The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19
TRAITS OF WALT WHITMAN
AN ENGLISHWOMAN's RECOLLEC-
 TTONs OF THE POET.

His Talk of Singers and Authors-some of His FavorIte Books--A Lover of Music Children, Beauty, Intel lect and Other Topics.
 His talk was often of the actors and singers of his prime, of the books from which he had received the highest pleasure. His greatest enjoyment in music was derived from the Italian operas, from those of Rossini, Verdi, Donizetti. Alboni had been his favor ite prima- donna; Jenny Lind, who came to New York in her prime, he cared little for--her singing, sweet and birdlike as it was, lacked the fire or the passion to move him.
 The authors he talked most of were Homer, Shakespeare, Scott, George Sand and Bulwer Lytton; Scott he loved even better than Shakespeare. One quaint method of reading which he indulged in would have driven the de- vout book-lover wild. He would tear book to pieces-literally shed it's leaves, putting the loose sheets into the breast pocket of his coat--that he might pur- sue his reading in less weighty fashion under the branches of his favorite trees at Timber Creek. Many have averred that they never heard him laugh-he laughed rarely, but when he did it was deep, hearty, melodious laugh. He laughed at very simple things-homely jests and episodes in daily life. One exceedingly simple story illustrative of this he would jokingly relate, to en1- phasize his own love of notice.
 An old fellow, in a drunken fit, hav- ing returned home and thrown himself down on his bed, is awakened by the noise of several people in his room gos- siping about their affairs-where they have been and whom they have seen. The old fellow raises his head and asks, "Did any one inquire after mel" On joining a group of friends Walt would often laughingly ask, Did any one in quire after me?'' And, after recount ing this story, laugh in his slow, leis- urely way, with twinkle of amuse- ment in his blue eyes, their blueness in tensifed by their overhanging, bushy, snow-white brows.
 He had in extreme the American trait of sympathy and of deference to the young. He loved very young men, and boys and girls, and if there was one present at the social board, or a srro1 Of a never rested till he had drawn such a one into the conversation. While some animated discussion was in full swing he would turn to the callow listener with the query, And what does G. say?' though probably the opinion thus solicited was not of the smallest im portance to any rational being present. If any quaint character whom he en- countered in his jaunts on car or ferry struck him as an oddity he would say that he or she was quite sDickensee."
 Dickens, however, was with him not such favorite novelist as Scott or Bulwer Lytton. George Sands hero ines he preferred to Shakespeare's He dwelt much upon "Consuelo," the most beautiful of George Sands nov els. One scene he once laughingly en- tjCLCQ u WctS IudI III WIlCll Olo Ol pora, the musician, is trying to teach his frivolous fine lady pupils to dis- claim their songs with intelligence. Among them is Consuelo, Porpora's s one earnest pupil.
 Porpora says, There is one amongst you who sings well'' "Is It IF" ex- claim half a dozen-and as the old man rises they push him down. (Here Walt would rise and initiate them.)
 "How often,'' said Walt, "have dwelt upon that passage?" Some one here asked him if George Sands hero ines did not equal Shakespeares He answered.: q don't know why, but Shakespeare's heroines give me very little satisfaction. I think it is partly owing to the fact that women never actually acted in Shakespeare's time; boys were dressed up, and think that Shakespeare must have had these boys in his mind. always compare Shakes peare's plays to large, rich, splendid tapestry, like Raphaers historical car toons, where everything Is broad and colossal. Royal kings and queens did not really talk like that, but ought to if they did not; it is redeemed in that way Now, you can't say that of. na- ture-a tree is what it Is, and you can't make it out better than 1t is"
 And if he did not admire Rosalind Portia and other favorite heroines:
 "No; I think Consuelo far superior to any of Shakespeare's heroines." He added that he relied upon translations for he could not read French with any enjoyment.
 Did he think the worse of George Sand for the latitude she took in the relation of marriage?
 ''No," he replied unhesitatingly; ''the finest teachers in life, the most artistic are the darkest It is necessary for an artist to see everything-to go to the depths of life. I don't regret anything about George Sand; her very frailties were the result of her good qualities She was impatient of the goody-good; she wanted something freer."
 One evening in October one of those lovely, warm, still evenings of the American fall, the conversation turned on beauty. Walt doubted if extreme beauty was we'll for woman.
 But" queried one, "how could tht Greeks have got on without it?"
 Now arises the almost terrific ques tion," answered Walt, lis there no something artificial and fictitious il