Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-05-08
THE REPUBLICAN.
THE Rove ROMANCE
WASHINGTON IRVING
NEW CHATTER IN LITERARY BIOGRAPHY

Much mystery has been attached to the
celibacy of Washington Irving. While
upon every other point of peculiarly of
the great writer's character snd career. his
familiar friends have tsken pains to inform
the wide circle of bis admirers, an aggra-
waiting rcticence has always met the ques-
tionings of those who were curious as to
why matriinony male no part of his expe-
risnce. There were occasional and very
vague references made to slang syne"
love-so dimly distant in the past. as to
havo The air OF tradition-and the manner
Of mentioning which made Irving appear
the model of eonstancy. IL not the hero Of
. romance. But the circumstances of his
bachelorhood remained o simple unex-
planned fact; the theme of many wonder
ings. the warp and wool of much imagin-
ing-nay more the substructure Of thou
sand sweet sympathies, outgushing from
other hearts, whose loves had not been lost
but gone before. 1t is doubtful if secret
Of the sort-al things considerea--was ev-
or before so carefully aud completely kept.
For once the impairment were held at bay.
the prying were banked. the sympathetic.
even discouraged. The set time for its
disclosure had not come. and surely when
his intimates and relatives were debarred
from the rcmotest reference to the subject
In the hallowed home circle of the literary
bachelor. it was but proper that the truth
should burst forth upon the world, il a. all.
in Irving's own selected time and in his
own pathetic Language.
II was while engaged In writing his
s'IIistory of New York" that Irving. then a
young man of twenty-six. was called to
mourn the somewhat sudden death Of Ma
tilda Hoffman, whom he had hoped to call
his wife. This young lady was the second
daughter of Josiah Ogden Hoffman. and
the Eister of those two talented men, Chas.
Fonno Hoffman, tn, poet, and Ogden Hoff-
man. the eloquent jurist. In. her father S
Office. Washington Irving had cssayed to
study law. and with every prospect. If inr
dustrious and studious. of partnership
with Mr.. Hoffman. as well as q matrimo-
nial alliance with Matilda. These high
hopes were disappointed by the decease OF
the young lady on the 26th Of April. 1909.
IN the 18th year of her age.
There is pathos about Irving's recital
oil the circumstances of her death. and OF
his own feelings. that is truly painful aud
tear impelling. He says:
''She was taken i'll with cold. Moth
ing was thought of il at first; but she grew
rapidly worse. and fell into consumption
cannot tell yon what suffered
saw her fade rapidly swsy-besuiful and
more beautiful. and more angelical to the
very last. was often by her bedside. and
IN her wandering state of mind she would
talk to me with sweet, natural and affect
ing elcqucnce that was overpowcling.
saw moro Of the beauty of her mind in that
delirious state than had ever known be-
fore. Her malady was rapid in its career.
and hurried her Off in two months. Her
dying struggles were painful and protrac-
ted. For three days and nights did no,
leave the house. and scarcely slept was
By her when she died: all the family were
assembled round Der. some praying. others
weeping. for she was adored by them ALL
iwss the last one she looked upon.
- | cannot tell You
what horrid state of mind was in for a
long timo. ! seemed to care for nothing;
the world was blank to me. Isbandon
ed all thoughts of the law. went into
the country. but could not bear solitude
yet could not enjoy society. There was 9
dismal horror continually III ray mind
tha. made me fear to be alone. / had oft
en- to get up in the night and seek the bed
room Of my brother, as if the having = hu'
man being By me would relieve me of ths
frightful gloom of my own thoughts
Months elapsed before my mind would re
sumo any tone; but the dependency suf
fered for long time, in tho course of th
attachment, and the anguish that ATTENDED
les catastrophe. seemed to give turn Z,
my whole character, and throw some cloud
into my disposition. which have ever since
hung about IL.
I sesmcd to drift about without aim or oh
iect, at the mercy Of every breeze .smy hear
wanted anchorage. / was naturally sus
cepti6le. and tried to form other attach
mcnts. but my heart would not hold on
il would continually recur to what it ha
lost; and whenever there was pause in
the hurry of novelty and excitement.
would sink into dismal detection. Flo
years could not talk on the subject Q
this hopeless regret; could not even mer
ton her name: but her Image was continr
ally before me. and ! dseamt of her ince'
sanity" ses
Such was the language in which Irwin
poured forth his sorrows and sad memoric
IN letter written many years ago to a h
dy who wondered at his celibacy. and e,
pressed the wish to know why he had me-
ssr married. Can words more graphical
describe the shipwreck of hope. or mo
tenderly depict the chivalricl1 devotion
. faithful lover? How sweetly too do
Irving portray with his artist-pen the Iii
eaments of his loved one. He says, in Il
same letter:-"The more I saw OF her Il
more reason had to admire her. H
mind seemed to unfold itself leaf BY les
and every time to discover new sweetnes
Nobody knew her so well as |. for she W
generally timid and silent: but in ma
ncr studied her excellence. Never did
meet with more intuitive rectitude Of min
more native delicscy. more exquisite pr
priety in word. thought and action. tn
this young creature. am not exaggel
ting, what / say was acknowledged by
that knew her. Her brilliant little ais
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