Junction City bulletin. [volume] (Junction City, Or.) 189?-1901, 1901-01-31
DICKENS. OLD HOME.
Demolition of 1aviatock House, I'm
Which He Lived Nine Years.

BemoHttou or 1avtatock H0usc, In
Which He Lived Nine Years.
n An Interesting memorial OF Charles
Dickens Is now In course of destruction
by the house-hreaker, says the Londen
News. Tavistock House. Tavistoek
4 square. to which he removed on leav-
Ing Devonshire terrace In 1881, Is
being pulled down by the ground land-
lord, the Duke of Bedford. Up to the
1 present the house. which was hand
some, substantial and well.kept build
ing, remained externally Just as Dick
ems left 1t In 1860, aud as Il stands In
the engraving In Forster's Life of
Dickens" II has undergone some
vieissitudes since Dickens days. He
sold it to Mr.. Davis. Jewish gentle.
man, of whom he said In letter to
Mr.. Willis: Il must say that In all
things the purchaser has behaved
thoroughly well, and that | cannot call
to mind any occasion when have had
money dealings with a Christian that
have been so satisfactory, considerate
and trusting
Mr.. Davis was succeeded by Mr.. and
Mrs. Weldon, with whom Gounod
lived for some time. holding singing
classes in the large drawing room. or
late years the house has been a Jews
college, and latterly has for some
months been empty. Ii stands behind
the northeast corner of Tavistock
square, and. like it's nelghbor, Bedford
house which Is also being dlsmantled,
Is too large for the nelghhorhood.
Dickens occupied the house for nine
years. He bought 1t of his friend.
Frank Stone, who had lived there sew
eral years. Dickens house in Devon
shire terrace had become too small for
him, and his lease was falling In. Stone
was also preparing new house for
himself, and moved his furniture into
the Devonshlre terrace house. that
Dickens might carry out some changes
In Tayistock house, which were plan ,
ned by his brother-in-law, Henry Aus I
tin. Dickens and his family went to
Broadstairs while these works were
being carried out, and removed into
Tavistock house In November. Mr..
Forster tells us that Bleak House"
was begun in his new abode Of Tav-
istOck house. at the end OF November,
1851.
In the first Twelfth Night In the new
home the children's theatricals were
being run, and were renewed till the
chief actors were children no longer.
'.The best of these performances"
says Mr.. Forster, were Tom Thumb
and 'Fortunio, In 1854 and 1855.
Dickens now Joining first in the revel
and Mr. Mark Lemon bringing into Il
his own clever children and a very
Of child-pleasing fun In him
self" At later period the schoolroom
was turned into theater. Clarkson
providing the scenery and
Cooke, of Astley's. planning the seats.
''YOu will be surprised at the look Of
the place" wrote Dickens 1T Is no
more like the schoolroOm than 1t Is like
the sign OF the SalutatiOn Inn at Am
bleside, In Westmoreland."
Dickens was overwhelmed with re-
quests from friends to see the play.
MY audience is now niuety-three," he
wrote, In despair. land at least ten will
neither hear nor see" SO the play was
for several nights. After he
acquired Gadshlll place, and made it
temporary summer residence, he still
Tayistock house not only as
MS London residence, but as his home.
It continued to be his permanent fam
ly abode till 1860, when he sold 1t and
inally removed to Gadshill. His nine
years occupancy Of 1t has made 1t an
object OF much interest. and American Z
admirers especially have constantly
sought it out. 9