The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-11-09
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Y An tss.yist {usAs NJ ksrt .Aso.ss sss
vis~ias AesvssyolPnsas rlcsatlyr published
containing Thy HI o6SlhY u Irvins's
genius in the "SpsAasA Papers" and "other
misceuanies hitherto unpublished or ppcol>
oleaedn tfeaksAss sab3sSs nth ~ sAnirins
stadens's sosLfull lore far he dsad mas.efs
and gives ~ most readable article. VIZ
extract sospls ri paasese@ Hs il sseak'
ing Of the seven ysars during which NJ. lr-
Wing VAS Minister 70 Spain: s
aDaniel webster-4h en- Secretary u State
used TO say thst he laid aside the letters Of
every other correspondent TO read dispatch
from Irviae, and his lett1rs and 5nnrna2s over
flow with proof Of the affection as well ~ re-
spect with which he was REGARDED By persons
in the highest stations in Spain. Not thatwe
would be understood - meaning that stheae
letters and journals can be charged with ego
tism. Nothing could be further from the
truth. But, man % frank and txanspar1ut -
Irving was,' could non b surssunded for three
years by crowd of friends in oil classes of
Spanish society who regarded hin With m af-
lection almost enthusiastic, without impart-
ing to his intimates with whom be correspond
ed, the genuine pleasure these proofs Of af<'
fection gave him, nor could be make record
of any day ia his journal in which it would
not be necessary to mention something that
showed how he was admired and beloved.
When he called at the palace to make his
adieax to the Queen on resigning his mission.
the Throne responded in words warmer and
more cordial than ever before greeted the ears
of an Embasssdor to that punctiiious court
ssIrving's tnre,indeed, was peculiarly tit
ted to make him ,enj oy his life in Spain, for
4 &c q NJ . ~k
go to make the Spanish character. DE VA
warm hearted, frank and genial; with .
childlike simplicity and flowing sympathy
that made him st homo With ill classes. He
was as much at his ease while talking with
Queens and ptincesses N when he was chat
ting with the dark-eysd Dolores in the Al
bambra, or on his first visit to France sitting
among the peasant girls Of Tonnein, needle
in hand, at the quilting frame, or MOVED with
pity for the poor file de joie in Paris streets,
and giving her double money FOR her bouquet
He had quick eye for the beauty Of women
and drew them strongly to him BY certain
warmth and gallantry of manner WHICH was-
as pure and wholesome as the sunshine it.
self. - i.
at is impossible TO read the numerous an
ecdotes and passagesin his biography Illus
trative of his sensatiseness to the beauty of
women and his delight in their society With,
out feeling the depth Of a nature that could
remain constant through SO long and varied
life to the memory of boyish love. Bat his
nature was Of noble chivalry. His thoughts
we're habi,ually high; he was incapable Of,
meanness; his instincts were always generous;
and no change OF circumstances conld ever
effect his treatment Of those whose worth he
had once proved. Even when Minister to
Spain he went to pay visit Of coincidence
L. 81 IF he
wife Of the Regent Espa-tero, who had just
been driven from power by the successful
revolution of Narvaez. This visit, Irving
tells US, provoked the sneer Of
courtier, but he never adjusted his con-
duet to the standard of courtier. He
rather answered Sidney's description: $50
valiant that he never burst do any one an in
Jury his word ever led by his thought and
followed by his deed So great was his
gentleness, his good viii, SO vide spread his
charity, his dislike to offend so ingram, that
we little forget the strength and intensity of
his character. He had martial ardor in him,
and if he had been a soldier would have re-
called Bayard's name rather than Sidney's.
When Madrid was besieged by the insurgents
under Narvaez, Irving could not stay in doors,
but he went out, despite all remonstrsuce, to
see everything thai he could OF what Was 60
ing on. Indeed, he had a restless spirit, and
it led him into wandering over goodly por-
ton of earth; nor did he satisfy his love Of
experience aud adventure until age aud de-
olining health made excitement huriful to
him. Warm hearted, generous, chivalrous,
brave, fond Of adventure, he found in Spain
second native country. where he passed sew
en- years Of almost unalloyed happiness, serv-
ing his own people and laying up store Of
material with which to delight the world and
when he finally left it, to return home, he
could not sring himself to take last fare
we'll, but still hoped to return again; and,
though he never accomplished that desire. his
thoughts few, bird like, back aud forth from
Spain, and, spring after spring, built many
nest in the old Castilian trees.