LETTER LXXIV

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN

_Hampstead May 4, '85._

MY DEAREST FRIEND:

Delays of Editors--there is no end to them! I am promised now that the art. shall appear in the June No., & if it does I will send you at once the number of copies you name. And if it does not, I think I had best get it back & have done with the editors of _To-day_ & try for some other & better opening again.

I have been reading & re-reading & pondering over Froude's 9 vols of Carlyle--"The Reminiscences," "Letters," &c. &c.--and am pretty well at boiling point with indignation against Froude--boiling point of anger & freezing point of contempt. His betrayal at every point of a sacred trust! lazy, slip-shod editing! not even taking the pains to put letters and their answers together--but printing the one in 1882 & the others three or four years after--so that half the meaning and all the _mutuality_ of the letters are lost! And then the sly malignity of the comments with which they are preceded! If I live I will do my utmost to expose all this & to show that Mrs. Carlyle was no injured heroine, nor he a selfish & neglected husband. Both had their faults, but the balance of affection & tenderness was largely on his side, as well as of other great qualities: though I like her too--& think she would have scorned Froude's ignoble championship.

Herby has had rather better luck with his pictures this year. Has one--"The Sculptor's Lesson"--fairly well hung at the Royal Academy--where it shines out very cheerfully & holds its own modestly, I may say without maternal vanity. I think I described to you the little bit of actual life it depicts--a young girl he saw at the British Museum modelling a copy of an antique statue & young sculptor in his blouse standing below & giving her some animated criticism--a little bit of the Elgin marbles in the background. Herb. has also a little picture he calls "Midsummer"--a bit of a very old & buttressed wall hung with roses in full bloom, & Giddy's figure standing above--at the Grosvenor. Now if he has the luck to sell too! He has a commission also to paint a small portrait of me for our friends at Marley, on which he is busy just now. As soon as he has a little spare money in his pocket I think his first use of it will be a run across the Atlantic & a glimpse of you, dear Friend. Giddy is going to sing at a Soiree of socialists & revolutionary folk in general on Wednesday. Her songs are to be "The Wearing of the Green"--& "Poland Dirge" & the "Marseillaise". You will think we are getting pretty red hot! But alas! though our sympathy with the Cause--the cause of suffering millions--is warm, our faith in the wisdom & ability of those who are aspiring to be the leaders, so far as we know anything of them--is infinitesimal.

What a burst of beauty we have had during the last ten days! We look out just now on a sea of apple & pear blossoms, from the deepest pink to dazzling white--& the tenderest green intermingled with all. I hope you are able to be out nearly all day & enjoy all--and that home affairs go smoothly & comfortably & that Mrs. Davis[42] is attentive & good & every way adequate as care-taker.

I am looking forward very much to the "After Songs" and "Letters of Parting". Does the sale of "Leaves of Grass" continue pretty steady? I look forward with a sort of dread to seeing my article in proof, lest I should feel very disappointed with it.

Your loving friend,

A. GILCHRIST.

Do you ever see or hear from Mr. Marvin? He is a favourite with all of us. Do you remember how we laughed at his dramatic presentation of a negro prayer meeting?