They most likely feared this North publisher would embarrass him or her as the away from their unorthodox ideas, specifically about slavery
Walt felt wondrously healthy when you look at the Brand new Orleans, finishing which concurred that have him a lot better than New york, but Jeff try tend to unwell which have dysentery, and his awesome illness and homesickness contributed to its increasing need to go back home. The final decision, though, is actually taken out of your hands of brothers, due to the fact Crescent people demonstrated exactly what Whitman entitled an effective «only 1 brand of coldness» towards the their brand new editor. Whitman’s sojourn within the This new Orleans lasted merely 90 days.
Once the Fowler sensed inside the shocks and indentations from Whitman’s direct, the guy shown particular amazement at that printer’s «large sized head» and detailed just how «couple men have got all the new personal thoughts while the good since you features
Their travels Southern area brought several lively paintings of brand new Orleans lifestyle as well as minimum you to poem, «Cruising the fresh new Mississippi at nighttime,» where in actuality the steamboat excursion becomes an excellent emblematic excursion out of existence:
It’s because if Fowler’s phrenological discovering gave Whitman qualification just like the a kind of best individual, higher inside the appetites however well-balanced from inside the demeanor, anybody as to what Fowler entitled a great «grand real composition» (Strict 1971, 105) and that match to become America’s poet
Toward July sixteen, 1849, the brand new creator, wellness master, and you will public reformer Lorenzo Fowler affirmed Whitman’s growing feeling of personal strength when their phrenological investigation of your own poet’s head resulted in a perfect-and also in some indicates some particular-breakdown regarding his reputation. Whitman right now thought highly when you look at the phrenology, this new training of one’s «bumps» towards the head to choose which ideas and you can properties have been really created and you may and that necessary after that work planetromeo comn. Fowler try a proper-recognized manipulator away from skulls, and regularly offered inspections and composed away his «maps regarding shocks» inside the New york workplace. About this style of day, the guy inserted their the fresh new consumer just like the «W. Whitman (Ages 30 Job Printer)» (Harsh 1971, 102). » If you find yourself Fowler’s focus on how much cash Whitman loved household existence and you can how much cash the guy planned to feel a spouse and you will dad and you may how he might build an excellent accountant appears greater of your mark, their almost every other attitudes was enthusiastic: You opt to fight with tongue and you can pencil rather than which have your fist . . . You are in facts extremely too open in certain cases and then have maybe not alway[s] enough restraint in the message . . . The sense of justice, off right and you can completely wrong was solid and you can look for much that is unjust and you may inhuman in the current standing off community. You are however, nothing lured to the new spiritual or devotional and you can has but absolutely nothing value having creeds otherwise ceremonies . . . You really have an excellent order out-of vocabulary particularly when thrilled. (Harsh 1971, 103-4)
Along with bolstering Whitman’s rely on, the good reading of your «bumps» into their skull gave him specific key language to own Departs off Grass. «Amativeness» and «adhesiveness,» phrenological terminology delineating affections anywhere between and you may one of the men and women, was especially important having him, and you may «adhesiveness»-the connecting of individuals of the identical sex-given Whitman that have a young term to have men-men love simultaneously whenever like terms were not effortless discover.
Whitman’s relationship that have Lorenzo Fowler along with his cousin Orson do confirm as from continuous strengths really to your 1850s. The newest Fowler brothers, through its sibling-in-laws Samuel Roentgen. Wells, went the company out-of Fowler and you will Wells, which could distributed the original version out-of Makes off Turf, upload the following anonymously, and gives a place in their company’s journal for example regarding Whitman’s earliest notice-studies out-of their book. Whitman perform later on work with Fowler and you may Wells due to the fact an effective bookseller so when a writer because of their Lives Illustrated magazine. As he sooner drifted besides him or her, the fresh effect of phrenology usually lived that have him: late in the lifestyle, Whitman admitted that «I absolutely need maybe not got of the phrenology stage yet ,» (WWC, 1:385). As he later on wrote in the «Track of Me» one to «my personal hands shelter continents» (LG, 61), he was nevertheless picturing himself just like the a kind of cosmic phrenologist, understanding the brand new slopes and you can valleys out-of continents to determine its revealing characteristics just as Fowler check out the nooks and you can crannies out of skulls. Whitman joined Fowler’s business since the an effective «printer ink,» but he remaining thinking out of big desires.