Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-26
Irving's Dread of Dinner Speech Making.

ington Irving, Professor FELTON,, of Harvard
College. delivered an eloquent and genial
obituary address, in which We find the fol-
I lowing "reminiscences of lrying's aversion To
making dinner speech:
Allow ME, Mr.. President, to recall two
or three little incidents, that may serve
! to illustrate some of the aspects of his char.
acter The time when | saw the most OF
Mr.. Irving was in the winter of ISL, du-
ring the visit of Charles Dickens 10 New
York had known this already distinguish
| ell writer in Boston and Cambridge, and
while passing some weeks with my dear and
lamented friend, Albert Sumner, | renewed
my acquaintance with Mr.. Dickens, often
meeting him in the brilliant literary society
which then made New York 4 most asreea-
bic resort. Hallcck, Bryant, Washington
Irving, Davis, and others scarcely less at
trsctive by their geuius, wit and social sra-
ces, constituted a circle scarcely to be sur
passed anywhere in the world. passed
much of the time with Mr.. Irving and Mr..
Dickens; and it vas delightful to wit
ness the cordial intercourse OF the young
man, in the flush and glory of his youth
full genius, and his elder cumpeer, then
in the assured possession of immortal
renown. Dickens said. in his frank, hear
ty manner, that from his childhood he
! had known the works Of Irving; and that be-
fore ne thought of coming To this country.
I he had received "a letter from him. express
Ing the delight he felt in reading the story
Of Little Nell, and from that day they had
shaken hands u"foyraphicaliy across the At
| lantic. Great and varied rs was the genius
of Mr.. Irving. there was one thing he
Shrunk with comial terror from attempt
| ing. aud that WAS dinner speech.
4 great dinner, however, was TO be given
to Mr. Dickens in New York, as one had al
ready been given in Boston; and it was eyi-
dent to all that no man but Washington lrv-
ing could be thought otto preside. With all
his dread of making speech, he was obliged
tn obey the universal call and to accept the
painful pre-eminence. saw him daily dur
ing the interval of preparation, either at
the lodgings Of Dickens, or at dinner or
evening parties. | hope | showed no want OF
sympathy with his fogebodings, but ! could
not help being amused with the tragic-comlcal
distress which the though t of that approach
ing dinner caused him. His pleasant humor
mingled with the real dread. and played with
the whimsical horrors of his own position
with an irresistible drollery.
Whenever it was alluded to, his invariablc
answer was, 81 shall certainly break down"
uttered in half melancholy tone, the lu-
dicrnus effect OF which it is impossible to de-
scribe. He was haunted, as if by night.
mare, and | could only compare his dismay
70 that of Mr.. Pickwlck, who was so alarm
ed ut the prospect of leading about that
that dreadful horse" all day. At length
the long expected evening arrived; compa-
ny of the Most eminent persons, !ro.n all the
professions and overy walk of life, were as
sembled, and Mr.. Irving took the chair. |
had gladly accepted an invitation, making
it, however, Il condition that should not be
be called upon To speak--,a thing then
dreaded quite rs muoh as MIR. Living HIM
self. The direful compulsions Of life have
since helped me to overcome in some me,-
sure, the post-prandial fright. Under the
circumstances-an invited guest. with no i'm
pending speech. sat cslS,ly AMI watched
with !aterest The Imposing scene. | had
the honor to be placed next but one 10
Mr.. Irving and the pleasure of sharing in
his conversation. lie had brought tho manu-.
script of his speech aud laid it under his
plato. Il shall certainly break down." he
repeated over and over again. At last the
moment arrived. Mr.. Irving Tose, and was
received with deafen!ng and long continued
applause WHICH by no means lcssened his
apprehension. He began in his pleasant
voice, got through two OF three sentences
pretty easily; but in the next, hestatcd, and
after one or two attempts, gave it up with a
| graceful allusiun tu the tournament, aud the
troops Of knights all armed and eager for the
fray, ended with the toast, Charles Dickens
the guest Of the nation "lhele," said he.
as lie rJsGmrd his scat under repetition Of
the applause which had s.lluted his rising,
there, told you should break down, and
I've done it."
There certainly never was made shorter
after .dinner speech; doubt if there ever
was more successful one. The manuscript
seemed to be dozen or twenty pages; but
the printed speech was not a. many lines
suppose that manuscript may he still in
existence; and. if 80, wish it might be pub
ishel. Mr.. Irving often spoke with good
humored envy of the felicity with which
Dickens always acquitted himself on such oc-
casions. In the following spring, Irving
went to England, and being in London in
Nav, he was Of course invited to the
annual dinner Of the Literary Fund 81
ciety; but he was followed by the memory
of the Dickens dinner, and declined
One Of the most amusing pages in the dali
rs of Thomas Moore is the record of his
conversation with Irving on the subject, aud
the final success OF his endeavnrs 10 per-
suade him to 20. That Dickens dinner
says Moore, which he always pronounced
with strong emphasis, hammering away all
the time with his right arm. more Suo-that
Dickens dinner still haunted his Imagination,
and almost gave up all hope Of persuading
him" But he succeeded. He closes his
record with the philosophical reflection that
lit is very odd, that while some of the shah
lowest fellows 20 on 50 glib and ready with
the tongue. mGn whose minds are Astounding
with matter, should find such difficulty in
bringing it out found that Lockhart had
also declined attending the dinner, under
"a similar apprehension, and only consented
on condition his health should not be given. F"
The Medical Students.
Alta meeting of the medical students. held
in Richmond, lee I'D, the following reso-