The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-22
Found Characters
For Dickens.

VI 1lVAOlkUo
Every one who has read Charles Dick.
ems wonderful stories of everyday life
aad OF the underworld OF London has
wondered where the novelist obtained
such knowledge Of "how the other
half lives and especially where he
met the characters he so minutely de-
picts In word and action.
The man who introduced the novelist
TO Fagin. the Artful Dodger, Samlvel
Weller and other famous characters is
now a resident OF Milwaukee. Joseph
Lowman is the name he writes 10 dis
tingnish himself from the balance OF the
human family, and UP 10 year ago he
appended the word 'watchman" after
IL to designate his occupation.
Years ago Mr.. Lowman was private
detective I'm London. He was young and
energetic then, with his life spreading
out before him Offering a pasture for
his ambition. 1t is all retrospect now.
While he was acting as a private de-
tective in the English capital I'm those
days OF long ago, before he began his
journey down the shadowy side of life
he conceived the idea that he might be
of use to Dickens in introducing him to
some of the odd characters that FREE
quented the resorts OF the great city.
There was little money Co be earned
as private detective, owing to the COM
petition as well as the Jealousy OF Scot
land Yard. AS a last resort he betoolx
himself 60 the home OF the novelist. and
after repeated attempts finally gained
an audience and laid his plans before
MIR. Dickens.
Whom do You know?" asked Dick
ems.
"All the blackguards and blacklegs and
thieves and smugglers and a good part
Of the liars in town" answered the pri-
vate detective.
You'll do me-" replied Dickens,
laughing. III take you on the spot"
The two started out that same day
70 look for characters for the novelist
TO immortalize in his works. The plan
adopted was for Lowman TO invite the
models TO the Green Dragon or some
other hostelry, and Dickens would be
there in disguise TO meet and gossip
with them at the bar, and then the
novelist. the detective and the "oid
cove" would adjourn to the parlcr.
where a few bottles OF wine or mugs OF
ale would loosen the tongue OF the man.
and IL he could be utilized he was taxi
en- for a type in the novelists gallery.
Samivel Weller was found one day by
Mr. Lowman driving the stage from
Suffolk Co London. The coach was full,
and Mr. Lowman was informed that he
would have TO come up top If he
wanted to ride. He took his seat along
side the driver. and before they had
gone far he developed enough to en-
title himself to be preserved as Sami-
vel Weller. one OF the famous char
acters in the works of Dickens. Sami-
vel was invited to the Blue Lion, and
in five minutes after Dickens arrived
he was full tilt into his description OF
"that boy Samivel" Dickens obtained
for Samivel junior his position as boots
TO Pickwick. the little man with bald
head and white waistcoat and spec
tacles whom MIR. Lowman says he has
Otter seen trotting about London. 1t
was Bowman who conducted Mr.. Dick
ems to the Old Curiosity Shop in quest
OF a book, and there the novelist and
Little Nells grandfather smoked many
a pipe together while the former gath
cred the pathetic story of the old man
and his idol.
Dickens. in disguise and guided by
Mr.. Lowman, visited the lowest dives
in London. and IL was on these jour
neyings that he picked up such charac-
ters as Bill Skies and Quilp. Dickens
was disguised by his guide as a tramp.
and the two used to loaf about the
slums until they found what they were
after They were sometimes accom-
panied by a stenographer on their
trips. and not only the characters were
reproduced by the novelist. but the
stenographic notes furnished theirexact
language to be woven into the story.
The novelist was never taken TO the
homes Of his characters who were un-
der the bans of the law. They were
never so far betrayed by the detective,
but they were invited to some taproom,
where Dickens met and talked with,
treated them and stored up his ma
terial to be used i'm his stories. little
boy. sick i'm hospital, was transforms
ed into Paul Dombey, and as such has
worked upon the sympathy OF thou
sands. Dombey and son were taken
from real life as discovered To the now
elst by his detective guide and the
senior Dombey is the only one Of the
whole list OF characters whom the de-
tectlvc does not seem 10 hold in high
regard.
Scarlet Hard to hit.
Sea riot has nlWays bnpn REGARDED ae