Feinberg/Whitman Box 11 Folder 23 General Correspondence Ingersoll, Robert G. May 1890 - Mar. 1892Form No. 1. THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. The company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on condition, limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is nor presented in writing within sixty days after sending the message. This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. THOS. T. ECKERT, General Manager. NORVIN GREEN, President. NUMBER 27 SENT BY MI REC'D BY R CHECK 9 Pd. Received at P 1/29 1890 Dated New York 29, To Walt Whitman Will be with you Saturday evening tell Mr Traubel R. G. Ingersoll Form 116. [*See Note May 29, '90 . .*] Western Union Telegraph Co. Pay no Charges to Messenger unless written in Ink in Delivery Book. No. 27 Walt Whitman Charges, PdREDUCED RATES. MONEY ORDERS BY TELEGRAPH.400 FIFTH AVENUE June 5 90 My Dear Mr. Whitman, I can hardly tell you what pleasure it gave me to meet you __ to look into your eyes, to hear your voice, to grasp your hand and to thank you for the brave and splendid words you have uttered.— I recd copies of the Camden Post and I think that I recognize your work in the wonderful tributesaid to me. Sometime I will pay, so far as may be in my power, a fitting tribute to your character and genius. Of course what I said was fragmentary--almost incoherent--giving only the faintest outline--indicating now and then a mountain peak, leaving the rich & beautiful valleys without a word. May many happy years be yours--With thanks I remain True always RG Ingersoll[*see notes June 6 '90*] NEW YORK JUN 3 10 PM E Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCamden Jun 6 9AM 1890 Rec'd on p 120499 Fifth Avenue. June 5, 90. My Dear Mr. Whitman, I can hardly tell you what pleasure it gave me to meet you, to look into your eyes, to hear your voice, to grasp your hand and to thank you for the brave and splendid words you have uttered. I recd copies of the Camden Post and I think that I recognize your work in the wonderful tribute paid to me. Some time I will pay, so far as may be in my power, a fitting tribute to your character and genius. Of course what I said was fragmentary - giving only the faintest outline - indicating here and there a mountain peak. Leaving the rich & beautiful valleys without a word. May many happy years be yours - with thanks I remain Yours always [Signed] R.G. Ingersoll.45. Wall Street New York June 16. 90. My dear Whitman, Accept my best thanks for the beautiful copy of "Leaves of Grass"-- What I love about that book is that it is filled with the spirit of freedom. Every line is manly natural, independent self poised, and in each is a superb personality-- You have given the world the honest harvest of a great brain. You have stood straight, erect, and have kept your hat on. There is no dust on your knees. I have taken the liberty to send youa copy of the last edition of Prose Poems The title was given to the collection by my friend the publisher So you will not hold me responsible for that. I think that you will like the articles on Lincoln Art and Morality--Life, and the Imagination. Of course you may not agree with all I say, but you have that splendid thing - "Intellectual Hospitality"- and that is enough. Again thanking you for thee splendid Book and wishing the many, many happy years--laurel--crowned I remain yours always R. G. Ingersollletter from R G Ingersoll June 16 1890 Walt Whitman Esq Camden New JerseyCamden NJ Jun 17 6AM 1891 Rec'd400 FIFTH AVENUE Oct 12.90 My dear Whitman- On return from Washington last night found your good letter Of course you will have a chance to say your say on the 21st and the more you say the better- What you propose is apt and beautiful but you will think of more The occasion the climate the subtle something that gives to an audience a personality that dominate speakers and hearers all these will determine what Walt Whitman has to say I hope the night will be good thatyou will be in unusual health and sprits, and that you will be satisfied with your friend R. G. IngersollNew York Oct 12 12 PM E Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCamd Rec'd45 Wall Street Oct 20, 90 My dear Whitman, I read the printed speech, proposed think it too short. Better leave it all to the feeling at the time. I do hope that we shall have a good time. Have once car that Philadelphiais a little slow - but hope for the best. In any event, I want the whole thing to suit you. It is something to be appreciated "Not to be understood strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room"- You must take good care of yourself - get in good trim physically, so that my speech will do you no bodily harm. "May the Lord take a liking to you - but not too soon" Yours always