New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-27

ma ont the general mood Of the ward at the time
sometimes see there is heavy weight Of lsessness
prevailing, and the whole ward wants cheering up
perhaps read to the men, to break the spell calling
llehl around me- careful to sit from the cot Of
any one who is very bad with sickness or wounds
"!so' md ont, by going through In this way, the
cases mat need special attention. and then de-
vote proper time TO them. OF course | am very
cautious among the patients in giving them food.
always CENTER with the doctor, find out from the
muse or wardmaster about new case. But soon
get sufficiently familiar with what Is 10 be avoided, and
learn also almost intultiyely what is best. ! buy
during the hot weather boxes Of oranges fom time to
uhie' ana distribute them among the men; also pre-
served peaches and other fruits; also lemons and
sugar. for lemonade. Tobacco is also much in demand
Large numbers Of the come up a. usual without
cent OF money. Through the assistance of friends
In Brooklyn and Boston, am again able to help many
of those that fail in my way. 1t is only small
sum in each case. But it Is much 10 them. As
before, do good deal of this writing letters for
the soldiers, of course, writing all kinds including
love letters. Many sick and wounded soldiers have
not written home TO parents, brothers. sst r, and
wives, for reason or another for a long, long
time. some poor writers, cannot get paper
and envelopes; many have an aversion TO writing b.
cause they dread TO worry the folks at hOme-the
facts about them sad to tell / always en-
courage the men to write and promptly write for
thcm.'
Mr.. Whitman spent the winter Of 1SG3'G4 with the
army at brandy station and Culpeper, Va. In the
following summer, the bloody slaughter of the Wilder
ness and the fierce promenade down to the James
River gave him plenty to do, and he did it well until
he himself was Frustrated. III the hot summer Of
1864, Mr.. Whitman, who up TO that period had been
the pictur, of health and strong physique was taken
down with Illness which after left effects
him. lie at the time 10 number of
soldier, who had been badly wounded In the late battles
and whose wounds from previous enforced neglect ana
possible stage. lie remained assdYusly day and
was mat his system doubtless weakened by anxiety:
became deeply saturated with the worst poison OF
hospital malaria. lie ordered North by the
ply scan, and illness lasting six months followed
The first sickness in his life ola In FebFu"Ey li95 wish
Washington. he received from the Secretary OF
the Interior Department an n, appointment tT
for hospital visits and secured MIN an income he
lie now divided his leisure hours between services to
tn, wounded and in composing new lines: 1t was
Harlan, suddenly removed him from his situation, for
the reason that he the author OF Leaves Of Grass
him. and in long interview, thoroughly proved Walt
Whmans personal character and explained the hs9Ty
said that the author Of Leaves ii Grass, should
Be allowed IN his Department Soon after c Mr.
and was offered place under the at
S ecspy until he 'ff s as
nurse are wildly recorded in Drum Taps QsG5) and
Memoranda During the War Qs67
and painful Impression upon the poet who had formed
personal attachment 70 the President regarding him
characters OF the time and, beyond that, as sort
Drum Taps had been finished and few copies bound
the author, the death of Mr. Lincoln, determined TO
recall them and hold tho book back awhile. In a
few weeks thereafter when more composed he planned
his When Laes Last In the va B G cSris IN
When 1t was concluded he ad'CI 80. Captain, MY
the previous collection under the title Of a "seqnel
To Drum Taps" issued both groups entire as his
I'm 1870 Mr. Whitman published volume Of prose
essays called Democratic Nisas" new edition OF
by the author. III this volume he explains mat ne
uses the word Democrat In its widest sense as
synonymous with the American form of government.
In February 1873 the lingering effects of his nursing
fa,gues and illness during The war crnlna.ed IN oa
Camden. y. j.. and was recovering when. in May OF
the same year, his mother died rather suddenly, IN
did lot again return to Washington as Governmen,
empioye. From that time on his home was In
ceivcd kindly attentions from many admirers, nelns
3D. by n es r, Wears h@ lad bce
fined TO his room being unable to walk maid him
visit and the soul of the aged bard was filled viii, JOY
II was indeed he said soon arerward "a source OF
rratfcation 70 hear Sir Edwin tell me that he
s s aa an ny ~ r sSSs isr nSs until
poems trust we Shall meet again. Sir Edwin said
Il he had me with him be could make me Young again.
my Leaves Of Grass. have literary ambition cft
now. pass the DAYS as best know how; l1i "aut
rs / have tried 10 live II md a. t1cd TO put 1t IN
my BOOKS. / Will tell you. II is only the closest
student who would find 1t IN nv works. 90 no, not
sum total Of my view Of life has always been to
mmbly accept and thank God for whatever Inspiration
toward good may come In this nugh word oil "IIs,
%nd e, far r m2y Ss to sT"v lose from an" put the
Mr. Whitman has been called tho good gray poet.
His admirers, especially in England, have ieeh eA
with the best Of the classic writers and In tins cpnh
try Ralph Waldo Emerson said on the appearance vi
Leaves Of Grass: find 1t The most extraordinary
piece Of Wit and wisdom that America has YET con
tiEn1ee said On the other hand the peculiar
form OF his writings has prevented them IRON Deiis
Stance MS of no value. Leaves Of t'rTiss' has even
been condemned for indecency on account Of It's oni
spokcnness and when complete eation vi dne w%tn
authorities objected 70 It's sale in that state on tho
ueSd.s The works already mentioned. Mr. Whitman
Gs7OJ After Al, not TO Create Only na7l !" TWO
Rlvulets9 ns73), specimen DAYS and Collect nSs3
November BOughs" 1850 and sands a. seventy
nssD In the summer Of 1891 he published also
q volume Of prose and verses entitled "Good-By MY
Fancy whic he described a9 Z" An Annex - Leaves
Of Grass There Is melancholy flavor about the
cheerful. More than once he refers 10 the world,
refusal 10 recognize Ism ns n poet. All the great
magazines declared, declined 10 PRINT MS lucuDfa
x selection Of Mr.. whtmans poems by william
NJ Rpssetfi published In London In 1867. re
sides the complete edition OF Leaves OF Grass winch
has hecn mentioned another, edited by Professor I'd
ward Drwden has been issued In GlasgOw. \ popular
selection, with an introdncon by hrnest hsS t WAS
hs clerkship by secretary Harlan there were published
The Good Gray Poet y9dicatIon No.. qyG S,,,n by
william ID. OConn0r ana Noes on Malt MNn'ih"h
as Poet and Person. Oe66), by John Burroughs