The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-19
TOLD BY DIcKENs's TOUR MANAGER
"Reminiscences of the Man Who
PiIOted the Novelist ThrOuGh
Ameripn
From the Chicago Record.

America.
From the Chicago Record
Does any one remember George Dolby?
l imagine not, Yet thirty years ago this
very winter he was one of the busiest and
best known men in America. In 1867
Charles Dickens determined TO give Sc
ries of readings in the United States. Mr..
Dolby, as manager, preceded him. and as
sumed entire charge Of the business ar
rangements. That the venture was a sue
cess may be judged by the result Dick
ems remained five months In America,
during which period he gave seventy-siX
readings The receipts for these enter
tainments were $22S09O, the expenses $685.
900.
l went to call upon Mr.. Dolby not long
ago, because everything pertaining TO the
personality Of the novelist has for me
wonderful fascination. have talked with
Scott, who was Dickens valet, and so
have formed a new and pleasant idea of
the genius Of the master, as viewed from
the standpoint of mis- servant. Prior TO
his death l sat for two hours with the late
Frederick Chapman, the head Of the firm
who were Dickens earliest publishers,
and listened entranced to his related rem
iniscences of the great authors career.
But neither of these men knew Dickens
so intimately as did George Dolby, nor
had they any such opportunity of study
ing his moods and characteristics.
Time and fortune have been unkind to
the former manager ! found him i'm hum
BILE lodgings, broken in health and spirit
and partially dependent upon charity. Yet
he received me graciously, and once aware
of the object of my visit he became en-
tnusiastic II was easily to divine that his
connection with the novelist had formed
the chief episode i'm the life OF the white
haired old man sitting before me-
Il became acquainted with Dickens in
1866 said Mr. Dolby an that year the
firm of Messrs. Chappell offered him 1850
for thirty public readings in London and
the provinces. l was selected as mama
ger. shall never forget the first inter-
view 1 had with him in relation to the
project. l went to the Office of An the
Year Round, in Wellington street, and
submitted my plans, with which he ex-
pressed himself thoroughly satisfied.
When I took leave he shook me heartily
by the hand and, with deep, earnest look
in his eyes, said: I hope we shall like
each other on the termination of the tour
as much as we seem to do now"
Thereafter until his last public APP
pearance | was his only manager. ] ac-
companied him everywhere, while engag-
ed in reading, and went with him to
America My experience with him was
ever delightful, and / love to recall it
while sitting alone here. He was the
kndest-hearted man l ever have known.
Many and many time while on tour we
came across old associates who were down
on their luck.
Dickens would say to me, after the
reading. Joey, let me have f20 in crisp,
new bank notes. and l want to be alone
tomorrow from u till O. ! knew what
this meant. He had invited his old friends
to call at this hour and such friends didn't
go away poorer.
let me tell you why he called me Joey
Dickens was exceedingly fond, when in
merry mood Of assuming, for the moment,
the role Of clown in the stock pantomime.
You know he was a wonderfully clever ac-
tor. Wen, if L had happened into his
room at the hotel and said, Every seat
is Soda great house tonight, he would
get up. If in the mood, instantly assume
the attitude of the clown when partic-
ularly pleased, and thump me approvingly
on the back. Taking my cue, ! would say,
Keep it up, old Un.' You know that in
theatrical phrase the clown is dubbed
old Un,' the pantaloon joey
IAN amusing instance Of this fooling
comes to me. Mr.. w. II. Willis and my
self were one day walking with him at
Southsea. We came upon a small square,
the houses In which resembled "A scene set
for the comic business of pantomime. Here
the temptation to Mr. Dickens to indulge
his prediction presented itself. The
street belnk eNllfelN clear OF people, MT
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 a stout
woman appeared. TO the intense amuse-
ment of Mr.. Willis and myself, who i'm
mediately beat a retreat, followed by
Dickens, with an imaginary policeman aft
err him. We turned 20 take a parting look
at the scene Of action, when. 80 our dis
may. we saw every doorstep and doorway
occupied by the tenants OF the houses.
Dickens had certain peculiarities which
] had opportunity Of observing. He great
ly disliked. for instance, TO enter any shop
to make small purchases. Many a time
! have been called upon 90 purchase gloves
or other trlhes for him. / never could
understand the reason for this. unless Il
was that he objected TO being recognized
aud stared at He was certainly on the
watch for new and striking names, and
with this object in view was always read
Ing shop signs. He was remember, par
ticularly pleased with the name 'Pumble-
chook.' one OF the characters in Great
Expectations lie had / imagine, evolv-
"a the name from his own Imagination.
once. when we were at Birmingham, 1 no.
tlced that he kept his head out OF the
carriage window while riding from the sta
ton TO the hotel. Finally asked him the
reason. and he replied; 7 am very much
afraid that ] may come across the name
Pumblechook.
books. once at Liverpool. where we had
20 himself for an evening. lie asked me