Year: 1874




ago. he said, ''in railroad carriage be-
tween Liverpool and London Besides
myself there were two ladies and a gentle
men occupying the carriage. We hap
pened to be all strangers to each other,
but noticed at once that a clergyman
was of the party. | was occupied with
ponderous article in the Times, when the
sound of my own name drew my attention
to the fact that conversation was going
forward among the three other persons in
the carriage with reference to myself and
my books. One of the ladies was perus-
ing Bleak House." then lately published,
and the clergyman had commenced con-
versation with the ladies by asking what
book they were reading On being told
the authors name and the title of the book,
he expressed himself greatly grieved that
any lady in England should be willing to
take up the writings of so vile a character
as Charles Dickens Both the ladies
showed great surprise at the low estimate
the clergyman put upon an author whom
they had been accustomed to read to say
the least, with certain degree of pleasure
They were evidently much shocked at
what the man said of the immoral tenden-
cy of these books, which they seem never
before to have suspected but when he at
tackled the authors private character and
told monstrous stories of his immoralites
in every direction, the volume was shut
up and consigned to ike dark pockets of
traveling-bag. listened in wonder and
astonishment, behind my newspaper, to
stories of myself, which, if they had been
true, would have consigned any man to
prison fer life. After my fictitious biog-
rapher had occupied himself for nearly an
hour with the eloquent recital of my de-
linquencies and crimes, quietly joined
in the conversation. OF course, |
began by modestly doubling some state
ments which had just heard touching the
author of Bleak House, and other unim-
portant works of a similar character. The
man stared at me, and evidently consid-
cred my appearance on the conversational
stage an intrusion and an impertinence.


80 You seem to speak | said, from
personal knowledge of Mr. Dickens. Are
you acquainted with him?'


He rather evaded the question, but,
following him up closely, | compelled him
to say that he had been talking, not from
his own knowledge Of the author ia ques-
ton, but he said he knew for certainty
that every statement he had made was
true one. then became more earnest in
my inquiries for proofs, which he arrogant
ly declined giving


1.-The ladies sat by in silence, listening
intently to what was going forward. An
author they had been accustomed to read
for amusement had been traduced for the
first time in their hearing, and they were
waiting to learn what | had to say in re-
futation of the clergyman's charges.
was taking up his vile stories one by one,
and stamping them as false in every par
ticular, when the man grew furious and
asked me if | knew Dickens personally


Il replied, perfectly we'll; no man
knows him better than | do, and all your
stories about him, from beginning to end,
to these ladies, are unmitigated lies


The man became livid with rage, and
asked for my card,


80 You shall have it, said coolly,
and taking out one, presented it to him
without bowling.


% We were just then nearing the station
in London, so that | was spared longer
interview with my truthful companion !;
but if were to live hundred years,
should not forget the abject condition into
which the narrator of my crimes was in
stantly plunged His face turned white as
his cravat, and his lips refused to utterwords
He seemed like wilted vegetable, and as
if his legs baloged to somebody else. The
ladies became aware of the situation at
once, and bidding them good day.
stepped smilingly out of the carriage Be-
fore could get away from the station the
man had mustered up strength sufficient
to follow me. and his apologies were so
nauseous and craven, that | pitied him
from my soul l left him with this eau
ton: Before you make charges against
the character of any man again, about
whom you know nothing, and of whose
works you are so utterly ignorant, study
to be seeker after Truth, and avoid Ly.
,nr