, 1861-02-16
LADY,S CITY MISSION.
Lecture OF Rev. 0. HI. Tlfraay.

Notwithstanding the extremely bad state Of
the weather aud the more wretched condi-
ton Of our streets and sidewalks, the lecture
Of Rev. O. II. Tiffany before the Lady's City
Mission, st tue First bethodist Church, last
evening, wills numeronsiy s..endcd. The f.
fort, viewed as q literary production and an IN
teresting resume Of the main points in the lie
of Washington Irving, Is the best delivered in
City the present season. a brief summary Of the
its main points, is ~ follows.
Washington Irving was not deeply real in
the classics, but he VIA student Of nature;
he understood the use OF the English language,
and he conquered for himself the good will Of
al where that language was understood. His
first work, the Sketch Book" gave him i'm
mediate reputation abroad, and 1t was the
wonder Of civilized Great Britain that among
the wilds Of America there could be found il
man so well versed in the Anglo-Saxon tongue,
and who could write It In such polished
style This book realized to its author, from
The great Murry, who Issued it, $500. Scott,
Soutby aud Byron have left record of the csti-
nation they held it In and their liking for its
author. "Bracebridge Hall'' clme next,
Irving then went abroad for materials for
his next work, "Alhambra-" In the sprin.
Of 1882 he returned to America, after an ali
sencc of seventeen years returned commend
his works. He was popular He stammercd
in 1lis speeches and would be kept in the back
ground. But people loved him the better.
Two reasons controlled him in his dctermi-
nation to Withdraw from nctiyo life. First
vas the desire he had so long cherished Of
writing the life Of Washington; and secondly,
although wifelcss aud chi1dless, lie had many
nieces whose care demanded his attention and
money. To the completion Of the former hc
looked forward IS the fitting close Of bis cx-
iste.ce. It was to be the labor of his life. He
wrote upon it until q complete invalid. What
In that work, united on the same page are per.
petnated the life Of the Father Of the Repub-
lie of these States, and the Father Of the Re-
public of Letters.
Lord Broughanl has commended 1rying's
many excelliDg beauties OF style. Edward Ey-
ing greater spirit and point His humor was
delicate and quaint and at the same time abun-
dantly poetic. His gravity was mingled with
simplest pathos. He knew how to touch tho
human heart, with fancy or with tears. There
WAS yet no bilious sarcrsm in bis wit. ALI
MAS pure and genial, abounding In sparkle and
soul His Won awil]c1 in '7Knicke1bocker
History Of New York; is a character not to be
equalled in the whole range Of American liter
ature.
The lecturer here read several cxtracts from
this inimitable history, rs specimens Of r.
frcm the "Sketch Book" relating the history
Of the burial Of the poor widows son in
country village, Us sample Of his pathetic
raEsag ges. These selections were well deliv-
cred
Irying's habits of study were peculiar, anu
he generally performed his best labors from
the houre Of morning till noon. He ate no
gross food-in fact ate little TOR n man of his
size aud general lstrcngth-and drank ten. Wine
he had upon his table at dinner, but he used
seldom and always eparingly. Though his
mind was most fresh and vigorous in the morn
literary employments we're all entertainments
to him, and he wrote when the glow OF thought
Was upon him. This may account for the even
character Of all bis works. But to write only
when the mind is aglow wonld never do for
editors Of daily papers. nor TOR ministers who
deliver two sermons q week. The lecturer
here remarked that this fact Of two sermons
Sunday might possibly account for the mdk
quality Of some of them,
The private character. Of Washington Irving
was that Of manlinessS and moral strength.
mingled with womanly tenderness. He was
dulged in controversies, never put himself for
ward to be noticed Of men. He had an inyst,
crate dread Of speech-making, and when, as
the first Of literateurs, lie was called upon to
welcome Charles Dickens at a public dinner,
he prophesied he should break down-and he
did Political affairs did not interest him, and
he often said that politics and drinking should
be classed as pernicious practiccs. he always
voted but no one knew how.
Several incidents Of personal character
were here related which we have not appeared
| in print, and We hays not space for them here.
lie was loved by oil the children in the
neishborhood, and they used to clip in before
service Of Sunday, in the country church, and
deck his pew with flowers. A prominent trait
WINS his love for his mother, and it is related
that but shortly before his death he paid visit
to the grave Of that mother. The scene OF
! that son weeping over the resting place Of the
parent was most elo4uently described by the
lecturer; the surrounding landscape WIS paint.
| ed in glowing language 1t would lie vain Tor US
tn attemDt to reproduce.