Harned/ Whitman Notes and Writings Box 7 Folder 11Dr. Corning W. What may be your sermon tomorrow? Corning "The Tragedy of the Ages" -- W. And what may be the tragedy of the ages? C. The Crucifixion. W. What crucifixion? C. The Crucifixion of Jesus of course. W. I would not be willing to call that the [cr] tragedy of the ages. There are 20,000 Tragedies -- Equally significant. I think of the other tragedies. The tragedy of the average man. The Tragedies of War and peace, the obscured, the lost tragedies. This was at the time of the Edwardian [?] Movement. W. had written a introduction to Dr. [Br?] lecture. W.W. The martyrs of history have been glorified beyond recognition, now give the others a chance. Don't pass traditions and Exagerations down from generation to generation [down from generation and] until we think that the lies must be true.[*The Library of Congress*] Last I was with Whitman when he died. During many walks with him during his last illness, he told me that he thought his message was fundamental, and that its meanings came out of the deepest backgrounds of history. He did not die feeling that he was understood, but he died confident that he was to be heard. Good Bye My Fancy Funeral [*1*] [*The Library of Congress*] Walt Whitman and Democracy Many persons are under the impression that Walt Whitman is the apostle of lawlessness and that "Leaves of Grass" is its Gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth. Whitman had a profound sense of justice and with all his radicalism he is ofttimes conservative. Although he was a democrat in the broadest sense of the term, he believed in law and order, and more than once gave offence to [his] some of his devoted followers. I could give many [instances] cases to prove that Whitman believed in Government, in [*The Library of Congress*] [*2*] law, and in the acceptance of present conditions until we could better them. I remember in the year 1889 Sidney Morse a sculptor from Boston, pent many days [wh] with Whitman in Camden, making a bust of him. Morse had anarchistic tendencies. The day the Chicago anarchists were hung he was very despondent. Whitman said to him "It won't do, Sidney, we must have policemen law, order and such things until the human citizen can get along without them, and that is a long way off ! We can't throw bombs and kill people, even if they are policemen." Morse's sadness3 was increased because he failed to get sympathy from Whitman. Another class of radicals took offense because Whitman defended President Cleveland, at the time there was such criticism because he sent a present to the Pope at the time of his Jubilee. And at another time he expressed his admiration for the action of Queen Victoria because of her sympathy for the cause of the Union at the time of our Civil war. [I feel] He said "our people should be strongly grateful to Victoria for the good outcome of that struggle - the war horrors and finally the preservation of our nationality. A few of his close friends4 [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] were furious when he wrote a few lines about the Dead Emperor, and could not understand why Whitman should speak of him as a faithful Shepherd. He certainly, if he was alive to day have anything good to say of the present "Berlin Monster" who has brought so much sorrow & suffering upon the world. His sympathy was altogether with France in 1871 - when he wrote his splendid poem "O Star of France" which has been translated and extensively circulated recently in that country. and his poem "Old Ireland" [proves] is a condemnation of England's unjust and narrow treatment of that5 unhappy country. Of course Whitman [belived] believed in popular government and that the world could get along much better without Czar's, Emperors and Kings (even good Kings). [He] [would in] He had no toleration for Church & State, Nobles & Lords, hereditary special privileges and pernicious land laws. He has been claimed by individualists, socialists, anarchists, spiritualists and all other "ists". My own [?] view is that he baffles classification. He had unrestricted faith and imperturbable optimism and he believed absolutely in the virtue and intelligence of the common people. He be-(6 The dismantled ship - That's me - that's me. Orange beds from Florida[y] arbulas Queen Victoria -- "An American arbulas bunch to be put on a little vase on the Royal Breakfast table" Trent Affair - Gratitude - Henry Adams - Recent book Never recited his own Poems at table - The Midnight Visitor - Negro "The Skeleton at the feast" Marco Bozamus - Fine Elocutionist - He was terribly opposed to a protective tariff - Lady Monteuiple daughter of Lord Palmerston sent him a vest -- Tariff about 3.00 Entirely too small & useless We had a Unitarian Church at Camden & the Minister Beecher Dr Caruso - a protogee of[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] 7 at my home he said he asked & What may be your sermon tomorrow? "The tragedy of the ages." W. and what may be the tragedy of the ages? C. The Crucifixion - ? W - What crucifixion - ? C - The crucifixion of Jesus of Course? W.W. I would not be willing to call that the crucifixion of the ages. There are 20.000 tragedies - equally significant Think of the other tragedies. The tragedies of the average man. The tragedies of War & Peace, the obscured, the lost tragedies." This was at the time of the Guardino Bruno Monu[g]ment - W.W. had written a short introduction to Dr Brinton's lecture. WW. The Masters of history have been glorified beyond recognition. Now give the others a chance. Don't pass traditions & exaggerations down from generation to generation until we think that the lies must be true. W.W. got himself a hot(8 [*Chicago anarchists - More*] water over many of his poems. The Victoria poem displeased some cranks. His twilight Poem displeased many - oblivion - Nirwana - spiritulists - W.W. baffled classifications Anarchists, socialists, spiritualists terrible