The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-05

On Thursday last, all that was mortal of
WASHINGTON Irving was borne to its last resting
place Seldom have mere private worth and
literary merit extortGd from the public sincerer
manifestations of its regard. Indeed, it gene
rally happens here that those only who have
batted for the foremost places, and noisily claimed
the worlds notice specially honored in their
obseques They usually pass to their graves &C
companied by martial music, and such pomp as
military and fremen's professions can furnish;
and these sights and sounds which are, for the
most part, inappropriate to the occasions, are, at
least, emblematic of the vanities and tumults
through which the heroes of the hour attained the
notoriety they mstool for fame. But when the
bells tolled in New York, and the flags dropped at
halcmast, because IRVING was dead, and the
Councils sent delegation to attend his funeral,
genuine manhood received an unaccustomed re-
cognition. He had possessed neither the power
the wealth that attracts partsans and parasites
and men had well nigh forgotten that he had ever
enjoyed high political preferment so unostenta-
tiously had he accepted and discharged its duties.
The tribute was solely to the virtues that had won
him the respect and the talents that had gained
him the afIectionae admiration of his countrymen.
The eulogy which, with such quiet dignity he
put away from him when living, need not keep
silence now since it can no longer offend him.
His reputation shines with no Fictitious lustre
but is as pure and bright as the character of which
it is the reflex. He was an unpretending gentle
man, an upright citizen, kindly and truthful
man, and consistent Chrisan-and of how
many of those whom he has left behind him
lattery? Had we known nothing of him
save what we might gather from his works we
should be at no loss 10 understand his moral as
well as his mental qualities. His genial nature
breaks out when, putting aside the old heroes who
have conquered Countries or "ganed laurels,"
or Furnished examples of hair Drained prowess,"
he declares in favor OF ''old JACK FALsTAFF," be-
cause che has enlarged the boundaries of human
'enjoyment; he has added vast regions of wit and
'good humor in which the poorest man may revel;
'and has bequeathed never-failng inheritance of
'.jolly laughter to make mankind merrier and bet
"ter to the latest posterity." The almost woman
ly tenderness with which he portrays the sorrows
of the 'poor widow who tottered after the coffin
of her only son, tells us something of his gentle
heart; and his solemn musings as his step shook
indicate soul that could rise high above the
things of Garth OF his writings we cannot speak,
for the space at our command is far too limited to
permit us to attempt even the briefest criticism.
We should like TO dwell at length on the pictures
lie has painted with It minute and delicate touch
that other hand is master Of We would be
glad to quote hundred examples of the pathos
with which whole pages are trimming, and the
exquisite humor that wrinkles through almost
every paragraph. The termagant wife of RIP VAN
WINKLE and the rosy KATRINA VAN TAssEL, we
could linger with again for hours and when we
left them it would be to look in at the log school
house upon ICHABoD CRANE, and that 'little
''tough, wrong-headod, broad-skrted Dutch ur-
''chin, who sulked and swelled and grew logged
''and suen beneath the birch" But it may not
be- We must refrain from referring further to the
pleasant volumes he has given Us, and take leave
of the author likewise. He has ended now his
peaceful and happy days among the friends he
loved and in the manner he would perhaps have
chosen. As he carried to the tomb the neigh
bors came from miles around to do him reverence,
and the learned, the gifted and the good, from far
and near, walked sorrowing beside his bier. His
grave SlduuS llitTu ny lle llllle country church,
place where, as he himself has sad the memory of
the dead is most likely 10 be perpetuated among
the survivors, because 'they pass it on their way
''to prayer it meets their eyes when their hearts are
'softened by the exercises of devotion; they linger
''about it the Sabbath, when the mind is olsen
gagged from worldly cares, and most disposed to
''turn aside from present pleasures and present
Gloves, and sit down among the solemn memen-
''toes of the past" 1t overooks the fair scenes Of
which he was so fond, and which his pen has now
made classic. For the name that he has left be-
hind him to grace our lands literature, and for
the spotless example his we'll spent life affords us,
we would pay him fitting homage. We have,
therefore, followed as it were with the funeral pro.
cession into that dark cemetery where his friends
have forever laid him.