The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-02
WHERE IRVING WROTE.

Iyy-Clad Home Of the Creator of Rip
Van Wrinkle.
Author.
Corr. Washington Star.)
The morning was clear and full OF
promise ofsan ideal August Sunday when
our train steamed out of the Grand Cen
trial. Our destination was Sunnyside,
at lrvington-on-t the udson, but we got
of the train at Dobbs Ferry, three miles
or less below, thinking it would BE- like
cid times when she took long walks
around the vicinity OF Washington sug-
9ested that we walk from Dobbs Ferry
to our real destination. So we agreed
the distance looked small on the map,
but how 1t did ssstretch before the long
curve in the road was gone over an lanes
traversedl
One sign at the corner of two roads at
tracted our attention -" Ashford avenue
originally an Indian trail''-and up this
trail we went only to retrace our steps OIL
being informed by q small boy that we
were running away from the road to
Irvington, and, with fresh country will
ingness. he led US down to Broadwayfand
sent US on the right track for Irvington.
This broadway was the old post road
from New York to Albany, and a more
beautiful road cannot be found in Amer
lea. On either side it Is fianked by mag
nificent shade trees Cooking at least half
century old, fine stone walls, and state
| ~ country residences of some of the
wealthiest people in New York city.
From Dobbs Ferry until near larry
town its rich aspect does not ohange-it
speaks of all that nature and man can
do for place; especially is this true as
we reach Irvinguon proper. Here we
catch gliInpses of her conservatories, far
Their over near the river. Near one Of the
large gates is small oval island, green
as April grass, in the centre of which
grows pale, pensive willow. Across
the drive is sign telling those who read
to beware of the dogs, and near this sign
stands a policeman, imported from New
York Broadway squad-if we can jud &c
! by appearances.
AN ENTRANCE TO THE GROUNDS.
/ But we did not come out to LOOK on
these fine estates, but on the home of a
man whose brain cRptivated us long be-
fore High School time-Washington Irv-
ing. So, most diligently did we inquire
along Broadway for "Sunnyside" only
to be met with 81 don't know" "Per-
haps two miles up the road, I'm a
stranger here" &c., &c, until nothing
but fear of being presented with green
chestnut burr made me refrain from
quoting:
"A prophet is not without honor save
in his own country" ~
Before we found the right direction we
stopped in an orchard and picked some
Of the dainty yellow and red-cheeoked
crab apples that lay on the win d-blown
grass Then we struck against mourn
full, empty house, which we knew was
not Sunnyside, because 1t had not the
ivygrowns.wall, and SO We climbed the
fence and tried the other side of the road.
Alasl Again the signs that forbade
Jrespassing. But we were not to be de.
TERED, for were not these signs put VI
because of the omni present bicyclers who
were won't to make picnic ground out
Of hallowed Sunnyside before 1t changed
into more firm hands last winter?
unist. lookinu man Caruo off fbc
veranda to meet US, and then his wife
came down and talked to us while We
were taking picture. Then the tongue
of the young woman was l0osened and
she piled them with questions. They
were kind, but reticent at first, but be-
fore the tramps LETT they founda warm
spot in the hearts of MIR. and Mrs. Bur
fit. the oaretakers.
Shall we ever forget that golden sum.
mer afternoon at Sunnyside. How VIZ
felt ourselves growing right at home,
even though unlimited guests, feeling
familiar with the old ivy covering ont
corner niche of it's quaint Dutch house.
for we had long ago known it's history,
brought from Melross Abbey by Wash
iDgton Irving when be was visiting al
Abbottsford, the guest of Sir Walter
Scott, and did not that 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 Roost, of him
whom Irving wrote? We had our atten
! ton called to little rooster weather
vans on one of the gables-this was pre-
sented to Irving By Scotland on tht
main gable was little horse, originally
on the state house at Albany. In this
gable Is set % tablet of white marble
J which tells that the house was erected IL
June, 1865. and remodelled in 1856
Irving purchased the place in 1882 and die
not leave it for any length of time unit
appointed minister to Spain in 1916, ane