d
when I find New Yorkers of Dutch descent priding themselves upon being
'genuine Knickerbockers,' I please myself with the persuasion that I
have struck the right chord; that my dealings with the good Dutch times,
and the customs and usages derived from them, are in harmony with the
feelings and humors of my townsmen; that I have opened a vein of
pleasant associations and quaint characteristics peculiar to my native
place, and which its inhabitants will not willingly suffer to pass away;
and that, though other histories of New York may appear of higher claims
to learned acceptation, and may take their dignified and appropriate
rank in the family library, Knickerbocker's history will still be
received with good-humored indulgence, and be thumbed and chuckled over
by the family fireside."

To give color to his fancy, Irving created the fanciful character of
Diedrich Knickerbocker, whom he describes as follows:

"He was a small, brisk-looking old gentleman, dressed in a rusty black
coat and a pair of olive velvet breeches and a small cocked hat. He had
a few gray hairs plaited and clubbed behind. The only piece of finery
which he bore about him was a bright pair of square silver shoe buckles,
and all his baggage was contained in a pair of saddle bags which he
carried under his arm."

He was "a very worthy good sort of an old gentleman, though a little
queer in his ways. He would keep in his room for days together, and if
any of the children cried or made a noise about his door he would bounce
out in a great passion, with his hands full of papers and say something
about 'deranging his ideas'."

According to the tale which Irving invented he resided for some time at
the Independent Columbian Hotel, and from this place he disappeared,
leaving his bills unpaid. However, in the saddle bag which he didn't
take from his room the landlord found the manuscript of the _History of
New York_, and published it in order to secure pay for the old
gentleman's board.

The book met with marked success, and shortly after its publication a
large part of New York was laughing at its humorous details, and
Irving's estimate of its popularity as given above was modest indeed.

The history consists of eight books, the first of which, in irony of
some histories which had previously been published, gives a description
of the world and a history of its creation, and in brief, the story of
Noah and the discovery of America, and a dissertation