I am ab't as usual—have just had my dinner, a slice of cold roast beef, & a couple of cook'd apples wh' I ate with relish—Dr Bucke has been here for a week—leaves this evening—H[erbert] G[ilchrist] is here—leaves 21st on the Germani[a]. Nothing very new with me in literary matters—or anent—I sent a little poem to Harpers—(Alden)—but it came back, refused—this is the 4th refusal within a few months, & I shall try no more.
Phila: is all alive with the Centennial U S Constitutional commemoration, & will be thro' the week—I have been pressingly invited, but cannot go—(A crowd & hubbub are no place for me)—Fine weather here for several weeks—cloudy & rainy this week, however—I enclose J A Symonds's note—(rather flat it seems to me)—also something ab't Ruskin—How ab't the W W Society? Anything new? Yes, I shall send you a copy of English ed'n "Spec: Days"—
Walt Whitman