The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-02
Of MIcAWBER.
Found In tho Father Of the Great
Novelist Who Gave Him
Being.
One Of tho Qussr and Interesting
Incidents Of Modern Lit
0raturo.
Carefully Treasured Letter That Proves
Dioksas' Father the orisisal Of His
Eamous MicAwbsr,


Eamous MicAwbsr.
This fresh and divcrting character was, |
es we know, modelled directly from nature,
and Dickens indeed might have answered,
as Sam did Justice Stareleigh, II rayther
think it's my fathcrl" Sam was threaten
ed with committal II he did not point his
parent out. But every one can point to
Mr.. John Dickens, "member OF the gal
lery," as the original of this sketch.
1t used to be said that Mr.. Mtcawber was
. caricature, much overdrawn, not resen-
bling anything we are likely to encounter
in life. The truth Is, the portrait was an
exact copy, and, II anything, fell rather
short Of the original. The delightful por-
tion Of him was not his odd, fantastic
speeches and quaint formulas so much as
the character, exhibited chiefly in odd
views Of %pecuniary transactions, the es-
sence being than an obligation could be
satisfied by rotund and flowing phraseol-
ogy, and the setting forth in a stately style
his own indebtedness as though he were
proud OF 1t.
As q letter writer Mr.. Micawber, VT
know, reveled in such flourishings, and his
most amusing peculiarities were exhibited
when he found himself seated at his desk.
In one or two places in his letters Dickens,
the son has noted q characteristic speech
or two of his sire, which might have been
appropriately put into the mouth of Mr..
Micawber. These paternal utterances the
son relished hugely and even reveled in.
Messrs. Conway g. Noel, autograph
dealers In Birmingham, have a few relics
of this amusing parsonage. Among these
is a fragment Of a little burlesque styled
'.O'Thello" written by young Charles for
the Theater Royal back drawing room. It's
date is 1888, SO it is fairly claimed to be the
earliest scrap Of the novelist's handwriting
in existence. He was then q years old.
It is even more interesting from the fact
that Mr.. Micawber, or Mr.. John Dickens,
the sire, took a part in the little piece, that
of 1.-THE Great Unpaid, who was "discov-
cred at table on opening scene" 1.-THE
Great Unpaid" was Of course the Duke of
Venice, under grotesque conditions:
@. U.-Begin the business.
(Brab-Rushes in and says: ruin! Confu-
sion!'p
G. U.-What charge can warrant such q
gross intrusion?
Brab.- Warrant.
g. U.-You're not warranted
In making noise enough to wake the
dead.
Tell us (drst having made a proper
What is the meaning Of this precious
0rab.- stol'n my daughter.
G. U.-who has done thisa
G. U.-Call the man In and now command
silence.
What can you say. sir, in your own
defense2
Music. Wait till he comes in, and music
stops.)
q friend, one MI. Hayden, in the year 1912,
indorsing it with much solemnity, This
page is from an unpublished travestie,
written by Mr.. Charles Dickens for private
performance in his own family 1883, and
it is in his own handwriting. The Great
Unpaid was your humble servant, John
Dickens, Alphington, 6 June, 1S42."
Ihave never hitherto seen q letter of the
real John Dickens to put beside one of the
racy epistles given in the novels. BY a
rare chance, however, one of these docu-
ments lately came into my possession.
Nothing more 'characteristical," as Ella
has 1t, could be desired, and I am certain
that all lovers Of "Boz" will welcome with
pleasure the epistolary specimen Of this
choice character:
81 STREET PoRTMAN SQUARE
IA February, 1887.
GENTLEMEN-It has occurred to me that at q
moment of some difhculty you maj be willing
to extend to me your obliging assistance. II
not inconvenient, or inconsistent with your ar
rangcments, will you do mo tho favor to de-
duct the Four Pounds I owe you from the in
closed Bill for s2O, due 7th April, with fore
shillings, the amount Of tho interest, and lot
me have the balance, els l6s.? Do not suppose
I ask this on any other footing than that OF m
act OF obligation conferred ON me, and I assure
you, though small In amount, its effects on me
anything that should occasion my absence
from my duties in the Gallery would be pro-
ductive Of fatal effects.
You may consider II an intrusion that !
should apply to you In q moment of difficulty,
and ! feel It to be 90; but. recollecting how
son, I 1latter myself II you can confer . favor
upon the father without transgressins any
rule that you have laid down, and without in.
convenience, you may feel disposed to do 10.
do not enhance it when I say that the f.
vor, though small in amount, yet under the
circumstances would be signal obligation con:
ferred on, gentlemen, your Obliged and ODE
dent servant, JOHN DICKENS.
Messrs. Chapman and Hall.
This Is a richly characteristic production
and has the true Micawberian flavor. Thers
is nothing better In the novel thar the pro.
posal of the bill. The writer, 1t will be
seen. owes the firm "a, and he asks them te
'do him the favor" to deduct this sum
from the rather problematic bill, and then
what is the point of the whole-''let him
have the balance, Els 1885," a delightful
method of discharging his debt and incur
ring q new and more substantial one. "A
moment of some diflculty," which would
have fatal effects" are equally character
istic. Notable, too, is the hint as to. tn.
paper In question not being likely ITO b.
met or "taken up"-for he throws out
that it Is ian act of obligation conferred OF
me-" as we'll as the more significant hint
that their interests are bound up with
those of my son." This seems to have hat
Its effect, for we find the infinitely calcu
lated interest on the bill--'fore shillings'
altered in another hand and in a different
Ink to "8s. Id"
A pleasant touch is the iteration of tn,
Doint of Inconvenience to themselves" a
though this were the only objection thai
could reasonably be presented by the firm
who would otherwise, lhe assumed, be cage
to honor his paper. The displayed flourish
at the closc-''signal obligation conferred
on, gentlemen, your obliged" etc .-was
~favoriJe form of Mr.. Micawber's. The let
fur I. fndnrsad on the back. ".John Dickens