An Archive of Art and Literature by the Bohemians of Antebellum New York
Whitman called Aldrich and Howells "errand boys."
Whitman discusses how he was often in Washington. Whitman states that Greeley contributed to discussions and ideas but was not a great man. Whitman also discusses Greeley's New England smartness and said, "I ought to like him - and do- for he was very sweet and kind to me...I always felt drawn."
Law remembered Whitman from his Pfaff's days when Law was a landscape painter. He claimed that Whitman would most likely not recognize him by name.
Whitman discusses how Stedman is the "pick and treasure" of the "bitter" New York Crowd and Whitman seems to be often critical of him and his personality. Whitman also refers to Stedman's ability as a literary critic: "I don't think he fishes with a very deep sinker. [Edmund] Stedman doesn't seem to have vision, soul - depth of nativity - sufficient to make him capable of the highest interpretations."
The paper was a friendly media outlet for Whitman during the early days of Leaves of Grass.
Despite Howells view of him, Whitman told Traubel that he thought well of Howells.
Wilkins is listed as one of Whitman's "boys" and one of Whitman's early defenders. Wilkins is described by Whitman as "noble, slim, sickish, dressy, Frenchy - consumptive in look, in gait: weak-voiced: oh! I think the weakest voice I ever knew in a man. But Ned was courageous: in an out and out way very friendly to Leaves of Grass: free spoken - always willing to let it be known what he thought: in fact, was what we nowadays call a dude: kid-gloved, scrupulous - oh! squeamish! - about his linen, about his tie - all that." Whitman also claims that "I never heard Ned say a foolish thing."
The Vault at Pfaff's