The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-22

n,t what might be expected from a man 50
Justly celebrated; he tells story we'll, and
with ever fresh variations or humorous ex.
agperations. lie is strong admlref oil
Tennyson and Browning: We have heard
him declare that he would rather have writ
ten the "Blot in the 'Scutcheon." than any
work of modern times. We have heard
similar high admiration expressed on me
other side Of the Atlantic. Taking this Tor
what il is worth, it sill shows how highiy
that unpopular poet is esteemed by some
of the leading intellects OF England and
America.
MIR. Dickens lives in good style in the
Regents Park, and is reported TO live "not
wisely, but too we'll" Men Of quick feel.
ing and ardent symPathies are not OK pected
TO be Cookers Arithmetic in the flesh, OF 10
have the calculating mind OF London or
New York merchant.
He abominates argument; delights IN
walking the crowded thoroughlaTes OF life,
and noting the humors Of his fellow crea-
lures. He has strong sympathy with all
the oppressed classes, and has no toleratlcn
for the misanthrope or the cold-hearted aIls-
tocrat. He now and then administers
little gentle rebuke 10 afiecntlon, IN a
pleasant but unmistakable manner. We
remember an instance where he silenced o
bilious young writer, who was lnveighlng
against the world in very "forcible, feeble
manner" during a pause in his philippe
against the human race, Dickens said across
the table, in the most selEcongIatulatory ol
tones: IL say, -, what a lucky thing
il is, you snd don't belong TO it! IL re-
minds me- continued the author Of Pick
wick, ''of the two men, who, on raised
scaffold, were awaiting the final delicate
attention Of the hangmsn; the notice OF one
was aroused by observing that a bull had
got into the crowd Of spectators, and was
busily employed in tossing one here and
another there; whereupon one OF the cIiml.
nails said to the other, 81 say, Bill, how
lucky ii is for US that ace are up here. -.
In general, however. his remarks are not
happy. Notwithstanding this apparent theo-
reIical S, mpathy with the lower vilsses, he
pays an absurd Difference to men Of rank,
and thinks no dinner table complete with
out lord, or a very rich merchant or bank
er. This has been decidedly injurious TO
his writings; it has cramped his hand land
checked the thunder in mid volley."
A little anecdore will illustrate this "ami-
able weakness" better thun a heightened
disquisiIon.
An acquaintance of his, calling one morn
ing upon a celebrated writer, distinguished
for his plain speaking, was astonished by
the latter saying, in his most plaintive
Scoth, in the course Of conversation. "Poor
Dickens, am sorry for him; could have
better spared better monl" "You amaze
me, replied the other, "why, / saw him
last week, in good health. For God : sake
tell me all about it-when did he diei"-
"Die, mon! roared the Philosopher, 81 new
er said he was dead; meant that il was all
over with him as a great author" "What
do you meant" inquired the visiter. "Why,
| mean this. he has dined with real live
lord, and its in the newspapers! I SAY again,
| am truly sorry for poor Dickens"
His most intimate companions are Mr..
Macready, Forster, Rogers, Landon II arley
and Talfourd; his acquaintance, however.
extends throughout the whole range Of the
literary circlts.
Notwithstanding the attention he receives
from few of the nobility, such as Earl
Carlisle, DeIman and Ashley. he is unpop
ular with the fashionable circles, and i
asked as they would invite Tom Thumb,
the Siamese Twins, or any other lusus ma.
ture, merely to increase the dramatic at.
fractions OF the evening; but the weakness
of feeling hauered by the attentions Of rank
or wealth, is common failing with most
men, especially when they have sprung
from humble class in society, and where
The mind is deficient in the highest quail.
ties, or NOT fortified by great selrrespecl:
of this latter requisite, Mr.. Dickens has less
than most men 81 widely renowned.
To sum up ms capabilities in a few
words: as man, he is good tempered, vain,
tickle, which makes him at times appear to
be insncere; on the other hand, it must in
Justice be stated that he lorgets, with kindly
facility, an offence; but the impression on
The minds OF those who have known him
longest, is that he is deficient in all those
striking qualities Of the heart which sane
tliy the memory Of man. As an author.
we have given our opinion of him, and
stated our reasons. A few year; will prob
ably modify his position as compared with
such writers as Carlyle. Browning, Tenny.
son, Miss Barrett, Bailey, and many Other
OF his cotemporaries.> He will. however
always bold commanding position in his
own peculiar department Of composition.
We must not forget to mention that. mis-.
led by his fame, Mr.. Dickens tried his hand
on dramatic composition, and wrote farce.
which was acted at the Lyceum. AS might
be expected, from his want of constructive
power, 1t was unequivocally condemned;
this settles the question as to the author of
Copperfeld being writer Of the first class
Ii is curious fact that all the fist intellects
Of the age have been progressive; now with
The writer before Us, his first two works are
the hest.
In 1916, Mr. Dickens was persuaded by
some friends to become the editor of news.
paper called the "Daily New" then about
% be established as rival to the Times -
IN the liberal side Of politics. On Janua.
y 10Th, of that year, the first number an.
1eared, but after conducting it for three or
Our weeks the novelist found the pursuit
fIstasteful, and retired from its manage.