"LEAVES OF GRASS."
By Walt Whitman.
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Abraham Lincoln's law partner, William H. Herndon, purchased a copy of this work when it first appeared, (1855) and took it to the office, where it occasioned much discussion, according to Henry P. Rankin in "Intimate Character Sketches of Lincoln, pages 54 to 57.
"As we talked about Whitman, marked differences of opinion arose. ** After awhile, Lincoln, whom we had supposed not to be listening, arose and took up the book. ** That was the first time he had seen Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." Lincoln read and turned the pages leisurely. Evidently he was enjoying them. After some time he did an unusual thing. He began to read aloud without having made any comment before doing so. He continued from poem to poem with growing relish. ** The emphasis he gave to certain passages in "Leaves of Grass" interpreted many meanings and beauties in the text which the rest of us had not discovered," etc.
When Herndon gave up his law-office, he made a general clearing of books and papers that he thought were no longer of value or interest to him, tossing the material in a heap in one corner of the room. This material was gleaned through by Maj. Alfred Orendorff, who succeeded Mr. Herndon as tenant, and among the treasures found was this first edition edition of "Leaves of Grass" with Herndon's signature on the fly-leaf. Years ago, Maj. Orendorff showed me the book and related how it came into his possession.
