ON THE CUSP OF A QUARTER MILLION SERVED - I AM HUMBLED BY READER SUPPORT
FIRST OFF - I JUST READ A REPORT IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, TODAY, INDICATING THAT THE TURN-OUT OF VOTERS, FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN GRAVENHURST, ON MONDAY, WAS A MISERABLE 37 PERCENT. FOR THOSE ELECTED, THIS FIGURE SHOULD STICK IN THEIR MINDS. IT WAS A CLEAR SHOW OF DISINTEREST; A PROTEST VOTE IN ESSENCE, ABOUT HOW INADEQUATELY COUNCIL GOVERNS LOCALLY. BELIEVING THAT ONE CANDIDATE IS ONLY MARGINALLY BETTER THAN THE OTHER, AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT, IN THE EXECUTION OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. I THINK IT'S A PRETTY LOW EXPECTATION THESE DAYS. APATHY IS A FACTOR, AND SECONDLY, FRUSTRATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REPRESENTS THE OTHER DOWNSIDE. TOWN COUNCIL, AS IN OTHER YEARS, CAN BELIEVE WHATEVER IT WANTS, ABOUT THE REASONS THEY WERE ELECTED; POSSIBLY EVEN THE HAND OF DIVINE INTERVENTION. BUT WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO THE BRASS TACKS OF ANALYSIS, THE LOW TURN-OUT, APPEARS AS IF CONSTITUENTS SIMPLY TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, TO SEND A MESSAGE TO TOWN HALL. MAYBE A PROTEST ABOUT HAVING AN ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING, BUT NOT RESPECTING DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS ENOUGH, TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE A FLOOR MICROPHONE, FOR CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS BEYOND THE MAIL-IN FORMAT. I REALLY HOPE THERE ARE A FEW GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS, WITH ENOUGH INSIGHT, AND PERCEPTION, TO SEE THAT THEY AREN'T NEARLY AS POPULAR AS THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE; BUT IF THAT'S WHAT THE MAGIC MIRROR TELLS THEM, WELL, GO WITH THAT THEN! AS FOR THE REST OF US, WE ARE PRETTY REALISTIC ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND MY BET, IS THAT THE CITIZENS WILL LEAD THIS TOWN AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, AND COUNCILLORS WILL FOLLOW ALONG BEHIND TAKING CREDIT!
A MILESTONE I HAD REALLY EXPECTED
IF SOMEONE HANDED ME AN AWARD FOR MY WORK IN THE FIELD OF LOCAL HISTORY, I'D PROBABLY DROP DEAD ON THE SPOT. IF I WAS GIVEN CREDIT FOR PROMOTING THE TOWN OR REGION, WHICH I'VE HAPPILY DONE FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS, I'D BE LOOKING AROUND FOR THE CANDID CAMERA CREW. IF I FOUND AN AWARD ON THE STREET, AFTER IT BLEW-UP AGAINST MY SHOE, I WOULD LOOK UP AT HEAVEN, AND THANK GOD, BUT LET HIM KNOW I CAN'T ACCEPT CHARITY, WHEN IT COMES TO MY TIGHT PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. I'M JUST NOT A JOINER, OR A SCHMOOZER, AND I'M NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT; HISTORICALLY, I'M CORRECT MORE THAN I'M WRONG; BUT YOU SEE, I IRK THE PEOPLE WHO DETERMINE WHO WINS AWARDS AND WHO GETS SHUT-OUT ONCE AGAIN. WE HAVE A JOKE IN OUR FAMILY, THAT OF TEN REGIONAL HISTORIANS ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD, I WOULD BE NUMBER ELEVEN. I USED TO CARE ABOUT THIS, BUT I'D RATHER BE ON THE "OUTS," AND HONEST WITH WHAT I DO, THAN CONFORM, AS SEEMS PREFERABLE, TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE STANDARD. IT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WRITING MY DAILY BLOGS. THERE ARE NO AWARDS FOR WHAT I WRITE ABOUT, AND IT TAKES THE WHOLE "TRYING TO IMPRESS THE PANEL OF JUDGES" OUT OF THE PICTURE. THE ONLY REALITY I HAVE TO FACE, IS THE VIEW-COUNT PER DAY, AND THIS IS ALL I NEED TO INSPIRE BETTER WORK, MORE INTERESTING SUBJECTS, AND A YEARLY MISSION STATEMENT REVISION, TO ADAPT MY MATERIAL TO WHAT READERS ACTUALLY WANT. THE BEST REWARD OF ALL, IS TO HAVE A CONSISTENT READERSHIP, AND ONE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CLIMB. WHEN I LOSE READERS, I IMMEDIATELY TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOME NEW MATERIAL, AND MORE INTERESTING PERSPECTIVES, AND RETROSPECTIVES, TO WIN THEM BACK. WRITING A BLOG HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT WRITING AND PRESENTATION, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I CAN FORGET, THAT ENTERTAINMENT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WHOLE SUCCESS FORMULA. AFTER I'M SENT TO PUSH UP THE DAISIES, MAYBE I WILL GET A POSTHUMOUS AWARD FOR LONG SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNITY HISTORY, THAT MY SURVIVING FAMILY CAN WAVE OVER MY GRAVE; BUT SEEING AS HOW THEY RESPECT MY OPINION, ABOUT THESE THINGS, MAYBE INSTEAD THEY'LL JUST WRITE ONE MORE BLOG FOR ME, IN A MOST LIGHT-HEARTED FASHION, TO THANK YOU FOLKS FOR HANGING IN THERE, WHEN OTHERS WERE HEADING FOR THE EXISTS. THERE IS TRULY NO REWARD FOR ME, HIGHER, AND MORE SATISFYING, THAN TO KEEP COMPANY WITH YOU FOLKS.
