Dickens' Slips

1895

Dickens' "Pickwick Papers" has delighted millions of readers during the past half century, but it has apparently remained for a somewhat critical down town reader to detect two or three amusing blunders or inconsistencies that have gone unheeded through hundreds of editions.

For instance, during the rook shooting at Dingley Dell, it is recorded that the immortal Fat Boy "laughed as he retired with the bird." In chapter 45, when that corpulent youth stumbled upon the lovemaking between his young mistress and the poetic Snodgrass and had been bribed into silence with half crowns, one reads, "He burst into a horse laugh for the first and only time in his existence."

Again, when the reader is introduced to the fussy little Mr. Peter Magnus, he is surveying the world through blue spectacles, while at the end of the unfortunate episode of the middle aged lady in curl papers be "dashed off his green spectacles."

These are amusing trifles, but they serve to show that novelists can make mistakes just like ordinary people. — Philadelphia Record.


Think So

The passenger came out of the smoker into the parlor car and sat down by the first man he came to.
"By George," he said, "there's a fellow out there can tell stories that will make your hair stand on end."
"I'll give him $100 if he can," replied the other party.
"Well, he can. You just go out there and listen to him."
"Do you think so?" smiled the other party, removing his hat and showing a head like a billiard ball. — Detroit Free Press.


Japanese Patriotism

Mr. Lafcadio Hearn asked in different classes of his Japan school for written answers to the question, "What is your dearest wish?" Twenty per cent wished to gain glory by dying for the emperor. Others stated a similar wish in less definite language. Patriotism is, in Japan, devotion to the ruler personally rather than to the country.


Eden

Edenton, N C., was named after Charles Eden, a royal governor.