New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
DICKENS'S TOUR MANAGER.
TALK WITH GEORGE DOLBY. WHO
PLOTTED DICKENS THROUGH AMERICA

TALK WITH GEORGE DOLBY. WHO
PLOTTED DICKENS THROUGH AMERICA
London letter to The Chicago Record
Does any one remember George DOLBY ! I'M.
agne not Yet thirty years ago this very winter ir
America In 1861 Charles Dickens determined 20
give series Of readings IN the I'M limited sae assumed
entire charge OF the business arrangements That
result Dickens remained five months in America.
during which period he gave seventy-slx readings
The total receipts for these e entertainments were
/ went to call upon Mr.. Dolby not long ago. be:
tS eoys has fcr me
have talked with Scott, who was Dickens's vaiet.
and so have formed a and pleasant Idea OF the
genius Of the master as viewed from the stand 3D.
Sn OF his ant psoF 70 4s chapman the
head Of the firm who were Dickens's earliest pub
niseence a OF the great But neither
of these men knew Dickens so intimately az als
sudvIne his VARYING moods and characteristics
Time and fortune have been unkind TO the former
eha ni' Yet a' he received me gaciousy and
astc II WAS easy to divine that his connection
with the novelist had formed the CHIEF ,. episode
fore me.
HIS MEETING WITH DICKENS.
81 became acquainted with Dickens IN 1865" said
Mr. Dolby I'm that year the firm OF Messrs CnaI
London and the provinces was selected as man.
ager. / shall never forget the first interview had
Uiee of" Of "A they the Year Round in wengton-s
nd as SR Wien took
shook me heartily by the hand, and. with deep
each oheG on m the OF tour as much
"Thereafter, until his last public appearance.
was his only manager. | accompanied him every
where while engaged In reading, and went with him
delghtfu and love to recall it while sitting .lon,
here He was the kindest- hearted man ever have
came old associates OF his who were down Oh
Joey let me have f20 in crisp. new banknotes.
and want to be alone to-morroT from L Il, IN IA
friend to call upon him at this hour and such
friends didn't go away P poorer ma Joav. Dick.
ems exceedingly fond. when in merry mood.
Of assuming for the moment the role OF clown n m
derfully clever actor Well II had happened Int:
ms great a house .ns tonsht he would
the mood. instantly; assume the attitude OF the
on the bac Ts my Rou
say. Keep it up Old I'm You know that IN the
atrical phrase the clown is dubbed old Cn.' tho
p": AN amusing instance Of this foollns comes 70
walking with him at Southsea We came upon e.
small square the houses in which resem6led SEEM
the temptation to Mr.. Dickens to indulge his predi,
csar Of peope Mr. Dickens
leading to one of the houses. and. having given
down on the upper step. clown fashion when tho
door suddenly opened and stout woman sppears1,
who Immediately beat retreat. followed by Dick
ems. with an imaginary policeman after him. We
doorway Tss1 occupied By the amused tenants Of the
houses READING HIS OWN BOOKS.
"pckens had certain pecuiarties which ! had
opportunity Of observing. He greatly dsl.ked. for
Many tS snset
purchase gloves or other tritss FOR him never
that he objected being recognized and stared At.
He ana With this OBJECT nv view always
reading shop signs He was rememner Psrueu;;
lar ybParasters in Great Expecations He had
imagine. evolved the name from his own Imagina:
that he kept his head out OF the carrage-window
while riding from the station to The hotel Finally
much afraid that may come across the name
:.pckens was ford, of reading his own book.
Once M Liverpool, where We had an of night.
was obliged to leave him to himself for an evening;
would '" ike and he replied Anything q Sir Walter
Shop and took it to him myself. whereat he was
delighted, saying he had not read the book for
work on him, and upon my return was amused TO
find him laughing Immoderately at certain incl.
was not laughing at his own creations as much a.
at the recollection OF the circumstances under
which certain passages and incidents had been
written.
'Dickens was one OF the most abstemous men !
ever have known. He ate but spartngly. ana
rarely took more than two glasses OF wine at din.
ner lie was a charming host at the dlnner-tapie.
and could brew a gin punch that was famous
among all his friends He liked 10 dIate N
ina nation over the brewing OF THIS punch, put
when IL was ready always noticed mat ne Grams
less OF IL than any who might De present..
Never but once did | see him merry. rms wa
in Dublin where we had had a particularly isrse
house Dickens had invited Dublin t.lend 70
ann with him after the reading coming INTO me
room rather late, / noticed that both were shghtV
happy Dickens greeted me With snout, arose
iron, the table and insisted upon my giving MN
hack Mt leapfrog Ny pockets were bullying with
money the receipts OF the night. ana as ne went
over nv head his foot caught IN this protuDerance
Of nv coat and down both came. the cosns
diving in ali directions But you should nave hcato
his neal upon peal of laughter as he scrambled g
his feet and assisted me TO pick up the scatteree
~ saw Mr. Dickens for the last time on Thur
day June q 1870 when called upon him al me-
office He looked then sadly worn ana aiiing. hho
es IL he were I'm great pain Seven days later AZ
nv own homo In Ross, I had just finished shaving
when my wife came into my room with wnites
scared face.
Charles Dickens Is dead was the reply.
"Alas! n was true The world had lost ~.
favorits author and the dearest and best ssisnd
ever man had"