Irving and the Knickerbocker Group 195
This little talk has become something different from the
initial intention. In making and remaking, it became evident
that exigencies of time demanded reduction to a minimum
of comment on the Knickerbockers. Then, reading and re-
reading the books, Irving himself appeared finer than any-
thing he wrote. So the books have been used chiefly in an
effort to give some impression of the man.
A more gracious man has not appeared in American litera-
ture.
Stockton Axson.