Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-29
LOVERS OF DICKENS
lWILL CELEBRATE
IN ENGLAND
Admirers Of Famous Novelist
Plan to Honor His Memory
in Many Ways; Stamps for
the Inns.

London, Jan. 29.--Two weeks from
now millions OF Dickens fovers VIII
celebrate the centenary cf tie WORLDS
greatest novelist /, Is a case 81
every man 90 his taetN ~ the natter
Of celebration. SJuc have ameady
shown the Dictaasinn spirit IN h0ii-
day philanthropy. 1thota are founding
q fund in aid ut ii-a 10 Ing grand
children who are IA renury. But enc
British admircr of BOX" Is engaged
In curious plan OF his own.
Charles Dickens, he pointed out re-
Gently, has done more for the Eng
fish innkeepcr than any other man,
and yet he could NOT recall a single
instance OF an Inn being named after
him. He was therefore providing
himself with a goodiy supply OF the
Dickens stamps which were struck
off In connection with these centen.
airy celebrations and his intention
wac 10 uffix one OF the stamps -
every inn which possesses Dickensinn
associations throughout England. SO
that each might bear the sign OF the
Dickens hcad."
The scheme strikes one az noing
more fanoiful than practical, and
most diligcnt inquiries have failed 70
elicit any tidings Of his progress. II
is q difficult matter enough even 10
compile a list OF Dickens inns from
the novclists writings, and 20 iden-
ufy and visit each one which SUR
wives az tho present time is stu
pendous task which is likely % keep
the pilgrim afoot for an indefinite
period.
The subject is fascinating one.
however. and In view OF the coming
centenary, when every nook and
Granny associated with Dickens will
doubtless be recalled by this or that
one OF his admirers, il may be useful
TO ascertain which of the most notable
inns mentioned In his novels still exist
and whore they may be- found
Though the desecrating hand OF the
vandalistic 'improver So never idle,
many old inns which have been Inn
mortalizcd by Dickens remain To- the
present day untouched and unspoied.
and their number IL probably greater
than Is commonly supposed. The
majority however, have either entire
~ disappeared. or have been altered
beyond recognition. Others have been
converted into private residences. and
one or two, such as the Golden Gross
at Charing Cross. survive only in
name. the present licensed premises
not even occupying the original site.
The old Golden Cross. which was
the chief coaching house in the West
End of London, as the Buli and Mouth
was IN the city stood further west.
on the spot where one OF Landseer's
famous lions Keeps guard at the
southeastern corner Of the Nelson coi-
umn Ia Trafalgar square. u was
from this famous old inn. 10 viii be
recollected, that TIE Pickwlcklans set
out on their historic Journey. Pick
wlck' has boon apuy described by
Charles O.. Harper MS "a very odyssey
al inns and travel no fewer than
fifty-fVe tavcrns in London and the
provinces being mentioned On as
pages So great however, have been
the changes OF the past seventy years
that only dozen now remain.
Ia London the sole Survivors are
the galleried old Georgia lnn-callcd
by Dickens the white Hart Ia the
Borough High street. where sam Wei
Ter was "boots," Osborne'a -now
STYLED the Adelphn hotel-in John
street, Adclphi. associated with the
flight Of Emily Wardle ana snod-
grass, and the George aud Vulture.
in 81 Michacls alley, Lombard street.
now better known as Thomas res-
taurant A all these establishments
niokens Was "a froVnant visitor
The Coach and Hor,cs Inn az Pc