FEINBERG/WHITMAN GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Box 17 Folder 16 Sutherland, Byron Sept. 1865 - Apr. 1870[*Byron Sutherland*] Walt Whitman Attorney Gens. Office Washington D.C.[*Sept .11 '65 Byron Sutherland Corry, Erie Co. Penn*] Walt Whitman Attorney Generals Office Washington D.C.Corry Sept 5th 1865 Dear Friend Your letter of Aug 26th reached me in due time I had began to think (allmost) that you had forgotten me Then I imagined that some press of work had prevented your writing me sooner Well as for myself (And I have nothing else to write about) I am at work on a Farm at present. And managing to save $30.00 per month. Considerable leisure time, entertaining Books, good company My employer is at home but a very small portion of his time Have enjoyed myself pretty well (Hard times when I cannot) considering that I am just from so much excitement when compared with this Have been reading Our Old Home (by Nathaniel Hawthorne) Home and Abroad (by B. Taylor) Color Guard (by J. R. Kramer) all light reading but entertaining, for news I have the Buffalo Express (daily). So you see dear friend that I am pretty well provided for I should like very much to see you and be with you Corry is a pretty rough place Property is very valuable it is the Junction of three RR Atlantic & Great Western, Pa & Erie and Oil Creek. Large Refineries, Saw Mills, Manufactorys are located here and doing a flourishing business. Lots with the stumps & logs on are sold at the rate of $40.00 per foot This winter I shall either learn a trade or go to School. I shall be governed by circumstances. The Weather is very warm for this time of the season considerable rain has fallen lately but the weather is quite pleasant nevertheless. Seems to me you are about to leave Washington in the most pleasant season I was allways delighted with the fall of the year in that climate Don't have any good pictures here People are thinking more of money than of Beauty Sometimes I have disputes with the detested Copperheads I treat them rather uncivilly, Haven't any special regard for themI hope you will write me a long letter Your letter was very interesting to me- very valuable Well Good Old Friend I must bid you good night B Sutherland Corry Pa.Byron Sutherland Sept 12 '68 ans. enclosed. Walt Whitman Attorney Gen. Office Washington D.C.State Normal School Edinboro Pa. My friend Years have gone past since I have [gone past] seen that face of my friend dear Walt. Whitman. And not hearing from him his memory had almost gone out. But to day I found a review from the German in the New Eclectic Magazine Entitled Walt Whitman and memories of Washington life came thronging back. I am at School where I have been a year past This ensuing winter I shall teach in a small town in the state New York probably Hoping that I may again hear from you I am respectfully &c Byron Sutherland Sept 12th 1868 Edinboro Erie Co. Penna.Byron SutherlandState Normal School Edinboro Erie Co. Pa. Oct 8th 1868 My Dear Friend Walt Whitman Your kind note and paper came duly at hand. Col. Hinton does not "plaster" it on any to thick. his article is only just and true. And I am so glad that you are becoming known at your true worth It is pleasant to hear people discuss and admire America's Poet (as they often do in our reading circle here) and to feel that I may claim the honor of his friendship This is my third term at school since I left you. I was engaged in various employments untill last fall when I commenced school. My studies are History, Grammer, Theory of Teaching, Algebra and Latin. This school is an Institution under the auspices of the State of Pennsylvania for the purpose of fitting Teachers for their work The Degree given is a B.E.D. (Bachelor of Elementary Didactis), and B.S.D. (Bachelor of Scientific Didactis) We teach winters and thus manage to save enough to carry us throughone or two terms in a year. I propose to teach this winter, come here this coming spring and do it. This is the western county of Pennsylvania borders upon Ohio and Lake Erie. Just north of the great Oil Region. Generaly - rolling and fertile country This town is a small one of about 1000 inhabitants very quiet and respectable in ordinary times, but the people have caught some of the contagious excitement of a political campaign. Grand, beautiful October is with us I love all seasons of the year. but I particularly do I fall in love with golden colored autumn. My Dear Sir will be asking to much of your generous heart to ask you to write to me again. Only to grateful for past favors I am most respectfuly. Byron Sutherland I shall remain here about 3 weeks to the end of the term and shall then visit - different places untill the winter school I intend to teach commences B. S.Byron Sutherland. EDINBORO OCT 9 PA. Walt Whitman Attorney Gen. Office Washington D.C.From Byron Sutherland, March 30 1870. Ans. April 4 '70. JAMESTOWN MAR 31 Walt Whitman Attorney Gen's Office Washington D.C.Jamestown N.Y. April 8th 1870 Dear Friend Your letter of the 4th [?] [?] found me yesterday -- somewhat agreeably disapointed in hearing from you so soon again or at all -- thinking that perhaps with your duties and cares you had forgotten the bright memories that I so tenderly cherish, or if remembered with out time to attend to it. You remember me in 1865 a green raw lad of eighteen -- without, even, an imperfect knowledge of the rudimentary English branches I came home from Washington and applied myself as soon as possible, to school and to study; Since then I have acquired a little better knowledge of the English -- done something in Mathematics, -- dipped into Latin and German a little. My life since we parted that July day upon the Treasury steps, has been one of hard work and little recreation -- I find on looking back to that time, that I am not so pure or trusting that the world isn'tquite so fair and beautiful as it seemed then -- That the world is not precisely a green pasture for unsophisticated human lambs to skip in -- That I like dreaming less, and work or excitement better -- that I have lost a great deal of ambition, and gained a like quantity of stupidity -- That I dont know nearly so much as I once supposed I did I have written so much of myself, simply because you asked me of myself My Dear Friend I hope and believe we shall meet sometime in the coming years again. Hoping to hear from you again before long I am respectfully &c By. SutherlandJamestown N.Y. March 30th 1870 Dear respected friend Feeling assured that any information of my doings and whereabouts will meet with only the kindest reception from you, I venture once more, after a long silence, to address you. If any excuse be neccessary, let my respect and esteem be that excuse. When I wrote you last I was attending the Penn. State Normal School at Edinboro: Since then I have been in the school room as a student or teacher nearly all of the time I have just finished a very nice [essay?] [on school?] as teacher (You [once?] said, "that boy has a opinion of himself"; but I [note?] [in?] telling you facts) and have just entered upon the study of Law; In consequence of my very [limited?] means (As you know) I cannot remain in the office longer than next fall.Though we enjoyed our homeless life in Washington I think I have enjoyed my more wandering life since then somewhat better -- If the world gives me few pennies it at least gives me few curses, and some kind words: Is this good philosophy? Any words of comfort you may choose to send me, Dear friend, in reply to this, will be to me "like unto the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" I do not know that this will find you immediately -- you may have "changed base" since '68, though I trust it may. Good night kind friend - Respectfully - By. Sutherland to Walt Whitman