The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-02-07


States and England. Stephen Fiske,
writer. editor and dramatic critic,
is the sole survivor of the Dickens
coterie and his personal reminis
eences of Dickens constitute the
main portion of this article.
Dickens was very happy at Gad's
Hill. When boy. tramping with
his father from London to Rochester
he had stopped before the pretty
house and exclaimed, "Therc | shall
| live when I get to be mani" The
fulfillment of this prophecy seemed
to Dickens like the happy ending to
one of his own fairy tales. Besides,
the place was holy ground to him,
| for It had been trodden by the feet a
Shakespeare and was resort OF
Falstaff, Poins, Peto, Pistol and
| Bardolph In the hail q painted
| panel read, This is Gadshill, Of
| which Sir John Falstaff said -,
and the quotation from Henry tho
Fourth" follows.
| There was only one other resi-
dence in all England that Dit kcns
preferred to Gad's Hill His favor
tie walk was to Rochester. and hr
would stand for hours viewing the
ruined castle; rebuilding and repair
ing 1t; repeoopling 1t with the kings
and queens, lords and ladies who
had lived within its massive walls
One day he said:
IF could only have this old cas-
tie to live In would refit part of j
at my own expense and keep 1t open
to the public on certain days o.
hours 1t would not cost 50 much
have made the calculations. But
this Is one OF my dreams that viii
never come truei"
While, Dickens was leeturing ir
| America 4 ohtained} an interview
| with another great hoyhlist, Dis
lraeIi, then Premier of Great Britain
and told him this story He replied
promptly and emphatically, There
Is nothin In the kingdom that Mr.
Dickens cannot have If he wants it
Tell him to forward formal re
| quest to be appointed custodian O
Rochester Castle, and he shall re
ceive his commission from Her Ora
ciops Majesty, who VIII be as pleased
as am to accede to his wishes
Thus, within a year, the dream q
Rochester Castle would have beef
realized had not Dickens died un
timely.
Gad's Hill Is small, stone par
soriage, sweet with flowers. To tn
lleft Of the central halI-whith wa
hung with scenes painted by STAINS
field for amateur performances
were the reception ard dIninl
irooms On the right were the Ii
brary and billiard room. On sid
door was the notice, This leads t
the kitchen; please keep closed"
tPlacards, labels and signs wer
petuliarities Of the hougel In I'll
sleeping rooms were benches let
tered In black s'For trnbik," 70
portmauteau." Dickens laughed q
Ihe explained Yes; everything tha
can be labeled is labeled. used I
be the most careless Of men and ha
to cure myself as my work increased
Now | am martinez Breakfas
at 8 sharp; dinner at 7 sharp, Other
; Ewise this H Liberty Hall" M.
+ THE room best known u TIE put
e lie IL the library, because ofgthe pfc
k Itnre BY Luke Fields, called kTh
d Vacant Chair Which has brough
n tears to many. eyes. But, SO far q
Il Dickens ii concerned, the cirair ha
= always been vacant. It was for tn
: accommodation of guests. He neve
& used 1t, except to write the mos
9 casual notes. Flow could n writ
Y works In a library" he exclaimed,
d with all those volumes staring at m
: and muttering, What! Andther?'
Ell The books on the lower shelf q
81 the library were dummies, with Il
! ties selected by Such limorists q
i Albert Smith, Mark Lemon, Edmun
G Yates and Andrew Halliday Live
Iof the Poets was 90 ttid that Their
Twas scarcely room for the title o
the back. Five Minutes In Indis
III by an Engighntan, was liz Ave port
/, ly volumes. Eggs and Bacon" car
e catured Coke on Littieton. Dich
= ems recalled the authors Of all tn
: dummies and would roll or tie Sffoo
! with glee as he told about them.
III ffis important writing was don
q In a large bedroom upstairs or In
Z chalet on the opposite side 81 tn
I, iroad. connected With Cabs Hill b
\ Ia tuhhcl cit through THO calk sol
an that niatcuc might paas tn An