Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-12

was il its place. neat and orderly.
This was also the Erst thing ne did
UPON his return home, after any alb
sence. A more thoroughly orderly M
ture never existed. It must have been
through this gift Of order that he was
enabled to make time, Notwithstanding
any amount Of work. to give to the
minutest household details.
Before dinner-party, the menu was
also submitted TO him for approval,
and he always made q neat little plan
Of the table, with the names of the
guests marked in their respective
places, and q list of who was to take
who to dinner. He had constantly
some bright idea or other as to the
arrangement OF the table or rooms.
He had q strange aversion to saying
good-by. and would do anything he
possibly could to avoid going through
the ordeal. This feeling must have
been natural to him. for as early as the
"Old Curiosity Shop he writes.-
"Why is it we can better bear to
part in spirit than in body, and while
we have the fortitude to act farewell,
have not the nerve to say it? On the
eve of long voyages, or an absence of
many years, friends who are tenderly
attached will separate with the usual
look, the usual pressure of the hand
planning one final interview for the
MORO ", while each well knows that
it is put poor feint to save the pain
of uttering that one word, and that
the meeting will never bel Should pos
sibilities be worse to bear than GER
tainties ?"
So all who love him, and who know
the painful dislike he had to that word,
are thankful that he was spared the
agony of that last. long Farewell.
Almost the pleasantest times at
Gad's Hill were the winter gatherings
for Christmas and the New Year,
when the house was more than full, and
the bachelors of the party had to be
''put up in the village. At these
times Charles Dickens was at his gay
est and brightest, and the days passed
cheerily and merrily away.
He was great at games, and many of
the evenings were spent in playing at
Eyes and No." Proverbs, Russian
Scandal, Crambo, Dumb Crambo-in
which he was most exquisitely funny
and game of Memory, which he
particularly liked.
On New Years Eve, there were
generally other guests beside those
staying in the house. and the New
Year had to be welcomed with due
honors. Just before twelve o'clock,
everybody would assemble in the hail,
aid Charles Dickens would open the
door, and stand in the entrance, watch
in hand.
How many of his friends must
remember him thus, and think low
ingly of the picture az he waited,
with half-smile on his attentive face,
for the bells to chime out the New
Year,
Then his voice would break the ST
lence with "a Happy New Year to US
air. and for many minutes there would
be much embracing, hand-shaking and
good-wishing. and the servants also
would come up and get hearty shake
of the hand from the beloved master. !"
Then sometimes there would be a
country-dance, in which the host de-
lighted, and in which he insisted upon
every one joining
He never allowed the dancing and
real dancing it was, TOTO flag for
an instant. but kept it up, until even
he was tired and out Of breath, and had
at last to clap his hands. and bring it
to an enA His thorough enjoyment
was most charming to witness, and
seemed to infect every one present.
One New Years day at breakfast,
he proposed that we should act some
charades. in dumb show, that evening.
This proposal being met with enthusi-
asm, the idea was put into practice at