The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15

mental Irritation with my friend Mile
(who was Of q certain age) as well as with
me, calling us rhapsodically in turns, MY
charmer," Beloved OF my soul, "Fair
enslaver," "Queen of my heart" to the
infinite amusement of Mrs. Charles Dick
ems, and he would solicit dance in the
old English style.
"Wilt tread measure with me, sweet
ladyeP Fain would | thread the mazcs OF
this saraband with thee"
"Aye, fair sir, that will right gladly, in
good sooth I'll never say thee nay"
Needless 10 say the measure we trod was
probably as unlike q saraband as anything
Imaginable; but Charles edited the specta-
tors by his Turveydrop department and
Malvollo airs of Sinking conceit
Once we proceeded 10 tread this meas.
ure in an imposngly majestic style, when
suddenly Dickens burst into an unearthly
howl expressive of mortal agony We all
stopped, appalled,. He subsidized into groans
and means, accompanied by contortions
that outdid the writings of the LAGOON.
After few seconds OF grotcsquc facial aud
muscular performance he turned TO MIR.
Smithson with an injured and upbmding
air and faltcrcd out "When next you
tread measure in my vicinity, be hui.
name enough 10 measure your tread, and
don't stamp down with your fourteen
stono-nvoidupois.weight ON that unlucky
corn-hcld my poor foot. ] might be
tempted TO wroak dire revenge, and NJ.
pay YOU the same measure for measure.
After one OF these ridiculous dances he
suddenly exclaimed: 81 feel that ] could
act pompous ass to pericction Let us
get up some charades, and test our hlstrl.
onic powersl"
We acted the word "pompadour,' and
he took the part OF Louis Nv, Mile, the
Comtcsse de Soubsc, and ]. Nine. de
Pompadour In the first syllable she was
supposed to rival me In the kings favor.
This scene was in pantomimc, represent.
ing the still formalily and exaggerated
etiquette OF tho court Of 'thc wcll-be-
loved" We changed "adour" into
"adore," and Louis made bombastic love
in the old French manner 10 the comtcsse.
In the whole word, Pompaduur arllully
obtains lcttrc de cachet from the king
and consigns her rival 10 the hastle, and
so IL triumphant. Although the whole
affair was impromptu, properties and all;
though Dickens wore lady's wide
hrimmed hat pinned up on one side, and
decorated with n dishevoled feather,
, wildly rampant--whch persisted in twist.
! ing the wrong way he yet contrivcd TO
maintain most majestic deineanor
I About thisperiod his brother Frederick,
whom | now saw for the iirst time, arrived
by steamer, and we all went 10 meet him.
lie had the same woaried expression ~
Mrs Burnett, the raised eyebrows small
nose and large, full-lippcd mouth, and
spoke with the utterancc Of his father and
brother. thought him, on the whole,
more comic in society than Dickens. lie
. had positive genius for representing
commonplace matters i'm an absurd light,
and with eNaggregnted facial expression,
/ so that lac conlrivcd Ia convert the most
q mcagcr material inlo ludicrous combina.
: tons. They both occasionally INDUCED In
p puns, which II not always very clever,
1 produced shouts Of laughter from their
hearers, owing TO the absurd way Ia which
they were uttered.
: One OF Dickens good things was said IA
me, and had great delight in repeating
. H. A gentleman visitor was singing "By
p the sad sea waves and singing II abomi-
nably; he finished on a high note, with n
! most unlookcd.ior and inopportuno en-.
7 bellishment, In musical language called a
= turn. Dickens had managed to preserve
D | a pcrternaturaly solemn decorum until
/ this climax met his ears. lie now flashed
n on me q look Of absolute amazcmcnt.
i 'what did lac mean by that2' ! asked
= equally conioundcd.
p His answer was impcrturbably grave
u with sagc shake Of the head -"Oh, that
= quite In rule In music az well ~ In &C
= cordanco with proverbial philosophy
{ When things are at their worst, thcy al
4 ways take turn
Nl.... 81 Of IL ms
he WIS accused Of irrcvcrencc. While ",
were engaged ut whist one evening. lady
( seated In the background, apart from the
I players II think u was his mother
. sooihed by the lull was indulging In .
placid nap. One Of the players with noisy
. glee suddenly banged down the king o
. lrumps 10 take the last trick, and thereby
awakened the sleeper, who started up In
} alright.
: Don't be alarmed" exclaimed Dick.
ems. "You look awfuly like one OF tho
dciunct on the Day Of Judgment"
d "Whyg"
Because you were awakened by tho
sound Of tho last trump"
lie pretended Ia be- drendfully disguised
! when his wife attempted punning, aud
vowed he WIS dcferionting under the In.
ilnence Of this bad example, though he
, could not help laughing ~ she pcrpetrated
her little harmless attempts with the most
. innocent aud dcprccating air, turning ~
j her eyes, with affected terror Of his wrath,
aud terminating In n pretty little mouc,
while ho pretended 10 tear his hair and
( writhcd In wcll-acted attitudes Of horror.
One evening his friend Mr.. NJ, en-.
tered the room with n complaccnt air,
= arruyed In an ouirngCously long stock,
which ho evidently thought worthy OF q
Bpmmell. Dickens surveyed II for some
moments with q thoughtful and puzzled
: expression, his forciingor on his forehead
In Imitation Of stcrne.
, "llalloa, Charlie. what arr you staring
ai my stock iorg' inquired NJ.
A heavy load Of doubt and conjecture
seemed TO be lifted from the mind Of Dick.
ems. He hcaycd sigh Of relief, and
bcamed with thankful satisfaction.
. Stock Il y really meant for n stock, u
I ~ am 10 glad 10 know you meant Il for
that. II WIS ~ painful to think YOU might
! have intended u for n waisicoai."
have never met with any one who On.
! tered into games with ~ much spirit aud
boistcrons glcc; the simplest Of them he
contriyed 10 make amusing, and often In.
B siructiye Ills fun was most infectious,
. aud he had three able pariisans IN his
y brothers and Mr.. Milton, and under the
{ incentive 0i his prompting they bocamc
! irrcsislibly comic. Under their manipula.
!. ton "Ningt.etun," 10" etc, became
= 20 totally altered ~ to be- scarcely rccog.
. I - .........II.s .u.I.I L.. ,s.I.tuai,