Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-02-07

lope- and paid for them most liber-
all.
Tho Dickens manuscripts wefe writ
ten in blue ink, and this became fad
of that used to be called 1.-The Dick
ems school of writer's" Though he
never mentioned his immortal charac-
tiers, and turned the conversation i'm
mediately if Pecksniff, or Sam Wheel
le- or Mr.. Dombey happened to be
quoted, ventured to ask him is he
enjoyed creations as much as his
readers did. certainly" ne said
l always have the first laugh and
the first cry!"
Having thus preached a forbidden
subject Dickens was induced to show
me the original manuscripts Of some
of his novels and to explain his
method of composition. There were
no interlineations, afterthougats,
changes of expression, as in Balzac's
manuscripts. II 4 word or phrase
we're altered the change was made
after, not above, the first text, nor
on the margin. He said that, when
he had selected and named hero, he
would jot down memoranda about
aim-"Shall he be- rich" "The prop,
erty in chancery?"% IAN old aunt or
uncle?" In this, as in everything else.
he was very methodical. But his
works show no traces of these aids
to imagination.
Gad's Hill was only an appanage of
the large, adjoining estate of the Earl
of Darnley, but 1t carried with it the
title of Lord Of the Manor, of which
Dickens was secretly proud, and the
Office of justice of the peace. But he
refused repeated invitations to sub
merge himself, like Disraeli, in the
peerage. the title of which he was
most proud was "Chief," as abbrevia-
ton Of "Editor.in.C Chief" and he was
thus addressed by all his intimates.
He would not talk of his own crea-
tons, but he, Frequently referred to
those of other authors. On a visit to
Darnley Hall we noticed among the
family portraits, dating from the Cru
saders, that of a golden+haired boy,
dressed in black velvet, and 10! per.
feet duplicate of that boy, the likeness
reproduced after generations, walked
into the picture gallery to welcome us.
what a story that would make for
Charles Reade!' exclaimed Dickens
enthusiastically; II shall tell him
about it,
The housekeeping at Gad's Hill was
managed SO perfectly that, except at
dinner, / never saw servant there.
Miss Hogarth. as methodical as Dick
ems himself, seemed to do everything.
In London, one morning, l received
the following note:
Shipmate. ahoy! How am I to en-
terrain an American who neither eats.
drinks, smokes, chews nor swears?
Please to man the lifeboat and come
at once. CD.
Arriving at Gad's Hill, I found Mr.,
George Washington Childs Of Philadel'
phia, beaming with contentment and
requiring no other amusement than
the pleasure Of being with Dickens.
At dinner Mr.. Childs ate little and
drank nothing but water. and Dickens
slyly pretended to shudder with hor-
ror every time bis own glass was
filled. Persisting that Mr.. Childs
rust be amused, Mr.. Dickens asked
him to play a game of billiards. Mr..
Clilds did not play billiards. and
Dickens proposed "a grand interna-
tional pool tournament" his son
Charles Representing England. With
much argument-"Custom Of the coun-
try and so or-and much pei suasion.
Mr.. Childs was induced to back me
as the American champion for half
pointed umpire as soon as he declared
that he knew nothing about the game.
Dickens was marker, and shouted
after every break. 1.-TWO for the Amer.
lean eagle! Fluke!" Three for the
British lion! Hooray!"
BY good work the American eagle
won. The clock struck ten, and Mr..
Childs said that he always went to-
bed at 10 O'clock So Dickens. WITH
4 low bow and a countenance express
ing the deepest sorrow and despair,
handed him the two half crowns. It
was all like scene from "Pickwick,"
md, as the door closed upon Mr..
Childs, we continued the similarity by
holding hands and dancing around the
able.
Presently the door opened and Mr.
Childs reappeared with his bedroom
candle and the two half crowns. In a
speech that was so sincere as to be !
liglified, he said that never before |
lad he been guilty of gambling; that,
When he attempted to say his pray |!
RS, the two half crowns weighed upon |
lis mind and interfered with his de-
;otions; he must ask Mr.. Dickens to /
axe back the money.
Dickens regarded Mr.. Childs very
ravely. Was this Joke or a too
ensitive conscience? Then he ex-
lafned at great length that the GUS
oms of Engzand did not permit him
o take back the half crowns, but that
e would consent to wager double or
uits until the British lion had. won.