The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-02
Return of the Master.

He went into the Foster room and look
ed with interest at his own portrait on the
walls. One Of the engaged couples came
up and looked over his shoulder.
Who's he seepposed to be, George -
asked the lady care.essly.
Chap O. the name o. Dickens" replied
George, with the readiness Of one for
whom the world has no secrets. Charles
Dickens"
I've card the name" said the young
woman. What was he celebrated for?''
Writing chap" said George.
Ever read any of his works." asked the
lady persistently. The man with the old
fashioned beard put his hand to his ear.
Know something Of the titles of 'em,
answered George evasively.
| At the glass-coyered cases was some
thing more fattering There, spelling out
the blue-inked manuscript of "Dombey
and Son." and reading with greater ease
the holder handwriting OF "Oliver Twist, y
| a party of Americans talked excitedly. In
their enthusiasm they desired to buy the
books; they summoned thoughtful po-
liceman and asked him how many thou
sand dollars his people would require for
one Of them, anyway. The thoughtful po-
liceInan shook his head slowly and said,
with respect. that the country would have
to be precious hard up before 1t parted
with one of them This only increased the
Americans admiration.
They've forgiven me for Martin Chuz-
| zlewit, said the master to himself. Il N
glad"
He went out OF the museum presently
into Brompton road. and stepped into
bus that carried him to Piccadilly Circus
He seemed dazed at the white glow Of
J =; OF hA iCh
| buildings bordering the triangular space.
This is not much like London" he said.
mot like my London
Leicester Square gave him more aston
ishment, and he hurried into a court and
/ tried to think. Two matronly women were
Dragging of their chillren; the eldest boy
of one was doing something heroic in the
sixth standard at the board school; the
other, a pale woman, had boy who was
being looked after by the poor law guardi-
ans, and. the mother declared. was as
healthy as healthy, and about to go 10
KneIler Hall. You'd never believe he
was a son o. mine" said the white-faced
woman.
II wonder" said the master. ST wonder
now whether 1 helped in that!" An idea
occurred to him. 'Drury Lane?
He knew the way quite well. Past the
Garrick Club and along the south side
of Covent Garden, and eventually into
Drury Lane
Now" he said, ''I shall oe reminded
Of the old days. Where is the yard in
which Jo-?'
1t seemed that Drury Lane had, IN
Sense, been to a dentist to have itself put
right, and that the dentist advised Drury
Lane to have them all out on one side and
h111y bllpa
gaps where buildings had been pulled
down, gaps hidden by joyful hoardings
The old graveyard had become a clean,
neat, asphalted playground for children.
'Changes!" he said, with only a touch
of sadness, for he was not really sorry.
''ChangesI
He waited and listened, as had always
been his manner, to the talk of the peo-
pie 1t was some time before he could
understand them, for they were talking
the new Cockney language, and when he
asked civilly what country they were
from they counseled him to go home and
fry his face. The advice might have been
we'll intentioned, but it was not, in view
of all the circumstances, practical, and he
strolled up to Holborn and across to
Bloomsbury. Except that this district
wore an accentuated clearinghouse air,
there was little of change. A bookshop.
with a volume entitled 1.-The Moral Les
son of Pickwick. By One Who Knew
Dickens" drove him from Bloomsbury.
Back at Oxford Circus the swift rush
Of traffic, the winking. starting advertise
ments that appeared and disappeared; the
horseless cabs-all these things confused
and wearied him, and he began to wish
for midnight. He tried to find Soho, and
could only discover Shaftesbury avenue.
Crossing the road, he would have been |
hurt by a dashing, spluttering fire en- |
CINE, had not two young men in evening |
dress caught him neatly and bowled him |
on to the pavement.
Not hurt. sir. hope said one.
mot hurt, l thank you he replied. |
painting, but somewhat startled. London |
is in a greater hurry than it was In my /
day"
1--WE all have to push" said the other |
young fellow, nowadays. Can We give |
you any further assistance. sir?''
Gentlemen he said. courteously, IT |
can not trespass on your goodness"
you look tired said the first youth.
IL am tired"
Come into our cab and rest for q bit.
We are literary men-or think we are
and there will be some others there"
1t was 1870 now. They escorted him 10
their club and took him up the broad
staircase into the smoking-room. The
was filled with the scent of /
cigars and the sound Of voices, and every
one seemed to be talking about books
The master. comfortable in an armchair
near the fire, listened anxiously. The
members were all youngish men-men who
were probably in their bassinettes az the
time that his spirit few away from Gad's
Hill and from this earth. His two hosts
left him with an excuse to join the heat
sd debate, Current regulations formed |
the subject OF the conference, and, in or
der to save time everybody spoke at
once Many were talking about thcm-
selves.
They've forgotten me-" said the mag
ter. regretfully.
Indeed, this did at first appear 20 be the
case. Presently. however, he caught his
name, and he half rose in the chair No
infant author waiting for his first notice
could have been more nervous than he
was at that moment
We'll" z loud-voiced man a. the fire.
place had said in speaking Of modern
writer. I've heard him referred TO as !
modern Dickens.
For a moment there vas a hush. but
3nly for a moment Thsn there rained
Down upon the loud-volced man . swift
ieafening torrent OF genuine reproof. Ea-
yerly the master listened How dared any (
,ne (the young members said excitedlyl
compare the nan with Dickeasf There !
vas no one nowadays high enough or
broad enough Or strong enough TO justify |
comparison with him Dickens stood {
lionel Dickens always would stand alone I
Dickens was the master Of them all II
Of / :