New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-29
DICKENS AND DOLBY.
SAD DEATH OF THE NovELIsrs sEcRE-
TARY.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE READINGS

Charles Dickens went to Fulham lnfrmary
twelve DAYS ago, penniless, dirty, emaclateo
and unkempt He died on Wednesday Of last
week and at the inquest on SATURDAY 1t was
stated that he was insured for t5Voo IN favor
of an artist son in Paris. He had no income
but was supplied with money by his trlenas.
He drank to excess, and was turned from ms
lodgings in Hammersmith account of ms
dirty ha bits He formerly lived in Hereford
shire and had made large sums of money IN INC
past A distant relative named Rycro1t' Who
Identified. said he thought deceased got SO snap -,
by that he had been ashamed lately TO appIoaci'
his friends for help. The verdict was bFoh
chttis accelerated by self-neglect
The last chapter in the life of the man VIZ
was Dickens's aide-de-camp during some OF hls
famous reading tours. both at home anu ~
Wtke Collins novel Indeed, that wonoel tuL
spinner Of creepy romances has one Cllai -, ~
who bears some senblance to poor Donn oI n and
last days--a man who hides from the W.. IL
dwells in a noisome den, where he nVes uhhe IrI
and unshcrn stunning friends and socletS oc
Yet for several years Dolby had shared III So i
OF the greatest personal triunphs or the Iot
lists life. and lived with him on terms VI Iii III
greatest intimacy. We are indeed NOT az az
sure mat Dolby's enthusiasm and sanguine ten-
permanent did not in some measure leao D!cheIs s
on those last readings which no oou3 3oms
him IN mis- early grave. When first those taniou
dramatic efforts were begun. the business whch
they involved was managed by Arthur smith
the brother Of Albert Smith Of Mont Blanc re-
nown. When he died Dolby succeeoeo ~ i NE
most which was most onerous one. Dolpy
himself wrote book describing ms eApeIleI tI
but n IS poor loose stuff. and does not contain
one anecdote or Renaissance worth preserving,
Ru+ Dickens's own letters are full OF references
TO Dolly" and very curious and amusing they
era IN This very day when Dickens and all that
relates 10 him have still profound interest
for the public. The history OF Dolby Is tne NE ms
to-v of the readings. He was always IN GILL
ouItias So ferce was the demand to hear the
reader that Dolby not being Procrustes' coulo
never accommodate the halls 70 the puo't; 4t1e
enthusiastic crowds used to NIL them 10 the
rnoTs and hundreds used TO be turned away
rightly Their only resource was 10 pltch hl'o
D" Oh Dublin" sayg Dickens people be-
eiegng Dolby TO put chairs anywhere,ln, IN uool
ways on my platform, in any sort OF hole anu i,
corner This was in Dublin. In Liverpool the
police intimated officially that three thousano
people were turned away-they carried IN the
outer doors and Pi5cneq trlt to the distin
guished reader the oysters ana cndnIpds Ii
other fillips between the acts IN the ule . -
room. II Dolby who USED 10 an1use nm ~, "a
The harassing railway Journeys oetWeen the
towns and cities. 1t was Dolby Who pupollns
over with low used to bring him the evidence OF
his amazing popularity, as judged by the hedN!
bags of money jingling in his hand; ana soiiles
times Dolby used to come with halr olsiieN eiiI.
and garments torn and tattered AFTER hsht
With an enraged and disappointed crowd ~ ~ Li
DE- 'hy who used even to help him on Win ms ms
clothes when there wos tram TO cateh no go
fba rsadine was over. Reading, paid at tto
a nigh of two hours. with all expenses pau,
seems apout the most agreeable way OF earning
a living that ore can imagine until we relileih-
her the awful exhaustion, the dreadful reaction
which follows violent efforts. The story OF ils
readings Is thu story of sleepless nlghts' WIN
80. ,nineIine often enough with the of
the train rushing through the nisht. 1heh IL
Dolby who useo to carry MN OH H. 10 tate Tho
for Whit Of the b-iny. 1t was Dolby VINO
used TO provide cold cCllations and the pest OF
drinks for those night journeys. At some OF the
bigger cities the excitement TO hear him was
SO great that Dolby used 20 leave the genteei
parts OF the house and stem the shilling toe
1t was Dolby who kept off toe pressing caile eis
There was a poet. for instance, who had chris
tened his child after Dickens, anC haunted MIN;
S,,cb was the enthusiasm which led to the fnal
and fatal series OF reaolngs IN Alie4 ttends
came fast and furious and at last his IrlehuS
Forster and Wills, held a consultation: with
Dickens and Dolby. as to the adTlsab.nty OF
accepting the proposals. They voted aFanst
them on the ground of health and strength But
Dolby was dispatched to America to see me
ground, for Dickens had determined to run the
readings himself notwithstanding the buZzing
srseculators who had been overwhelming him
with offers. Have no fear that anything VIII
induce me TO make the experiment." he writes,
''if 90 not the most forcible reasons for be
Meving that what could get by it, added to what
have got, would leave me with sufficient
fortune The prize looks enormous" Dolby
said. Yes" and the result was months Of such
exciting scenes have never been equalled for
enthusiasm. Immense trains of people would
stand outside the booking office for hours in the
freezing snow on the chance Of getting seat
The Americans for all he had criticised them
sharply, read him more than the English.
Millions Of them treasured every word he had
written. He had complained bitterly OF the
American pirates who had stolen his books. The
homage and streams Of sterling gold that were
thrown him the arrears. 1t was
Dolby who fought the spectators who made
corners in tickets for the readings. He actually
made money al the rate of fl 800 week, and
the spectators made handsome thing out of
#. Although could buy more than six
tickets. Of course they employed others TO buy
for them. and then ran the prices up. Great in
dignation the result, and Dolby the
man who was. metaphorically speaking. tarred
and feathered in the daily papers. The scenes
al the booking offices almost transcend belief.
The pay place-we give instance-was to
open at 9 On Wednesday morning. and at mid
MI on Of Lar
assembled en- queue; ar In the morning e
few honest buyers had begun to arrive; 5
there were, OF all classes. two lines of not less
than eight hundred each; at , there were at
least five thousand persons IN the two lines; at
each line than three quarters of a
mile in length. Members OF families relieved
each other in the queues: walters few across
the streets and squares from the neighboring
restaurants. TO serve parties who We're taking
their breakfast in the open December air while
excited persons offered 50 $40 for the mere
permission 10 exchange places with other per-
sons standing nearer the head Of the line
AS the fever grew Dolby's task got still more
difficult. The spectators used TO come with
mattresses. whiskey and food. and camp by his
Office One night the crowd actually made a
bonfire in the street, ii cold The police
interfered and a general fight took place In
the morning when Dolby appeared with a port
mantean fun OF tickets he was saluted with
the carriage. has he, Dolby? How is he Dolby?
Don't drop the tickets, Dolby, Look alive Dol
by" In the midst of which he got to business
and concluded as usual by giving complete dis.
satisfaction. Mr. Dolby had more serious iron.
bles. He had TO keep a sharp eye on the mas
ter who called forth this extraordinary en-
thusiasm On the afternoon of his birthday fol-
instance, a friend dropped in and found Dicken,
covered with mustard poCltces and voiceless
he turned 10 Dolby and said, Surely, Dolby
Il is impossible that he can read tonight" Saif
Dolby, u have told Mr.. Dickens so four time.
to-day and / have been very anxious Rut vo,
have no idea how he will change when he get,
10 the little table" 1t was Dolby though win
was as tender as woman and as watchful