Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-09
DICKENS "MIUAWBER.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
I'll, and ne was born in London way
back in 1907 He early developed
strong literary tastes, and became a
frequent contributor To the magazines
and reviews. At % he published his
first book, volume Of poems, and this
heads a 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
sociated with Wadsworth, Leigh Hunt
and X. II. Horne in the preparation Of
"Chaucer Modernized," which appeared
in 1912. During the same year ne
published "The Wife's Revenge" a
lagcdy "The Shepherds Well,n a
drama, and ''The Blind Wife," ro-
mantle drama, which last went through
five editions. After much other liter
airy work III London, lie came 10 this
country in 1919, and added to the length
ening list of his published volumes
The Living Authors of England, and
"Hhe Living Authors of America. +"
These were followed by romance
called "The a AMBASSADORS Daughter"
md 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 Lantern.
He was also for while connected
with the Daily Neos, and afterwards
was editor Of the Hudson County DEM
0crat. When Frank Leslie started his
publications lie picked out Mr.. Powell
To nelp him, and he has been connect
ed with the establishment now for
many years He used to write good
deal under the name of pierce Pun
gent, and some readers of the Repub-
6cda may remember the Proverbs ut
trlbuted To that worthy. | believe that
Il 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
sized library, if gathered and collected
between covers. Two Of his pays have
been acted IN Europe and one in this
country, and he also wrote years ago
for minstrel troupe burlesque on Lu-
creLNa Borgia and the Bohemian Girl,
which proved very successful.
II is safe 10 say that there is not an
other man in this country, if indeed
there be i'll England, who enjoyed ii
wider acquaintance with the famous En-
glishm.n of the last generation He
was the boon companion Of Dickens;
he knew Dsraeli 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 don't know how many
other notable men He has Il
wonderfully + etentive memory, and his
reeollections of famous people he has
known are full of interest.
Mr.. Powell IS now 70, but he is well
preserved old gentleman. hear ne
goes around to the Leslie establishment
almost every day, and still makes con
trlbunons to some of the publications.
In short, MIR "Micawber" is enjoying
comfortable old age