The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-08-01
THE INNS OF DICKENS.

THE INNS OF DlChENS.
By Mary B. Anderson, sos w. Ma
pie Ave, Independence, Mo.
Like the good old-fashioned folks,
Charles Dickens took his pen in
hand with the result that whatever
he touched Immediately became i'm
mortal. He drew child life and we
have Little Nell and Paul Dombey.
who wondered with a palpitating
heart, what that "old fashion" could
be which was so visibly expressed in
him. Sairey Camps patterns will
forever go clicking over London
streets-not an exemplary nurse but
an immortal one. He took upon HIM
self the role of reformer and we have
Suueers, the embodiment of ignorant
and brutal school-masters; the tea
drinking Shepherd, the personifica-
ton of idle, useless clergy; the Court
of Chancery, with it's long, heart
breaking methods. Even the weather
in the novels of this master magician
is made to serve his purpose. Who
has not felt the potent spell Of his
numerous storytelling, tavern in
mates, gathered round the glowing
logs. listening with bated breath to
some ghostly legend, their mulled
wine, half-and-half and tankards of
ale close at hand, and in sharp con-
trast to the warmth, and light and
life within, the winter rain beating
,4ri1 do hn o.
swirled sharply against the windows.
No less famous are the inns Of Dick
ems.
"In the Borough there still stand
some half-dozen old inns, which have
preserved their extraordinary fea-
lures nchanged-great, rambling,
queer old places they are, with gal
leries and passages and staircases
wide enough and antiquated enough
to furnish material for a hundred
stories. 1t was in the yard Of one of
these inns-of no less celebrated a
one than the White Hart-that a
man was employed in brushing the
dirt off a pair of boots-and presto
we are introduced to the immortal
Sam Weller. Here it was that the
monosyllabic Jingle brought the ell
derby spinster Miss Rachel Wardle;
here he was bought off by her
brother and Mr.. Pickwick and here he
deserted her, remarking, as he threw
the license at Mr.. Pickwick's feet,
that if the name was changed it
would do for Tuppy."
Even in the midst of his sorrow,
the members of the Pickwith Club
found the sentimental Tupman seat
ed at the table in the Leathern Bot
tie, surrounded by good things to
eat. Dickens preached the gospel of
good cheer. A we'll filed table, sur
rounded by loving hearts, filled with
good will towards all, was what he
loved to see; the God bless us every
onei" of Tiny Tim was but the echo
of the novelist's own heart. # he
had never woven this feasting and
good cheer into his books, we would
have lost some delightful characters.
In the "Old Curiosity Shop" we
have the Jolly Sandboys, where a
company of mountebanks gather on a
cold rainy evening. Everybody will
remember Jerry's delightful perform
ing dogs. 1t was here that Little
Nell and her Grandfather fell in
with the Punch and Judy show which
took them on their way little far
Their, just as the man had given her
a lift in his cart over the rough
road, and the poor, charcoal burner
allowed them nights lodging by his
fire. 1t was during the progress Of
the amusing breach of promise suit
"Bardwell against Pickwick," that
Mr.. Pickwith and Sam abode Sin very
good, old-fashioned and comfortable
quarters, to wit, the George and Vul-
ture Tavern Hotel, George Yard,
Lombard Street" Closely associated
with memories of Lizzie Hexam, her
father and brother, Rogue Rider
hood and Bradley Headstone in "Our
Mutual Friend" is The Six Jolly Eel
lowship Porters' on the Thames.
Miss Abby Peterson, the proprietor,
reigned supreme. It is described as
a tavern of dropsical appearance.
There was hardly straight floor or
straight line in it; but it clearly
would outlast many sprucer public
house. Externally, it was narrow,
lop-sided, wooden tumble Of corpu-
lent windows, heaped one upon an
other as you might heap SO many
topping oranges, with crazy
wooden veranda impending over the