Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-10-21
DAILY SENTINEL


Il Was an odd Affair OF steep roofs, gable eads,
aud decorated caves sort of cottage, bali Gov
cred with flowers and climbing vines, upon the
summit Of which stood queer looking weather
cock. which | understood 10 be al old Datch
relic from Albany. % the lelt was portico,
from which yoa had fne glimpse OF ,he Hud-
son: winding walks led in and out OF the shrub
berry and the place resembled sort Of Dutch
paradise-all grass, birds. fOwers and sunshine.
Hitler, within few miles Of Sleepy Hollow ',
scene Of the adventure of Ichabod Crane, aud
not far from the Catskills, immortaliEed by the
mishaps Of Rip Van Winkle, the creator Of those
personages had come 20 spend bis tranquil and
happy Old sge-proclaiming TO the world in bis
very houss and the choice Of its site, those odd
humorous. half Dutch peculisEitiss which had
communicated such charm 10 his writings, and
made the author so famous
| was looking curiously st the original siruc-
ture when nv eyes fell upon the figure OF a man
standing upon knoll to the left OF the house.
his face turned studi0Gsly away from US. Ny
friend directed his steps in that direction. | fol-
lowed and How do you do, Mr.. IrviDg. caused
the figure TO wheel round, walking stick in hand
IL vas of short, rather "dumpy" person, dressed
in black, and very plainly There was sbso-
iutely nothing 20 indicate taste or character in
the costume, nor was there much. At 6rst sight,
IN the face A PLAIN, elderly gentleman, taking
such was the face and 6gure of Irving. But
over tbis calm face there passed all at once
smile which seemed u change its whole ehsrac-
ter; be advanced quickly, and greeted with
the greatest cordially. inquiring with the most
afectionate solicitude after bis friends ia Vir-
gns sly emile then fitted over his face and
with short laugh. he said to D:
Il saw you coming, but | thought YOU we're
some Of the people from New YORK They are
always coming TO see ms-entire strangers-snd
annoy me-"
We spent the whole day with Irving. aud it
would be impossible 70 imagine anything more
charming than the conversation. Ii was not
brilliant, OF striking, or any other common
place adjective, but perfectly natural. original
and pleasant The hFs, impression produced by
the individual not pleasant. You would
have said that plain, rather dull farmer stood
before you, with no ideas above the prizes OF
wheat. aud no ambition greater than 70 raise the
most gigantic pumpkins But this theory OF toe
man soon disappeared from the mind lt vas
evideGtly "a scholar, and ripe enc" who was
walking beside you. with bis plesssns voice, bis
swest smile, bis queer little figure. the very sight
Of whic put you in good humor. And this
scholar, as you sOoE found. had not studied hU-
man nature in books only but in men From
his chance aiusi0ns-and no man talked less for
effect, or so llstle thought OF making an i'm
preston You discovered that he bad not only
seen many countries, but had known personally
some of the moss celebrated men of modern
times. Scott, Leslie, the painter, Louis NJ apo
leon, the Empress Ecgenie-sOme sllusion
brought up these persOnages; and Irving sirolied
on amid his flowers, talking Of therl with the
simplest and quietest humor. and from time to
tine touch OF feeling for all the world like his
books. His talk was al Aprl daY--drilting
clouds aud sunshine, but the sunshine pTedo mi
nant His short, shy laugh was the perfection
OF quiet enjoyment; and tlere was ! charm in
the sad memorial tJnes OF his voice. as he spoke
OF Scott and others, which canno! easily be de-
scribed. He laughed a be told Of the painter
Leslie, think, who vent TO AbbotsfoTd u paint
Scotts portrait and found the house full OF
company. The company having departed, Lea
lie thought, Now for my pctVre;" but ScOts,
starting up from the brelkfast-table. exclaimed,
Now for hare the remainder of the day
being spent in hunting, though at this time the
printers were waiting for copy of one OF his
greatest novels Iryings account OF Scott was
delightful, and his anecdotes OF Leslie, then just
dead, believe, full Of interest. They had trav
elei to Stratford together, he said, and he wanted
Leslie to paint Shakespeare before Sir Thomas
Lucy" but the greatest sitst did net get the in
spirauOn, and ueyer made the picture.
Speaking OF the present Emperor of the French,
Irving said:
Yes, he is a remarkable man. | knew him
when he was 10 America, aud he used 10 travel
up from New York to look at W est Point, which
seemed 20 interest him very much. He dined
with me here, one day, anu sat just where you DO
now, ito me; were at dnner.) He grave
AID silent, scarcely opening his lips while here
but young French Count " ho scco Dpanied him
was much more agreeable, and . much greater
favorite with the giris.
D spoke of the Empress Eugene, ard
Irving said:
81 knew her very well in Spain when she wes
little Eugene de Montljo. daughter of the Count
de Te0a. She was a hEe buXOm eirl, 3 beauti-
ful figure; and At the balls dressed as q mosque
taire-femlle. | have often had her on nv
knee. aud DOW to think she is an Empress Old
CalderoB de la Barca, Spanish Minister ssid to
me at Washington when was there Good
heayeps' Irving. jus, TO think little Eugene
MOntlj0 Empress of Frsnee-huul hum hum"
What was more delightful about this tranquil.
smiling talk OF the great writer, strolling over
the Summer swsTd, beneath his trees. was the
genuine simplicity snc naturalI:ess Of bis tone
atd manner II twss he spontaneous overflow
OF the geuial fountain Ji ierii.,g and humoT in
the bosom of the mar.
Here va evidently a good ani true Dsas-one
who scofned falsehooi. hated nlesruess, loved
his iel.Css auu haJ kind ana ehsritabis word
for all men dis humOG attracted attention more
than al his other traits; bat this humor
only the lightning which fickered over the broad
ocean of his hananity sad love OF his fellow
creatures.