The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-13
p1oKENss5 in EWAgH1NdroN.

~, EDGAR u. i;tfAhEMAN.
DICKENS in AsH1SGToN
Tho Flaming Slan In velvet Picked Up for
Ills Rudeness.
A Washington correspondent adds
another good one to lie anecdotes Of
Dickens. Dickens was" he said ITO
put It broadly. at one and the same
time, one Of the most marvellous writers
and unmitigated snobs that ever
breathed.
During his last visit to this country
he gave, among his readings, a series OF
four at Washington, where he stopped
some weeks and where, as elsewhere,
he received the most flattering atten-
ton. His apartments were at the ia
nous Welckes restaurant, and he was
called upon oneafterBo onl through pre-
yiously made arrangements, by party
consisting OF Admiral Farragut, Hon.
Luke Poland, OF Vermont. Henry Win
ter Davis, Major John Fellows, Com
missary General Shiras, Captain Hent.:
zell, Of the Scorpion, an. attache OF
the FrenGh Legation whose name
is forgotten; and qthe writer, who
can attest to the truth Of the story
When we were shown in the parlor OF
the suite occupied by Dickens-atter
having been formally announced and
kept waiting some twenty minutes-we
found the novelist standing before the
fire with hisSs1egs stretched apart and
his hands under thelstails Of the most
extraordinarily ''loud' walking cont
ever seen at the capital. This garment
was made OF brown velvet, trimmed
with black braid and high lapels, in
which was stuck large hot-honse rose.
In his vest, also velvet, was draped q
gorgeous display Of gold chain and
locEet; immense st and n jIGg buttons
ornamehted his embroidered shirt, and
an astoundingly bright tic and vivid
check pants completed his remarkable
outfit. In addition to all this his hair
was curled deliberately, his full beard
parted in the middle, his fingers bore
many rings, and gold-framed pair OF
eyeglasses swami at his button.
Taking no notice whatever OF the adj
mirnl's extended hand, and merely fav-
oring the party with curt half-inch
nod, he continued talking in loud,
pictorial tone to a young man, whom
we afterward discovered to be his secre-
tary. After standing in an embarrassed
group for some minutes, Major Fellows,
d venerable! Sffte-bearded man Of over
seventy, whose years should have COM
manded Difference, even II the rank and
reputation OF ouch men as Farragut did
not, stepped forward and made some re-
mark expressive Of regret TINT the great
writer's visit to the capital should be
attended bS such weather. Dickens
listened for q second with almost insult
ing indifference, and then, walking
brusquely to the window, he said:
"The weather. Yes, dammit, it's 60
ing to rain again." and then, abruptly
taking up his hat and walking stick, he
said: lid better MY constitutional
at once Good day, gentlemen, y apd he
rushed out.
"Why, where has he gomez" said
Winter Davis, who had not understood
what had occurred.
"To Judge from bis costume" said
Hentzcll. Whose dry wit nothing es-
capped, ~ should say he was going to
masquerade" And leaving the young
secretary quite appalled, by the temer-
ity Of the speech, we retired.
Now for the sequel. On the third
day after that the same Captain Hent-
zell "a better Heart and q quainter hui
NOR, never met in one breast, Cod
bless his memory and the writer were
shooting ducks from the center OF the
famous Long Bridge that connects
Washington with the Virginia side OF
the PotelmEa9fC, when we say the above
described 'q"get UP coming at a crack-
ing pace TOWARD us iron the city, for
Dickens, be 1t known, was q redoubta-
BILE walker and took daily tramp OF
several miles around the suburbs in all
weathers.
"Herc comes tho great English end
man." isNid, a! sdubriduet ne had sac
riligiously given Y hc Z novelist on &C.
count of His clothes.
$50 l see," replied Hentzell. Don't
stare at him AN you love me-
Quite unexpectedly, however, Dickens
stopped and began, Rsking us about the
shooting, and what not, in rather pat
ronizing wNyG OF .cotirse he did not
recognize tls poor mortals, and it was
evident he believed We did not know
whom VIC had the good fortune to ad-
dress. Presently sloop passed with an
old river man steering, upon which
Dickens SIia g ID " M sneasy vanity
very perceptiblei .,rt j. ,..,.r
"That old chap reminds me OF char.
acter in David Copperfeld. You've
read the book, presume2
"Neverl} f1
"Not read David CopperReld'P" said
its author inctednlouslY.
just them agang3ofiducks came in
sight. ~ T.g sY.3r %
"Now, look a-here, Dickens" said
old Captain Hentzell, composedly, get
ting his gun ready to shoot, III you
want 70 sell US one pftyour photographs
you'll hayetp wait till the duck seasons
over. We've more important things to
attend to just now.n
And thoastonisheda and conical crest
fallen expression Of the writer's face, as
he toitcred Of, | shall never forget, I
forgaye his American Notes. from