critics of Emperor William 1st They objected to Faithful Shepperd & yet W.W. was with France in a "Oh Star of France" And for Ireland in his Poem Ireland Cleveland - present to Pope. W.W. defends - Fame as radical now as ever but I am not asleep to the fact that among radicals, as among others there are air hoggishnesses narrownesses, in humanities, which at times almost scare me for the future - for the future belongs to the radical - & I want him to see him do good things with it. I look[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] 9 ) in all men for the heroic quality & find it. In Caesar, Emerson, Carlisle - if that is aristocracy, I am an aristocrat - Want to talk about them: { Nurse necessity - { Friends - Bliss Perry's book W. always supported himself - helped worker { Tomb { Fearlessness of death Wm Roscoe Thayer With almost uncanny Modernism we can see his thought in these crucial days. Our great war has produced no great poet. Let us hope that some voice equal to W.W. shall [b] be heard, above the tumult of these days.12 For to Whitman in man & in woman, in nature & in animals all processes functions relations, instincts, since God made & ordained them are fundamentally pure & good. He glorifies sex as he glorifies patriotism or courage teaching the one in the same way as the other. Whitman above all was an American. He believed in the genius of "these states". We are to be the harbingers & saviors of democracy. & with almost uncanny modernity we can see this thought in these crucial days more than ever. We are going to save the world for democracy. There is but one excuse for government - the preservation of liberty13) Whitman at all times resented the arrogance of power, and with all our Lawyers and shortcomings, he believed that we would lead the nations towards that goal which may yet be in the distant future. We can all heartily say that we had better cease to be than that the world shall be driven back to despotism.[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Good-bye my fancy! Farewell, dear mate, dear love! I'm going away, I know not where, or to what fortune or whether I may ever see you again. So Good-bye my fancy. Now for [the] very last - let me look back a moment, The slower fainter ticking of the clock is in me, Exit, night fall, and soon the heart thud stopping Long have we lived, joyed, caressed together: Delightful! now separation - Good bye my fancy. Yet let me not be too hasty, Long indeed have we lived, slept, filtered become really blended into one; Then if we die, we die together (yes we'll remain one) If we go anywhere we'll go together to meet what happens, May-be we'll be better off and hither, & learn something May-be it is you yourself really ushering me to the true songs (who [t] knows?) May-be it is you the metal knob really undoing, turning, so now finally, Good bye & hail; my fancy -Personality two Extremes - Hobo - Ingersoll Dr. Furness Too handsome for words Personal habits - Never claimed to better than others Sounded all phases of life [Radical - or Conse] Calm - no anger Protection Persistance Radical or Conservative Chicago. Victoria Island Eurpean War - O Star of France Method of work & ethics subjects Illustrate Conservatism Method of work selecting subjectsNotes for future use Geo. Moore - Any are who does not say that W.W. is our greatest American shows his illiteracy - Mercure de France - When US speaks of Masters - we mean Homer Dante, Milton, Shakespeare, & Whitman [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] two pictures 1 Dead child The two upstairs ------------------------ 2. Ingersol & W.W. bedside You fought your fight, you never faltered, & by God afar won! So say so Rebel Sliced death slauton said youth belongs to degrees1 [*described - Geo -*] In the year 1873, W. W. came to Camden prematurely old, poor & paralyzed - His brother George lived there West & Stevens St. George was an expert pipe tester & had accumulated a competence. I lived with my parents on West St a few blocks below. [*Describe myself*] How I became acquainted - His cheerful "Howdy" needed no formal introduction. I at once knew him enough to pass the time of day & gradually became sufficiently friendly to ask him for a letter of introduction when I went first to England in 1876. My parents were radicals of the abolition stripe - & [I was never cursed with orthodoxy] as I went to hear the preaching of Dr Furness in Phila. So I was at once in entire sympathy with W.W. & his views of democracy & freedom. W.W. soon realized that he could not recover sufficiently to take his place in Washington which he had hoped could have been retained. His last years had been devoted to the nursing of the sick & wounded soldiers in the hospitals in and around Washington - no tongue can tell the extent of that ministry. with untiring devotion, vigilance & fidelity, with out fee or reward[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] 2 ) he served his country in the hour of his greatest need. The history of our Civil War presents no instance of nobler fulfillment of duty or sublimer sacrifice. We know how the stalwart & majestic physique succumbed to the terrible strain. In his own words he realized his condition in that noble poem Prayer of Columbus "Thy terminus near The clouds already closing in upon me The voyage balked, the course disputed lost, I yield my ships to He. But W.W. had immense reserve force. & the ministrations of loving friends prolonged his life & for 19 yrs he lived in Camden until his death in 1892. I am to share of W.W. as I knew him. The Staffords of Timber Creek where W.W. lived close to nature & secured the benefit of air & Sunshine His majestic figure, cast in an antique mold- always commanding. Dr. Furness (Horace Howard) "Too handsome for words" - He always had a ruddy complexion, a clear & inspiring voice- His walk was slow, because of his paralysis. In the streets, or frequenting the ferry boats, or driving over the neighbouring roads. He took a personal interest in the welfare of mechanics3 deckhands car drivers. The criminal the neglected, the forgotten have been Equally included. His simplicity was shown in his love for children. He did not like to feel that he was an Exhibition. He was visited by persons of prominence from all parts of the world. He did not bend the knee to wealth and power. The ragged urchin was as dear as the learned scholar. He did not pose. He took the rough with the smooth. I have never seen him angry - He accepted praise & censure - Did not wish his friends to lay it on too thick. