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


Deep sorrow has fallen upon the poets many
friends here Mr.. Aiken, of Philadelphia, VIII
tomorrow make plaster cast Of Mr. whitman
face DR.. Longacre, of Philadelphia, Will WISH
Camden tomorrow, and confer with the physicians
here to ascertain whether not post-mortem
Is necessary. Mr.. Whitmans death was, how
ever probably due 10 old age and general DEBILITY
coupled with his previous attacks of illness. In
1873 the poet was attacked in Washington by
paralysis. and last year he struggled for weeks
With bronchial pneumonia, followed by congeS-
tive chill Only his will power has Kept aim
alive since then. \ will was left by the poeS
but it's provisions have not been made public; IL
is known however. that he leaves legaces 10 MS
nephew and his attendants. The plans Tor the
funeral have not vet been arranged but ''ie
poet's body will rest in a vault built for him III
Harlaish Cemetery in the suburbs of Camden.
Walt Whitman was born in the farm village of
Vest Hills Long Island, on May 81 1919. His father
was OF English descent and the family seems to have
originally settled there with the earliest pioneers
On the island. West Hills is about thirty miles nom
New-York City 1t is secluded place, Of much
natural picturesoueness. The hills varied with
fertile valleys. 1t is neghborhood OF hinly sca'
tered country houses, with apple orchards heds OF
grass and grain. and winding lanes hnef win
Iocnst trees Great springs OF cold. sweet water
curo,sly rise toward the tops OF the hills ana 'her
course down and along the lower grounds may be
traced by the borders OF extra richness ana Veruue
rha family of Mr. Wh1narS mother the Van Nelsors'
lived near Cold Spring. They were OF genuine
Holland blood. Major Van NelSor had Tor MS VIE
AMY Williams descended from a race OF mariners
ber father and brothers. and her grandfathers people,
loo were all famous sea-going folk From this couple
c,mo the mother Of the poet. While Walt whitman
was child his parents moved TO BROOKLYN ana nc
went 10 the public schools. When thirteen years old
he went to work in printing once ana le'ri1N u
set type The summers OF his sixteenth ana sever
te,pn years were spent in the country anu along inc
scaside of the island, where he taught in country
schools From this field Of employment he sent
short sketch or story 10 that once famous monthly
. Tho Domocratlc Review" The sketch made MI
and was widely copied and commended. othcI
sketches followed. Mr.. Whitman left his country
school-teaching and came TO New York. For II le"
years he was q member OF that light ba'tahoh OF
writer's for the press who, with cie pens, composed
tales reports and editorials for pleasure and living
o,ce IN awhile he appeared at political meetings
~ a sneaker He was on the Democratic side nj
The time and supported Van Buren, and POLK ior rfe
dent During this periOd-from 1877 TO le4o-hc
s,unded all experiences Of life with all Their passios
pleasures and abandonments Al all times lie mas
liked well the society Of the class called common
neon,e. He spent much time with NewfoTk Bay
M lots the Long Island fishermen and farmers CITY
mechanics and Broadway stage drivers. me mtlei
class for years adOpted him ms SPECIAL iaVoil"
When IN the city ne always took frequent fldS Desoc
the stage-drivers. The artistic pleasure lie di""Ns
most cared for was italian opera or some good band
or concert. Many passages of his poetry were COM
posed in the gallery Of the Academy OF Music ID lS
city during the opera performances
in s4C Mr.. Whitman began to tiavel. RAISING
down through Pennsylvania and Maryland, ne crossed
the AIleghanies. went aboard small trading steamer
AT Wheeling and by slow stages and with many long
md
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. IN Newcrcans he edited
a newspaper ard lived there year. Then ne as
cended the Mississippi 10 ~. Louis moved thrOugh
that regon explored the Illinois RIVER ana inc ioMo
along I'm banks and wandered for some Time III WIS
consIn and along the great Lake. lie saw western
and Northwestern nature and Character IN al uer
phases and probably took there ana theh INC ue'
cid,d ,nenratOn OF his future works. His Journeys
occupicd two years. lie then returned 10 hioohSn'
where he again worked at the printers Hauc' "o
started a newspaper, first as "ce'dN anu wv" u
daily lie sold out and went irto business -
rarnener and builder (s fathers trade) worked WIZ,
hi o,rp hands at the toughest work, and built ana SOFA
moderate priced houses In 1879, af'cr murh w'"""
and rewriting he issued his first cdluon Oh Lave
OF Grass" a Thin quarto. u contained
versos dealing with moral social ana p0icd popio'
In Ids aIeovcsy he made new and abrupt departure
a. 10 FORM casting hi thoughts In Houu INC "'S0
Of which is something between prose anu ~,
altocotber dlseardrg rhythm ard regular iheue p"'
utterimg musical thoughts III an inconvenience %
Expecting the opposition with which MS Vo '.ao
assaiIcd and the condemnation WIN VIM"
NJ &c l,og-,sce was received. he spoke OF !, as "
sorie on common literary and won't on Do'" op,'
and FORM and said that century might eapSo .
It's triumph or failure could be assured Io hts
yeors Mr. Whitman corrected and addea u a."
sLeaves,o and when the last edition was A," 40
said he looked upon the book as now hhS"e
end OF It's opportunities and powers a. III, w.,
CO., ,,',.s % tho coming generations OF the New
World, II may assume TO say So ,.,..,,e
Soon after the opening Of the war; Nr. "'"'n' 49,
brother. LeutenantColonel George W. whitman u ~.
5lst New-York Veterans was wouhoeo ,,nc
sac. hv r,ece NJ shcll at Fredericksburg. Hhse"ns
to joIn his camp Walt whitman remained ior s .".
time az n volunteer nurse. serving part OF ."s
from 1862 TO 1865 In Washington. pu""s w So,,cyu
he supported himself by correspondence ior w. 10
newspapers OF his daily work az WISH all
wrote: Ny custom is TO 90 through "" ,,ao "a
lection OF wards, cndeavorng 10 give SIM ,,.u,t a
eacl without missing any. Even sweet Dso o.
,hsct ~ noner or passing word of frtendl'ness VI