot think of putting up a little two or three room house for myself, my darling son, you must not be unhappy about me I hope and trust things may work so that we can and be with each other, at least from time to time yet meanwhile we must adapt ourselves to circumstances. You keep on and try to do right, and live the same square life you always have, and maintain as cheerful a heart as possible, and as for the way things finally turn Pete, I shall want you out, leave that to the Almighty or Mr. Eldridge to see to the sending on here of my boxes I will write further about it at Dr. White s I have not heard anything from Eldridge, or Mrs. O Connor, or ury,
any of the Washington folk for quite a long time. Have you been up to see Mrs. O C. ? Pete, didn t you get my I wrote you one, I got yours ? Did you get the Camden paper with my I sent one. College piece in ? Very hot here yesterday and to-day. I don t fret at all about being discharged I wonder it didn t come before How it is just as well dear mother all write are your folks at home? and your about all and Mr. and Mrs. Nash, Wash Milburn, and the R R. boys. Your old WALT.
last
Saturday
last
Monday
s
postal card
55
CALAMUS XXI 431 Stevens
DEAR PETE.
Camden, Aug. 28 [1874].
St.
Nothing very new with me
rather a mixed
week
-
some
Pete, suffering you have a decided wish to go on the Pullman car, and are pretty clear that it would be a good move, 1 will let you have $100. Good bye for this time, if
Your WALT.
dear son.
XXII
DEAR Camden, Friday afternoon [Aug. 29, 1874]. still remain about the same, and with nothing to write about in the way of my improvement, or anything PETE.
I
but
else
Your
I
letter
last
has also come.
on hope
I
Sunday came
am no I
fortunately
plentiful share of
hot
you would want to have word.
thought of
It
it.
we have frequent
all right.
The paper
and continue
worse
to live
have been stocked with a good is pleasant weather here, though
we have had one
rains
about an hour ago, but now
to-day,
very bright and pleas am going to try to get out a little ant I So good this dear son I for to write more of a time, bye hope letter
it is
WALT.
next time.
XXI II 431
Stevens
[1874]. nay trunk,
St.
for.
DEAR PETE. and put
in a
Camden, N. J., Oct. 13 want some things taken out of
West, I
bundle and sent here by express. ,56
LETTERS OF
1874
have written to-day to Mr. Eldridge and sent him the I have asked him to go into Milburn s between key. and meet you and this or if not con afternoon, 4 3.30 I
venient for
do
you
to-morrow or next will no hurry you both go up I want old my gray suit, coat,
this afternoon,
just as well, as
I
am
my room and
in
get them think there are two pair of pants) my old and, (I black overcoat that is laid away in the trunk. Black felt in
vest
hat
(the
smallest
lightest
one).
The
old
buckskin
think some big sheets of very stout wrapping gloves. the directions paper, and plenty of stout cord will do must be very plain and in two places If not convenient I
go to-day, go to-morrow afternoon, or next. I don t want the freight paid, as I will pay it on delivery here. I enclose a dollar as there may be some expense (some
to
little
fixings).
Pete,
I
received your letter this morning,
was very welcome, as always. I received the I am Sunday Herald too. having a good spell so far it would The bundle will to-day (if only continue)
and
it
come
well enough, as it is a short straight route, it up so they won t get loose, and put on
only do
directions.
WALT.
if
you
plain
give you my hand love more precious than money, give you myself before preaching or law.
CAMERADO, I
I
give you
I
!
my
Leaves of
.58
GraMfEd
n
1892), p. 129.
LETTERS OF
1875
I
431
Stevens St. cor.
West, Camden,
DEAR PETE.
2 P. M.
[1875]. you, about myself, or anything
N.
Jersey, Friday ,
Nothing special to write else, this
letter
week, your
and the Herald came last Monday. The time goes very tedious with me and yet I think I am getting better, know Still have frequent bad for sure) (but don t spells.
