New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-04
IN MEMORY OF IRVING.
THE CELEBRATION AT TARRYTowN.

MITCHELL AND OTHERS.
| Nature smiled on the hills of TarrytOwn yester-
| day. as its inhabitants revived memories of the
pioneer of American literature" 1t was the GEN.
tennial of the birth of Washington Irving. who was
, born in Wiiliam-st, in this city, and
who spent the last year Of his life at Sunnyside,
| near Tarrytown, where he died on November %,
1852 The house at that place, celebrated in story,
still retains the appearance as it did twenty
four years ago. One wall of the house built in
1856 being part of the well-known Wolferts
Roost. In the library the writing table, arm
chair books and pictures, remaining as they have
been for nearly quarter of n century.
There was memorial meeting in the evening at
Tarrytown. in the Second Reformed Church, which
was handsomely decorated At the left of the plat
form was an oil painting of Washington Irving,
painted when he was twenty-four years of age,
by Jarvis set in perfect nest
of variegated foliage plants and ferns.
There were many prominent persons present, among
them being Justice Noah DAVIS. who presided;
President n. 4. Gatos. of Rutgers Professor L. S.
Doolitte. j. n. Haock, DIR. Withrow, of Boston
Judges Larremore and Van Worst. and ex-Judge
Arnoux, DR.. Ludlow, Eliot Mccormick. and Pro-
lessor Lounsberry. Of Yale College. Among
the speakers were Donald G. Mitchell
ok MARVEL, and Charles Dudley Warner, and let
ing Governor Cleveland. John q. Whittier, Presi-
dents Porter and Barnard. George William Curtis,
the Rev. Drs. Howard Crosby. William Ormlston,
John Hall, William Morgan, ). IrenBus Prime and
W.. ii. Ward. and S. b. Schiellelin, George 5. Rice
and +. &. Stedman. Governor Cleve-
land in declining the invitation to be present wrote
" L hope tho obse. vance of tins anniversary will
long continue to remind all who read, of one who,
though dead, should alwayslive in their love and
admiration" George William Curtis said: If 1t
were possible for me to come, | should venture to
suggest that no place and no time could be more
appropriate tn those of your meeting. for begin.
mug an active movement 10 secure u statue OF
Washington Irving III Central Park
LETTERS FROM MR. WHITTIER AND DR. PORTER.
Mr. Whittier wrote that he regretted that age and
delicate health would prevent him FROM attending
the celebration, adding: "Our literature has as
sumcd large proportions since Irving laid aside his
pen but his writings have lost none of their atrac
tons; and the veil OF romance which he has thrown
over the Highlands of the Hudson still lin
gers there, aud Crow Nest and Dunderberg
will always loom through It," President Por
ter said 1--WE cannot estimate too highly the
many and varied services which Washington Irv-
ing rendered TO his generation in bis long and use
full life OF varied and efficient activity John |
Treat Irving wrote that lac should be unable to at
tend this NEE lny. but said Please thank your |
C lmmttec and express to them the gratifcation |
which and other members of tho family feel ut the
respect paid to The memory of Mr.. Irving by his |
friends at Tarrytown. among whom he had lived 50
long, and whom ne had loved sO We'll
The letter, OF regret were read by the Rev. Wash
lugiOn ChOa'c, OF lrvingOn. After an address of
welcome by James " Ood the President If the |
Wcstchc ter County Horticultural Society. a pom
wa> read from ;. II. JhaJer Miss HAYES played
- RIP Van Wrinkle" on the organ. and the Rev. j.
Selden Spencer, who was rector of the church
Of which Mr.. Irving was warden. gave some
personal remlulsce uccs OF his acquaintance with him.
