New-York tribune., 1889-10-13
TIE ORIGINAL OF "SMIKE" or DOTHE
BOYS HALL.
From The ST. James's Gazette.

From The St James's Gazette.
The original OF Smiken-One of Dickens's characters
in Nicholas Nickleby"s living at Bury 81. Edmund';
He Is Toy shop keeper namGd Johnson IntLvIs~,d lew,
he stated that he was undoHbtediy the original
smlkeo lie gives graphic account Of ms ,on nls a,
@ squeeTs Se In 'SS Tepy to AspS question how long
since be knew that he the original OF smlke'
Knew r cneR Schoias 'u Nke6y % Was @tten until sbcu
ten years ago. when he was told by Mt IT., Gibbs 2
He had previously related him the history of hii
life in Yorkshire, and Mr.. Gibbs said: Why. your
Niekleby and after Mr. Johnson had proved the
matter tor himself he betook himself TO sister Al
brighton 20 get additional information and verify the
conclusion 10 which he had come lie paid MS sister
surprise visit and said to ak nave yS come to h2ys 2H
know that my life has been written written by any author
Ssaes aa cur bceSs iee@ in Nicholas Nickeby said ss
That al want nrpse T S Sai had ae no bfeS rp
his sister for forty years and during no part Of hs
having been adopted by Dickens of his
characters. ..... -, Cd, .,,.., b.
Dickens, As faithful portrayal Of tho facts as You know
themf' was the next question submlited 20 tn t9G Mr.;
actual facts; bur Of course there deal of llcon
thrown in by way of padding. - ,.-.-,,.,- 49,
condition OF affairs at Doheboys Hail. and might havs
easily made !, much worse than ne % d!d HIS char
Which iooko U like pdi diluted Pncshons without hS
covers was thoroughly justified for II was indeed
wfetched tackle" ana the ann pOtatofS.'
which formed part Of the dietary, were no imagnaty
quantity. $50 badly were We treated Mr.. Johnson
saws that used to break out at night aud rob
bean and pea stalks in order to supply wants and
to make up for the deficiencies of ths
a thorough esprit de corps, among The
boariers, and those who gathered these supplement.
tai uxuries loyal TO their companions IN misery,
and the understa andug respecting the fair and equal
dsq1buton OF the spoil was always faithfully carried
ont or course he continued. " we were never al
lowed 10 slt at the table 10 eat meals. We were
ranged in two rows at long deal table, and we had
IN stand while eating'-a privilege which probably
was not Included In " the thanks for what We have
reoeved." ,,,-,
NJ tbe flour OF birthstone and mOlasSes,7 Mr. Johnson
renIed that II was perfectly accurate. birthstone
and yreacle was our medlcine- said he. and IL was
sSminIstered by Mrs Squeers and" he dryly added.
"a hslfday's holiday was always gives
on the OCCASION or his escape from
~, school and subsequent adventures
bs sl.o gives lively account Asked 10 what sgs
he was whom he ran away from the school hc replied
tbat he was eftcen. when he was old enough 10 10
she N realhe his surroundings, there were about
yor,v hoys IN the school but the time Jeff there
ware moi more than twenty scholars receiving insruc
ION the first class In English spelling and phnoso-
nbvs having become proporlonatey reduced in mum.
bsrs Tho terms were twenty guneas which ncludea
hoard washing, and everything not excepting uo
hour Of birthstone and molasses' Which While pas
fying the blood had the additional advantage OF oS's
a valuable substitute for breakfast and dinner