Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-02-22
DICKENS ON SHIPBOARD.

WHEN 1alfly Oh our Way il was dEJ-
parent that Mr.. Dickens knew pedestri-
an habits were invincible by wind or
wave. To and fro, between the wheel
house and the smoke-stack, he paced
the deck for hours every day. These
walks were mostly alone, for the reserve
with which he obviously sheltered him
self was only in those accidental en-
counters or inevitable juxtapositiOps
arising on shipboard that he was ad-
dressed by his fellow-passengers. But
he rarely spoke first, save in the morn
ing salutation on deck. He never once
Joined the shivering group that cluster
ed about the smOk-stack for warmth, but
paced and paced, engaged apparently
in serious thought. 4 wish he would
begin to lay the cable nOw,' thought I,
according to his promise at the banquet;
it would be such an excellent chance
while he has US here so handy OIL ship
board But night fell and day rose
mists drove and the sun shOne, and the
steamer went booming along, and the
passengers chatted, and walked, and ate
and drank, and still the great envoy
made no sign of laying the cable,
1t was the most natural thing in the
world for everybody aboard to want to
say something to him. And what could
/ be more natural than that the restraint,
which was self-impOsed out Of consider
alton for his comfort, should give way
on the least prOvocatiOn There, walk
| ing back and forth daily among them,
went the man who had probably given
them more pleasure and delight than
any other living-had cheered them in
calamity, had heightened their joys,
| had cleared their vision to sec the beau
| ty and goodness that may lie in COM
mon surroundings, and created graft
! tude in their hearts that cannot be meas
ured. So In the course of three or four
days all had a speaking acquaintance
with him, and whoever Joined him
found him easy of approach and not
averse to talk.
4 have knocked about the Channel a
good deal, and have learned in that
Wav,' he explained to one who marvel
ed at his knowledge OF sailor craft
Whenever the heavy tramp of the gang
was heard as the men reeled in the wet
! log-line, there stood Mr.. Dickens watch
| ing it as it was pulled tight and dripping
along the deck. Among the first to
know what run the ship had made, few
could ever carry him the news, spite of
! the uncertain hours at which the log was
| heaved. How distinctly l recall his fig
ure as he climbed up the ladder to the
| deck First his loY-crowned round hat
appeared; then his ruddy face lit with
| his marvelously blue eyes; then his
! double-breasted seaman's coat. On sum
/ nv DAYS, he would carry up in his hand
/ a huge book bound in blue. On the COW
er was stamped a gilt picture of an ele-
phant with uplifted trunk, chasing a
! boy. 1t was a book on India. He would
place this big volume on a bulkhead or
bench, and sit down by it as if he con-
| templated reading. But he never read
a page Of 1t while on deck. His quick
glance was up at the sails, the mystery
/ of ropes, the clouds, the way of the wind
and everywhere but OH the book.
On a nay when the ship rolls heavily,
mems faces are often portentOusly long
at dinner in the saloon. If could on
" keep my feet till the bell rings,
should get safely through observed
one day..
l lake LOG LG&u5 1OI luLCAlg AZ VIII hSC
YOU up much better than the ale.' Mr.
Dickens replied. Then, pursuing the
subject, he said: My worst time is in the
morning when I get up; how do you
manage them9i
Watch the towels, and the moment
they stop swinging make dive for the
Lounge. seize my flask and take one
spoonful of brandy,
But only one; for if you take more,
he said curving one eyebrow and smil'
ing, you are defeated. That's my plan
also, and it works very WELL
OF course l priced hints from this
source, especially as they had smack
of the Marks O'Granby' and the May
pOIe.' The chat turned on travel, Oh
Winter climates, went back TO Europe
trundIed down to Italy and his long res
idence at Genoa, and the beauty of the
Riviera. The lovely features of the
Cornice were tossed from hand to hand
as though we were Gaping verses
How picturesque those vtllagesn p saiC
he. And what balmy airP eXclaim
ed another. 'And that blue sea in front!
pursued Dickens; iand the shining or
anga grovesV yes, aud BACKED will
those rich hills = he added with almos
lyric fervor. At this moment new
conner broke in with some odlous remarl
about the number Of knots she's run
ninG, He flung his great cObble-stont
into the smooth flow of talk, and ther'
was an end of it.
One evening I was sitting alone OF
deck, while teapots and lighted candle
were being placed in the saloon below
Some one was climbing up the ladder
and perceived the outlines of Mr.. Dick
ems, hat and coat. He took camp stoo
and sat near me, After word or two
we travelled ahead Of the ship to Amerl
ca. =,
How far is It from New York to Phil
adelphia? or rather, how long is it? 70
it's absurd in these days to ask how far.
, After the comforting assurance that
was only three hours and q half, ask
ed him whether he remembered Gel
tain venerable lady of Philadelphia
whom he had met when here before
yr-o11s innooH I nRUn