A Week's Tramp in Dickens-Land Part 15

Scene I.--The awful end of the Profligate Sailor.

Scene II.--On the way to foreign parts.

Scene III.--Miss Belinda Jane and the faithful policeman (Division Q).

=Charade 2!!=

Scene I.--Archery at Castle Doodle.

Scene II.--Fra Diavolo a Dread Reality.

Scene III.--The Choice of a too Lowly Youth.

=Charade 3!!!=

Scene I.--The Pathetic History of the Poor Little Sweep.

Scene II.--Mussulman Barbarity to Christians.

Scene III.--Merry England.

_Gad's Hill Gazette_ Printing Office.

The various parts were taken by d.i.c.kens and his family, and the entire word of the last Charade is supposed to be "May Day."

In connection with charades, Mr. Hulkes alluded to d.i.c.kens's remarkable facility for "guessing a subject fixed on when he was out of the room, in half a dozen questions;" and related the story of how at the young people's game of "Yes and No," he found out the proper answer to a random question fixed upon by Mr. Charles Collins, one of the company, in his absence, which was, "The top-boot of the left leg of the head post-boy at Newman's Yard, London." The squire sometimes took a stroll with his neighbour, but observed "he was too fast a walker for me--I couldn't keep up with him!"

Mr. Hulkes possesses a nearly complete "file" (from 1862 to 1866) of the _Gad's Hill Gazette_, to which he was one of the subscribers, and which was edited by the novelist's son, Mr. Henry Fielding d.i.c.kens, and, as before stated, printed at Gad's Hill Place. It chronicled the arrivals and departures, the results of cricket matches and billiard games, with interesting gossip of events relating to the family and the neighbourhood. Occasionally there was a leading article, and now and then an acrostic appeared. Among the subscribers were the novelist and his family, The Lord Chief Justice, The Dean of Bristol, Lady Molesworth, Mrs. Milner Gibson, M. Stone, A. Halliday, J. Hulkes, C.

Kent, W. H. Wills, H. F. Chorley, Edmund Yates, etc. The number for January 20th, 1866, contains a humorous correspondence on the management of the journal between "Jabez Skinner" and "Blackbury Jones." Mr. H. F.

d.i.c.kens kindly allows a copy of the number for December 30th, 1865, to be reproduced, which is interesting as giving an account of the Staplehurst accident, and also the notice issued when the journal was discontinued.

THE

GAD'S HILL GAZETTE

Edited by H. F. d.i.c.kens

December 30th 1865 Price 2d

We are very glad to meet our subscribers again after such a long lapse of time, and we hope that they will patronise us in the same kind and indulgent manner as they did, last season.

In the circulars, we announced that some great improvements were to be made in the Gazette-- We are sorry that they cannot appear in this number (as our suppliers of type have disappointed us) but we hope that next week, we shall be able to publish this journal in quite a different form.

Hoping that our subscribers will excuse us this week, we beg to wish them all A Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Christmas at Gad's Hill.

During the past week, Gad's Hill has resounded with the sounds of festivity and merriment.

(Continued on the next page)

As is usually the case, the house has been filled with the guests who have come to taste of Mr d.i.c.kens' hospitality. These consisted of Mr Mad, and Master Fechter, Mr & Mrs C. Collins, Mr Mrs and Master C.

d.i.c.kens junr, Mr Morgan (who suddenly appeared on Christmas Day, having just returned from America) Mr M. Stone, Mr Chorley and Mr d.i.c.kenson.

The latter gentleman has not yet entirely recovered from the effects of a most disastrous railway accident in which he was a sufferer, and had it not been for the courage and intrepidity of Mr d.i.c.kens, he would not now be spending his Christmas at Gad's Hill.

A short time before the accident occurred, Mr d.i.c.kenson had a dispute with a French gentleman about the opening of the window when the former offered to change places, if the open window was disagreeable to his fellow traveller--this they did.--

Then came the accident, accompanied by all its frightful incidents. The French gentleman was killed, Mr d.i.c.kenson was stunned and hurled with great violence under the debris of a carriage.

Mr d.i.c.kens, who was in another compartment, managed to crawl out of the window and then, caring little for his own safety, busied himself in helping the wounded. Whilst engaged in doing this, he pa.s.sed by a carriage, underneath which he saw a gentleman (Mr d.i.c.kenson) lying perfectly still, and bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.

He was immediately taken to the town of Staplehurst where he so far recovered as to be able to return to London, that evening.

Next morning he was suffering from a very severe concussion of the brain and was ill for many weeks--But to our subject.

On Christmas Day, Mr, Mrs & Miss Malleson came to dinner. At about 9, an ex tempore dance began and was kept up till about 2 o'clock Tuesday morning. During the week, billiards has been much resorted to. (See next page)

All the visitors are still here, except Mr Fechter and family who left on December 26th, and Mr Morgan (who is to return on 31st. Talking of Mr Fechter, our readers will be glad to hear that he has made a most decided success in his new piece ent.i.tled--The Master of Ravenswood--

Sporting Intelligence.

Billiards

Of all the matches that have been played during the past week the most important was a Great Handicap on Christmas Day, the prize being a pewter. Annexed is an account of it.

Stone Scratch C d.i.c.kens jun 20 Harry 30 Fechter 5 d.i.c.kenson 20 C d.i.c.kens 35 Morgan 10 Collins 30 Plorn 40

Our s.p.a.ce will not allow us to enter into the minute details of this match suffice it to say that Mr d.i.c.kenson won but that as regards good play, he was excelled by Mr Stone (who, however, was so heavily weighted that he could not win. Great credit is due to Mr Ch d.i.c.kens junr for the way in which he handicapped the men.

On Sat.u.r.day 30th a match is to be played between The Earl of Darnley and Mr M Stone.

Gad's Hill Gazette Office.

January--1867.

In a circular issued last August, we announced that a final number of the Gad's Hill Gazette was to be published this Xmas. We are grieved however to state, that the shortening of the Wimbledon School holidays (in which establishment the Editor is a pupil) has rendered this impossible.