Evening star., 1909-07-10
THE GRAVE OF IRVING
Remains Lie in the Sleepy H0l-
low Church Yard.
LEGENDS OF THE REGION
Ghost of a Hessian Trooper Without
Head.
ROMANCE OF ICHABOD CRANE
Cabin in the Catskills Pointed Out as
the Home Of Rip Van Wrinkle.
Spot Where He Slept.
LEGENDS OF THE REGION
ROMANCE OF ICHABOD CRANE
BY WILLIAM f.. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald.
TARRYTOWN. n. Y. July Q, 1909.
Washington Irving says: "1n the bosom
of one of those spacious coves which In
dent the eastern shore of the Hudson
there lies small market town or rurai
port which by some is called Green's
burgh. but which Is more generally ana
properly known by the name OF Tarry
Town. This name was given, we are
told, in former days by the good house.
wives of the adjacent country from the
inveterate propensity of their husbands
to linger about the village tavern on
market days. Be that as It may, do not
vouch for the fact, but merely advert to
it for the sake Of being precise and au-
thentic Not far from this viilage-per-
haps abou. two miles-there is a little
valley. or rather lap of land, among
high hills which is one of the quietest
places in the whole world.
From the listless repose. Of the place
and the peculiar character of Its inhab-
itants, VIII oare descendants from the
original Dutch settlers, this sequestered
glen has long been known by the name
of Sleepy Hollow. A drowsy. dreamy in
fiuence seems to hang over the land and
to pervade the atmosphere. Some say
that the place was bewitched by high
German doctor during the early days OF
the settlement. Others that an old In
dian chief, the prophet or wizard of his
tribe, held his powwows there before
the country was discovered by Master
Hendrick Hudson. Certain 1t is the place
still continues under the sway of some
witching power, that holds a spell over
the minds Of the good people. causing
them to walk in a continual reverie.
The Headless Horseman.
1.-The dominant spirit, however, that
haunts this enchanted region and seems
to be commander-iin-chief OF all the pow
ers of the air is the apparition of figure
on horseback without head. It is said
by some to be the ghost of Hessian
trooper whose head had been carried
away by a cannon ball In some nameless
battle during the revolutionary war, and
who Is ever and anon seen by the coun-
try folk hurrying along in the gloom of
night as II on the wings Of the night.
His haunts are not confined to the valley,
but extend at times to the adjacent roads,
and especially to the vicinity Of a church
at no great distance. Indeed. certain of
the most authentic historians Of those
parts who have been careful In collect
ing and collating the floating facts con-
corning this specter allege that the body
of the trooper having been buried in the
churchyard. the ghost rides forth to the
scene of battle I'm nightly quest of his
head, and that the rushing speed with
which he sometimes passes along the
Hollow like a midnight blast. is owing
to his being beiated and in hurry to
get back to the churchyard before day
break.
"such is the general purport Of this
legendary superstition, which has fur
nished materials for many wild story
in that region OF shadows. And the spec
ter is known at all the country firesides
by the name OF The Headless Horseman
of Sleepy Hollow
"The sequestered situation OF this
church seems always to have made it .
favorite haunt of troubled spirits. Ii
stands on a knoll surrounded by locust
trees and lofty elms. from among which
estly forth like Christian purity beam
ing through the shades of retirement. A
gentle slope descends from it to a silver
sheet of water. bordered by high trees.
between which peeps may be caught OF
>the blue hills of the Hudson. To look
upon its grass-erown yard, where the SUM-
beams seem to sleep SO quietly, one would
think that there at least the dead might
rest in peace. On one side OF the church
extends a wide woody dell, along which
raves large brook among broken rocks
and trunks of fallen trees. Over q deep
black part of the stream not for from the
church was formerly thrown a wooden
bridge. The road that led to 1t and the
bridge itself were thickly shaded by
overhanging trees, which cast a gloom
stoned a fearful darkness at night. This
was one of the favorite haunts of the
headless horsemap and the place where
he was most frequently encountered
Washington Irving's Grave.
In these shades Of retirement, where
the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly"
Washington Irvings lies by the side of his
mother, and surrounded by host OF rela-
tives-Dodges. Duers. Saunders and Irv-
ings. He purchased the plot himself in
1858 six years before his death and re-
moved the remains of his mother from
the yard of the Brick Church, New York
low. small slab of marble inscribed only
with his name and two dates in the plain
est of lettering.
Washington Irving.
Born. April g. I7S:
Died November ~, 1850
The plot is shaded by a group of noble
trees and inclosed by low iron fence
Every one who visits Sleepy Hollow al
ways asks for the grave. and the man
who collects twenty-five-cent fee at the
old church and seems to have charge of
things gives the same laconic directions
to all:
Follow the path
Longfellow came here a few years after
Irving's death and wrote the following
beautiful lines:
Here lies the gentle humorist. who died
In the bright Indian summer Of his fame.
a simple stone with bnt date and name,
Marks his secluded resting place beside
The river that he loved and glorifed.
Sleepy Hollow Today.