Munsey's Magazine, November 1895

About this issue

This issue of Munsey's Magazine (November 1895) features two substantial pieces. The lead article by James Creelman profiles American portrait painter J. J. Shannon, focusing on his rise from humble Canadian beginnings to prominence in London's society. Creelman details Shannon's work at South Kensington, his London residence near Holland Park, and his portrait commissions from English nobility including the Duchess of Portland and various peers. The essay includes descriptions of Shannon's working method, his materials, and his completed works alongside reproductions of his paintings. Following this is an unsigned biographical essay titled "The Good Gray Poet," examining Walt Whitman's literary legacy. The piece discusses Whitman's unique position in American letters, the controversy surrounding Leaves of Grass, contemporary critical responses ranging from vituperation to praise, and significant figures' evaluations of his work. It includes the text of Emerson's celebrated 1855 endorsement and mentions Robert Ingersoll's involvement with Whitman in his final years.