Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1892 — A Boy Reporter. [ARTICLE]

A Boy Reporter.

The reporter’s pencil has trained many a hand for the novelist’s pen. It trained Charles f Dickens, who, at the age of nineteen’years, did reporter’s work of such excellent quality as to draw from the late Earl of Derby, then Lord Stanley, a prediction that the stripling reporter was destined for a great career. Young Dickens had reported the last part of Lord Stanley's speech in the House of Commons against O’Connell, When the proofs of the speech were sent to Lord Stanley that gentleman returned them with the remark that the first two-thirds of it were so badly reported as to be unintelligible; but that if the gentleman who had reported the last part of it so admirably would call upon him he would repeat his speech and have it reported again. Young Dickens, note-book in hand, made his appearance at Mr. Stanley’s, and was reluctantly shown by the servant into the library. When the master of the house came in he expressed astonishment with his eyes as well as by his words. “I beg pardon,” said he, “but I had hoped to see the gentleman who had reported the last part of my speech.” “I am that gentleman,” answered Dickens, turning red in the face. “Ohl indeed!” said Stanley’, turning to conceal a smile. Sir James Graham then came in, and Stanley began his speech. At first he stood still, addressing one of the window-curtains as “Mr. Speaker. ” Then he walked up and down the room, gesticulating and declaimiug with all the fire he had shown in the House of Commons. Sil - James, with a newspaper report before him, followed, and occasionally corrected Stanley. When the proof of the speech had been read by the orator, he returned it to the editor with a note predicting the future success of his young reporter. Many years afterward Charles Dickens, the popular novelist, was invited to dine with Lord Derby. The guests were shown into the library, and Dickens, though he had forgotten the incident of the speech, felt a strange sensation, as if he had been there before. At last something recalled the reporting adventure, and he reminded his host of it. Lord Derby was delighted to recognize in the popular novelist his boy reporter.—Youth’s Companion.