The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-15
DICKENS A Y HOME

Appleton Journal says:-"Mr. Franklin
Phip, "a Washington bookseller, who was
well acquainted with Dickens, published the
following extract from diary which he kept
while in England last year, and which gives
some details of the home-life of the great
author
''July %, 1SG9.-Went to Charing-cross
station at 1910, met Dickens there fby ap-
pointmenD, accompanied Mr.. Dickens,
his daughter sister-in-law, Miss Stone (sister
of Marcus Stone, the artist, j. NJ. Kent,
editor of the Sun, to Higham, by rail-gen-
tlemen walked up to Gad's Hill-ladies sent
on in a carriage. On arrival (half past twelve),
commenced with cider cup, which had pre-
viously been ordered to be ready for us
delicious cooling drink-cider, soda-water,
sherry, brandy, lemon-peel, sugar and
ice, favored with an herb called burrage
all judiciously mixed. Lunch at one o'clock,
completed by bQueur which Dickens
said was peculiar to the house From two
to half-past five we were engaged in large,
open meadow at the back of the house, in the
healthful and intellectual employment of
playing Aunt Sally, and rolling balls on the
grass; at halfpast three, interval for cool
brandy and water; at half-past six o'clock we
dined-young Charles Dickens and still
younger Charles Dickens (making three gene
rations) having arrived in the meantime
to ten, billiards; ten to eleven, music IN the
drawing room; eleven, hot and rebellious
liquors, delightfully."- compounded into
punches; twelve, to bed.
'"The house is charming old mansion, a
little modernized; the lawn exquisitely beau
tiful and Illuminated by thousands of scarlet
geraniums; the estate is covered with thou
sands of magnificent old trees, and several
cedars of Lebanon / have never seen
aUIalla6 m fba pnidcf of small ola
across the road opposite the house, ap-
preached by tunnel from the lawn under
the turnpike road, is O French chalet, sent to
Dick ems as a present in ninety-eight packing
cases! Here Mr.. Dickens does most of his
writing, where he can be perfectly quiet and
not disturbed by anybody. I need scarcely
say that the house is crowded with fine pic
lures, original sketches for his books, choice
engravings, etc.; in fact, one might be
amused for month in looking over the OBJ
jects of interest, which are numerous and
beautiful. There are magnificent speci-
mems of Newfoundland dogs on the
grounds, such animals as Landseer would love
to paint. One of them, Bundle, seems to
be the favorite with Dickens. They are all
named after characters in Dickens works.
Dickens at home seems to be perpet aally
jolly, and enters into the interests of games
with all the ardor of boy. Physically Gas
we'll as mentally he is immensely strong,
having regained his wonted health and
strength. He is an immense walker, and
never seems to be fatigued. He breakfasts
at eight o'clock; Immediately after answers
all the letters received that morning, writes
until one clock, lunches, walks twelve miles
(every day., dimes at six, and passes the
evening entertaining his numerous friends.
He told me, when boy, his father frequently
took him for walk in the vicinity of Gad's
Hill, and he always had desire to become,
some day, the owner of the house in which
he now resides"