Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-05
Anecdote OF Dickens.

Blanchard Jerrold, in his new book,
4" A Day with Charles Dickens" quotes
the following anecdote from the private
journal of one of Dickens friends, which
illustrates Dickens juvenile precocity as
a newspaper reporter: Dickens began
his career when a youth of nineteen
under his 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 en-
gagged special staff of able reporters,
sending each important grafton in
proof to its speaker for correction.
When Stanley Illuminated his philip
pic against O'Connell, it fell to young
Dickens turn to report the last
third Of it. The proof of the whole
speech was forwarded to Mr.. Stanley.
He returned it to Barrow, with the re-
mark that the first two-thirds were so
badly reported as TO be unintelligible,
but that if the gentleman who had so
admirably reported the last third of his
speech could be sent to him, he would
speak the rest to him alone. Accord
ingly, at an hour appointed, young
Dickens made his appearance at Mr..
Stanley's, notebook in hand. 1t was
with evident hesitation that the servant
ushered him into the library, the tables
of which were covered with newspapers.
Presently the master of the house ap.
peared, eyed the youth suspiciously, and
said: / beg parden, but l had hoped to
see the gentleman who had reported part
of my speech, etc. l am that gentle
man, retorted Dickens, turning red in
the face, and feeling his dignity some
what offended. Oh, indeed replied Mr..
Stanley, pushing about the papers, and
turning his back to conceal an involun-
tary smile. 1t was not long before
Sir James Graham stepped in; and
then Stanley began his speech. At
first he stood still, addressing one Of
the window curtains as Mr.. Speaker.
Then he walked up and down the room,
gesticulating and declaiming with all
the fire and force he had shown in the
House of Commons Graham, with
newspaper before him, followed and oc-
casionally checked him, when he had
forgotten some trihing point, or had
transposed one proposition in the place
of another. When the entire speech
had been fully reported, Stanley re-
turned the revise, with Dickens cor
rected edition of the parts of the speech
which had been bungled, With note to
Barrow highly complimentary to the
stripping reporter, and with shadowy
prediction Of great career for him in
the future Dickens had totally for
gotten this incident, until, many years
after, he was invited TO dine with Lord
Derby for the first time. Having been
shown with the other guests before din
ner into the library, he felt strange
consciousness of having been in it be-
fore, which he could not account for.
He was in state of bsyilderment about
it all dinner time; for he could not re-
call the circumstance which brought the
reporting adventure to his mind. But,
at al events, something did, and he re-
minded his boat Of it. Lerd Derby was
delighted to recognise in bis new friend
his boy.reporter, and told the story to q
select few, who, with Dickens, had stayed
after the rest of the company had de-
parted.