The Washington herald., 1909-11-09
ORIGIN OF THE WELLERS.
Editor of "Dickensinn" Says Sam
Was Makeup of Several Persons.

Editor of "Dickensinn" Says Sam
Was Makeup of Several Persons.
B. W. Nlatz in London Daily News.
Sam Weller, Ike 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 TO the gen
eral public, and therefore worth record
ing. There has been appearing IN the
press during the last day or two 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 20 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 to 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 20 Thomas Weller, who kept the
/
High street there This last fact prob
ably suggested further the sign OF Mrs
Weller's hosiery at Dorkiny. the Marquis
Of CRANKY The transition from Tommy
Weller 20 Tony Weller. says Robert Lang
ton IN his book. The Childhood and
Youth Of Dickens is not a very violent
one. and the origin OF this celebrated
character is obvious enough Many a
character and scene IN Dickens early
writings were the outcome OF the novel
/ lists early association with Chatham life
/ Of these days
/ II Dickens modelled his character OF sam
upon any one IL was on the imaginary
Simon Spatterdash, a character IN the
/ farce entitled The Boarding House. "
/ played for the first time at the Lyceum
/ Theater on August q. 1911. again in lS23
and which was very popular from lS3o-36
! at the Surrey and other playhOuses- sam
/ Weller was introduced into The Pick
/ wick Papers" IN 1886. Simon Spatterdash
was continually uttering what have since
/ become known as "Weuerisms" and a
/ 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
l tory Of the subject The original imper-
! senator OF Simon was Samuel Vale. and
! here again is another suggestion for
/ Sam Weners name. Sam Vale-Sam
/ Naler-Sam Weller. Convert the 'V''
/ into a 'W" and there you are. as Sam
! Weller himself would have put it-Sam
/ Weller.
But there Is some confusion about the
/ Ramsgate George Weller'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
1 a well-knOwn residence there"
Now, Dickens first went TO Broadstalrs
for a summer holiday IN 1897, and there
put the finishing touches 10 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 20 Broadstairs. George Wei
ler's statement is a little confusing. since
Sam Weller had been created at least 6
year previously. George Weiler's state.
ment about BLEAK House" is also in.
| correct, for Dickens did not take the
name OF his book from "a well-knowr
residence there" The "well-kuown resi-
dence' Of that name at Broadstalrs was
/ Fort House" in Dickens time. and wa,
then his own house. Some time after n,
left Il the new tenant renamed it ..Bleal
House as a compliment TO the novels
who had just commenced his new seria
novel with that title. The Bleak Hous,
Of the story. as a matter Of fact, wa!
located at st. Adams, and not a line o.
the novel was even written at Broad
/ stairs