Among other things he saId - never heard an
lnkind OF bitter wori iill from lryings lips nor do
believe that any one ever WINGED at his keen yet
mi nsiVe II Ie W. Ia ~ n |
conversation. and the first impre SION on hearing !
nm talk might be one OF disappointment; but yoq
,Oon foit its irresistible fascination. lie would
,ften hesitate for "a wOTd but when he found II,
you at once that II was Just the word needed
% make the thought perfect. lie tod me that he
wrote his ma llscrpf IN the same hcstating way as
ven after the proof sent 90 hIm to read
'yer hc would still lnterne, 10 the confusion no
iOuDt of the printer, bat To the clearer perception
# his thought. Yet how simple is the style OF
rvlngl IL IS elabora cd panstakng simplicity"
THE PAPER OF DONALD q. MITCHELL
Aft,r Mr. Spenccr's remarks, Donald G. Mitchell
vas introduced by Judge Davis and he said IN sub
tance:
has Coonnadc ROW Witch stands opposite the AstOr
library. IN LlfAye,te-pace. New York. | can recall |
o eager to encounter man whom all honored aud
dmred. 50 apprc henslve lest chihng dignity might
isurD IDEAS. Aud wBen that smiling quiet, we'll {
rcserved gentleman Il could hardly believe dim sixty
ycl lcfG his romp vita some OF hs llttie
be ''''' hand. aad I'd thereafter to run on in
yey' hamoT ena stealing AL trepdation ont o,
manner II some ORe were playing counterfeit,
iaoc tat, b.aming. winning personality with some
wiuI dignity that enoud put me again INTO worsnpful
ust gracious presence 30 full OF bcnisnty,
nth the author who had 10 lc sorry OF the knicker
ecker and NJ Columbus. Another puzzle To wa-. '
ow this eAsy-going gentleman. witn his winning
lidnes, aud quiet elaboration, a' II he never
nIcklc down to hard ta.kwork, Should nave
.eled ous tho-e hundreds nay, thousands I
pages OF graceful. welrordered Sparkling English. 4
qua not understand how did IL. do not MAX We
ute understand ever how the birds sing song and
4 with feathers quito unrufied and eJes always /
SIy next sight Of Mr. Irving wa, hereabouts ut his own
one. by his KIND invitation had come up to pass -
with nim at sunny side. and he had promised me
. BOY went 20 bis Chrstnas holi'iays mora JOY
Isly, think. than 10 meet that engagement 1t was
Ong TINS road. beside which we are assembled To lg
lat drove. lie, nil alert AMI brisk with tho cOo
Oruing blowing down Us from over flavor
ed attention The spot o. poor Andres capture. not
rbcarug tha ltte toucn Of sympIny which came 10 CT
Washington. sweep OF his whphand told me tue Al
under which rauldng aud the rest CHANGED TO be
itcrng that memorable day. We were n
hiring along the same road. short way v
rthsr northward. whoa ycntuoi query about
rs Horsoulan. Aye. It was thorcabout mat tragedy
me on 100. Down this bit of wood the Od norss Gun
wider Game laundering: thereaway Brom bones with
pumpkin e. tel you this In o,nhdonce, no said,l
waiting and along here tlIis way went ella erlng
OK and neck IcBabOd holding u good scat til Van
,per's saddle rts gave way anu then. ungng and 81
lncng from he chung To name and neck.
lttle panGomc with the whips making real, pc
at last away yOndcr-wel whore you hhe.-ihe NJ
or pedagOgue went sprIwng to the ground holc ina III
place. And think the r1iiekng hamOr OF II was =,
much enjoyed by him That autumn nornlng, SO that aI
felt In his Just rcslng smack OF II all as II o..
Van Tasscl had held her quilting lrOlic only on @
g ycsternlg1t. ~
irving hrsi came to know Tarry0wn orSlccpy Hollow
zen boy VI fourteen fifteen, 10 passed some holt
10 in those parts, think with his friend Pandng
hose days belong mu0h OF that Idle sall erihS
)pg 0rooksidc heraDout wlh iy-hoOks ana hiIIoIs 80
Il memories OF walton, witch got much delighted -,
jOsnitIOn n paper 90 tue sketch-DOOk men, TOO no "
ia his companions came To know the Old Dutcl farm Is
the REGION whose hOmc-lneriCrs came afterwlrd T.,
- his books. | We
TIE PUN IN KNICKERBoCKER'S HISTORY. ly
The boy niaccf him, which led him out from his 80
home In William-st.-aftcr hours-oyer the shod- :,
IT, fingered In him Tor "a good WHILE THINK and lent 49,