Year: 1861

Bf CHARLES DICKENS.


~ said would tell my story. Well, to
begin, i was born in this town of Burnton
something less than sixty years ago, My
father was small tradesman, and sent me to
the best school he could afford till was a
little over thirteen. used to reciie on the
public days in the school, and repeat Latin
and Greek orations, of which the meaning
was not little obscure even 70 me; what it
must have been TO my hearers don't know.
My father, took me away from school to the
shop. He was tailor. 1t worried me to
death to sit hour after hour, stitch, stitch,
stitch and used to begule the time by
reciting and reading to the few men my
father employed, and they did my share of
the work in return for the amusement / af-
forded them.


'At the age Of fifteen ! took part in some
private lheatricals in the town, and found
the hustle Of preparation much more pleas
ant than the dull shop.work. They went
off well, and when next the players came TO
the town l went to the manager and ask
ed him 10 take me. He laughed, for was
fit for nothing. OF course was too big for
page, and too little for man. at arms; too
young for first, second, or even third lower.
and too old for any accidental boy parts. /
was disappointed, but soon had to leave
the then detesied shop. My father was of
rather a serious turn. He heard of my 60
ing TO the manager, and locked me up, then
about sixteen, and fed me on bread and
water. This was rather too bad, SO / took
French leave, and when the bread and
water came one morning, there was no one
to eat it. j was pleased TO find myself with
a pair of socks and clean shirt wrapped up
in handkerchief, about 'to face the world,
and try to wiring the hard held bonors from
stern fortunes hand Still, was young
then. need scarcely tell you that sitting
here often regretted that fine May morD-
| ing's work that took me from home.


81 went to one town after another, and
at each sought out the manager of the
theatre, and tried hard 10 get in as anything
1t was no use; my voice was not yet set OF
certain. why, young SIR said one TO me
you are as slim as a girl, and if you were
to make love in the tone you've been talk.
ing to me, the people would insist that bad
made girl play the lovers part. I'd take
you, but yoa are no use to me at all; two
years hence you may come again, and may
talk to you


Il felt it was true, but still wanted to bt
in theatre, SO / entered a travelling cicu,
company as holder and ring raker. KEEP
at it for eighteen months, and the manage


joined another in the regular acting line
Now was my chance. They wanted |
lover, and wanted him to ride; their frs
lover could no more sit on horse than {
sack could the first lady saw him once, ant
said she should die with laughing if he cam


on, so / offered. ! did well, and thought


was on the road TO fortune l felt that KEN
BILE and the rest OF the great actors were on


ly the same men as ! was, with bette


chances. That is more than forty year
ago, though. Tam wiser now.


~After this success / became first gentle
man in that company, and remained SO 70


some years. The manager took the leadin
. parts, so i had no chance. had change
my name, first, as Gowling did not loo
well on the bill, and, next, because did nc
not want to hurt my poor old fathers feel
! ings more than could help-I took th
! name of Alphonsus Montague. 1t locke
well on the bills, used to think at on
! time. Somebody, i forget who, say
E What's in a nameT ! know there is
= good deal in name when it's on the play
, bills and the public being judge, Alphonsu
Montague was better than James Gowlin


for it drew better houses.


1 "In the company there was young gil


who took second lady. don't say fell


love with her; don't think men of ou
t class do fall in love. The constant exerci
J; ing of the initiative powers in delineaiin
J, the passion, weakens, ] think the power I
% feeling it as other men feelit j liked her
v she was good, industrious. rising in the pr
$ fession and married her. There never vi


a better woman lived, and she had her II


ward. don't suppose that there ever was


woman more respected in any company.


never had even row about her but ono