
overlooking the sea on this
bright warm day Dec 25, '88 Dear Friend:—
Merry Xmas yrself !
You are prolific in surprises these days! The Complete Whitman is a great surprise. It dwarfs everything else. That wonderful title page I look at & look at, & can't seem to get dovetailed into my mind. —it is so original—unique, & full of speaking life.
I had a good time yesterday (an exciting warm dash here & there) in Boston while
getting the books to their respective destinations. Please don't mention the express ch'g . it was only—trifle & I want you to let me pay it please. You will have
heavy postage on so many others of yr 150. Have the other 450 McKay's imprint? I left Baxter's on his office
table, & he got it shortly, although I did not succeed in seeing him. Garland's I left with Baxter, having previously verified him
(Garland) to be on the lookout. (He had a col. & ½ piece in Herald on single tax (Hen. Georgeism)
yesterday. Sanborn, since his loss of the state inspectorship of Charities
office, has a table & chair at 141 Franklin St. (Geo. H. Ellis's printing & pub. house). I left his book on his table in charge
of good hands. I afterwards took a long walk down to 191 Commonwealth Ave, but found
that
Mrs Fairchild
cd see no one, owing to one of her children having the measles—a
catching disease or ailment. I was disappointed as I wanted to chat with her abt her visit to England.
Mrs K's pleasant proof-room is at Geo. H. Ellis's; & as I happened down there to see Sanborn at 12 o'c. we, (wifey & I), went out together & got a good dinner on Atlantic Ave. where we cd glimpse the sparkling sea, & see the foreign masts right at hand across the street.
My day had a sad ending. A man right by me in a crowd at Fitchburg R.R. station tried to jump aboard train—partially intoxicated I tho't —fell under the wheels, had his foot cut off, & otherwise, probably fatally injured. It was the first bad accident I had ever witnessed (strange to say), & it made me sick, haunted me all the evening & night. I tho't of you & your hospital work, & realized for the first time the awful strain it must have been on you nurses & visitors. Such is the web of our life—joy & sorrow in rhythmic alternation.
Please give my very special congratulations to Traubel anent this big volume (for I suppose he helped some). And give my regards to your Canadian nurse-friend. Wife sends love & remembrances.
affec. W. S. Kennedy(write again soon if you can.)