The sun., 1913-11-16

Finally, in las. when he was ~ years
old he retired from business. for he had
gained a competence and desired more
leisure. which leisure" he defined as "a
time for doing something useful" His
journalism and scientific Investigations
We're already giving him worldwide
fame and he wished to accomplish even
greater results in both.
Just across William street. from the
oldest house in New York. built of little
bricks brought from Holland, there
stands to-day the magnificent Under
writer's Building. over the site where
long ago stood the modest house in
which Washington Irving first saw the
light. He was the youngest OF large
family. his birthday. April l3. 1888.
being Just at the close of the Revolu-
tionary war.
Like many another genius. Washing
ton Irving hated school. He was. how
ever, willing to scribble by the hour and
was always glad to trade essays for
problems. Not being strong his parents
encouraged an out OF door life and how
he loved to stroll
His quests began with the Battery.
region rich in whimsical lore: about the
pier heads he wandered-later with dog
and gun through Westchester county,
captivated with hill and wood and the
witchery Of Sleepy Hollow. intently
listening to every recital Of old Dutch
legends. He sailed up the Hudson.
gathering folklore all the way; and as
he looked and thought and listened he
was creating a native vein, which after
ward he was to weave into scenes of
romantic imaginings, to endow the
banks Of our American Rhine with
priceless legends.
He began to study law at 16, In Judge
Hoffman's office, but did not enjoy it
bu, he loved the play. which his Puri-
tanical father regarded a wicked amuse-
ment. and often at night after family
prayers he would climb down from his
window and. joining his friend Paul
ding, would visit the old John Street
Theatre.
His two older brothers. after gradual
ing at Kings College. edited the Morn
in1 Chronicle, to which young WASH
ington. at 10, contributed some sportive
Jonathan Oldstyle" papers that in
small degree satrized the town foibles.
But he could not do much, for year by
year he seemed to grow more con-
sumptive until when he was Fl 1t was
decided to send him abroad for his
health.
In 1909 appeared Irving's "Knicker-
booker History OF New York." full OF
half humorous. half real scenes, de-
scriptive Of the city from the beginning
Of the world to the end Of the Dutch
| dynasty.
This "Knickerbocker History" COM
bining both fact and fancy, is called by
many the first readable book In Ameri-
can literature. Indeed. some make its
publication in 1909 the true beginning
| Of American literature.
In 1881, after an absence Of seventeen
years, Irving returned to his native
land-and such an ovation as he re-
ceived! A public dinner was rendered
him at the City Hotel In New York,
where a little later he presided over
one given to Dickens. Irving could
never bear to preside, and after pre-
senting Dickens in the most abrupt
| way he terminated with the aside: "Ive
told you should break down. and I've
done IL"
He bought sunnyside at Tarrytown,
| a little farm on the banks Of the Hud-
son not far from his loved Sleepy Hol-
low. with a snug and picturesque house
"as full Of gables as Peter Stuyvesant's
| cooked hat"
From here ten years later Irving was
called by Daniel Webster. then Secre-
| tary OF State under President Tyler, to
boone Minister to Spain. and he ac-
cepted. but Spain had lost Its glamour
and his heart always yearned for Sun
nyside.
After four years he went back there
to spend his closing days amid the
scenes OF his early delight. Here his Sis
ter presided and the house ''was well
stocked with nJeces." II was "the best
house to which an old bachelor ever
came" he had "but to walk In. hang