New-York tribune., 1881-11-20
GLlNPSES OF DICKENS
From Mrs. Fieidss Biographical Notes and Perso

From Mrs. Fied"' BSggrsSssea' sg,s Notes and Personal
"They dined alone together to-day, and sat four
hours, amusing each other with endless character
istic representations. Mr. Fields gave his picture of
the poet Rogers to the life, and Lady Blessngtons
receptions, to which thought it was the thing to
go when was young man., also an excellent de-
scrption of Mr.. and Mrs Lewes The latter he finds
most nteres ing with her shy manner of saying
brilliant things He talked of the mistake
it fancy that childhood forgot anything; it is
% He spoke of Mr. Froude. saying 'he Is a brave
man. and with most cordial liking both for him and
bis works T0rEsd III b ; the story bis hay
daughter, Lady Holland, applied For permission 10
print them, and with these letters all his own pri-
yate coTespondeneei For | thought il should
meet Sydney Smith in the Shades, and he should
say, what have you done with those letters"'--a
significant shrug expressed the rest, though he added
should have brought them with you where they
would crackle well."'
.Wedesnday.-At o'clock Dickens came to dine,
Later went together TO the theatre and !terward
back to the hotel where we sat talking until
o'clock. Every moment was full OF vivid interest.
In speaking of that great railway described
III All the Year Round, he mentioned the curious
fact OF his chronometer watch, perfect up 10 that
moment, becoming subject to eccenricties, yet this
was rather as an illustration OF the subtle effect the
accident had upon him than remarkable in ITSELF.
The play that night really very dull, and he
sat talking, but with such care in managing voice
aud gesture that only a keen observer would have
discovered he was iuattentIve to the stage. After
our return he laughed till the tears ran
down his checks at the memory of the laugh
ter he had seen in the faces Of his own au-
dence the night before. representing the different
phases OF character and the different effect of
laughter on each. Speaking of Fechter he said IL
he were a writer how marvellous his powers of rep
resentatiOn would bel | who for many years
have been studying he best way of putting things
have often felt utterly amazed and distanced by
him. At the bale Dickens observed the honest
faces of the women, ana became much interested In
one OF them, wno seemed to have lost something
perhaps a trinllet, and who wept as she danced.
" BOsTON, Christmas Eye.-Dickens came to dine
and talked all the time, he will do when the
ment that he sees it is expected lie Is by no
means man who loves 10 talk ms draSS
matte touches peculiarly his owl, bat are OF
coarse more difficult to recall than his words.
Describing little incident! (which happened while IN
New-lurk, ana seeing some doubt OF its verify on
the faces OF his friends, he said rucIully assure
you il is 81 And all can say is, how as onlshing
it is that should be perpetuaily having things hap
pen to le with regard 10 people that nobody else IN
the world can BE- found to believe. Went 70
hear The Carol low beautiful it was The whole
house ana chcered! The people looked at hin
with gratitude to one who held a candle IN
dark way. AterwaTd he invited us To come to MN,
bUt he was so very tired We should have d he bet
ter to stay away except that he sent fort us, ,
Sunday morning, bright and clear. HIS cold no
better, but he Is wonderfully gay pleased and
amused also with MS new surroundings. =.
hardly know anything mo- dlEerthg than when
he begs not be set gong on one of his readings
by quotation or OtherN lsc, ana odd enough IL -
to hear him - un, having been so touched OF. lie
has been "A great student OF Shake 'pcare. which ls
continually discovered in his conversation His
love of the theatre Is something which never pales
he SAYS and the people who go upon the stage how
ever poor their pay or hard their lot love II, he
thinks too we'll eYerto adopt another vocation OF
their free will
"Wednes lay.-Dickens came TO pass the evening.
He was iull Oi life and frOlc, and kept winning the
memory game with cards which he called Lady
Nmcumwitch in such preternatural manner that
at last we suspected him of some plan 10 aid remen-
brance which the OF had not tine wit 10 dis
cover He explained after while that he invented
each time Il little story by means of which the cards
were strung together IN his mind, but as the story
seemed to dncult the cards, We aclnowl-
edged ourselves well beaten"