The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-11

be added, he bad his own ideas, but saw no
likelihood Of their being carried into effect.
The price OF provisions, the cost Of butchers
meat III bread were next lightly touched
and 90 the conversation rippled on
agreesbly TO an agreeable end. But the In
terview did net close until the Queen, with
gracious modssty, had begged Mr.. Dickens
acceptance OF O copy Of the Journal In the
Highlands IN which her majesty had placed
an autograph inscription and her OWL sign
manual. The Queen, on handing the book
~ Mr.. Dickens, modestly remarked that she
felt considerable hesitation in presenting so
humble a literary effort 10 one OF the Tore
most writers of the age. After asking Mr..
Dickens TO look kindly on any literary
faults OF her book, her majesty expressed 8
desire to he the possessor of a complete set
of Mr.. Dickens works This was the only
interview Dickens had with the Queen, but
her kindness on the occasion impressed him
greatly"
After the funeral of a friend Dickens con
fessed that 'sof course / made an aee OF my
self, and did the wrong thing. as | invariably
do ct q funeral" He proceeded to explain
that, arriving at the house OF his late friend,
he was met in the hall by an elderly gentle
man, who extend his hand. Presenting this
to be q friend whom he had met somewhere
but bad forgotten, he took the gentleman by
the hand, saying at the same time: We
meet on a sad occasion" "Yes, indeed"
was the reply. Poor dear Sir James"
This with a l~ong-drswn sigh Dickens
passed on to the diningroom, where several
other friends were congregated, and where
for q time he quite forgot his friend in the
ball but presently he remembered Of that
afie citing meeting by the entrance OF the
elderly gentleman, carrying before him a
trayful Of bats adorned with long mourning
bands, and 30 high was the pile as to almost
hide him from view. The elderly gentle
mans position in society was now made
manifest. He was the undertaker's man,
and wanted Dickens hat for the purpose OF
funeral decoration; hence his object In hold
ing out his hand. Mr. Dickens was greatly
amused (the seriousness of the occasion not
withstanding) when be discovered the mis-
| take he had made.
The closiDg of the American accounts re-
vealed a state Of affairs to Mr.. Dickens far
in excess of his anticipations. The original
scheme embraced eighty readings In all, OF
which seventy-six were actually given. Tax.
ing one city with another, the receipts av-
ersged 5000 each reading; but as small
places did not exceed $1,000 q night, the re.
ceipts in New York and Boston where the
largest sums were taken far exceed $500.
The total receipts were $228. 600, and the ex-
penses were $4,000. After paying all charg-
es and expenses Dickens profit On the en-
terpIise amounted to nearly $4,000. Out
of the 242 readings given under Mr.. Dolby's
management nearly s33, 900 was cleared.
The last extract we shall make from this
book is q story which Dickens teld n the
Last speech he made but one: :" y was once
present. he said, st q social discussion
which originated by hance. The subject
was What was the mcst absorbing and long
est-lived passion in the human breast?
What was the passion 70 powerful that II
would almost induce the generous to be
| mean, the careless TO be cautious. the guile
| less 10 be deeply designing and the dove to
| emulate the 8 psnt9' A daily editor of
| vast experience and great acuteness who
was one Of the company considerably sur
| prised Us by saying with the greatest conf
depce, that the passion in question was the
passion OF getting orders for the play
There had recently been a terrible ship
wreck, and a very few OF the surviving
sailors had escaped in an open boat. One of
these, on making land came straight to Lon
don, nd straight to the newspaper Office
with the story OF how be had seen the
ship go down before his eyes. The yonng
| man had witnessed the most terrible con-
| tention between the powers OF grease aud
water for the destruction Of that ship and
of everyone On board. He had rowed away
among the floating. dying, sinking, and
dead. He had tioated by day, and frozen by
night. wit no shelter n no food, and as
he told the dismal tale he rolled his haggard
eyes about the TO om. When he had finished,
and the tale had been noted down from his
lips. he was cheered, and refreshed, and
soothed, and asked if anything could be
done for him. Even within him, that mas.
ter passion was so strong that he immedi-
stely replied he should like III order for the
NAV ~