Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-03-26
SHOOTING DUCKS:
One Of the Usual Anecdotes Of Dickens.

SHOOTING DUCKS:
One Of the Usual Anecdotes Of Dickens.
As new crop Of anecdotes about
Dickens appears to have sprung up re-
Gently, perhaps the following may be of
intesest to some of his admirers who do
not understand how totally apart was the
great novelist's genius and what might
be called-for want of a better term
his everyday Individuality Dickens,
was, to put it broadly, at one and the
same time one of the most marvellous
writers and unmitigated snobs that ever
breathed.
During his last visit to this country,
he gave, among his readings, a series Of
four at Washington, where he stopped
some weeks, and where, as elsewhere, he
received the most flattering attention.
His apartments were at the famous
Welcker Restaurant, and he was called
upon, one afternoon, through previously
made arrangements, by a party consist
ing of Admiral Farragut, Hon. Luke Po-
land, of Vermont. Henry Winter Davis,
Major John Fellows, Commissary Gener-
al Shiras, Captain Hentzell, of the Scor-
pion, an attache of the French legation,
whose name Is forgotten, and the writer,
among whom those living can attest to
the truth Of the story.
When we were shown into the parlor
of the suite occupied by Diskens-atter
having been formally announced and
kept waiting some twenty minutes-we
found the novelist standing before the
fire with his legs stretched apart and his
hands under the tails Of the most extra
ordinarily "loud" walking-coat ever seen.
This garment was made of brown velvet,
trimmed with black braid, and with
high lappels, in which was stuck large
dollhouse rose. In his vest, also velvet,
was draped gorgeous display of gold
chain and locket; immense studs and cuff
buttons ornamented his embroidered
shirt, and an astounding bright tie and
vivid check pants completed his remark
able appearance. In addition to all this
his hair curled deliberately, his full beard
parted in the middle, his fingers bore
many rings, and gold-framed pair of
eyeglasses swung at his button.
Taking no notice whatever of the Ad-
mi1al's extended hand, and merely favor
ing the party with curt halt -inch nod,
he continued talking in loud, dictatori-
al tone to a young man, whom we after
ward discovered to be his secretary.
After standing in an embarrassed
groud fer some Minutes, Major Fellows,
venerable white-bearded man of over
seventy, whose years should have Gem
manded Difference, even If the rank and
reputation of such men as Farragul did
not, stepped forward and made some re-
mark expressive of regret that the great
writer's visit to the capital should be at
tended by such bad weather.
Dickens listened for second with al
most insulting Indifference, and then,
walking brusquely to the window, said
"The weather2' Yes, dammit, It's go.
ing to rain again" And then taking up
his hat and walking stick, abruptly, he
said, "I'd better take my constitutional
at once. Good day, gentlemen" and he
rushed out.
"Why, where has he gomez said Win
ter Davis, who had not understood what
had occurred.
sTo Judge from his costume" said
Hentzell, whose dry withholding escaped,
II should say he had gone to masque-
rade.'
And leaving the young secretary quite
appalled, by the temerity of the speech,
we retired.
Now for the sequel. On the third day
after that, this same Captain Hentzell-
better heart and quainter humor new
er met in one breast, God bless his men,
ory-and the writer were shooting ducks
from the centre of the famous Long
Bridge that connects Washington with
the Virginia side of the Potomac, when
we saw the above described ''get up
coming at cracking pace toward US
from the city; for Dickens, be it known,
was redoubtable walker, and took a
daily tramp of several miles around the
suburbs in all weathers.
"Here comes the Great English End
Man," said-a sobriquet we had sacri-
ligiously given the novelist on account
Of his clothes.
$50 see," replied Hentzell: ''don't
stare at him, 'an' you love me- .
Quite unexpectedly, however, Dickens
stopped, and began asking us about the
shooting, and what not, in rather a pa
tronizing way. Of course he did not re-
cognize us poor mortals, and it was evil
dent that he believed we did not know
whom We had the good fortune to ad-
dress. Presently sloop passed with an
old rlver-man steering, upon which Dick
ems said, with an uneasy vanity very
perceptlble.
"That old chap reminds me Of char
acter in David Copperfeld'-you've
read the book, I presume9'
'@Never."
"Not read DAVID Copperfeld2' SAID
its author incredulously.
Just then gang of ducks came in
sight. g.
SHOW look a-here, Dickens" said old
captain Hentzell, oomposedly, getting
his gun ready to shoot, ''if sou want to
sell us one of your photographs, you'll
have to wait till the duck seasons over.
We'vemore important things to attend
to just now.'
And the astonished and comicallY crest
fallen expression Of the great writer's
face, as he loitered of, shall never for
get. forgave him his American Notes.
from that day.-San Francisco Post.