The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-05-09 00:00:00

"GOODBYE, BOZ !"

The departnro of Mr. Dickens from the United States is
thus described by the Nem York Tribune :

The itus.tin left her wharf early yesterday morning!
and steamed ih.wn the bay. When near fit ten island
she rounded to, and waited for mails and passengeni to
arrive Icy the tugboat from Jersey city. When the
boat Caine alongside, bearing among others Mr. Paul
du 'haillu and Mr. Childs, the passengers crowded to
the shle to catch a glimpse if Mr. Dickens, who leaning
over the rail on the quarterdeck of the Russia, smiled
1 and nodded to his friends below. Two hums before
: he had left the NVestminster lintel amid the cheers
of those who had gathered to bid him farewell, and as
he entered his carriage, bouquets, tossed by fair hands
from windows, fell at his feet. In order to avoid a
crowd of spectators he left the city from the foot of
Spring-street in the private tugboat of his friend Mr.
Morgan. (hi board the tug were seaeral gentlemen if
note. Before he bade his farewell, Mr. Dickens ac-
knowledgol the value of his ticket agent's services by
making him a present of a cheque for 150 dollars.
They steamed down the bay, followed by the
police boat, having on board Mr. Thurlow Weed,
the superintendent of police, and a number of ladies
bearing beautiful bouquets for Mr, Dickem. They
reached the Russia and were soon on bnard. . The
state-room prepared for Mr. Dickens was laden
with flowers. A basket elegantly arranged was
presented to him by Mr. Childs. In the centre,
in white carnations, upon a ground of red roses,
WAS the word "Farewell," and below the initials
Cl)." It was a lovely day—a clear blue sky over-
head. As he stood resting WI the rail, chatting with
this friend and writing an autograph for that ono,
the genial face all aglow with delight, it was
seemingly hard to nay the word "Farewell,"
yet the tugboat screamed the note of warning, and
those who must return to the city went down the side.
All had left save Mr. Fields. " Boz " held the hand
of the publisher within his own, There was an unmis-
takable look on both faces. The lame foot vame down
from the rail, and the friends were locked in Kull other's
arms. Mr. Fields then hastened down the side, not
daring to hock behind. The lines were "cast off." A
cheer was Own for Mr. Dolby when Mr. Dickens
patted him approvingly upon the shoulder, Raying,
" Gissl boy.' Another uheer for Mr. Dickens, and the
tug steamed away. " Good by,' " " Good by,"
from Mr. Fields, who iit,..tsl the central figure if a group
of three, Messrs. Du Chaillu and Childs upon each
Then "Boz" put his hat upon MN cane and waved it,
and the answer came " Good by, and God bless you
every one."

The Times, in a leader, makes the following remarks
on Mr. I)ickens's visit to America :--
It is about twenty-seven 'years since Mr. Charles Dickens
paid his first memorable visit to the United States. At that
time very few Englishmen had made the trip, anti those w hi
had were greatly struck with the peculiarities of manner :OH!
tone presented by a newly-formed, self-relying, energetic
and pushing vommunity, as compared with an tilit World
that had long settled on its lees. . . . Our great novelist is
just the man to note and to record the change of national
laaallet, and SClltilaClit. lit Cl/111,C he is 116t0110111C11, no from
all aet-i,llllls he mas likely to le, at the new cities founded,
the iii•w regions reclaimed anti inhabited, and the old cities
so extended and dignified as hardly to be recognised. All
this we are prepared for, and we are also prepared to
HMI Mr. Dickens throwing his electric light 4111 these
material changes. Ile tells us already, in the plea-
santest possible manner, what lie has observed in-
deed, what has been forced upon him—in the heart and
temper of the people. That they are hospitable we all know.
It is the profuse ht ,spitality 111''tie forefathers—the hospitality
of those who but visitors from an Ohl World, strange, lint
dear to their fancies. Through this hospitality Mr. Dickens
sees moire. Ile sees honesty, simplicity, anti true kindness;
and he evidently feels 1 • 'lf—what, perhaps, he did not
feel twenty-seven years ago—the kinsman of his entertainers.
111 course, he lets been made much of, run after as no man
ever was, feted, crowded, half smothered with attentions
Pressed upon him by an entire population wherever lie went.
Ile expected something of the kind, but it has surpassed his
eoneeptions. Ills admirers—and who is not his atintirer?
—will be pained to hear that he has been suffering during
the whole of his four months' tour from what he supp.ed to
be the American eattarrh. One may be still moke sorry to
bear that at the age of fifty-sin he should feel himself not sti
young as he was at the previous visit. His readings were
given under disadvantages. But everylmtly felt it not only a
point of honour, hut also a great trent anti a very high privi-
lege, to hear him. They would 11,,t allow themselves to be
disappointed, but made up for deficiencies, if any, by
lb-jr 11WII intense faith and eager zeal. Ile hits found
himself the herald f peace anti the minister of 1111i0a.
It IS 110 t 10Tryi/Ody whose impressions we should accept as
conclusive on so important a matter. Shall we take it on
trust from Mr. Dickens that our American cousins and rivals
do really understand no and wish to get on peaceably with
its? Certainly, he is 110 1.1111 anthority, anti if we may take any
man's word we may take his. But, to the best of our knowledge,
there are no contlictingantliorities, and what Mr. Dickens says
receives Minions° .rroboration from every other recent
visitor. The Americans misfire them they will get on well with
us if we will get on well with them, anti there seems MI reason
to doubt it. It is not doubted, except by those who mit them-
selves in apositlon ki doubt everything, by seeing and knowing
as little as they can about the Americans. Strange indeed Is
It to hear confident anti disagreeable criticisms Oa the Ame-
rican character and national spirit by 111'111011S who have never
crossed the Atlantic, 111111 have made up their minds never to
do us 011 any account. N.ithing is easier iirldeasanter in these
days, except to certain physical constitutions, than a trip to
the States. It would cum a thousand prejudices and give
warmth and movenient to ninny a sluggish mind. Indeed,
nobody has a right to my a word against Imc kinsmen there
till he has seen theni and allowed them to speak for them-
selves. It is now a necessary part Id a political education,
even if it suggest a few warnings which we, as certainly Hwy
al., my nut! ill the mutual tioniparison.