THREE YEARS AGO, I DECIDED TO TURN MY PART-TIME BLOGGING, INTO A DAILY EXERCISE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT MY TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF, SON ROBERT AND PARTNER SUZANNE, TOLD ME TO SHOOT FOR THE MOON, AND IF I DIDN'T LAND THERE EVENTUALLY, I SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH WHATEVER GAINS WERE MADE IN READERSHIP. AT FIRST, I WAS GETTING TWENTY READERS A DAY, AND AFTER THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS, I HAD JUMPED TO FIFTY, AND ON OCCASION, I COULD FIND MYSELF ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING A HUNDRED. IN THREE YEARS I'VE HIT HIGHS OF SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY PER BLOG, AND I'VE, AT TIMES, SLIPPED BELOW A HUNDRED. TODAY, I'M FLIRTING WITH TWO HUNDRED ON MOST NIGHTS, AND IN JUST OVER A WEEK, I WILL PROUDLY BOAST THAT MY BLOG, HAS THEN ACHIEVED A QUARTER MILLION VIEWS, AND HAS BEEN READ AROUND THE GLOBE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS, FOR ME, THE HISTORIAN, IS THAT THE BLOGS ARE ACTIVELY BEING ARCHIVED DAILY, BY MY READERS AT HOME AND ABROAD; AND I GET ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING FEEDBACK FROM COLUMNS I WROTE UPWARDS OF THREE YEARS AGO, THAT HAVE SUDDENLY BECOME OF CURRENT INTEREST TO RESEARCHERS, AND ASSOCIATE HISTORIANS. EVEN RECENTLY, WE'VE HAD A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IN THE UNITED STATES, MANY EVERY MONTH, SOMETHING OR OTHER, REGARDING THE WORK OF ARTISTS PROFILED IN THESE BLOGS. THE REMARKABLE ASPECT OF THIS, IS THAT, UNLIKE THE HIGH VIEWERSHIP FOR CELEBRITY BLOGGERS, I'VE NEVER OPTED TO DROP NAMES OF HIGH PROFILE ACTORS OR MUSICIANS, TO ATTAIN MORE SITE VISITS. THE GAINS HAVE BEEN MODEST BUT SATISFYING, AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, IS TO WRITE A GENERAL BLOG, THAT APPEALS TO MOST READERS; BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, I OPT TO PEN SOMETHING SPECIFIC, SUCH AS SEVERAL RECENT BLOGS ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HERE IN GRAVENHURST. READERSHIP WAS A LITTLE HIGHER FOR THESE BLOGS, BECAUSE OF EX-PATS, FORMERLY OF GRAVENHURST, LIVING ABROAD, BUT WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR HOMETOWN. IN THE LATE FALL OF THE YEAR, MY NUMBERS TRADITIONALLY GO UP, BUT MY READERSHIP SHIFTS SOMEWHAT TO THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, WHERE QUITE A NUMBER OF SOUTH MUSKOKANS WINTER, AND IN A WAY, TAKE ME A LONG. I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SUNBURNS, OR PAYING FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT I GET THE TROPICAL FEELING NONE THE LESS.
THE BLOG WILL BE CHANGING GRADUALLY, OVER THE COMING YEAR, TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONTEMPORARY, AND MAYBE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE PAUL RIMSTEAD STYLE, (FORMER COLUMNIST OF THE TORONTO SUN), OFFERING A LIGHTER LOOK AT LOCAL, PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL SITUATIONS, THAT AFFECT US HERE IN SMALL TOWN ONTARIO. I AM BOTH AN HISTORIAN AND ANTIQUE DEALER, BUT I HAVE MOST EXPERIENCE IN WRITING ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, LIKE LOCAL AND REGIONAL POLITICS, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT; AND AS AN OLD NEWS HOUND FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS, I STILL CAN'T RESIST REPORTING ON THINGS THAT POP UP AROUND OUR BALLYWICK, RATHER UNEXPECTEDLY. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE HAPPENING, IN AND AROUND OUR SHOP, AS REGARDS TO MUSIC AND MUSICIANS, THAT I COULD LITERALLY WRITE A DAILY ENTERTAINMENT OVERVIEW. ANDREW AND ROBERT HAVE CREATED QUITE AN INTERESTING MUSIC SHOP AND RECORDING STUDIO HERE, IN THE HEART OF GRAVENHURST, OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE, IN WHAT IS NOW REFERRED TO AS THE UPTOWN AREA OF MUSKOKA ROAD. WE HAVE BECOME A SORT OF MUSICIAN'S COMMUNE, AND WHAT GREAT FUN IT IS, TO BE IN THE MIDDLE, AS I FIND MYSELF DAILY, OF JAM SESSIONS, AND ENTERTAINMENT-SCENE CHATS, THAT ARE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE. I CAN'T HELP IT, IF THIS READS LIKE I'M BRAGGING; I'M NOT REALLY, JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THIS IS PRESENTING, AND WILL IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, WHEN WE WILL BE UNVEILING A NEW MUSIC PROJECT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE GREAT NEWS FOR THE TOWN'S REPUTATION IN CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT. WE CAN'T RELEASE THIS YET, BUT THE BOYS AND MATES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CRAFTING THIS GROUP FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND WHO IS PART OF THE NEW MUSIC SCENE, WHEN A PERFORMANCE DATE HAS BEEN FINALIZED.
