Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-05-23
A NIGHT WITH DICKENS.
The Novelist Points Out the Places
Where He Found His Famous
Characters.

EOOu position on Il l-OALAbl paper WITCH
he came to this country, but he has
told me very little about himself.
How the name of Dickens cropped
out in our conversation | cannot now
remember, but when it was mentioned
LlOyed became enthusiastic.
II spent a wonderful night with him
once, - he said, lighting a fresh cigar,
s'and when you mentioned his name 1t
Gil came back to me-"
"It was in 'JS or 'j9,' continued
Lloyd ''At that time had the police
department on the South London jour
nal. Without stretching it at all, L
think I may say that L had made some
little reputation for myself"
''Well, 10 cut a long story short, l
was working away at my desk, one
evening, when Inspector DAVIS came
in.n
what do you say to going the
rounds with me tonight" said the IN
"Thanks,, 1 replied, 'but am
rather busy, and cannot very well so. "
sorry - responded the Inspector,
II am to take Mr.. Dickens along, and
l took it for granted you would want
'sCharles Dickens, 1 shouted. Ishe
really going with you?n
That is the arrangement" said the
inspector, cant you meet US at Bulls
at eleveuf'
you NAV rest assured that prom
ised. l wrote several notes to my re
pOrters, and some minutes before
eleven I turned up at Bulls n third
rate restaurant on oxford street.
Inspector Davis and another gen
tleman had Just finished their supper
'sOf course the other gentleman was
Mr.. Dickens When / was introduced
10 him he drew me aside in 4 pleasant
way"
Newspaper mang'' he said. ''Well,
like all newspaper men l ought To-
you know, for l had 4 devil OF time
myself rs a reporter
u made some sort Of an answer, but
Mr.. Dickens went on TO say:
"After all, YOU newspaper men, you
reporters, are the real novelists of the
Aay. Your realistic stories of the COM
edies and tragedies Of life cannot be-
surpassed -
Now is the time to catch EN-"
said the inspector, looking at his
watch
'The programme for the night en-
braced "A rImble through some of the
by-streets between IIolborn and Ok
ford streets. Without the inspector
IL would have been dangerous trip"
1.-The first place we visited was
thieves lodgiug-houSe. Fully a hun
dred men were stretched ON the floor,
most Of them asleep, but some were
wide awake
zone Of the lodgers seized Mr.. Dick
ems by the lapel of h!s cuat-
% y,g..sf he growled, ''what do
YOU want here?'
''Ask me that question tomorrow
and III answer yoH, - said Mr.. Dickens
with a laugh, and he handed the fellow
his card.
Blast my eyes,'' exclaimed the man,
''well, sir, you are among friends here
! say, Mr.. Dickens, may l send out for
some ale or something"
.'No, we can't wait, - replied the in
spectOr, 1--WE must visit other places, |
and you wouldn't like to bother Mr.. |
Dickens" "
"D,vII a bit Of it,'' c.claimed an |
Irishman, who had overheard the con- |
yersation, but l must shake hands
Wild YOU
AFTER few more handshakes we
left and went into a purer atmosphere.
y yin palace stood IN our way and a
sudden thirst oyercame me-"
Come IN, boys" said Mr.. Dickens,
''f we are going To make u night of it,
we must prepare for it,"
''We had jolly time inside. Mr..
Dickens cLatTed the bar-maIds, and
they giggled like anything. Inspector
Davis, too. was at his best"
''But when he left, the inspector
must have whispered something, for
one Of the bar-maids ran after us and
gave Mr.. Dickens a little flower, say
ing, oh, sir, YOU have done SO much
for usl'
1.-The Inspector nudged me, and /
thought about 1t, and l am thinking
about IL YETI
AT one place Mr.. Dickens was in
high glee- He pointed out young
fellow in tawdry suit Of clothes, and
asked US II he was not a regular Dick
Swiveler, and the man did seem to I'LL
the bill exactly
'There is Bill Sykes he said ut the
last place we visited, u low cellar in the
very worst quarter"
The man was the very picture Of
Bill Sykes, but he overhead Mr.. Dick
ems, and came forward in belligerent
way
''Stand back THERETO said Inspector
Davis, don't YOU know me?''
Il know you, - answered the ruflian,
'but am going 10 mash this fellows
nose"
'.ITr. Dickens. this is Mr.. Chick
Dyke" " said the Inspector, laughing.
Not our Charles Dickeus.r exclaim-
ell the other.
The same, - was the answer.
'Well, that BIll sykes fellow almost
hugged Mr.. Dickens. And they were
AL that way
''Ouce Mr.. Dickens pulled out his
purse, but the Inspector stopped him,
and promised % call IN the daytime.
He said that 70 was dangerous 10 show
money IN that quarter at night
In the Last house We visited there
was a little goldru-hJred girl curled up
in the arms Of an Old man.
There is little Nell, I broke out.
"Nou are right" Mr.. Dickens an
swered, as he pressed my hand. I'VE
must look after her tomorrow, and
after seeing her We had better 20.
feel broken up
Il was glad 20 get away and 50 was
Inspector Davis. We went back 20
Oxford street and had a high old time
at 4 chophouse until morning. Mr..
Dickens was a. Jolly Is 4 man could be.
lie gave Us no end Of good advice, and
even approved Of my scheme Of going
70 the United States"
Il Ike those Americans" he said;
'they like me-"
Human nature, wasn't il? Shortly
after that left England, and l never
saw Charles Dickens again. l know
that YOU will think my little glimpse of
the man very unsatisfactory episode,
but you were not there. You did not
see the man. II you had felt the pres
sure of his hand, and looked into his
clear eyes, and heard his CHEEKY voice,
you would feel as l do now when his
name is mentioned -
Lloyd puffed away at his cigar, and
1 soon convinced him that thoroughly
understood him.
y night with Mr.. Dickens is some
thing to be remembered with delight,
l. L.. L. L L. Il