Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-27
THE COUNTRY HOME
WHEN CHARLES DICKENS VISITED THE
UNITED STATES
BY MRS. W n, FELTON

UNIFIED SIAIES
T~HE fame of Dickens was fully estab-
lished in England also in America,
when he, with his wife, sailed away
from En- gland in a steam packet bound for
Halifax and Boston and carrying her males
tvs mails. He gives a humorous descrip-
ton Of the difference between the pictures of
the steam packet in the agents counting
house in London and the real appearance of
the vessel when they went on board The
journey began early in January, 1912, more
than eighty-tWo years ago. The weather
was as usual very cold. There was a stove
in the ships saloon, where the ladies could
warm their feet and otherwise they must
depend on heavy top coats, shaws, blankets,
etc, etc. The passengers were obliged to
go to bed and try to get sufficiently warm
for sleep.
The sea became so rough that they couldn
not sleep, for he said the ship cracked like
wicker-work, and was on the verge of turn
ing over most fthe time on this uncomfort
able voyage. The January weather added
on a regular gale. On the fifteenth night
the steam packet found its way through ice
and snow into the Halifax harbor
Next day the sun came out, and they went
down the inside harbor in great style, with
flags, and music, and cheers.
When the "Brittana" was telegraphed
at Boston the steam packet had been on
the Atlantic eighteen days from Liverpool,
and all the time had bad weather.
That was eighty-two years ago. The great
novelist was delighted with Boston, and Bos-
ton enthused over Dickens. The anti-slav
cry factions were glad to know that Dickens
was aboltionist-and he was from stem
to stern. The south got it's back up on the
saem issue. The southern press hacked
the novelist wit ha relish. He cut short his
GouthC1E tour ard defended himself in the
preface to his american Notes" lie went
everywhere in Boston to see things.
His visits to the blind schools fill several
pages. Laura Bridgeman was an interesting
type, born in New Hampshire in 1929 She
was deaf mute and until Helen Keller
came along she was always remarkable eX-
hibit She could not a ray of light and
her sole communion with others was through
the sense of touch, which was also the medi-
UNI in Helen Keller's case (Par parenthesis.)
| saw a good deal of Helen Keller at the
Chicago exposition and her companion, Miss
Sullivan, came with the girl before the board
of lady managers, where Helen Keller talked
to Miss Sullivan by placing her fingers on
her teachers Throat.
Charles Dickens elaborated the case of
Laura Bridgeman and appauded the efforts
of her teachers. He had much to say of the
first American railroads-few in number and
scant in accommodations.
ct was in the year 1912 when the West
ern and Atlantic railroad was able to carry
It's first passengers from Marthasyille to
Maretta.)
Dickens describes the wonderful cotton
factories in and around Boston. To this day
Boston and its neighboring villages are re-
markable for their textile plants. He en-
joyed Harvard and Yale and eulogized New
England to the limit.
But he was glad to get to New York
also. There he made many acquaintance,
saw all the sights and had much to write
about. His trip to Philadelphia, then to
Washington, was full of interest. His story
must be read at leisure to get it's full import.
1t is veritable history. He went by steam
boat from the Quaker City to Baltimore.
In those days tobacco chewing kept pace
with bear and liquorldrinking. He eschewed
the first and drank much, at his convenience,
as he tells the story. He dined in Baltimore
and it p. N. before he reached, by
rail, the capital city of the nation. He Wis
tied both houses of congress every day. HI
vsietd the White House, crowded to surfeit.
He intended to visit Charleston, but decid-
ed a western trip. He went from Pitts
burg to Cincinnati, then to Louisville and to
st. Louis, later to Canada. His return to the
United States was shortened by a decision to
prepare for his return voyage. He took the
ocean vessel June 7, 1912, having spent
more than four months in America fine
en- joyable trip
His denunciation of African slavery made
him unpopular in the south, but it Is well
to read what he said eighty-two years ago,
and how he said it.