The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-18
A story Told by Charles Dickens.

Il chanccd to be travelling some years
aro. he said. IN railroad carriage be
tween Liverpool and London Besides my
self there were two ladies aud gentleman
occupying the carriage. We happeucd 90
b. al strangers 90 each other. bus notSccd
al once that a clergyman was one Of the
party. I was occupied with a pondrrotis
article in the Tfssss. when the sound At
my own nalne drcw ny attention to the
fact that conversation Was paing forward
among the three other persons IN the ear
riage with psfen.nce to my>elf aud my
books. One of the htic, was Perising
BLEAK House, then lately published, and
the clergyman had cslHmengca cOnver~s-
tion with the ladies by x what hssok
they were nsadibg q mg told the
authors name and the 81 the book he
expressed himself ere grieyed that any
laiy in England shos.-d be willing o. take
up the writings of - vile a character a.
Charlss Dickens Both the ladies showed
great surprise At the luw estimate the eies-
gyman put upon an author whom they had
been accustomed To rad, 10 say the lrsAss,
with certain degree Of pleasure. They
were evidently much shocked at what the
man said of thc immoral tendency of ,hc~c
books. which they seemed never before 10
have suspected, but vhen he attacked the
authors private character aud told mon
stroas stories of his immoralititS in every
direction. the volume Was shut up and con-
signed to the dark pockets Of travelling
bag. listened in wonder and ass0nish.
ment. behind my newspaper. Ia stories ot
my-elf. which. II they had been true, woald
have consigned any man 20 prison for life.
Amer my fictitious hiegraphor had oecu-
pied himself for nearly an hour with the
eloquent recital Of my delnquencies and
crimes, very quietly joined in the eonyer-
safion OF course | BEGAN by mosiestly
doubling some statement which had Just
heard touching the author Of Bleak
House, and other unimPortant works d
similar character. The man stared at me.
and evidently considered my appearance on
the conversational stage an intrusion and
an impertinenee.
You seem 20 speak, said. from per
sonal knowledge Of Mr. Dickens Do YOU
know him ?
~He rather eyatled the question. but, fol
lowing him up closely. | compelled him 10
say that he had been talking not from his
own knowledge Of the author in question,
but he said he knew for certainty that
every statement be had made was true
one then became more earnest in my
inquiries for proofs, which he arrogantly
declined giving. The ladies sat by in 81
lenee, listening intently 10 what was going
forward. An author they had been accus-
tened To read for amusement had been ira
dueed for the first time in their hearing
and they were waiting to learn what hsd
to say in refutation Of the clergyman 5
charges was taking up his vile stories
one by one, and stamping them as false in
every particular, when the man grew fa-
rious, and asked me if knew Dickens per-
sonally | replied
+ Perfectly well-no man knows him
better than do; and all your stories about
I him, from beginning to end, to these ladies,
are unmitigated lies.
The man became livid with rage. and
asked for my card.
..You shall have it, | said; and coolly
taking out one | presented it to him with
out bowling.
"We were then nearing the station in
London 50 that was spared longer inter
view with my truthful companion; but if |
we're to live hundred years | should not
forget the abjeet condition into which the
narrator of my crimes was instantly planged.
His face turned white as his cravat, and
his lips refused to utter words, He seemed
ike wilted vegetable, and as if his legs
belonged to somebody else. The ladies be-
came aware of the situation at once, and
bidding them good day" l stepped smil-
ingly out of the carriage. Before | could
get away from the station the man had
mustered up strength sufficient to follow
me, and his apologies were so nauseOus and
craven that | pitied him from my soul.
left him with this caution
Before you make charges against the
character of any man again, about whom
you know nothing, and of whose works
you are utterly ignorant, study to be a seek
er after truth, and avoid lying as you would
eternal perdition.
Anger ventilated often hurries toward