Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-06
WASHINGTON IRVING.
Celebration OF the Hundredth Ami
Versnry Of His Birth.

The centenary Of the birth of Wash
inRton Irving was celebrated at larry
town Tuesday. A large number Of
eminent literary men were present. and
letters were read from many who were
unable to attend. A number Of addresses
were made. The last was by Charles
Dudley Warner. He said the number
of people interested in literature at any
one time is small. Books are q neces-
sity to few and do not compete in the
minds of most people with the longing,
for an ornament, n good dinner, or
something to purify the blood" But
however literature may be regarded, 1t
is the most potent and enduring in
fluence, except supernatural influence,
in the world. No monument erected
by men is so lasting, no event of what
ever historic significance is so far reach
ing, so perpetual in its power to mould
and shape institutions and form charac-
ter. 1t is silent, controlling, civilizing
mass far beyond the limits OfthOse who
recognize its power. The birth of boy
in the little house on William street
was not an event promising import
ance. 1t was a great age, all age Of
great events and great men. 1t was
the era of the making of a nation, of an
original political development uneXam
pied in history. In the work of thsG
time and the years following, which de-
termined the nOlitical destiny of Aner-
lea, Irving had little share. A century
has passed since Washington saw the
last symbol of British authority dsap-
pear through the Narrows. Something
else has gone to the making Of me peo-
pie what they are, besides political wis
dom and knowledge. Another force
has been slowly at work 'etining and
modifying q process when changes
manners, enlarges the rat ,onai pleasure
of life, and gives it a new toneand mean
ing. when Irving was creating vast
Knickerbocker legenG, we have no
doubt that it seemsd idle and ephem-
eral work 10 the politicians, lawyers
and merchants Snd builders of new
enterprises in COMPARISON with the i'm
portant business they had in hand. The
addition of one original page to itera-
ture is thing of incalculable moment.
Ii is simply impossible to calculate the
Influence OF such a writer as Irving
I upon a peopls who have been familiar
with him fot halfa century. IL IS all
the more effective that it is silent,
arou4es nc opposition, is almost I'M
recon nizeI. / speak Of his influence
now i'm the way of culture, apart from
the gift Of romance he gave to a rude
land, apd apart from the national his
toric Consciousness he aided US in at
tainipt. What liking he hal for
humanity, what a kind wor,l for the
lowest, most useless of all! Ii it is ask
ed in what existed his power over the
hearts Ofhis readers it may he answer
ed i'm the words of Mrs. Browning about
Napoleon: lie had the genius to be
loved
ut was Irving not Hudson who
truly discovered this river and gave it
to Us. The early navigatOrs used to get
aground in il. Irving made it high
way Of imagination. Travellers who
never left their firesides voyage up and
down on 1t. In the Indian summers
these shores are golden, these hills are
purple, the same stream flows as in a
/ dream. In all seasons 20 all the world
+ this region wears these hues Of romance
that Irving gave it. His spirit abides
here. Here is his wild cottage. Here
is his grave. l come representing, L
am sure, many who cannot come to lay
upon il a wreath Of sincere affeetion."