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Swinburne changed attitude- "Isn't he a similacrum"? You may ask was he appreciated by his neighbors in Camden. I should say only as a man. There were few if any in the City who realized the greatness or importance of L of G. Camden gave him a 70th birthday dinner. About 200 present - There were a few appreciators & letters from Literary men - Bulk of attendance from Camden - Plain business people (OVER) Grey presided. Asked Garrison what did this old Fellar W. write?Richard Watson Eilder- said "what I like about Whitman's verse is [his] the magnificent form. At its best it is unapproachable- Julian Hawthorne- applauded- Walt said "that's for your father Julian"[5)] 4 [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] [lieved that the chief object of government was the preservation of liberty] He protested against special privaleges and favors in a Monarchy [of] or a republic: [He believed in the unrestricted liberty of commercial intercourse among all nations consistent with safety.] He would not take from society that which all cannot have On equal terms. He condemned the exloiting of the many for the benefit of the few. He disliked the arrogance of politicians great and small. He had the poet's dream that comradeship was the solution for social and political ills. With all his faith and optimism he was never blind to many[7)] 5) [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] existing conditions. He believed that superciliousness ruled in our literature. He felt that there was much depravity among our business classes. He concluded that the official services of America natural state, and especially municipal in all their branches and departments are saturated with corruption bribery, falsehood and maladministration. He saw the great cities reeking with respectable and nonrespectable robbery and scoundralism. He deprecated the flippancy & swell aims of fashionable life. He regarded our so called "best class" as largely made up of speculators and vulgarians. And yet he[(8] (6 hailed with joy the practical energy and business machinations of the time and believed that our wealth, science materialism feeds the highest mind and soul. Above all Whitman had unlimited faith in the unspoiled masses whose aggregate judgment was sound. If you want the people to be trustworthy you must trust them. Of course Whitman had no Univerity training. If he had he never would have written "Leaves of Grass". In the Great University of the World he learned and became a part of life in all its forms. He became thoroughly conversant with shops factories ferries, taverns, political(7) meetings, and the vast inside of Urban Civilization. He knew hospitals, poor houses prisons and their inmates. He passed freely in and about districts of the cities which are inhabited by the worst characters. He knew evil people and many of them knew him. Because of his unrestricted faith he even learned to tolerate squalor vice & ignorance. He saw the good and the bad that mixed in the same blood, & he realized that would excuse or possibly justify a wanton life. He knew all classes - merchants lawyers, doctors scholars and writers. But the people that he knew best and who liked him most were at neither extreme of social( 8 ) [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] preference. They were the farmers mechanics, pilots, pirates, & in fact all those who constitute the creative background of our Civilization. He made himself familiar with life, not by reading made reports and statistics or by any Extraneous or hair splitting theory, but by living more or less with the working classes many of whom were his enviable friends. His aim was to absorb of humanity and modern life, and he neglected no means, books included by which this aim could be furthered. Hence his writings were the natural outgrowth of a natural man. ["Leaves of Grass" has as its foundation](9 Whitman was not a socialist as that term is now understood. I wish to be very emphatic about this. A group of "reds," more particularly in New York City are masquerading behind Whitmans name. A writer has said that Leaves of Grass must stand or fall with the Revolutionary Movement L of G a World Classic - Majestic in form & substance & its acceptance or rejection does not depend on any movement - Whitman said nothing about the nationalization of industry or [at] other destruction of individual initiative - Of course, he believed in universal opportunity. He says "As if it harmed me, giving others the same chance and rights as myself - as if it were not indispensable to my own rights that others possess the same." Whitman was an American - & he believed in our flag -10) Half quaker as he was, I believe he would have endorsed the sentiment heard so much in any Civil War – If any man haul down the American flag shoot him on the spot. "Thick sprinkled Bunting. Flag of stars "Long yet your road fateful flag - Long yet Your road & lined with bloody death! "For the prize I see at issue, at last is the world. "All its Ships & Shores I see interwoven with your threads, greedy banner - "Oh hasten flag of man, O with sure and steady step, passing highest flag of Kings "Walk supreme to the heavens mighty symbol run up above them all "Flag of stars; thick sprinkled bunting. & Again – "Towards you all, in America's name "I raise