I
stopt
at the
W. Philadelphia
depot,
Market
two or three evenings ago, in the general passen Then took the car gers room, to rest, about i o minutes. street,
Market St. ferry, (a mile and a half or three quarters) I get desperate at staying and over to Camden, home
for
in
not a
human
soul for cheer, or sociability or
fun,
and this continued week after week and month after month So you met Johnny Saunders in Baltimore, and he is flourishing. If you see him again, tell him to write to me he is a young man I always loved. ^ past 2. have just had a nice oyster stew for my dinner it is I
blustering weather, partly clear, partly cloudy,
two
little
two, but
flirts
of
snow
to-day.
nothing in them,
i
I
and one or
send you a paper or
will try to stop in
Phila
delphia and find that little dictionary I promised you So long, my loving son, your old WALT. 59
CALAMUS II
Stevens St.
West, Camden, N.Jersey, April 30, DEAREST SON, I saw the R. R. smash
431 noon [1875]. the
first
cor.
thing in the paper in the morning, and run my and the account with fear and trembling
eyes over
only on reading you were not in that
was
in
it,
over a second time was
it
I
satisfied that
poor souls for I suppose every one had some who heard or read the news with it
!
some
pain and terror
poor Buchanan
but
I
parent, wife, friend, or child
hope from accounts that he
will
The damage guess very good accounts
get up again, before long without serious
papers here publish of the whole affair
full,
and
I
liked what the Star said so plainly that the cause below all others of such accidents, is be I
cause they run such a route over a single track you may remember my warning on the same point three years ago in a talk with you. Pete, the spring finds me pretty
much
in the
same tedious and
half
way condition
have been lingering in now over two years up and around every day, look not much different, and eat pretty well but not a day passes without some bad spells, sometimes very bad, and never a real good night s sleep I
yet
still I
have a sort of feeling not
don
to give
it
up yet
get blue, even at my I am sitting here to-day as usual alone in worst spells the front room, by the window feel pretty comfortable
keep
real
good
the weather
is
spirits
t
bright and pleasant here to-day, but and the most backward I have ever
cool for the season,
160
LETTERS OF known morrow
My
sister is
or next day,
1875
going away for some ten days to I shall be quite alone in the
and
wish you could come on and pay me a visit like to have me direct any letters or papers
house
Would you
American Hotel,
to the
you
at
Bait., or shall I just direct to
as usual
Washington
love to
?
my
darling son.
WALT. Ill
Stevens St.
431
cor.
West,
Camden, N. Jersey, Aug. 6
DEAR PETE, DEAR, DEAR BOY. Still here, pull [1875]. ing through the summer (I think the winter is better for hot an extra bad the worst for me are sunny days me) strange feeling every day in the head, (the doctor thinks probably the result of an old sunstroke 20 years ago now the brain liable to it again in its sensitive condition)
otherwise not
much
different
bad enough though.
I
go out a little (most always feel at the best, for me, I Papers, etc., came. evenings, from sundown to 10.) still
there is a printing office here, keep a little at work where I am doing my work they are young men of the and kind considerate and respectful and stripe, right very
still
to
me
me
fix
every thing in type, proof,
just to suit
etc.,
am
Mr. leisurely preparing my new volume. an Internal a of Revenue friend mine, has Marvin, Clerk,
stopt
I
and paid me a
Plenty of rain here become of Tasistro?
visit
on his return
to
hot but pleasant to-day Pete, you 161
haven
t
Washington. What has
made
that call
on
CALAMUS Mrs. O C. yet. Come when you can, my darling boy. Your loving old comrade and father. WALT W.
IV Camden, N. Jersey, Aug. 1 4 not feeling very bright to-day [1875]. and I hardly capable of writing a cheerful letter don t want to send you a blue one will feel better by 43 1
Stevens St. cor.
DEAR
next time, your
SON.
West,
I
am
WALT.
^ Y DEAR SON. Your letter Monday, and the papers. Send me the Herald tomorrow, ( with one blue stamp on ) you I needn t mind the other Sunday papers send you s for I am still Harper Magazine September holding my own gain a little strength, and am certainly improving both head and leg are bad enough, though very slowly I but general feeling is much better, most of the time have sent Philadelphia papers once or twice and may There is nothing in them, but I thought you again The weather here is would know I was still around I get out and favorable to me cool enough, pleasant, am going out when I finish this a little every day am having a bad head-ache Cannot write much to-day So long, Pete, dear still I feel in good heart. all day WALT. boy. Camdcn, Aug. 29 [1875].
came
all
right last
162
LETTERS OF
1875
VI
DEAR
Camden, Nov. 3 [1875]. your
and enclose the $10.
letter,
same
am
has gone to visiting to
to-day.
all
BOY.
for you.
