The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-03
THE DAY BOOK.


par ticulars relating to the last hours of this
great man, and the circumstances attending
his death, must be profoundly interesting to
the public, we c0ndense a fallows, from the
New York Times of yesterday
1t is generally known to the friends and
admirers Of Mr.. Irving, throughout the
country, that his health has been in a failing
condition for a year past. An asthmatieal
difficulty, to which he has long been subject,
has, during this period, taken more seri-
Gus turn, and has been attended with occa-
sional paroxysms of difficult breathing, from
which he has suffered greatly, and which
have caused fearful apprehensions among
the members of his family. The worst eff
feet of this disease has been sleepless nights
that it has occasoned its victim. 1t is, in
fact, stated, that Mr.. Irving has not had
perfect nights rest in n year. The conse-
quence of this has been a complete prostra-
ton of nervous system and the gradual
breaking down OF constitution, already
weak from the natural niirmity of years.
But, in addition to this, Mr.. Irving has
been afflicted with another disease, not so
generally known to his friends, but which,as
the event has shown, was of a much more ia
tai character. 1t has long been the opinion
Of his medical adviser, DR.. Peters, Of New
York, that he was suffering from enlarge
ment of the heart. This conviction was some
time since impaired to Mr.. Irving, but, ow-
ing to the peculiar and uncertain character
of the disease, neither physician nor patient
entertained any immediate apprehension az
to the result. There can now, however be
no boubt, that this, ii not in part the
source OF the other ailment, was at least the
immediate cause of death. So we'll satisfied
are the physicians and family of Mr.. Irving
OF this fact that no post mortem examine
tion will be held.
About o}s o'clock he rose to retire, and
taking his leave of the company he assembled
the stairs alone to his bedroom. While up
pom the steps he met mis- nephew, Rev. Mr..
Irving, ceming down, holding in his hand
needle for sewing manuscripts. Mr.. Irving
accosted him in a playful manner, saying:
"Why, Pierre, what are you doing with a
needle?" and passed on to his room. These
were the last words he ever uttered. One
of his nieces, Miss Sarah Irving, had proceed
ed him to his room, and when he entered she
was engaged ia arranging his books so that
they would be convenient to access in his
hours of wakefulness during the night.
While engaged in this duty, she was startled
by noise as of some one choking, and turn
ing round she saw Mr.. Irving press bis left
hand to his heart and fall forwards. He
caught hold of table, in falling, and gra-
dually sank down on the floor. The noise
was heard in the parlor beloS, and in mo-
ment every member OF the household was
around him, but before any of them reached
him he had ceased to breathe.
The Labor Of Hahiay Hoops "A cores
pondent of the Hartford Times gives the fol
lowing curious facts respecting the manu-
facture of steel hoops for ladies' skirts, at
the mill Of Henry :. Wsshburn Of Worcest.
er, Mass;
He showed Us n specimen of No. 62 iron
wire, finer than 4 hair. 1t weighed only sew
en- ounces, and was 6s,900 feet, or ID miles,
Is rods, IL feet and inches in length! 1t
was drawn cold from piece of iron Il inch
in diameter. Mr.. Washburn manufactures
20, 900 yards day of steel crinoline, or fiat
wire, which is hard tempered and covered,
all ready for the ladies skirts. The manu-
factare of this kind of wire, of hoops, is im-
mense. Mr.. Washburn estimates that at
least 5000 Tors of steel and iron are used
annually in America and Mexico. 1t is sold,
when covered, at wholesale, at about fifty
cents, pound, and about three quarters of
pound is required for each. Indeed, we
suppose that his estimate of 5000 tons OF
hoops year is quite too low. There are, un-
doubtebly, ten millions OF females in this
country and the South American States who
wear hoops. Many of them wear out half
dozen skirts year; suppose the aysrag to
be three a year to each, and that the iron OF
each weights only half q pound-we have
5000, 600 of pounds of steel and iron hoops
used by the ladies of the United and South
American States every year, or 1852 tons
costing 81 100000.