Year: 1874

l chanced to be travelling some years
ago in a railroad carriage between Liver.
pool and London. Besides myself there
were two ladies and a gentleman occupying
the carriage. We happened to be all
strangers to each other, but | noticed at
once that 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 con-
yersation was going forward among the
three other persons IN the carriape with
reference to myselfa and my books. One Of
tho ladies was perusing the " Bleak
House." then lately published and the
clergyman had commenced a conversation
with the ladies by asking what book they
were reading. 90 being told the authors
name, and the title Of the book, he expressed
himself greatly grieyed that any lady in
England should be willing to take up tho
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 a
certain degree of pleasure. They were ey.
identity much shocked at what the man
said Of tho immoral tendency Of these
books, which they seem never before to
have suspected; but when he attacked the
authors private character, aud told mon
strous stories Of his immoralities in every
direction, the volume was shut up and con.
signed to the dark pockets Of travelling
bag. listened in wonder aud astonish-
ment, behind my newspaper, to stories Of
myself, which, If they bad been true would
have consigned any man to prison for life
After my fictitious biographer had occu-
pied himself for nearly an hour with the ell
oquent recital of my delinquences aud
crimes, very quietly joined in the conyer.
sation Of course | began by modestly
doubling some statements which had Just
heard touching the author Of Bleak House,
and other unimportant works Of a similar
character. The man stared at me, and ev-
identity considered my appearance on the
conversational stage an intrusion and an
impertinence.


"' You seem to speak | said, from
personal knowledge Of Mr.. Dickens. Are
you acquainted with him p


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


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 refu-
tation OF the clergyman's charges. | was
taking up his vile stories one by one, and
stamping them as false in every particular,
when the man grew furious and asked me
if knew Dickens personally.


81 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


"Thc man became liyid with rage and
asked for my card.


"You shall have it, said, coolly, and
taking out one, | presented tito him, with
out bowing.


1--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 utter
words. lie seemed like wilted vegetable,
and as if his legs belonged to somebody
else. The ladies became aware of the sit
uation at once, and bidding them good
day | stepped smilingy out of the car
riage. Before 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
caution; Before you make charges against
the character of any man again, about
whom you know nothing, aud of whose
works you are 80 utterly ignorant, study to
be seeker after truth, and avoid lying a,
you would eternal perdition.'