New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-31
CHARLES DICKENS.

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From Mary Boyle: Her Book" &c. P. Dutton
Coz
In November. 1851. Charles Dickens and his
family went to live in Tavstock House. Tav
istock Square, where they remained until the
year 1857. The very sound of the name is re-
plete to me with memories of nnumera BILE
evenings passed in the most congenial and de-
lightful intercourse; dinners. where the guests
Wed with each other in brilliant converse ton,
"ne'her Inteliectual: WITTY or sDarklng-eVen,
ings devoted to music theatriCaS. First and
foremost of that magic circle was the host him
self, always 'one Of us, who invariably drew
out what was best and most characteristic in
others; who used the monosyllable We much
more frequently than that of Il" and who
quicken the society around him, but never TO
crush or overpower ii with sense 81 their
inferiority, The most dftdent girl was
couraged TO express her modest opinion to the
great man. aud in him the youngest child ever
found ready playfellow.
1t was In the wear 1857 that Charles Dickens
took possession OF the little house Of Gad's Hill
within a walk of Rochester. | thought the
dwelling characteristic ~ the man. for il was
situated on the high road, frequented by all
sorts and conditions Of men-the tramp and
vagrant in their tatters, the well dressed man
and joyous holiday makers. emigrants travel
ling 10 the seacoast. military men changing
quarters pedestrians. equest TRANS From the
the opposite garden OF the wavside inn which
bore the traditional sign OF the "Falstaff came
the sound OF the bowling Of skittI-a with an
old fashioned ring In its meTriment. The smooth
ana the beautiful woods Of Cobhag Park in
the distance. represented to my fancy the ten
derness Of Charles Dickens's sentiment. and the
freshness and the deliCacy of his imasinatiou
Many were the summer days l passed under
the roof of that little dwelling: many the hours
| sat with GeOrgina Hogarth in the garden or
In one OF the glades OF small wood which in
the sweet season. formed a charming resting
place all hung with garlands of Byzantine with
long strings of blue convOlvulus. and the sweet
scented hOneySuCkle These were the bours
during which Boz" left to his work in
what l called his lair for few of US would
nave riSked disturbing him when he had taken
up his position for the mornings labor in the
chalet which his friend Fechter the traCedian
had brought him from Paris In the eetfing
up OF the said chalet. after the manner of a
childs architectural toy, Charles had found the
greatest amusement, for he indeed one of
those who find
"A child's keen delight i'm little things"
and the hanging of his pictures the arranging of
his furniture. the annexation of a tiny conseI.I1
tory and the construction of an underground
tunnel, which connected the area round tbe
house with a small plantation of lofty cedars
under the shade of which he erected his chalet
were all sources to him of intense interest
In the afternoon he sought relaxation ana
then the other inmates of the house came in for
their share of mis- enviable society. and the has
ket carriage was brought to the door drawn nv
the sober Newman Noggs" the harness
adorned with musical bells. which his friend
Mr. Lehman had brought him from Nor,va,c
and we would take long drives all around mis-
picturesque neighbOrhood Sometimes we Womb
alight at distant point to return home on
through green hop gardens on one side ana
golden cornfieids on the other for a distance Of
many mle;; yet we We're never Wearied I re-
member once GCorEina HOEarth and | had aC-
companied him to n spot of interest which
he had lately discovered. He walked at his usu1I
swinging rate, and we had proudly kept up with
him. Only five minutes had been allowed for
refreshment. as he CALI 1t. otherwise rest he
tween reaching the goal and arriving M homo
How pleased his fellow pedestrians were 70 ra
ceive the following tribute: We'll done-tsp
miles in two hours and a half | st in nv arm
chair and look hack hat fec
miraculous.
Charles Dickens, himself p hero was q hero
wOrshipper, and in all of my experience I nevn~
knew man so utte~lY X7nDt fire. m the slipbtaet
tinge of professional jealousy
One day went with his two daughters Mary
and Katie (Mrs. Charles Collins who with he
husband, spent most 0f the summer under the
parental roof. and their aunt meet him at the
station. Lifting up the handbag which he al
ways carried. he exclaimed: "Here girls 7 hay,
treat for yOu-Tepnvson's ma gnificent poem "
The Idvlls of the King Is il not glorious m
think that. after having written for so MANY
wears. a man should now bring forth perhaps
the nohIest of his works. What enchanting
hours of summer sunshine were IA ssed i'm read
ing for the first time those ma gical ~ ges which
since that moment have been pored over and
conned to my hearts content