Volume Ii Part 49 (2/2)
One man sold two tickets for the second, third, and fourth night for ”one ticket for the first, fifty dollars” (about seven pounds ten s.h.i.+llings), ”and a brandy c.o.c.ktail,” which is an iced bitter drink. The weather has been rather muggy and languid until yesterday, when there was the coldest wind blowing that I ever felt. In the night it froze very hard, and to-day the sky is beautiful.
_Tuesday, Dec. 3rd._
Most magnificent reception last night, and most signal and complete success. Nothing could be more triumphant. The people will hear of nothing else and talk of nothing else. Nothing that was ever done here, they all agree, evoked any approach to such enthusiasm. I was quite as cool and quick as if I were reading at Greenwich, and went at it accordingly. Tell your aunt, with my best love, that I have this morning received hers of the 21st, and that I will write to her next. That will be from New York. My love to Mr. and Mrs. Hulkes and the boy, and to Mr.
and Mrs. Malleson.[18]
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
BOSTON, _Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 1867._
I find that by going off to the _Cuba_ myself this morning I can send you the enclosed for Mary Boyle (I don't know how to address her), whose usual flower for my b.u.t.ton-hole was produced in the most extraordinary manner here last Monday night! All well and prosperous. ”Copperfield”
and ”Bob” last night; great success.
[Sidenote: Miss Mary Boyle.]
BOSTON, _December 4th, 1867._
MY DEAR MEERY,
You can have no idea of the glow of pleasure and amazement with which I saw your remembrance of me lying on my dressing-table here last Monday night. Whosoever undertook that commission accomplished it to a miracle.
But you must go away four thousand miles, and have such a token conveyed to _you_, before you can quite appreciate the feeling of receiving it.
Ten thousand loving thanks.
Immense success here, and unbounded enthusiasm. My largest expectations far surpa.s.sed.
Ever your affectionate Jo.
[Sidenote: Miss d.i.c.kens.]
WESTMINSTER HOTEL, IRVING PLACE, NEW YORK CITY, _Wednesday, Dec 11th, 1867._
Amazing success here. A very fine audience; _far better than that at Boston_. Great reception. Great, ”Carol” and ”Trial,” on the first night; still greater, ”Copperfield” and ”Bob,” on the second. Dolby sends you a few papers by this post. You will see from their tone what a success it is.
I cannot pay this letter, because I give it at the latest moment to the mail-officer, who is going on board the Cunard packet in charge of the mails, and who is staying in this house. We are now selling (at the hall) the tickets for the four readings of next week. At nine o'clock this morning there were two thousand people in waiting, and they had begun to a.s.semble in the bitter cold as early as two o'clock. All night long Dolby and our man have been stamping tickets. (Immediately over my head, by-the-bye, and keeping me awake.) This hotel is quite as quiet as Mivart's, in Brook Street. It is not very much larger. There are American hotels close by, with five hundred bedrooms, and I don't know how many boarders; but this is conducted on what is called ”the European principle,” and is an admirable mixture of a first-cla.s.s French and English house. I keep a very smart carriage and pair; and if you were to behold me driving out, furred up to the moustache, with furs on the coach-boy and on the driver, and with an immense white, red, and yellow striped rug for a covering, you would suppose me to be of Hungarian or Polish nationality.
Will you report the success here to Mr. Forster with my love, and tell him he shall hear from me by next mail?
Dolby sends his kindest regards. He is just come in from our ticket sales, and has put such an immense untidy heap of paper money on the table that it looks like a family wash. He hardly ever dines, and is always tearing about at unreasonable hours. He works very hard.
My best love to your aunt (to whom I will write next), and to Katie, and to both the Charleys, and all the Christmas circle, not forgetting Chorley, to whom give my special remembrance. You may get this by Christmas Day. _We_ shall have to keep it travelling from Boston here; for I read at Boston on the 23rd and 24th, and here again on the 26th.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
WESTMINSTER HOTEL, IRVING PLACE, NEW YORK CITY, _Monday, Dec. 16th, 1867._
<script>