Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-15
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lxECporE or WASHINGTON IRVING.

enlarge his force. 1nere Gains W mn
among others q native of Scotland-a
man, apparently, of frugal. industrious
habits, and of quite ordinary education.
Conversation incidentally turning one day
upon Scotland and its distinguished novel,
isl, Sir Walter Scott, the laborer referred
to took occasion to compare him with
Washington Irving, quite to the latter's
advantage. Williams, thereupon, re-
marked to his companion that Irving re.
sided in the neighborhood Ga fact he had
not before known that he frequently
passed the place in his daily walks; and,
as he knew him well, when occasion Oh
fered, he would introduce him.
A few days after Williams was called to
an adjourning town for few days
leaving his man to continue the work III
his absence, no opportunity having IN the
interim been afforded to secure to him the
much desired introduction TO MIR. Irving.
While Williams was away Mr.. Irving. as
he had not done for some days previous,
CHANGED to pass by the place where this
man was employed. Mr.. Irving, con-
fronting him, with true gentlemanly IN
stinct, raised his hat, and the laborer as
CALAMITY responded. Being in commu-
NEGATIVE mood. Mr.. Irving passing some
observations upon the state of the wealth
err; to which he received very respect
full reply, although the laborer was totally
unaware that he was addressing Washing
ton Irving. Mr.. Irving, noticing his man
ner of pronunciation. remarked: "Ah!
you are Scotchman, a countryman OF the
worlds greatest novelist. l should think
that you would highly esteem the honor"
II thank yon, sir" returned the laborer.
..for your highly complimentary reference
to my distinguished countryman; but l
must beg leave to differ with you in your
estimate of his power and position. There
are several, to my mind. who can fully
compete for such distinction with the
author of 'Kenilworth.' "Name nov
elist,n said Mr.. Irving, "whom you con-
slider as ranking above Sir Walter" Il
consider Washington Irving to be unde-
niably his superior" was the response.
.sPshawi you are wholly mistaken"
said Mr.. Irving. washington Irving
never wrote anything at all compared with
this quoting fayorite passage from
SCOTS most interesting work. 81 con-
$ cede the beauty Of the passage to which
you have called my attention." rejoined
the laborer; "but it becomes quite COM
monplace when compared with this, "
quoting one of the most charming selec-
tons that can be found in Irving's works
THAT may have some little merit attached
to it, responded Mr.. Irving; "but it be-
comes quite prosaic when ones attention
is called to this" making another quota
ton from tina author he was defending.
II again beg leave to differ" returned
his opponent, proceeding to specify the
respects in which he consided the
selections he had made from Irving's
works far superior to that which Irving
had made from Scott; and so the
intellectual battle progressed, each
valiantly defending the author whom he
had championed, and by argument. by
comparison, and by abundant illustration
seeking to approve the accuracy of his
views and the correctness OF his position,
and for every Oliver from Mr.. Irving the
laborer returned Roland Both of the
contestants became highly excited and
were oblivious OF the rapid passing of
time, 1t was not until warned by the ap-
proach of twilight that the laborer realized
how comfortably he 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
Mr.. Irving was exceedingly DESTROYS of so
doing.
About the middle OF the forenoon OF the
following day Mr.. Irving again reappear-
ed and desired to continue the argument;
but the laborer knowing that he had on the
previous day employed time belonging to
his employer for his own use, refused to
comply with the request, saying THAT
linn UNI ,~rt h nvA kA nN,rl1 Mt
use it as though it WERE" And so they
separated. When Williams returned home
he was informed by the laborer OF what
had occurred, and, though he suspected
that the mans opponent was none other
than Mr.. Irving himself, he said nothing
to that effect. 1t happened few days
later that they were working together on
the same spot where the colloguy occurred
when CHANGING to look up. Williams obser-
we'd: "There comes Mr.. Irving. Now
will introduce you" Judge of the surprise
and CONSERVATION of the humble laborer
when he discovered Mr.. Irving to be the
individual with whom he had so CALAMITY
commended. and whose works he had so
successfully lauded but few days previ-
Gus. The recognition was mutual; but
nothing was said, however. respecting
their rencontre. and they soon parted.
The laborer. upon returning 10 his cot
tage at the close of the days work few
days later, found an express package
awaiting him, which, upon opening, he
found TO contain complete set OF the
works Of Washington Irving, in most
elegant binding, with the authors auto
graphic compliments written on fly leaf
He said nothing. however, dut quietly
pursued his usual occupation. Imagine
Mr.. Irving's surprise when, coming in
from drive few days later, he found a
complete set of Sir Walter Scott, very ell
egantly and lastly gotten up, awaiting
him, with the autographs regards OF the
laborer, his plebeian opponent, written on
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 dis
closed 10 him man in whom, though a
mere laborer, the instinct of true courtesy
was as highly developed as in himself
Mr.. Irving was afterwards accustomed to
allude TO the episode with apparently
great satisfaction, and it is one upon which
an old resident of Sunnysde is glad to