New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
CHARLES DICKENS is AN EDITOR.
From Household Words.

From Household Words
Household Words was founded by Charles
Dickens in 1850. He had tasted Of the inky
waters of journalism as the first editor OF The
Daily News" Therer is a legend that Dickens
edited in state, and that the proofs OF printed
matter were brought up on silver saIVers BY
iveried footmen, and not by unwashed print
ers devils'
When Mr.. Dixie (the grandfather of the ms
ent Sir Charles Dixie NJ P) a very able sit-
erary with commercial instincts was in
duced to take The Daily News in hand
Charles Dickens. followed by his faithful henca-
man and lifelong friend W II. Wills migrated
TO WellingtOn-St- Strand (the north sectionl.
and took an Office at the corner OF Exeter Ar
cade. bohemian parody OF the Lowther Ar
Cade. full Of small empty shops half of rha-u
always unIet and the other half occupied by
very ShlIty tenants These tenants We're mostly
SeniuSeS or hangers of geniuSeS. and their
combined amusement and occupation was 20
bring out small periodicals and jourualS-V--kIy
! in their issue. and weakly in their constitution
They appeared one week and disappeared me
next --1
1t was at the mouth Of this tunnel Of fmpeeu1i-
Osity that Household Words was started ia a
pOt-belled building of three floors. forming
part of the stage of the CSaiety Theatre. The
/ window was Charles Dickenss working room
and here the chief sat with W. H Wills his
/ friend ana secretary, interviewing contributors.
when necessary, and traDSacting business The
small room above was used dining or sup
per room. where little parties. seldom eXCeedins.
six. were entertained with that plain but savory
fare which the chief never failed to describe
with enthusiastic relish in his novels "tEf
Rule of Maiden Lane was nearly ALWAYS 1na
of the caterers, sending a man with a tub gf
oysters in the season, and a baked potato man
with his can was often another. y favorite sh
a roast bOned leg OF muttOu-the place Of
the bone being supplied with oysters and veal
stuftng. When Wilke Collins came To these
office dinners which he did very frequently
there was always an apple pudding. WIKI.
Collins admireT of French cooking and
not SO Britannia in his taste Dickens. out he
held that q well made apple pudding had
rival any dinner table
\ journal started by Charles Dickens natur-
ally attracted many contributors. especially
I among the class called voluntary" Scarcely
/ pOStman passed the office without leaving a
bundle of manuscript. sometimes small. like q
/ roly-pOly Jam pudding, some times large like q
small bolster These voluntary contributions
amounting to several hundreds in the cau-s. 1f
the year, were always opened and looked al. In
some cases mere glance would show that they
I were not suitable for Household Words and
unfortunately very few. they merited careful
. reading, and got it Glanced at or read & a-1
JUSTIFIED IN saying that during five years .-v
two manuscripts were accepted from outs ID
contributors, one of which had To be aIrnoS- -e-
written and the other used with a l--ie
editorial alteration. This statement may Slvsr
the idea that DickeuS'S journal was a "eose
/ borough, open only 10 a select few who bad
earned a public reputation. but such a Uul-
/ ciuSlOn would be quite unjust The Ccutu.t1r
| (Charles Dckeusl and the editor CIV. n Wu.s}
were always only TOO anxious to discover new
cOntributOrS-Tnen with ideas fresh enr rhusi-
/ aSn and unhackneyed Style-and Charles Dick
/ ems was the last man to say, Thackeray lid
/ when he was forming his ~COruhiu Maz.lE.r-'
( STAFF, I afraid there are only a certain
( said 1t in no unkInd spirit 1t was only his
| fun Dickens had certainly equal fun and
| he probably thought The same IN nO unA-l1
! spirit