HOW DICKENS USED TO SING COMIC SONGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 11

HOW DICKENS USED TO SING COMIC SONGS.

In the "Girl's Own Paper and Woman's Magazine,'' Charles Dickens, the grandson of tho famous novelist, :writes some interesting reminiscences of his grandfather:at Christmastime:; "My. : father .has told,me that: his, first really clear!recollection of my grandfather was in connection with a certain American rockingcbair, which • presumably, had accompanied him on his; return from his reading tour: in the Ujtited States,;and in which he used to sit and sing conuc songs to an umazed but appreciative .audience consisting of my father and his two 'sisters.:: ;:- -• ■■•■•;..";■' .v" ':.«.-.'•'•'V'-"

"One of tho favourite songs of this most select audifenco doalt with the history of Guy Fawkcs, who was described, I.believe, as:—, ' . .."'Guy Pawkes, that prince of sinisters, • 3Vho once blew up tho House of Lords, 'I7io King and all his Ministers.' "Each stanza began with some .such startling announcement. 'In one stanza it was stated that this 'prince pf sinisters'— : ': ; Crossing over Vauxhall Bridge • •■ That:way came intp London— . ■■ That is, ho would lmvo como that way < v :To perpetrate his gilt, sir, But a little thing prevented him,The bridge it wasn't built, sir.' 1 '"And then later, in another.part of the song, he went ,oh to explain hew— ■ - ;- : they straightway sent to-.Bow Street, • }i • Por that bravo old runner Townshond— - • That is' they '.would have, sent for. hiin, . ; : , ': ! - Por fear he was no starter at, :; ; But Townshend wasn't living then; Ho wasn't born till arter that.': v. "And all thig with a chorus of tho 'good oldfashioned soi't with a .'Bow, wow,'wow,, ri fol ■!« viddy, oddy. bow, wow, wow.' refram," :