The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-01-05
"reminiscences Of Irving.

One naturally thinks of Irving as {
| young man because his writings are *
| fresh, but he died in his seventy-seventl
year, and had he lived until the present
time he would have been ninety-four
How much ofthe sorrow of old age has
he escaped! Since the authors death,
his publisher, (Putnam) has gone to the
grave and also his literary editor and
biographer, Pierre NJ. Irving, who is
buried by his side. The Irving home
stead, Sunnyside," still remains in the
family, though the occupants and pro-
prietors board in the city during the
winter. Irving, like Webster and Gree
ley, died in harness. His great work,
the life of Washington, was just finished
when the increasing illness of the author
showed fatal symptoms, and in a few
months he was in his grave. The last
summer of his life, when so many were
congratulating him on his grand success
in finishing Washington" he was in
extreme suffering. What is remarkable
however, is the fact that he was not con-
fined to his room, and even the last day
of his life was marked by no signs of
special alarm. He fell dead at ten
o'clock in the evening in his bedroom
while preparing to retire for a nights
rest. 1t was just such departure as he
had desired, for the idea of becoming a
burden to others was distressing to such
a sensitive mind. His age was precisely
that of his father, but he retained fresh
and comparatively young look to the
last.
Irving was the only man who knew the
contents of a volume concerning which
an intense curiosity has been expressed
The volume referred to has a strange
history. A great but polluted genius,
writing under the verdict which society
has ex pressed against him, wrote the me-
moirs of his own life, as an appeal which
could not be heard. 1t was to have the
additional powers of voice uttered from
the grave, for not till its author should
be dead was it to appear before the world.
Such was the character of Byron's auto
geographic memoirs. Having finished
the work few years before his deayh he
gave it to his friend, Tom Moore, who,
after the poet was in his tomb, sold it to
John Murray tor two thousand guineas
equal to twelve thousand dollars.
This was the largest sum ever paid for
any work of the kind. After making the
sale Moore became convinced that its
revelations endangered the character of
others to such degree that Its publica-
tion would be dangerous. Indeed, when
the annunciation was made society was
thrilled with surprise, and no doubt
tremendous influence was brought to
bear on Moore demanding suppression.
He returned the price to Murray, and
perhaps the money was made up to him
in private manner. At any rate the
was burned. To come to the
point, it may be said that as Irving and
Moore were intimate friends the latter
consulted the former, who read the work,
aud therefore knew all its strange revela-
tions. As the book was suppressed Ir-
wing never divulged those mysterious
secrets concerning which 80 many have
been so intensely interested. 1t may be
added that the destruction of this manu-
script was done by Mrs. Leigh, the poets
half sister, into whose hands it was
placed by its former owner.
There was during lrving's life a story
afoat concerning his intimacy with q
young Englishman, an invalid, who
agreed to appear after death if he should
be invoked. This story is to certain
degree correct. The invalid referred TO
W IS named Hall, and he and Irving met
in Spain, whittier the former had gone
for his health. Irving gave the follow
ing account of the affair: One day they
were talking about ghosts when Hail
suddenly asked his friend 'if he should
like to receive a visit from him after
deathT Irving replied that, as they
had always been on good terms, he would
not be afraid to receive such q visit If it
were practicable. Hall then said he vas
serious in his idea, and added, az wish
you to say you will consent" To this
Irving agreed, and Hall said: "Irving,
it is a compact, and if l can solve the
mystery for you, 1 will do it." Soon
afterward the invalid expired, and Ir
wing was the only real mourner at the
funeral. He wrote to the dead mans
friends full descnption'of the sad event,
and while oppressed with the tender as-
sociations of such q mournful scene he
wandered out to one of their former
haunts and there recalled the compact.
In obedience to his promise he whis-