Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-19
STAJTNTON VA WEDNESDAY, MARCH l9, 1901
A LETTER FROM WASHINGTON IRVING.

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON IRVIAGs
The following pleasant letter Of Renaissance was pub
shed in the Kndcrhook Sentinel which paper introduces
it as follows
"We have been favored with the perusa of letter re-
Gently written by Washington Irving his old friend Jes
Sc Merwin. of this tuwn-the vertabe 'Ichabod Crane,
whose name has been immoraized in Th Legend OF the
Seep Hollow Having been kindly permitted to transfer
this communication to columns, we cheerfuy do So
unwilling that our readers should be deprived OF the gra'
caon which we have derived from its perusal we trus'
that we shall not incur the dspeasure of the distinguished
writer in thus bringing him before the public, nor be con-
sdered as respassng upon the precincts OF unreserved W
vale epsoary intercourse AS for the old Admiral of 'he
Lake. of pscaory memory, the redoubabe John MOORE
we have no fears to entertain for the mention made OF him.
he having long since 'shued off this mortal co and his
sceptre having passed into other hands,"
sunny SIDE, Fec. IL, 1851.
You must excuse me, my friend Merwn, for suffering
your letter to remain so long unanswered Yon can have
no idea how many letters have to answer, besides tagging
with my pen at my own literary tasks SO that 1t is mpos
sbe for me to avoid being behndhand in my correspond
ence Your letter indeed most wecome-caling up as
did the recollection of pleasant scenes and pleasant days
passed together in times long since at Judge Van Nesss
in Kinderhook Your mention Of the death OF good old
Dominic Van Ness, recalls the apostolic zeal with which
he took our little sinful community in hands, when he put
up for day or two at the Judges and the wholesome cas-
,gaon he gave us all Sunday beginning with The Two
country bellies who uterng into the schoohouse d-
ring the Sermon decked in their city ney and end
ing with the Judge HIMSELF in the stronghold OF his own
mansion. How soundy he gave it to u.s. how he peeled
off every rag of seghteGusness with which we tried TO
cover ourselves and laid the rod the bareback OF
conscehces! The good plan-spoken, honest old man !
How honoured him for his simple, straghtforward earn
esness his howely sincerity He certainly handled us
without mens but trust we are all the better for it, How
different he from the brisk dapper, sesuicen little
apostle who cantered up the Judges door day or TWO
after who was so full of himself that he had no thought TO
bestow on our religious denquences who did nothing but
boast Of his public trials of skill in argument with rival
preachers of other denominations, and how he had driven
them off the field and crowed over them. You must
remember the bustling, selfconfdent little man, with
tin trumpet in the handle of his riding whip, with which
presume he blew trumpet in Zion
Do you remember fishing expedition in company
with Congressman Van Allen to the little lake few miles
from Kinderhook and John Moor, the vagabond admiral
of the lake. who sat crouched in heap in the middle OF
the canoe. in the centre of the lake, with fishing rods
stretched out in every direction like the long legs of sp
der? And do you remember piratica prank when we
made up for our bad luck in fishing by punderng his ca
noe of its fish, when we found it adr And do you re-
member how John Moore spashing along the marsh
on the opposte border of the lake. at u.s. and how
we finished our froic by driving of and leaving the Con-
cressmcn to John Moore's mercy tickling ourselves with
the idea of his being lped at least?
All, we'll a.day, friend Merwin, these were the days OF
our youth and folly trust have grown wiser and bet
ter since then; we certainly have grown older don't
think we could rob John Moore's now by the way
that same John Moore and the anecdotes you told OF him.
rave me the idea of vagabond character Drck Schuy
er. in nv Knickerbocker history Of New York, which
was then writing.
You tell me the old schoohouse is torn down and new
one built in its place. am sorry for it. should have
liked to see the old schoohouse more, where alter
NV mornings literary task over, used to come and
wait for YOU occasionally until school was dismissed, and
vou used to promise to keep back the punishment of some
little touoh broad bottomed Dutch boy until should come
for nv amusement but never kept your PROMISE don't
think should look with friendly eye on the new school
house, however nice it might be.
Since saw you in New York have had severe attacks
of bilious in ermen fever, which shook me terribly put
they cleared my SYSTEM and have ever since oeeh
in nv usual excelen, health, able mount my morse ana
raop about The country almost as brlskly as when was
youngs,er Wishing you the enjoyment Of the same IN
eslimabe blessing and begging you to remember me 10
your daughter who penned your letter. and 10 your son.
whom out of old kindness and companlonshp you have
named after me- remain ever, my old friend,
Yours, very truly and cordially,
WASHINGTON IRVING.