"He is always driving at me about that: is that what Calamus means ?--because of me or in spite of me, is that what it means?
I have said no, but no does not satisfy him.

[There is, however, no record from Symonds's side of any letter by Whitman to Symonds in this sense up to this date.] But read this letter--read the whole of it: it is very shrewd, very cute, in deadliest earnest: it drives me hard, almost compels me--it is urgent, persistent: he sort of stands in the road and says 'I won't move till you answer my question.' You see, this is an old letter--sixteen years old--and he is still asking the question: he refers to it in one of his latest notes.
He is surely a wonderful man--a rare, cleaned-up man--a white-souled, heroic character....

You will be writing something about Calamus some day," said W.[to Traubel], "and this letter, and what I say, may help to clear your ideas.

Calamus needs clear ideas; it may be easily, innocently distorted from its natural, its motive, body of doctrine." The letter, dated Feb.

7, 1872, of some length, is then reproduced.