Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-11
VOL. LXXIV..
ANECDOTES OF IRVING AND DICKENS.
Harner's Magazine for December contains an

ANECDOTES OF IRVING AND DICKENS.
Ilarper's Magazine for December contains an
anccdote of Washington Irving showing that
he was bitterly prejudiccd against Chas. Dick
eus MIR. Field, we believe it is, writing of
dining with Irving at Madrid, says:
THE name of Dickens happened to be intro.
duced and he became very heated in telling
uc about his relations with that author. Final
Is he could 20 longer contain himself, and
jumping from his seat, he walked up and down
the floor in great apparent agitation. He told
NE that he had corresponded with Dickens
long before they ever met That both from
his writings and his letters he had formed the
highest conception of his personal character.
That under these circumstances Dickens ar
rived at New York, and he (1rving) called upon
him at the Astor House. That Immediately
after sending in his card he was invited to Mr..
Dickens paror, and, as he entered the room,
that gentleman met him, napkin 10 hand. He
had been dining, and the table was covered
with vulgar protuslon of food, and the table.
cloth was covered With gravy and wine. Wiring
ing his hand, Dickens first saluta,ion was 'Irv-
Ing, am delighted to see you. What will you
drink, uintjulep or pin-cocktai?' The
idea ofinvisiug me TO drink juleps and cocktails"
naivey exclaimed Mr.. Irving. He found
Dickens outrageously vulgar-in dress, man
uers and mind. And none of the young people
we're more incensed against him for his Amer
lean Notes and Martin Chuzzlewt than was
the gentle Goldsmith OF Auerlcao literature. :"
There is further association between Dick
eus and Irving, in respect to miut juleps, that
Is interesting in this connection. We quote
from Colonel Foroey's Anecdotes of Public
Man Nau Sar,eS No %.
''W hat comic scene that was between him
self and Dickens at Barnum's hotel 10 Balti-
more, 10 1912, when they were enjoying one of
John Guys huge mint-iuleps upon which Dick
eus Indicted the little note still hanging up in
the dning-room of Guys in Philadelphia, and
so we'll introduced on pages l43, l44 and l45
of Dr. Mackenzie Life of Dickens from which
copy:
Irving met him at Baltimore To letter
Washington, fifth Of February, 1862 Mr..
Dickens thus mentions the fact to MIR. Lan-
man: Your reference to my dear friend Wash
iugton Irving renews the vivid impression re-
awakened in my mind at Baltimore but the
other day Saw his fine face for the last time
In that city. He came here from New York TO
pass day or two with me before l went west
ward, and they were made among the most
memorable OF my life by bis delightful fancy
and genial humor. Some unknown admirer OF
his books and mine sent to the hotel most
enormous mint julep wreathed with flowers.
We sat one on eltberside of it, with great SOL
emnity, lit filled respectable sized round ia
be) but the solemnity was otevery short dura.
tiun. 1t was quite an enchanted julep, and
carried US among nnumerable people and
places that we both knew. The julep held out
lar into the night, aud my memory never saw
him afterward, otherwise than as bending over
it with straw with an attempted air of gravity
latter some apecdote involving some wonderful
y droll aud delicate observation OF character)
and then as his eye caught mine, melting into
that captivating laugh OF his, which was the
brightest and best | have ever heard.
'The unchanged julep was a gift frym the
proprietor of Guy ) hotel, Baltimore, and haV-
Ing held out far into the night, must have been
GU magnificent scale at Grst-large enough for
Cog and Magog, were they alive, to have become
mellow upon George Cruikshauk or II. l..
Stepheus-no Inferior artist should dare to al
tempt it-might win additional fame by sketch
ing the two authors so much akin in genius
and geniality imbibing the generous, melIi-
huous fluid from pitcher which, like the
magic purse of Fortunatus, seemed always
iull.
"Dickens-who could doubt it-would have
doubly enjoyed the nectarious julep had be
Known that, in the Masque OF Comus, by John
Milton good receipt for making it was given
more than two centuries back. The hero, SOD
OF Bacchus, is first described as
= Offering to every weary traveller
His orient liquor 10 crystal glass,
Toquench the drouth of Phebus.
Aud then offers it to the lady: thus address
Ing her:
And first behold this cordial julep here.
That flames and dances in bis crystal bounds
With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups
mixed; - o,r
No that Nepenthe, which the wife of Thonc
lu Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena,
Is OF such power to stir up JOY as this,
10 lite SO friendly or so cool to thirst.
The identical name julep' is mentioned
then the iugredients-the balm or mint, Wnlcn
gives the flavor; the spirits; the fragrant
syrup so papably denotipg the sacchaIlne
eIemeut; mixed up in, and imblbed fron' a
crystal glass; and, to crown all, the uomlstak-
Bile addition OF ice: which makes the mixture
not only to life so friendly but so cool to
thirst that it would actually quench the
drough of Phebus.' However, Milton's tastes
may have deteriorated 10 old age, when ne
had fallen upon evil days, his early propensl-
ties were evidently genial, if not hilarious. AT
the age of twenty-three, when he wrote the
exquisite poem of L Allegro he exclaimed
Haste thee, nympths and bring with thee
Jest and youthful jolity.'
Even 10 Paradise Lost which is serious
poem, Milton was uuable to refrain from an
alIusiou to mixed liquors, for he mentioned, in
the most express terms, being bound for the
port Of Negus.
Mr. Dickens acknowledged the receipt OF
The julep In the following letter, which Is care
luIy aud proudly preserved at Guys, South
eeveuth street. Philadelphia:
BARNUM's HOTEL, March %, 1872.
My DEAR SIR am truely obliged to pou
ior the beautiful and delicious mint Julep you
nave 50 kindly sent me. It's quite mercy
'Aat kuew what it was. | have tasted It, out
AWAIT AVA further proceedings until the arrival !, OF
Washington living, whom | expect TO dine
WIN me, tete-a-,ete, and who will help me
urlUk vonr ba,l,h WITH ,,onv thanks to YOU,