WE ALL NEED A CHANGE OF DIRECTION, IN OUR LIVES, FROM TIME TO TIME, TO PROVE TO OURSELVES WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO ADAPT TO SITUATIONS OF "A NEW NORMAL." ONE OF THE REASONS I DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE THIS YEAR, WAS DUE TO THE SURGE OF ACTIVITY HERE AT OUR GRAVENHURST SHOP / STUDIO, AND IN ORDER TO BE A PART OF IT, I SIMPLY COULDN'T CARRY THE WEIGHT OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND PURSUE THIS ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITY AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULDN'T RISK CONFLICT OF INTEREST, OR AN UNNECESSARY DRAIN ON TIME. I'M GETTING ON IN YEARS, AND I NEED AFTERNOON NAPS. WE ARE WORKING AT THIS ENTERPRISE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, BUT HONESTLY, WHEN WORK IS THIS MUCH FUN, IT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT IT IN THE SAME CATEGORY, AS THOSE TASKS THAT ARE TRULY A DRUDGERY EXPERIENCE. BEING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MAJOR CANADIAN MUSIC ACTS, AND PERFORMERS, IS AN AMAZING CHANGE OF PACE FOR ME, ESPECIALLY NOW, WHEN ADMITTEDLY, I'M FED-UP WITH THE TURN OF LOCAL POLITICS. YES, I'VE FINALLY GOT THE MESSAGE, THAT I SHOULD BE WRITING ABOUT OTHER THINGS, AND ABSORBED BY MORE DIMENSIONAL, DYNAMIC AND EXCITING SITUATIONS, GOING ON AROUND ME. I'VE ONLY DUSTED THE EDGES, OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENS AROUND HERE, THAT IS SO ALLURING AND FULL OF POTENTIAL. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT MUSIC AS I SHOULD, HAVING TWO MUSICIAN SONS, WHO OWN A VINTAGE MUSIC STORE. ROBERT HAS UPGRADED ME, AS A PERSONAL MUSIC TUTOR, AND IN THE PAST YEAR, WORKING OUT OF HIS STUDIO, I'VE LISTENED TO ABOUT A THOUSAND RECORDS, OF ALL GENRES, FROM ROOTS, FOLK, COUNTRY, ROCK-A-BILLY, ROCK 'N ROLL, BLUES, JAZZ, POP, VINTAGE, AMBIENCE, AND ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE OMITTED, THAT HAS PLAYED ON THE SHOP TURNTABLE. I DON'T LIKE EVERYTHING I HEAR, BUT I'VE OPENED MY MIND TO A HUGE RANGE OF MUSIC, WHICH I OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE IGNORED ENTIRELY. IT'S BEEN A MUSIC EDUCATION I THOUGHT I WAS TOO OLD TO BENEFIT FROM, BUT APPARENTLY I'M "COMING AROUND," AND ASKING INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS, ABOUT GENRES; AND THIS PLEASES MY TUTOR, ROBERT.
I WANT TO EXTEND HEARTFELT THANKS, TO ALL THE READERS WHO HAVE PUT UP WITH INCONSISTENCIES, AND THE RESIDENT WILDNESS THAT IS ME, FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS WORKING ON THIS DAILY BLOG. IT WILL GET BETTER. IT WILL BE MORE CONTEMPORARY, BUT IT WILL NEVER NOT BE IDENTIFIABLE AS HOMEGROWN MUSKOKA, WITH AN INGRAINED PRIDE FOR LOCAL HISTORY. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT RETIRING SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN RECENTLY, BUT THE DEATH OF MY OLD WRITING CRONIE, AND GOOD FRIEND, BRANT SCOTT, CONVINCED ME TO STAY-ON, BECAUSE OF OUR PACT MADE A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, TOASTED OVER A FEW COLD ALES, AT THE FORMER ALBION HOTEL PRESS CLUB, IN BRACEBRIDGE; THAT WE WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON THE SOUL SAVING VIRTUES OF ROBUST EXPRESSION AND CREATIVITY, AS IF THE WORLD DEPENDS ON IT, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SPINNING. I'M GOING TO OFFER A SOLO TOAST, AND SALUTE TO BRANT SCOTT, THE DAY I HIT 250,000 VIEWS, AND GIVE CREDIT TO OUR DAYS WORKING AT THE FORMER HERALD-GAZETTE IN BRACEBRIDGE, FOR GIVING US BOTH THE REASON TO WRITE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I'M GOING TO DEDICATE THE ENTIRE NEXT YEAR TO BRANT'S MEMORY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH I THOUGHT OF HIM AS A WRITER / MENTOR, WHO HELPED ME NAVIGATE A HELL OF A LOT OF OBSTACLES, TO ACHIEVING A CAREER RELATIONSHIP WITH A NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT PROFESSION; DEPENDENT EVERY DAY, ON ACCEPTANCE BY THE PUBLIC. HE WOULD GET A REAL KICK OUT OF ME TURNING TOWARD MUSIC, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS FELT IT WAS MY GREATEST DEFICIENCY, AND WHY HE ALWAYS COVERED CONCERTS AND MUSIC GET-TOGETHERS FOR OUR PAPER. I REMEMBER ONCE, AT THE "INN ON THE BAY," IN THE VILLAGE OF MILFORD BAY, ON LAKE MUSKOKA, BEING INVITED TO SIT WITH HIM AND A GROUP OF FRIENDS, AND GETTING PRETTY HAMMERED, LISTENING TO HIS CHUMS TALK ABOUT THEIR TRAVELING EXPERIENCES AS A WELL KNOWN CANADIAN BAND. I NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK WHO THEY WERE. I DRANK WITH SOME OF THE BAND MEMBERS UNTIL LATE IN THE NIGHT, BEFORE I FINALLY ASKED BRANT, WHAT BAND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. I CAN HONESTLY SAY, I DRANK WITH "CROWBAR." BY TIME I KNEW WHO THEY WERE, EVERYONE HAD LEFT, AND I STILL HAD A HALF GLASS OF BEER. FUNNY THING, THOUGH! A YEAR AGO I HAD A NICE CHAT WITH A COUPLE OF MUSICIANS HERE IN THE SHOP, AND WE TALKED ABOUT SNOW TIRES, THE WEATHER, A STORM APPROACHING; AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I ASKED ANDREW ABOUT THOSE NICE FELLOWS, AFTER THEY'D LEFT, THAT HE TOLD ME, "WELL DAD, YOU WERE TALKING TO CROWBAR." THAT MAKES TWICE IN A LIFETIME I TALKED TO CROWBAR BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE. BY THE WAY, I DANCED AT A CROWBAR CONCERT, IN THE EARLY 1970'S, WHEN THEY PLAYED AT BRACEBRIDGE AND MUSKOKA LAKES SECONDARY SCHOOL. THEY PLAYED TO A FULL HOUSE THAT NIGHT, BUT I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE LADS. THAT CAME MUCH LATER.