Connecticut western news., 1892-03-31

was born at West Hills, Long Island, May 31, 1918. His father, whose name he bore, was farmer; and the boy, the eldest of the family, was brought up with slight knowl- edge of even the few refnements obtainable in the country sixty years ago. After a short spell in New York and Brooklyn pub lie schools he became carpenter for a time; then he learned printing, working at the case in New York and Brooklyn, and edit ing papers in New Orleans and in Hunting ton, Long Island.
 whitman's Quaint Career.
 Up to 1855 he had been known, so far as he was known, simply as a carpenter print CT of no especial steadiness. In 1855, how ever, appeared his first and most famous book, Leaves of Grass" volume of rhap- sodical poems, always without rhyme, gen. orally without rhymth, dealing especially with the interests involved in American life and progress of the time. The book called forth great amount of praise and a . still greater amount of blame. No sub feet was too small for Whitman; nothing, however secret conventionalism made it, but was revealed. Those who did not ob- ject to the nudity of the poems were of tended at the unconventional form in which they were cast; and some were shocked honestly at the poems themselves. The first edition of this book Whitman set up and printed himself, and for thirty years he has been revising and adding to the book.
 Early in the war his brother George was wounded at Fredericksburg and the poet went to the front to nurse him. He re- mained with the army until the close of the war, afterward giving his experiences in two volumes, "Drum Taps QS65 and Memoranda During the War" Q850. His most conventional poem is in 'Drum Taps' -'Captain, My Captain"-in memory of Lincoln.
 Leaves of Grass" Condemned.
 At the close of the war he obtained a clerkship in the interior department, from which he was dismissed when his superior officer learned that he was the author of sLeayes of Grass" He, obtained a clerk ship in the attorney generals office, how ever, which he kept until 1874. In Febru- ary, 1873, he had stroke of paralysis, re- sulting from the exposure of his army life, and came here.
 Before this, while in Washington, he pub lished Passage to India" QS70, "After All, Not to Create Only" Q87D, "As Strong Bird on Pinions Free" QS79, and a volume of prose essays, Democratic Vistas" QS70, republished in 1873 and 1883. In 1881 new edition of Leaves of Grass" was published in Boston, to the sale of which the Massa- chusetts authorities objected on the ground of immortality. In 1883 Whitman published s'Specimen Days and Collect" in 1885 "No- vember Boughs," and in 1888 Sands at Sev- enty." .-.... In the latter year he had another stroke of paralysis. It crippled him almost en- tirely, and on his seventieth birthday his friends gave to him pony carriage and pony, and the 'good, gray poet" drove him. self about Camden enjoying the outdoor life he had always loved. He did not enjoy his carriage long, however, for his increasing infirmity made it unsuitable to him, and for two years he took his outdoor exercise in a wheeled chair.
 His infrmity was physical not mental, however, and within few months he has published a farewell volume of poems, 'sGood By, My Fancy" wherein he men, toned with pathetic bitterness that maga- zine writers had refused his poems, and confessed that his life was hard-almost his only admission of poverty.
 | A Poet, Indeed.
 | Of late years the bitter attacks on Whit man have ceased and he has been admitted | to be indeed poet. Emerson in 1855 found beauties in ''Leaves of Grass" even though he disapproved of the book, and since then, especially from England, came commenda- | GlOn. w 1lndIn rSOSSeJGl puUllSueu d seleS- tion of the poems in 1868 and Walter Scott has published two further selections, while Edward Dowden has made still fourth selection. Tennyson and George Eliot have ranked Whitman high among American poets, and the poet has spoken gratefully of the Friendly mouth'd, just opportune Eng | fish action" which comforted him in his | troubles.
 Whitman was dependent entirely on the sale of his books, and while never rich, of late years he has been absolutely poor. He steadily refused to accept charity, however. He never was married. It was said that 8 disappointment in early life was the cause.