Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12
Dickens and Capel.
New York Letter in Boston paper.

When Capel first spoke here his delivery was
marked by that Internal Anglicism which made
Dickens so odiOus and OVERWHELMINGLY the
rising infection at the end Of every sentence.
You always felt when hearing Dickens as though
you wanted to jump on him and pull him down
to the terminal landing place which he persist
emily and extensively avoided. l don't think
there was ever a etterillustratiOn of how Odous
genius can be than was afforded in the readings
of MIR. Dickens. At that time 1 was employed
on the Brooklyn Eagle, and slung my little pen
as dramatic critic OF necessity, l saw Dir.
Dickens repeatedly whom fortunately met in
private as we'll as in public. He was business
from the top of his bald head to the bottom of
his foot. He was here for one purpOse-tO
make and keep the great American dollar He
wore himself out in the effort to recoup his for
tune. That lie made a tremendous pile we all
know. and doubtless were very glad. l was. for
one. But it is my solemn conviction that he
didn't spend during his entire stay here 500
He gave nothing away, and his expenses were
all betrayed by the people who brought him
over.
Like all Englishmen of his grade, Dickens
was very heavy drinker. / shall never forget
going into little room off Plymouth-church
lecture room. and finding there bottle of
brandy and two bottles of champagne which
We're brought for the delectatiOn Of the reader
who, to be sure, asked one or two gentlemen
there to join in the ceremony. but his asking
was shallow farce, for while they did have an
opportunity of touching glasses once he allowed
it to be clearly and distinctly understood that
the refreshments were there for him. and not
for his friends. After drinking a good deal,
Dickens became red in the face, and his reading,
which was, bad at all times. degenerated into
most tedious process. Mr.. ,Thackeray, after
drinking, became talkative and genial and good
natured and pleasant: and showed himself an
amiable old gentleman. Dickens didn't. He
was cross, irritable and mOrose, and it was never
difficult matter to get him into a heated and
offensive discussion.
Mgr Capel has strong will and quick tenn
per, both of which are admirable adjuncts to q
under. as in his case perfect control. 1t would
be absurd to suppose that half dozen men Of
pronounced convictions would meet under any
circumstances, however pleasant, when discus
sion was the order Of the evening, without
rubbing some ones feathers the wrong way
now and then, and it is the management Of
ones temper on occasions like that which tells
the story Of worldly wisdom. After several
hours OF dining and wfning freely Mgr. Capel
bore himself precisely as he did when riding in
the cars. He was polite, sauve, genial, very
ready with an acquiescent SMILE perhaps lit
tie too deferential, although that is the failing
OF all men of his class, conveying the impress
sion occasionally of STOPPING to conquer, al
though believe the chief feather I'm his cap Is
that he cOnquers to stoop, or kneel, as you may
see fit to put it.
In treating of Cumberland, who claims to be
mind reader, the monsigneur told some very
interesting facts about his own power He
insists that every man has this power of mind
reading, and that every man utilizes it uncon-
sciOusy all the time. OF course, when one
makes it a specially and it becomes his trade,
his practice is that OF an expert. He illustrated
his own power in that direction. by saying that
with friend only the night before he clasped
the waist Of another friend, their four hands
making band about the waist and the friend
put himself into a state OF mental negation as
far as possible. whereupon Cape aud the other
manipulation, having agreed upon a course of
action impressed it absolutely upon the quies-
cent and receptive mind Of their friend, who in a
few moments did precisely what they willed him
to do. lie described the feeling as rather Gu
rlous; that at first the knees began to shake,
and it seemed as though there was muscular
relaxation through the entire body which was
followed bv this curious obedience of the one
will to the others. Cape seemed very much
amazed, and almost indignant. that the Ameri-
can public should yield any credence whatever
to Cumberland as an exceptionally brilliant man,
or one gifted with unusual powers, and little
jokingly said that, if it had been the custom in
this country, as it is In his own to write letters
to the editor, he would have been strongly
tempted to yield in order that he might put on
paper his own convictions about Cumberland
and the scheme generally.