Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

ThackerayAll men held their hand from that harmless, friendlypeacemaker. I had the good fortune to see him at NewYork, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington,* and remarkedhow in every place he was honored and welcome.Every large city has its “Irving House.” The countrytakes pride in the fame of its men of letters. Thegate of his own charming little domain on the beautifulHudson River was for ever swinging before visitors whocame to him. He shut out no one.** I had seen manypictures of his house, and read descriptions of it, inboth of which it was treated with a not unusual Americanexaggeration. It was but a pretty little cabin of aplace; the gentleman of the press who took notes of theplace, whilst his kind old host was sleeping, might havevisited the whole house in a couple of minutes.And how came it that this house was so small, whenMr. Irving’s books were sold by hundreds of thousands,nay, millions, when his profits were known to be large,and the habits of life of the good old bachelor werenotoriously modest and simple? He had loved once inhis life. The lady he loved died; and he, whom all theworld loved, never sought to replace her. I can’t sayhow much the thought of that fidelity has touched me.* At Washington, Mr. Irving came to a lecture given by the writer,which Mr. Filmore and General Pierce, the President and PresidentDoes not the very cheerfulness of his after life add toElect, were also kind enough to attend together. “Two Kings the pathos of that untold story? To grieve always wasof Brentford smelling at one rose,” says Irving, looking up withhis good-humored smile.not in his nature; or, when he had his sorrow, to bring** Mr. Irving described to me, with that humor and good-humor all the world in to condole with him and bemoan it.which he always kept, how, amongst other visitors, a memberof the British press who had carried his distinguished pen to Deep and quiet he lays the love of his heart, and buriesAmerica (where he employed it in vilifying his own country) came it; and grass and flowers grow over the scarred groundto Sunnyside, introduced himself to Irving, partook of his wineand luncheon, and in two days described Mr. Irving, his house, in due time.his nieces, his meal, and his manner of dozing afterwards, in a Irving had such a small house and such narrow rooms,New York paper. On another occasion, Irving said, laughing,“Two persons came to me, and one held me in conversation because there was a great number of people to occupywhilst the other miscreant took my portrait!”195