The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04

in Ji.Iens AZ dinner Mr. ChIlds ate
shudder with horror every time his
" "Iv GLASS was filled. rcrsisting that
Dickens asked him to play game
or billiards. Mr.. Childs did not play
,!r.iiin and Dickens proposed "a
SiaNd International pool tournament
MS son. Charles, representing England.
Win much decentralization of tho
s suasiaS' AN ana ; SO on-and much per
pack me as the American champion
Tor mali a crown Coo ccnts). and was
appointed umpire as soon as he de-
cared that he knew nothing about
me game Dickens was marker and
shouted after every break Two FOR
me american cag!ei Flukc." Three
Tor the British lion! IIooray.'
By good work. the American eagle
E EHn. INC clock struck 10, and Mr..
Chiida said that he always went to
peg nt 10 o'clock. SO Dickens. with
ing the deepest sorrow and despair
handed him the two half-crowns. IT
was was all Ike scene from 'Pickwick."
Shilds, we continued the similarity nv
holding hands ana dancing around the
Childs renppeared with his bedroom
candle and the two hnlf-crowns. In
disniilcd. he said that never before
had he been guilty of gambling; that,
when he attempted TO say his prayers
mind and 4ntcrfcrcd with his dcvor
| tons he must ask Mr.. Dickens to
take back the money.
DICKENS regarded Mr.. Childs very
sensitive conscience? Then he cx-
! planned at great length that the Gus
toms OF England did not permit him
that he would consent to wager double
or quits until the British lion had won
Mr. Childs agreed TO this, under pro-
test and Dickens gave us an audacious
wink, which meant, Put shIllings on
his conscicncc!"
Young Charles tried his best TO lose
the game: but the balls sympathizcd
with Mr.. Childs, and the British lion
was victorious. When Mr.. Childs, re-
iieVed OF his gambling gains, had re-
tired smilnEly, Dickens asked. "Is it
possible? Have | been dreaming? And
yet he is a great man! He has done
wonderful things,"
None of the portraits published re-
semDicd Dickens at the prime OF life
and the height of his fame. lie looked
like retired sea captain. and had an
"Hcave ahead. my heartics!" This sug-
gestiSSn vas heightened By his ruddy,
weat hcr-beaten face, his grizzlcd,
Keen. calm. serious eyes that seemed
TO reflect the wonders Of the deep. lie
looked so like him that 1 had often
thought they were twins-the same
sailor-likc face and manner, the same
talent as an amateur actor, but with
no literary. ability. II was curious
TO study tho two brothers. exactly
alike. but ono lacking the inspiration
of genius, as II Nature had created
duplicates and then decided to cndow
Charles, instead OF Frederick
The world knows Dickens as n
writer, but as an oral story-tcller he
was even more marvellous He told
stories almost as constantly as Lincoln
or schehcrezadc, but they had a mys-
terious popularity. Remember them
repeat them word for woodland they
had lost their magic For example.
when we were a small family party at
Gad's Hill. we would coax Dickens to
the Red Shawl" lie had dreamed OF
| u woman who wore n red shawl, and
al night. going home after his lecture
he had met tho identical woman. wear
ing the same red shawl as in his
dream. There was nothing very re-
Dickens told IL. tho story interested,
amused and thrilled us. though We had
heard IL over and over again.
He talked with such quaint prs
cision.. such an undcrtonc of fun, wit
and satire, that Il seemed MS IL he
might have saved himself many weary
hours by debating his novels to II
stcnugrapher.
Across the road. but within tr
manor of Gads Hill and under the
jurisdiction of Dickens as landlord and
as Justice of the peace. was n country
tavern. originally called The Jolly
Plow Roy" but rechristened "Sir John
disturbance in the tavern. and we
went over in a body. Dickens leading.
to Investigate. 1t. Among party of
rough fellows was man with blood