Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-04-05

The AcSeT6ockeT.-We nave IeCeiscu 'n9
February and March numbers Of this magazine,
and find in the hitter, an announcement that
Washington Irving 'has associated himself with
it as regular and prominent contributor" over
his old and we'll known signature "Geotry Ora
.gon" The reader will recognize the writer ofthe
.sSketch Book in the following paragraphs
taken from the Introductory No.
To THE EDITOR OF THE KNIcKERBocKER.
Sir | have observed that as man ad.
yances in life, he IS subject TO kind of pie
thora of the mind, doubtless occasioned by
the vast accumulation Of wisdom and
experience upon the brain. Hence
he is apt to become narrative and ad-
monitory, that is to say, fond OF telling
long stories, and of doing out advice, to
the small profit and great annoyance Of his
friends. As have great horror OF be.
coming the oracle, or. more technically
speaking. the bore Of the domestic cir.
Gle, and would much rather bestow my
wisdom and tediousness upon the world
at large, | have always sought to
cas- off inflicted divers gossipping volumes
upon the patience Of TIE public. am tired,
however, of writing volumes; they do not
afford exactly the relief | require; there is
too mach preparation, arrangement, and pa
rade, in this set form of coming before the
public. am growing too indolent and un.
ambitious for any thing that requires labor or
display. Ihave thought, therefore, Of se-
curing to myself a saug corner in some pc.
riodca work, where might, as j; were, loll
a, my ease in my elbow chair, and cha, so.
ciably wi h the pubic, as with an old friend,
on any chance subj j'ct that might pop into
my brain.
In looking around, 70, this purpose. upon
the various excellent periodicals with which
our country abounas, my eye was struck by
the title of your work-'The Knickerboc&-
err My hearl leapcd at the sight.
Dicdrich Knickerbocker, Sir. was one
of my earliest and most valued friends, and
the recollection Of him is associated with
some ofthe pleasantest scenes ofmy youth.
.ful days. To explain this, and TO show how
| came into possession of sundry Of his
posthumous works, which have from time
to. time given to the world, permit me to
relate few particulars Of our early inter,
course. give them with the more conf.
dence, as know t.s interest you take IN
that departed worthy, whose name and ETH.
gy are STAN .,ed upon your title page, and
as they viii be found important to The BET.
ter understanding and relishiug divers COM
n,mcaions may have 10 make 10 you.
My first acquaintance with inat great and
good man, for such | may venture 10 call
him, now that til, lapse Of some thirty years
has surrounded his name with venerable anti.
euiy, and the popular voice has elevated
iIm 10 the rank of the classic historians OF
wore, nv first acquaintance with him was
formed on the banks Of the Hudson. not far
from the wizard region of Sleepy Hollow.
He had come there in the course Of his re.
searches among the Dutch neighborhoods
for materials for his immortal history.
Here then, have set up my rest, sur.
rounded by the recollcctions of early days.
and the memen,os Of the historian Of the
Marha.oes, with ihM glorious river before
me, which flows with such majesty through
his works, and which. mas ever been 10 me
river Of delight.
thank God tha, was born on the oanks
OF the Hudson! | think it an Invaluable
advantage,o 10 be born and brought upin the
neighborhood of some grand and noble 90.
ect in nature a river, a lake, or q noun
tain. We make friendship with 1t, we in
a manner ally ourselves to i for life. tire
mains an object Of our pride and affections,
ralying point, TO call US home again after
all our wanierinss. sTho things which VIC
have learned in our childhood says an old
writer, grow up with our souls, and unite
themselves TO it, So it is with the scenes
among which We have passed our early
days; they influence the whole course of
our thoughts and feelings; and fancy |
can trace much of what is good and pleasant
my own heterogeneous compound, to my
arly com2anioaship with this glorious rv-
er. In the warmth Of nv youthful cnthu-
sasm. used to cloth it with moral a,trlb-
u.es, and almost 10 give it soul. ad.
mired its frank, bold, honest character its
noble sincerity and perfect truth. Here was
no specious, smiling surface, covering the
dangerous sand-bar or pertidous rock;
but a stream deep as twas broad, and bear.
ing with honorable fditn the bark that trus.
ted to its waves. gloried in its simple,
quiet, majestic, epic flow; ever straight
forward. Once indeed, it turns aside for
moment, forced from its course by opposing
mountains, but it struggles bravely through
them, and Immediately resumes its straight.
forward march. Behold, thought |, an en-
blem of good mans course through life;
ever simple, open, and direct; or if over.
powered by adverse circumstances, he de-
viate in:o error, it is but momen,ary