HARNED/WHITMAN Box 6 Folder 22 Lincoln Material Notebook [1868-70] (L.C. 110) 110 [Notebook, 1868-70] Eight pages of various sizes. Holograph, in pencil and ink. Published in Holloway, v. 2, p. 94-97, and discussed as to emendation of the text in Roger Asselineau's L'evolution de Walt Whitman (1954), p. 193, n. 57. Mounted and bound with other material in a single volume entitled "Lincoln Material." [(p. 65-73)] [*pp. 20-27*]After an Extract from Heine's Diary (paraphrased & varied) Nov. 25, 1868 - (night) to live a more serene, calm, philosophic Life - reticent, far more reticent - yet cheerful, with pleased spirits and far less of the gusty. The capricious pleased manner - - the puerile - No more attempts at smart sayings, or scornful criticisms, or harsh comments on persons or actions, or private or public affairs. [*90*]Epictetus description of a War man He reproves nobody Praises nobody Blames nobody Nor even speaks of himself. If any one praises him, in his own mind he condemns the flatterer. If anyone reproves [*(? or insults)*] him he looks with care that it do not irritate him. All his desires depend on things within his power. He transfers all his aversions to those things which Nature commands us to avoid. His appetites are always moderate. He is indifferent whether he be thought foolish or ignorant [*wise*]. He observes himself with the nicety of an enemy or spy, and looks on his own wishes as betrayers. [*88-89*]93 Cheating, childish abandonment of myself, fancying what does not really exist in another, but is all the time in myself alone -- utterly deluded & cheated by myself, & my own weakness -- Remember where I am most weak, & most lacking. Yet always preserve a kind spirit & demeanor to [P?]. But pursue her no more. A cool, gentle, (less demonstrative) more uniform demeanor -- give to poor -- help any -- be indulgent to the criminal & silly & to low persons generally & the ignorant -- but say little -- make no explanations -- give no confidences -- never attempt puns, or plays upon words, or bitter sarcastic comments, or, (under ordi circumstances) hold any discussions arguments. 93 Outline sketch of a superb calm [char???] his emotions &c are complete in himself, [indifferent] irrespective of whether his love, friendship, &c are returned, or not He grows, blooms, like some perfect tree or flower, in Nature, whether viewed by admiring eyes, or in some wild or wood, entirely unknown [It is] His analog as of is the earth complete in itself, [proceeding without] enfolding in itself all processes of growth effusing life & power, for [?der] purposes [*94*]Congress adjourning is in great excitement war is said to be declared in Europe 2 1/2 P. M. - I am writing in the office not feeling very well - opprest with the heat July 15, 1870 To give up absolutely & for good, from this present hour [all] this feverish, fluctuating, useless undignified pursuit of 16 4 - too long, (much too long) persevered in - so humiliating - - It must come at last & had better come now - it cannot possible be a success, Let there on this hour be no faltering, [or] no getting [?] at all henceforth, (not once under any circumstances) - avoid seeing her, or meeting her any talk or exclamations - or any meeting whatever, from this hour forth, for life [**95**] July 15 '70Good! -- July 15 June 17 -- It is imperative, that I obviate & remove myself (& [from] my orbit) at all hazards, [away from] from this incessant enormous & abnormal [enormous] perturbation [*92x*]Depress the adhesive nature It in excess - making life a torment Ah this diseased, feverish disproportionate adhesiveness Remember Fred Vaughan Case of Jenny Bullard Sane Nature fit & full Rapport therewith Merlin strong & wise & beautiful at 100 years old [*96*] HADJI ATHANASSI recently died near Smyrna, aged 125 years. He had been governed by nine Sultans. He lived on fish and vegetables, eating March 1870 meat only at Easter. He preserved his faculties to the last. [*97*] The vivandiere of the 4th French regiment of the line, Therese Jourdon, was born in Besançon, in 1765. She joined the regiment in 1779, and has ever since remained with it. She has accompanied it on all its campaigns 1860 to Egypt, Germany, Poland, Spain, Russia, and Africa. She is now 95 years old, and enjoys, in perfect health and vigor, a pension allowed her by the officers of the regiment. [*97-a*]A Warning to Literary Men Philosophers Thinkers & Poets The London correspondent of the Dumfries Standard writes: " I am very sorry to inform you that the condition of Mr. Thomas Carlyle is giving a great deal of uneasiness to his friends. He has long be known to be unhappy, although, when in the mood, he is the most delightful company imaginable. Still it is not often that he is in the mood. and then with his bitterness and fierce sarcasm he makes it bad times for those who are beside him. Of late, too, his gloom, moodiness, desire for sequestration, and irritability when disturbed have much increased. Friend after friend, who had borne with him long out of respect for his real nobility of soul, have been gradu- ally alienated by his capricious temper, and now the grand old man may be said to be almost alone in the world with his old Scotch servant from the hill-country of Dumfriesshire. Mr. Ruskin was the longest sufferer; but he, too, knows no longer the way to Cheyne Row. I heard the other day a story of Carlyle. An American author of eminence came over bear- ing a letter of introduction from Emerson, one of Carlyle's special favorites and warmest ad- mirers. Carlyle has a habit of answering his door himself, a practice rather disconcerting, I should say, to hawkers, beggars, &c., and in- deed to applicants of another stamp. This particular Yankee knocked and Carlyle opened unto him. The man, taken aback, for he know Carlyle well by his photographs (as who does not?), asked hesitatingly, 'Is Mr. Thomas Carlyle at home?' The sage's reply was a loud and emphatic 'No" followed by slamming the door with so much abruptness that the American's nose made a very narrow escape. He has a large room at the top of the house, lighted from the roof, where all his favorite books are, and pasted on the walls are portraits ---some fine, others very common---of those whom he regarded as his heroes---Frederick the Great, Gustavus Adolphus, and a number more. This room is his sanctum, and few there be who are admitted into it; I have never known more than two---beside his sec- retaries, whom he was wont to change very often, and to whom he did not always behave, it was said, so considerately as he might. There is something peculiar in the tenure of Mr. Carlyle's holding of his house in Cheyne Walk. He has not the remotest conception who is his landlord. He saw the advertise- ment of the house to let, with directions to communicate with Messrs. Coutts & Co., wrote and received a reply accepting his offer, and directing that he should annually pay in his rent---if convenient---to Coutts and Co., 'ac- count Cheyne Walk.' Further, the rent is so low (L55) as to induce the idea that the arrangement sprung from a desire to accom- modate the great author rather than to profit by him as a tenant." March, 1870 99