Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-28
nlenan. nna ThAekeray.

stranger, tai anu uncothhiohiJ u""u
some person, Immediately crossed over
TO meet him, aud | stepped aside, !
overheard Thackeray ask him what had
brought him TO Paris. He answered
that he had come for pleasure. And
have YOU found III" drawled Thackeray,
with a slight sheer in his voice, as II
pleasure, as pursuit, was an unworthy
object for any mans ambition. when
they parted, and Thackeray again took
INV arm, ae said 10 me, !" OF course,
vou know the gentleman with whom /
vas Just speaking2 answered lhat !
did not. "You don't mean TO tell me,
he continued, THAT you, who have been
so much 10 London, don't know who he
liar" / assured him that had no recol'
lection that | had ever before met the
gentleman. why, that, he said, is
! The MARQUIS Of FariRtosh. b" And who
Il the MARQUIS Of Farintosh2" pur.
sued WHY, the Marquis Of Bath, OF
course. !" he replied. THIS led TO a con-
versation about several other characters
in his books. he told me that his own
mother was the prototype OF Helen
Pendennis. but that the copy, ielI snort
Of the original. He also told me VINO
had sat for the portrait Of Harry roker'
but all the town knows about that
then remarked TO him that be must
have known intimately many French
families of the best class-that his
French characters were more accurately
and delicately drawn than those OF any
other English writer whom ] had ever
read-and TO this opinion ! still adhere.
lie assured me that, on the contrary, he
had never in his lite been intimate IN
single French family. This is very sur
prisiug. for he has exhibited in his books
he most profound knowledge OF the
nature Of the French. as we'll as OF their
manners, aud he has described the for
mer and depicted the latter with the
mast wonderful skill, and without any
false deductions or tendency to carica-
ture. =,
When was 10 Madrid, Mr.. Washing.
ton living, whom ! had known since !
was boy, represented our government
at the Spanish court. | had Just come
ND from Andalnsia, aAd had spent more
than a week in Granada, devotng the
greater part OF the time TO the Alhambra,
which was then being restored was
surprised 10 learn from Mr.. Irving that
since he had arrived in Spain in q diplo-
matte capacity he had never once re-
visited the subject of one Of his earliest
and greatest literary trinmphs. how
ever, he seemed to take great interest IN
my account Of the condition of the old
Moorish palace, and Of what had become
OF those who llyed there when be Tr9t'e
about it, His health vas not very good,
and he suffered from that overpowerIng
propensity TO sleep, so common 10 over
taxed brains. | never saw MIR. Irving
betray any excitement but once in my
life. and that was upon an occasion
when dined with him at Madrid. The
name Of Dickens happened to be lbtgo.
duced, end be bfcsMs very heated in
telling pe about his relations With that
author.
Finally he could no longer contain
himself, and jumping from hla SCAT, he
walked up aid down the aooF in, great
apparent agitation. He told me that be
had corresponded with Dickens long be-
fore they ever met That both from his
writings and his letters he had formed
the highest conception Of his personal
character. That under these circum-
stances Dickens arrived at NeB tors,
and he, Trying, GATED upoH' hIm OF the
Aston House. Tint Immediately after
seh11::56 n rs card lie was invited to
Mr.. Dickens parlor, and, as he entered
the room, that gentleman met him, nan,
| kin in hand. de had bean dining, aud
the table was covered with vulgar pro
fusion Of food, and the table cloth was
stained with gravy and wine. Wringing
his hand, Dickens first salutstion was
Irving, | am delighted to see you
What will you drink, mint iplep Of q
gin e9ektaily "4he idea Of Inviting
me to drink jaleps and cocktails!" naive
" exclaimed Mr.. Irving. He found
Dickens outrageously vulgar-in dress,
manners and mind. And mons ri VS.
young peGple Eere then more ineens ed
against him for bis American Notes and
Martin Chuzzlewit than was the gentle
Goldsmith of American literature.
In the spring of the year lS43 ! was
returning North after spending the win
Ter in CUBA and New artisans. / sIapped
day or two at Cincinnati for the pur-
pose OF visiting an old college friend.
Upon my arrival there my friend in
iormed me that Mr.. Chas. biaksEs vac
in l1ga, Snd sss ID hold a leyee or ro-
ception at bis hotel that morning. He
was going 10 Il, aud asked me to accom-
pany him. At that time | had that ad-
miration, almost hero worship, for Dick
ems which was common TO all roSng
men in this issq,Fy lmmeaialely' alleF
the pubElsallon OF his earlier works. |
therefore readily accepted The Invitation,
and we we're soon IN the presppee al th0
distinguished goveliss. ThsFe were not
many persons in the room when we en-
tered. Immediately behind M Flowed
q s.s ... .1oglsn gentleman of subdued
aud timid manners. Mr.. Dickens was
standing in front Of tie fireplace, with
his coat tails uBder his arms, gorgeously
gotten up, and covered with velvet aud
jewelry. Mrs. Dickens was loungiug
upon sofa at the further end Of the
room. We were duly presented by an
usher, or master OF ceremonies, and
after exchanging 8 few words with the
author Of Pickwiek," retired TO give
place to the little Euglishmsu who was
behind US.
Upon being introduced. this gentleman
deferentially remarked, ! had the
pleasure TO meet yous-4lgSDickens, at
Mr.. Lovers. in shire, two years ago.
Mr.. Dickens looked him steadily in the
face for minute, and then answered, in
loud voice, never was there in my
lifel I" beg your pardon, replied his
interlocntor, overcome with confusion
it was at such and such a season Of the
year, aud so and so were there at the
same time" Mr.. Dickens again gave
him whitening look, and, after q pause
repeated, in still more elevated. tone,