The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
DICKENS CHARACTERS.
THE REAL PEOPLE FROM WHOM
THEY WERE STRETCHED.
Eome Very Interesting Investigations
The Novelist Had Models as Well as
Other Literary Artists--A Close Stu
dent of Surroundings.


Charles Dickens had originals in actual
life. The novelist, in common with other
famous romancers, never produced, or in
tended TO produce, a complete picture oil a
living person, but only the leading traits,
embodying in his portraiture OF one indi-
yidual his experience of fifty; although, MS
we shall see, the likeness in some cases
bore remarkable resemblance TO the UNI
conscious sitter, who naturally resented
the publicity thus given TO his personal or
mental pcculiaritles. For those readers OF
the works OF Dickens who are curious TO
learn something concerning the prototypes
OF the characters so happily portrayed by
his magic pen, the present attempt at their
identification may not be without interest.
Charles Dickens, ON leaving school in
his fifteenth year, obtained employment in
the Office Of Mossrs. Ellis q Blackmore,
solicitors, OF Gray's Inn, and during the
period OF his engagement in that capacity
he nvailcd himself OF the numerous oppor-
tunites thus afforded him Of observing,
with keenncss which characterized him
throughout life, the various poculiarites
OF lawyers, their.ccrks and clients. Mr.
Blackmore, the junior partner, oiicrword
recognized, in the pages OF ''Pickwick'
and "Nickleby," several incidents that
took place in the office, and the originals
OF many OF the characters in those works
were personally known 10 him. Dickens
early taste for thcaricas was much slim
ulatcd by follow-clork named Potter,
with whom he chiefly associated. This
boon companion aiterward figured under
his proper name in one Of the sketches
by Boz" entitled "Makinga Night of It,"
where he is described rs clerk in the
city, whose income was limited, but whose
friendship with his fellow-clerk, Mr. Rob.
ort Smithcrs, was unbounded. IL is UNI
doubleday the same young gentleman who
appears 40 Jones In another sketch called
"Nlisplaced Attachment OF Mr.. John
Dounce," for lac Is there referred TO as n
barrister's clerk, capital company OF
anccdote!" and having q penchant for
"thc play
Ordnance Terrace, Chatham, where tho
Dickens family resided QSl6-'2l), is known
10 have furnished the characters for some
OF the early sketches. "1ho Old Lady"
was Ms. NEWMAN, who lived at No.
3; 1.-THE llali-pay Captain" was also n
neighhor, whose well remembered oddly
OF behavior was constant source OF
amusement 20 the neighbors Il was
principally In "Pickwick' where Dickens
most frequently utilized his knowledge of
the traits OF character which distinguished
members Of the legal profession and their
victims. Mr.. George Lear, q fellow-clcrk
with Dickens ut Gray's Inn, informs me
that he is convinced he stood for the por-
trait Of the ariiclcd clerk and that our
friend Potter again appears rs the salaried
clerk. Mr.. Lear cnicr,ains belief that IL
was Dickens himself who II described as
one Of ''the office lads, in their first sur
touts, who feels betting contempt for
boys at day schools, club as they 90 home
AZ night, for saveloys aud porter, aud
thinks there's nothing like life. My
Informant is also Of the opinion that Pot
Ter figures still more prominently In
''Pickwick, ~ tho original Of that prince
Of inpostors and advoniurs, Alfred jim.
gle, whose personal appearance In faith
fully reproduced In the illustration repre-
scniing DR.. Slammcrs defiance Of Jingle.
The portrait OF the doctor IL said TO have
been taken from DR.. Lambert, a regi.
mental surgeon nj Chatham, and an uncle
Of the novelist Mr.. Justice Slarcleigh
Mr.. Pcrkor, Pickwick's solicitor In the
famous breach OF promise case, was also
drawn from life. Mr.. Blackmorc. in re-
corling his rccolcctions Of Dickens clerk.
ship, says that he believes Pcrkcr was In.
tended ~ portrait Of his partner, Mr..
Ellis, Who certainly had some Of Pcrkcr's
pcculiariiics, especially that Of inccGant
snuff taking. There can be, however. no
40 a
Pickwick himself. whose outward form
has been rendered w familiar by "phiz"
His namo was John Foster a friend OF
Mr. Chapman lof the firm Of Chapman x
HALL. and he WIS described M "a fat old
beau who would wear, in spite OF ladies'
protests, drab tights and black CATERS"
and who lived nj Richmond.
II Is fair 10 conjecture that Sam wcller's
living prototype was n character named
Simon Spallcrdash lin Samuel Beaslcy's
play called "Thc Boarding housc"1 a local
militiaman, whose chief REGULARITY lay In
quaint sayings and out OF thc.way compnr.
isonA The part WIS taken by low como.
dian named Samuel Vale, for whom the
farce. very popular one In the early part
OF the century, was revived at nrury Lane
theator In 1872, the year after the removal
Of the Dickens family 10 London, Charles
being then ten ycars old. Wales quaint
comparisons, like thosc NJ frequently en-.
ploycd by Sam Weller, were lnvishly in.
hoduccd 10y the actor into his part, an
were doubtless the origin OF Dickens queer
conccit. Vale had a mcllowncss Of voice
With an unctuousncss Of uitcmncc which
gave his drollcncs OF expression an un.
usual value, and he was recognized as an
actor Of genuine ability.
The suggestion that weller IA n form
Of Weller" and the latter Is compare.
tive form Of Vale, IL not altogether without
weight, but ~ Ear as the origin Of the name
~ concerned there Ia some evidence
worthy OF consideration. The name. bv
no means an uncommon ono nj tho prcs.
ent day, was familiar 20 Dickens from his
earliest childhood, for the maiden name
OF his nurse was Mary Weller. IL has
also been pointed out that Thomas
Weller once kept the Cranky Head In
High street, Chatham, and 10th the inn
and the master ncal 10 ones mind tho
fictitious Marquis Of Gmnby,o OF which Mrs.
Weller Sans slepmoiher) was director.
in-chiet hn. Lynn Linton, who once
resided at Gads Hill place, says that
''old Mr.. Weller was real person, aud We
know him. lie was old Chumlcy' in
fesh, and drove the stage daily from
Rochester 10 London aud back again .
The good naiured,rcd faced old fellow"
In the story Of 'oliycr Twls, - p,cton.
introduced Mr.. Fang, a police magistrate,
and described his mode Of ADMINISTERING
Justice. This official, before whom