The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-05-22
A Good Story of Dickens.

During his last visit to this country,
Charles Dickens gave four readings at
the capital, and while there he was one
day visited by appointment by several
gentlemen, of whom the writer was one,
and Admiral Farragut another.
When we were shown into the parlor
OF the suite occupied by Dickens.
after having been formally announced
and kept waiting some twenty minutes
we found the novelist standing be-
fore the fire with his legs stretched
apart and his hands under the tails Of
the most extraordinarily "loud walk.
ing coat ever seen at the capital.
Taking no notice whatever Of tho
Admiral's extended hand, and merely
favoring the party with curt half-inch
nod, he continued talking in loud,
dictatorial tone to young man, whom
we afterward discovered to be his sec
retary.
After standing in an embarrassed
group for some minutes, Maj. Fellows,
venerable white bearded man of over
10, whose years should have command
ed Difference, even il the rank and rep
utatlon OF such men as Farragut did
not, stepped forward and made some
remark expressive of regret that the
great writer's visit to the capital should
be attended by such bad weather.
Dickens listened for second with
almost insulting Indifference, and then.
walking brusquely to the window, said.
"The weather? Yes, dammit, it's 60
ing to rain again" And then abruptly
taking up his hat and walking-stick, he
said, I'D better take my constitutional
at once; good-day, gentlemen" and he
rushed ont.
why, where has he gomez said Win
ter Davis, who had not understood what
had occurred.
"To judge from his costume" said
Hentzell, whose dry wit nothing es-
capped, II should say he was going to a
masquerade"
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 the same Capt. Hentzell
Ga better heart and quainter humor
never met in one breast-God bless his
memory and the writer were shooting
ducks from the center of the famous
Long Bridge that connects Washington
with the Virginia side Of the Potomac,
when we saw the abovedescrlDed "get
up" coming at cracking pace toward
us from the city; for Dickens, be it
known, was redoubtable walker, and
took daily tramp of several miles
around the suburbs in all weathers.
Here comes the Great English End
Man." said-a sobriguet we had sacri-
legiously given the novelist on account
Of his clothes.
So ! see,s replied Hentzell; don't
stare at him. an you love me-"
Quite unexpectedly, however, Dick
ems stopped and began asking us about
the shooting, and what not, in rather q
patronizing way. OF course he did rot
recognize us poor mortals, and it was
evident he believed ace did not know
whom we had the good fortune to ad-
dress. Presently sloop passed with
an old river man steering, upon which
Dickens said, with an uneasy vanity
very perceptible:
"That old chap reminds me of char
acter in David Copperfeld '-yoa We
read the book, presume?"
Never"
"Not read David Copperfeld2'
said its author, incredUlously.
Just then gang Of ducks came ~.
" Now look a-here, Dickens said I'D
Capt. Hentzell, eomposealy, getting us
gun ready to shoot, " if you want t. sell
lis one oi Your photographs, you'll have
to wait till tile duck seasons over.
We've more important things to attend
to just now"
AND tile astouuded and comically-
cTestfallen expression 81 the great
writer's face, as he loitered off, shall
never forget. ] forgave him his "Aner-
1can Notes from that day.