The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-21
A NIGHT WITH DICKENS.
The Criterion.


 The Criterion.
 ssDickens! Yes, in his way he was Shakespeare?"
 And Lloyd wheeled around in his chair, and faced me with unnaturally bright eyes and flushed face.
 knew that Lloyd was an English man, and I heard that had given him good position on a London paper when he came to this country, but he has told me very little about himself.
 How the name of Dickens cropped out in our conversation 1 cannot now remember, but when it was mentioned Lloyd became enthusiastic.
 q spent a wonderful night with him once," he said, lighting fresh cigar, land when you mentioned his name it all came back to me.
 "It was in '5s or '59," continued Lloyd. "At that time I had the po- lice department on the South London Journal. Without stretching it at all, think that may say that l had made some little reputation for my self.
 "Well, to cut long story short, l was working away at my desk, one evening, when Inspector Davis came in."
 "'What do you say to going the rounds with me tonight" said the inspector.
 "'Thanks,' I replied, but 1 am rather busy, and cannot very well go.'
 "Sorry,' responded the inspector, q am to take MT. Dickens along, and l took it for granted that you would want to go.'
 "Charles Dickens" shouted. Ts he really going with you!'
 "tThat is the arrangement said the inspector, cant you meet us at Bulls at eleven?'
 "You may rest assured that promised. I wrote several notes to my reporters, and some minutes be- fore eleven I turned up at Bulls, a third-rate restaurant on Oxford street.
 "Inspector Davis and another gen. tleman had just finished their SUD- per.
 s'Of course the other gentleman was MT. Dickens. When I was introduced to him he drew me aside in a pleasant way.
 Newspaper man?' he said. Well, I like all newspaper men. l ought to, you know, for had devil of time myself as reporter
 ''I made some sort of an answer, but MT. Dickens went on to say:
 "'After all,you newspaper men, you reporters, are the real noyelists of the day. Your realistic stories of the comedies and tragedies of life cannot be surpassed
 "'Now is the time to inspect 'em,' said the inspector, looking at his watch.
 "The programme for the night em- braced ramble through some of the by-streets between Holborn and Ox- ford street. Without the inspector it would have been dangerous trip.
 "The first place we visited was a thieves lodging house. Fully hun dred men were stretched on the floor, most of them asleep, but some were wide awake.
 "One of the lodgers seized MT. Dickens by the lapel of his coat"
 D--- you nc &IOWAC W Aot do you want here?'
 "'Ask me that question tomorrow and Pll answer you,' said MT. Dick ems with laugh, and he handed the fellow his card.
 "'Blast my eyes, exclaimed the man. Well, sir, you are among friends here. say, Mir. Dickens, may I send out for some ale or somethingI
 "'No, we can't wait replied the in- spector, i've must visit other places, and you wouldn't like to bother MT. Dickens.'
 "'Divil a bit of it' exclaimed an Irishman, who had overheard the con- versation, but I must shake hands wi'd you.'
 "After few more hAndshakes we left and went out into a purer at- mosphere. A gin palace stood in our way and sudden thirst overcame me.
 "'Come in boys said Mir. Dickens, if we are going to make night of it, we must prepare for it. "We had jolly time inside. MT. Dickens chaffed the bar maids, and they giggled like anything. Inspector Davis, too, was at his best.' "But when he left the inspector must have whisperd something, for one of the bar-maids ran after us and gave MT. Dickens little flower, say ing, 'Oh, sir, you have done 50 much for usv
 "The inspector nudged me, and I thought about it, and am thinking about it yet. s9.vas.e .ae 9s TNs E.