Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-08
WALT wHITMAN--POET AND
MAN.

found appreciation OF Walt whitman
IA given in the September Craftsman
by Edward Carpenter, the English
Socialist Carpenter knew Whitman
well: he also knew other great men,
among them oliver Wendell Holmes,
who gave him opinions Of Whitman's
place In American literature.
The attitude OF American writers
land men OF note toward Whitman
much interests Mr.. Carpenter. He
makes no comments, but lets certain
passages speak for themselves. For
instance, during his first visit to
America, he called upon oliver Wen
dell Holmes. Here is his impress
sion Of the genial "autocfat," and his
unadorned account Of the latter's i'm
preston OF Whitman. 1t Is the more
interesting because It embodles the
opinions OF Lowell and Longfellow--
three OF the greatest authorities In
American letters:
"He was then about seventy years
OF age-a dapper, active little man.
full OF life and go, rather enjoying
the visits OF strangers.
| said something about American lit
erature and Leaves of Grass" %.
Whitman, he said; 'well-well--
well--Whitma is all very well-he
has capacity, but 1t won't dot
won't do. tell you what, it's some
thing like this you know, skillful
cooks say that the fainest odor, the
merest Whit, of assafoetlda will give
a plquant flavor to dish-and
can believe that but TO drench 1t In
assafoetlda--no, that won't do. The
poets coquette with Nature and
weave garlands of roses for her; but
Whitman goes at her like a great
hirsute man--no, II won't do. Now,
he continued, the other day Lowell
and Longfellow and ! were chatter
ing together, and the subject of
Whitman turned up. Said lowell,
81 can't think why there Is all this
stir about Whitman | have heard a
good deal of his poetry, but | can't
see anything In 1T can't see any
thing In It.. "Well," said Longfel-
low, 81 believe the man might have
done something II he had only had a
decent training and education" GAS
to my opinion. why" said Holmes,
II have already given you that. SO
you see what we think OF him in
America.
And this Is the Walt Whitman
who was known and loved by those
who met him daily:
after some conversation Whit
man proposed walk across to Phila-
delphia. Putting on his gray slouch-
hat he sailed forth with evident
pleasure. aud taking my arm as a
support, walked slowly the best part
OF a mile to the ferry. Crossing the
ferry was always great pleasure
To him, The life of the
streets and of the people was so
near, so dear The men on the ferry
steamer were evidently old friends,
and when we landed on the Phlladel-
phia side we were before long quite
besioged. The man or woman sell
ng fish at the corner OF the street,
the tramway-con the loafers
ON the pavement word OF recogni-
ton from Walt. or as often from
the other first. Presently CHEEKY
shout from the ton OF dray: and
before We had gone many yards far
ther the driver was down aud stand
Ing In front OF us--his horses given
to the care OF some bystander. He
was an old broadway 'stager. - had
not seen Walt for three or -four
years, and tears were In his eyes as
he held his hand. We were now
brought To a standstill, aud others
sathered round; 'George' was m and
Walt must 30 and see him. There
was a message for the children, and
In his pocket the poet discovered
one or two little packets Tor absent
little ones, But for the most part
his words We're few Il was thC
others who spoke. and apparently
without reserve"