I
have received I
alone in the house to-day, as
New York and my
sister
How
spend the day.
I
am my
still
the
brother
has gone somewhere
wish you were here
WALT. VII
431 Stevens noon [1875].
my
late
bad
St. cor.
West,
Camden, N. Jersey, Dec. 3, I am getting over SON.
DEAR PETE, DEAR I
spell
feeling of death deal of the time
and
tress in left side,
have been very sick indeed, the my head swimming a great
dizziness,
turning like a wheel
with
much
dis
me awake some
nights all night the doctor says, however, these troubles, in his opinion, are from a very serious and obstinate liver affection not
keeps
from head, lungs, heart he still thinks there is nothing but what I will get the better of (and we will trust he is a true prophet ) I wrote about like the foregoing to Mrs. O Connor, but was too sick to repeat it to you I and that was one reason I asked you to go up there,* havn t been out for three weeks, but ventured out yester day for an hour, and got along better than I expected and shall go out, or try to, to-day as it is very pleasant
*
Had
doubtless written a letter to Mrs.
card to Pete.
163
O
Connor and a post
CALAMUS you must not be needlessly alarmed, my darling boy, for I still think I shall get, at any rate partially \vell and
The doctor is quite encouraging strong enough comes every day and I feel a good heart yet My young fireman friend Alcott ( I think I mentioned his I send you sickness ) is dead and buried, poor fellow I have a bit of piece of mine about him from the paper but very little that some spurts of visits, and company
My brother George has goes to the right spot with me and a and takes me out now and horse light wagon got but I have too feeble lately much been I it then, enjoy Altogether pretty lonesome here, but might be much Love to Mr. and Mrs. Nash, and to all inquiring
worse
friends.
Your old WALT.
164
LETTERS OF
1876-1880
I
N.
DEN,
CAM
J.
[1876].
you before
written to
Dec.
[Wednesday,]
DEAREST PETE.
I
but
13
ought to have I
believe
lazy
grow stronger and frequenter and then I don t do anything at on me as I get older But I all, especially just the things I ought to do. think of let that it often and make often, you boy, am better this I more winter, feeling up. certainly and
listless
fits
strength to hold out, walking or like, than for nearly bad enough yet, but still decidedly better now four years I (my loving boy, underscore the words, for I know they will I
make you feel good, to hear). heard about the accident on the road
weeks ago definite
and
at the time
two
was
uneasy enough until I heard such things seem the fortune of
particulars
R. R. travel, which I sometimes think more risky than the "fortune of war," which the knowing ones know well is more chance and accident (I mean the victory in battles) than
Pete, I p.
am
it is
generalship.
sitting
M. writing this
I
up here alone
am
in
my room
8 o clock
feeling quite comfortable
I
stood the cold snap of the last three days very well to-day has been moderate and nice here Nothing new or special in
my
affairs
I
am
165
selling a
few of
my books,
CALAMUS (the new, 2 vol., 10 dollar, edition) from mostly to English and Irish purchasers
how many
of
my books
time to time it is
quite funny are sent for from Ireland. Love
WALT.
to you, dearest son.
II
431 Stevens
Street,
The money came present, and use
all it
some future time when
Camden, Dec. 27, right,
for
and
myself
I
DEAR
"76.
will
keep
but only
to
it
SON.
for
return
the it
at
I am flush.
