The Washington herald., 1909-11-09
ORIGIN OF THE WELLERs.

Editor of "Dickensinn" Says Sam
Was Makeup of Several Persons.
B. ". Matz, IN London Daily News
Sam Weller. like many OF the characters
IN the novels OF Charles Dickens, Is as
much a reality as any parsonage in his
tory. so that new facts. however small
concerning him are Of interest 20 the gen
eral public, and therefore worth record
ing There has been appearing IN the
press during the last day OF two a story
from a man possessing the name OF
George Weller. living in Ramsgate. IN
which he states that 1T IS quite true that
Dickens took the name OF HIS famous
character from my grandfather" This
Is contrary 10 the known and oftquoted
facts in regard TO the origin and name
Of the immortal sam. and should not be
allowed 10 go UnChallenged
Previous commentators and authorities
have recorded the fact that the name OF
Weller was suggested 70 the novelist by
that OF a servant IN the employ Of the
Dickens family when residing in Ordnance
terrace, Chatham She was, no doubt,
related 10 Thomas Weller who kept the
CRANKY Head public house. then in the
High street there This last fact prob
ably suggested further the sign OF Mrs.
Weler's hosiery at Dorking. the Marquis
OF CRANKY. The transition from Tommy
Weller 10 Tony Weller, says Robert Lang
ton IN his book, THE Childhood and
Youth Of Dickens is not very violent
one. and the origin OF this celebrated
character is obvious enough. Many a
character and scene IN Dickens early
writings We're the outcome Of the novel
lists early association with Chatham life
Of these days.
II Dickens modelled his character OF sam
upon any one II was on the imaginary
Simon Spatterdash. a character I'm the
farce entitled The Boarding House.
played for the first time at the Lyceum
Theater on August q, 1911, again In IS22,
and which was very popular from 1S3o-35
at the Surrey and other playhouses. sam
Weller was introduced into THE Pick
wick Papers" IN 1896. Simon Spatterdash
was continually uttering what have since
become known as "Wellerlsms." and q
selection OF them viii be found in a pam
phlet entitled The Origin OF Sam We'll
Ter which booklet also gives a full his
tory OF the subject. The original imper-
senator OF Simon was Samuel Vale. and
here again is another suggestion for
Sam Weller's name. Sam Vale-Sam
Naler-Sam Weller. Convert the ''V''
into Wv" and there you are. as sam
Weller himself would have put it-Sam
Weller
But there IS some confusion about the
RamsSate George Weler's story. He
says; They Chat is, Dickens and his
grandfather knew each other. and were
on friendly terms during the time Dick
ems lived at BrOadstairs. and you may re-
member that the novelist took the title
Of one OF his works. Bleak House from
a well-known residence there.
Now, Dickens first went TO Broadstairs
for summer holiday IN 1897, and there
put the finishing touches TO The Pick
wick Papers" in his lodgings in the High
street there. So. II we agree that Dickens
met the Ramsgate, Mr.. Weller on this.
his first visit 10 Broadstairs. George Wei
4 ler's statement is g little confusing. since
sam Weller had been created at least a
year previously George Weller's state
ment about BLEAK House" is also in
correct. for Dickens did not take the
name OF his book from weIl-known
/ residence there" The "well-knoWn resi-
denCe' OF that name at Broadstairs was
Fort House" IN Dickens time and was
/ then his own house. Some time after he
/ left II the new tenant renamed il BLEAK
House as a compliment TO the novelist
/ who had Just commenced his new serial
novel with that title. The Bleak House
/ Of the story. as a matter Of fact was
/ located at st. Adams, and not a line OF
/ the novel was even written at Broad
stairs