The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
rical phrase the clown is dubbed old Tn,

rical phrase the clown IS dubbed Old Un,'
the pantaoon joey
IAN amusing instance of this fooins
comes TO me. MIR. w. II. wills and
myself were one day walking with Tim
at Southsea. We came upon small
square the houses In which resembled Il
scene set for the comic business of pam
tOmimc. Here the temptation 10 Mr..
Dickens to indulge his prediction pre-
scented itself. The street being entirely
clear of people Mr.. Dickens mounted
three steps leading to one Of the houses
and having given three raps on the door
post. was proceeding to lie down on the
upper step. clown fashion, when the door
suddenly opened and stout woman APP
reared to the intense amusement OF Mr..
wills and myself. who Immediately beat
a retreat. followed by Dickens, with an
imaginary policeman after him.
We turned to take a parting look AT
the scene of action. when. TO our dismay.
we saw every doorstep and doorway oc-
cupied by the amused tenants of the
houses.
Dickens had certain peculiarities which
| had opportunity OF observing. lie great
L. disliked, for instance, 10 enter any
shop TO make small purchases. Many n
time | have been called upon TO purchase
gloves or other trines for him.
never could understand the reason for
this. unless it was that he objected 10
being recognized and stared at lie was
certainly on the watch for new and strik-
ing names and with this object In view
was always reading shop signs. He was,
| remember. particularly pleased with the
name 'Pumblechook. one OF the charac-
ters in Great f. pectations. He had. l
imagine. evolved the anne frcm his owa
imagination.
once when we were at Birmingham l
noticed that he kept his head out of the
carriage window while riding from the
station TO the hotel. Finally l asked
him the reason. and he replied
81 am very much afraid that I may
como across the name "Pumblechook.
Dickens was fond OF reading his own
books. once at Liverpool. where we rad
an OF night, / was Obliged 20 leave him
70 himself for an evening. He asked me
70 call at a booksellers and send him
something TO read. I asked him what
he would like. and he replied:
Anything Of Sir Walter SCOTS or
my own
| purchased Old Curiosity. Shop and
took ii TO him myself. whereat he was
delighted. saying he had not read the
book for years.
Il was curious 10 see the effect OF his
own work on him. and upon my return
was amused TO find him laughing I'M
moderately at certain incidents I'm the
book. lie explained, however. that he
was not laughing at his own creations as
much as at the recollection OF the cir
cumstances under which certain pas
sages and incidents had been written.
Dickens was one OF the most abste-
mious men I ever have knokn. He ate
but sparingly. and rarely took more than
two glasses OF wine at dinner. He was
n charming host AT the dinner-table. and
could brew a gin punch 1t was
famous among all his friends. lie liked
TO dilate in Imagination over the brew
ing OF this punch but when II was ready
I always noticed that he drank less OF
IL than any one who might be present.
Never but once did I see him merry
This was I'm Dublin. where we had par
ticularly large house. Dickens had in
vited a Dublin friend to sup with him
after the reading. Coming into the
room rather late. noticed that both were
slightly happy Dickens greeted me with
a shout, arose from the table and insist
ed upon my giving him back at leap
frog.
Ny pockets were hulging with money
the receipts Of the highland as ne
went over my head his foot caught N
this protubsrancs Of my coat and down