The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-15
AT THE HOME OF IRVING.

Up the noble Hudson an hours ride
from New York you may find, embow-
cred in beautiful trees, peacefully. plac.
idly sleeping under the summer sun,
the beautiful old home of Washington
Irving. A day or two since 1 rode up to
the quiet, sleepy little town of Irvington
and started on stroll along the banks
OF this Rhine of America to the home of
the man who, more than perhaps any
other man. stood staunchly up for the
dignity and the power of American let
tiers when American letters needed all
the friends possible.
A queer, ivy covered, quaint old house
it is. 1t is so quiet round about it, so
calm, so peaceful. so still, too, save for
the distant rumble of the rushing trains
it seems as though even the very birds
stilled their songs and thought it sac
red spot. Great trees luxuriant of foil
age bend over the home of this great
man-for was he not entitled to be called
great who conquered literary England
and carried the banner of American LET.
tiers within the .ramparts of Americas
most distinguished, and l was about to
add, in those days, most boorish critic
was not that enough to have made him
great? But. if not, let us rest his future
on his works-his fame is fixed for all
the reading centuries,
In the queer old home live the three
nieces Of Irving, Sarah and CATHERINE,
unmarried, Mrs. Grinnell their widowed
sister. They are. to the world at large,
living recluse lives, and yet they receive
their relatives and friends in quiet little
gatherings from time to time and keep
up social but not spirited establish.
ment. The grounds are free to all, but
the house is reserved for the privacy Of
these inheritors of the name and fame
of this illustrious American.
1t is we'll that these quiet, aged VIC
men should be left to themselves, to
their simple home life. to the sacred as
ISOLATION OF their distinguished relat i've
but it seems to me it would be well,
when the day comes-and long may it be
postponed-that these three old ladies
pass from earth-it seems to me it would
be we'll then to preserve this home of
Washington Irving as permanent and
we'll kept resort for all Americans, for
all foreigners, indeed, among which lat
ter are some Of the most sincere admir-
ers OF the man and author.
We take too little interest in the life
and character and surroundings of our
eminent men of letters. 1t is so easy to
think of nothing but what lies within
the pages they have written. This, in
deed, should be our chietest thought of
them. but it is none the less imperative
upon US that we maintain with nation al
tenderness and pride the homes and the
priceless relice of those homes.
There is something more than mere
sentiment in it. To be able, for instanc p,
to have this home of Washington Irv-
ing, lying there in placid beauty today
with the summer sunshine falling ten
derby upon it's quaint roofs and CHM
neys and gables. to be able to keep this
home just as it is, placing within it and
keeping within it everything that in any
way pertained to the personal life of the
author and man-all this would be to
make of this beautiful place on the
banks of the stately Hudson a Mecca
for Americans. But to let it pass into
decay, to allow the weeds to grow rank
and the walls to crumble and the win
dows to be beaten in by wind and storm
to let this home go into sad decay
what shall we say of such cruel and I'M
patriotic neglect as this?
The home of Irving is now in the very
neatest and incest OF repair. The large
grounds are we'll kept and open at all
times to visitors, and it is an inspiration
to one to see this beautiful old building
so staunchly standing the storms of
time. Let US hope it, a nd all the homes
of our illustrious literary Americans
may be kept in the very best of repair,
may be preserved with all the priceless
relics as memsntoss; yes as obi act lbs
sons, too. of what thoss men of letters
have done to lead our nation along the
right paths. There ought to be con-
certed action among the lovers of Ameri-
can literature to preserve and maintain
the homes OF eminent American writer's.
STANDARD.
THE WHITE Mr., L0NGFETLOW.