247. To William D. O'Connor
9.15. [I867]
ADDRESS: William D. O'Connor|Light House
Board,|Treasury Department|Washington,|D.C.
POSTMARK New York|(?)|15.
Brooklyn,|Sunday, Sept. 15.
My dear friend,
I find my mother in excellent spirits & fair health & strength,
considering her age, doing her own housework as usual. We have talked
much about YOU & Nelly. I am not at all satisfied with the quarters we
occupy, & shall make, probably in conjunction with George, some
arrangements to have a house, or home for her & the youngest brother,
before I leave." George is very well, lives home mainly, & looks & feels as
hearty as can be-which is a pleasant surprise to me. I called at the Galaxy
office yesterday, but found the Churches out of town-shall call again
tomorrow or Tuesday.
I saw Henry Clapp-chatted pleasantly an hour with him at Pfaffs
over some lager-he was very cordial & communicative-I saw George
Clapp-he is the same good creature, apparently not shined upon by
fortune's bright sun, any more than formerly. H. C. spoke of the remnants
of the old Bohemian crowd--expressed contempt for William Winter-
called him Turvey-drop, &c.-Stoddard, Steadman, Aldrich, Howells,
Garrison, &c. were mentioned-there appears to be nothing new to tell
about them. Garrison is the man of all work on the Nation. Stoddard still
has his place in the Custom House. Ada Clare is an actress-has lately
been playing at Memphis, Tenn-is now about playing at Albany-Clapp
remains as clerk in the City Hall-Spoke of your pamphlet-says he
considers it absolutely one of the most vital productions in Literature. He
read it through several times. It seems to have had lasting effect upon him both intellectually & emotionally. Says there is nothing of its special
character, ever produced, that is, upon the whole, equal to it. It is peerless,
Clapp speaks in a tone of seriousness & deference I never heard him use
toward any other work or person-
I have seen Haggerty--Just at dusk I was up Broadway, waiting for
a Fulton ferry stage, when he came down upon me with genuine Irish
warmth & volubility-I was glad to see him, & we had a talk of some
fifteen minutes there on the street-He too spoke of the pamphlet-he
said when he first heard of it he went down to Huntington's & bought a
copy, took it home, & sat down & read it to his wife-when through he
read it a second time-& then still a third time. He says he now regularly
keeps the pamphlet within reach, & whenever he feels the want of some.
thing to rouse him up, & put his mental energies on the alert, he resorts to
it.
I have seen Mrs. Price-she asked particularly about you-Mrs.
Rhinds is unwell, & has been taken home by her sister, to recuperate-
John's book has been largely read-at least by those interested in L. of
G. and its virtuous & accomplished author-& has had deepest appreciation & acceptance in good quarters. Show John this letter--I send him my
love-William, I have not yet rec'd any letters-when any come, send
them to me 1194 Atlantic St. opposite Hamilton st. My sister Mat & her
children are here. Farewell.
Walt Whitman
