The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-07-03
AN AUTHOR AT HOME.
Somo PecuIIaritIes About the Man
WHO " rOte - All the Year


One of Charles Dickens's daughters was
for time a great invalid, and after
worse attack of Illness than usual her
father suggested that she should be
carried rs lar as the study, and lie on the
sofa there, while he was at work ms
was. OF course considered an immense
privilege and even if she had not felt as
weak and i'll rs she did she would have
been bound to remain a still and quiet as
possible For somo time there was no
sound to be heard in the room but the
rapid working OF the pen, when suddenly
he jumped mp, went TO the looking glass,
rushed back 20 his writing table and jot-
ted down n few words back to his glass,
again. this time talking to his own redec-
ton, or rather to the simulated expression
ne saw there, aud was trying to catch be
fore drawing it in words, then back again
to his writing After a little he got up
again, and sto ID with his back to the
glass talking softly and rapidly'foT long
time, then looking at his daughter, but
certainly never seeing her, then once more
back to his table and to steady writing
until luncheon time. It was curious ex-
perience, and wonderful thing to see him
throwing himself so entirely out of him
self and into the character he was writing
about. His daughter has very seldom
mentioned this incident, feeling as if it
would almost be breach of confidence to
do so. But She considers it now only
right that this experience should be men
toned. showing as it does his characters
tic earnestnesS and method of work
Often, after hard mornings writing,
when he has been alone with his family,
and no visitors in the house, he has come
in to luncheon and gone through the meal
without uttering q word, and then has
gone back again to the work in which he
was so completely absorbed. Then again,
there have been times when his nerves
have been strung up to such pitch that
any sudden noise, such as the dropping OF
a spoon or the cIatter of plate, seemed
to cause him real agony. He never could
bear the least noise when he was writing,
and waged fierce war against the organ
grinders, bands, etc Charles Dickens
was most delightful and genial host,
had the power of putting the shyest people
at ease with him at once, and had a charm
in his manner peculiarly his own and
quite indescribable. The charm was al
WAYS there whether he was grave or CAV
whether in his very funniest or in his
most serious and earnest mood. He was a
strict master III the way of insisting upon
everything being done perfectly and eN-
actly as he desired, but on the other hand,
he was most kind, just and considerate.
His punctuality was remarkable charac-
-teristic, and his visitors used TO wonder
how il was that everything was done to
the very minute, " almost by clockwork,"
as some OF them would remark.
LabOuchere's Place and Influence.
One of the most singular facts in poli-
tics and journalism in the United King
dom is Henry I,abouchere, editor and pro-
prietor of Truth. Labby' y has not only
effected a marvellous revolution in journ-
alism, but he has gradually changed
Englishmen's habits of thought. By his
fearless independence and downright
trf,f fol bsa hoe cot N
the example of thinking and acting for
themselves, instead of allowing toadyish
magazinists and leader writers to pilot
them by the nose as formerly. OF highly
cultured mind. remarkably sound judg-
ment, thorough knowledge of the history
of his own country and times, intimately
acquainted with all the leaders of thought
and action throughout Europe master
of the art OF what Disraeli called social
diplomacy" and an unSparing dissector
of the sins and follies of corrupt or brain
less society, he is at once the terror and
the delight OF the British public. 4 sincere
hater of pretentiOus sham, humbug and
hypocrisy, he has the pluck to expose
them numerically wherever they appear
and to do him justice his pen is more
ready to attack the great and rich than
the weak and fortuneless. Hence Labby"
has become great power here. an insti-
tuition ~ in himself about which there ex-
lists most singular curiosity, on the part
Britishers.-COr. n. Y. Telegram.
He Married his SNveetheart's Sister.
The marriage of George Ffniay, the his
torian of ancient Greece and for many
years correspondent of the London Times
at Athens, was attended with consider
able romance. Finlay had become at
tached to beaut full Armenian girl at
ConstantinOple. and, as her family would
never have consented to her marriage
with the young Scotchman, determined to
elope with her. a yacht of an English
friend was to take the couple to Greece,
and it was arranged that the young lady
was to be got on board IN box prepared
for the purpose. When the eventful mo
ment came the girl became frightened
and refused to allow herself 10 be placed
in the box. Her sister, girl equally love-
ly, thought it a pity that the romantic ar
rangement should not be taken adYan-
tage of, and entered herself the box in
place of her sister. | suppose Finlay must
have been considerably surprised when
the box was opened in the cabin of the
yacht and not his sweetheart, but her sis
ter was revealed dressed in midshipman' g
uniform. The brother of the young lady
had discovered the affair and was quickly
on board the yacht to demand eXplana-
ton. Finlay saw only one course before
him. The girl had been compromised he
would marry her. The brother giving his
consent, the marriage took place at once
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