Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-30
Deo,h on Vgashinaton Irvina

A deep shadow has fallen ON the sweet Sun
nyaide Of the Hudson, and with electric fight
ths raven wing has darkeaed the homes of the
ople Of the continent WASHINGTON IRINo,
Che telegraph briefly announces, is dead. lie
vas the genial, old school author, TO whom our
eountrymea owo an accumulated fund Of cxquis-
tie enjoymeht and delicious reeoleetions.--
hone of our eminent living authors had been
80 long before the public as lsuSe and no
other was closer knit to the American heart
lie began his career with the dawn of American
literature, and in his twentieth year gave the
public tho first Indication Of his rich vein of
lumor aud invention in the Jonathan Oldstyle
Letters 10 the Morning Chronicle, 1902. After
spending few years in European travel to re-
taperate his health, in 1906 he wrote the
sparkling papers IN salmagundi. and the sp
Jearance ofihe Kniclserbockcr, the Sketch Bool
lIrscsbrdge Hall, and Tales OF a Traveller,
stamped him as a universal f.vorte with the
reading world,
Mr.. IRyINa maintained his ascendency to the
end in his productions illustrative Of Indian life,
and his elaborate historical works, the Life Of
Columbus, History Of Mahomet, Biography of
Goldsmith, and his last and most valued dedi.
cation to his countrymen, The Life Of Washing
ton. Sunnyside, his charming retreat on the
Hudson, reflected more and more melowly the
setting sun, for fortune came with troops OF
friends TO cheer .he old Story-King in his un~
disputed realm II is stated that of Washing
ton Irving's works--exclusiye of the Life Of
Washington end Sketch Book-there have
been sold. within the last ten years,
twenty-five thousand sets of fifteen volumes
each. Of the Sketch Book thiIty-five thou
sand copies have been distributed and
of the Life Of Washington, forty two thousand
sets of Ave volumes each, at prices ranging
from seven dollars TO eighty five dollars per
set. This gives grand total of five hundred
and seventy five thousand volumes disposed o
since ls49. Mr.. Irving received es the reward
of his brain,wOrk, the snug sum Of scveutysfve
thousand dollars in the past ten years.
The habits Of Ms. Irving were those Of a
well educated gentleman-neither chcrishing
the retirement of the secluded student, nor
seeking prominence in public aii'tirs--hut oyeI
throwing charm over the social circles he ire
quented. His sole official honor was the ap-
pointment Of Minister to Spain, and this was a
tribute to literary emiDence rather than reward
of political services On his return from Eu
rope in 1892, after AN absence of nearly twenty
years, he was received with spontaneous and
hearty welcome by his fellowscitzens. Few
men Of mark have enjoyed the autumn matu.
rity and winter age OF life with SO few mists oil
envy and bitterness to cloud the purple splen,
dors Of his declining sun as Washington Ir
wing, and few memories will be longer or more
dearly cherished.
Mr. Irving's death illness must have beer
short. for the 'IIalf Hour at Sunny ysde" W,
copy from the last Independent, speaks of the
patriarch author cheerful aud hopeful
1t will be read with touching interest.