St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-26

his child after Dickens, and haunted him.
Such was the enthusiasm which led to
the final and fatal series of readings in
America. Offers came fast and furious,
and at last his friends, Forster and Wills,
held a consultation, with Dickens and
Dolby, as to the ACCESSIBILITY of accept.
ing the proposals. They voted against
them on the ground of health and
strength. But Dolby was dispatched to
America to see the ground, for Dickens
had determined to run the readings him
self, notwithstanding the buzzing specu-
lators who had been overwhelming him
with offers. Have no fear that any
thing will induce me to make the expert
ment, " he writes, 'if l do not see the
most forcibe reasons for believing that
what | could get by it, added to what l
have got, would leave me with a suffi-
Gent fortune. The prize looks enor-
NOUS" Dolby said, YES" and the re-
suit was months of such exciting scenes
as have never been equaled for enthu-
siasm. 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 so sharply, read
him more than the English. Millions of
them treasured every word he had writ
ten. He had complained bitterly of the
American pirates who had stolen his
books. The homage and streams of
sterling gold that were now thrown at
him were the arrears. 1t was Dolby who
fought the spectators who madecorners
in tickets for the readings. He actually
made money at the rate of 81, 300 a
week, and the spectators made hand
some thing out of it. Although no one
could buy more than six tickets, of course
they employed Others to buy for them,
and then ran the prices up. Great indig-
nation was the result, and Dolby was
the man, who was, metaphorically
speaking, tarred and feathered in the
daily papers. The scenes at the booking
Offices almost transcend belief The pay
place-we give one instance-was to
open at 9 on a Wednesday morning, and
at midnight on Tuesday long line of
spectators were assembled en- queue; at
2 in the morning a few honest buyers
had begun to arrive; at there were, OF
all classes, two lines of not less than
eight hundred each; at s there were at
least FIVE thousand persons in the two
lines; at 8 each line was more than
three quarters OF mile in length. Mem
bers oil families relieved each other in the
queues; walters flew across the streets
and squares from the neighboring res
taurants. to serve parties who were TAX
ing their breakfast in the open December
air; while excited persons offered SIS or
$40 for the mere permission to exchange
places with other persons standing
nearer the head of the line.
AS the fever grew Dolby 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 bonfire in the
street, it was so cold. The police inter
fered, and general fight took place. In
the morning when Dolby appeared with
portmauteau full Of tickets he was
saluted with, Halo Dolby. So Charley
has let you have the carriage, has he,
Dolby? How is he, Dolby? Don't drop
the tickets, Dolby Look alive, Dolby"
In the midst OF which he got to business,
and concluded, as usual, by giving COM
plete dissatisfaction. Mr.. Dolby had
more serious troubles. He had to keep
sharp eye on the master who called forth
this extraordinary enthusiasm. On the
afternoon OF his birthday, for instance,
friend dropped in and found Dickens COW
cred with mustard poultices and voice
less. He turned to Dolby and said,
Surely, Dolby, it is impossible that he
can read tonight" Said Dolby, II have
told Mr.. Dickens so four times today,
and have been very anxious, But you
have no idea how he will change when
he gets to the little table," 1t was Dol
by, though, who was as tender as a
woman and as watchtul as doctor. He
even sat by his side when he was read
ing, and kept his eye on him all the time.
1t was Dolby who got so confused with
his manifold duties that he once sent an
advertisement in these astonishing terms
to the papers:
The reading will be comprised within
two minutes, and the audience are
earnestly entreated to be seated ten
hoars before its commencement
But it was Dolby who counted the
money which was the most interesting
of all his duties. His own commission
was $4,000! The expenses were about
&14, OOO Dickens net reward was $780,
900. The whole set produced over
100000. But they killed him, and poor
Dolby does not seem to have benefited
much by his hOnorarium,