The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-01-20
PROFESSOR FELTON'S ANECDOTE OF
WASHINGTON IRVING.


lRv1Nas DREAD OF DINNER SPEECH
MAKING.
At the meeting of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, to notice the death of
Washington Irving, Professor FELTON,, of
Harvard College, delivered an eloquent
and genial obituary address, in which we
find the following "reminiscences Of Irving's
aversion to make dinner speech.
Allow me, Mr.. President, to recall two
or three little inciden is 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 1912
during The visit Of Charles Dickens to
New York. l had known this already
distinguished writer in Boston and Cam
bridge, and while passing some weeks with
my dear and lamented friend, Albert Sum.
ner, | renewed my acquaintance with Mr.
Dickens, often meeting him in the brilliant
literary society which then made New
York most agreeable resort. Halleck,
Bryant, Washington Irving, Davis, and
others scarcely less attractive by their genius
wit and social graces, constituted circle
scarcely to be surpassed anywhere in the
world. I passed much Of the time with
Mr.. Dickens, and it was delightful to wit
ness the cordial intercourse of the young
man, in the flush and glory Of his youthful
genius, and his elder compeer, then in the
assured possession Of immorta; renown.
Dickens said, in his frank, hearty manner.
that from his childhood he had known the
works Of Irving, and that before he had
thought of coming to this country, he had
received a letter from him, expressing the
delight he felt in reading the story of
Little Nell, and from that day they had
shaken hands autoyraphicully across the
Atlantic. Great and varied as was the
genius of Mr.. Irving, there was one thing
he shrunk with comical terror from at
tempting, and that was q dinner speech.
A great dinner, however, was to be given
to Mr.. Dickens in New York, as one had
already been given in Boston; and it was
evident to all that no man but Washington
Irving could be thought Of to preside
With all his dread Of making a speech, he
was obliged to obey the universal call andto
accept the painful pre-eminence. I saw
him daily during the interval of prepara-
ton, either at the lodgings of Dickens or
at dinner or evening parties. hope I
showed no want of sympathy with his
forebodings, but l could not help being
amused with the tagic-comical distress
which the thought Of that approaching din
ner caused him. His pleasant humor
mingled with the real dread, and played
with the whimsical horrors of his own po-
sition with an irresistible drollery. When
ever it was alluded to his invariable answer
was, 4 shall certainly break down !'-ut-
tered in half melancholy tone, the ludi.
crous effect Of which it is impossible to des.
cribe. He was haunted as ifby night
mare, audIacould only compare bis dismay
to that Of Mr.. Pickwick ~ho was so alam-
ed at the prospect of leading about that
dreadful horse all day. At length the
long expected evening arrived company
of the most eminent persons from all the
professions and every walk of life, were
assembled, and Mr.. Irving took the chair
l had gladly accepted an invitation, how
ever, on condition that should not be called
upou to speak-a thing 1 then dreaded
quite as much as Mr.. Irving himself. The
dlreiul compulsion Of life have since helped
me to overcome, in some measure, the post
prandial fright.
Under the circumstances-an invited
guest with no impending speech, sat
calmly and watched with interest the i'm.
posing scene. l had the honor to be
placed next but one to Mr.. Irving, and
the pleasure of slaringin in his conversation
lie had brougt The manuscript of his speech
and laid it under his plate. i sha, cer-
tainly break down. lie repeated over and
over again. At last the moment arrived.
MIR. Irving rose, and was received with
deafening and long continued applause,
BY nc means lessening his apprehension.
He began in his pleasant voice ; got through
two or three sentences pretty easily; but in
the next, hesitated, and afihr o,e or two
attempts, gave it up, with a graceful aIlu-
sion to tho tournament, and the troops Of
knights all armed and eager Tor the fray,
ended with the toast, Charles Dickens,
the guest Of the nation sThere,' said he;
as he resumed bis seatSuuder d repetition II
the applause which had saluted his rising,
there, I told you should bresk down, aud
I've done it, 2S,SS3M ''s..i ~ -.
There certainly never was made shorter
atter:dinper speech; ] doubtitthere ever
was q noressuccessful one. The manu-.