The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-03
The Grand Mesrspslitan Festival and ball
10 he given to Charles Dickens--The Bsrst
Literary Movement.

me Grand Metropolaean Festival and Bau
10 he given to Charles Dlcl<e ns--The Bssst
Literary MOvsnent.
We give to-day one Of the most important doeu-'
| mens ever placed before this "breathing world"
since The celebration of the birth day Of Homer in
Athens. during the forty second Oiympad, or the
great festival to the memory Of Shakespeare, eele-
orated in England on the 4th of June, l74s, old
style IL Is the preliminary proceedings, in the
great festival, or welcome, by all the talents and
respectabIty-a all the fashion and philosophical
the virtue and genius of New York, to be given to
Charles Dickens, the immortal Boz, on his ARRIVAL
IA this mighty democratic metropolis
Read, reflect, and prepare yourseves-ladies and
gentlemen. Next week will constitute an era in
the literary history of the world. Boston can't do
the thng-and New York has to step forward and
welcome the greatest original genius Of t,e. sgehe
very Shakespeare Of tine newspaper press. This
grand and glorious.movement will outstrp that
given TO the heroic Lafayette, fifteen years ago. 1t
will embrace all classes, all talents-all the humani.
ties Of lfe-price Of tickets only $500, cheap as
Mississippi State bonds, or United States Bank stock
Some of the grandees Of the age proposed to put the
price Of tickets at S20 some at $10-but in con
sequence ofthe prevalence Of reputation and the
failure Of the banks, it was thought best cut the
price down TO five dollars, admitting lady and
gentleman. Further preparations are making All
the artists in town arc busy-all the mners up TO
their eyes, from Madame Lefevre down to Madame
Laiirage-all the tailors overwhelmed with orders
for vests, coats. pantaoons-c for cash--no
credit. All these preparations the anticipated
display are worthy Of the man-of the age-of the
country-and Of the imperial city OF New York
IL, |. Il, .lc 4
OF the mssterspirits that have given an impulse to
civilization, from the time Of Moses and Ho.
mer TO Joe Smith, the Mormon. He began life as a
simple police reporter, for London morn.
ing paper--and he is now at the head
of an original species Of literature which is
full of philosophy, virtue, humanity, and in
tellectual movement. Homer raised the simple
ballads Of Ionia into the lofty epic of all Greece
Shakespeare the old-fashoned chronicles of Holinrs-
head into the majestic tragedy of English literature
Scott the border tales of Scotland into the classical
novel-but Dickens, beginning at distinct point in
modern society-and starting from the news
paper press, has elevated the simple police reports
into classical and orgnalspecies of literature,
that bids fair to oustrip every mental movement that
has preceded il, and TO leave its fertilizng traces
wherever its spirit is understood. He is the Burns
the Beranger -of the police report and as such let
him be honored, stuffed, Toasted, wined, dined and
danced, as one Of the mastersprits Of the hu-
man race-one of those great minds that seize
upon the salient points of the age, and give it
new and interesting direction. Dickens as re-
porter for daily paper-as an editor Of daily
paper-as contributor to the periodical, has been
doing in England, what we have been dong in this
country revolationjzng the Anna-M Maria, Rosa
Matilda, twaddline school Of literature, and going into
the real world and real events of human Life, to pick
up materials, and generaize living characters for
the advantage, instruction and amusement of the
world around u.s. In the columns of the New
York Herald, many scenes can be found that will
compare with the most finished in Boz's work. |
The sources of each alikethe realities oflife-
and hence their simihtude.
Letus, therefore, bid welcome to Charles Dick |
ens-he deserves oil the honor we can smother him |
with, short of absolute suffocatisn. IIurrah
Welcome to Charles Dickens-The boz Ball,