202 BIRDS AND POETS 



that even tlie animals found fellowship with him, 

 and the pigs understood his great heart. 



It was the large endowment of Whitman, in his 

 own character in this respect, that made his services 

 in the army hospitals during the war so ministering 

 and effective, and that renders his "Drum- taps" the 

 tenderest and most deeply yearning and sorrowful 

 expression of the human heart in poetry that ever 

 war called forth. Indeed, from my own point of 

 view, there is no false or dangerous tendency among 

 us, in life or in letters, that this poet does not offset 

 and correct. Pret and chafe as much as we will, 

 we are bound to gravitate, more or less, toward this 

 mountain, and feel its bracing, rugged air. 



Without a certain self-surrender there is no great- 

 ness possible in literature, any more than in religion, 

 or in anything else. It is always a trait of the 

 master that he is not afraid of being compromised 

 by the company he keeps. He is the central and 

 main fact in any company. ITothing so lowly but 

 he will do it reverence; nothing so high but he can 

 stand in its presence. His theme is the river, and 

 he the ample and willing channel. Little natures 

 love to disparage and take down; they do it in self- 

 defense ; but the master gives you all, and more than 

 your due. Whitman does not stand aloof, superior, 

 a priest or a critic: he abandons himself to all the 

 strong human currents; he enters into and affiliates 

 with every phase of life; he bestows himself royally 

 upon whoever and whatever will receive him. There 

 is no competition between himself and his subject; 



