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

PRAYERS between the chief play and the a1ter-pleGe
that u.s. he stole home from the theatc ad INT 90
the devotion then pretended TO go 10 neu, huU
capcd ont of his bedroom wlnuOW u0Wil tAo 49, %.
and was soon again in his seat an eXcted spectator
of the mimic world.
At the age Of nineteen he began to write q series
NJ newsnaper articles on the theatres and manners
of the town. under tho signature of Jonathan Old-
STYLE. which attracted considerable attention Inc
papers were sprightly and amusing. but with slight
literary merit Still they had the popular quality
which gave so keen Zest to lrvings subsequent
writings, and procured him certain recognition
among his carly comrades. His artistic tenpera-
ment, of which he now gave unmistakable signs
his fondness for music and the theatre, and his lde
dreaming ways, were the despair of his father ana
he was ut length advised to seek the restoration OF
his health in European travel.
IRVING IN EUROPE.
In 1904, when Irving came of age, nc was IN
smell danger OF a speedy departure from this world
lv the door of consumption, that his OrOtheTs Ue
tcrnned to try the effect of sea voyage, ana Sent
him TO EuTOpc. lie was abroad almost two years,
and thc Journey restored his health. 1t was not
fruitful in literary way. lie wrote many charln-
ing letters however, i'll which we discover ms pcr
feet accommodation to the society art, ana luxury
he enoyed His journey lay through France, alHi
by way OF Genoa to Sicily, and thence 10 Rome. ~
was time of disturbance and insecurity OF itaVeij
NanOIcon's spies followed and detained nm Ill
France; the vessel in which he Went to Sicily was
Ovcrhaued by pirates; he had TO dodge the cruisers
i'll fruit boat to get across to Naples III Rome ne
was so seduced by the climate, the congcnlal an
tiquity, the art and the charm of the company OF
Washington AlSton, with whom, he there con
tracted lifelong friendship, that ne was upon I4e
point of embracing the profession Of painter. lie
had good eye for color, and in Allstons stlmlat-
ing society the art 10 doubt seemed easy nut nc
reelected that inclination IS not gGis anu "; W Par on
which was more to his taste than any other foreign
city studying French and diligently treqnentlns
the theatres and the opera, and made n snort So
iourn in London. This was not an energetic phi
grimagc, and he disappointed his brothers IN NOT
travelling more. and taking more advantage OF ms
opportunities. But he was not to he forced out OF
his humor His letters of the period abound III
faithful and vivid descriptions of what Interested
him in scenery and historical remains; bnt "haI
interested him especially was society, ana ne lad
the entry and was iavortp in the best whenever
he chose tn seek if. Society, indeed, was MS
natural element: he began Ill 1t early ana perhaps
no other author of his rtputc was more immersed
in il than he was, as he somewhere REMARKS, Tor the
better part of half century. And yet he was
formed for intimate friendships, and better IMAM
society he liked the quiet intercourse OF the
domestic circle. Had his longing for happiness III
that been gatiicd by marriage, we can only Spccu-
late upon the effect on his literary career. His lit
cratuTc might have lacked a certain element OF SEN
timCnt and longing which contributed greatly to It's
popularity.
Soon after his return from Europe he formed the
design of riting humorous history of NeW-iork,
which, after many changes, was finally completed
in its present form as a comic portraiture of race
TO endure the terrible bereavement which gave
coloring and tone to the whole of his future lfc:-
He had formed deep and tender passion for
Matilda Hoffman, fhe second danghter OF JOSIAH
Ogden Hoffman, i'll whOscfamily Inc had long been on
a footing of the most perfect intimacy; and ms
ardent love was fully TeCipTOcatcd. irving was
restessly casting about for some assured means oil
livelihood, which would enable him TO marTy-pcr;;
haps his disrust of literary career was connected
with this dcSiTc-when almost without warning
Miss Hoffman died, in the eighteenth year OF her
are. Without being q dazzling beauty, she was
lovely in person and mind with most engaging
MANNERS a refined sensibility, and delicate and
playfuls humOr The loss was crushing blow to
Irving from the effects of which he never re-
covered, although time sOftened the bitterness OF
his grief into "a tender and sacred memory. ne
could never bear any aason bG Her Even IRON s
repository, of which he always Kept the KEY, was
found lovely miniature braid OF far mar, anu
strip Of paper on which was written, IN ms own
were several pages of % mem0randuln In lnk long
since faded He kept through life her Bible and
her Prayer Book; they were placed nightly under
his pillow in the first days of anguish that followed
her loss and ever after they were the inscparable
companions of all his wanderlngs. ms melnOran-
dunn il subsequently appeared was copy OF n
letter addressed to Mrs. Foster, married lady, in
which the story of his early love was related as
Ts b w one IN Desden that he bccac init
mate with an English family residing there, named
Foster and conceived for the daughter, Miss Emily
Foster, a deep attachment; The Fosters believed
that this would have resulted In marriage il the
ladys affections had not been prcOccuplcd lrvings
bographer thinks otherwise, and gives reasons for
believing that he could not ut that time have enter
tanned project of natrin0ny. 1t Is not LOT us 70
question his Judgment, with his full knowledge OF
the circumstances; yet u is evident IaI Tg T1
until he drove away the impression 10y hard work
with his pen; and it wOnld be nothing new III
human nature and experience If he had, Tor the
time Welded TO the attractions of lOvciness and
most cOngenial companOnship, and had returned
again to all exclusive devotion to the image
of the early loved and lost. That bereavement cast
a cloud over his otherwise gay disposition which
was never altogether dissipated, and gave an aDld-
ing tinge of melancholy to his life It's effect upon
his literature is not less dscernibe it appears here
and there in certain half-tOncs of Tenderness.
think It's sentiment pervades the "SEetCh-D0Ok -; a
touching passage i'll Rural Funerals is cOlored by
this memory; and we recognize the note III pas
sage in ST. Marks Eve in Bracebridge Hall begin
ming" have loved as never again shall love in
this TCG haze 3Ss a SSGf as after nfYfF F og
Irving spent in retirement; but solitude was ms
insnppOrtablc as society and the author, who never
for long nursel a grief in idle repininE sought relief
in the completion Of his book. He felt himself that
the spirit was taken out of it, and never looked
back to its composition with pleasure Inc loving
ewes that he expected to sec dance with sympa-
thetc merTiment i'll its perusal would never sec It's
pages
The History was first printed in Philadelphia, and
in order to avoid premature disclosure of its char
acter was heralded by series of fictitious adVcr-
tiselncnts intended TO awaken interest in genuine
historical work. Information was desired of q
small elderly gentleman, dressed in old black coat
end lcockcd hat, twho had suddenly disappeared
from his lodgings In the city. In few days it was
announced that the person had left behind q
curous manuscript which the landlord wOuld be
obliged to sell if the old gentleman did not return
to settle his bill for board and lodging The strata
gem tool. we'll and one of the city authorities pro-
posed to offer q reward for the missing Diedrich.
The book was dedicated to the New-Ycrk Historical
Society "a liberty" we arc informed by Mr. War
ner which little nettled the grave antiqualians
of that body" The publication created not little
excitement. People were surprised to find that in
stead of n vcrtable history. it a satirical pOr-
trait of their ancestors, and all were shocked and
COMPOUNDED by such piece Of irrevcrence. Some of
the old ladies of Albany and Schenectady, who
were among Irvings best friends. were deeply