"You're the pleasantest fellow I have seen yet," said Martin, clapping him on the back, "And give me a better appetite than bitters." (1872). — Fred Barnard's twenty-second illustration for Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit (Chapter XVI), page 137. [After the discourteous and ill-mannered behaviour of most New Yorkers, Martin is delighted to meet a civil and sanguine servant at Major Pawkins' rooming-house. That this pleasant, unassuming fellow happens to be Black was probably a reflection of Dickens's assessment of the race issue that continues to plague American society.] 9.4 cm x 13.8 cm, or 3 ¾ high by 5 ½ inches, framed. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Passage Illustrated: General Gorging at the New York Boarding-house
They were walking back very leisurely; Martin arm-in-arm with Mr. Jefferson Brick ["War Correspondent" for the The New York Rowdy Journal], and the major and the colonel side-by-side before them; when, as they came within a house or two of the major's residence, they heard a bell ringing violently. The instant this sound struck upon their ears, the colonel and the major darted off, dashed up the steps and in at the street-door (which stood ajar) like lunatics; while Mr. Jefferson Brick, detaching his arm from Martin's, made a precipitate dive in the same direction, and vanished also.
"Good Heaven!" thought Martin. "The premises are on fire! It was an alarm bell!"
But there was no smoke to be seen, nor any flame, nor was there any smell of fire. As Martin faltered on the pavement, three more gentlemen, with horror and agitation depicted in their faces, came plunging wildly round the street corner; jostled each other on the steps; struggled for an instant; and rushed into the house, a confused heap of arms and legs. Unable to bear it any longer, Martin followed. Even in his rapid progress he was run down, thrust aside, and passed, by two more gentlemen, stark mad, as it appeared, with fierce excitement.
"Where is it?" cried Martin, breathlessly, to a negro whom he encountered in the passage.
"In a eatin room, sa. Kernell, sa, him kep a seat 'side himself, sa."
"A seat!" cried Martin.
"For a dinnar, sa."
Martin started at him for a moment, and burst into a hearty laugh; to which the negro, out of his natural good humour and desire to please, so heartily responded, that his teeth shone like a gleam of light. 'You're the pleasantest fellow I have seen yet," said Martin, clapping him on the back, "and give me a better appetite than bitters." [Chapter XVI, "Martin Disembarks from That Noble and Fast-Sailing Line-of-Packet Ship, The Screw, at the Port of New York, in the United States of America. He Makes Some Acquaintances, and Dines at a Boarding-house. The Particulars of Those Transactions," 139. Running head: "Not a Moment to be Lost"]
Relevant Illustrations, 1843-1872
Left: Harry Furniss's version of young Martin's visit to the New York newspaper's editorial offices, "The Rowdy Journal" Office (1910). Centre: Phiz's tacit but obvious support of Dickens's anti-slavery sympathies, Mr. Tapley succeeds in finding a jolly subject for contemplation (July 1843). Right: a Post-Civil War illustration of these thoroughly American characters, Sol Eytinge, Jr.'s more appreciative treatment of the newspaper editor, Colonel Diver and Jefferson Brick (1867). [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Scanned images and text by Philip V. Allingham. [You may use the images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned them and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
Bentley, Nicolas, Michael Slater, and Nina Burgis. The Dickens Index. New York and Oxford: Oxford U. P., 1990.
Dickens, Charles. The Dickens Souvenir Book. Household Edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 1871-1880. The copy of The Dickens Souvenir Book from which these pictures were scanned is in the collection of the Main Library of The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C.
Dickens, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne. London: Chapman and Hall, 1844.
_____. Martin Chuzzlewit. Works of Charles Dickens. Household Edition. 55 vols. Illustrated by F. O. C. Darley and John Gilbert. New York: Sheldon and Co., 1863. Vol. 2 of 4.
_____. Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Illustrated by Fred Barnard. Household Edition. 22 vols. London: Chapman and Hall, 1872. Vol. 2.
_____. Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Illustrated Sterling Edition. Illustrated by Hablot K. Browne and Frederick Barnard. Boston: Dana Estes, n. d. [1890s]
_____. Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Illustrated by Harry Furniss. The Charles Dickens Library Edition. 18 vols. London: Educational Book, 1910. Vol. 7.
Steig, Michael. "From Caricature to Progress: Master Humphrey's Clock and Martin Chuzzlewit." Ch. 3, Dickens and Phiz. Bloomington & London: Indiana U.P., 1978. Pp. 51-85. [See e-text in Victorian Web.]
Steig, Michael. "Martin Chuzzlewit's Progress by Dickens and Phiz." Dickens Studies Annual 2 (1972): 119-149.
Last modified 22 July 2016
Last updated 20 November 2024