The Washington herald., 1914-12-24
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When Dickens and Thackeray Were
in America.
By DIR. e. J. EDWARDS.

BY DIR. e. J. EDWARDS.
The late Parke Goodwin. in his long
career as an author, newspaper proprie-
tor. editorial writer. Iyceum lecturer and
editor Of the leading magazine of the
mid-years Of the last century, probably
gained a wider and in many cases a more
intimate acquaintance with men ano
women who won prominence both in Eng
land and the United States as writers
than any other man OF his time. did
not know Mr.. Goodwin until he had retired
to private life. l met him often when he
was enjoying a leisure which he had
Justly earned. ] used to admire his great
shock OF iron gray hair and his heavy
beard, which had a disposition to curl
He wore spectacles that contained pow
erful lenses, so that his eyes often ap-
peared very large and always unusually
brilliant. Mr.. Goodwin was fond OF chat
ting reminiscently of the distinguished
writers with whom he was associated.
although I observed that the closer his
intimacy the more guarded he was in his
reminiscent narratives about any one. 1t
was particularly noticeable when he
spoke of George William Curtis with
whom his relations for some years were
as intimate as possible, for they were
joint editors OF Putnam's Magazine. That
was III
ties of the past century. Thackeray, when
upon his second visit to New York. made
the editorial rooms Of the magazine his
lounging place, frequently making use
of the facilities OF the Office for catching
up In his correspondence
asked Mr.. Goodwin one day IL he
thought Thackeray's money gains for
his lectures or readings in the United
States were as large as those secured
by Dickens in 1s67-1S6s, at the time OF his
readings in this country.
II think II Thackeray had not cut his
course short he probably would have
gained 10000 or $50 900 more than he did
from his readings In the United States,
said Mr.. Goodwin. Nobody ever knew
what peculiar whim II was that led him
to cancel a considerable part of his pro-
posed course and all of a sudden take
steamer for hom,.
Dickens would not have done that un-
less his health had compelled him. There
was n great difference between Dickens
and Thackeray with respect to physical
condition. When they were in the United
States Thackeray seemed to be in superb
health. He was a great eater and some
what irregular in his habits, at least so
far as eating was concerned. He was dis
posed to be abstemious in the use OF
spirits Dickens, on the other hand, was
fered a great deal of pain in one foot.
which he used frequently to have band
aged. Unlike Thackeray, he was very
light eater. But by sheer force OF VIII.
stimulated, no doubt. by a knowledge
that he was making great deal OF
money. Dickens stuck to his program.
don't know for certain what his earnings
in the United States were, but have
always supposed that they were some
what in excess OF S3O,OO.
There never was the furore over
Thackeray of the kind which character
lied the reception OF Dickens in the
United States, yet he was very popular
and could always feel assured OF having
oyerfowing houses at his readings. He
told me only a few days before he went
back to England that what he had re-
ceiyed in the United States for his lee
lures, added to what he already had
saved. was sufficient to provide an in
come Of about 5000 a year. and he said
that would be enough to take care OF his
little girls.
II have always suspected that Thack-
cray one day made an estimate OF ms
earnings and of the income which the
total sum would give and, realizing thai
IL was enough to take care of his chill
dren, he suddenly got homesick and the
feeling SO oyerpowered him that he de-
termined to take the next steamer to
,Europe. Thackeray was the best COM
nanion. socially and in an intimate way
7 have ever known. There was always a
sense of slight reserve about Dickens.
6ConyriRht 1914, hY Z. J. Edwards. Al nights re
seryedJ
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell OF
'The Beginnings Of Two Great Actors