high the perpendicular hand "to all the homes and haunts of men" & Again "America I do not vaunt my love for you. I have what I have "Oh America because you build for mankind I build for you –" & Again Thou Washington art all the world's the continents entire, not yours alone America Marx The proletariat has no fatherland[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] 11 ) Sail Sail thy best ships of Democracy Of value is thy freight, tis not the present only The past is also stored in thee Thou holdest not the venture of thy self alone not of the Western continents alone Earths resume Entire floats on thy keel Oh ship, is steadied by thy spars With thee [?] voyages in trust, the antecedent nations sink or swim with thee Theirs, theirs, as much as thine, the destination port triumphant Thou new, indeed need spiritual world The present holds thee not - for such vast growths as thine The future only holds thee & can hold thee [ph] "O banner, not money so precious as you, not favor produce you nor the material good nutriment, "Nor Excellent stores, nor landed on wharves from the ships Not Machinery, vehicles, trade or revenues - but you so loved, you banner, leading the day with stars brought by the night. "I too leave the rest - great as it is, it is nothing--I see them not "I see but you, O warlike pennant O Banner so broad, with stripes, I sing you only, "Flapping up there in the wind" Democratic progress is personally, lovingly, spiritually bound, and compared with this port of the future what matters ought Else that seems to be imperiled?12) How Whitman would have hurrahed for the efforts of the great statesmen of the world [in] to form a League of Nations! Parliament of Man - Federation of the World. The work of our great President. And at this time [is] he would again utter his great word "Reconciliation". with malice towards none & charity to all. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] But I am to talk about the social messages of Walt Whitman Fundamentally - His message is personal responsibility - and universal sympathy. "Whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in a shroud." Whitman never liked that word duty "I give nothing as duties - What others give as duties I give as living impulses - Whitman's regard for others is based on his uncondescending uncompromising identification of his own good will the good and progress of all. [I] "Who[ver]ever degrades an other degrades me and whatever is done or said returns at last to me." [*xx over*]Ibsen - Master Builder - Hilda - Duty Duty that Horrible word duty13) "As if it harried me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself - As if it were not indispensable to my own rights that others possess the same" This profound lesson of universal opportunity without preference or denial of any, is the life blood of democracy according to Whitman. Whitman's great doctrine is the infinite worth of the human personality. He feels that any personality is a majestic divine being. Nothing in the Universe is more wonderful, not even God, for it shares with God the mystery of the essential and divine life. Whatever its condition now, [is] it has in it the possibility of all things. No writer is so inclusive in his acceptance of all things. He blinks no passion, no degradation, no crime; He folds in his arms the drunkard, the debauchee, the imbecile, the insignificant the insane. He hides himself from no pain, no evil, no castropophe. Yet he resolutely and serenely holds that any man or woman14) whose feet are at the lowest round even of personal existence is climbing the stairway through darkness up to God. Either good, in spite of all apparent evil, or else a universe so chaotic and insane that the judgment which condemns it may after all be only a part of the insanity and so utterly unreliable. The pessimists doubts carried to their logical conclusion breeds doubts of the pessimism itself and so the position is logically self destructive. Whatever else Whitman is, and whatever one may think of his religion, he is a great bracing moral force. What others do, what others assume, or suffer, or enjoy, that he appropriates to himself - "I am the wounded slave, I wince at the [crack] bite of the [whip] dogs Hell and despair are upon me, crack and again crack the marksmen, I clutch at the rails of the fence, my gore drips thinned with the ooze of my skin15) "I fall on the weeds and stones, "The riders spur their unwilling horses haul close "Taunt my dizzy ears, and beat me violently over the head with whipstocks "Agonies are one of my changes of garments, I do not [know] ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself became the wounded person My hurts have lived upon me as I lean on a cane and observe "I became any presence or truth of humanity [heir?] see myself in prison like another man and feel the dull unintermitted pain. "For [me?] the shoulders of convicts shoulder their carbines & keep watch It is I let out in the morning & barred at night. "Not a mutineer walks hand-cuffed to the jail, but I am hand cuffed to him and walk by his side. "If you become degraded, criminal ill then I become so for your sake If you remember your foolish and outlaw'd deeds do you think I cannot remember my own foolish and outlawed deeds? In this way he depicts offenders, roughs criminals and low and despised persons as himself: he lays claim to every16) sin of omission or commission men are guilty of because he says "the germs are in all men". And with it all Whitman had a faith that sees all things at last in spiritual results, a hope that sees the golden age ahead of us and not behind us, and a clarity that balks at nothing, that makes him identify himself with all persons high and low. The message of Whitman is the message of life. He speaks the word of faith and power. He is the life given. With him we have life and have it more abundantly. And there is always the unsolved problem of the fallen woman. Whitman