Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-28
much bis oOuntry's honor is his
TEMpoRA MUTANTgR.

, Mr.. Dickens, during this part OF the
conversation, had been sitting at a
little distance from his table. He
drew his chair nearer, placed his right
elbow upon the table, and rested his
face on his hand, with the outside Of
the fingers pressed againsu his cheek.
| had a good opportunity of studying
the face. 1t seemed to me that the
short time that interviewed since my
meeting with him-sixteen months
had laid its hand heavily upon him.
There was a sad, far-of look in the
eyes, and the face was marked by ad-
ditional burrows.
His forehead was high and clear cut,
The nose | thought perfect and ex-
actly suited to the face; it was of the
Grace Roman order-a unique nose
-something like Roscoe Conklings,
though "a little larger, the nostrils,
especially. The eyes, surmounted by
heavy brows, were searching, each a
detective and full of meaning; |
thought them cynical as we'll. They
didn't seem to make a special effort to
measure me, but | felt as if | we're
under two microscopes. The mouth
was large, the lips somewhat protru-
ding. Haughtiness sat supreme on
that mouth; it was a sarcastic mouth
The beard was confined to the chin
and upper ip-no traditional side
whiskers. When Dickens wrote the
"Pickwick Papers" he had a smooth
face and wore long hair-neither be-
coming him, l judge. He wore his
beard exactly to suit his face in Au-
gust, '69. His hair-not frosted for
his years-was inclined to be curly,
and was arranged like Matt. Carpen-
ter's, with studied negligence. 1t was
far back from his forehead, leaving
bare Except for n stray tuft) that
portion Of the Uranium under which
observation" and ambition are
supposed by phrenologists to lodge.
Such was the picture | drew of the
face and head of Charles Dickens as
he sat opposite me. Judge of my sur
prise when he replied to my asking if
he at all recalled me: 81 remember
you quite we'll. When l first saw you
| noticed that your face and hair
didn't seem to keep the same time. l
thought you had borrowed the top
part of some head belonging to a man
of five and fftyl" AS he said this, a
smile fitted over his face; it was gone
in an instant.
| referred to his works, mentioning
one in particular, "0ld Curiosity
Shop" OF course 1 had to speak Of
Little Nell. Il never could read the
last chapter of her history with an
even voice or a clear eye. When |
was writing that book" said he, "and
had gotten about midway on the road
to completion, hosts of letters came
begging me to spare the child, but as
her destiny had been shaped from the
very outset, | could not alter it, nor
would | have done so if | could"
| could not well ask Mr.. Dickens
what he was writing at the time of my
visit, but from a remark which he
dropped about dealing in mysteries"
judged he was preparing the opening
chapters Of THE Mysteries of Edwin
Brood" The first number of this
work, which closed the series of his
novels, appeared eight months after,
hence he must have been writing it at
the time. He had just finished "New
monumental Samples" Edwin
brood" was never completed.
QUos AMAYIT.
Washington Irving, above all other
Americans, was cherished by Dick
ems. So he told me very freely and
apparently with a good deal of feel
ing. Not a word spoke he of the ex-
president He alluded 10 the farewell
dinner given him in New York. AS
| said then so | say now" remarked
ne, Il shall, on every suitable occa-
sion whatsoever and %wheresoever, ex-
press my high and grateful sense of
my second reception in America and
bear my honest testimony to the ma
tlonal generosity and magnanimity.
No man ever had a kinder audience
than was mine in America; no man
could have a %sincerer wish to use them
we'll" He praised Mr.. LongfelloW
and added, II have a respect akin to
reverence for Mr.. Bryant.
| am writing from memory, and
hence | give the conversation in a
disjointed way and without order. l
spent two hours with Mr.. Dickens. |
would that | could bring them back
and that face with them. They are
gone-they and he, forever. The
magic pen that wrote and the great
heart that urged it on, loading it with
love and charity and tenderness, arc
stilled in death.
PEoULIARITIEs.
It is said that Dickens was full of
oddities, which he manifested partic-
ularly at table and in company. |
never saw him as a host, and have no
means Of judging. | have heard that
ne would sometimes ask a visitor.
DO you masticate tobacco? Do you
expectorate?" But there is nothing
to surprise one in such a query. He
had an adherence Of tobacco chew
ers-those cochons who make a
point" of soiling and defacing wher-
ever they go or wherever they are
tolerated. The great novelist said to
me among other things, 81 have but
one thing against the Americans-the
almost universal habit of masticating
%tocacco." Il noticed he didn't saw
"chewing.'O Whatever his oddities.
eccentricities, idiosyncrasies may have
been, | saw them not. He was. too.
unwell at the time, barred against
general receiving Of visitors, and care
worn. His kind reception Of me may
have been attributable to his friend
ship for those who honored me with
iattering letters to him.
Whan I uou 1aov;no L. "