Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-16
Anecdote Of Dickens.

Blanchard Jerrold, in his now book,
"A Day with Charles" quotes the fol-
lowing anocdote from the private jour
nal Of one of Dickens's friends, which
illustrates Dickens's juvenile precocity
as q newspaper reporter Dickens be.
gan his career when youth of nine
teen, under bis uncle, John Henry
Barrow, who started The Mirror Of
Parliament, in opposition to Hansard.
Hansard always compiled his reports
from the morning newspaper, whereas
Barrow engaged special staff Of able
reporters, sending each important ora
tion in proof 10 its speaker for correc-
tion. When Stanley Illuminated his
phllippie against O'Connell, it fell TO
young Dickens's turn TO report the last
third of it. The proof Of the whole
speech was forwarded to Mr.. Stanley.
lie returned it 10 Barrow, with the re-
mark that tho frst two thirds were SO
badly reported as TO be uninteligiblo,
but that If the gentleman who had so
admirably reported the last third Of
his speech could bo sent to him, he
would speak the rest of il to him alone.
Accordingly, at an hour appointed,
young Dickens made his appearance
at Mr.. Stanley'a, notebook in hand.
1t was with evident hesitation that
the servant ushered him into the IL
brary, the tables Of which were COW
cred with newspapers. Presently the
master of the house appeared, eyed
the youth suspiciously, and said:
~ beg pardon, but 1 had hoped to
see the gentleman who had reported
part Of my speech" &c.
"I am that gentleman" retorted
Dickens, turning red in the face, and
feeling his dignity somewhat offended.
"Oh, indeedp replied Mr.. Stanley,
pushing about the papers, and turn
ing his back 10 conceal an involuntary
smile. "
1t was not long before Sir James
Graham stepped in; and then Stanley
commenced his speech. AT first he
stood still, addressing one of the win
dow curtains as Mr.. Speaker. Then
he walked up aud down tho room
gesticulating and declaimiDg with al
the fire and force he had shown in the
House of Commons. Graham, with
newspaper before him, followed, and
occasionally checked him, when he
had forgotten some important point,
or had transposed one proposition in
the place of another. When the en-
tire speech had been fully reported
Stanley returned the revise, with
Dickens's corrected edition of thu
parts of the speech which had beer
bungled, with note to Barrow highly
complimentary to the STRIPPING repor
ter, and with shadowy prediction o
o great career for him in the future
Dickens had totally forgotten this in
cidcnt, until, many years nftcr,'hs
was invited to dino with Lord Derby
for the first time. Having been showr
with the other guests, before dinner
into the library, he felt strange con
soousness of having been in it before
which he could not account for. III,
was in state Of bewildermont abou
it all dinner time for he could no
recall tho circumstance which brough
the reporting adventure to his mind
But, at all events, something did, ant
he reminded his host of it. Lore
Derby was delighted to recognize il
his new friend his boy.reportcr, ant
told tho story to a select few, who
with Dickens, had stayed aftcr tn
rest Of the company had departed.