Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-15
DICKENS "MICAWBER.v
The Original of that Character Living
in New York.

A correspondent writing from New
York to the Springfield Republican says:
The man who sat for the portrait of
wilkins Micawber" is living in this
city. and a very interesting old gentle
man he Is. His name is Thomas Pow
ell, and ne was born in London way
back in 1907. He early developed
strong literary tastes, and became
frequent contributor to the magazines
and reviews. At 90 he published his
first book, a volume of poems, and this
heads long list Of works, which occu-
pies about half column in "Allibon's
Dictionary of Authors" He soon he
came the companion Of the chief lit
erary lights Of that day, and he was as
ISOLATED with Wadsworth, Leigh Hunt
and r. H. Horne in the preparation of
"Chaucer Modernized, /" which'appeared
in 1912. During the same year he
published The Wife's Revenge" q
tragedy; "The Shepherds Well" q
drama, and ''The Blind Wife," ro-
mantle drama, which last went through
five editions. After much other liter
airy work in London, he came to this
country in 1849, and added to the length
ening list of his published volumes
"The Living Authors of England" and
''The Living Authors of America"
These were followed by q romance
| called "The Ambassadors Daughter"
and other books. Meanwhile, Mr..
Powell was engaged in newspaper work.
During 1850 and 1851 he was editor of
the Figaro, and the next two years he
was associated with John Brougham in
conducting the LanterS
He was also for a while connected
with the Daily NelUS, and afterwards
was editor Of the Hudson County Dem
ocrat. When Frank Leslie started his
publications he picked out Mr.. Powell
to help him, and he has been connect
ed with the establishment now for
many years. He used to write a good
deal under the name of "Pierce Pun
gent" and some readers of the Repub-
hcGr may remember the Proverbs at
tributed to that worthy, | believe that
full score of books have appeared
from his pen, while the fugitive tale he
has written and his contributions of
one sort and another to newspapers
and magazines would make a good
SlLSO library, IL SdGu6ISu anu COuSCI6U
between covers. Two of his plays have
been acted in Europe and one in this
country, and he also wrote years ago
for minstrel troupe q burlesque on Lu-
cretia Borgia and the Bohemian Girl,
which proved very successful.
1t is safe to say that there is not an
other man in this country, if indeed
there be in England, who enjoyed
wider acquaintance with the famous En-
gEshmon of the last generation. He
was the boon companion of Dickens;
he knew Disraeli when nothing seemed
more unlikely than that the young Jew
would some day be Premier; he worked
with Wordsworth, Hunt and Herne; he
has many personal "reminiscences of
Carlyle, Thackeray, George Henry
Lewis, and l don't know how many
other notable men. He has a
wonderfully etentive memory, and his
recollections offs famous people he has
known are full of interest.
Mr.. Powell is now IS, but he is a well
preserved old gentleman. l hear he
goes around to the Leslie establishment
almost every day, and still makes con-
tributions to some of the publications.
In short, Mr.. ''Micawber' is enjoying
a comfortable old age.