Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-04-13
WASHINGTON IRVING'S FAILURE

was, it is true, a caricature, but he
was a caricature which had much
of truth In it
But the event associated with Dick
ems first visit to the United States
which | always remember with espe.
cial interest was the grand dinner ten
dered to him by the leading citizens Of
New York. l think l am almost the
only man now living who had part in
that entertainment" 1t was in 1897
that Mr.. Goodwin told me this anec-
dote. More than so years had passed
since that dinner took place.
ut was known in New York that
Dickens greatly admired some of the
writings of Washington Irving" con-
tinued Mr. Goodwin. The story of Rip
Van Wrinkle he regarded as a gem OF
fairy tales. He concurred in the Amer
lean judgment that Irving was fore
most among American literary men.
So it was thought that Dickens would
be especially gratif1ed if Irving were
called upon to preside at the great
banquet, and that opinion was correct.
81 remember, however, that several
of the gentlemen who made the ar
rangements for the dinner were in
great doubt as whether Mr. Irving
would consent to preside or not. They
were sure that he would gladly be
present. but they thought it would
need much persuasion to induce him
to accept the post of presiding host.
That doubt arose from the fact, then
well known, that Mr.. Irving could
never be prevailed upon to make a
speech. He had made one or two
attempts earlier and had broken down.
Irving, who had just recently been
appointed minister to Madrid was liV'
ing in a small two-story house in Irv-
ing place, and when the dinner COM
mittee called upon him there and
asked him to preside at the dinner he
absolutely declined. Indeed, not until
several visits had been made to him
was he at last prevailed upon to &C
cept the post, when he said, half re-
luctantly, that he would write little
speech of welcome and commit 1t
thoroughly to memory, but that the
committee would have to rely upon
some one else to make the chief ad-
dress of the evening.
Mr.. Irving never looked better or
seemed more confident of himself than
when the distinguished company was
assembled at the table. Dickens sat
at his right hand. The company was
very merry and companionable. DICK
ems himself was in high spirits.
when Mr. Irving raped for order,
and having secured 1t, stood before
the company to make the opening adj
dress, every one was sure that he had
conquered his innate modesty. He be-
gan in a clear, distinct voice, but he
had spoken only four or five words
when his voice trembled, embarrass-
ment came upon him, and with curl
Gus gesture of despair he sank into
his seat, his speech unfinished. Dick
ems had been warned that Irving
might break down, so that he was pre-
pared for this catastrophe. Quietly,
he leaned over and whispered some
comforting words to Irving-no one
ever knew what they were-and the
feast went on as though nothing had
happened.
Dickens understood the tempera-
mental difficulty which made it i'm
possible for Irving to speak in pub
lie. He told some of his friends that
it was not uncommon for men who
had written great literature to be
mute when in the presence of many
people"
Copyright, 1910, by E ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.)