FEINBERG/WHITMAN BOX 17 FOLDER 12 GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Stoker, Abraham (Brown) Feb. - Mar. 1876 Includes verso letter from Emory A. Ellsworth, Feb. 17, 1876Bram Stoker Feb '76 119 Lower Baggot Street Dublin Ireland 14 February 1876 My dear Mr Whitman I hope you will not consider this letter from an utter stranger a liberty. Indeed, I hardly feel a stranger to you, nor is this the first letter that I have written to you. My friend Edward Dowden has told me often that you like new acquaintances or I should rather say friends. And as an old friend I send you an inclosure I do believe that your open earnest speech has not been thrown away on me or that any life & thought fail to be worked with its impress I write this openly because I feel that with you one must be open. We have just had tonight a hot debate on your genius at the Fortnight club in which I had the privilege of putting forward my views- I think with success. Do not think me "cheeky" for writing this. I only hope we may sometime meet & I shall be able perhaps to say what I cannot write. Dowden promised to get me a copy of you new literature and I hope that for any other work which you may have you will let me always be an early subscriber. I am sorry you are not strong. Many of us were hoping to see you in Ireland. We had arranged to have a meeting for you. I do not know if you like getting letters. If you do I shall only be too happy to send you news of how thought goes among the men I know. With truest wishes for your health and happiness believe me Your friend Bram Stokerwhich may interest you. Four years ago I wrote the enclosed draft of a letter which I intended to copy out and send to you- it has lain in my desk since then- when I had heard that you were addressed as Mr. Whitman. It speaks for itself and needs no comment. It is as truly what I wanted to say as that light is light. The four years which have elapsed have made me love your work four fold and I can truly say that I have ever spoken as your friend. You know what hostile criticism your work sometimes evokes here, and I wage a perpetual war with many friends on your behalf. But I am glad to say that I have been the means of making your work known to many who were scoffers at first. The years which have passed have not been uneventful to me, and I have felt and thought and suffered much in them, and I can truly say that from you I have had much pleasure and much consolation and431 Stevens St cor West Camden, N. Jersey U.S. America March 6 /76 Bram Stoker, my dear young man, Your letters have been most welcome to me- welcome to me as a person & then as an Author- I don't know which most. You did well to write to me so unconventionally, so fresh, so manly & so affectionately too. I too hope (though it is not probable) that we shall one day personally meet each other. Meantime I send you my friendship & thanks. Edward Dowden's letter containing among others your subscription for a copy of my new edition has just been rec'd. I shall send the books very soon by express in a package to his address. I have just written to E.D. My physique is entirely shatter'd- doubtless permanently= from paralysis & other ailments. but I am up & dress'd & get out every day a little- live here quite lonesome but hearty & good spirits. Write to me again. Walt Whitmansent March 6 '76 Bram Stoker, My Dear Young Man, Your letters have been most welcome to me- welcome to me as a person and as (I don't know which most) Author- You surely did well to write to me so unconventionally, so fresh, so manly & so affectionately too. I too hope (though it is not probably) that we shall one day meet each other. Meantime I send you my best friendship & thanks. Edward Dowden's letter containing among others your subscription for a copy of my new edition has just been rec'd. I shall send the books very soon buy express in a package to his address. I have just written to E.D. My physique is entirely shattered- doubtless permanently, from paralysis & other ailments. But I am up & dress'd, & get out every day a little. Live here quite lonesome, but hearty & good spirits. Write to me again.Office of Davis &Ellsworth Civil Engineers and Surveyors Crafts New Block, High Street Edwin D. Davis Emory A. Ellsworth Holyoke, Mass February 17th 1876 Walt Whitman Respected Sir: I began several years since the collection of the autographs of my favorite authors. As a lover of true poetry the name of Walt Whitman is to me.......worthy than Longfellow and Bryant of..... I trust that you may find....... to grant this (to me) important..... Please if not too much to ask to.....with a quotation from your writings. Yours Very Respectfully E A Ellsworth