Nothing very new with me. I still feel pretty well, for me, (and considering the Who knows ? May be after this winter, past four years). I shall feel well enough to come on to Washington and we ll have a good and make out several weeks
my loving son, (no more long walks to but we can be happy other ways) Beautiful, I have been out mild, sunny, thawing afternoon to-day down to see a poor young man, an oysterman, a little time
together,
be sure
Jim Davis, very low with consumption, took him then went to a nice stewed chicken for his dinner ing room and library we have here, very handy home to my own dinner, stewed chicken and nice potatoes this,
and
and now (2^2) up
stairs in
O
feeling very fair
some read then roast
my room
Pete, you get
writing that arm
chair (with the broken arm) I left at Mrs. Nash s per haps the broken arm is still there, if so get it put on
then take the chair ent,
home
and for your mother
for
you as a New Year s pres and you afterwards
to sit in
166
LETTERS OF you know
1876-1880
used the chair for a year, and
I
if I
recollect
am glad good strong one, though plain what you wrote about your mother Everything about fellows old mothers is interesting to me Give my love to Mr. and Mrs. Nash your loving old WALT. right,
it is
a
I
to hear
Ill
2nd street, Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 20, 1877. DEAR, DEAR BOY PETE. I am stopping here now for a week or two in the house I believe I have men tioned to you before, and where I wanted you to come and see me (and still want you if you have a chance) but I spend most of my time down at an old farm in Jersey where I have a fine secluded wood and creek and springs, where I pass my time alone, and yet not lone some at all (often think of you, Pete, and put my arm around you and hug you up close, and give you a good 1929 North
buss
2
often).
am
still keeping pretty well for me, have improved much, indeed quite fat, and all sun burnt brick red in the am pretty lame and face, and hands as brown as nuts walk but or rather sometimes half hobble paralysed yet,
I
a mile and have no more (or hardly ever) of those bad, prostrated,
day still
gone
in, faint spells I
used to have most every
I so you see I am doing pretty well, my dear make my brother s house at Camden my head
quarters,
and keep
Camden
always.
my room
there, address
167
my
letters to
CALAMUS But
my
sister is
not well, has not been for some weeks, Upon the whole am getting
soon to be confined).
(is
along pretty well, and good
books
my
so
I
much)
I
sell
enough
The new
spirits.
of to
pay
my way
edition of
very nicely
get along all right in that respect (I don How are they getting along at the Navy
t
need
Yard
?
send them
my love (I haven t forgotten the pictures, but they are a long while a-coming) When you see Mr. I
Xoyes
him
tell
loving boy.
should
I
like to
come on and pay him a for this time, my own
And now good bye
visit this fall
Your old WALT.
IV
DEAR Kirkwood, New Jersey, Monday, July 2, 1877. I still keep pretty well, and am again down BOY PETE. here at the farm in the country, for a couple of weeks, and Nothing particularly new
to stay over 4th of July.
in
my
affairs.
As
I
write this {Monday, 10 A.M.)
it is
a beautiful bright
and I am going now down to the breezy forenoon it is about creek and spring to take a bath 90 rods distant and I walk there and back. Love, love, love.
Your old WALJ. Camden.
431 Stei ens
[1877].
St.
DEAR
I
still
Camden,
SON.
I
make my headquarters
Sunday,
will write
168
Sept.
you a
in
16, 4.30 p. M.
line or
two any-
LETTERS OF how
1876-1880
I have written anything in an was to see me to-day you would envelope ) Pete, you almost think you saw your old Walt of six years ago I am all fat and red and tanned. have been down in the country most of the summer, returned the past week ( it is
so long since if
feel real
comfortable for
me
only
am
I
still
paralyzed
and have pretty bad stomach troubles still at times but thankful to God to be as well and jolly as I am. I am all alone in the house to-day, and have had a fine bright warm day been out twice for good time left side,
short walks, (my little dog accompanying me) rest of the time up here alone in my 3rd story south room done up and sent off my two books to a subscriber in
England
eat
my
dinner alone, wished you could be
me
then, andfor a couple of hours, if no more Pete, your papers all come regularly, and I am pleased to get them About coming on I cannot say now, but / shall and before long Love to Mr. and Mrs. Nash, come, Love to you, my darling son, and here is a kiss for you.
with
W. W. VI 431 Stevens
St.
DEAR
[1877].
cor.
I
think
Washington next Monday, Philadelphia
same to
it,
(
)
(
at I
times
noon
train
Am
)
it,
Nov.
come on
5
to
from here, W.
feeling about the
getting used the train I speak of
but sort o
understand 169
Jersey,
I shall try to
in the
limited express
bad enough WALT. As
N.
West, Camden,
SON.
CALAMUS goes into your depot, 6th
St.
Must get
in
some time
before dark.
VII Camden,
New
Jersey, (Friday,) Dec.
