Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29

agreed-the distance looked small ON the
map. but how it did stretch before the long
curve in the road was gone over and lanes
traversei.
one sign at the corner OF two roads at
tracted our INSTRUMENTATION avenue
originally an Indian trair'-and up this
trail We went only to rctrace our steps on
being Informed by = small boy that we
were running away from the road to Irv-
fnSfon. and. with fresh country willing
ross. he led us down TO Broadway and set
US on the right track for Irvington. This
broadway was the old post road from
New York to Albany, and a more bya,lti-
ful road cannot he found in America On
either side IL is fiankea by magnificent
shade trees docking at least half a CEN
fury old. fine stone walls. and the stately
country residences of some of the wealth.
les; people in New York city.
From iiobhS Ferry until near Tarrytown
us ricr aspect does not change-it speaks
OF ali that nature and man can 10 for
place. especially is this true as We reach
irviDGton proper. Here we pass the prop
erty of Helen Gould aIrl catch glimIses of
Her co'servatories. farther over near the
river. Near one of the large gates is a
small oTai island. green as April grass
III Tie center of which grows a pale. pen
siva willow. Across the drive is a sign
telling those who read TO beware of the
dogs, and near this sign stands a police
man. imported from the New York Broad
way S'i'liii-ll We can JI!9e by
Entrance To the Grounds.
But We did not come out 10 look OIL these
f,a" estates, but on the home of 4 man
whose brain capJivated US long before
High S:hoo! Washington Irving So
most diligently did We iG!uir. along Broad
way for "SunnysiGie'' Only to nc met with
L dent kcow." Perhaps two miles up
the read, Il n n stranger here" &c, &c.
ri.lii nothing but fear of being presented
with green chestnut burr made me re-
frain from Guoting:
A prophet * not without honor save in
his own country.
Before We found the right direction we
stopped iii an orchard and picked some o.
the dainty yellow and re,i-"heeked craI,
apples that lay on the wind-blown grass
Then we struck against a mouruful, empty
house which we knew was not Sunny side.
because il had not the ivy-srown wall. and
so we climbed the fence and tried the other
side oil the road. Alas, Again the signs
that forbad" tresrassing. But we We're not
TO be deferred. for Were rot these signs put
up because OF the Omnipresent bicyclerS
who were wont to make a picnic ground
out of haiiowed Sunnys!ie, before it chang
ell into more firm hands last winter?
GGiet-looking man came off the veran-
ia to meet us. and then his wife came
DOWN and talked to US while were TAX
ing a picture. Then the tongue of the
Young woman was iooseued and she piled
them with questions. They were kind. but
reliceItt, at first. but before the tremps
left they found d warm spot in the hearts
OF MI and Mrs. B'riitt, the caretakers
Shall We ever forget that golden summer
afternoon at SunnyS.de2 How felt
selves growing right at home, even though
urtnvlted guests. feeling familiar with the
old Ivy covering corner niche of this
uraiia Dutch house, for had long ago
known its history. brought from MeroSa
Abbey by Washington Irving when he was
visiting at AbbottSfOrd, the guest of Sir
Walter Scott. and did not thar old abbey
date back TO the early quarter of the
twelfth century? Didn't We know that the
original name of the house was Wolfert's
kcCst. Of which IL wing wrote? We had our
attention called to d little rooster weather
v&ne on one of the gahieS-tEis was pre-
scented 10 irving by Scotland on the main
gable wa little horse, originally the
state house at Albany. In this gable is set
tablet of white marble, which tells that
the house Was erected IN June. 1885,; and re-
ucde!-i in iS-.,. wing purchased the
place in 1S}2. and did not leave it for any
length Of time until appointed minister to
81 ain in t~i2- He returned home from
Spain in 1Sii. and lived at SunnysiGe until
his d ath.
\ Quaint House.
The house seemed to ME to be made up
of several little houses OF mixed nationali-
ties. stuck together-its little gables. cat
step roofs and stable-likc ones presenting
Il pleasing variety. And as various as the
gables and corners the vines of all
shades. from the old English ivy to the
Washington bower. with its purple blcs-
som. that Chamber over it.
After his DEATH in 1850, in this house ii
was occupied by his two nieces, whom he
had taken care of and who lived with him
since they We're children. the Misses Cath
crime and Sarah Irving. 1t was by his be-
quest they occupied the place; In latter
years only il. the summer. as the winters
were too severe for them. In his will Irv-
ing requested that the house always be
occupied by some one OF his line, and last
winter the two maiden ladies. feeling the
weight of eighty odd years and finding
they could no longer give the estate the
care and management it deserved, sold it
to MIR. Alexander Durer Irving of New
York city. a grand-nephew of Irving. Mr.
Irving intended to put the place in good
repair. remodel the back part Of 1t, and
make IL his summer residence Mr.. Irv-
'ngs family. consisting Of wife and four
children. are now summering at Marble
head. and 1t ia not very likely they will
take possession this fall.
After a moments hesitation, supplement-
I'd by the remark that they did not usually
show visitors the rooms in Snnnyside Mrs
Burfitt opposed the blinds of the parior
door and we stepped into the bare parlor.
All the furniture which belonged to Irving
except that il, hts study. had been packed
away III anticipation of the alterations, and
We passed many an empty little room tall
tho rooms are very smalp. whose faded
walls showed dark spots where mirror and
picture once hung. before we were shown
into the gem room of the house-the writ
e-'s study. 1t is on the outside angle of
tHiS IOOifi t'ldl tIle IdSiEOSe Ivy runs, while
the walls in the interior are lined with
shelves and shelves OF books-his dear
hooks-and where, in corner, with a
background of dark-covered books, his
bust is enthroDed.
Irying's Desk and Pictures.
In the center OF the study Is a large desk
which was presented to Irving by his pub
fishers (as silver-inscrioed plate tells us)
on February 90 1883 This desk, though a
guaranty OF good feelings IN the bosom Of
the publishers. Is not the most interesting
feature of the room. On top Of Ii are tenn
porarlly piled framed pictures, sketches
and personal knick-knacks of the writer.
Everything In this little study Is purely
personal"
With much amused interest We examine
the cid engravings. about Rx14 inches. de-
plotting scenes from the NE Of old friend
Rip. and we wonder whether Joseph JEFF
f-;rS"n ever-g got any Inspiration from them,
hey are 81 true 70 the story. ] think there
are six In all-Rip with his exasperated
vile scolo ng him. Rip with the children
cian'hering over his bent bach rs he sits