entered into no question of untowards circumstance, nor any gradation of sin. He saw her as she has stood through history the victim of man and his nemises. There is her body in The City-Dead House "Fair, fearful wreck - tenement of a soul - unclaimed avoided house Take one tear drop't aside as I go for thought of you17 Dead [had] house of love - house of madness and sin crumbled crush'd House of life, evewhile talking and laughing - but ah poor house, dead even then, Months, years, an echoing, garnished house but dead dead dead - Whitman's Ambition Give me the pay I have served for! Give me to sing the song of the great Idea! take all the rest; I have loved the earth, sun, animals; I have despised riches, I have given alms to every one that ask'd, stood up for the stupid and crazy, devoted my income and labor to others, I have hated tyrants, argued not concerning God, had patience and indulgence toward the people, taken off my hat to nothing known or unknown, I have gone freely with powerful uneducated persons, and with the young, and with the mothers of families, I have read these leaves to myself in the open air—I have tried them by trees, stars, rivers, I have dismissed whatever insulted my own soul or defiled my body, I have claimed nothing to myself which I have not carefully claimed for others on the same terms, I have sped to the camps, and comrades found and accepted from every State, (In war of you, as well as peace, my suit is good, America—sadly I boast; Upon this breast has many a dying soldier leaned, to breathe his last; This arm, this hand, this voice, have nourish'd, rais'd, restored, To life recalling many a prostrate form.) I am willing to wait to be understood by the growth of the taste of myself; I reject none, I permit all. A social worker would hardly take Whitman [literarr] litterally - You would hardly give alms to every one that ask'd. This is rather loose doctrine for a social worker18) But this inclusiveness contains a fundamental truth. Gogol - Dead souls - Love us when we are dirty for Everybody will love us when we are clean. Walt Whitman was a lofty and beautiful soul filled with love, pitying others shortcomings, recognizing his own but keeping in view no ideal short of perfection, He does not condone vice, but he will not Condemn offenders, [In a universe of unchanging law] No historical character ever lived more completely his message. He lived his democracy, his friendship his philanthropy, his independence of money, his faith, his calm simple Welcome of death. His un-19) selfish work in the hospital left him a lifelong invalid. He never lived to earn more than a simple living & he never whined because of poverty. Having sung of conquest over disease & pain he calmly conquered both - Never by word, or act did he ever go back on the sublime mist which he had sung - Narrate Washington Camden Personal Experience Let me close with one of Whitman's first prose passages - When the eager chase after wealth flags and beauty itself becomes a loathing and when all worldly or casual or aesthetic, or even scientific values having done their offices to the human20/ character, and ministered their part to its development then if not before moves forward this overarching thought and brings its eligibilities germinations. Most neglected in life of all humanity's attributes , easily carved with crust deluded and abused, rejected, yet the only certain source of what all are seeking [and] but few or none find - in it I for myself clearly see the first, the last the deepest depths the highest heights of art, of literature of the purposes of life. I say whoever labors here, makes contributions here, or best of all sets an incarnated example here of life or death is dearest to humanity remains after the rest are gone,1) Social Message of Walt Whitman Centennial year just past -- much has been written & spoken -- Effort at Classification -- [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] claimed by Spiritualists - anarchists socialists - to propogate their veiws -- Baffles classification -- as these terms are now used W.W. was neither a spiritualist, anarchist or socialist. True it is the basis of Leaves of Grass is spiritual - Man as the acme of things accomplished and the Endorser of things to be - is the theme. No poet has ever pronounced the certainty of the future life more than Whitman. Spiritualism - The Fourth dimension - the 20th Plane - The immaterial Entity were never even discussed by Whitman-- messages given in the dark, by pretended mediums, table rappings, infantile talk from the dead indicating devolution rather than progression, Whitman never believed in. I wish to make this clear in these days when there is so much agitation about Sir Oliver Lodge et al2/ The Trouble Funeral - The distinguished Spirits present. Anarchist - Whitman was not - He believed in the necessity of Government -- He was not the apostle of Lawlessness. He had a profound sense of justice. He believed in Law & Order - The Chicago Anarchists - [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] We must have policemen - We can't throw [bonb] bombs & kill people -- Whitman was broad minded -- some criticised him because he commended President Cleveland when he sent a Present to the Pope at the time of his jubilee -- And for expressing his Admiration for the action of Queen Victoria because of her sympathy for the Cause of the Union at the time of our Civil War -- He said "our people should be strongly grateful to Victoria for the good outcome of that struggle and the preservation of the Union -- Of course W. believed in popular government and that the world3/ Could get along much better without Czars, Emperors and Kings. He had no toleration for Church & State, Nobles & Lords hereditary special privileges & pernicious Land Laws -- [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] He had unrestricted faith and imperturable optimism and he believed in the virtue and intelligence