R. G. IngersollNEW YORK OCT 20 1 4 30 PM 90 UNITED STATES POSTAGE 2 TWO CENTS 2 Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCAMDEN, N. J. OCT 5 AM REC'D.400 5th Ave Dec 12 91 My Dear Mr Whitman A thousand thanks for the "Leaves of Grass and many many more for the inscription. As soon as the book came I read to a party of friends the "Mystic Trumpeter" and we were all stirred to the very depths as though by the blast of a trumpet. What a beautiful, hopeful, imaginative, tender - prophetic and superb poem it is! Then I read Sea Drift- The guests from Alabama. and then "When Lilacs last in the Door Yard Bloomed" -and we all agreed that there could not be found in our literature three poems to equal these in intensity tenderness, philosophy and dramatic form. - The only objection I have to the book is that it purports to be finished- with you, while there is life there will be songYou have not reached the journey's end and, while a grain of sand remains within the glass of time, there's something left unsaid that we your friends, would gladly hear. You must not say Goodbye!—Wait and let that be the last. Thanking you again for the book and especially for the loving words I am as ever your friend and admirer R.G. Ingersoll Mrs Ingersoll writes with me in thanks, congratulations and regards—LAW OFFICE, ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, 45 WALL STREET, NEW YORK. [*see notes Dec 10th & 16th mainly - also 19th 1891*] NEW YORK DEC 14 9PM UNITED STATES POSTAGE TWO 2 CENTS Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCAMDEN, N. J. OFC 15 6 AM 91 REC'D.weary your memory will live. Wishing you many, many days of health and happiness - and with a heart full of love I remain your always R.G. Ingersoll 45 Wall Street New York Dec 29th 91 My Dear Whitman I am glad that you have lived long enough to know that Leaves of Grass will live forever. long enough to know that your life has been a success That you have sown with brave and generous hands the seeds of liberty - and love. This is enough and this is a radiance that even the darkness of death cannot extinguish. Maybe the end of the journey is the best of all, and maybe the end of this is the beginning of another and maybe the beginning of that is better than the ending of this. But however and whatever the fact may be, you have lightened the journey here for millions of your fellow men. In the great desert you have dug wells and you have planted palms. As long as water and shade are welcome to the faint andNEW YORK N.Y. DEC 29 17 7 PM 91 [*see notes Dec 30 1891*] Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCAMDEN N.J. DEC 30 6AM 91 REC'D.New York, Feby 6/92 My dear Mr. Whitman: I hear from you every day, and every day I am glad that you are alive, and every day I am sad that you are sick. Do the best you can to stay in this country--and stay as long as you can. There are plenty of thoughts in that brain that have not yet been given to the world. I hope to see you againin a few days. Mrs. Ingersoll was greatly gratified with your message, and she writes with the in sending words of love and hope. Yours always, R. G. IngersollNEW FEB 3 PM 92 Walt Whitman, Camden, N. J. [*Notes [Feb 6] 1892 Feb. 7*]400 Fifth Avenue. Feby 9th 92 My dear Whitman - I am going away to-day - first to Buffalo - then Cleveland - then Chicago - Cincinnati - and Indianapolis. Hope to be back by the 22d inst - Of course Traubel will keep me informed as to your condition - I think of you hundreds of times a day and you are in my heart always. I have not given up hope by any means - You have a wonderful constitution - amazingrecuperative powers But there is one thing that ought to give you great comfort. You have done great good - You have delivered your message to the world. You have helped to emancipate the world. This is enough. The Republic will hold your memory dear - Yours with hope & love R.G. Ingersoll All the family unite with me and they all send hope & love[*see notes Feb 10 1892*] NEW YORK FEB 9 8 PM E Walt Whitman Camden New JerseyCamden NJ Feb 10 6am 92 Rec'dMch 24 92 My dear Friend I was pained to hear that you are suffering more and more, but was glad to know that your brave spirit has never been bowed- and that in all your agony your heart keeps sweet and strong. I think of you a thousand times a day. - and of the great good you have done the world. You have uttered such, bravefree and winged words- words that have thrilled and ennobled the [lives] hearts and lives of millions - that my admiration has deepened to obligation. Again I thank you for for your courage and again I lovingly say farewell and yet I hope to see you soon Yours always R. G. Ingersoll[*see notes Mar 25 1892*] NEW YORK MAR 24 730 PM 92 Walt Whitman. Camden, N. J.Mar. 25 6AM 92