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS BLOGSITE, BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING, IT WILL CONTINUE TO THROW A FEW CURVES, AND NEVER BE PREDICTABLE; JUST LIKE THE WAY THIS MUSIC VENUE ADAPTS TO THE HAPPENSTANCE OF VISITING MUSICIANS, AND MUSIC JAMS THAT BREAK OUT WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. I WON'T BE WRITING AN EXCLUSIVELY MUSIC BLOG, BUT IT WILL BE FAR MORE OF A CULTURE AND RECREATION PROFILE, THAN YOU'VE BEEN READING OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. I'M GOING TO INFUSE SOME NEW IDEAS AND BURN THE BRIDGE AT BOTH ENDS, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SO HANG-ON, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T LIVEN THINGS UP AROUND HERE. ONCE AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA PROJECT, AND I DON'T TAKE EVEN ONE READER FOR GRANTED. I'M STILL A MILLION BUCKS SHY OF BEING A MILLIONAIRE, BUT I JUST ADORE MEETING WITH YOU FOLKS EVERY DAY, IN THIS "FRIENDLY GIANT" TRADITION, OF PULLING UP CHAIRS TO HEARTHSIDE, AND SPINNING SOME INTERESTING TALL TALES, AND INTERESTING ANECDOTES, ABOUT THE LIFE AND TIMES LIVING HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA....AND BEYOND. IT'S A HELL OF LIFE, ISN'T IT?
YOU CAN ALSO READ MY MONTHLY COLUMNS IN "CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE," AND "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW," WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOR THE MID NORTH AUDIENCE, FROM DOWNTOWN DUNCHURCH, ONTARIO. SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.
MIGHT THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN OF "SLEEPY HOLLOW," RIDE THROUGH THE BRACEBRIDGE WOODLANDS TOMORROW EVENING?
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWE'EN WITH WASHINGTON IRVING - A PARTY WITH PROVENANCE
THOSE AMAZING "WHAT IFS!" WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, ACTUALLY EMBRACED THEIR LITERARY PROVENANCE, AND IN RECOGNITION OF HALLOWE'EN, HAD HOSTED A TOP NOTCH WASHINGTON IRVING FESTIVAL, IN THE HAUNTING SPIRIT OF HIS FAMOUS STORY, "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW?" THE RIDE OF THE "HEADLESS HORSEMAN," THROUGH THE VILLAGE! CHASING DOWN ICHABOD CRANE, THE TALL AND WILLOWY EDUCATOR, WHO IS PURSUE AS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, THROUGH THE HUDSON RIVER WOODLANDS, BY THE PHANTOM RIDER, PREPARING TO USE HIS WEAPON, A FLAMING JACK 'O LANTERN, TO KNOCK THE VICTIM OFF HIS MOUNT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH AMERICA, THAT HAVE A CONNECTION TO WASHINGTON IRVING, THAT DO CELEBRATE THE "LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW," ONE COMMUNITY BEING IRVING, TEXAS. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, I BELIEVE, SETS UP THE HALLOWE'EN FUN, FOR YOUNGSTERS, BY RE-ENACTING THE RIDE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN, AND THE HOPELESS ESCAPE OF ICHABOD CRANE, FROM HIS GRASP. WHAT GOOD FUN. SO THEN WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH BRACEBRIDGE, NOT CELEBRATING ITS RIGHTFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUTHOR, WHO, INDIRECTLY, PLAYED A ROLE IN NAMING THEIR COMMUNITY. WHILE BRACEBRIDGE HALL, WRITTEN BY IRVING, IN 1822, WAS THE TITLE POSTAL CLERK, WILLIAM DAWSON LESUER SELECTED, WHEN IT CAME TO RE-NAMING THE FORMER HAMLET OF NORTH FALLS, "BRACEBRIDGE," AS A TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN AUTHOR, THE NAME "BRACEBRIDGE" FIRST APPEARS, IN THE 1819 RELEASE THE BETTER KNOWN, "SKETCH BOOK;" WHEN READERS ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO "SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE," BY IRVING'S CHARACTER, GEOFFREY CRAYON, ESQ. AND WITHIN THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED BOOK, THERE IS THE STORY, "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW," AND OF COURSE, "RIP VAN WINKLE." SUCH WONDERFUL SHORT STORIES, AND SUCH AN AMAZING STORY TELLER, IT'S A SHAME THE PROVENANCE HAS NEVER BEEN SERIOUSLY EMBRACED, AND CELEBRATED, AS IT SHOULD BE. THAT'S WHERE I COME IN, I SUPPOSE. AS THE REGION'S MOST PROLIFIC WRITER, WHO HAS NEVER KNOWN WHEN TO STOP, CEASE OR DESIST, I WANT TO, IN HONOR OF BOTH AUTHOR, AND STORY, AND MY FORMER HOMETOWN, OFFER UP THIS SHORTENED VERSION, OF "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW," AS