of the Common people, and he believed that the chief object of government should be the preservation of Liberty. He believed in the unrestricted liberty of commercial intercourse among all nations, consistent with safety. He believed in free trade. I never saw him read but once -- Lady Mont temple -- daughter of Lord Palmerston -- Knitted vest. (over) He protested against special privileges &cTo him that was Crucified p. 298 -- *The City Dead House p. 284 Common Prostitute p. 299 *(Not till the sun excludes you do I Exclude you --) [All this mans virtue and sometimes his nemises] He entered into no question of untoward circumstances, nor any gradations of sin -- but he saw her as she has stood through history, the Victim of Man and his nemises. He saw that our Universal Mother Nature lavished upon her, the warmth of the sun; the freshness of the rain and the perfume of the flowers and he said to her XX [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*]Fallerson[?] 100% American? trite saying -- He is not 100% A. who does not believe with the declaration - That all men are created free & equal, & have certain inalienable rights among which are life liberty & the pursuit of happiness. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Collective bargaining by the Workmen same as the Employer -- Steel trust - illustrate 100% means - at least in the federation of the World " " Parliament of Man -- That Every man should be the means to his own End & not the means to some other person's End That Economic - Political & Social status has not yet reached it perfection America should not shirk its responsibility - &c &cWashington and his associates, like the Carows of Runnymede, spoke & acted, not for a class but for [all the] a people. It has been left for us to see to it that it shall be understood that they spoke and acted, not for a single people but for all mankind. (Wilson) [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] "Thou Washington, art all the world's the Continents entire - not yours alone - - - - - - - - - - - - america, Wherever Freedom, poised by Toleration, swayed by law -- Stands or is rising thy true monument." (Whitman) "I summon you to comradeship -- (Wilson) I will write the Evange poem of Comrades." Whitman Salut au Monde - "Ye waters I have freighted every shore with you -- Towards you all, in America's name I raise high the perpendicular hand to all the homes and haunts of men." Whitman Lincoln - Malice towards none W.W. Reconciliation“O, America, because you build for mankind, I build for you.” Whitman - “America, has a great cause which is not confined to the American Continent. It is the Cause of all Mankind." Wilson [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Thick sprinkled bunting. Flag of stars! Long yet your road, fateful flag - Long yet your road, and lined with Bloody death! For the prize I see at issue, at last is the World! All its ships and shores I see, interwoven with your threads, greedy banner! - Drained again the flag of Kings, highest born, to flaunt unrival'd? O hasten flag of man! O with sure and steady steps, passing highest flag of Kings Walk supreme to the heavens, mighty symbol, run up above them all, Flag of stars! Thick sprinkled bunting. Americas is a name which sounds in the ears of men everywhere as a synonym with individual opportunity, became a synonym with individual liberty (Wilson) The American Compact is altogether with individuals. The only [government compact] government is that which makes minute of individuals. (Whitman)(4) [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] I knew him less intimately - until he moved into his Market St house. After the Osgood collapse - a Phila publisher took over the publication. He pd. 1750 for the Market St house - He got a wind fall of Royalties 1250 - Geo W. Childs loaned 500 1750 - W.W. afterwards reports Childs - He moved in, with very little furniture - Cooked his own meals - & Eat it off of a packing box - This did not last long - Mrs. Mary David a widow with two adopted son's grown up - moved in with furniture - She got rent free - & W.W. got meals- This was a god send to both -- His brother Geo, wanted him to [g] live with him in Country - but W.W. preferred the City & easy access to Phila. At this time my acquaintence became stronger & until his death he was a frequent visitor at my house - Sunday night dinners many visitors Described dinner at Walk - Gilchrist -- Eakins et al. House bought by the City of Camden[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Introduction John Burroughs on Walt Whitman - The Poet of the Cosmos - in his last book "Accepting the Universe--" "I am bold Enough to say frankly that I look upon him as the greatest personality - not the greatest intellect, but the most Symbolical man, the greatest incarnation of mind heart and soul fused and fired by the poetic spirit - that has appeared in the world in the Christian Era" WW Citizen of Brooklyn - These are strong words - 1862 - 1892 - 30 years friends - Burrough - O'Connor - Eldridge & Whitman. Burroughs visited W.W. in Camden at least yearly - & attended his funeral - my friendship with Burroughs -. His fidelity to W.W. Wake Robin not B's first book "W.W. as Person & Poet" in 1867 - 1871- Whitman was Burroughs Master & inspired many of his lines - overI am not here to discuss W.W. poetry - He is now world famous - Translations - bibliograph very large. - books about him & his writings accumulating Burroughs - A study Dr. Buell [?is] Perry(1 Walt Whitman as I knew him In the year 1873 W.W. came to Camden prematurely old, poor & paralyzed. His brother George lived on Stevens St & afterwards in a house which he built corner West and Stevens. Geo. was an expert pipe tester and had accumulated a competence - married. I lived with my parents at 616 West Street a few blocks below. How I became acquainted. His cheerful "Howdy" needed no formal introduction. I at once knew him enough to pass the time of day & gradually became sufficiently friendly to ask him for a letter of introduction, when I first went to England in 1876. In that year I bought a copy of his Centennial Edition & paid him $10.00 the price. My mother was a radical of the Abolition stripe & she was a member of DeFrances's church in Phila - A Unitarian and an Abolitionist. So I was in entire sympathy with W.W. & his views of democracy and freedom.