Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01
DAYS Of WHITMAN
IN D. c. RECALLED
Poet Centenary Has Special
! Significance to People of
Washington.

Yesterday was the centenary of the
birth of Walt Whitman. Washington
is so intimately connected with Whit
mans life, through his departmental
service here for number of years.
that it is appropriate that there
should be held here. as at the George
Washington University tomorrow.
special commemoration of the event.
There are numerous Washingtoni-
ans who remenSper Whitman's figure
on the capitals streets half cen
fury ago. Some of them knew him
personally. One of these is Mrs.
Cherrydale. Va, who distinctly re-
calls Whitman's striking personality.
his flowing hair. his melancholy ex-
preston. his kindness. Between
Whitman and her father. +. G. Schutt,
who then kept furniture store near
3Oth and NJ streets, in Georgetown,
there existed close friendship.
Vision of Inner Meanings.
Mrs. Wells said yesterday of the
poet:
Il first became acquainted with him
as very little girl l distinctly re-
member seeing him in my fathers
place of business and was struck by
his wonderful eyes, which seemed to
see but little of the things close at
, hand and yet We're so remarkable in
their vision of inner meanings. l
we'll remember hearing my father tell
of the poets wanting portrait OF
himself which father. semi-Bo-
hemian with some musical and liter
airy tastes, had picked up somewhere.
ut must have been in Whitman's
down-and-out days (they say he was
never otherwise), for he offered an
old shotgun in exchange for the pic
ture, which my mother tells me was
excellent, being younger. too. than
those usually seen. Father. although
aware that he was entertaining an
angel of light. l am sorry to say. did
not see fit to make the exchange.
Long afterward. when giving UP
business, he sold the portrait to
lady. an ardent admirer Of Whit
man."
Mrs. Wells has written, apropos of
the Whitman centenary. the follow
Ing poem:
Walt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
Dead.
O whitman! sublime Walt whitman,
Thou who ddst suffer all things for truths
holy sake.
Momentary and untouched, as thou didst say,
by thine time.
Seorned by the bat-eyed Harlans Of the world.
didst prove illustrious.
Thy reward for chastity, temperance, love and
complete faith.
The power to words divnely.
o Son Of Mary thou who didst choose the bet
ter part
And like her. too didst gire thine all-thy-
self-thy real self
Thou who didst hare the blessed privilege Of
being innocent and yet adjudged guilty.
Thy slow-garnered truth twisted by little minds
into the grossest urtruth
o divine comrade by the initiated alone under
Stood
o refuge from the worlds sordidnesk
Thou who Gidst offer not the old smooth
prizes but the rough new ones;
This was and is thy sweet revenge:
Cnperturbed by the Rawlings, and mockings
and reviiinss.
Thou. O hard Of the future, with thine occult
vision
Didst pierce the vista of the centuries.
And didst thyself-death making thee in
deed undying-
Become already celebrating music to the other
great companions along the way.
The living Christ in thee. melodi0us echo!
Sustaining them down through the ages yet
unborn
Till thou saturate all time with the subtle
magic Of thy personality.
Till men and women become brethren and lovers
like thee.