THE CAUTIOUS DEAN
Frederick Locker-Lampson had a curious story of the way in which the offer of the' Abbey as the burial place for Charles Dickens came to be made, says the "Manchester Guardian." Dean Stanley had considerable scruples about admitting certain distinguished persons to the Abbey after death, and told Locker-Lampson that he sincerely hoped they would survive him in order that the question might not arise in his time. . The names of one or two distinguished people were mentioned, such as Carlyle and Mill. Then Dickens's name came up, and the Dean said: "Oddly enough, I have only once met Dickens. Ido not know him; I have read hardly any of his writings. I should.like to meet him." A dinner party was arranged and the Stanleys arrived late, the Dean whispering to Locker-Lampson, "I have been finishing 'Pickwick.'" The dinner was a success; "most agreeable" was the Dean's verdict. As soon as the bad news came the Dean got into touch with Locker-Lampson, and although all preparations had been made for the quiet funeral Dickens had asked for, the Westminster burial was substituted.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 11
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185THE CAUTIOUS DEAN Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 11
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