The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
Anecdote of Washington Irving.

man, apparently, of frugal, Industrious
habits, and of quite ordinary education.
Conversation incidentally turning one
day upon Scotland and its distinguished
novelist, Sir Walter Scott, the laborer
referred to, took occasion to compare him
with Washington Irving, quite to the-lat'
ter's advantage. Williams, thereupon,
remarked to his companion that Irving
resided in the neighborhood Ia fact he
had not before known J that he frequent
" passed the place in bis daily walks
and. as he knew him we'll, when occasion
offered, he would introduce him.
a few days after Williams was called
to neighboring town for few days,
leaving his man to continue the work in
his absence, no opportunity having in
the interim been afforded to secure to
him the much desired introduction to
Mr.. Irving. While Williams was away,
Irving, as be had not done for some days
previous, chanced to pass by the place
where this man was employed. MIR.
Irving, confronting him, with true gen.
tlemanly instinct, raised his hat, and the
lahorer as gallantly responded. Being
in g communicative mood, Mr.. Irving
passed some observations on the state OF
tho weather; to which he received very
respectful reply, although the ia6orer
was totally unaware that he was address
ing Washington Irving. Mr.. Irving, no.
ticing his manner of pronunciation, re-
marked, "Ahl you are Scotchman, q
countryman of the worlds greatest nov.
elist. I should think that you would
highly esteem the honor" II thank
YOU, sir" returned the laborer, "for your
highly complimentary reference to my
distinguished countryman; but must
beg leave to differ with you in your es.
Inmate of his power and position. There
are several, to my mind, who can success
fully compete for such distinction with
the author of tKennelworth.'" Name
a novelist" said Mr.. Irving, whom you
consider as ranking above Sir Walter"
'sI consider Washington Irving to be un-
deniably his superior" was the response:
"PIshawl you are wholly mistaken"
said Mr.. Irving. washington Irving
never wrote anything at all to be com.
pared with this" quoting favorite pas
sage from scott's most interesting work.
II coucede the beauty of the passage to
which you have called my attention."
reioined the laborer; "but it becomes
quite prosaic when ones attention is
called to this" making another quotation
from the author he was defending. 81
again beg leave to differ" returned his
opponent, proceeding to specify the re-
spects in which he considered the selec-
ton he had made from Irving's works far
superior to that which Irving had made
from Scott; and so the intellectual battle
progressed, each yaliantly defending the
author whom he had championed, and
each by argument, by comparison, and
by abundant illustration seeking to ap-
prove. the accuracy of his views and the
correctness of his position, and for every
Oliver from Mr.. Irving the laborer re-
turned Roland. Both the contestants
became highly excited and both were
oblivious Of the rapid passing of time.
1t was not until warned by the approach
of twilight that the laborer realized how
comfortably no had been drawn from his
proper work and how many hours had
been passed in the earnest discussion
Mortified that he should have thus been
led away, he refused to continue it,
though MI. Irving was exceedingly de-
sirous ofso doing.
About the middle of the forenoon of
the following day Mr.. Irving again ap-
peared and desired to continue the argu-
ment; but the laborer, knowing that he
had on the previous occasion employed
time belonging to his employer for his
own use, refused to comply with his re.
quest, saying, "that his time was not his
own and he could not use it as though it
were." And so they separated. When
Williams returned home he was informed
by che laborer of what had occurred, and
thoueh he suspected that the mans op-
ponent was none other than Mr.. Irving
himself, he said nothing to that effect
It happened a few days later that they
were working on the same spot where the
colloeuy occurred when, CHANGING to look
up, Williams observed: "TheIe comes
MIR. Irving. Now I will introduce you"
Judge of the surprise and CONSERVATION
of the humble laborer when he discov-
cred Mr.. Irving to be the individual with
whom he had so gallantly contended and
whose works he had SO successfully
lauded but a few days previous. The
recognition was mutual; but nothing
was said, however, respecting their recon-
tire, and they soon parted.
The laborer, upon returning to his COT
tage at the close of the days work, few
days later, found an express package
him, which upon opening, he
found to contain q complete set of the
works of Washington Irving, in most ell
egant binding, with the authors auto
graphic compliments written on a fly
leaf. he said nothing, however, but qui-
etly pursued his usual occupation. I'm
agiue Mr.. Irving's surprise when COM
ing in from drive few days later, he
found a complete set of the works of Sir
Walter Scott, very elegantly and tastily
gotten up, with the autographic regards
of the laborer-his plebian opponent
written upon one Of the blank pages.
OF course he could do nothing but retain
the gift, for he had found in the laborer
his equal, and one of the lower walks Of
life had disclosed to him man in whom,
though mere laborer, the instinct Of
true courtesy was as highly developed as
in himself. Mr.. Irving was afterward
accustomed to allude to the episode with
apparently great satisfaction, and it is
one upon which an old resident of Sum
a,,;da 10 olod IN lincer-7he IndeDen-
dent.
AN EDrroR's FAREwELL.-The Alex
andria (Va.) Sentinel suspended not long
ago, and the editor took his farewell in
in the following style:
For four long years of trial, labor, and
disappointment we have striven to fur
nish this community with an organ in
which the rights Of individual opinion
,,,;nht he austa;ned and the interests of