The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-16 00:00:00

Mr. Charles Dickens's Readings.

(From the Daily News.)
Readings by Mr. Charles Dickens are now looked
for as a matter of course at this season of the year,
and were they not forthcoming there is no doubt
that a large section of the public would be grievously
disappointed. For it cannot be denied that there is
a strange fascination in hearing an author give dra-
matic life and form to his own creations, and the fas-
cination is certainly not diminished when the author
occupies such a high position in general favour as
Mr. Charles Dickens. " Mugby Junction," from
which his selections were made last night at
St. James's-hall, is but a minor contribution to
the literature of the Christmas season, but it
is the latest production to which his name
is appended, it is fresh in the recollection of
the public, and it is still the subject of com-
ment and of conversation in the domestic circle. It
was sure, therefore, to excite interest, and to be
listened to with as much attention and as keen a
sympathy as the author's most popular works could
have aroused. Mr. Dickens divides his reading
into two parts. The first includes the chapters in
" Mugby Junction" headed " Barbox Brothers" and
" Barbox Brothers and Co." The second consists
merely of the narrative in which the experiences of
the Boy at Mugby are related. To say that Mr.
Dickens reads these productions is, however, to con-
vey a very imperfect idea of the interpretation they
receive at his hands. It would be more to the
purpose to say that he recites them with drama-
tic intention and in a dramatic spirit. Nay, so
careful is he that nothing shall bo wanting to
give them full effeet, that he learns every word
beforehand, and seems to regard his book merely as
a resource only to be appealed to should memory
fail. He is thus enabled to impart to his embodi-
ments of oharactor the facial expression and the
gestures which give them a more distinct indivi-

duality and a more vital significance. The power
of doing this he evidently possesses in such abun-
dance that had he not been a popular author there

can be but little doubt he would have chosen the
stage for his profession and become one of its
brightest illustrations. In his reading of " Barbox
Brothers," the character which stood out con-

spicuous from the rest was unquestionably
the honest, simple-hearted " Lamps" of Mugby
Junction. As in his literary portrayals so in his
dramatic, Mr. Dickens is thoroughly_at home with
eccentricity in humble life. " Lamps, " with his
poetical tendencies, his cheerful philosophy, and his
tendency when agitated to give himself a " rounder,"
that is, to rub his face with his oily handkerchief,
was brought so to speak visibly before the audience.
Every little feature which the author had delineated
was reproduced by the reader, and had Mr. Dickens
put on fustian and really greased his face, the
portrait could scarcely have been more complete.
The commencement of the second division of the
first narrative, where Barbox Brothers holds the
dialogue with himself at the inn window and
recalls the experiences of his past life, was
given with much impressiveness, and the innocent
prattle of the lost child Polly was rendered with
admirable effect. All were able to appreciate the
concluding portion of the entertainment, "me
Boy at Mugby." This was given with a distinct-
ness of utterance and a breadth of humour which
directly appealed to every one present. As sen-
tence followed sentence, laughter followed laughter,
the whole room joining so heartily and with such
good temper in the merriment that the truth
underlying the Mugby Boy's rather highly seasoned
satire obviously mot with general recognition.