New York City by virtue of its great wealth, its concentration of population, its huge publishing industry, and the pre-eminence of its art critics and institutions, has long been the arbiter of the arts in the United States. Most of the writers, actors, artists, and musicians who were born within its boundaries were attracted to the center of activities in New York City; some of them lived long enough in the upstate area to carry its influence into their work. Because of its proximity to the metropolis, the upstate area was drained of its creative artists probably more rapidly and more thoroughly than other sections of the country. But over the years it has been compensated by the widespread tendency of artists and writers to retreat from the crowded city and make their homes on its farms, among its mountains, and along its lake shores. Some of them settled in "colonies"; others consulted their individual tastes and desires.

New York As a Literary Center

Early literature in New York consisted principally of sermons, historical writings, and letters and promotional pamphlets to attract settlers and investors; the verse, such as it is, is interesting only to specialists. An important source of information are the contemporary accounts of travelers and visitors.

With the arrival in New York of William Bradford, 1693, came the real dawn of literature in New York. He was not only the first book publisher in New York, issuing works in Dutch and French as well as in English, but one of the most enterprising. The early newspaper and periodical press not only afforded ample outlet for the professional activity of the literary folk of New York, but the competition of the authors and publishers in London was sufficiently formidable to frighten the boldest against attempts at book publication, and the independence of the United States proved an even more difficult handicap.

The First Classic Writers: Paulding, Cooper and Irving

James K. Paulding, Fenimore Cooper and Irving were the conspicuous names in the opening decades. Between Paulding and Cooper there were many strong points of resemblance; between the author of "The Backwoodsman" and his lifelong friend and literary partner, Irving, very few. In addition to a great many novels and a popular "Life of Washington," Paulding was the writer of now forgotten verse.

Literary history proper may be said to begin in New York State with Washington Irving (1783-1859), its first outstanding man of letters. Salmagundi and Dietrich Knickerbocker's History of New York are satirical treatments of life in the city in his own day and during the Dutch period. But the determining factor in his literary career, taken as a whole, was his long absence abroad. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van winkle, the two stories localized in the Hudson Valley upon which his continuing popular reputation rests, appeared in The Sketch Book, which was published in England and had English life and manners as its main theme.

"Knickerbocker's History of New York" was published in December, 1809. It was begun by Irving (1783-1859) in company with his brother, Dr. Peter Irving, with the purpose of parodying a handbook which had just appeared, entitled "A Picture of New York." Dr. Irving's departure for Europe left it in the hands of his brother, Washington, by whom it was completed. Of Irving's other well-known writings, a series fitly closed by his noble "Life of Washington," it is hardly necessary to speak. Of his works, including his well-known life of his nephew, Pierre M. Irving, millions of volumes have been distributed here and abroad. "Amiableness," remarks Richard H. Dana, "is so strongly marked in all Mr. Irving's writings as never to let you forget the man; and the pleasure is doubled in the same happy manner as it is in a lively conversation with one for whom you have a deep attachment and esteem."

Paulding and Washington Irving were joint writers of "Salmagundi; or, the Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq., and Others," a work which appeared in fortnightly numbers from the Shakespeare Gallery of Longworth. It was continued through twenty parts. In "Salmagundi" the humors of the day are travestied in good-natured essays, and with a skill so charming that the work is still read with interest. The few poems which appear on its pages were written by William Irving, an elder brother of Washington Irving, and the brother-in-law of Paulding, whose sister he had married. "Cockloft Hall," which figures conspicuously in "Salmagundi," is a mansion on the Passaic River, and received its name from Irving. It was at that time a favorite resort of its owner, Gouverneur Kemble, Paulding, the Irving's, Captain Porter (father of the admiral), Henry Brevoort, and other of the high-spirited youth of the time. Kemble in a note dated February 6, 1872, remarks: "The old place near Newark, in New Jersey, christened "Cockloft Hall" by Mr. Irving, was called Mount Pleasant. The house was built by Nicholas Gouverneur, grandson of Abraham Gouverneur, who married the daughter of Governor Jacob Leisler."

Paulding was almost the first of American writers to find inspiration for his literary representations in the American scene. Nationality is a prominent characteristic in all his writings, which appeared almost continuously during more than half a century until his death in 1860, and ending with a volume of American comedies. The author of "The Dutchman's Fireside" and "Westward Ho!" found inspiration at home for his earlier works, when neither American scenes nor American society were supposed to furnish attractive material. No man ever stood up more stoutly in defense of that "mother of a mighty race," when assailed from abroad, than did James K. Paulding; nor did any author born on American soil ever entertain greater contempt for foreign example or criticism.