(2 W.W. soon realized that he could not recover sufficiently to take his place in Washington, that he sought to retain His last years had been devoted to the nursing of the sick and wounded soldiers in the Hospitals in and around Washington. No tongue can tell the extent of that ministry, with untiring devotion vigilance and fidelity, without fee or reward. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*]Walt Whitman an American in the best sense of the word He said "Oh America because you build for [all] Mankind I build for you" Thou Washington art all the world's the Continent's Entire, not yours alone." Wherever Freedom poised by Toleration swayed by law Stands or is rising thy [true?] monument." "Towards you all in America's name I raise high the perpendicular hand to all the haves and haunts of men Parliament of Man Federation of the World - Call it a League or call it an Association &c.[16] (9) [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] a man, moral, aesthic, religious Emotional, meditative, patriotic. It tallies this man from the Cradle to the Grave and beyond. I am an acme of things accomplished And all Endorser of thing's to be. within the Concept of a Single mind we have an idealistic philosophy--the recognition of the Essential identity of the spiritual and material worlds. This is the real basis of his democracy, He dose not pick or choose for beautiful or for ugly things. To him all nature and all humanity is sacred and is to be sung and celebrated. He does not write of the accepted subjects only but all conceivable subjects[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] WW. trip to New York ad. 1887 - Lectured on the death of Lincoln at Madison Sq Theatre. Carnegie gave 350$ for a box. J.R. Lowell & C. E. Naton sat in it. Stedman & Burroughs doorkeepers - Reception a Evening at Westminster Hotel. Pearsol Quill (Temperance) soused W.W. with Lemonade. W.W. Exhausted about 10. P.M. Said "You for God's sake get me a bracer." Bucke was always warning W.W. to "beware of the good [Hav?ed]" - The Library of Congress222 ALLEN'S LANE MOUNT AIRY, PA. Carnegie gave WW, the book on 'Triumphant Democracy' - Inscription to WW. The Poet of Triumphant democracy - Andrew Carnegie W.W. gave it to HarvardHorace Traubel & Walt Whitman Knew him for 45 yrs - Brother in law - W.W.s most faithful and helpful friend - With Walt Whitman in Camden Died Sept. 9. 1919 - Ingersoll & W.W. Describe W.W.'s literary remains distribution - utilized - [U?e] in Library of Congress Note books - Buxton Forman Whitman Ed. & [?ss] - selling at fabulous pricesThe Library of CongressHow I Met Walt Whitman [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Walt Whitman came to live in Camden N.J. in the year 1873. He was poor, prematurely old and partially paralyzed. This condition was largely the result of his large hearted devotion to the sick and wounded soldiers, in the Hospitals in and around Washington, D.C. His brother George Whitman, a high class expert on gas and water Pipe, had accumulated a competence, and welcomed Walt to his home at the corner of West & Stevens street in Camden.At that time I lived with my parents on West Street a few blocks below. I got to know Walt from the first, because no one needed an introduction. He had a cheerful 'Howdy" for Everybody. His commanding and benignant personality attracted [the] attention and I soon learned to realize that I had become acquainted with the most interesting and important human being that I had ever[*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] but, rest, the ministration of loving friends, and the days and months lived in the open dew at Timber Creek, partially restored his health, and the sunset of his life lasted for nineteen years. It was after he had bought his Mickle St "shack" and lived in his own "home" that the devotees becausemore numerous and the this Mickle St home [was] became a shrine, where the rich and the poor, the great and the humble, were welcomed with Equal Comradeship. If he had any preference, it was for children, and for the sons of toil. He knew all the cardrivers, & deckhands on the ferry boat, by names, and was interested in their welfare. He was the most familiar figure on the streets of Camden and Philadelphia, and was universally beloved [by all] although very few of them knew him as an Author. After [my marriage] I [had a] was home of my own] married, he was a frequent visitor at my [house] home, & I arranged a dinner party almost Every Sunday, where it was our great joy to Entertain him and his friends, coming as they did from all parts of the world. Horace Traubel in his booksseen, or ever expected to see. Our friendship soon ripened and deepened. In 1896 I was sufficiently acquainted with him to ask him for letters of introduction to be used on my first trip to England in that year. It would be a long story to narrate our [long] lengthened acquaintance. When he came to Camden, death [see] and he seemed to be near neighborers (turn over) George arrived home -- Brooklyn Sunday [?] March 5, 1865 [?] & McDougal stereotypers 82 & 84 Beckman stereotyped Wellis's poem. (might answer as a model volume) Feb 28 --the brilliant silver moon & closest it the evening star [close by] of intoxicating [love] softness, & largness & beauty -- a night of nights, the air so fresh & ? -- the crowds of the avenue, the lights beam --, the windows -- -- approach the Capitol - the illuminated slits in the dome rising out of the dark shadows -- the stairs lit -- (illegible. Lincoln's