The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-10-27
DICKENS IN SPARTANBURG
Seu Of Great Author Chats With Re-
porter Asked About Southern
GirI'S Ankles.

Spartanblrg, Oct 23.-The News and
Courier representative called at tne
' home of Mrs. J. o. Erwin, on East Main
street, Sunday evening, and there In
terviewed Alfred Tennyson Dickens,
one of the three surviving children OF
Charles Dickens, the author; son OF
the man who occupies one of the most
conspicuous places in the literature OF
the nineteenth century and whose nov
els are known throughout the civilized
world
= Alfred Tennyson Dickens, who was
named for his godfather, Alfred Ten
nyson, the English poet, delivered a
lecture at Converse college auditorium
last evening on the life and works OF
his father.
Mr.. Dickens, has made his home IN
Australia since 1865. Melbourne is
his home city.
Lived in Australia.
"I moved to Australia in 1861 said
MIR. Dickens, "and at that time it was
an uncivilized country. I lived the
bush life at first, but gradually the
country has been fenced in and it has
grown from its former place to what
it is today, one of the leading coun-
y tries of the far East.
"IIhave one brother living continu-
ed the son of the novelist ''He is
Henry Fielding Dickens, N. c., lead
ing barrister of London. I don't think
you Americans call them barristers,
but that is the English term. The diff
ference between your American law
yer or attorney and the English bar
rister IS that the Englishman never
comes in personal contact with his
client, but does all of the work through
the solicitor and represents the de-
fendant or plaintiff, as the case may
he, only at the bar. A barrister is
somewhat higher than the average
lawyer or attorney.
-. my only sister IS Mrs. Carter Pen
Agini, also of London, a sister-ln-laW
of Charles Austin Collins, the artist,
who is well known in America as we'll
as abroad ,
His Godfather:
When asked about the last time he
saw his godfather, Alfred Tennyson,
Mr.. Dickens said: "It was at the Isle
of Wight and I was about IL years old.
have no very vivid recollections of
how he appeared to me at the tine'
and it was the last time that I saw
him. His son still lives at the old
Tennyson home at the Isle Of Wight.
T am sorry that I have no special I'M
pressions or "reminiscences of MI.
Tennyson."
In answers to a query: II do not
know personally, but judging from the
reports of the publishers, the sale OF
INV fathers novels in this country is
+: greater than in England or on the
continent. In regard to their popular
ity I will say that while they may be
no more popular in this country, they
are equally as popular, and I think
<Americans appreciate my fathers
books. They have surely given me
/most cordial welcome since coming to
America, two weeks ago."
, The Poem "The Children"
Mr.. Dickens was told that there was
some dispute in America over the au-
Shorship of the poem ''The Children" :"
llilliam Cullum Bryant's collection
poems contains these verses and
scrfbes the authorship to Charles
Akenson, minister. Mr.. Dickens
his interview refused to discuss the
horsnip of this poem, but stated
4 in his lecture he would recite it,
Slain it's meaning and tell something
bout its composition:
He did Lot express his views about
,ericans and American life, saying
AT he was not in a position to Judge,
as he only arrived in Boston two weeks
tAe4or e+ov vino in that lovely city