The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-08
w ashington Irving,

Ger writes rs fo"ws Of Washington Irving ::
".Is t" his life Of Washington" which had been
$" long expected hv the public, and which was
announced contrary TO l,ise wishes, and had
%iven him great annoyance, he said he hardly
believed he w"ulI ever have sent it to press
lie loved the subject and thought first of writing
such n work twenty years ago. But so many
able men had written upon it he ti,! not bclicv c
he could say anything new. Many people said
he ought to write il, hu. why should hc7 Ten
Years ago he had the work all written, in chan
I tiers, 10 the Inauguration of Washington rs
President, and he cnuld finish il now in a few
days.-But it did 40, suit him, and lie really
expected to put it i'll the fire some of,l,csc days
lie "u"ht to have commenced it forty Years ago.
All that he could hope to do that would be new
was TO weave into his narrative what incidents
ht could obtain Of Il private and personal char
nctcr.-llc supposed some people thought it
very foolish for him to be writing any book at
his time Of life, now that he was seventy years
old, but the subject was intensely interesting to
him, and he wished to write it for his own era
tificat"n. lie might not live to complete it..
but he would try what he could do. lie must
be doing something he could not he idle
| With regard TO the Washington papers in the
! Department Of State, he said lie had found in
them very little worth printing Which had not
already been published.
'Mr. lrvings main Object in visiting Arling-
ton was to gather items Of personal information
about Washington. Mount Vernon he was al
really familiar with and counting much upon
| an interview with Mr.. Custis lie was not dis.
! appointed. The name and character of Wasll-
inst"n he seems tolovc and admire with inten-
sity he looks upon him special gift from God
to this country, and have not heard our great
authorspeak of our great general without emo
ton. lie says that every American should be
| proud of the memory Of Washington, and
| should make his example and his wonderful
| character continual study Our mutual
friend OF the Arlington house, with his wife, re.
ccived Mr. Irving with every manifestation OF
regard, and after the true, opcn-hand and open-
hearted Virginia fashion. The pictures, the
books, and the furniture relies from Mount
| Vernon Were all exhibited, and it seemed to ME
that Mr.. Gusts was particularly happy in ex.
! pressing his 'r:collcctons Of the chief" which
! you oil remember is Il pet phrase ofour friend
Bnt Mr.. Irving had hims If seen G en- era} W ash.
! IEgton. lie said there was some celebration
! gong on in New York, and the General was
there to participate i'll the ceremony. Sss.M y
nurse, continued Mr.. Irving, "a good old
| Scotchwoman, was very anxious for Inc to see
HIM, and held me up in her arms as he rode
past This, however, did not satisfy. her; so
the next day, when walking with me in Broad.
way, she cspied him in shop y she seized my
| hand, and darting in. exclaimed in her bland
Scotch: "Pleasc, Your cxccllency, here's q
BARN that's calednftcr ye!' Gen Washington
then turned his bencv volcut face full upon me,
smiled, laid his hand upon my head, and gave
Inc his blessing, which, added Mr. Irving earn
estiy,"l have reason to believe has attended
me through'life. was but five years old, vet
can feel that hand upon my head even nowr'
IpE MEMPHIS CELEBRArIoN.-The Railroad
onbilce Mt NleInphis, on the LIST and I'd of Nav
lnsaoInnemoration of the completion of the
3sh"rleston and Memphis Railroad, promises to
| be one of the largest and most imposing Assem-.
blages ever convened in the Southwest, Stronp
delegations Will be present from Tennessee.
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas,
md North Carolina, Missouri and Louisiana
wilkalso have deputations. Charleston. as in
ddiy bound, will be fully represented, and the
delegation will eomprissssome of our most
distinguished and influential citizens We are
glad to learn, also, that the, Fire Department
will be 1lionorably represented, the Phoenix
Fire Company having determined to partici.
pate in the ceremonies that interesting oc-
casion, and thsffs5sglne, she Oldest one IN ser,
vice in Charleston, will be tho medium through
which the winters Of Charleston llarbor will he
made tosmingle with those ofthe Mississippi.
.s----s.-S---
The HosiTaoMxs II. BEsros.-A correspon.
deptef, the BlHalo Republic tellsa good one
about the talkative old gentleman who "nev.
erleetfres fofriopey.", He was going down
the hudson onsastsaner not long since, and
when the CLERK Of the boat asked him for his
name thee oidna6 replied: 'sir, YOU have
heasden,y name ofts1s it is eohimen, sis .hsrsL
abort4"s The clerlsstiil looking at him, Mr.
:Be eontinned, my nahisis ,Benton." Thomas
H. sBentSdT st'Sea, sr4ss The Solsrass tTswsa
politely .spnssing the .tnohsy back, andsskshdsd
Mr.. .. a tick tend Key 70 state fsMr.
Basaid, This is ciyihty II had dshepsd, To- en-.
cape here" He concluded, however, did diss
cretiapswss the better part Of yalor, fy takihg
fl,n Il L., - ~