Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-05-30
MISCELLANY.
WASHINGTON IRvING's STYLE.

writings OF this eminent man, appeared
some time since, in the North Ameri-
can Review. Ii was from the comDe-
tHnt pen of Governor Everett, and mains
tanned, we remember, that the style of
the author Of the Sketch. Book was more
pure than that Of any living English or
other writer. and worthy to be compar-
ed and estimated with Goldsmith. Steele,
and the best Of the English classics. The
Edinburg Review has re peatedly ex.
pressed the same opinions and they
have been recently called to mind, by
the delightful articles which Mr.. Irving
IS contributing TO the pages of the Knick-
erbocker Magazine. He has three or
four in the number Of that popular Pc
riodical for May, which serve 10 show
that the rich graees OF his style spring
from an exhaustless fountain. Beauti.
fully as he has always written, quota.
ton or two from the articles IN question.
will show, that he, at least, can sexcel
himself" Take the following picture
Of the American Boblink, which is con.
tanned in his birds Of SPRING" tissues
ceeds an equally charming description
of the season at which the bird arrives ::
"This is chosen season Of revelry of
the Boblnk. He comes amidst the pomp
and fragrance of spring; his life seems
all sensibility and enjoyn ent all song
and sunshine. He is to be found in the
colt bosoms Of the freshes, and sweetest
meadows; and is most in song, when
the clover is in blossom. He perches
on the topmost twig OF tree, or ON
some long Haunting weed. and as he ri
SEES and sinks with the breeze, pours
forth succession Of rich tinkling otes,
crowding one upon another, like the
outpouriug melody of the sky lark, and
possessing the same rapturous character
Sometimes he pitches from the summit
OF tree, begins his song as soon as he
gets upon the wing, and flutters tremu.
!ously down to the earth, as if overcome
with ecstacy by his own music. Some>
times he is in pursuit of his paramour :;
always in full sobg, as if he could win
her by his melody, and always with the
same appearance Of intoxication and de-
light"
In describing to the readers of the
knlckerbocker his first visit to Sleepy
Hollow in company with the renowned
DiedTich, whose name the Magazine
bears, he gives US the following, and a
more perfect sketch never came from the
writer's pen
The genins Of the place seemed TO
hail It's future historian. All nature was
alive with graduation. The quail whis
tied greeting from the orn-feG the
robin carfolled song ofprsise from the
orchard :: the loquacious catbird flew
from bush to bush, with restless wing
proclaiming his approach in every vari-
ETY. OF note, and anon would whisk a.
bout, and perI in9uisitively liz his face
as ii to get a knowledge of his physiog.
Monty; the woodpecker, also. tapped
tattoo on the hollow apple tree, aud then
peered, knowingly round the trunk, to
see how the great Diedrich relished his
salutation while the ground squirrel
scampered along the fence, and occa-
sionaliy whisked his tail over his head
by way Of huzza
The same characteristics are observa.
bic IN another passage. How mapy
modern hoveiists would have written
page alter page, to depict this simple
scene
"But have said enough of the
good old times of my youthful DAYS let
me speak Of the Hollow as found it.
etter an absence Of many years, when it
was kindly given me once more to re.
visit the haunts of my boy hood. TWAS
a genial day, as approached that fated
region. The warm sunshine was tenn.
pered by slight haze, so as to give a
dreamy effect TO the landscape. Not a
breath of air shook the foliage. The
broad TaPpan Sea was without ripple,
and the sloops with dropping sails, sic pt
on its CLASSY bosom. Columns of smoke.
from burning brushwood, rose lazily
from the folds of the hills on the oppo.
site side Of tie river, and slowly ex-
banded in mid air. The distant lowing
of COW, or the noontide growing of a
cock, coming IaiDtly to the ear, seemed
10 illustrate, rather than disturb, the
drowsy quiet of the scene"
Human nature, and domestic scenes
are alike happily placed before us.
Stance, for instance at this picture of
the interior of Sleepy Hollow Church =:
LAS the dominic generally preached
by the hour, bucket of water was
providently placed on bench near the
door, in summer, with tin cup beside
Ut, for the solace OF those who might be
athirst, either from the heat of the wea,
Their, or the drought Of the sermon.
Around the pulpit, and be-
hind the communion table, sat the elders