Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-06-12
SSAY
Communicated for the Lewisburg Chronicle.
IRVING

times, few are regarded with more favor il
this country than WASHINGTON IRVING
while none perhaps arc deserving of greater
honor. True, there are others who in par
ticular fields Of literary effort far surpas
him. As an essayist aud historian, Macau
ley occupies higher position, and exhibit.
more rrofundity of thought and CORRECTNESS:
of opinion. OF the pocts,a Scott, Byron
-perchance Tennysou or Longfellow,
may captivate our minds, move and clici,
from US the acknowledgment of superior.
ity; and in the line of travel, a Bayard
Taylor or Curtis may especially deligh.
US; but nowhere, in the whole extensive
circle of literary men, can we find ono
whose writings are calculated to please
more generally, or are in reality more pop.
ular, than Irving's. 1t would be rs diff
cult to discover one who would refuse him
honor, as to find among the tottering hu-
man relics Of our Revolution one who does
not love and ycnerate the name Of "the
Father of bis Country" Every true heart
ed American is proud to claim him as his
follow citizen and were the custom of
ancient times still in vogue, many would
be eager to extend to him the laurel wreath
Of literary supremacy.
And we'll does be merit the many proofs
Of popular esteem, which he is constantly
witnessing in the extensive sale and wide
diffusion of his numerous works for who
does not revel in such descriptions of men
and scenery and events as his7 There is
life, a spirit in them, which can not fail
to rivet our attention, and, by giving full
play to the Imagination, interest it to the
highest degree. We are sensible of sort
of magical influence extended upon our
minds by his flowing, graceful style, and
are carried away with delight almost with
out knowing the cause. No sooner have
We taken up one of his volumes, than we
are convinced that tho author is no ordi-
nary man, but one surprisingly gifted by
Nature, deeply versed in the tendencies
and preferences of the human heart, and
skilled in the "ways and means" of arou-
sing the sluggish fancy. There is so much
animation in oil hio writ;.eo -so muSu
variety in the scenes-and, withal, a vein
of such quiet good humor, and witty, half
hidden satire, in the expression Of his
views, that to acknowledge that we are not
charmed by them, would be to confess that
we possess no taste for vivacity and beauty
in style. Even what arc usually eonsid-
cred the most ordinary subjects, when
clothed with the fantastic drapery Of his
pen, appear beautiful, and assume won
derful importance.
1t would be difficult to name work ca.
pable of producing more inward merrimens
even tho protesting to be wit.y-than
our authors "New York;" that master
piece of historical burlesque, which, how
ever much pleasure its production may
have afforded him, and its perusal may
render US, seems to have incensed the
aristocratic Dutchmcn of the New Neither.
lands to such an extent that he was COM
PEELED to undergo species Of exile for
several years. In the "Cohquest Of Gra-
nada," too, We discover Gn the occasional
observations Of the sage Agapida) trace
Of that same splendid satire which sparkles
upon every page of the "New York." and
runs through most Of his writings, forming
one of their most attractive features while
"The Alhambra" is brilliant effort of
his genius-sweet as the soft music of tho
guitar in the hands of q Spanish cavalier,
and yet lively as the click of the cassinet
at moonlight dance in the gardens Of
Granada.
1t would be folly to cnumcrate the vari.
GUS beauties Of style, matter, and language,
for which Irving's works-historical, bio.
graphical, and otherwise-are so justly
celebrated, or to add another word in tes-
timony of their general excellence. They
are conceded to be "bcyond criticism"
and the reviewer reads only to admire,
while his pen, to others usually 50 terrible
on account Of its fault finding propcnsities,
is laid aside in reverential courtesy. In
short, as Americans We have no writer to
whom VIC can look with stronger emotions
of pride, than to the hale old bachelor OF
Sunnyside, who has done more perhaps to
establish the litarary reputation which our
country enjoys, than any other man. T. c.
|
WHIsTLINa.-The man who don't be-
licve in whistling, should 60 step furth-
er, and put q muzzle on bobolinks and
mocking birds. Whistliug is great in
stitution. 1t oils the wheels Of care, and
supplies the place Of Sunshine. A man
who whistles has good heart under his
shirt front. Such man not only works
more willingly than any other man,
but he works more constantly. A
whistling cobbler will earn as much mon