New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03


specting the authority Of this inscription. But 1t
is certainly a quaint structure. which must have
caught his eye in his frequent rambes in a por-
ton OF London dear to his heart. and 1t might
readily have suggested the setting for his picture
Of Little Nens home. Mr.. Poole. the occupant
has mind unclouded with doubt on this sub
ject and his faith has been strengthened with
every succeeding year Of his tenancy. He knows
his Dickens thoroughly, and can direct the visitor
to Mrs. Camps house in Kingsgate-st., where
Poll Sweedlepipes. barber and bird fancier. lived
and where Mr.. Pecksniff arrived on a melancholy
mission: but the Old Curiosity Shop in his esti-
nation Is the most characteristic memorial Of the
great fiction writer's genius, and the true centre
Of Dickens Land.
Kit. however. mus: be regarded as a trust
worthy prophet, II not as an accurate chroncler
Of actual topography. The old house. which he
could not find when he looked for it. and which
he suspected had been swallowed up by some
street improvement scheme. is now under ban Of
official condemnation. Portsmouth-st. is to be
brOadened and Strengthened. and the Old Curl
osity Shop will speedily be doomed sharing the
fate Of the old George Nv Tavern. described in
"Pickwick" under the guise Of THE Maybe and
Stump the rendezvous of Mr.. Lowten and
other congenial spirits. and associated doubt
fully with the memory of the original Joe Miller
The menace Of destruction under the semblance
of improvement has been impending for long
time. but the edct now appears to have been
issued and countersgned by the Board of Public
Works Other occupants on the street have re-
Ceived notices. and the process Of demolition Of
old-time structures has begun. Mr. Poole has
not yet been served with summons. but he is
expecting one every day. and Is prepared to set
a high value upon the quaint ragshop.
TRANsPLANTING THE CURIOSITY SHOP.
The value Of this crumbling structure would
| no nde itc va wi
Little Nell; and how far these will enter into the
calculations Of official estimators 1t would be idle
for any one to conjecture. There is brisk sum-
mer trade In photographs and pictures in oil
painted on bits Of oak from the building; but 1t
ends as as the chill breath Of autumn blows
the American fashion and tourist travel back
across the Atlantic. American visitors enter the
Curiosity Shop by the score every summers day.
and their traffic imparts a large portion of what
value the old ragshop possesses.
Americans alone" remarks Mr. Poole seem
to care for Dickens and the Old Curiosity Shop
They come here in swarms and are glad to be
sent around to Tulklnghorn's house. Mrs Camps
and Bishops Court The English do not care for
any Of these things. They have ceased to know
anything about Dickens
So deeply impressed is the proprietor Of the
Old Curiosity Shop with the intensity Of Ameri-
can interest in Dickenss works that he has
nearly decided to send the structure across the
Atlantic when the edict OF condemnation is en-
forced for the widening of the street. When the
authorities have settled with him the bill OF
compensation the front OF the structure will be
knocked out In a single piece. the roof will be
taken on with as little damage possible and
the plastered partitions and framework Will be
drawn apart without unnecessary violence With
every board and brick numbered and with care
full drawings and measurements to insure accu-
rate restoration. the Old Curiosity Shop will dis
appear from Portsmouth-st. only to be recon-
structed on American soil and rededcatcd to the
memory or Charles Dickens That Is the present
plan OF operations and 1t has received encora ee-
ment from managers Of side shows possibly in
popular resorts like Coney Island. Certainly II
can only be with the aid Of patronage OF this
kind that Little Nels imaginary home can he
rescued from impending destruction Whether
IL VIII ever seem quaint or picturesque. IL taken
out or the Stuny little street and transpanted
across the Atlantic far away from the Dickens
Land or Lincoln's Inn Fields and the Temple
win lis memories OF Sydney Carton. Tom Pinch
Sir John Chester and Eugene Wrayburn / shall
not attempt to forecast. But surely the Old Curl
osity Shop will be missed. When Portsmouth-st
Is widened and improved. and not even another
upon the ground to show where the quaint shon
used to stand, shall not like TO pass that way
put snail be content to find another short cut
from Fleet-st to HOlburn. ~.
Dckenss art has already brought into ex-
istence library dealing with identjfcations and
TOPOGRAPHY; and whenever q landmark OF Dick
ensland disappears. there Is genuine feeling OF
regret throughout the English speaking world.
leit very much like applying for the arrest OF
the forman whom ! saw day or two ago d.
recting the demolition Of the Soils Arms. where
the 1nkwhich was held; and doubt not that
many eyes will be dewed with tears when n il
known that Little NeIl's house il doomed.
.....,t. ~s-.- IN.F r.