The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-07
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
IA. 7. S. in the london Main

CA. T. s. in the London Mail)
The other day American lady friend told me that she
had been round with small party looking at some of the
sights of London,
Among other places they had visited was the "old Curl
osity Shop in the little leading from Clare market
into Lincolns Inn fields, its southwestern corner The
party cceroned by English lady repued to know her
London well and be especially learned in Dickens topog
aphy she told them that this the veritable orig
inal" of the masters masterpiece.
Afterward happened to be wandering along this very
when, coming the little shop which has such
enviable noorey standing in front Of another
group of transatlantic cousins who drinking in the
CUP of one of these guides
1t surely time transatlantic and other cousins
their guard against such blind guides There is not
the slightest ground for saying supposng that the shop in
question the original of Dickens Curiosity Shop can
that with the emphasis because in early days
acquainted with the who painted up the legend
the front OF the house and he assured that the whole
thing his invention and that the put up
because he thought it would attract custom
The place then old book shop and the name of
the who kept it, if my memory right, which
think it does Palmer. He stout we'll favored,
chay fellow, who kept penny aud twopenny box
side his door to nveigle passersby II thus that
drawn into his den and when in got into conversation with
him.
had been fascinated by the "Old Curiosity Shop" in
scrpton and asked with probably smack Of the
try pumpkin II 1t really etc. etc. have always held
the in high for that he respected my innocence
No" he said, with smile, and then make the
declaration as above u like Dickens, he proceeded say
and day, when reading about little Nell thought
would put up the name Of the book my shop, and
That is the whole story
But there used to be far awayo-wit in Fecr lane
"a Little shop which had some professions being the
original old Curiosity Shop
it little way up from Fleet street on the right hand
side but II must he fifteen if twenty years since it was
cleared away This was yeritabe old curiosity shop al
though one OF peculiar kind 1t kept when knew it
by Mrs Haynes. She the widow OF printer who as
understood had formerly carried business in the upper
part OF the house That course was in the DAVIS of hand
and the old tradition and the business must have
oecn an exceedingly onehorse affair With was combined
circulating libraryonc OF the od-tashioued greasy and
he'd fhTpC- 1NIF, t,r;att
mares and microbes in equal measure aud potency
The library was still in existence when knew the sbon
and its dapidated volumes circulated occasionally as of old
small shop keepers OF the ueighborhood The income from
was precarou and probably more certain was the
revenue derived from the old books and brabac dspaved
for sale in the window ~
The books consisted for the most part of original edition,
of Dickens generally in paper backs 1t was one Of these
that hrst led me into the shop But was alas bevond INV
reach and to my face had to fal back on an oiI
broadsheet at modest price VAN
treasure IN its way it the more treasured nv me
because II Gd to conversation with Mrs Haynes who told
me mat N his early repororia days Dickens used to be
customer rarely failing to call once twice week
o DOORS 10 read lie was, she said great novel reader
Is one can weIi imaginel that he would read almost anv
ming ne came across in that line but that he loved best Of
all something OF the hlood-curdlng variety
here is | believe, doubt whatever about N. fo+ &c
mares Dickens having been book borrower at this brar
Ms haynes was quiet respectable little body whom every
poey VINO Knew her respected. The late George A,,o,t
oala was friend OF hers, and when once told him sb
her Dickens gossip he said you may take pre m
MRS, haynes says as gospel TRUTH ~
need not repeat that gossip here although !, y, 49,
eeeansy interesting much OF it relating to visits Maid 20 ~
op oy DiGkens and companion OF his with whom, he NJ
e neu heated discussions literary and fcora s,b
leets-ny object being show that DicLens SUD
donoedy known the shop in Fettcr lane there iaB I'M
one ground Tor supposins it to have been the or;i1 &c
II was not like the fairy place in which Nell and b ~ was
arner ved and sorrowed That creation Of ,b @
60 o" oIa,h, Just as the old man and the little Girl u
1u' me germ having obtained rootaee in his bri 10 MN
single nbt sap and snniike warmth that would as in
'''se "sN' make grow like Jonahs gourd 30 !" "