The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-01
Return of the Master,

approvingly.
mo change there!'' he said with a sigh
of relief.
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. GeorgeF'
asked the lady carelessly.
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 en-
answered George evasively.
At the glass-covered cases was some
thing more f1attering. There. spelling out
the blue-inked manuscript of "Dombey
and Son." and reading with greater ease
the holder handwriting Of OLIVER Twist. .
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 thoughtfui po-
licenan 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 m
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 or
light that met him there; at the high
buildings bordering the triangular space.
This is not much like London" he said.
Not like my London"
Leicester Square gave him moro aston
fshment, and he hurried into 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 to
Kneller Hall. You'd never believe he
was a son O. mine,'' said the white-faced
woman.
now whether l helped in thatt" An idea
occurred to him. "Drury Lanep
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, ct shall be reminded
Of the old days. Where is the yard in
which Jo-?'
1t seemed that Drury Lane had, in a
sense, been to dentist to have itself put
right, and that the dentist advised Drury
Lane to have them all out on one side and
TO buy a new set, for there were huge
gaps where buildings had been pulled
down, gaps hidden by joyful hoardings.
The old graveyard had become clean,
neat, asphalted playground for children.
"Changes" he said, with only a touch
of sadness, for he was not really sorry.
Changes!
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 1t 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 THE Moral Les
son of Pickwick BY One Who Knew
Dickens" drove him from Bloomsbury.
. Back at oxford Circus the swift rush
h. ,i,,lr; eta I'd
ments that appeared and disappeared; the
horseless cabs-an these things confused
and wearied him, and ne 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.
mot hurt, sir, hope said one.
mot hurt, 1 thank you he replied,
painting, but somewhat startled. London
is in a greater hurry than it was in my
day"
I'VE all have to push" said the other
young fellow, nowadays. Can we give
you any further assistance, sir?"
Gentlemen he said. courteously, ct
can not trespass on your goodness"
''You look tired" said the first youth.
II am tired
Come into our cab and rest for a bit.
We are literary men--or think we are
and there will be some others there"
II was 1880 now They escorted him to
their club and took him up the broad
staircase into the smoking-room. The
smoking-room was filed 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 n1en-men who
were probably in their bassinettes at the
time that his spirit few away from Gad's
Hill and from this earth. His two hosts
left him with an excuse 20 join the heat
ed debate Current regulations formed
the subject of the conference, and, in or
der to save time. everybody spoke at
once Many were talking about them
selves.
They've forgotten me-" said the mas
ter. regretfully.
Indeed, this did at first appear 20 be the
case Presently, however. ne 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 thai moment.
We'll" a loud-voiced man At the fire
place had said in speaking Of modern
writer. I've heard him referred 20 as
modern Dickens
For a moment there was hush. but
only for a moment Than there rainSd
down upon the ioud-voiced man a swift.
deafening torrent OF genuine reprcoE Ea-
gerry the master listened How dared any
one (the young members said excatsdly)
compare the man with DickAos7 There
was 10 one nowadays high enough or
broad enough or strong enough 70 Justify
f-,.rn n rzzo7 zfrA him Dickens stool