The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-06-22
Dickens as a Reporter.


Of newspaper reporters struggle with {
the steuogrsphic system of SHORTHAND I
reporting, Whichwas so inoomprebensible
10 its details, and so difficult to master,
that the luekless learner was driven to
the verge of distraction by the severity
of his labors. This passage, and its al
lusiouS to the life of newspaper re-
porter, has generally been regarded as a
bit of autobiography; and this conolu-
sion is verified by Mr.. Dickens recent
speech at the Newspaper Press Fund
dinner, in London, at which he pre-
sided. ~ 90 HyUr. .."
The Newspaper Press Fund is new
Institution in London, founded two
years ago, for protective and charit-
able purposes. It's second celebration
took place on the Goth Of May. Mr..
Dickens made the opening speech, in
which, after alluding to the power exer-
cised by free press, he gave the follow.
ing pleasant "reminiscences Of his own
life as a reporter:
[ went into the gallery Of the
House of Commons as a parliamentary
reporter when I was boy not eighteen,
and left it-I can hardly believe the
inezorable truth-nigh thirty years ago;
in circumstances of which many of my
brethren at home in England here,
many Of my brethren's successors, can
7 form no adequate conception. 1 have
t often transcribed for the printer from
my shorthand notes important public
e speeches, in which the strictest accuracy
e was required, and mistake in which
;, would have been to q young man Sc
: verely compromising, written on the
e palm of my hand, by the light of dark
! lantern, in post chaise and four, gal.
IS Looping through a wild country, all
J. through the dead Of the night, at the
: then surprising rate of fifteen miles an
j. hour.
!" "The very last time I was at Exeter
Z 1 strolled into the castle yard there ia
- identify, for the amusement of friend
y the spot on which 1 once 'took, as we
y used to call it, an election speech of my
= noble friend, Lord Russell, in the midst
of lively fight maintained by all the
, vagabonds in that division of the coun
ty, and under such peliug rain that
remember two good natured colleague
who CHANGED TO be at leisure, held
- pocket handkerchief over my note book
y after the manner of state canopy il
- an ecclesiastical procession. Laughter
% II have worn my knees by writing oil
- them on the old back row of the olc
-, gallery of the old House of Commons
~ and have worn my feet by standing t.
\ write in prepostcrous pen in the oil
House of Lords, where we used to
Il huddled like so many sheep laugh
Iio ter kept in waiting till the wool-sac
of might want resulting. T A laugh.
:, Returning home from excited polite.
oc meetings in the country to the waitn
:, press in London, do verify believe
. have been upset in almost every d.
- scription of vehicle known in this cour
try. A laugh 1 have been, in n
. time, belated on miry by.roads, towar
the email hours, forty or fifty miles fro
is London, in rickety carriage, with el
nd hausted horses aud drunken postboy
in and have got back in time before pu
er, lication to be received with never. 70
ro- gotten compliments by Mr.. Black,
ed the broadest of Scotch, coming from Il
ted broadcast of hearts 1 ever knew. Hea
ers hear
irit "L aides and gentlemen, mentic
at these trivial things as an assurance
the you that 1 never have forgotten Il
on, fascination of that old pursuit. [Cheer'
in The pleasure that | used to feel in {
'lg rapidlty and dexterity OF its exercI
Dt, has never faded out of my brea'
mel Whatever little cunning of hand
head 1 took to it, or acquired in it
for have SO retained as that l fully belle
in I could resume it tomorrow. GCheer
ms "To this present year of my Ii
the when l sit in this hall, or where n
.si heariugqa dull speech--the phenomen
'ely does Occur-[Iuughter]-I sOmstim
n beguile the tedium Of the moment
aC mentally following the speaker in
ac- old, old way; and, sometimes, if y
nts. can believe me, even find my ha
With going on the tablo-clOth. Laughtc
sol, Accept thesO little truths as cOnhrr