Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-31
FAMOUS MEN.
WALT WHITMAN

Walt whitman was one of the most
unique men in American literature. He
was never very popular as poet with
the masses, for they failed in their
appreciation of the character of his
verse, but there is a distinct Whitman
cult in this country who believe him
to be entitled to place with the great
est of American verse writer's.
Born on Long Island in May, 1919,
Walt Whitman was still living within
the memory of many present-day read
ers for he did not die until March,
1892, at the age of IS. Although the
latter years of his life were full of suf-
fering and in a measure poverty was
always close to his door, yet he kept
on producing almost to the end, and
much of his best work came after he
had passed the allotted period for
mems lives
Whitman was a peculiar genius, who
was entirely SELF -centered in his writ
ten work. Though his material strug-
giles to live as painter, schoolmasters
newsps per corr espondent. carpenter,
or government clerk, he was forming
strong individual views Of life-rough,
crude ideas, but having 8 strange vir-
lie force that sprang from the depths
of the truly original mind.
Walt Whitman made his struggle as
a poet with his Leaves Of Grass, =
and year by year there has been q
gradual change and broadening of view
regarding that work. that has finally
given the man a place for high Thought
and poetic insight into life.
In measure Whitman was a mar
tyr to his country-or rather to the
cause of humanity. During the Civil
War he devoted mis- days and nights
to the sick. and dying in the army
hospitals. He gave his services free and
to support himself he wrete for news
papers. He had only odd hours for, such
work, hours that were sadly needed
for rest.
When he held position in the of
flee Of the Attorney General at Wash
ington after the war he sent half his
salary to his mother and much of the
other half went to old soldiers still
sick and unfortunate. Due to his la
bors in the hospital with their un-
healthy Surroundings he was strick
en- with paralysis. While he partly re
covered. yet he was never Thereafter
a really wen man. When the news o.
his death was told there was mourn
ing all over the country-in homes
where his name was held in tender
memory.
The last half dozen years of Wal
Whitman's life he spent in Camden
/ N. j. in modest little home which il
today kept as a sort of shrine to tn,
memory of the Good Gray Poet. Her
literary people, admirers Of Whitman
would come in large Numbers ever.
lyear to pay their respects to him, ant
| from this home he was constantly is
suing forth his beautifuf thoughts il
verse, remarkable as coming from
man who had passed the eighty yea
mark.
i Most of Whitman 5 publications .ap
peared after he was we'll past 50 year
of age, including The Passage to In
dia.. Two Rfvulets.' Novembe
i Boughs" and .'Goodbye Ny Fancy.
just one year before his death ap
peared the Whitman sAutobiogra a.
fDefinitive editions of his prose work
and Of his Leaves Of Grass were is
sued in two volumes the year befor
his death, and ten wears after he hs
passed away an elaborate coniplet
edition was published in New York
ten volumes.
>