Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-18

was no affectatioD, no parade Of learning,
no dazzling brilliancy, but everything was
natural, simple, unaffected-often mirthful
but never coarse, never vulgar, never rude.
We all know how difficult It is TO WELD the
shafts Of wit and humor without inHicting
pain upon others. But / never heard an
unkind word fall from Irving's lips, nor do
believe that anyone ever WINGED at his
keen yet inoffensive humor. He was slow
and heeitating in conversation, and the first
impression on hearing him talk might be
one OF disappointment but you soon felt
its irresistible fascination. He would often
hesitate for word; but when he found Il,
you saw at once that it was Just the word
needed TO make the thought perfect He
told me that he wrote his MSS. in the same
hesitating way as 1t were, that is, with con-
tinual recollections; and even after the
proof sheets were sent TO him TO read over,
he would still interline, to the confusion no
doubt of the printer, but to the clearer per-
ception Of his thought. Yet how simple is
the style of Irving II is elaborated, pains.
taking simplicity. "Now," said he TO me,
as he had sent off the last sheet of his final
work, the " Life of Washington" work
which had engaged his thoughts and pen
for years, "now I feel as If / were Just
ready TO sit down, and begin to write the
Life Of Washington" At dinner party
| wssone OF little crowd gathered around
him to whom he told the following story,
which 1 will give in his own words
" Shortly after the Sketch Book was pub
lished in England, when l began TO be
known a. the American author, entered
store in London to make some purchases.
Wishing them sent to my rooms, the shop
keeper asked me my name. 'Mr. Irving,'I
replied. 'Ahp said the tradesman, you
bear the name of great man, SIR THANK
you,' l answered with look Of becoming
modesty, my friends are too considerate
Of me- A great man, said the other
great preacher great preacher' l then
found that he was referring to the Scotch
preacher, Rev. Edward Irving, who was
then beginning to make great stir in Lon
don, aud l escaped from the store with the
rising conceit all taken out of me-" On
this centennial anniversary of Washington
Irving's birth, we have more to commem-
crate than his service to literature. Praise
him as we justly may, for his works, he was
more remarkable for his personality than
bis writings. In this town where he lived
and died, we want to look upon him in per-
son. We want To evoke from the shadows
VI ShC Pdoe bhhb loih WulCh OuCo WdlkGl Ill
our midst as the man of kind, warm, ten
der heart-a man loyal to every conviction
of duty, faithful friend in the best sense
of the word, true Christian gentleman,
having no enemies, but all friends, 30 that
one humorously denounced against him the
woe in the gospel, Because all men spake
well of him." Such memories of good and
wise men are peoples best heritage; they
are the wealth of our land--far more than
the gold of California and the silver of Col
orado. They are worth treasuriDg up. In
Irving's own beautiful words, which we
may apply to him, there is a remembrance
of the dead to which we turn even from the
charms of the living" And so it is, by an
apothoesis of our reverent, loving hearts, we
place Washington Irving among the number
of those in our land who have sanctifed the
greatness they have achieved by their good
mess, who have added the softened luster of
all that is graceful and pure and lovely in
life to the valor of the soldier, to the elo-
quence of the statesman, to the learning of
the author. And through the summer of
our country's youth, and the. winter of her
age, his memory shall be as green and fade
less as the ivy that mantles his own sweet
Sunnyside.