The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-08-13
4 SroRY OF CH1RLES pICKENS

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81 chanced to be travelling some years
ago. he said, "in railroad carriage be-
tween Liverpool and London. Besides
myself there were two ladies and gen
tleman occupying the carriage. Wehap-
pened to be an strangers to each other,
| but / noticed at once that a clergyman
was of the party. was occupied with
ponderous article in the Times, when the
sound of my own name drew my atten-
ton to the fact that q conversation was
going forward among the three other
persons in the carriage with reference TO
myself and my books One OF the ladies'
was perusihg Bleak House. then lately
published. and the clergyman had COM
menced a conversation with the ladies
bv asking what book they were reading,
On being told the authors name and the
title of the book, he expressed himself
greatly grieyed that any lady in England
should be willing to take up the writings
of so vile character as Charles Dickens.
Both the ladies showed great surprise at
the low estimate the clergyman put upon
an author whom they had been accus-
toned to read, to say the least, with
certain degree of pleasure. They were
evidently much shocked at what the
man said of the immortal tendency OF
these books, which they seem never be-
fore to have suspected; but when he at.
tackled the authors private character and
told monstrous stories Of his immorrai-
ties in every direction, the volume was
shut up and consigned to the dark pock-
cts of traveling-bag, listenedin Won
der and astonishment, behind my news
paper, to stories of myself which, If they
had been true, would have consignedany
man to a prison for life After my fcti-
tious biographer had occupied himself
for nearly anhour with the eloquent re-
cital of my delinquenciesq and crimes, ]
very quietly Joined in the conversation.
of course 1 began by modestly doubling
some statements which had just heard
touching the author of Bleak House,
and other unimpOrtant works of a SINH
lar character. The man stared at me,
and evidently considered my appearance
on the conversational stage an intrusion
and impertinenCe. .,-..... ..l..
nYou seem to speak, / said, from
personal knowledge of Mr. Dickens. Are
YOU acquainted with himP ....1
'"He rather evaded the question, but
following him up closely, compelled
him to say that he had been talking, not
from his own knowledge of the author
in question, but he said he knew for
certainty that every statement he had
made was true one. then became
more earnest in my inquiries for proofs,
which he arrOgantly declined giving.
"The ladies' sat by in silence, listening
intently to what was going forward, An
| author they had been accustomed tor read
for amusement had been traduced for
the first time in their hearing, and they
were waiting to learn what had to say
in refutation of the clergyman's charges
| was taking up his vile stories one by
one, and stamping them rs false in every
particular, when the man grew furious
and asked me if l knew Dickens per,on-
ally.
II replied, perfectly we'll no llan
knows him better than do and all your
stories about him, from beginning to end,
to these ladies, are mmitigated lies.
"The man became liyid with rage and
asked for my card.
"'YOu shall have it, | said cody and
taking out one, presented ii 10 him
without bowling. n.
ave were Just then nearing the station
in London, so that was spared longer
| interview with my truthful companion /,
but if l were to live a hundred years, |
should not forget the abject condition
into which the narrator of my crimes
was instantly plunged His face turned
white as his crayat, and his lips refused
to utter words. He seemed like Wilted
vegetable, and as if his legs belonged to
somebody The ladies became aware
of the situation at once, and bidding
them 'good-day,' l stepped smilingly out
of the carriage. Before could get away
from the station the man had mustered
up strength sufficient to follow me, and
his apologies were so nauseous and era
ven. that pitied him from my soul. |
left him with this caution: Before you
make charges against the character of
any managain, about whom you know
nothing, and of whose works you are 50
utterly ignorant, study TO be a seeker af-
ter Truth, and avoid Lying as you would
eternal perditiOn.'