rate training & experience, and iron work & metallurgy promising here to have such enormous developments, he would be sure to do well in the end; and meanwhile we could rub on together somehow. However, we shall see. I have laid the matter before him, he & his dear little wife wrote me a very brave, cheery letter when they told me the bad news--& I shall have an answer to mine, I suppose, by the end of the month. Kate Hillard read an amusing paper on Swinburne at a meeting of the Woman's Club in Brooklyn--& we had some fine music too. For the rest, I have not yet presented any introductions here. Have had some beautiful glimpses of the North & East River effects of the shipping at sunset, &c.--Have subscribed to the Mercantile library,--& are beginning to feel at home. Herby & Giddy had been to hear Mr. Frothingham this morning, & were much interested. Bee missed us sorely at first--but writes--when she does write, which is but seldom--pretty cheerily. Friendly remembrance to your brother & sister. I wonder where Hattie & Jessie are spending their holidays. Love from us all. Good-bye, dear friend. A. GILCHRIST. Had a letter from Mr. Marvin--all well--he is doing the Washington letter of a N. Eng. paper. Hopes & trusts you are really going to Washington. LETTER XLIV ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _112 Madison Ave. 14 Jan., '79._ DEAREST FRIEND: The pleasantest event since I last wrote has been a visit from Mr. Eldridge. We had a long, friendly chat that did me good. Saturday evening we went to one of Miss Booth's receptions--met Joaquin Miller there, who is just back from Europe--of course we talked of you. Mrs. Moulton too is hoping so you will come to New York during her stay here, which is to last a week or two longer. John Burroughs has just sent me a post card to say he has returned from a 3-weeks stay with his folks in Delaware Co.--that he hopes to come here soon--wants Mrs. Burroughs to come too & board for a month or so--wants also "Walt to come--& lecture"--but "Walt will not be hurried." Did I tell you that we found boarding here a young man, Mr. Arthur Holland, one of the family who were so very friendly to me & made my stay so pleasant both in Concord & Cambridge? He often comes to our room of an evening for an hour or two's chat, & by the bye, being connected with the iron trade he has been able to make some enquiries for me as to what Per's chances as a scientific metallurgist would be in this country--& I am sorry to say he thinks they would be very poor indeed. Prof. Lesley said the same thing; so it is clear I must not urge him to try the experiment, seeing he has a wife & child. Herby & Giddy both well. Love from us all. Good bye, Dear Friend. A. GILCHRIST. Friendly greeting to your brother & sister. LETTER XLV ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _112 Madison Ave., Jan. 27, '79._ MY DEAREST FRIEND: