National Republican., 1883-04-03
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The Centennial Anniversary OF the Birth
OF Washington Irving.


One hundred years ago to-day, in frame
house near the little old Dutch church in
William street, New York city, Washington
Irving was born. Twenty-three years ago,
in the golden sunshine of the Indian summer,
amid the misty dells and the legend haunted
hills of Tarrytown, bathed in the glamor of
his own genius, he died and was buried. And
to-day, from far and near, pilgrims to the
Mecca of his grave are celebrating the CEN
tenary of his birth.
Tho record of Irving's life is quiet and
peaceful one, flowing along outwardly as
limpidly as the currents of his own easy,
graceful style. Its events were not of the'
Kind to attract tho notice or startle the alton
ton. No salient promontories, no hoadlands
of incident jutted into the placid sea of his
being His life was fortunate in being removed
from extremes, and his character moved on in
graceful harmony with his circumstances. He
came of % race which united purity of thought
to lervor Of imagination. He was the young
est of eleven children, all of whom lived in
an atmosphere of culture. His tastes werp
simple and idyllic, his means sufficient to
crafty those tastes, bis associations were re-
fined and lofty. When financial reverses
came and his ancestral estates were swept
away, his standing as writer had been
established and tho rewards of his pen were
at once many and generous. He was o for
tunate man OF letters, passing along through
the hustle of life unscathed by its storms aud
untouched by its stains
He was n writer from tho first In 1902,
while student at law, he commenced in the
Morning Chronicle series of papers on social
and dramatic subjects over the signature of
Jonathan Oldstyle." His delicate organiza-
tion giving symptoms of consumption, he
4 L.
France and Italy. 1t was during this period
he became acquainted with Washington Ais
ton at Rome, aud for o while seriously con-
| templated becoming an artist. Contrary to
that gifted and discerning painters advice,
he gave up the idea, being convinced that his
talents lay in another direction. But he
learned the languages of the countries he
lived in and could speak both French and
Italian with fuency and grace. The gift of
tongues was his, and all tho moro important
languages of Europe were soon mastered by
this accomplished literateur.
lie came homo in March, 1906, and with his
brother William Irving, and James X.
Paulding started the well known "Salma-
gundi; or Whim-Whams of Launcelot
Langstaff, esq, and Others" He was asso-
ciated with it for tho first twenty numbers,
when Paulding was left to continue it to its
| close.
In 1909 appeared A History of New York
from the Beginning of the World to the End
Of the Dutch Dynasty, &C., by Diedrich
Knickerbocker," 1t was begun by Peter and
Washington Irving conformity as burlesque
on a hand book Of New York, then recently
published but Peter soon after sailed for
Europe and Washington Irving elaborated
and finished the immortal work.
This work has become n classic. 1t is out
of the range of criticism, except so far as it
may serve to elucidate critical dicta or aid in
applying critical truth. 1t is an epitome Of
the authors character, and in its pages you
can SEQ the exquisite refinement, tho tender
| deliCacy, the grace, the purity of his nature
Its humor is its all pervading characteristic
pure, delicious humor, whose quality has no
| where else been eXcelled. ldylliC in its fresh
ness, its vivacity never transgresses de-
corum, and its gayety never becomes un
Chaste. 1t is the most marked monument o
lrving's life, around whose pure and ondur
ing base the waves Of time will beat forever
with uneroding force.
1t is n little remarkable that Irving al
though generally considered and frequently
designated as the pioneer of American litera
ture, was in reality the central figure of
group, some of whom have lived even Longer
than he did, and which in many respects wa
the most marked of any in the history o
American literature. There have been thre
such groups in the annals of distinctiYelI
national American literature. With him wer
Brochden Brown, Washington Allston, Richar,
Henry Dana, James X. Paulding, William
Ellery Claiming, William Cullen Bryant, an,
others. Their influence upon what may b
called purely secular American literature wa
vast overshadOwing, and beneficial. The,
represented an original school of though
which was essentially and individually Amer
lean. Generations of cultured Americans
the heirs of all the ages, wise and gener
GUS improvers of their birthright, thei
intellect developed aud broadened b,
hereditary culture, their spiritual ma
lures enlarged and elevated by freedom
from the corrupting associations and effect
of the old worlds regime-had impressed
upon the epoch under consideration thei
attributes until with the new government
had been born a new race. After severa
struggles toward art and literature ther
were created an art and literature distinc
lively American, 1t is often said in thes