MR. PICKWICK BACK IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 246, 11 July 1919, Page 7

MR. PICKWICK BACK IN LONDON

-*-. , NO COLD PUNCH IN 1919. The echoes of the Strand were awakened' on a recent morning by the notes of a coaching horn. Mr. Pickwick, attended by his immortal friends, by the irrepressible Jingle, by Sam Weller and his father, and the Tat Boy, drove once again through the streets that in another existence he had known so well. He had returned to life at the behest of the Pickwick Club in order that the attention of Londoners might be called' to tho performance that lis being given at the Empire Theatre in aid of the Eccentric Club Eest Homes for Soldiers.

The last time I met' Mr. Pickwick (writes a correspondent of the "Morning Post") he talked French. The bald head, the round spectacled eyes, the plump and portly presence, all were there, and in Paris he disported himself iii the most English scenery that the stage artist could devise. Mr. Jingle was present, but his trip to Franco had spoilt his jerky mode of speech. Sam Weller had stayed .behind in England, as the dramatist was convinced that he could do nothing with his witticisms in French.

That was before the war, and now that peace has returned Mr. Pickwick has come back to London. Of his companions,- Mr. Weller,- senior, was the most disgusted at the sight of tho London streets. He was sadly depressed at the disappearance of horses, he was convinced, must have ia terrible effect on the intelligence of the inhabitants, and; shaking his head sadly, ho recalled his dictum: "The man as can form a ackerate judgment of a animal can form a ackerate judgment of anythin'." It is stated on good authority that before the start Mr. Pickwick expressed a desire for a glass of cold punch, and was horrified to learn that the law forbade alcoholic liquors at.that hour. A "Dry Ginger" was offered him, but he sniffed it and handed it to Sam Weller. Sam, after sniffing at lt-m -his turn! handed it back to the waiter, remarking: "It's a great deal more in your way than mine, as the gen lm n on the right side of the garden vail said to the man on the wrong 'un. veil the mad bull was acomin' up the lane. , "Such regulations oto downright tyranny," said. Mr. .Pickwick, and companions re-echoed his words. 'Ihat, said Sam, "is what I call a self-evident proposition, as' the dog's-meat, man said when the.housemaid told him ho warn t a gentleman."