Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-02


Beekman street. In March, 1898, he left
school, but continued private lessons from the
same teacher at home. He prepared for Co.
lumba College, but was prevented from enter
ing on account of i'll health. At the age of
sixteen he entered his name as student of the |
law in the office Of Josiah Ogden Hoffman, who
was afterwards judge of some Of the principal
tribunals of the State of New York. 1t was
while engaged in his professional studies that
he first made his name known as an author
William Irving, some seventeen years older
than himself, and DR.. Irving his brothers had
established daily paper, the Morning Chroni-
Gle, to which Irving contributed several essays
bearing the signatures OF Jonathan Oldstyle.-
In 1904, having reached the age of twenty-one,
and being alarmed by weakness of the chest,
he visited Europe. At Rome he formed the
acquaintance of Washington Aston, the pain
ter, who has since made his mark on the shores
of time. The enthusiastic artist almost per-
suadcd Irving to become painter too but
happy is it for posterity that, though almost
yielding, he chose to take up the pen in prefer
encc to the brush. In 1906 he returned home
and was admitted to practice an attorney-at-
law; but although he opened an Office, he never
could he called practitioner. "He began tie
gear 1907 with the earliest Of those literary la
bors which have won him the admiration Of the
himself his brother William and James Paul
ding, appeared on the 9Th of January Soon
after appeared his history of New York in
which, more than in all his other works, eve
are conscious of a flavor of the olden time, us
Of racy wine of some rich vintage
"Cooed long age in the deep deved earth"
In 1910 he preiaced the writings Of Campbell
with memoir of that poet. In 1913 and II
he edited the Analytic Magazine, to which Paul
ding, Nerplanck Barlow the poet, and other
distinguished Americans contributed During
this time and the date of the publishing of the
Sketch Book, an event took place that marked
his future life and the character of his writings.
He had become attached and engaged to young
lady who died unwedded in the bloom of life.
He never forgot his first love, and the pure
flame, fed with sweet remembrance and famed
By sighs, burned brightly till his death. have
seen it stated that after his death well worn
Bible was found on his table within reach of his
bedside bearing the name of her whose image
was so indebly written in his hear, his con-
stant guide in his journey through life. In
1915 when once more the Eagle grasped the
Lions paw in peace, he settled at Liverpool
where there was branch of the large CONNER
cial house in which he was partner. His me-
moir of Campbell gained him the friendship of
the poet who gave aim letter of introduction
to Scott, whose esteem he had already gained
by his writings. With both Of these he spent
some time in his rambles through Scotland.-
| He also travelled in England and Wales. Scott,
in thanking Campbell for this introduction of
Irving to him, said He is one OF the best and
! peasantest companions that | have met with
ia many days" In 1919 he began to publish
the Sketch Book in numbers. In 1920 he went
to Paris where he met Moore, who in his diary
speaks with amazement OF the rapidity with
which he composed Bracebridge Hail. a volume
| of l30 pages. in ten d vs. In 1922 he was at
Dresden. This year he published "Bracebridge
Hall" In 1923 he returned to Paris, and in
the next year published his "Tales of Travel
| lcr." In the latter Prr. of tho yoar he went tn
Madrid, at the invitation Of our minister, Alex
ander ii. Everett. The winter of 1926 he passed
there as the guest of Mr. Rich, the American
Consul. The following season he spent in Gra-
NADIA. In 1929 he was again in the South OF
Spain. In 1928 "'rhe Life and Voyages OF
Christopher Columbus" was published. In Ju-
! ly 1929, he was appointed Secretary of the
American Legation at London. In 1881 "The
Voyages of the Companions of Columbus" and
in 1882, "Alhambra" were published. In 1882
Irving returned to New York Of course we
have all heard or can imagine the Joy with
which the child of the Muses. was received
After reaping the laurels of the Old World, he
preferred a wreath whose leaves had sprung
forth under the sky where he first saw light and
were woven by the hands of his countrymen.-
Already this wreath had been prepared in anti
cpaion of his return. In 1885 appeared his
"Tour on the Praries." and the first volume OF
his "Crayon Mscclanies' The second volume
was "Abbottsiord and Newstead Abbey" and
aiterward he added third, the legends Of
the Conquest of Spain" astoria was pub
lished in 1886, and the adventures of Captain
Bonneville" in 1887. In 1889 and 40. he wrote
articles for the "Knickerbocker.' afterwards
collected under the title of "Wolfert Roost,
the ancient name of his residence where the,
were mostly written. In 1912 he went tc
Spain as American Minister. On returning ir
1916, Irving settled at Sunnysdc on the Hud
son River. Here he wrote the Life of Oliver
Goldsmith and in 1850 appeared the Lives
of Mahomet and his Successors"
But of Wolfert Roost, now Sunnyside, LEI
us not name without taking glance at the most
beauteous part of the grandest river of the world
In the midst of "'rhe Highlands" the house i,
situated on pretty lawn whose tender blade
of grass reflect the glorious rays of the sun al
the day long. This lawn terminates with the
rivers bank, which though precipitous, is drapet
with foliage and along whose base winds thu
road DER which Vulcans horse with rushing
roar endeavors to compete with never tirins
time. On this road breaks the force of The
Hudson's flowing tides which are here restrain
ed and opposed by the lofty Highlands, who's,
brows, towering to the sky, seem to look dowr
in majestcal scorn on the works of man. O'el
the bosom of the mighty river, the sons Of Nep
tune in their white winged crafts, are eithe
waited by summer zephyrs, driven hurriedly b,
the spring and autumn breezes, or, disregardinl
the rage of Eolus, divide the waters with th'
steamboats, prov. Here it was that this wand
erer of the civilized world this admirer of Ma
ture's beautous scenery, one who might portray
on paper the rustic of autumn's leaves, the bud
ding of the vernal day, the smile Of summer anC
the chilly blasts of winter, settled down to live
and die aye more, to cap his works with tn,
crowning work of all. 1t was now that Irving
undertook TO pay to his country that debt tina
he owed TO her as her greatest writer 1t was
now that after many summers had smiled or
his life, now that the Muses. had given him pow
er to charm the ear, now that by long practice
he had learned the perfect master of the pen
he commenced the task of recording the life
of our dearest champion, our greatest hero, The
father of our country. 1t was now that lik,
the setting sun, having passed his zenith ant
being about to set he seemed as if he had with