Irving College - Irvingiana Yearbook (Mechanicsburg, PA)

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Ichabod Crane encountered in Sleepy Hollow ? And astory of the same character that is no less interesting is the 'L Speetre Bridegroomf' A German baron had arranged with another noble that their children should marry, so upon the day that the groom was to come to claim his bride, a feast was prepared to celebrate the great occasion. Everything was prepared but the groom failed to arrive. It so happened that the groom had met an old friend of his. As they went on their way together he told him of his intended marriage, but before they arrived at the castle, they were attacked by robbers and the groom was killed. His friend went on to the castle intending to tell the sad news, but the baron thinking the groom had come, would not hear his explanation. The friend finally realizing that he was mistaken for the groom and wishing to avoid further complications, impersonated the spirit of the groom. At last he succeeded in saying that the must go to Westminster Cathedral. In a sepulchral voice, he said, 'I The worms, the worms, I am a dead man. I have been slain by robbers-my body lies at Wtirtzburg-at midnight I am to be buried-the grave is waiting for me-I must keep my ap- pointment,'l and off he dashed on his charger. Of course it was thought that they had entertained a ghost. In a few days the daughter disappeared, supposedly carried off by the gobblin. Soon the bride and groom returned, the mistake was explained and everyone was glad to know that the groom was not a spectre at all. This story, although exceedingly hu- morous and interesting, is merely entertaining. Others are instructive and helpful. Perhaps the stories best known both in England and America are the series on the English Christmas. He des- cribes Christmas as, The season of regenerated feeling--the season for kindling not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart, and in speaking of its influence he says, Stranger and sojourner as I am in the land, though for me no social hearth may blaze, no hospitable roof throw open its doors, nor warm grasp of friend- ship welcome me at the threshold, yet I feel the influence of the season beaming into my soul from the happy looks of those around me. Surely happiness is reflective like the light of heaven and every countenance bright with smiles and glowing with innocent enjoyment is a mirror transmitting to others the rays of a supreme and ever-shining benevolence. He who can turn churlishly away from contemplating the felicity of his fellow-beings and can sit doWn,darkling and repining in his loneliness, when all around is joyful, may have his moments of strong excitement and selfish gratification, but he wants the genial and social sympathies which constitute the charm of a merry Christmas. The rest of the series consists of the Stage Coachl' telling of the people's going home to spend Christmas, U Christmas Eve, Christmas Day ll and the Christmas Dinner. They not only entertain us but give us valuable information concerning the Way Christmas was celebrated in mediaeval days and fill us with the beautiful spirit of Christmas. In writing of subjects that appeal to English people may it not be that English and American interests have been drawn close together.

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and poetical associations. My country was full of youthful promise: Europe was rich in accumulated treasures of age. It was during one of his visits to Europe that the 4' Sketch Book was written. In speaking of the information that he had gathered while traveling, he says, 4' As it is the fashion for modern tour- ists to travel pencil in hand and bring home their portfolios filled with sketches, I am disposed to get up a few for the en- tertainment of my friends. When, however, I look over my hintsiand memorandums, I have taken down forthe purpose, my heart almost fails me at finding how my idle humor hasled me aside from the great objects studied by every regular traveller who would make a book. I fear Irshall give equal disappointment with an unlucky landscape painter, who had travelled on the Continent, but following the bent of his vagrant inclination, had sketched in nooks, corners and by places. His Sketch-book was accordingly crowded with cottages and landscapes and obscure ruins, but he had neglected to paint, St. Peterls, or the Coliseum, the Cascade of Terni, or the Bay of Naples, and had not a single glacier or volcano in his whole collection? From this, we learn that Irving felt that in giving so many humble scenes of Europe, perhaps he had failed in his purpose. But we find that the Sketch Book H in dealingwith both great and humble things, instructs and entertains andappeals to us in all our moods. Instead of its being a failure, it is a book of much importance. , A The if Sketch Book consists of short stories of varied character. For those who care for the pathetic, there are H The Widow and her Son,'l Rural Funerals and The Pride of the Village. In contrast to these are the humorous ones, U Rip Van Winkle, 4' The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Spectre Bridegroomf' There are also biographies and stories that are almost entirely descriptive. In some instances one may find a story that has no connection with another, while again some seem only a continuation uf what has gone before. I To learn the nature of the Sketch Book let us study the plan of it. As it was written in England for American publication, it is but natural that the author should first give an account of his voyage-telling of the various thoughts and feelings that he had in leaving his own country with the uncertainty of returning. He goes on to tell of what one may see and hear on shipboard and finishes with a vivid description of landing in a foreign port. At first reading the sketch of ffRoscoe, following the K' Voyage may seem disconnected, but by .studying it more closely, the connection may be easily traced. One of the first places to which a stranger is taken in Liverpool is the Athe- naum. When Irving visited it, he saw Roscoe, whose appearance so impressed him that it furnished material for this story. A One of the most interesting things about Irving's humorous stories is that what, at first, seems to be the most ter- rible ghost story turns out to be mere fancy. Who does not known of the thrilling account of the headless rider that

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The chapter on Indian Traits gives us a beautiful view of the Indian-not merely as a savage, but as a true hearted man. Irving tells us how shamefully the Indians were treated by the whites and that it was but human nature to seek revenge. Should the poet even tell of their wrongs andlwretchedness, of how they were invaded, corrupted, despoiled, driven from their native lands and the sepulchres of their fathers, hunted like Wild beasts about the earth and sent down with violence and butchering to the grave, posterity will either turn with horror and incredulity from the tale or blush with indignation at the inhumanity of their forefathers. ' Having learned something of the nature of the Sketch Book, let us learn the nature of the qualities which make this interesting book of value. Irving chose interesting subjects. It is not only that, but even more, his qualities of style that make it what it is. A His descriptions are so vivid that one cannot fail to get the meaning and to enter into the spirit of the author. For example, in describing a noble1nan's family he says, Nothing could be more simple and unassuming than their appearance. They generally came to church in the plainest equipage and often on foot. The young ladies would stop and converse in the kindest manner with the peasantry, caress the children and listen to the stories of the humble cottagers. Their countenances were open and beautifully fair, with an expression of high refinement, but at the same time a frank cheerfulness and engaging aifability. Their brothers were tall and elegantly formed. They were dressed fashionably but simply-with strict neatness and propriety, but without any mannerism or foppishness. Their whole demeanor was easy and natural, with that lofty grace and noble frankness which bespeak free born souls that have never been checked in their growth by the feelings of inferiority. From this extract, we also notice that Irving's choice of words expresses exactly what is desired. No unfamiliar or ambiguous words are used-it holds true throughout the book that the words used are familiar to almost everyone. It Was not his purpose to use high sounding language, but to express the meaning as simply as possible. V Irving's figures of speech also add to the clearness and to the beauty of his writings. For example, he says, The Indians resembled those wild plants which thrive best in the shades of the forests, but shrink from the land of cultivation and perish beneath the influence of the sun. Again in speaking of woman, he says, As the vine which has long twined its graceful foliage about the oak and been lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the hardy plant is rifted by the thunder- bolt, cling round it with its caressing tendrils and bind up its shattered boughs, so is it beautifully ordered by Providence, that Woman, who is the mere dependent and ornament of man, in happier hours, should be his stay and solace, when smitten with sudden calamity, winding herself into the rugged recesses of his nature, tenderly supporting the drooping head and binding up the broken heart.