New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-02

The b10grapDcai anu cIlticdi osuuJ ny
Dudley Warner, prefxed to this new edition oil the
Compiete Works of Washington Irving, is de-
Iehtful piece of composition, presenting the pecu-
liar humors of the favOrite American author WIN
remarkable subtlcty of insight, and illustrating inc
characteristic traits of his writings when nave
preserved them in the fragrance of their early Ia'c
with no abatement of their original freshness
from the ruthless fingers of time. Mr. warner
indeed, is of the opinion that Irving dled at INC
commencement of era QSo0) wlth WHICH Nv
would have cherished little sympathy, and III
which lie would have failed of due recognition lIol
the coming race. He lived far into an age Oh
doubt. with whose spirit, except in the way OF
material contact and enjoyment he was hot IN the
faintest degree of harmony. Ills SOCIAL environ
ment in New-YOrk, as Mr.. Warner aihrms, where
the traditions of family and the possession Oh
wealth are more powerful clements than moral or
literary distinctions, served to conceal from MS
sight the stirring movements Ill Ncw-Ehgiahu'
Had irving sheen born in tBoston, a different char
acter vonld have marked his career. In other re-
snects. moreover, he kept himself aloof from the
ace in which he lived and his writings exhibit no
trace Of ne feverish temperament of our own gen.
GRAFTON He obeyed an instinct OF his constitution
IN not minGling his literature with what he re-
parded as temporary excitement. But the cafnhtSs
of Mr.. Irying's nature furnishes assurance Oh the
permanence of his writings. He appealed to quail
it;es which do not demand heated atmosphere for
their growth, but spring up from the deepest foun-
tains of human feeling If he had no taste Tor the
intricate windings of speculative thought, he re-
ioiced in the workings of imagination which are Oh
the essence of poetry Hence his pictures OF ideal
lovelineSs. his quaint and graceful expression of
natural humOr which clOthe the hard realities OF
life Tin soft apparel bis delight in the forms and
colOrs of the visible landscape, with the sweet ana
mellow flavor of his Incompatible dictlOn VIII al
WAYS find response from the lovers of pOetry,iand
continue to charm long rs the magic Of fancy
asserts its power over the hearts of men. As Mr.
Warner admirably suggests, Irving produced htera-
tnre in tho strctest of the word not merely as
report of the feeling of time, but with other
Qualities which give it a place among the living
forces of the world.
Tho description of Irvng's external life although
not possessing the attraction of novelty. derives
s;nonlar interest from the cordial Sympathies and
,iotnresoue STYLE of Mr.. Warmers charming MARIA
tive At the time of Washington IrvinSs birth Ill
17s3. New-York was village OF less than ZJ,OUo
inhabitants. The fashionable quarter was i'll the
neiphborhood of the Battery, around which the Old
Dutch houses were grouped i'll struggling streets
Tho town had been half destroyed by fire during
the Revolution, and there was no trade IN the
vicinity except by the clumsy boats that brought
vegetables from Jersey and the islands. The return
ofneace brought prosperity to NewYork, and the
half Dntcb. half English population began to put
on the airs of city, while they still in village
conditions. The society was of different east from
that OF Boston or Philadelphia, more pretending
more eosmOpolitan less neighbOrly. The CONNER
cial spirit was predominant. There were country
gentlemen whose influence was great In New-Aork,
hut the city aristOcracy was OF the trading classes
The atmosphere could not be called intellectual.
taste for old English books and slight acquaint-
Tho c1o literary
The people were of gay, mercurial character, and
society on the WHOLE was free, cOnvivial. pleasure
loving They might. to some extent. affect lltera-
ture as fashion, and Irving had the good fortune
to make it rather the fashion Among the interest
ing personal sketches in which Mr.. Warner freely
INDUCES, We find the following portraits OF
THE PARENTS OF IRVING.
TrvinCs father was a merchant who had settled
In NewYork in 1868 .and been successful until his
business was broken up by the war ne was D., porn
at Shapinshay, one Of the Orkney Islands E Gi
Traced its descent from William dc Irwyn, the
srnior-bearer of Robert Bruce. His smother Sarah
saneeers hS hi of curatc William Irving
who had taken to the sea for living, met the beau
n rdl s hetween Falmouth sand and two
wears after their marriage he quiz llle sea anu Hiue
their home i'll the capital OF the New World IhGse
who think the genius of large family is apt to Inc
,me of fine latest comers in it, find their theory con-
fr1nea in the ease of Washington Irving; he was
the eighth and the youngest OF Gle Eve G as
was for amiablity, integrity. ana strong lamly
affection which had in it something OF the scotch
cIann;shness The father was staunch wing
during the war; and suffered for his principles and
his wife was q sort of minlsterlng angel 10 the
DatriOt prisoners confined in the city. . -,
IL was from his mother that Irving inherited ms
CAV humOr, his love of society, and probably his
tendency to letters She was woman OF line intel
iectnal grain nature full of tenderness anu abun-
dant GOOD sense. In his father flowed pure strain
of CoYenanter blood i'll business lie was inc soul ol
nrobity |: in religion lie severe and godly; and
IN his household strict and exacting i'll demanding
conformity to his religious creed ana practlee; al
though he had n s sremS of lie there was
no room for trviality or amusement ana nc en-
deavored to bring up his children i'll the fear OF God
and the sense of the sinfulness OF pleasure HIS
seVere and gloomy rectitude would have made his
home intolcrahe to the children If it had not been
moderated to them by the tenderness and sympathy
~ their mother; although she cOnformed.in worship
To her husband she did not share his marsh views,
and always retained in her heart the ienenGeS OF
were repeed from the religion OF their father VI
timatcly all. except one, became members OF inc
his independence outwardy, and while SUI attend
Ing the Sunday services and subt tIil to ms
fathers drill in the CateGs s; AT nfo ar Trntv v
Church and receiving the rite OF confirmation
Tho delicate health of Irving when young gave
him a dissemination for severe study, and in fact
for any steady going pursuits Before he was
seventeen he showed symptoms OF ! consumption
and the best remedy was 1ouhd 10 oe H. raho'lI'S
life in the country. He made journeys up the
Hudson and to the Mohawk, hunted in the Sleepy
Hollow region, and made long visits in the agTeea
bic society of Albany and Schenectady. At still
earlier period, he had given decided tokens that he
was not born without the faint of original sin, as
appears from the following lively illustrations of
THE FRANKS OF HIS BoYnoOD
The lad was in no sense a prodigy, he, was
simply nm affectionate, merry, frocsOme. handsome
bow, with spice of mischief; whose planks. gave
she would exclaim q Oh, Washington! if you were
only goodp lie was not studCus, but he was fond
Of riding and early developed the scribbng"
,,,,,,as;fy in fhe colnDostion of and plays