Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-02
DICKENS NOTES.
How a Pennsylvania sheriff Sold
the Great Novelist.

"
the Great Novelist.
Communication in Philadelphia Press.l
In the Atlantic Monthly for November
there appears an uninteresting article
entitled, -Four Months with Charles
Dickens" written by the Secretary
who accompanied Mr.. Dickens in his
tour through America in 1912. The
writer, in describing Dickens trip from
Harrisburg to Pttsburg, says:
1t was on the deck of canal boat
that stranger, after following Mr..
Dickens several times up and down,
staring at the overcoat of Astrakan
goatskin which Mr.. Dickens wore, came
to him, felt of the coat, and asked what
it was, the price, ETC., and many other
questions. His curiosity much amused
Mr.. Dickens, who answered his questions
very kindly, smiling all the while at the
earnestness and perfect self-complacency
of his questioner.
| Mr.. Dickens, in his American Notes,
tells the story much better, thus:
There was man on this boat with
light, fresh colored face, and pepper
and-salt suit of clothes, who was the
most inquisitive fellow that can possibly
be imagined. He never spoke otherwise
than interrogatively. He was an en-
bodied inquiry. Sitting down or stand
ing up, still or moving, walking the deck
or taking his meals there he was, with a
great note of interrogation in each eye,
two in his cooked ears, two more in his
turned up nose and chin, at least half a
dozen more about the corners of his
mouth and the largest one of all in his
hair which was brushed pertly off his
forehead in faxed clump. Every
button on his clothes said "Eh2 What's
that? Did you speak2 Say that again,
will you?" He was always wide-awake,
like the enchanted bride who drove her
husband frantic; always restless; always
thirsting for answers; perpetually seek
ing and never finding There never was
such curious man. wore fur great
coat at that time and before we were
we'll clear of the wharf, he questioned
me concerning it and its price, and where
/ bought it, and when, and what fur it
was, and what it weighed, and what
it cost Then he took notice Of my
watch, and asked what that cost, and
|
where got it, and how ] got it, and
whether bought it or had it given me,
and how it went, and where the keyhole
was, and when / wound il, every night
or every morning, and whether ever
forgot to wind it at all, and if did, what
then? Where had / been to last, and
where was | going next. and where was
| going after that, and had | seen the
President. and what did he say, and
what did / saw. and what did he say
when / had said it? Eh? Lor nowl do
tell Finding that nothing would sat
isfy him | eyaded his questions after
tbe first score or two. and in partioular
nIeaded Ignorance respecting the name
Of the fur whereof the coat was made. |
am unable to say whether this was the
reason, but that coat fascinated him ever
afterward; he usually kept close behind
me as | walked. and moved as | moved.
that he might look at it the better; and
he freouently diyed into narrow places
after me. at the risk of his life. that he
might have the satisfaction of passing
his hand up the back and rubbing it the
wrong way."
That Is a very pretty story as it stands
but Il can be improved a little. The
man with light, fresh-colored face
and n pepper-and-salt suit of clothes,
who was the most inouisitiye fellow that
can possibly be Imagined" lived here in
| iS42 and has been Sheriff of Center
county, He and party of friends were
returning home from Harrisburg and,
beinr naturally of a ioviai turn of mind,
Hmade game" of Dickens during the en-