The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-15
WALT WHITMAN ON THE ROsTRUM
Leeturing on the Death Of Abraham Lincoin
aud Reading u Poem.

Walt Whitman found threescore or per-
haps fourscore persons confronting him when
he entered Steck Hall last evening to read
his essay on The Death OF Abraham Lin
colin" They applauded him roundly when
he came in. and his ruddy face flushed
a deeper shade and lighted up with an
expression OF pleasure. He sat alone
on the platform. his arm resting on a small
table at his side upon which he had laid nose
gay that somebody had brought 10 him. por-
trait Of Lincoln stood against an easel at his
left. 1t was only when he moved that the writer
OF the" Leaves Of Grass" showed any signs OF
feebleness: as he sat. leaning back comfortably
in his chair. he looked picture Of health
and wore pair of gray cloth CATERS above
his heavy walking shoes. His large, sinewJ
hands were nut,brown, as II they had oess Hia
hushy hair was snow-white, rather long. and
foRted backward in ripples from convex
forehead OF ample breadth and height. His
eyes looked keenly from under Il pair of iutting
shaggy brows. perfectly white also. as were ms
ample mpustaches and spreading beard, Al
this snowy fringe made the bard look strikinglJ
patriarchal; and his shirt collar was one more
white and negligent matter, which ne wore
open about his sturdy throat. undecorated BY
Having irst assumed pair Of silver bowed
spectacles he read his essay (which has long
been publshedl in conversational voice, with
out any attempt at elocutonary effect. He was
on the top of his stage The was a. Broadway
stage driverl when he first saw Lincoln ~
1861. He described the silent. ominous crowd
that greeted the President. and moral zlng
frequently concluded with a picture OF the
assassination in the Washington theatre. In
this he spoke of Lncoln's fondness for tbs
play. and wondered how he, the great actor
could have been Interested In human Jack
straws utterinR a hatulent text" Twice the
reader was appauded, and both times he
stopped and smiled and seemed almost child
ishly pleased. At the conclusion OF the reading
hs took ont his watch. said that II was early
and that he would read having been requested
70 do so, n short poem. lie read them the piece
Captain. on My Captain and the best ap'
Mr.. Whitman said % the reporter that his
health was much improved OF late. This i'm
provement he ascribes to the fact that he has
discarded physic and formed the habit OF lyinR
daily for three hours naked in the summer sea,
son. He practices the habit in some retired
grove where there is a pond OF clear water
bathing incidentally, and provoking extra CIR
culation by means Of a stiff flesh brush. Asked
concerning recent letter that he has receiyed
from Mr.. Ruskin. wherein il Is understood that
the poet is highly approved 10y ths crtlr, MI
Whltman said that hs did not ferl nt liberty tr
Aivu.g, the rNprt contents Of the letter but O
his own OptiOn he Jotted down the following fOI
the benefit OF THE sun rradcrs:
Among the late converts 10 Leaves OF Grass are
Emile lola the French realistic writer Gnd the iamuu
GLORIOUS TO the writings OF the American poet Wht
in better health than for some years. ana deslg
entering the nsld as public reader Of his own poems ap'
~ lecturer