The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-08
THE DICkHNS CHILDRry.
Ri Perkins In his Celebrated Character ss
tho Centennial Truth Teller.

OMAHA, April IL boiled down n long
cdr rial ~ the Bulington Hftit9s to-day ana
g. axe about tvs oft; "Eii Perkins j. TIE Gem
t,unl truth teller. Ho tells 'rith every hun
bred years; but # he don't hurry up and tell
truth before the 4th Of July, he will lose tho
belt for veracity for this century. 1t will have
to fall t. SCHUYLER Culfax. or Gen. Sehenck, or
Mr.. Bsecher at the next Centennial"
The newspapers do not seem to reflect that
George Washington has always held the cham
rionship for veracity. when there is only one
case on record where he told the truth during
his whole NE. lie may have told other truths
dunng MS lifetime, aud doubtless did, but tuere
wH- Gutlrtun- ely no record made " tnen at
Now, intend To- sim hold the belt for veracltv,
e. hold the titie q Ccutouul. ruth tci4tr' b
TELLING tie truth about these III Arns c1i4r cir
/ see Mr. Keeling, a. whose house IN Annoy tn
Dickens CHILDREN are staNiuR, has written M
SuS letter, say ng lie has money enough te-
longing 10 the children to keep them til they
can be put 10 learn trades. Charles Dickens, |
SUPPOSE, lac will soon put to learn the shoe
makers trade, hile Amy will learn housework
Now struck Amboy about dark on tho lltn
Of February. Tue FIRST thing he .rj before go
ing on tue platform WIS talk by the citizens
about the poor Dickens children.
:" Are they really POOR asked Mr.. Shaw, tho
gentleman who wrote all the particulars ahO {
Augustus II. Dickens embodied in my former
"Yes," he said. "Once we thought they
would have 10 20 to the poorhouse, but now
they are u TO OLD Mr.. Keeling :, and you eau 20
w and see them for YOURSELF
l burned up there before the lecture with Mr..
Shaw, and saw the children l. avery queer family
Of old and decrepid people. Mr.. Keeling was al
most totally deaf. He is an lrishman, VINO
they said once made some money Ia contract
work sort of decayed railroad boss.
My sympa ny WAS immediately interested FOR
these children. | said, ~ course, by stating tho
facts "a they arc, some rich man n this county
will DO glad to vi ,co the niece and neuhew q
the great Charles Dickens In a good school. I
did not IKE the situati N OF these children. l
do not like Il now. If Mr.. Keeling likes It, he
must remember that the nieces and nephews Of
Charles Dickens should not be cOOpcd up In a
little room, Isolated, friendless, and the people
talking about their poverty.
Nov letter comes, with Mr.. Keellng's name
signed TO II. saving be has money belonging to
the children. Very well; am Delighted TO hear
Amboy.
my letter. | heard various stories Of dissipa-
ton. bigamy, desertOn, suicide, poverty, and
disappointment, but / did pot write them out.
pu llshed In HE SUN. l did not Mrs Stowize a
gIo cat name. l suppressed the narrowing par
ticulars which might reflect on the great nov. l.
list, and also the distressing features about Nr.
Augustus y. Dickens. My hope was TO assist
the children, which think have done.
Hy the following letter which received too day
from a gentleman well Informed In Amooy, am
assured that the people IN Amooy knew notnlng
OF any money belonging 10 these children. They
thought them 10 be poor:
DEAR sIRi Your statements about the Dickens chill
dren Vita od Mr. Keeling IN our town are abou dS io.
money from thelr parents to pay tor supporting
ference has been that the children with Mr. Keel
ing because they had no other plaee-thAt they we're
there Out II charity.
Your letter has done one rood. It has brought out
TIE lat hat none ot Us kns~, to vii that tomgoo
had few hundred dollars belonging 10 them. we all
thought Mr.. Augustus DioSens dlrd poor very poor,
AM We nave often thought Ae Children Heie n 1anG rr
QbefiJ friendiess.
Mr. keeling certainly boastei that he was keeping
the chudfrn out Qf chIihy. IL comes win III grace
from MIN That noN, unknOWL 70 every one mere ue h''
been noIing money belonging to them for things winch
We all tn ught he gave the ~ out OF charity. -
am glad you brought up the question. IL VIII ne OF
| great eoOd 10 the children. Yours truly, - -
TIE upshot OF the Dickens matter Is this; The
| people in Amhoy-all with whom | talked
| looked upon these children as objects or char
ny, and said that there was no telling when they
would have to leave Old Mr.. Keelngs and be
| flung back on cola world. out OF pure sVm.
| patty for the relations ~ great novelist
wrote, preparing the world to take them and
| care for them.
Now, Mr.. Keeling comes ont and says he has
| money belonging to them, and that they need
no sympathy | ONLY hope IL Is so. The world
| viii now look TO him to make his word good. \
! thousand arms were ready to clasp them e
| warm bosoms-ready to foster and educate
| them. Mr.. Keeling objects, and now the duty
| aud responsibility are with him.
FIJI PERKTNs.