I DID LAST YEAR, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CONNECTION ALIVE AND WELL; BECAUSE SOME TIME DOWN THE ROAD, THERE IS GOING TO BE A GENERATION, THAT DECIDES THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH A GREAT WRITER, AND A TRULY MEMORABLE STORY, DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED, AS WAS INTENDED, WHEN THE GOOD MR. LESUEUR NAMED THE NEW POST OFFICE "BRACEBRIDGE." AS A MAN OF CONSIDERABLE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL ACCLAIM HIMSELF, HE WANTED THE TITLE TO BE REVERED. BUT TO HIS CHAGRIN, I SUPPOSE, IT WAS NEVER RECOGNIZED AS A TRIBUTE; AND TO SOME, IT WAS INSULTING THAT HE HAD REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE TITLE "NORTH FALLS," PUT FORWARD BY THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN, IN THE YEAR 1864. UP TO HIS OWN DEMISE, LESUEUR NEVER HAD THE FULFILLMENT, OF KNOWING HIS LITERARY TRIBUTE HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED, IN THE SPIRIT OF MEMORIAL FOR A GREAT AUTHOR, AS HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED. PART OF THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, WAS THAT HE HADN'T LEFT DOCUMENTATION, TO THIS END, WHICH WOULD MOST DEFINITELY HAVE RE-ENFORCED, THAT HE HADN'T PLAYED THE NAME GAME, AS A POSTAL AUTHORITY PRANK. HE MEANT, THAT WE SHOULD FEEL FORTUNATE, TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL LITERARY GENIUS. INSTEAD OF A BRONZE STATUE OF WASHINGTON IRVING BEING FINANCED TO GRACE THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, WE MAY INSTEAD FIND, THAT A SCULPTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED, OF A REALLY BIG SANTA CLAUS. I COULD ACCEPT IT, AS AN HISTORIAN, PROVIDING IRVING'S STATUE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY BESIDE.
FOR A COMMUNITY THAT SEEMS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN IMPROVING ITS DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DRAW, AND INCREASING ITS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WHY THEY CAN'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE WHAT THE WASHINGTON IRVING CONNECTION MEANS, ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE. BUT NEVER BEING ONE TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE, I HAVE PROMISED, FOR AS LONG AS I AM ABLE TO WRITE, TO TWICE YEARLY, INTRODUCE WITH PASSION, THE NAME WASHINGTON IRVING, AT HALLOWE'EN, AND THEN AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS. "CHRISTMAS AT BRACEBRIDGE HALL," IS ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN ASPECTS, OF CRAYON'S ENGLAND TOUR LIAISON, WITH SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE; THAT HE PARTICIPATE IN A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION. WASHINGTON IRVING WAS A BELIEVER IN THE HISTORIC VALUE OF PRESERVING TRADITIONS. SEEING AS HE DIED MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE I WAS BORN, I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO MEET HIM, BUT IF I HAD, I WOULD HAVE THANKED HIM FOR HIS VERY GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE LITERATURE OF OUR WORLD.
WHILE I KNOW SOME OF THE READERS OF THIS BLOG, ARE FED-UP READING ABOUT IRVING AND W.D. LESUEUR, THERE ARE A FEW MORE READERS ABOARD NOW, AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH THEM, A SHORTENED VERSION OF THE SLEEPY HOLLOW TALE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN. I WILL CARRY IT OVER TWO BLOGS, AS PART OF MY "ARCHIVES COLLECTION," IN RESPECT TO A HALLOWE'EN CELEBRATION THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. BUT ONE DAY!
For Your Halloween Pleasure- The Run Of The Headless Horseman At Sleepy Hollow
IN THE WORDS OF WASHINGTON IRVING, AND WITH THE COVER OF THE BOOK OPENED TO THE PAGE, WHERE SOME OTHER READER LEFT OFF, IN THE LATE EVENING OF A PAST HALLOWEEN; WE RETURN TO SLEEPY HOLLOW, AND THE GOOD FOLKS' BELIEF IN THE APPARITION KNOWN, AS THE "HEADLESS HORSEMAN," THE HESSIAN TROOPER WHO HAD LOST HIS HEAD IN A REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE....AND HAD BEEN BURIED WITHOUT, IN A CHURCHYARD PLOT.....WHERE IT IS SAID, HE RISES ON MOONLIT NIGHTS LIKE THIS, TO SEEK OUT WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO HIM.
IRVING'S CHARACTER, ICHABOD CRANE, THE NEW SCHOOL TEACHER TO THE VILLAGE OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, CARRIED AFFECTIONS FOR THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEN OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND BY SHOWING HIS AFFECTIONS, HAD GOT UNCOMFORTABLY IN THE WAY, OF HER MORE AGGRESSIVE, CAPABLE ADMIRER, BROM BONES, WHO IT IS SAID, WOULD GO TO ANY LENGTH TO WIN THE SUBJECT OF HIS AFFECTIONS.....INCLUDING THE DISPATCHING OF THE PEDAGOGUE, THE WEAK KNEED, CLUMSY, ANNOYING, GREEDY, MR. CRANE. BUT DID THIS MANIFEST AS AN EFFORT BY A JEALOUS SUITOR, OR WAS THE HESSIAN A PARANORMAL A REAL FORCE OF THE SUPERNATURAL, TO BE RECKONED WITH?
