The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-08
ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS.
"reminiscences of Charles Dickens and
of the Staff of London Punch.
Newspapers in the Days of CObbett-Men Who
Could Write Like an Angel but Could
Only Speak Like Poor Polf
correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal


LONDON, Oct 3O.-0ne of my correspondents,
writing from Chicago says Wont you give US
q further supply of "reminiscences" Another.
writing from Detroit, says: I'VE don't think
much of the humors of your Punch, but would
like to know what Dickens wrote for it and
when A gentleman writes from San Francisco
to know if l will take up the question of "a
complete restoration of Stratford- on Avon
Church." and help him TO get up an Anglo
American committee" / regret that / do not
see my way to this. lady from Boston thanks
zDe for my descriptions of rural life in Norfolk
and l have pleasure in reading your letters, be-
cause they are evidently truthful" This is
rather, fear, left-handed compli-
ment. 1t implies that this class of jour
nalistic literature is usually taken with a
grain of salt The last letter comes from Wash
iDgton. 1t is from young man who is Study
ing up English literature and the press, past and
present, and hope you will see your way to
give the Post readers all the items in this way
that you have in your notebooks: for 1 am not
alone in my enjoyment of your experiences and
impressions as narrated in your snappy CORE
spondence." Net long since Miss Braddons hus
bsad (Mr John MAXWELL, handed me letter
which had been addressed to Miss Braddon from
'she far West" setting forth proposal to marry
her. The writer described his position and
prospects, and offered to come fright over" and
marry her if she entertained his suit One day
when that letter turns up among my eristolary
treasures tit is away down under heaps of manu-
script will print it for you. But let not the
writer, if he reads these lines, feel bad about it;
/ will withhold his name Meanwhile, let me
say that hope the following miscellaneous notes
and "reminiscences may interest my correspond
ents and the circles which hope they represent.
1t is enormously supposed that the late Charles
Dickens wrote regularly for Punch There is
among Mark Lemons papers an article signed
Charles Dickens, on the outside of which is
written "My Sole Contribution to Punch" The
idea that Dickens was on the staff Of Punch
originated, doubt, through the intimacy
which 80 long existed between the two men.
Scarcely day passed at one period of their lives
without they met each other at their own houses.
They frequently spent evenings at home to-
gether, or at some place of public amusement.
They generally devoted one two evenings in
the week to what Mark called London ramble,
which was frequently an excursion to the East
Ead, picking up character" at minor theaters.
ircuses and other places of resort in the widest
districts of the widest parts Of the metropolis.
Charles Dickens, Clarkson Stansfeld the
painter, and Mark Lemon often made excursions
Of this kind and company, conversing with any
persons whom they might care to know,
and thus gaining fund of information
which was afterwards proftably employed.
Many passages in Dickenss .works,
considered far-fetched and overdrawn, may be
traced to scenes in real life witnessed during
these London rambles 1t was Lemon who
planned the excursions. as is shown by Dickens's
letters. When Dickens lived at Tavistock House,
Lemon lived close by, in Gordon square; and
notes, letters and reminders of appointments
were continually passing from one house to the
other In later days, owing to DlckenSs busl-
ness severance from Bradbury & Evans, and
certain family troubles, GOODNESS rose between
Lemon and his illustrious neighbor; but there
was revival OF something like the old friend
ship year or two prior to Dickenss death. One
day quite recently had the pleasure to intro
duce the present Charles Dickens to Mr.. William
Winter. the American critic and poet. Charles
Dickens is the eldest of his illustrious
father He is always ready to talk of 1.-The
chief" as he calls him. and he was deeply inter-
ested in hearing from Winters own lips his
"reminiscences of the last farewell Dickens said
to America. 1T on board the steamer
in the bay" said Winter 'Your father was
very much excited, but presently we sat down,
apart from the crowd, for a few minutes and he
told me that he was deeply touched at this part
ing from the American people,, much as he
wanted, of course, to see old England again. He
seemed profoundly moved while speaking of the
kindness he had received, and the notice went
round that it was now time for all non voyagers
20 leave the vessel, your father ordered some
champagne. We drank parting toast, and l
surprised the English steward very much by
taking up your fathers lengthy tumbler and
ihrustng it in the breast pocket of my coat
And have it still--our friend Hatton has seen
it in my little house on Staten Island-the glass
from which your father drunk his farewell toast
to America, and it is one of my most precious
treasures!" The present Charles Dickens shook
Winters hand warmly, and said: II hope to see
America some day" well" replied Winter,
there's hearty welcome for you over there,
and you shall drink your first toast out of your
fathers glass"
| recently travelled through the lovely rural
district of England where Cobbett was born, and
met on my return home Mr. Archibald Forbes.
the war correspondent and journalist who lect-
ured through the United States year or two
ago Looking over some notes which made
long since these two men. find few items
that are worth recalling. Cobbett, as you know,
was born at Farnhap,, in Surry, on the 9th day
of March, 1852, and there is nothing more
charming in the range of biography than his own
epistolary "reminiscences of boyhood, which are
published in Mr. Edward Smiths two volumes
narrating his life. His training for political
warfare similar to the education of Archi-
bald Forbcs's for war espondentship-the
hard labor and discipline of soldering. His first
literary work had a similar motive to that of Mr.
ForbesS contribution to The Cornhi '"The
very first thing ever wrote for the press in my
life, says Cobhett, ''was little pamphlet en-
titled the Soldiers Friend" which was written
Immediately after quilted the army. in 179l or
early in 1892 gave it in manuscript to Capt.
Thomas Morrice the brother of that Captain
Morrice who was a great companion of the Prince
of Wales); and by him it taken to Mr. Ridg
way, who then lived in King street, st. James's
square, and Mr.. Ridgway (the same who now
lives in Piccadilly) published it." The first
number of his daily paper the Porcupne was
published at Southampton street, Strand. It's
price was six pence, and its motto, Fear God,
honor the King" THE newspapers CT that
day" says Mr.. Cobbetts biographer "wers
largely occupied in throwing dirt at one another
and one column was often taken up by string
OF paragraphs containing labored sarcasms di
rected toward public men or other public prints
Even half a century ago this practice was in full