The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-16
DICKENS BROTHER.
The STORY OF HIS ERRlNG LIFE AND
DEATH AT CHICAGO.
10 Removes n Stain Which Has Rested on
the Great Noveiists Name For Many
Years--Augustus Was tho Pet of Charles
Until He Went Wrong.

Charles Dickens brother, Augustus
Dickens, and Mrs. Augustus Dickens liv-
ed for some time and until their death in
house on the site OF 568 North Clark
street, Chicago. Recent inquiries concern
ing tho title TO the realty have brought
out surprising details concerning Angus
tus Dickens and his brother. The disclo-
surcs now made for the first time not only
explain why Dickens would not come TO
Chicago when reading in this country, but
also why he never defended himself against
the charge that he had been unnatural and
heartless to member of his own family
In indigenco
Augustus Dickens was born In 1927 and
was therefore 10 years younger than
Charles Dickens. The elder brother be-
came tenderly attached TO the younger,
who was an infant when he was beginning
20 take on the responsibilities of u man.
The love OF Charles for Augustus never
suffered interruption. He cared for him
until Augustus was able TO take care OF
himself.
Like taper suddenly blown out, Au-
gustus disappears from the annals of the
Dickens family. He had married. Charles
Dickens went on working, and his own
life became shadowed with domestic grief.
One day In the early sixties Augustus ap-
peared among the clerks Of the Illinois
Central Railroad company In Chicago
inert, indifferent and thriftloss. He wasted
his slender salary on liquor, and the home
ne occupied with Mrs. Dickens on North
Clark street was understood TO have been
acquired with money given her by her Ia
thor.
When Charles Dickens came TO give his
great series OF readings In the United
States, the fellow clerks OF Augustus
Dickens, knowing the struggle the hap
less man was making against his adopted
vice, wrote TO the novelist kindly at first,
telling him Of the distress Of his brothers
family and gently intimating IL would be
worthy the fame of the great writer II
their condition should be relieved now
that 1t was brought to his notice.
A second letter entreated Dickens to
come to Chicago, not only to see for him
self the plight OF his brother the original
of "Boz," but also 20 give the people OF
the city an opportunity TO hear and well
come him. Appeal, entreaty, finally pro-
~sest, brought no sign from Charles Dick
ems except brief statement that his
American arrangements were in the hands
of his agent, Mr.. Dolby, and that they did
not include visit TO Chicago. Indigna-
tion succeeded sympathy among those who
knew that Augustus was a brother 20 the
now rich and famous writer They assum.
ed that he remained away because coming
might compel him TO make provision for
Augustus and his WIFE, who were both In
poor health The newspapers scored the
novelist numerically
Not long after the novelist returned to
London Augustus died. On Christmas
eve, 1868, Mrs. Dickens swallowed dose
Of morphine and died. The empty vial
told of suicide. The death Of Mrs. Dickens
was attributed TO grief for her husband
and chagrin over the apparent willful In
difference Of his celebrated brother.
When the question Of the disposal OF
the homestead came up In the probate
court, n strange fact was discovered. The
property was not in the name Of Augustus
Dickens nor of Bertha Dickens, but of Ber-
tina Phillips. Mrs. Dickens friends hush
ed the matter up ut once. 1t was necessary
TO send TO and receive communication from
London. Before the legal details were
completed for disposal Of the material in
terest the fire came and destroyed the rec
ords of the probate court. The residuary
interest that had been acquired was quiet
ly transferred. But for recent tracing OF
the title probably the truth would never
have been brought out, and Charles Dick
ems would have continued, in the minds
Of all who thought they knew the facts,
little better than q monster toward his
own kith.
Bertha Phillips was a daughter Of
Charles Phillips, for many years ono Of
the most eloquent lawyers In the United
Kingdom Augustus deserted his blind
wife, who became a member Of the novel
lists family. How Augustus Dickens camo
into contact with the daughters of Charles
Phillips Is unknown. The family were
attractive and their home was one of the
places in London where everybody who
was anybody" was sure TO be found Phil
lips lived 20 1889 and left fortune esti-
mated at 5000, 900.
After the death of her father and OF Au-
gustus Dickens Bertha found herself hope
less and desolate and killed herself. Per-
haps she had ceased 10 have communica-
tion with the surviving members of her
own family. Perhaps she had hoped to
the last that Charles Dickens, after tho
death of poor Henriette, would forgive
his wayward brother and restore him to
the old place in his heart. What the truth
was will never bo known.
Charles Dickens could neither condone
the fault the two erring ones had commit
ted nor could he repair its consequences.
He could make no explanation in his own
defense that would not have exposed tho
innocent TO shame and inculpated In stat
utory crime his own brother and ono whom
that unfortunate man was bound 70 pro-
tect as best he could since they had chosen
10 cast aside all moral obligations and take
tho consequences
Every trace of the blighted household
disappeared long since from the city. The
occupants Of the old site Of Augustus
Dickens home are not even aware of tho
tragic history connected with the past
Recent revelations fortunately will set tho
famous novelist right and remove the stain
that has rested on his name SO many years
Chicago Cor Boston Paper.