The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-07-04
Anecdotes OF Dickens.

bellishment. in musical language called
turn. Dickens had managed 10 preserve
A preternaturally solemn decorum until
this climax met his ears. He now fash
ed on me look Of absolute amazeinent-
awhat did he mean by that?'' i asked,
equally confoDnded.
His answer was imDerturbabiy grave
with a sage shake Of the head: 'Oh'
that's quite in rule in music, as well as
in accordance with proyerbial philoso-
phv. When things are at their worst
they always take turn.
After the pepetration of one oil ms
puns he was accused Of irreverence.
While we were engaged at whist one
evening a lady seated in the background,
apart from the players, Il think 1t was
his nother), soothed By the lull, was IN
dulring in a placid nap. One of the
players with noisy glee suddenly banged
down the king Of trumps 10 take the last
trick. and thereby awakened the sleeper,
who started up in alright
Don't be alarmed - exclaimed Dick
ems. "You look awfully like one of the
defunct on the day ofjudgment"
"Why?"
Because you were awakened by the
sound Of the last trump"
He pretended to be dreadfully disgust
ed when his wife attempted punning,
and vowed he Was deteriorating under
the influence of this bad example, though
he could not help laughing as she perpe-
trated her little harmless attempts with
the most innocent and deprecating air,
turning up her eyes with affected terror
of his wrath and terminating in pretty
little moan. while he pretended TO tear
his hair and writhed in well acted atti-
iudes Of horror.
One evening his friend, NJ. entered the
room with a eomplaeent air, arrayed IN
an outrageously long stock, which he evil
IDENTIFY thought worthy Of Brummell.
Dickens surveyed it for some moments
with a thoughtful and puzzled express
sion. his fonefnger on his forehead in
imitation of Sterne.
'IIalloa, Charlie, what are yDu staring
at my stock for ?p inquired NJ.
4 heavy load Of doubt and conjecture
seemed t. be lifted from the mind of
Dickens. He heaved a sish Of relief, and
beamed with thankful satisfaction.
stock, II is really meant for a stock,
is it? am so glad to know you meant
it for that. 1t was SO painful to think you
might have intended it for waistcoat."
have never met with any one who
entered into games with as much spirit
and boisterous glee; the sim plest of them
he contriyed TO make amusing, and often
instructive. His fun was most infectious,
and he had three able partisans in his
brothers and Mr.. Milton, and under the
incentive of his prompting they became
irresistibly comic. Under their manipu-
lation "Ningt-et-un," "Boo," etc, became
so totally altered as to be scarcely recog-
nizable, and generally ended in unbush-
ing cheating and consequent uproar.
The stakes were usually thrown into
heap and distributed honestly at the end
of the evening.
We went one evening in "the whole
strength of the company" to spend few
hours at the Tivoli Gardens, place pur-
porting TO be Nauxhall on small scale.
Some respectable people were dancing in
a part set aside for that purpose, and We
Young ones were seized with the desire
to get up quadrille among ourselves. As
no one knew us we decided on enjoying
ourselves, with the exception of Dickens,
who feared TO be recognized in these
'halls Of dazzling light" and therefore
walked about outside The fac-simile of
Morleena Kenwigs was capering about
quite near US, her sandy hair in two long
plated tails with large blue bows float
ing down her back. She wore sandaled
shoon and frilled pantalets, and looked
rs if she had been purposely got up for
the part of Morleena. While Dickens
was gazing in amusement at the resem-
blance. a man came close to him and
stared with rude recognition into his
face. Dickens moved away, but his tor
mentor. in no wise discouraged, followed
him, wide eyed and wide cared, impu-
IDENTIFY determined to pick up any 'un-
considered trihes" in the way of remarks
by Boz. At last Dickens waxed wroth
and turned on him suddenly, lifting his
hat with elaborate politeness.
pray, sir, may | ask, are you a native
Of this place."
"No-no-sir, am not" stammered
the other, taken sback.
"Oh beg your pardon with smiling
suavity) Ifancied could detect Broad
stares on your face" The discounted
creature vanished into space and was
seen no more.
We were strolling along the sands next
day, our party increased by the addition
of Mr.. Fletcher, who had just arrived on
n visit to Dickens lie was an excentric
man, impulsive and erratic, indeed, most
unexpected" in his behavior. He sud-
denly ran some yards in front of us, ca
reering along with frolicsome air, and
indulging in sundry odd and unaccount-
able antics, thereby attracting the atten-
ton of several passing strangers. They
stood still and stared after him. "Ahl'
sighed one with profound commiseration,
wagging his head mournfully, show sad
You see it's quite true. Poor Boz What
pity to see such a wreck"
Dickens glared at him and called TO his
friend. "Halloa, Fletcher, wish you'd
moderate your insane gambolings. There
are fools among the British public who
might mistake you for me-
s'The fools looked decidedly snubbed
as they betook themselves off, pursued
by the glowing fire Of his eyes, which
seemed TO scorch them. he WAS exceed
ingly annoyed, and showed it in the di
lation of his sensitive nostrils and the
Tightening of his lips, as he walked on.
He broke into a laugh after few mo-
menis.
I'm afraid / was rather down on those
poor beggars, but do not like that am
bling ass TO be mistaken for me-" This
was only an cbullition OF momentary an
noyance, as he had undoubtedly a great
esteem for Mr. Fletcher. y Temple Bar.