The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-13
DICKENS IN PRIV.4TE LIFE.
His Habits of Living-Why He sepa-
rnted from His Wife-Thc Day OF His
ss-v-

correspondent gives the following remI-
uiscences OF Charles Dickens in 1851:
In his own house Mr. Dickens was at that
time apparently the happiest Of men, and he
was certainly the most genial Of hosts. Of
difficulties and troubles which afterWard came
nothing was then suspected. Mrs. Dickens
was beautiful woman of about five and thirty
of fair Saxon complexion, large lustrous eyes,
finely chiseled features, her figure inclinlnS to
ernbonpoint, graceful In movement, cordial In
manner, motherly to excess, perhaps, when
the children, according to English custom,
came rompIng into the 1lning-room at dessert,
and very attentive 10 her husband. The sister
of Mrs. Dickens was present, and another lady.
never saw happier family in England or
America. Everything was well ordered. Tae
dinner was captally served. The host SAID
ems was the best of takers. No man ever told
q better story. He had that genial, hearty
laugh which Montaigne says never comes from
a bad heart. OF his children, down to the
baby. he was excessively fond, holding them
on his knees. toasting the elder In wine, and
giving himself to their humors with delightful
Gbanl0n.
sat that date the personal habits of Dickens
were those of the average English gentleman.
He was abstlnent from breakfast to half on
hour before dinner This was his working
time. He told me that four hours at his desk
and four hours afleld-on foot or on horseback,
rarely in riage-was the rule of his work
Ing life. He took brandy and seltzer before
dinner; drank, as everybody drinks In Eng
laAd, sherry with his meats, and port at des-
sert; sat long at table; enjoyed his cigar; spent
an hour mr. perhaps in the drawIng-room ct the
conclusion of the evenlng-and then, retiring
to his study, read, smoked, and slipped brandy
and water till his bedtime at midnight.
Later in life. since the unfortunate separa-
ton from his wife, and particularly during the
last years of his residence at Gadshill, his hab-
its became more confirmed. He drank more
often. His liquors were of the choicest kind
Wines of rarest vintage were stored IN his Gel
lars. Highly spiced beverages came to De
liked, ahd he was vain OF his skill 10 COM
pounding them. The "cider cup of Gadshill'-
q drink composed of cider, lines, brandy, pine
apple, toasted apples, lemon peel and sugar
became famous as q specially OF the place. A
friend of mine, who spent day and night at
Gadshill last Year, a gentleman to whom Dick
ems felt under great personal obligations, and
for whom he may therefore have emphasized
mis- hospitality, describes the visit as eontinu-
ed bibulous festivity from noon till midnight.
There was the cider cup on arriving at nall.
past IL P. NJ; sports in the open air till 2, when
came brandy and water-a long walk through
the fields till 6, when curacao, with other u.
0,,ears, were seryed-dress, dinner from till
10, with every variety Of wines-cofec and
cigars, and then pure spirits, or various COM
pounds of spirits, until bed time.
If any nters from what have written tnat
Charles Dickens was an Incorporate man, IN
the usual acceptation OF the worG. whetner IN
this country or in England, nc mistakes my
meaning. Dickens was never drunk. Hlsin-
telIect was never obfuseatcd br excess. But
he s'enioyed life.n He lived indeed too last.
This he himself felt. and hence his long walks
of from six to ten miles day to counteract
the effects of the indulgence. For the lasI
twelve months Of his life he had been increas-
inc in stoutness. He noticed this, ana leaFlhs
what il portended, increased his hours OF exel-
else. 1t would have been better had lie oeSun
Charles Dickens's life, like his works, was
moral. 1t was not religious. MhaC Dear
Stanley said about him 10 tne westminster
reIIrion got into O man who never went to
CHURCH. never kept Sunday sacred, never read
his Bibie. never affiliated with religious peo-
nis would be rs great mystery as Miss Ia
bithha Bramble's. "Iow the thunder" she
wrote to her friend, 'could have spoiled the
beer, when the door was double-locked, can
not conceive But as moral man, respected
by his neighbors, loved by the poor, fore most
in works of charity, free from social vices, and
as regardful of the rights of others as of his
own, Charles Dickens is worthy of all praise.
He was free from the too common sin Of using
profane language. In true loyalty to friend
ship, he was never surpassed Quick to take
offence, he was equally quick to forgive. No
man was freer from envy; no man truer to mis-
instincts.
The ugliest feature in his life is his treatment
Of his vile. MIR. Wells, his business partner
and most intimate friend, told me last yeal