Dickens And Cruikshank

The last time I saw Dickens was in 1863, at the funeral of William Make peace Thackeray, to whieh I accompanied my father. Althongh December, it was as bright and sunny as a smumer duy. Üii getting out at the raihvay station we encountered George Cruikshank, with whom ín early life ïhackeray had studied etching and whose illustrations were a feature of Dickens' earlier works. Cruikshank was then iu his seveiitieth year. He walked with us to Kensal Greeu cemetery, and the day being warm I carried his overcoat. The great temperance artist was as quaiut and odd in manner and appearance as any of his own caricatures. George, as his intimates oalled hiru, possessed histrionio tastes and used to appear as Macbeth and iu other Shakeepearean characters at Saddler'ts Wells. He was associated with Dickens, tao, in the amateur performances iu connection with the promotion of the Guild of Literature aud Art. Cruikshank was also a volunteer oflicer, and on the occasion of some review a comic bard wrote in allusion to his temperance proclivities lines whieh I still recall : Funcy Cruikshank, if you picase, On a liorso with groggy kueee!