The Walt Whitman Archive
Commentary
Disciples
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Thursday, October 23, 1890
Left home at about 7:25 to join Bucke at Broad Street. Met Law on the cable, en route. He much elevated by Tuesday's event—thinking it the greatest he had ever shared. Took 8:12 train. Day very gloomy and dark. Travelled all day, arriving about 10:20 at Clifton House, Niagara Falls, where we put up and had supper. Went to bed in sound if not sight of the great panorama of waters. It had rained—poured—persistently. Bucke had "Leaves of Grass," which we read intermittently. Just before I left I had received autograph copy of Ingersoll's address. This with us and enjoyed, too. Baker had promised to send. Discussed Whitman affairs. Bucke described tomb—thought W. would probably spend $2000 upon it before through. Bucke dwelt upon W.'s good condition, though the really poor chances of his long life. The chances of a strong man of his years not high—in W.'s condition the chances lessened. The end not unlikely to come from heart failure. Two things which puzzled us two years ago when W. seemed like to die—then much debated by his friends—where he should be buried and whether Ingersoll could decently be invited to speak with others, at his
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funeral—now settled by W.'s own action. We felt the relief of this. Many such things interchanged.