Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-13
Walt whItman's Visit 10 New York
From the New York Sun.

FROM the new Ork oun.
After an absence and sickness of nearly
five years, the ''old gray poet has returned
temporarily to his
Mast hemm'd Manhattan,
and, in moderation, has been NIL the past
month visiting, riding, receiving, and Jaunt-
ing in and about the city, and i'll good-na-
tured response to pressure, has even appear
ed two or three times in brief, otl-hnnd pub
| lie speeches.
Mr.. Whitman, at present near his fifty
ninth birthday is better i'll health and ap-
pearance than at any time since his paIalytic
| attack in Washington in 1873. Passing
through many grave experiences since that
period, he still remains tall and stout, with
the same ford face, with his great masses of
hair, and beard winter than ever. Costum.
ed in his usual entire suit of English gray,
with loose sack coat and trousers, and broad
| shirt collar opened at the neck and guiltless
of tie, he has, through the month, been the
recipient and centre of social gatherings,
parlors, club meetings, lunches, dinner,
and even dress receptions NIL of which
he has taken with steady good nature, cool
ness, and moderation.
As be sat on the platform at the Liberal
Club on Friday night last, he looked like an
old Quaker, especially rs, in response to the
suggestion of the President, and sitting near
n draught, he unhesitatingly put on his old
white broadrim, and wore II the whole even
ing. In answer to pressing requests, how
ever, towards the close, he rose to let the
audience see him more fully, and dofiing his
hat, smilingly said, in answer to calls Tor
speech, that he ''must decline to take any
other part than listener, as he knew nothing
of the subject under debate, and would not
add to the general stock of misiniormatlcn.
Al Al n II. ID,
lette Clubs, on the Fifth avenue. n few nights
previous, as he slowly crossed the room to
withdraw, he was saluted by markedly
peculiar murmur of applause. from a crowd
ed audience Of the most cultured and elegant
society Of New York, including most of the
artists of the city. 1t was singulnrly spon-
taneous and caressing testimonial, joined IN
heartily by the ladies, and the old mans
cheeks, as he hobbled along through the
kind applause and smiles, showed Il deep
flush of gratiiied feeling.
Mr.. Whitman has been the guest, most of
the month. of Mr.. and Mrs. John II. John
ston, of Tenth street, whose parlors have
been thrown open on two special occasions
for informal public receptions i'll compliment
to him, which were crowded, happy, and
brilliant TO the highest degree. The poet
has also been up the Hudson on five
days visit to his friend John burroughs at
Esopus. George W. Waters. the artist, has
taken advantage of his visit here TO paint a
good head of him, which will be on view at
the forthcoming Academy Exhibition.
Nearly every fair day, up to Saturday,
Mr.. Whitman has explored the city and
neighborhood, often as near rs possible after
the fashion of old times. Again he has taken
rides up and down Broadway on top of the
Fifth avenue and Twenty-,hird street omni-
buses, and talked with his old chums. the
drivers, receiving mcessant salutes OF
raised hands rs he passed and was recogniz-
ed. lie has been over TO Brooklyn and taken
the unsurpassed views again from the hills
OF Fort Greene and ocean vistas from Pros
pect Park Again, too; he has fingered for
several trips up in the pilot house, crossing
Fulton ferry, comforting with his old COM
rades, the pilots and deck hands. Again,
he has dwet long son the picturesqueness,
beauty, and unequulled show Of our waters
and bay
Walt Whitman will finish ihis fifty-eighth
year on the coming 3lst of May, that being
his birthday Nehemently discussed as his
literary works have been. lie has yet found
no publisher. but has lately printed his COM
plete works in two volumes, which he sells
exclusively himself. At present he has
new book of prose and poety, partially COM
Physically his paralysis is still uncured, and
he has serious stomachic trouble. and bad
lameness, but he gets around quiie good
deal. keeps always excellent spirits, believes
thoroughly not only in the future world. but
the present, and especially III our American
part Off
Mr.. Whitman expressed himself a day or
two since not without hopes of being yet
able in the future to do some work, possibly
better than any hitherto both as writer and
speaker in the land. lie says he is much
braced and comforted every way by this
visit TO his priced "Mannahatta," i'll
his months experiences here; that he has
been treated well by everybody, and that,
though new generation of men and women
has come forward during his absence he left
here in 1SG3-he finds. with a pride deeper
than any yet. he is not unknown to them.
But his visit is finished, and he returned
yesterday to his present residence i'll Camden,
New Jersey.