Interviewers seemed to look for something beyond me; to wait expectantly in the hope that I could recall some unusual thing in Mr. Whitman's eccentricities that I alone had observed; words that I alone had heard him speak; opinions and beliefs I alone had heard him express; anything remarkable, not before given to the public. They wanted the sensational and exclusive, if possible. I suppose that was natural.
But it set me thinking that if my knowledge was of any value or interest to others, why not write a truthful story myself, instead of having my words enlarged upon, changed and perverted? Simple facts are surely better than hasty exaggerations.
I have done what I could. One gentleman (Mr. James M. Johnston, of Buffalo), who has read the manuscript, and for whose opinion I have the greatest regard, remarked as he returned it: "It appears to me that your main view in writing this was to exonerate Mrs. Davis."
He had discovered a fact I then recognized to be the truth.
My greatest fear is that I may have handled the whole truth too freely—without gloves.
E. L. K.
CONTENTS
| I | MARY OAKES DAVIS | [1] |
| II | WALT WHITMAN'S HOME | [8] |
| III | THE MICKLE STREET HOUSE | [18] |
| IV | THE NEW RÉGIME | [27] |
| V | CURIOUS NEIGHBORS | [37] |
| VI | MR. WHITMAN DRIVES | [47] |
| VII | BROOMS, BILLS AND MENTAL CHLOROFORM | [55] |
| VIII | VISITING AND VISITORS | [67] |
| IX | A BUST AND A PAINTING | [73] |
| X | REST—AND ROUTINE | [87] |
| XI | A SHOCK, AND SOME CHANGES | [100] |
| XII | ANCHORED | [113] |
| XIII | WARREN FRITZINGER | [119] |
| XIV | FRIENDS, MONEY, AND A MAUSOLEUM | [133] |
| XV | THE LAST BIRTHDAY PARTY | [142] |
| XVI | THE NEW NURSE | [150] |
| XVII | "SHIFT, WARRY" | [167] |
| XVIII | WINDING UP | [176] |
| XIX | THE TRIAL | [182] |
| XX | CONCLUSION | [187] |
| WALT WHITMAN'S MONUMENTS, BY GUIDO BRUNO | [195] | |
| WALT WHITMAN SPEAKS | [207] | |
| INDEX | [225] |