The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-03-19
SHOOTING DUCKS.


lnge, series OF four at washington
where he stopped some weeks, and
where, as elsewhere, he received the
most fattering attention. His apart
ments were at the famous Welcker
Restaurant, and he was called upon,
one afternoon, through previously made
arrangement, by parGy consisting OF
Admiral Farragut, Hon. Luke p. Po-
land of Vermont, Henry Winter Davis,
Major John Fellows, Commissary Gen.
eral Shiras, Capt. Hentzell of the
Scorpion, 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 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. This
garment was made of brown velvet,
trimmed with black braid, and with
high lappels. in which was stuck large
was draped a gorgeous display of gold
chain and locket, immense studs and
cuff-buttons ornamented his embroid-
cred shirt, and an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
tie and vivid check pants completed his
remarkable appearance. In addition TO
all this, his hair was curled deliberately,
his full beard parted in tho middle, his
fingers bore many rings, and gold
framed pair of eyeglasses swung at his
button.
Taking no notice whatever of the
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
rotary.
After standing In an embarrassed
group for some minutes, Maj. Fellows,
a venerable white-bearded man of over
70, whose years should have command
ed Difference, even if the rank and rep
utation of such men as Farragut dld
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 a second with
almost insulting indifference, and then,
walking brusquely to the window, said:
"The weather? Yes, dammit, it's go
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 out
"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
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 quaihter 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 above-described "get
up" coming at cracking pace toward
us from the city; for Dickens, be it
known, was q redoubtable walker, and
took daily tramp of several miles
around the suburbs in all weathers.
Here comes the Great English End
Man," saba sobriquet we had sacri-
legiously given the novelist on account
of his clothes.
$50 see," 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
patronizing way. Of course he did not
recognize us poor mortals, and it was
evident he believed zoe did not know
whom we had the good fortune to adj
dress. Presently sloop passed with
an old river man steering, upon which
Dickens said, with an rneasy vanity
very perceptible:
"That old chap reminds me of char
acter in David Copperfeld you've
read the book, presumed"
Never" NMQ
"Not read David Copperield?'"
said its author, incredulously.
Just then gang of ducks came in
sight.
New look a-here, Dickens" said old
Capt. Hentzen, composedly, getting his
gun ready to shoot, !" if youwant to sell
us one of your photographs, you'll have
to wait till the duck seasons over.
We've more important things to attend
to just now"
Aud the astounded and comically-
crestfallen expression of the great
writer's face, as he loitered of, shall
never forget. forgave him his "Amer-
lean Notes from that day.
Josh Billings Philosophy.
Idleness makes man more idle; if
idleness sets on twelve eggs she liz sure
TO hatch them all out.
The virtews hav to be cultivated, while
he vices will gro space if yu will only
let them.
Pride and ignorance travel hand in
hand; the more man knows the less
he liz sure ov it.
A modern professor would require
1000 pages to deskribe light, and then