"IT WAS AS I HAVE SAID, A FINE AUTUMNAL DAY; THE SKY WAS CLEAR AND SERENE, AND NATURE WORE THAT RICH AND GOLD LIVERY WHICH WE ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH THE IDEA OF ABUNDANCE. THE FORESTS HAD PUT ON THEIR SOBER BROWN AND YELLOW, WHILE SOME TREES OF THE TENDERER KIND, HAD BEEN NIPPED BY THE FROSTS INTO BRILLIANT DYES OF ORANGE, PURPLE AND SCARLET. STREAMING FILES OF WILD DUCKS BEGAN TO MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE HIGH IN THE AIR; THE BARK OF THE SQUIRREL MIGHT BE HEARD FROM THE GROVES OF BEECH AND HICKORY-NUTS, AND THE PENSIVE WHISTLE OF THE QUAIL, AT INTERVALS FROM THE NEIGHBORING STUBBLE FIELD," WROTE IRVING.
"THE SMALL BIRDS WERE TAKING THEIR FAREWELL BANQUETS. IN THE FULNESS OF THEIR REVELRY, THEY FLUTTERED CHIRPING AND FROLICKING FROM BUSH TO BUSH, AND TREE TO TREE, CAPRICIOUS FROM THE VERY PROFUSING AND VARIETY AROUND THEM. THERE WAS THE VERY HONEST COCK-ROBIN, THE FAVOURITE GAME OF STRIPLING SPORTSMEN, WITH ITS LOUD QUERILOUS NOTE, AND THE TWITTERING BLACKBIRDS FLYING IN SABLE CLOUDS; AND THE GOLDEN WINGED WOODPECKER, WITH HIS CRIMSON CREST, HIS BROAD BLACK GORGET, AND SPLENDID PLUMAGE; AND THE CEDAR-BIRD, WITH ITS RED-TIPT WINGS AND YELLOW-TIPT TAIL, AND HIS LITTLE MONTEIRO CAP OF FEATHERS; AND THE BLUE JAY, THAT NOISY COXCOMB, IN HIS GAY LIGHT BLUE COAT AND WHITE UNDERCLOTHES, SCREAMING AND CHATTERING, NODDING, AND BOBBING, AND BOWING, AND PRETENDING TO BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH EVERY SONGSTER OF THE GROVE.
"AS ICHABOD JOGGED SLOWLY ON HIS WAY, HIS EYE, EVER OPEN TO EVERY SYMPTON OF CULINARY ABUNDANCE, RANGED WITH DELIGHT OVER THE TREASURES OF JOLLY AUTUMN. ON ALL SIDES HE BEHELD VAST STORE OF APPLES, SOME HANGING IN OPPRESSIVE OPULENCE ON THE TREES; SOME GATHERED INTO BASKETS AND BARRELS FOR THE MARKET; OTHERS HEAPED UP IN RICH PILES FOR THE CIDER-PRESS. FARTHER ON HE BEHELD GREAT FIELDS OF INDIAN CORN, WITH ITS GOLDEN EARS PEEPING FROM THEIR LEAFY COVERTS, AND HOLDING OUT THE PROMISE OF CAKES AND HASTY-PUDDING; AND THE YELLOW PUMPKINS LYING BENEATH THEM, TURNING UP THEIR FAIR ROUND BELLIES TO THE SUN, AND GIVING AMPLE PROSPECTS OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS OF PIES; AND ANON, HE PASSED THE FRAGRANT BUCKWHEAT FIELDS, BREATHING THE ODOUR OF THE BEEHIVE, AND HE BEHELD THEM, SOFT ANTICIPATIONS STOLE HIS MIND OF DAINTY SLAP-JACKS, WELL BUTTERED AND GARNISHED WITH HONEY OR TREACLE, BY THE DELICATE LITTLE DIMPLED HAND OF KATRINA VAN TASSEL (THE GIRL HE WISHED WOULD RETURN HIS AFFECTIONS)."
WASHINGTON IRVING, AT HIS DESK, WRITES OF CRANE, "THUS FEEDING HIS MIND WITH MANY SWEET THOUGHTS AND SUGARED SUPPOSITIONS, HE JOURNEYED ALONG THE SIDES OF THE RANGE OF HILLS, WHICH LOOK OUT UPON SOME OF THE GOODLIEST SCENES OF THE MIGHTY HUDSON. THE SUN GRADUALLY WHEELED HIS BROAD DISK DOWN INTO THE WEST. THE WHOLE BOSUM OF THE TAPPAAN ZEE LAY MOTIONLESS AND GLASSY, EXCEPTING THAT HERE AND THERE A GENTLE UNDULATION WAVED AND PROLONGED THE BLUE SHADOW OF THE DISTANT MOUNTAIN. A FEW AMBER CLOUDS FLOATED IN THE SKY, WITHOUT A BREATH OF AIR TO MOVE THEM. THE HORIZON WAS OF A FINE GOLDEN TINT, CHANGING GRADUALLY INTO A PURE APPLE GREEN, AND FROM THAT INTO THE DEEP BLUE OF THE MID-HEAVEN. A SLANTING RAY LINGERED ON THE WOODY CRESTS OF THE PRECIPICES THAT OVERHUNG SOME, PARTS OF THE RIVER, GIVING GREAT DEPTH TO THE DARK GRAY AND PURPLE OF THEIR ROCKY SIDES. A SLOOP WAS LOITERING IN THE DISTANCE, DROPPING SLOWLY DOWN WITH THE TIDE, HER SAIL HANGING USELESSLY AGAINST THE MAST; AND AS THE REFLECTION OF THE SKY GLEANED ALONG THE STILL WATER, IT SEEMED AS IF THE VESSEL WAS SUSPENDED IN THE AIR."
