The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-15
TH1CKE RAYS VISIT
What He = aid About Swallow
ing an Oyster.
HIS LECTURING TOUR
He Would Always Keep His
Audience Waiting.
HoMEslCKNEss ovERcAME HIM
A d W thout Noice To Anyone He
Suddenly Changed His Plans
and Took Steamer for
England.

England.
Prompted by recent chats about Charles
Dickens two visits to this country, there
is an inquiry as to whether or not Will
liam Makepeaee Thackeray, the author
Of Vanity Fair" OF Henry Esmond," OF
''The Virginians," Of "PendenDis," etc,
ever paid a visit to America, ever came
to Philadelphia, and whether the IA.
nous chestnut about his making an odd
remark upon swallowing an American
oyster was founded upon fact To all OF
these interrOgatories the answer is in
the Affirmative Thackeray made two
visits to this country, the first being in the
autumn of 1852, ten years subsequent to
Dickens first arrival upon our shores, and
fifteen years prior to that authors second
coming among us. He arrived in Boston
ION the steamship Canada on a cold No
vember morning and went directly to the
fremont House, where rooms had been
engaged for him. Even after his fatigu-
ing journey he was redundant with that
marvellous energy and enthusiasm that
ever distinguished him, no matter under,
what trials and tribulations. He praised
the country that he had as yet scarcely
seen and shouted like a boy when told
that dinner was ready. A few friends
had been invited to sit down with him
at his first American meal One Of these
was James II. Fields. He had met
Thackeray in London, and already they
were fast friends. He remembered that
the great writer, who was the only man
who ever lived who could rival Charles
Dickens in delicately touching the tend
crest chords in the human breast. had ex-
pressed great curiosity as to American
oysters, concerning whose size he had
heard marvellous and seemingly incredible
stories. The Englishman, who only
knew the diminutive bivalves Of White
stables, no bigger than ones thumb nail,
looked upon the tales of gigantic Ameri-
can saddle-rocks as companion fables to
the laughable exaggeration OF Artemus
Ward and his contemporary American
Mr.. Fields accordingly deter
mined to surprise him with the size OF
our moilusks at his first American repast,
and it was upon that occasion that the
famous oyster incident occurred.
AS Mr. Fields has told the story him
self, it would be folly to attempt to give
a more entertaining narration Of the in
cident. Here it is in his own language:
we ologized-although we had taken
care that the largest specimens to be pro
cured should startle his unwonted vision
when he came to the TABLETOP what we
called the extreme smallness of the
oyesters, promising that we would do
better next time. Six bloated Falstaf-
fan bivalyes lay before him in their
shells. | noticed that he gazed at them
anxiously with fork upraised then he
whispered to me with a look OF anguish:
How shall / do itF l described to him
the simple process by which the free-born
citizens of America were accustomed to
accomplish such task. He seemed sat |
isfed that the thing was feasible, select
ed the smallest one, because he said, 1T
the High Priests servants ear. |
that Peter cut off, and then bowed his
head as il he were saying grace. All
eyes were upon him TO watch the effect
OF new sensation in the person of
great British author. Opening the mouth
very wide, he struggled for a moment,
and then all was ever l shall never
forget the comic look of despair he cast
upon the other five over-occupied shells
broke the perfect stiffness by asking him
how he felt. Profoundly grateful he
and as If / had swallowed little
baby. 1t was many years ago
since we gathered about him
IN that occasion, but if my
memory serves me, we had what might be
allied a pleasant evening Indeed, re-
member much hiliarity and sounds Of
men laughing and singing far into mid
hight. ! could not deny it. if called upon
o testify in court, that we had good
ime on that frosty November evening"
.
Thackeray's lecture tour in this
country was largely successful from a
standpoint, and as a lecturer
he surpassed even Dickens in finish and
.loquence. Yet, strange to say, as in the
.ase of many talented actors, he was a
vOeful failure as public speaker and not
broke completely down after
me or two Introductory sentences Yet
Iuch was his wonderful joyiality, and his
easy-gOing presence OF mind, that such
disastrous failures never disturbed his
serenity, and he would sit down after
making them with a pleasantness of de-
neanor that clearly showed that he look.
ID upon the accident as q matter of
course, and that he was Of the opinion
hat those listening to him had expect
"a nothing more nor less. 1t recorded
Il him that upon one occasion when he
vas announced to make a public speech
lpon the occasion of some great celebra-
ion and was to be preceded by men fa-
nous for their eloquence, he confided to
MS friends that he proposed to surpass
rot only the efforts of those talented
but also the oratorical flights
II Demosihcncs. He was introduced
With most datteFing illusions to "thc au-
hor Of VANITY Fair" and as he arose
c winked toward his friend Fields in a
way intended to impress that gifted wri-
er with the fact that he should be pre-
Jared to be paralyzed And he was, but
lot in the way Thaokeray intended.