The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-10
THE ORIGINAL sMIKB.

THE ORIGINAL sMIKB.
The sorrowful Figure of Dotheboy's
Hall as He Appeared in the Original
Liie-Dickens Did Not Exceed the
Truth-How He Obtained his Knowl-
edge of the School.
From the ST. james Gazette.
The original of Smike-one of Dickens
characters in nicholas Nickleby"-is liv-
ing at Bury St. Edmunds He is a toy-shop
keeper named johnson, Interviewed he
stated that he was undoubtedly the origi-
nal Smike. He gives a graphic account of
his life at the Yorkshire school kept by
Mr.. Clarkson (Squeers). In reply to a cues
ton how long it was since he knew that he
was the original of Smike, Mr. johnson as
sured his interrogation that he never knew
Nicholas Nickleby" was written until
about ten years ago. when he was told by
Mr.. Gibbs, confectioner, who borrowed
the work for him to read. He had pre-
viously related to him the history of his life
in Yorkshire, and Mr., Gibbs said, why
your life, is written by Charles Dickens In
Nicholas Nickleby,in and after Mr.. John
son had proved the matter for himself. he
betook himself to a sister at Brighton to
get additional information and verify the
conclusion to which he had come He paid
his sister q surprise visit, and said: II have
come to have my dinner with you, and to
ask you whether you know that my life has
been written by any author" She said.
"YeS, 1T has been writtenp' SPY whomp
said our friend Smike. ut has
been written by Charles Dickens in
Nicholas Nickleby,' said she. THAT is all
| want to know" was the satisfied reply.
Previous to this surprise visit he had not
been TO see his sister for forty years, and
during no part of this time had she ever
mentioned the fact to him of his having
been adopted by Dickens as one of his char
acters.
And is the character of Smike, as given
by Dickens, faithful portrayal of the
facts as you know them?" was the next
question submitted. To this Mr.. johnson
replied that it was undoubtedly based upon
actual facts; but of course there was q deal
of fiction thrown in by the way of padding.
Dickens did notexceed the truth in de-
scribing the condition of affairs at Dothe-
boys hall, and might easily have made IL
much worse than he did. His characterize
ton of the porridge as a "brown compost
vion, which looked like diluted pincusbions
without the covers was thoroughly justi-
fed, for il was indeed "wretched tackle. ~
and the 'stirabout and potatoes which
formed part of the dietary, were no imagi-
nary quantity, 80 badly were we
treated" Mr.. johnson says, that we used
TO break out at night and rob bean and pea
stacks In order to supply our wants and to
make up for the deficiencies of the larder at
the Hail. But there was a thorough
esprit de corps among the 'boarders,' and
those who gathered these supplemental
luxurles were loyal to their companions In
misery, and the understanding respecting
the fair and equal distribution of the spoil
was always faithfully carried out. t'Of
course" he continued, eve were never al
allowed to sit at the table to eat our meals.
we were ranged in rows at deal table,
and we had to stand while eating"-a privi-
lege which probably was not included in
the thanks for what we have received"
Pressed on the point respecting the ad-
ministration of the flour of birthstone and
molasses," Mr.. johnson replied that it was
perfectly accurate. birthstone and treacle
was our medicine said he, land it was ad-
ministered by Mrs. Squeers and, he dryly
added, "a half-day's holiday was always
given on the OCCASION OF his escape from
the school and subsequent adventures he
also gives lively account. Asked as to
what age he was when he ran away from
the school, he replied that he was 15 When
he was old enough to be able to realize
his surroundings, there were about
forty boys in the school but at time he
ars receiving instruction, ''the first class
in English spelling and philosophy" having
become proportionately reduced In numbers.
The terms were twenty guineas. which in
cluded board, washing, and everything,
not expecting the flour of birthstone and
molasses," which, while purifying the
blood, had the additional advantage of
being valuable substitute for breakfast
and dlnner.
AS TO the methods employed by Dickens
for studying the originals of his characters,
MIR. johnson said he could not speak defin-
ltely, but he knew that q gentleman used
constantly to go to the hotels with Mr..
Clarkson (Squeers), and endeavored while
there to obtain information respecting the
school; and on one occasion certain gentle
man visited ''the ball, y but what his name
was Smike never knew. He used to meet
Squeers every half year at the Saracen's
Head, Snow Hill, and get all he could
respecting the way in which the school was
carried on, but he was very little in the
school itself.
Mr.. johnson then volunteered the infor-
nation that, being ward in Chancsry, at
8 or years Of age he had to go to London
to be Unidentified by the court. with tho
view to getting the property left him by
his father His mother, he said, instituted
a suit to set aside his fathers will, and after
eight or nine years was successful. She
had been disinherited from any portion of
the property; but as the result of her suit,
the court made decree In her favor, and
proceeded then to take Smike into their
own hands, sending him back to school in
Yorkshire, and appointing guardians over
him.