St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-26
DICKENS AND DOLBY.
Death of the NOvelisrs Secretary,

George Dolby, formerly private secre-
tary to Charles Dickens, went to Fulham
In6rmary recently, penniless, dirty, ema-
ciated and unkempt. He died November
81 and al the inquest it was stated that
he was insured for $4,000 in favor of an
artist son in Paris. He had no income,
but was supplied with money by his
friends. He drank to excess, and was
turned from his lodgings in Hammer
smith on account of his dirty habits. He
formerly lived in Herefordshire, and had
made large sums of money in the past.
A distant relative named Rycroit, who
identified, said he thought deceased got
so shabby that he had been ashamed
lately to approach his friends for help.
The verdict was bronchitis, accelerated
by selfneglect." The last chapter in the
life of the man who was Dickens aid.de-
camp during some of his famous reading
tours, both at home and in America,
reads like grotesque episode in Wilkie
Collins novel. Indeed, that wonderful
spinner OF creepy romances has one char
acter who bears some semblance to poor
Dolby in his last days-a man who hides
from the world and dwells in a noisome
den, where he lives unkempt and I'M
ShOrn, stunning friends and society alike.
Yet TOR several years Dolby had shared
in some OF the greatest personal trumphs
of the novelst's lite, and lived with him
on terms of the greatest intimacy. We
are indeed, not at all sure that Dolby's
enthusiasm and sangulne temperament
did not in some measure lead Dickens on
to those last readings which no doubt
sent him to his early grave. When first
those famous dramatic efforts were be-
gun, the business which they involved
was managed by Arthur Smith, the
brother of Albert Smith, of Mont Blanc
renown. When be died Dolby succeeded
to his post, which was most onerous
one. Dolby himself wrote a book de-
Scribing his experiences, but 1T is poor,
loose stuff, and does not contain one an
ecdote or Renaissance worth preserving.
But Dickens own letters are full OF refer
ences to Dolby" and very curious and
amusing they are to this very day, when
Dickens and all that relates to him have
still profound interest for the public.
The history of Dolby is the history of the
readings. He was always in difficulties.
So fierce was the demand to hear the
reader that Dolby, not being Procrustes,
could never accommodate the halls to
the public. But enthusiastic crowds
used to fill them to the roots, and hum
dreds used to be turned away nightly.
Their only resource was to pitch into
Dolby"
In Dublin" says Dickens, "people are
beseging Dolby to put chairs anywhere
in doorways, on my platform, IN any
sort of hole and corner. This was IN
Dublin In Liverpool the police init
mated officially that three thousand peo-
pie were turned away-they carried in
the outer doors and pitched into Dolby"
1t was Dolby who used to administer to
the distinguished reader the oysters and
champagne, and other filips, between
the "acts" in the dressing room. 1t was
Dolby who used to amuse him in the
harassing railway journeys between the
towns and cities. 1t was Dolby who,
bubblng over with joy, used to bring
him the evidence of his amazing popu-
larity, as judged by the heavy bags OF
money jingling in his hand; and some
times Dolby used to come with hair
dishevelled and garments torn and tat
tered, after fight with an enraged and
disappointed crowd. 1t was Dolby VINO
used even to help him on with his clothes
when there was a train to catch after
the reading was over. Reading. PAID
at $40 night OF two hours, with all
expenses paid, seems about the most
agreeable way OF earning a living that
one can imagine, until we remember the
awful exhaustion, the dreadful reaction
which follows violent efforts. The story
of his readings is the story OF sieepless
nights, with terrific applause stu ring
ing in the readers ears, mlngllng otten
enough with the roar of the train rush
ing through the night. Then 1T was
Dolby who used to carry him off to the
sea TOR a whiff of the briny. 1t was
Dolby who used to provide cold COLA
tons and the best of drinks tor those
night journeys. At some OF the bigger
cities the excitement to hear him was so
great that Dolby used to leave the gen
tetl parts of the house and stem tine
shilling tide" 1t was Dolby who Kept
off too pressing callers. There was 9
poet, for instance, who had christeneo