Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-11
cHAnLEs pIoKENs AT IoaE.

From the French.
had long felt an ardent desire to make
the acquaintance Of the eminent author
whose works, and especially whose "DAvID
CoPPERHELDy ! had read and re-read. In
formed Of this desire, my old neighbor,
PAUL FEvAI, who is the most obliging fell
low in ChristendOm, offered me a letter Of
Introduction 10 CHARLEs DICKENS, which /
accepted with alacrity.
The moment reached London / asked
for The celebrated novelist's address. was
told that CHARLES Dickens lives at Gads-
hill, about tWenty-four miles from London
by rail-" wrote to Mr.. Dickens the next
day.
The following merning received a note,
in very good French, and In fine, regular
hand. which formed marked contrast with
the terrible scrawl Of your humble servant.
Mr. Dickens informed me in this note that
be was scarcely ever absent from home except
on Saturdays, when he went TO London 10
superintend the publication Of his last nov
els, which appeared in numbers, and invited
me to come ont 10 see him.
The railway from London 10 Gadshill Is
built on the right bank Of the Thames, and
runs parallel with the river the whole way /;
consequently the iaunt is a very. pleasant
ore. The trains take about an hour,to run
the distance, so at the end Of sixty minutes
i rot OUT Of the railway carriage at Gadshill
station; and as had not informed him of
my coming, ] had to walk up the hill, on
whose summit lies the village in which is
Mr.. DICKENS residence.
AL drew near the first houses Of the vii
laee. and was about 20 ask my way, ! saw a
gentleman coming up the hill behind me
with a firm and rapid step. He was a man
about fifty years old, ofaverage height, good
shape, straight as an arrow, with mOustaches
and goatee turning slightly gray, and hav
ing the energetic look and decisive air Of
our officers Of the Chasseurs d'Afrique. l
asked him, IN execra5le English. "Will
YOU please tell me which IL Mr.. DICKENS
housegn
The gentleman replied, in very good
French, "Allow me TO show you the way
there. am CHARLES DICKENS"
On the way he talked in the most friendly
manner about PAUL FEvAI, whose talents
he esieems very highly, and about FIGHTER,
with whom he is extremely intimate. /
noticed that he had a very sympathetic tone
Of voice, and a clear and abrupt way Of talk-
ing, which added TO his military manners
We reached his house, situated at an angle
of the village. In front Of il lay a lawn
stretching TO the road. A large garden,
likewise belonging 10 Mr.. DICKENS, lies on
the ether side OF the road; Ii Is reached by
a suhterranean passage under the road. The
stable yard, the stables, and carriage houses
are on the right of the house.
Like most English cottages, Mr. DICKENS
Is piainly bnilt up and kept up with the
most perfect order. II isnot more than two
stories high. As you enter there is a small
drawing room on the right, containg Mr..
Dickens library; next is Mr.. DICKENS
study, which Is very plainly furnished, and
has no ornament except twOor three bronzes.
The windows open on a ory-of garden sur
rounding the house, and, as the house stands
on a high piece Of ground, an extensive view
of the neighboring country may be enjoyed
from them. On the left is a large drawing
room, filled with everything 70 make one
comfortable, anddecorated with greatluxury,
hui with no attempt at show. Perfect taste
roigns over everything. The drawing room
opens into the dining room under the din
ing room Is the kitchen. Above these rooms
are the bed-chambers. which are irregularly
distributed, but they are exceedingly COM
Portable and profusely furnished with those
numerous and vast utensils which are indis-
pensable 70 the toilette Of every Englishman.
Alter talking for few minutes in his
study, Mr.. Dickens introduced me 10 his
family. IL consisted that day Of his
daughter and sister-in-law. lie has several
other children, as many as six or eight, 1
believe; but his sons, kept in London by
their profession, rarely come out TO see him
except on Sundays Another Of his daughters
Is married to a cousin Of WfLKIE COLLINS,
the author Of "The Woman IN Whaep The
daughter had the honor 10 meet at Gsds-
hill, Is n Young and beautiful lady OF twenty,
whose courteous and kind features are a good
deal like those Of her father. Both Of the
ladies spoke French, and Their conversation
had a French turn, which wss probably due
10 the annual visit they make 10 Paris.
DICKENS is very fond Of FRINGE and the
French.
Whatever may be the popularity he en-
Joys in his own country, he Ans TOO vigor-
ously attacked hypocrites pseido-C Christians,
and humbug philanthropists 20 be free from
enemies He gives them no thought, and
none the less continues his crusade against
abuses. ueed scarcely say, that, while at
tentiyely reading his works without being
carried away by the charm Of the events he
unr0lls before ones ewes, one may discover
a great many philosophical views and obser-
vations upon social economy. While writ
inc IN a tone OF railery, be sometimes I'D
vances very practical ideas, which would be
esteemed very highly, were they suggested
by the official pen Of political writer.
Dickens favorite time for working Is in
the morning. He rises very early and sets
to work az once. He lightly breakfasts al
about halfpast nine and continues TO work
until twelve o'clock. AT this hour he
lunches. After lunch he goes INTO the fields
and does not return home until hali-past six
o'clock. He walks every day some eight or
ten miles. lie walks rapidly.
Dickens writing is, as l have said, fine
and regular. Il is unlike PAUL FENAL's
hand lie keeps and has had bound the
manuscript Of some Of his works. IL seems
20 me his hyorite novel Is "DAvID CoPPER-