Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-01

several striking stories for Putnam's MonthlW
lthey were, as recall them, somewhat after the
manner Of Dickens In his Christmas Stories,
and he published an anti-sl6sery novel about
1850. entitled, Harrington" Il was brought
out, believe. by the same Boston publishing
house which issued the original edition
OF Walt Whitinans Leaves Of Grass"
nor, who had taken him to the White House
to call on President Lincoln that
first met Walt Whitman. He had then
just come to Washington. This was January /,
1858, the day on which the government procla-
nation OF emancipation was made. About two
years later Secretary Harlan turned whitman
out OF the Interior department-and made HIM
self famous as civil moral service reformer
thereby,because Whitman kept an immoral or
obscene book, entitled" Leaves Of Grass" of
which he was author, in his desk. Mr.. O'Con-
nor, who all along had been the warm friend
and admirer Of Whitman at once wrote pam
phlet entitled "The Good Gray Poet, In which
placed among the stars, the more Harlan was
cast down. Mr.. O'Connor has not changed HIS
mind regarding " The Good Gray Poet in the
eighteen years which have interviewed, and has
recently been slightly revising his old pamphlet
for republication In q biography of Walt Whit
man, which our eminent Canadian physician
DR.. R. NJ. Buck, superintendent of the insane
asylum at London, Ontario, is preparing for the
press. ~ q
Another noteworthy writer in Washington is
connected with the Treasury department. He
has published In Leipsit and London. an ethno-
logical work, which has received high praise in
England and on the continent of Europe. His
theory is that the Aryan race originated in the
neighborhood Of Western Russia and he proves
IT, as he thinks, by many ingenious arguments.
Mr.. POesche wa7 the orator on the occasion of
receiving the Won Steubens at Washington some
months ago.
One should not omit the ladies in referring to
literary people in Washington; but my first inten-
tion in writing this letter was to speak only of
chiefly Of writer's in the civil service of the gov
eminent; and. OF course, Mrs. Frances Hodgson
Burnett, Mrs Madeline V. Dahlpren. Whose
'South Sea Sketches" include many entertain
Ing pages, Mrs. Rebecca Springer and Mrs
Mary Ciemmer do not fall In any such list
There may be other ladies' however, who would
| fall into such civil service list, and there are
ton, as Mr.. A. B. johnson, chief clerk of the
| lighthouse board. but formerly private secre-
| tary OF Charles Sumner, and who contributed
| several interesting chapters regarding Mr.. Sum-
ner to the magazines, and Mr.. Adee. chief clerk
| OF the diplomatic bureau, State department who
has made pleasing translations from French and
Spanish poets; and l may add that
| literary atmosphere in Washington is
stimulated and encouraged by 1.-THE Literary
Society" and Unity Club" both OF which in
clude men and women Of literary and artistic
talent, taste and culture, who are in some way
associated with the government service such as
A. p. Spofford, Congressional Librarian; Prof
Hoffman. Law Librarian Of Congress; Chief JUS
tice Drake, of the District Court; Mr. Philip, of
the Diplomatic bureau. State department; Mr..
- Dwight, Librarian of the State depart
ment, and Col. John G. Ncolay. marshal of the
U. s. Supreme Court. The latter, it is we'll
known, In conjunction with Col. John Hay, late
Assistant Secretary Of State. is engaged in pre-
pairing life of Abraham Lincoln. which will
| doubtless, be the fullest, most authoritative
and satisfactory record of President Lincoln's
personal and political career, since both Messrs.
Nicolay and Hay were long associated with him
at Springfield, as well as at Washington, and
both are well equipped and accomplished writ
ers. Col. Nicolay showed me, by the way,
day or two ago, the original draft of Lincoln's
gettysburg speech-an interesting and valuable
antographic relic. P.