New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-08
PICKWICK.
MR.. WELLER THE ELDER. AND Mr. WINKLE.
TIE MARKS % GRANNY. DoRKfSG MRS. WELLER
AND Mr.. sIIGoINs = THE BULL IL WHITE

lrRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT oY TIN rRIBusE.l
| ROCHESTER, England, Aug. 2s.-There is stlll
four-horse coach from London TO Dorking.
as there was fifty years ago when sam
Weller asked leave of absence to go down
and his father, at The Marquis OF
| CRANKY" public house. The distance is about
thirty inics and the road lies through one OF the
prettiest parts of Surrey. In long valley between
| green and shady ridges. on whose sides and sum-
nits are fine country mansions empowered in trees,
| the trim and thriving little market town of Dork-
| ing is packed along winding street. On one side
of the way the houses run up steep slope; on the
| other close lanes lead down to a charming mill
stream The spre of brand-new stone church
rises among tiled roofs, and contrasts pictur-
esqucy with ancient timbered fronts. whose second
stories overhsnQ the sidewalk.
| The author Of " Pickwick informs that The
Marquis of Cranky" over which the elder Weller's
second venture presided, was " quite model of
"A roadside public house OF the better class-just
large enough to be convenient and small enough to
! be snug. The bar-window displayed a choice col
lection Of gcrauium plants, and a well-dusted row
of spirit phials. The open shutters bore variety
Of golden inscriptions euloaistic of good bcds and
neat wines; and the choice grenp of counrymen
and hostlefs Longing about the stabl--door and
horst-trough afforded prcsrmptiye proof of the
Cclont quality of the al6 and spirits which were
sold within" did expect to find over any ex-
listing hostelry che likeness OF the Marquis OF
CRANKY of glorious memory" the head and shoul-
ders OF gentleman with an apOplecic oountcnance,
in red coat with d aep blue iacngs and Touch Of
the same blue over his three-cornered hat for
sky . the novelist would not have given the real
name of a tavern to which ne assigned snch land-
lady as MIs. Weller. and such frequenter as Mr..
S,ig gins; but / was snTe that under a fictitious
name he skeiehed as mis- ccstom was. an actnal
building had no sooner laid eyes certain old
fash oned inn before which swung the sign of The
Kings Head " than | exclaimed to myself, That's
il " 4: aud under pretence OF buying photograph
went into a booksellers IN make Inquiries. local
guide-book told me-, almost on the first page
| opened, that my conjecture was right
'The Kings Head WAS the original Marks o
CRANKY -; and few minutes conversation with the
shop-k keeper gave other particulars. Visitors
constantly asking about the pube house. said he,
and all the aged inhabitants have been questioned;
but though ne sketched a real house, Dickens must
have invented the name. for nobody ever heard of
a tavern IN DOrking called " The Marquis OF
CRANKY" 1t is an interesting fact however, that
there have been many Wellcrs in tho neighborhood,
and what is still more carous is that they have
mostly been coachmen, fy-drvers. positions, etc.I
there il an old Weller IN the town now, superan-
nuetcd post-boy of eighty years.
cuts Of CRANKY the name by which am we
shall all prefer to know III. faces marrow cross
street only few yards from the main thorough
fare Formerly it must have presented q gable end
to the high road but the of the premises has
been cut off and the post Office now stands there,
occupying even part Of the inn itself The old
house is of brick and. shabby as it is now and
crooked and weather-stained, it has doubtless
been in ats day structure OF some
aeutlity; the front is decorated with shallow
pilasters and the windows, divided into three COM
partnents by substantial brick mulons and glazed
with small diamond panes have a beautiful and
striking effect. a range Of irregular buildings ex-
tending some distance IN the rear indicates proba-
bly, the situation OF the old stable yard The door
post exhibits promise of Good beds" and the
open front door dscoses snug looking bar. shut in
by sash partitions and screened by clean white
muslin curtains 1t was within this tempting
sanctuary that Mrs. Weller sat onosde OF the IRE,
making tea while the red-nosed deputy shepherd
sat on the other, making toast, when Sam put his
arm over the half-door Of tho bar, unbolted it, and
walked in with the salItation, "MOthcr-n-aw, how
are Won P-and By the same token the half-door ID
there yet. The horse trough IS gono the hostiers
have betaken themselves to newer ana more
thriving establishments; but just there at the
corner must be tho spot where Old Weller held the
almost suffocated: and us stand in the gh street
looking ut The Marquis of CRANKY" can almost
imagine That am a spectator Of tho exhilarating
scene IL is tho evening after tho funeral of Mrs.
Weller The red-nosed man has walked softly into
the bar and filed his glass usual with pine
apple ram and water which the afflicted widower
has suddenly thrown in his face. Sammy" ex-
claims the elder Weller as he seizes Stggns by the
collar and falls to kicking him. "put my hat on
tight for me ," and then methinks the famous group
come bursting out of tho little door before me, the
mourning hat-bands of Old Weller streaming q yard
and a half behind him as no comes
The haunts of Old Weller, in London. have not all
disappeared. He speaks of himself in one place as
" the celebrated Mr.. Weller OF the Bell Savage"
In Belle Savage Yard you will not find the old
tavern the court now being occupied by compare
lively now buildings, and whole side given up
70 the publishing house of Casse. Peter q Galpin.
Neither does LeadenLall Market contain any longer
1.-The Blue Boar" in whose parlor old Weller
sisted Sam In tho composition of his valentine. But
the public house in which the elder Weller was first
introduced TO the acquaintance Of q delighted
world am happy tn say, still exists. Sir PickwicS
was walking up Cheapside after his memorable in
teryiew with Messrs. Dodson IL Fogg. when he
turned to Sam and asked where he could get a
glass of brandy and water Second court on the
right band side" promptly rephsa sam IaS'
house but vun OF The same side o. the way. Take
the box as stands in the first fireplace, COS
there ant no leg in the middle o the table which
oil the others has and it's very nconvenient." The
house was apparently under the special patronage
OF stage-coachmen; and among n number OF gentle
men belonging to that learned profession who
were drinking and smoking in the plainly
furnished rOom sam recognized the ancient,
otherwise his respected father. With Sans
direction. of course l had no difficulty