IRVING NOTES, WITH KEEN OBSERVATION, OF HIS CHARACTER'S PASSAGE, THAT "IT WAS TOWARD EVENING THAT ICHABOD ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE OF THE HEER VAN TASSLE, WHICH HE FOUND THRONGED WITH THE PRIDE AND FLOWER OF THE ADJACENT COUNTRY. OLD FARMERS, A SPARE LEATHERN-FACED RACE, IN HOMESPUN COATS AND BREECHES, BLUE STOCKINGS, HUGE SHOES AND MAGNIFICENT PEWTER BUCKLES. THEIR BRISK, WITHERED LITTLE DAMES, IN CLOSE CRIMPED CAPS, WITH LONG-WAISTED GOWNS, HOMESPUN PETTICOATS, WITH SCISSORS AND PIN-CUSHIONS, AND GAY CALICO POCKETS HANGING ON THE OUTSIDE. BUXOM LASSES, ALMOST AS ANTIQUATED AS THEIR MOTHERS, EXCEPTING WHERE A STRAW HAT, A FINE RIBAND, OR PERHAPS A WHITE FROCK, GAVE SYMPTOMS OF CITY IN MOTIVATIONS. THE SONS, IN SHORT SQUARE-SKIRTED COATS, WITH ROWS OF STUPENDOUS BRASS BUTTONS, AND THEIR HAIR GENERALLY QUEUED IN THE FASHION OF THE TIMES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY COULD PROCURE AN EELSKIN FOR THE PURPOSE, IT BEING ESTEEMED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS A POTENT NOURISHER AND STRENGTHENER OF THE HAIR.
"BROM BONES, HOWEVER, WAS THE HERO OF THE SCENE, HAVING COME TO THE GATHERING ON HIS FAVORITE STEED, 'DAREDEVIL,' A CREATURE, LIKE HIMSELF, FULL OF METTLE AND MISCHIEF AND WHICH NO ONE BUT HIMSELF COULD MANAGE. HE WAS, IN FACT, NOTED FOR PREFERRING VICIOUS ANIMALS, GIVEN TO ALL KINDS OF TRICKS WHICH KEPT THE RIDER IN CONSTANT RISK OF HIS NECK, FOR HE HELD A TRACTABLE WELL-BROKEN HORSE, AS UNWORTHY OF A LAD OF SPIRIT.
"FAIN WOULD I PAUSE TO DWELL UPON THE WORLD OF CHARMS THAT BURST UPON THE ENRAPTURED GAZE OF MY HERO, AS HE ENTERED THE STATE PARLOUR OF VAN TASSEL'S MANSION. NOT THOSE OF THE BEVY OF BUXOM LASSES, WITH THEIR LUXURIOUS DISPLAY OF RED AND WHITE; BUT THE AMPLE CHORUS OF A GENUINE DUTCH COUNTRY TEA-TABLE, IN THE SUMPTUOUS TIME OF AUTUMN. SUCH HEAPED-UP PLATTERS OF CAKES OF VARIOUS AND ALMOST INDESCRIBABLE KINDS, KNOWN ONLY TO EXPERIENCED DUTCH HOUSEWIVES."
IRVING ADDS, "OLD BALTUS VAN TASSEL MOVED ABOUT HIS GUESTS WITH A FACE DILATED WITH CONTENT AND GOOD HUMOUR, ROUND AND JOLLY AS THE HARVEST MOON. HIS HOSPITABLE ATTENTIONS WERE BRIEF, BUT EXPRESSIVE, BEING CONFINED TO A SHAKE OF THE HAND, A SLAP ON THE SHOULDER, A LOUD LAUGH, AND A PRESSING INVITATION TO 'FAIL TO, AND HELP THEMSELVES'. AND NOW THE SOUND OF THE MUSIC FROM THE COMMON ROOM, OR HALL SUMMONED TO THE DANCE."
"ICHABOD PRIDED HIMSELF UPON HIS DANCING AS MUCH AS UPON HIS VOCAL POWERS," IRVING CHARACTERIZES OF THE TEACHER. "NOT A LIMB, NOT A FIBRE ABOUT HIM WAS IDLE; AND TO HAVE SEEN HIS LOOSELY HUNG FRAME IN FULL MOTION, AND CLATTERING ABOUT THE ROOM, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ST. VITUS HIMSELF, THAT BLESSED PATRON OF THE DANCE, WAS FIGURING BEFORE YOU IN PERSON." "WHEN THE DANCE WAS AT AN END, ICHABOD WAS ATTRACTED TO A KNOT OF THE EAGER FOLKS, WHO WITH OLD VAN TASSEL, SAT SMOKING AT ONE END OF THE PLAZA, GOSSIPING OVER FORMER TIMES, AND DRAWING OUT LONG STORIES ABOUT THE WAR," RECORDS THE AUTHOR, OF CRANE'S MOVEMENT ABOUT THE HOME.
