The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-14
THE DAILY DISPATCH:


THE DAHL Y DISPATCH.
AweAsesday Nfsrntns, January Ia, Ioss'
Rsniniscesces Of Dickens In America.
nthe forthcoming work Of Hon. John Barney
Sketches Of the Men and Times of the Past-aEe
come "Reminiscences Of the visit of Charles Dickens
10 America Although fourteen years have passed
siuce tia. memorable event. 1t is impossible to re-
an n. dst.fs Of his reception on these shores,
v,thou. a sensation of mingled shame and indig.
natioa We are of opinion that much OF the en-
,hus,.sm which greeted Mr.. Dickens in America
was honest and manly, snd that there Is no king
or noble In Europe who would have been awarded
such honors. This Ia our only consolation In
thinking of the attentions and kindness lavished
upou An unmitigated snob, and the manner 10
which they were requited. The people Of thu
country COMPOUNDED the man with the author
they supposed Dickens to be . noble, generous
and true champion of humanity In word, q
gentleman. He had written eharmingly about
children and about the poor; be had identified
himself In all bis writings with the struggling
masses. America received him, therefore, as one
of Natures Moparchs, and showed him such
honors as she would not have showed Victoria II
she had landed upon our shores. We had forgot
ten, until reading Mr. Barneyjs "reminiscences
how extravagant, how insane we're the demonssra
lions of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balh
more, Washington-thank Heaven we cannot ~
clude Richmond-towardsM Mr.. Dickens. Here ne
was received with the usual attentions EXTENDED
TO private gentlemen and nothing more he
avenged himself upor us by manufacturing OUT VI
whole cloth some of the most mopstrous iAiSe
hoods concerning the practical working OF our 90
mestie institutions that the mind OF man ever con
ceived. InBoston, however, as MI barney STATES
he was overwhelmed with invitations to balls and
dinners plays were written, in winch ne ana MS
most prominent characters were personated; he
had to employ more than one amanuenss to an
swer his huge pile of invitations to various hosp-
taties to notes asking for his autograph and even
implorng a lock of his sunny hair. His ante
chamber was filed like the entrance hall to royalty,
with throngs waiting patiently for admission to his
msiestie presence. The entertainments given in
his honor were of the most superb character. In
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, wharves,
streets, windows were crowded to catch glance
at the magnificent potentate. Mr.. Barney says
that in Baltimore, he himself led off the game OF
tomfoolery, of which he gives the following &C
count:
In answer to an invitation to be honored by hav'
ing him grace my saloon, / received the following
characteristic response:
RICHMOND VIRGINIA, !
Saturday night, 10Th of March, 1912
Ny Dear Sir Il have time but for one word L
thank you for your kind letter. On "Wednesday
evening at nine o'clock, have booked myself to
be at your disposal
In great haste, faithfully yours,
CHARLES DICKENS.
My house was filled to overflowing-jam salts I'D
sdtis tdciendua.
The privilege was solicited of being permitted to
stand on the landing of the stairway to see him pass
up. His precious autograph was held up to crafty
admiring spectators.
the truly noble accomplished and beloved gentle
man. scholar and author, consented to accompany
him, andgive grace, dignity and attraction to the
assembly. :,
Washin gton Irving condesended to play second
TO the foreigner whom all delighted to honor pea
hde gic.
1t was vicious depravity of taste, which all
have since deplored-these adulations bestow ed on
this consummate Top and concelted eoxcomo; all
were repaid by gross Hbels unfounded SANDERS
which shall not condescend TO record.
Chief Justice fancy and family were announced
"My hour for receiving is past, replied the inflated
foreigner.
NV estimabIe friend Christopher Hughes thus
reproyed him: Dickens, had my Lord Chief
Justice Denman honorsd you with a call, would
you have dared to refuse himt" -
Certainly" replied the inflated coxcomb, III
my hour OF admission had passed
"Chief Justice fancy is, in himself, the most
elevated man in this country-secondin rank only
to the President-and it will form bright privilege
in your life hereafter, to say you were permitted
to take him by the hand"
"Mrs. Dickens is about to drive out to see the
picturesque hills surrounding Baltimore"
i replied: I'VE have ample time before the set
ting sun"
He then condescendingly said; "You may show
him up"
In Washington the Hon. Secretary of War
waiting in his ante chamber, heard the same res
ponse: "My hour is past" He was at the Presi
dents levee; he requested that Mr.. Spencer might
be informed that he then was willing to DE intro
duced to him. Tell him my hour for receiving
him Is past" replied Mr.. Spencer
We all know what kind OF book on America
Mr.. Dickens wrote when he returned to England
His entertainers had misunders stood him; he mis-
understood them. Attributing the enthusiasm
which his genial and sympathizing pen had aroused
to sycophancy and servility, he laid the lash upon
his American hosts with an unsparing hand. No
man had given that stranger bread and salt whom
he did not lampoon and Witty. No mortal had
smiled upon him, whom be did not frown and snari
At. No hand had been extended to him which be
did not bite. No city gave him public honors upon
whose gates he did not inscrbe insulting and vul
8aT WOTu6, Anu WuOoc Walls Ic uiu uoL u6UlE Will
the slime of his reptile nature 1t was only neces
ssry to love the to secure his hate to respect
hin, to make certain of his contempt to embrace
him. to receive mortal stab in the heart from his
poisoned stiletto.
Probably, no book written upon America, ever
gtioved Americans so much as Dickens American
Notes. They were accustomed to abuse from
English tourists; they expected nothing else of
tae Marryatts, Halls and Trollopes, but, when
Dickens, whom they had SO reverenced and wor-
shipped stabbed-"ettu Brute, rose from number.
lsas bosoms whom ingratitude had pierced to the
very In an instant the veil fell from their pro.
phes face the god of their idolatry was creature
Of their own imagination; the charming the phiars
thrqpical, the gentle Dickens, the child lover and
poor mans friend was seen to be grand sham and
humbug; vulgar English cockney and eoxcomb;
another Sterne, benevolent in books: hollow and
selfish of heart. Our couatrymsn blush now and
hang their heads when they think Of The incense
they lavished at such SHRINE but it has taught
them! lesson which they have no. forgotten till
this day, nor are likely to forget till the crack OF
Doom. They did not intend to toady Dickens; they
will never be suspected of toadying any body else.
Greater Epglishmen than Dickens have since Wis