Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-17
The Scott Centenary.


The Massachusetts historical society held a
special meeting on Tuesday in honor of the great
novelist and poet OF whose birth that was the
one hundredth anniversary At this meeting
the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop made the follow
ing address:
"You have not failed to remark, gentlemen,
that the centennial anniversary of the birthday
of Walter Scott, which occurs to-day, has been
thought worthy of distinguished commemora-
ton on both sides of the Atlantic; and some of
you may have observed, in examining the roll
of our corresponding and honorary members
which has just been pretixed to the new volume
of our printed collection, that Sir Walters
name was added to that roll on the 3D. of Janu-
ury, 1922.
know not whether our corresponding secre-
tary of that day-the Rev. DR.. HOlmes-Was as
careful in filing his official papers as his success
sors have been in later years. But it would be
most interesting to see the letter, if there was
one, in which Scott acknowledged and accepted
the election. We could hardly have a more
precious autograph. One would like to know
how far the great poet and novelist appreciated
such tribute from land with whose political
condition he had but little sympathy, and of
whose literary advancement he could then have
formed no very exalted estimate We should
certainly be curious to hear if it were still pos
sible, precisely what was said at Abbotsford
when our certificate of membership reached
there, so long ago, and to learn whether it were
| thrown aside with indifference of little account,
or carefully treasured up among the welcome
mumments OF World-w fame. II must have
borne the attest OF Lowell as well as of a
| Holmes; but another generation was To mass
away, and Scott himself was TO pass away with
| it before either Of those names was to he asso
ciated with such distinction, in song or in story.
as in our day has given them Significance and
known value in lands beyond the sea-
Some of our young Americans of the highest
promise, and who have long since fulfilled that
promise and gone to their rest, had, however,
already enjoyed the personal acquaintance of
"the mighty minstrel of the NORTH" as he was
| then called, and had given him some impression
of American culture and American character
As early as 1917 Washington Irving had spent
| several delightful days with him; had saunter-
ed with him up the haunted glen of old Thomas
| the rhymer; had nestled under his plaid as a
shelter from the rain, and had gathered in that
| rich store Of "reminiscences which lends such a
charm to the sketch of Abbotsford in the Crayon
| Miscellany.
Indeed, Irving had evidently found his way TO
Scotts heart, by his exquisite humor, as early
as 1918; before even "Waverley" had wtched
the world, and while Sir Walter was only famous
as q poet The fac-simile of letter is on
our own files, which is full of interest in its re-
latlons both to its writer and its subject and
| whlcn cannot forbear from reading in this con-
nection. 1t is addressed to the late Henry Bre-
WORT OF New York, the intimate friend of Iry-
ing, VINO had sent copy of his Knickerbocker
to Scott, who replied as follows:
MY Dear SRI beg you to accept my best
| thanks Tor the uncommon degree of entertain
ment which have received from the most excel
lently jocose history of New York. am sensi-
ole that as a stranger TO American parties and
politics must lose much of the concealed satire
| Of the piece, but must own that looking at the
| simple and obvious meaning only, l have never
read anything so closely resembling the style OF
Dean Swift as the Annals of Diedrich Knicker.
booker. have been employed these few eve
nings reading them aloud to Mrs. s. and two La
| dies who are our Rnesta. and our sideh have been