Evening journal., 1900-03-02
RED LION INN.
Dickens Famous Landmark Likely
to Be Torn Down.
(London Correspondence),

(LOnuOn COrreSpOnuence).
The rampant red lion in Parliament
street. which marked the public house
of that name, at the corner Of Derbey
street, ramps there no longer. The lion
is gone, and the house itself is going,
and with them goes another Of the vis-
ibe links with the London of Charles
Dickens. 1t was a memorable Dickens
locality, that corner house of Ye Old
Red Lion. for 1t was there that Dickens
himself, when a lad, called for a glass
Of "the very best ale, with head to
IT," He transferred the experiences
connected with that incident to David
Copperfield, and to all lovers of Dick-
ems that house, now being destroyed,
had, therefore, a double interest.
1t is told In Forster's Life Of Dick
ems" how all Attempts to avoid going
through the bankruptcy court having
failed, 1t became necessary for the elder
Dickens to obtain the benefit of the
Insolvent Debtors act. Little Charles
-he was at that time little lad-had
his part to play in the ceremonies
which had to be undertaken; he had
to appear before the official appraiser
so that his clothes might be seen, one
condition of the statute being that the
WNNiiiS dDlditi anu DtISOudl
retained by the debtor and his family
were not to exceed 800 in value. "And
so. said Charles Dickens himself later
in life, speaking of the incident, II had
q half holiday to enable me TO call up
on him. 1 recollect his coming out to
look at me, with his mouth full and a
strong smell Of beer upon him, and
saying good naturedly that That would
do and 1t was all right Certainly
the hardest creditor would not have
been disposed, even If he had been
legally entitled, to avail himself OF my
poor white hat, little jacket or cor
duroy trousers"
All formalities being complete, the
elder Dickens went into the Marshalsea
-the debtors prison, in which so much
of the story of Little Dorrit is laid, and
which still stands (the very room oc-
cupied by Mr.. Dickens can still be iden-
tifed)-and the little Charles led that
strange, lonely life which rouses such
intense pity as we read 1t in David
Copperfield" and in "Forster's Life
for, as we'll known, David Copper
field" was in many respects an actual
transcript of Dickens's own bitter
youthful experiences. He had no COM
panions OF his own age. He strolled
about neglected and alone in the back
streets Of the Adelphi or explored its
dark arches. 1t was at this time that
the incident at the Red Lion occurred
which he made use of in David Cop
perfield"
Dickenss own account of the inoi-
dent, in his own words, is thus given in
the second chapter of "ForsteP's LIFE.
Il was such a little fellow, with my
poor white hat, little jacket, and cordu-
roy trousers, that frequently when
went into the bar of a strange public
house for a glass OF ale or porter to
wash down the saveloy and the loaf L
had eaten in the street they didn't like
to give IL to me. I remember one even
| ing q had been somewhere for my
father and was going back to the bor-
ough over Westminster Bridge that 1
went into a public house in Parliament
/ street, which is still there though all
tered, at the corner Of the short street
leading into Cannon row, and said TO
the landlord behind the bar. What is
your very best-the very best-ale a
glassg For the occasion was a fes-
tive one for some reason-I forget why.
II may have been my birthday or
somebody else's. 'Twopence, says he.
I AAANHf soy H. just uAdW AiAE a grass OI
that, If you please, with a good head
to it,
''The landlord looked at me in return
over the bar from head to foot with a
strange smile on his face. and, instead
Of drawing the beer, looked round the
screen and said something to his wife,
who came out from behind it, with her
work in her hand, and Joined him in
surveying me. Here we stand, all
three, before me now, in my study in
I Devonshire Terrace. The landlord in
his shirt sleeves leaning against the
bar window frame, his wife looking
over the little half door, and I, in some
confusion. looking up at them from
outside the partition. They asked me
a good many questions, as what my
name was, how old I was. where ]
i lived how I was employed. ETC.. etc,
To all Of which, that I might commit
nobody, / invented appropriate an
swers. They served me with the ale
though I suspect it was not the strong
est on the premises. and the land
lords wife. opening the little half dool
and bending down, gave me a kiss that
was half admiring and half compass.
sionate but all womanly and good,
am sure"