Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05
WAIT WHITMAN.
The Jersey Poet Talks Of American
Literary workers

knock there was pleasant NOome in
The room seemed at the first glance to be
almost square, with low ceiling aud
two windows looking into the street.
There eat the venerable .good gray
poet" In large arm chair, wearing q
light blue blanket overooat or dressing
gown. He made splendid picture 40
he sat there with the morning sunlight
dancing in and out OF the room making
grotesque figures on the wall. He had o
leonine look. His long white hair foll
partly over his face. And such tae9
EIong, manly aId fan OF human nature.
His gray beard, thick and fuzzy, seemed
to be scattered all over his huge chest.
His shirt was wide open at tho throat,
exposing h's large neck and part Of his
bosom. His steel gray eyes snapped
with pleasure as he extended his large
arm and big right hand. He did not
look decrepit. There was a rudy glow
upon bis cheeks, as if he bad been ex-
posed to the sun. lie moved his arms
easily, and in the brief conversation that
ensued he would put his right hand to
hls forehead, az ii pausing to think be-
fore speaking. His lower limbs were
covered by some kind OF cloth, stretched
loosely over his kneeH.
IL he could have stood up straight, he
would have measured nearly six feet in
height, and exhibited tho frame OF q man
who, even now, at 70 yesrs Of age,
weighs 200 pounds.
Racked with pain and rheumatic govt,
Inc aged poet, gray and stout,
Alone Within his modest room
Sat weaving thoughts from fancy's loom.
he saw the years OF youth and dreams
gliding away like summer streams,
And In his soul vision came
OF honor, friends and lasting fame.
We sat down near him and looked OF
his surroundings. The little room was
almost covered with papers, magazines
and periodicals. They lay around in
heaps, on the floor and ON the tables
End evidently had not been moved for
many months. In fact, there was nothing
to admire about the disorder of the room.
The poets bed was on one side of the
room, not in a corner, but half way be-
tween one of the windows and the
entrance door, IL was sbout the only
object in the room free from papers and
periodicals. A clean white c0unterpane
WAS neatly spread over it and tucked in
carefully at the side. Right in front OF
the posts chair was large table, with q
pyramid OF old papers on it,
at the base Of the pyramid there was
enough clear space left on the table for
the bard to lean over and write his name.
His han are not paralyzsd and he can
write his signature in bold, legible
hand, which often he kindly does for
autograph collectors. There was no
attempt at bric-a-b rac, pictures or fairy
lamp ornamentation in the room. The
walls were bare. Several chairs were
scattered about, and the poets pipe and
tobacco lay carelessly on small table.
II am glad to see you, sit down." said
MIR. Whitman after o cordial hsndshake,
Leaning back, he said he was unable to
get to his bed, q few feet away, without
assistance.
II would like to talk to you at length
and ask many questions, but l cannot"
be said. Say TO the boys that my heart
is in the highlands with thom. You see, l
am whacked and banged up SO with
paralysis that am not fit for anything.
II is the direct result OF my war expert
ence many years ago, MY brother was
wounded and went to him. exposed
myself and from that time I have never
been the hale and hearty man that was
previously. sit here from day to day,
read the papers when | can and keep
quiet. Not long ago went to Philadel-
phia end had something to say before q
club. 1t isa great trial for me to get
away from my room. do not write any
now and have nothing unpublished"
HIS VISITORS
The poet paused put his hand TO his
head brief moment, and in answer to
questions said; Eyes, have many Visi-
tors, and it warns the cookies Of nv
heert to have my friends drop in and
shake me by hand. Sir Edwin Arnold
called Upon me and we had friendly time
of 1t. have never read his Light OF
Asia but | have heard others speak
highly of its merits. Arnold writes to
me now and then. YOs, 1 have met q
good many poets in my time, but can
not talk at any length about them. The
apostle, or rather the former apostle OF
sestheticiem, Oscar Wilde, is friend OF
mine. like Oscar Wilde very much,
and have had some genial, companion.
able hours with him. Outside OF his
long halr-he has cut II now--and his
Bunthorre attitudinizing, found him q
whole. souled and natural fellow. Arnold
of course, have not seen as muS1 OF as
Wilde, Tut like him."
Mr.. Whitman then spoke of being in
New York over two years ago, and speak
ing at Madison square Theatre one after.
noon on the anniversary of the Rasassina
ton Of Abraham Lincoln, when he stirred
everybody by reclting "Gaptain, My
Captain !" James Russell Lowell auC
Edmund Clarence Stedmsn, the poets
were there to hear him, and chatted witt
him after the dlscUnrss. Mr.. Stedmai
called upon MIR. Whitman a. his hotel Al.
made his stay In the city pleasant
Speaking of theBe two poets, Mr. Wait
man was warm in their praise. He sale
that he had 30 many friends who Wer,
barcB that he could not criticisa any o.
their works because it might seem III
yidious.
At this juncture in the interview III,
old man became anxioua to show that h'
could use his arms with ease, and h
swung them RrouLd and over his heaC
several times. In talking about hi
strength, or rather lack Of strength, w
were stTaid that he would come to thu
appetite question, and would refuse 4
talk any more, but he seemed more in
literary than in q gRBtronomio mood. HI
continued: 'Ycu ask me about con
temporary literature, and il 1 think lit
erature in America IL deteriorating. Vel
must confess that have not given tn
subject any study. do not keep up o
] should. Things are moving with
rapid pace. Since ! published N.
Leaves OF Grass in 1867, nearly u
years ago, many, many volumes of poem
and literary works have been published
II were not q sufferer from paralysi
nsfhapa conld better keen uD with cur
rant literature. In order to sriticise tn