"THE REVEL NOW GRADUALLY BROKE UP. THE OLD FARMERS GATHERED TOGETHER THEIR FAMILIES IN THEIR WAGONS, AND WERE HEARD FOR SOME TIME RATTLING ALONG THE HOLLOW ROADS, AND OVER THE DISTANT HILLS. SOME OF THE DAMSELS MOUNTED ON PILLIONS BEHIND THEIR FAVORITE SWAINS, AND THEIR LIGHT-HEARTED LAUGHTER, MINGLING WITH THE CLATTER OF HOOFS, ECHOED ALONG THE SILENT WOODLANDS, SOUNDING FAINTER AND FAINTER, UNTIL THEY GRADUALLY DIED AWAY - AND THE LATE SCENE OF NOISE AND FROLIC WAS ALL SILENT AND DESERTED," WRITES IRVING. "ICHABOD ONLY LINGERED BEHIND, ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF COUNTRY LOVERS, TO HAVE A TETE-A-TETE WITH THE HEIRESS; FULLY CONVINCED THAT HE WAS NOW ON THE HIGH ROAD TO SUCCESS. WHAT PASSED AT THIS INTERVIEW I WILL NOT PRETEND TO SAY, FOR IN FACT I DO NOT KNOW. SOMETHING HOWEVER, I FEAR ME, MUST HAVE GONE WRONG, FOR HE CERTAINLY SAILED FORTH, AFTER NO VERY GREAT INTERVAL, WITH AN AIR OF QUITE DESOLATE AND CHAPFALLEN - OH, THESE WOMEN, THESE WOMEN! COULD THAT GIRL HAVE BEEN PLAYING OFF ANY OF HER COQUETISH TRICKS? WAS HER ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE POOR PEDAGOGUE ALL A MERE SHAM TO SECURE HER CONQUEST OF HIS RIVAL? HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS."
"IT WAS THE VERY WITCHING TIME OF NIGHT THAT ICHABOD, HEAVY-HEARTED AND CREST-FALLEN, PURSUED HIS TRAVEL HOMEWARDS, ALONG THE SIDES OF THE LOFTY HILLS WHICH RISE ABOVE TARRY TOWN, AND WHICH HE HAD TRAVERSED SO CHEERILY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE HOUR WAS AS DISMAL AS HIMSELF. FAR BELOW HIM, THE TAPPANN ZEE SPREAD ITS DUSKY AND INDISTINCT WASTE OF WATERS, WITH HERE AND THERE A TALL MAST OF A SLOOP, RIDING QUIETLY AT ANCHOR UNDER THE LAND. IN THE DEAD HUSH OF MIDNIGHT, HE COULD EVEN HEAR THE BARKING OF THE WATCHDOG FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HUDSON; BUT IT WAS SO VAGUE AND FAINT AS ONLY TO GIVE AN IDEA OF HIS DISTANCE FROM THIS FAITHFUL COMPANION OF MAN. NOW AND THEN, TOO, THE LONG-DRAWN CROWING OF A COCK, ACCIDENTALLY AWAKENED WOULD SOUND FAR, FAR OFF, FROM SOME FARM-HOUSE, AWAY AMONG THE HILLS - BUT IT WAS LIKE A DREAMING SOUND IN HIS EAR. NO SIGNS OF LIFE OCCURRED NEAR HIM, BUT OCCASIONALLY THE MELANCHOLY CHIRP OF A CRICKET, OR PERHAPS THE GUTTURAL TWANG OF A BULL-FROG FROM A NEIGHBORING MARSH, AS IF SLEEPING UNCOMFORTABLY, AND TURNING SUDDENLY IN HIS BED. ALL THE STORIES OF GHOSTS AND GOBLINS THAT HE HAD HEARD IN THE AFTERNOON, NOW CAME CROWDING UPON HIS RECOLLECTION. THE NIGHT GREW DARKER AND DARKER; THE STARS SEEMED TO SINK DEEPER IN THE SKY, AND DRIVING CLOUDS OCCASIONALLY HID THEM FROM HIS SIGHT. HE HAD NEVER FELT SO LONELY AND DISMAL. HE WAS MOREOVER, APPROACHING THE VERY PLACE WHERE MANY OF THE SCENES OF GHOST STORIES HAD BEEN LAID. IN THE CENTRE OF THE ROAD STOOD AN ENORMOUS TULIP-TREE, WHICH TOWERED LIKE A GIANT ABOVE ALL THE OTHER TREES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND FORMED A KIND OF LANDMARK. ITS LIMBS WERE GNARLED AND FANTASTIC, LARGE ENOUGH TO FORM TRUNKS FOR ORDINARY TREES, TWISTING DOWN ALMOST TO THE EARTH, AND RISING AGAIN, INTO THE AIR. IT WAS CONNECTED WITH THE TRAGICAL STORY OF THE UNFORTUNATE ANDRE, WHO HAD BEEN TAKEN PRISONER HARD BY; AND WAS UNIVERSALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF MAJOR ANDRE'S TREE. THE COMMON PEOPLE REGARDED IT WITH A MIXTURE OF RESPECT AND SUPERSTITION PARTLY OUT OF SYMPATHY FOR THE FATE OF ITS ILL-STARTED NAMESAKE, AND PARTLY FROM THE TALES OF STRANGE SIGHTS AND DOLEFUL LAMENTATIONS TOLD CONCERNING IT."
I WILL J RE-JOIN THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVELS OF ICHABOD CRANE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF STORIED "SLEEPY HOLLOW," IN TOMORROW'S BLOG. PLEASE CATCH PART TWO OF THREE OF THIS TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON IRVING, AND THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO, THAT CARRIES THE PROVENANCE OF HIS GOOD NAME.
IT IS KNOWN, BY THE WAY, THAT AUTHOR CHARLES DICKENS, HIMSELF, WAS A BIG FAN OF THE WORK OF WASHINGTON IRVING, CONFESSING TO A COLLEAGUE ONCE, THAT HE OFTEN "RETIRED TO BEDLAM," WITH ONE OF HIS BOOKS, "TUCKED UNDER HIS ARM." NOT A BAD PROVENANCE THEN, WOULDN'T YOU SAY, TO HAVE BEEN AFFORDED A NAME ASSOCIATED WITH WASHINGTON IRVING?"
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