death-- [its glow on the plaza] -- black black black - as you look towards the sky -- by broad back streams [light] like great serpents slowly undulating -- every direction - New York is distinguished for its countless gay flags -- every house seems to have a flag staf -- -- in all these the colors were at half mast - "Golden Deeds" printed in Boston ward 4 Judiciary Mar 31, 1865 last rt arm. Uncle Silas "Christians Mistake" Harpers "Culture of the observing Faculties by Warren Burton Harpers autobiograph Lyman Beecher Harpers Apri 1865 I heard The blue birds singing I saw the yellowed green where I colored the willows I saw the eternal grass spring up The glistening light of the sun, on [?] by the [?] [[?]] drenched with [[?] was] I saw in the distant city the gala flags flying I saw [from] on the ships the profusion of colors I knew the fete, the feasting Then I turned aside But & + mused on the unknown dead April 15th Brooklyn, NY. [the] in the [forenoon?] the news had not much more than been rec'd All Broadway in black with the mourner, the facades, of the houses are festooned with black -- [a] great flags with wide & heavy fringes of deep black, gives a [?] effect towards noon the sky darkened & it began to rain Drip, Drip + heavy moist black wreath --the stones are all closed - the rain. sent the I thought of the mothers and sons of the mothers (leaf torn out) I thought of the nameless unrecorded, the heroes so sweet & tender The young men the returned are here - but where the unreturned women from the street & black clothed men body remained (over)[*This is photocopy of my manuscript of the notes I made at the Library of Congress in late July, 1937 Esther Shepherd November 20, 1961*] [?] or copy Mss Div. Walt Whitman Note Books 24 pieces small notebook Aug 22 '64 Stephen F. Congdon (met & talked with 26th Cong on Ft. Greene) on back of this notebook April 7/64 father I have been here to see you and you was not at home I leave my best wishes hope you are well I am very well you must come and see me good by W.E. Vandermark to his father (sic) Walt Witman (Another notebook) fairly large "Homer & the Homeric Age" or Gladstone the English statesman have it at the Astor Library English edition $15 Another Notebook small Hospital 1865 on cover W's autographf Hugo Oscar Fritsch care of its Austrian Consulate General Hanover square New York City. Mrs. Abby H. Price 149 West 33 Street New York City (over) 1865 on cover - W's autograph His [colis?] death 5 black clouds drive overhead - - the horror fever uncertainty - alas - the public soul [sent guess] - every home brings a great history met on the [wires?] - at 11 oclock the new president is sworn in at 4 the murder is arres [page needed to allow last line](from over) George arrived home - Brooklyn Sunday - March 5, 1865 Feb 28 - Its brilliant silver moon & closely it the evening star [close] [by] of intoxicating [love] softness, & largness & beauty - a night of nights, the air so fresh & ? - the crowds of the avenue, the lights beam, the windows - - approach the Capital - the illuminated slits in the dome rising out the dark shadows - the stairs lit in [ illegible. Lincoln's desk - [the glow in the plaza] - black black black - as you look towards the st - to broad black streams [ligt] like great serpents slowly undulating - doing direction - New York is distinguished for its countless gay flags - every house seems to have a flag staf - - on all [these] the colors were at half mast - [?] & Mc Dougal stereotypers 82 & 84 Beekman stereotyped Wallis's poem (might answer as a model volume) "Gold Deeds" printed in Boston ward 4 Judiciary Mar 31, 1865 last at am. Uncle Silas "Christians Mistake" Harpers "Cullin of the observing Faculties by Wm Burton Harpers - Autobiograph of Lyman Beecher Harpers April 1865 I heard The blue birds signing I saw the yellowish green where it colored the willows I saw the eternal grass sprig The glisting up light of the sun, on the bay the shops [inst] dusted with I [had was] I saw in the distant at the gala flag flying I saw [for] on the ships the profusion of colors I knew the fete, the feasting. Then I turned aside But & mused on the unknown dead [*I thought of the unreturned, the sons of the mother, (bef torn out)*] I thought of the nameless unrecorded, the heroes so sweet & today The young men The returned are here - but where the unreturned women find the street & black clothed mercy but remained (over) April 15th Broadway N.Y. [the] in the forenoon the news had not much more than been rec'd All Broadway is black with the mourners, the of the houses are festorial facades with black - [a] great flags with wide & heavy fringes of dead black, give a pain effect towards noon the sky darkened & it began to rain Drip, Drip & heavy moist black wealth - the stores are all closed - the rain sent theThese are the notes I made at the Library of Congress in late July, 1937. Esther Shepherd November 20, 1961 Lib of Cong Mss Dir. Walt Whitman Note Books 24 pieces small notebook Aug. 22 '64 Stephen F. Congdon 26th Army in Ist. Greene (met & talked with) on back of this notebook. April 7/64 father I have been here to see you and yo was not at home i leave my best wishes hoping you are well i am very well you must come and see me good by W. E. Vanderwend to his father [sic] Walt Witman (Another notebook.)] fairly large "Homer & the Homeric Age" or Gladstone the English statesman here at at the Astor Library English edition $15 Another Notebook small Hospital 1865 on cover- W's autograph Hugo Oscar Fritsch care of its Austrian Consulate General Hanover square New York City. Mrs. Abby H. price 149 West 33 Street New York City (over) [Upside down on this page] His calling death 5 black clouds drive overhead - - the horror fever uncertainty - alas in the public soul (sent guess) - every home brings a great history met on the wires - at 11 oclock the new president is sworn in at & the murder is array. (page needed to allow last line)