The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-07-26
DICKENS GOSSIP.
How lie Talked and Acted at tho
Table.

How Hc Talked and Acted ut iht
Table.
George William Curtis contributes to
Harpcrs .Uoahlyfor August, a gossippy
article on the late Charles Dickens, Of
which the following is an extract:
One bright June day in London;
several years ago, there was little din
ner at Cattermoles, the artist, at which
Dickens had promised to be present.
The company assembled, and every
thing went pleasantly until the dinner
hour arrived There was then some
pause Of expectation, for Mr.. Dickens
had not come Conversation became a
little more difficult; and as the convic-
ton gradually seized the party that
perhaps he would not come atall, there
was a very obvious disappointment
When it was impossible to wait longer
the dinner was served, and the. guests
descended to the dining room; but it
was curious 10 remark the blight that
had oycrspread the feast There was
the usual gay murmur Of dinner all
around the table, but it seemed as if
everybody WAS secret ' looking for some
thing or somebody else. suddenly,
when the business was well advanced,
there was loud ring at the door, which
everybody heard, and the cloud in
stantlv lifted There's DickeHs.' said
several guests with an air of delight
and relief: and those who did not say
it looked it. The next moment a noise
was heard in the hall above, merry
voices, pleasant laughter and then
there seemed to be charge of school
bows or light cavalry down the stairs,
and Dickens and his friend John Fors-
ter burst into the dining room, each
loudly cxcusmg himself, and accusing
the other rs having caused the delay.
Dickens seated himself hy The mis-.
tress Of the house and instantly, a it
were, took up the conversation, and
carried it along with little saliics OF fun
and his carrying on with the waiter
when he wanted piece of bread was
like rollicking scene from Pick
wick. II was the overflow OF the
highest animal spirits, and was as cleo.
trical in his manner a. it i il his
books. He felt entirely at home; and
the feelieg that the solemn English
waiter would be coniounded by such an
tics-which, however, did not in the
least turn him into ridicule-was part
of the hmnor. Dickens made a mock
apology for his delay. founded upon a
promise to attend a picnic il the earlier
part of the day, given 10y the manager
of the Opera, at which Grisi and the
other singers, with the dancers, had been
present. lie sketchcd them all with a
word and smile. They were all viv,
idly before the company. He took the
dinner guests also, as ii were 10 the pic,
mic. But oh the eating, exclaimed
he. Dear Madame, 10 YOU know the
eating at an operate picnic mean, OF
course" he added, with a solemn, sly
twinkle in the eve. when the ladies OF
the ballet attend % 1t was sheer cxtray
aganza and however foolish and flat i
seems in the tame telling, it was lie
lightiul and memorable After dinner
when the ladies went up stairs and the
children pccpcd in, Dickens bccl;oncd
to them: and, seating one on each knee
took a slate and pencil and drew the
most grotcsIue figures as Illustrations
of the most absurd story then sent the
Young folks away as merry rs the elders.
What he did at tina, table he did in
the world. He told the most delight.
ful stories, he made the most harmless
fun: and all his STORYTELLING and fun,
making were morally healthfnl lie
was a great civilizing and Christian
ling power during thirty years. He
was one of the men Of the most unqucs
tionable genius and positive influence
;ha, have appeared in English litera'
turc, and meanwhile it was almost as
GOOD as his own fhn TO hear the com
ments that were made upon the man
and upon his works. Sir Picrcic Shat
ton, especially, was Obliged to use his
pouacet-boX whenever the name o.
Dickens was mentioned. Such asnob
sir; really no gentleman at all, lassure
Won. There were those who thought
him a caricaturist-a writer of mere
extravacanzas, no artist; kind Of
newspaper reporter on the great scale
That last criticism Dickens himscl
would undoubtedly have accepted
For the business of the great novels
is to report human lie and charactel
as they daily appear: but his gcniu:
] makes his reports the best of litcra
turc. rs for caricaturc, every genius
must follow lis own law. Mis-
Austen finished each OF her cxduisit,
miniatures of character with al
airy-finc Lelicacy. They are exact. an,
natural, and agreeable, but never typic
al. They have not named and class
fled human nature for us. The work i
30 elaborate and smooth that YOU ma,
bring your eye close 10 the surface an,
vet YOU do not see the stroke. Bu
| however broad and coarse the touch {
Dickens may seem, the effect is who'll
lifelike, and the proof is the universe
acceptance of the type. Common COZ
versa,ion and current literature rehe,
the humor and the wisdom Of this 9
MUS rs the streams and lakes reflect II
I