Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-07
HATED BY EVERYBODY
4 MAN WHO ABUSED HIS Eel
Low MEN.
Nobody Dared Attend His Wifs's Flu
neral.


agree with anybody was just buried by
hired mourners at Greenwood, SAYS
the New York Sun. His name was
Henry j. Irving, and he lived for years
in social ostracism upon farm which
he owned about two miles from Engle-
wood, n. j. He was nearly 20, but
he lived entirely alone, because it was
impossible for any one to abide in
peace under the same roof with him.
He died as he had lived, neglected and
alone, his dead body being found by a
neighbor last Friday upon the back
stoop of his house, where he had ex-
pired probably about fifteen hours be
fore.
In his early manhood Henry j. Irv-
ing was lawyer of repute in New
York. Little is known of his early
career beyond the fact that he was at
first successful and popular and that
he was at one time member of the
Legislature, representing one of the
city Assembly districts. Something led
him to abandon his profession and
soured his whole life. No one among
his neighbors Of the past thirty or
forty years knows what drove him
from the city to the obscurity of farm
life, but certain it is that never within
their memory has this eccentric man
been at peace with his fellowmen.
Quarrels were of his persistent seeking
with all with whom he came in con-
tact, until he was avoided as carefully
by the people around about as though
he were afflicted with plague.
About five years ago his wife,
good woman, died suddenly. She
was much respected by her neighbors,
yet such was the dread of Irving's
quarrelsome temper that no enc at
tended the funeral, for fear the old
man might take it into his head to
drive them out with a pitchfork. He
had been known to do such things on
more than one occasion. The husband
was compelled to hire pail bearers to
assist in the obsequies, and to go with
him to his wife's grave. His spirit
was in no degree softened by his
wife's death. He seemed rather to
ornru mora hitfar an1 x-;nlant - ~,
last years. Every man he looked upon
as his personal enemy; every man
was a thief and robber in his eyes.
He was not a miser; but he was
grasping in money affairs. He never
paid bill of any description without
first heaping q torrent of abuse upon
his creditor. Naturally everybody
svoided doing business with him.
He assumed a peculiar and some
what ostentatious piety. He some
times prayed in public in conspicuous
fashion. One of his neighbors did his
teaming for Lin, but he hadn't the
courage to present bill for the work
oftener than once year. On one oc-
casion he called with his bill Just as
Irving sat down to supper. The old
man paid no attention to his caller until
he had said grace, a ceremony that
consumed nearly a half hour. Then
he asked what was wanted, and the
bill was handed to him. Irving jumped
to his feet and cursed the man with a
storm of the rankest blasphemy that
could come from mans lips. He
raved until he was out of breath,
winding up with a profane declaration
that he would never pay the bill. The
neighbor turned TO go.
''Hold on, you good-for nothing
thief, what are you going forS" shout
ed Irving.
"1ou say you won't pay the bill, SO
[ thought L would DO getting along"
replied the man.
eyes, will pay it, and then don't
you ever let me see your face again."
and the old man handed over the
money, while his creditor again started
to go.
"Come back, you dirty Dutch thief, ="
Numbered Irving. "Did you think
you were going to get away witLou.
giving me a receipt"
Il didn't know you thought it nece.-
,ary," suggested the long-sufterng
;aller.
"Do you suppose I'd trust you or
anybody else? All men are thieves"
and the ex-member of the bar went to
his desk and lsboriously drew up full
legal release from all claims, which lac
compelled his neighbor 20 sign befor.
he would allow him TO depart. 1t was
not long before he applied to the same
man to DO sone more work for him.
Irvings last public exploit was his
Violent opposition some time ago TO the
use of schoolhouse in his neighbo,-
hood by Epiroopalisns for services on
Sunday Afternoons. He made things
SO warm for everybody concerned that
the services were abandoned because
Of the annoyance which his denunci-
alton caused.
Heart disease WAS probably the
:ause of his death. In the corner of
the piazza was basin of water, aud
The old man was found with his
sleeves rolled mp, as though he was
about to wash after doing his chores