The Monticellonian., 1919-01-24

IUrIaDIe fO1lSlue GuHtulIS IlllI between Dover and London, with no claim to fame other than that of being a favored resort of the military from the adjacent town of Chatham. It is true that Queen yietoria-then but a princess-was compelled. because of q mishap to the bridge across the Medway and the stormy weather, 10 stay in the inn with her mother. the duchess of Kent. for one night only. They were on their way to London from Dover. The event happened on the 29th of November, 1886, and eaus- ed flutter of excitement in the city and inspired the proprietor to add the words Royal Victoria to the inns name, and to justify the adornment of the front of the building with the royal coat of arms. writes E. W. Matz in the Christian Science Monitor.
 But 1t remained for the Pickwiek- ians to draw the inn out from the ruck of the commonplace and 10 spread it's fame so all corners of the globe; and the fact that it once had royal patronage is nothing in compari- son to the other fact that it was the headquarters of the PickWickians on Il certain memorable occasion. That is the attraction of it; that is the i'm mutable thing that makes its name T household word wherever the English language is spoken Indeed, that was the one notable event in it's history which filled the proprietor with pride. and i'll his wisdom, in order to lure wis itors into its comfortable interior. he could find no more magnetic announce ment for the signboard on each side of the entrance. than the plain unvar- niShed statement: Good House, Nice Beds. Vide Pickwick."
 Was Familiar to Dickens.
 It may have boasted history before then; it is difficult to say. It existed i'll 1927 when Dickens housed the famous four within its hospitable walls; and he doubtless knew it long before then when. as a lad, he lived in Chatham; anyway it was always a fayorite of his, and furnishes the scene of many incidents in his books, ill addition to the part it plays in the early portion of the "PickWiek Pa pers; it no doubt is the original of the Winglebury Arms in The Great Winglebury DHel' in Sketches by Boz and is certainly the Blue Boar of "Great EXpeetations.' He ire quented it himself and the room he occupied on these occasions Is known as the Dickens room and is furnished with pieces eff furniture from his resi- dence at Gad's Hill. We know. too. that he conducted his friends over if on these occasions when he made nil. grimages with them around the neigh borhood.
 The house has been slightly altered since those days, but it practically re- mains the same as when Dickens de posted the Pickwickians in it's court. yard that red-letter day in 1927. lis outside is dull and somber looking. but its interior comfort and spaeiousness soon dispel any misgivings which it's exterior might have created
 The entrance hall is as spacious os it was when Dickens described it. in The Great WingIebury Duel" as or namented With evergreen plants ter minating in perspective view of the bar, and glass case, in which were displayed choice variety of delica- cies ready for dressing. to catch the eye of a newcomer the moment he enters, and excite his appetite to the highest possible pitch. Opposite