The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-21
THACKERAY AND DICKENS.



of Dotheboys Hall.
Frank Bellew in New York Tribune.
L forget whether it was Sala or some other
member of the fraternity, but some one told
me little story of Thackeray, which has
Just occurred to me. One day he was walk
ing along Wych-st., a kind of slum thor
oughfare leading to Drury Lane, when he
passed group of dirty little street arabs.
One little female tatterdemalion looked up
at him as he passed, and then called out to
her younger brother, Hi, Archie! d'you
know who him is? He's Becky
sharp" Thackeray was astounded
TO md that little barefoot
ed guttersnipe should know sufficient
of his writings even to confound him with
one OF his heroines On inquiry he found
that the little thing was the child of an act
ress of some education but insufficient his
trionic ability, who had gradually come
down to sewing trousers for cheap tailors.
She had read one or two numbers II Vanity
talr, and on previous occasion pointed out
the author to her daughter. Thackeray
found the poor woman in a garnet, boiling
potatoes for dinner. She had not been able
TO get the whole of Vanity Fair, but only
Few odd parts, Thackeray sent her COM
plete set, and something to give a relish to
her dinner of potatoes
BY Jovei' said Thackeray to a friend,
strange as 1T may seem, that little incident
gave me more pleasure than if l had re-
ceived complimentary letter from his
Grace, the Duke of Devonshire. When your
name gets down into the sums that means
fame; you have touched bottom"
But here an odd memory connected with
eucther great writer comes into my head.
A certain friend of mine one Mr.. John
Phillips told me that on one OCCASION when
he was boy, he found himself in a room in
the Inner Temple in London, whether as
guest or what he did not explain, with two
w Sp1lpazitu lan1Ons tn
make punch, and the other was smoking
pipe. The one who was making the punch
suddenly discovered that he had an INSULT
cient supply of lemons. what shall we
do?' queried the smoker. Suppose we
send out the kid, replied the other. "The
two young men were Charles Dickens and
Harrison Ainsworth," said Mr.. Phillips,
land was the kid" THE kid went out and
purchased supply of the needed fruit, but
when he came back he was startled to find
monster of hideous mien in the place OF
the handsome young gentleman he had left
there few minrtcs before. Dickens
had been Willing away the time
by making himself set of
false teeth with one lemon peel and
an artificial nose with another. This same
Mr.. Phillips, who had lived many years in
Australia, told me that the original and veri-
table ''Smike," of 'Dotheboys Hall" was
living and prospecting in that country, though
generally considered of rather weak mind.
The mention of "Smike" brings to my
mind fact which, by the way, / shall never
forget, that l. the writer, was at school at
Dotheboys Hall. At least, have always be-
lieved SO, SO close was the resemblance be-
tween my school and Dickens's descrip-
ton. And think 1 was in
debted to Nicholas Nickleby" for
my release, for l can well remember
to this day on my return home seeing the
green-covered monthly parts of that work
lying on the drawing-room table. Dickens
located his school in Yorkshire; mine was in
Westmoreland the adjoining county, and
only few miles from the border. l was
eight years of age when l was sent down
alone by mail coach, consigned to doctor in
the town of Appleby, who was to transfer
me to the school, | arrived at night, and
put up at the principal inn, and l can re-
woman taking me down into the kitchen
and giving me a large bowl of milk, with
cream on the top, and huge slice of ginger
bread, for my supper. / sat upon a stool and
ate it. l have never since partaken of such
an exquisite repast; the memory OF it haunts
me even even now.
Arrived at school, which was kept by a
Mr.. Twycross my dandy boots were taken
away and was provided with coarse pair
| of sabots with wooden soles. l found that
all the boys wore these things, which cost
one shilling sterling per pair. AT this
school we were chiefly fed on great dobs of
heavy, salt-beef, which SINE lied bad, and
hidecus dishes OF semi-llquid blood pudding
If we could not eat this revolving stuff at
dinner, it was put by for the rebeilous
stomach's supper, and if not consumed then
it was served up for breakfast next day, and
SO on till it was eaten. On Saturday night
large tub of scalding water and
bran was brought into the school-room
and in this the whole school washed
their feet and often have heard the smaller
bows bowling with pain as their feet were
forced into the boiling mess by the bigger
boys, while the master stood by with his
cane to enforce obedience. The only supply
of water for the boys came from large bar
rel which received the rainfall from the
roof. This often got low and putrid. and yet
| have seen the boys hanging into this barrel
almost by their toes head downward, try
ing to re oh it with their mouths. The rod
was always going, and the howl of pain con-
tinuous. Yet they were very particular
about their religious exercises. and many a
time I have nearly tainted kneeling on a
hard form through long prayers, and the
singing of TIE morning and evening hymn.