20,
1878.
Letter
and thanks) I (And very glad every way think I am really better this winter The cold and snow and ice keep me in the house else I should have been it would have done me over to the W. Phil. Depot good rec d.
even to have a minute and a good hold of you once more
Nothing new
in
my
Tell Mr. and Mrs. N.
and
I
affairs I
want
to
I
am
come
have not forgot the pictures.
doing well enough. Wash, once more,
to
W. W.
VIII 2316 Pine
DEAR PETE. me away off
Street,* St. Louis, Missouri,
You here
Nor.
5 [1879].
be surprised to get a letter from have been taking quite a journey
will I
two months have been out to the Rocky Mountains and Colorado (2000 miles) (Seems to me I I got sent you a paper six weeks ago from Denver) until well three weeks when I was taken ago along very
the
last
and disabled, and hauled in here in St. Louis for am fixed comfort repairs, have been here ever since still somewhat under the weather, (but have no able sick
shall I shall be well as usual for me before long) two and then here or there weeks probably longer, stay this is a wonderful back east to Camden. Pete, country
doubt
The address
of his brother Jeff, with
Louis.
170
whom
he stayed
in
St.
LETTERS OF out here, and no one
1876-1880
knows how big
it is till
he launches
But there are plenty of hard-up fellows in this City and out in the mines, and all over here you have no idea how many run ashore, get sick out in the midst of
it
from exposure, poor grub, old chaps,
some boys
where, especially at the
of
etc.
15 or
many young men, some 1
6
I
met them every
R. R. stoppings, out of money But the general run of all these
and trying to get home Western places, City and country
is
very prosperous, on
the rush, plenty of people, plenty to eat, Colorado you know plenty of money
and apparently
getting to be In Denver I visited the great silver land of the world a big smelting establishment, purifying the ore, goes
through many
showed me
is
well they takes a week processes Then in middle by the cart load
silver
Colorado, in one place, as we stopt in a mining camp, I saw rough bullion bars piled up in stacks outdoors five or six feet high, like haycocks so it is a few make strikes like in the the but most prizes great lottery are blanks I was at Pike s Peak I liked Denver But the most interesting part of my City very much travel has been the Plains, (the great American desert the old geographies call it, but it is no desert) largely through Colorado and Western Kansas, all flat, hundreds and even thousands of miles some real good, nearly all pretty fair soil, all for stock raising, thousands of herds of cattle, some very large the herdsmen, (the principal common employment) a wild hardy race, always on horse 171
CALAMUS em cow-boys
back, they call
altogether
I
used
to
like
I stopt some among them and talk with them in the at a town middle of those Plains, in right days a Fe road found soldier on the Santa there Kansas, who had known me in the war 15 years ago was I had hard work married and running the hotel there to get away from him he wanted me to stay all winter - The picture at the beginning of this letter is the St.
to get
Louis bridge over the Mississippi river
down
to the river, or across this bridge
but the air of this City don
favorite sights
me 1
often
go
one of
my
I
it is t
agree with
have not had a well day, (even for me) since have been here Well, Pete, dear boy, I guess I have I
How are you getting along ? I often enough God and no doubt you often do of me you bless you, my darling friend, and however it goes, you must keep up a good heart for I do So long from written
think of
your old WALT.
IX Ontario,
London, p.
Am
M.
weeks here
at
Canada, {Saturday) July 24, 1880, me was sick about three
right again for
was well taken care of times pretty bad friends both Dr. and Mrs. B. (as ever met both) Monday morning next I
the best of
human start
all
as
I
on a long Lake and
St.
Lawrence
river
trip,
900
miles, (mostly by steamer, comfortable I reckon) gone May write you from nearly three weeks, then back here
Quebec.
Your papers come. 172
W. W.
WHEN Now
you read these
it is
I that
was
visible
you, compact, visible, realizing
am become invisible, my poems, seeking me,
Fancying how happy you were if I could be with you and become your comrade Be it as if I were with you. (Be not too certain but I am now ;
with you.) Leaves of Grass (Ed n
73
1892), p. 112.
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed.
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ofCaliforilia
DATE DUE
128J980 1-M98&-
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
A 000717459
2