Whitman A Study   By: John Burroughs (1837-1921)

WORKS. 14 vols., uniform, 16mo, gilt top, $17.10; half calf, $34.10; half polished morocco, $37.45.

WAKE ROBIN.

WINTER SUNSHINE.

LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.

FRESH FIELDS.

INDOOR STUDIES.

BIRDS AND POETS, with Other Papers.

PEPACTON, and Other Sketches.

SIGNS AND SEASONS.

RIVERBY.

WHITMAN: A STUDY.

THE LIGHT OF DAY: Religious Discussions and Criticisms from the Standpoint of a Naturalist.

Each of the above, $1.25.

LITERARY VALUES. A Series of Literary Essays.

FAR AND NEAR.

WAYS OF NATURE.

Each of the above, $1.10, net . Postage extra.

WAYS OF NATURE. Riverside Edition. 12mo, $1.50, net . Postage extra.

FAR AND NEAR. Riverside Edition. 12mo, $1.50, net . Postage 11 cents.

A YEAR IN THE FIELDS. Selections appropriate to each season of the year, from the writings of John Burroughs. Illustrated from Photographs by CLIFTON JOHNSON. 12mo, $1.50.

WHITMAN: A Study. Riverside Edition. 12mo, $1.50, net .

THE LIGHT OF DAY: Religious Discussions and Criticisms from the Standpoint of a Naturalist. Riverside Edition. 12mo, $1.50, net .

LITERARY VALUES. Riverside Edition. 12mo, $1.50, net . Postage, 11 cents.

WINTER SUNSHINE. Cambridge Classics Series. Crown 8vo, $1.00.

WAKE ROBIN. Riverside Aldine Series. 16mo, $1.00.

SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR BEARERS. Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.00. School Edition , 60 cents, net .

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY BOSTON AND NEW YORK

[Illustration: WALT WHITMAN]

WHITMAN A STUDY

BY JOHN BURROUGHS

BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge

Copyright, 1896, BY JOHN BURROUGHS.

All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

PAGE

PRELIMINARY 1

BIOGRAPHICAL AND PERSONAL 23

HIS RULING IDEAS AND AIMS 73

HIS SELF RELIANCE 85

HIS RELATION TO ART AND LITERATURE 101

HIS RELATION TO LIFE AND MORALS 169

HIS RELATION TO CULTURE 205

HIS RELATION TO HIS COUNTRY AND HIS TIMES 229

HIS RELATION TO SCIENCE 249

HIS RELATION TO RELIGION 257

A FINAL WORD 263

" All original art is self regulated, and no original art can be regulated from without; it carries its own counterpoise, and does not receive it from elsewhere. " TAINE.

" If you want to tell good Gothic, see if it has the sort of roughness and largeness and nonchalance, mixed in places with the exquisite tenderness which seems always to be the sign manual of the broad vision and massy power of men who can see past the work they are doing, and betray here and there something like disdain for it. " RUSKIN.

" Formerly, during the period termed classic, when literature was governed by recognized rules, he was considered the best poet who had composed the most perfect work, the most beautiful poem, the most intelligible, the most agreeable to read, the most complete in every respect, the Æneid, the Gerusalemme, a fine tragedy. To day something else is wanted. For us the greatest poet is he who in his works most stimulates the reader's imagination and reflection, who excites him the most himself to poetize. The greatest poet is not he who has done the best, it is he who suggests the most; he, not all of whose meaning is at first obvious, and who leaves you much to desire, to explain, to study, much to complete in your turn. " SAINTE BEUVE.

WHITMAN

PRELIMINARY

I