Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-01-16
Charles Dickens at Home,

Charles Dickens was the most de-
llghtful and genial of hosts, and had
the power Of putting the shyest peo-
pie at ease with him at once. He hal
charm in his manner peculiarly his
own. and quite indescribable. The
charm was always there, whether
IN his very funniest, or in his most
serious and earnest, mood.
His punctuality was remarkable
characteristic. and visitors used TO
wonder how it was that everything
was done to the very minute. 1t is =
common saying now in the family of
some dear friends where punctuaIjtv
Is not quite 50 well observed "Ubat
would Mr.. Dickens have said to this 2n
ay.,.s.s 'sst>ye ,,esn a, tlssa's tfn, -. ,...s
what ponctusiity neansr' lie was |
very fond of music. but not of ..classi
cal music only. lie loved national
airs old tunes, songs and ballads. lie
was easily moved by anything pathetic
in a song or tune, and was never tire
of hearing his particular fayorites
sung or played.
He liked to have music of an eyea-
ing, and duets used 20 be played very
often for hours together, While he
would read or walk up and down the
room.
There was a large meadow at the
back OF the garden in which, during
the summertime, many cricket
matches were held Although never
playing himself, Charles Dickens de
lighted in the game, and would sit in
his tent, keeping score for one side
the whole day long lie never took
to croquet. but had lawn-tcnnis been
PLAYED in the Gads Hill days, he
would certainly have enjoyed THIS
game He liked american bowls,
al which he used constantly to play
with his male guests. For one of has
improvements, he had turned a waste
piece of land into a eroquet-ground
and bowling green.
In the meadow he used also to
practise many Of his readings and
any stranger passing down the lane.
and seeing him gesticuIating and hear
ING him talking, laughing, and some
times it may be, weeping, most surely
would have thought him out OF his
, mind,
The getting-up of those readings
gave him an immense amount of labor
, and fatigue, and the sorrowtul part.
ried him greatly.
For instance, in the reading Of bit
lie Dombey,' it was hard work for hin
50 to steel his heart as to oe able Z
read the death without breaking down
or displaying too much emotion. Il
,ften told how much he suffered owe
his story, and how it would have beel
impossible for him to have gon
r through with it hal he not kept con
e .tantly before his eyes the picture Q
I his own "Plorn, alive and strong an
, well.
d Ills great neatness and tidiness hay
already been alluded to, as also HI
t wonderful sense Of order The iiI'
It thing he did every morning beior
going to work, was to make ciTca
of the garden, and then to 60 over IN
whole house, to see that eyerythh
was in its place, neat and orderly
!! This was also the first thing he q
ul,on his return home, after any a
slnee. A more thoroughly ofderlq n
ture never existed. 1t must have oe'
through this gift of order that he "
enabled to make time, notwithstandl
any amount of work, to give to u
minutest household details.
Before a dinner-party the menu :"
~ also submitted to him for approx
and he always made a neat little Pl
of the table, with the names ol
guests marked in their respea''
places. and list of who was T. "a
Who to dinner. He had eonstah