The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15
TWO NOTED CHARACTERS.
Anecdotes OF the Duke Of Buccleuah and
" -; Charles Read.

Apec dotes OF the Duke OF buocieuxn una
| " - Charles Read.
A London correspondent OF the Phila-
delphia Press writes: BY the death OF the
old Duke Of Buccleugh-the deceased Peer
was in the seventy-seveDth year OF his
age-I AN reminded OF good story he
himself used to relate with much apparent
gusto. On one occasion, when certain
right royal parsonage was spending Few
days with the Duke at Dalkeith, ms coun-
try-seat near Edinburgh, his Royal High
ness's valet begged the favor OF an inter-
view with his masters host. Fire away"
said the Duke. who dearly loved joke
and formed an idea from the lackey's man
ner that something funny was about 10
happen.
al il please, your Grace, said the
( turnkey, - find that In this 'ouse L am
expected to take my meals with the SER
wants in their living-room. Now, at 'ome
me and the house.steward and the butler
/ ALWAYS dimes by ourselves, and this Is the
fust time when me and his 'Ighness have
/ been "A visiting that | ave been asked to
eat with the common servants. | always
as nv meals served to my own room."
WELL" said the Duke, who preserved
/ the utmost gravity throughout the en-
tire interview, II don't myself under
stand much about the etiquette observed
in the servants hail, but, as you appear to
be dissatisfied with the arrangements for
your accommodation, you had better ask
your master to let you dine with him and
me. You are quite welcome, as far rs am
concerned" This rctOrt eifectually put an
end to the gentleman's grumbling, and du.
ring the remainder OF the Princes visit
4 1t a
table uncompainingly.
The Duke OF Bucceugh has not been the
only victim that has fallen before the kill
ing onslaught OF the terrible East winds
that have prevailed here during the past
ten DAYS. Men OF letters OF all shades are
still mourning the loss OF Charles Reade,
the most verile, the most trenchant, and
withal the most painstaking novelist OF the
past decade. Only those who were for
tunate enough TO enjoy the c,tree to Charles
Reade'S curiously-named bome-Naboth's
VINEYARD. he insisted upon calling it, du-
ring the later years OF his tenancy Of the
little oasis, at Albert Gate. in the great
desert OF London bricks and mortar-and
subsequently 10 his cosy little villa at
Shepherds Bush, can form the least idea Of
the infinite labor that the production OF a
thor.
CHARLES READE's RELIGION.
At PRAYERS Charles Reade's love OF SIM
plicity in all things was palpably evident.
A worthy and earnest preacher OF the gos-
pel-Graham by name-not belonging to
any particular denomination. has for ten
years or so preached in an iron room or
small hall to a tiny congregation OF wor-
IN hy-roa1 off thn GoldhawE
road, Shepherds Bush. IL is within my
own knowledge that the great author. now
laid to rest forever. who has charmed hum
dreds of thousands on both sides OF the
Atlantic by the pathOs OF Griffith
Gaunt." who has wrung the hearts
OF numberless readers, ofttimes con-
strained to weep as they pored over
the dark pages of Never Too Late
TO Mend,' or followed with ever
increasing interest the adventures Of
"Tbe Wandering Heir" went - as little
child u use the minister's own words
and begged the earnest Christian to show
him how to cast the burden OF his sorrows
on the shoulders OF Him who died 'or
mankind on the Mount OF Calvary. Many
time have | seen the grand, massive
head, crowned with forest of white hair,
bowed IN humble petition IN this primitive
little place OF worship, and | doubt il any
moro convincing proof Of the power OF the
simple story OF the redemption has ever
been vouchsafed than the rugged face Of
Charles Readc. author, scholar, and, above
all. clear thinker, as he would sit by the
hour listening to the old. old story OF the
atOnement.
HIS IDIOSYNCRASIES.
With oil bIS sin, nlicifV and I0it,ete
Charles Reade was pOSelr, and from an
early period OF his public career posed as an
eccentric. He greatly surprised and out
ragged the old fogies Of the original Garrlck
Club by parading that august establishment
in a pair OF worn slippers, for which he
exchanged his boots in the little never-used
card.room at the top of the house. Reade's
room at Magdalen was an extraordinary
sight; books piled on the floor and every
where in endless profusion ; MSS. litter
ed about, scarcely chair to be found
more like Mr.. Fips's chamber in Austin
Friars, into which Tom Pinch was indicted.
lie read few books, aud abomihated fine
writing. | well remember his impotence,
when, taking up novel OF Ouido, and be-
Ing pestered with a certain abominable
iteration about an Ariadne," he sent the
book flying across the room before he had
reached the end OF the first chapter. For
the literature OF pure Imagination he cared
little or nothing. perhaps not quite enough
But Charles Reade was oppressed by be-
lief that he had no Imagination. He natu-
rally did not proclaim this delusion Qor |
delusion it was) in his books. lie |
spoke OF it. however, TO his friends; |
and it was because he mistrusted his own |
powers OF invention that he never liked |
TO begin a new work until he had some
dramatic framework, taken from French
play, or legal record. or report in an
old newspaper, to rest it upon. lie sat in
the midst OF them like navigator among
charts, or strategist among route-maps,
aud thanks or not 10 the Instructions and
on all sides OF him, he never
failed to guide the incidents and person.
ages OF his novel TO their proper end.
While keeping well before him the striking
points in the story on which he was ac-
Lually at work, the very methodical crafts
man had in his room long row OF
large portfolios full OF newspaper
arranged under such heads
rs Murders" Suicides" I" Disasters
1t Sea-" and laboriously indeXed. These
we're the facts for his social histories
acts which he had got together with as
much care as could have been taken by any
collector OF materials for serious history
If the military and political kind. In
pite Of this appearance OF method 1t may
De doubted whether, at the last moment,
Charles Reade made any direct use OF his
iOtes and his memoranda. According TO
IN author who worked with him for time
and with whom Mr.. Reade fell out before
he novel on which they were Jointly en-
,aged was completely, he wrote on with
'ut reference TO his notes; but no doubt
he n ere process Of making them must
laha had fhn afacf Of imnrrssing the main