Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-06-08
Dick ens's First Night i'm Roston.
BY JAMES =. FIELDS.

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Dickens's First Night in Boston.
BY JAMES T. FIELDS.
How will recall the bleak winter
evening in 1912 when first saw the hand
some, glowing face of the young man who
was even then famous over half the globe (!
He came bounding into the fremont
House, fresh from the steamer that had
brought him to our shores, ard his CHEEKY
voice rang through the hall, as he gave a
quick glance at the. new scenes opening
upon him in a strange land on first arriy-
ing at Transatlantic hotel. Here we
are p he shouted, as the lights burst upon
the merry party just entering the house,
and several gentlemen came forward to
greet him. All, how happy and bnoyant
he was then! Young, handsome, almost
worshipped for his genius, belted round by
such troops of friends as rarely ever man
had, coming to new country to make
new conquests of fame and honor, surely
it was a sight. long to be remembered and
never wholly to be forgotten. The splen-
dor of his endowments and the personal
interest he had won to himself called forth
all the enthusiasm of old aud young a
merica, and | am glad to have been "a
mong the first to witness his arrival
Yeu ask me what was his appearance as
he ran, or rather few up the steps of the
hotel, and sprang into the hall. He seem
ed all on fire with curiosity, and alive as L
never saw mortal before. From top to
toe every fibre of his body was unrestrain-
ed and alert. What yigor, what keen
ness. what freshness OF spirit, possessed
HIM! He laughed all over, and did not
care who heard him He seemed like
the Emperor of CheerfulneSs on cruise of
pleasure. determined to conquer a realm
or two of fun every hour of his overfowing
existence. That night impressed itself on
my memory for all time, SO far as l am
concerned with things sublunary 1t was
Dickens, the true Boz" in flesh and
blood. wins stood before us at last, and
with my companions, three or four lads of
my own age, determined to sit mp late
that night. None of us then, Of course,
had the honor of an acquaintance with the
delightful stranger, and L little thought
that [ should afterwards come to know
him in the beaten way of friendship, and
live with him day after day in years far
distant; that | should ever be so near to
him that he would reveal to me his joys
and his sorrows, and thus that | should
learn the story of his life from his own
lips. 81 -. v...t
About midnight on that eventful land
81 Io1 SsI(
in those days-haying finished his supper,
came down into the office of the hotel,
and joining the young Earl of NJ
his fellow-voyager, sailed out for a first
look at Boston streets. 1t was stInging
night, and the moon was at the full
Every object stood out sharp and glitter.
ing, and boz" muffied up in Il shaggy
fur coat, ran over the shining frozen snow,
wisely keeping the middle of the street
for the most part. We boys followed
cautiously behind, but dear enough not, to
lose any of the fun. OF course the two
gentlemen soon lost their way on emerg-
ing into Washington, from fremont
Street Dickens kept up one continual
shout of uproarious laughter as he went
rapidly forward, reading the signs on the
shops, and observing the architecture" of
the new country into which he had drop
ped as if from the clouds. When the
two arrived opposite the ''Old South
Church. Dickens screamed. To this day,
Jack, could never tell why Was it,
think you, because of its fancied resem-
blance to ST. Paui's or the Abbey? | de-
clare to you the mystery of that shout Is
still a mystery to. me If bell-handles
had been noses during that rollicking
ramble, what quantity of Boston fea-
lures would have been disturbed that
night! Dickens seemed quite unable to
Keep his fingers off the inviting knobs that
protruded from the doors as he went past,
and he pulled them with such vigor that
one actually came off in his hand. Up
one street, down another, into alleys,
through back yards, we saw the merry
twain proceed. 1t was evident to us they
had not the remotest suspicion how they
were to find their way back to the Ire
mont House. Not watchman was dis
coverable, and efelt it would be reserv-
ed, for ms to- guide them back to their
/ lodgings. About one o'clock they APP
preached us and asked their way to the
hotel. The Earl put the question to our
party and Dickens spoke never a word
hut Stood by beating his hands and feet
for warmth. The. night having grown
fercely cold. Delighted with our luck
we volunteered to pilot the lost pair tt
the fremont, and only wished we, had
miles to walk back with them instead o.
only few blocks When we got neal
the steps of the hotel, Dickens turned tc
one of cur party. and asked, What is the
punishment in this city when,a person is
detected in the act Of pulling off door
bell handles' With admirable promps-
ness, the lad looked him knowingly in the
'eye,f and answered, The heaviest posi-
bic, SIR. he is Instantly deprived of hi
Pickwick !''-Frona the Atlantic 1ontlils
Jor June s4sus. 70 a19bro
1 F. 81