The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-01-05

to inculcate. The old sentimental romance
has given place to the modern practical
novel, in which fiction is but an attractive
veil thrown over some theory or system
which the writer desires to make popular.
In this way thousands Of persons are reach
ed and influenced, who would not read
didaetic treatise on the same subject. The
department of fiction therefore becomes
one Of grave consequence in the estimation
of every man who is at all concerned about
the sentiments and principles which are
propagated through the world. twill not
do to eyade the subject by saying, ''we do
not approve of novels and never read them.
You NAV not, but thousands and millions
do. and in so doing, receive impressions
which are giving shape and color to their
whole destiny. 1t viii not avail, therefore,
to try to dismiss the matter with a sneer'
as something unworthy OF the attention OF
practical and religious people, for these are
the very people who have most reason to be
interested in the character and tendency of
this species of literature. Thaekeray has
access to more houses than MeCosb, and
Dickens has far more readers than DR..
Cummings. Every new production Of these
favorite novels s, circulates not only over all
Britain, but through Canada and the United
States. 1t goes to India and Australia
and is translated into the most widely spoken
languages on the Continent.
What Dickens and Thackeray believe and
teach, is therefore a matter of more eonse-
quence than the opinions Of Mr.. Golden or
of Guizot-uay than the opinions Of Queen
Victoria and the Emperor Napoleon; for
these great romancers sway a sceptre over
far wider empire Of mind and heart, than
any Queen or Emperor. Every man who
has at heart the cause of virtue and piety
must desire that those who mould the
sentiments of the million should hold and
teach truth, and nothing but truth, and he
cannot without extreme pain discover the
traces of dangerous error ON pages which
myriads of eyes are even now perusing.
Dickens with all his power Of word paint
ing. with all his inimitable humor, and sym
pathy with suffering humanity, yet con-
stantlv exhibits his aversion to the pure and
spiritual Christianity of the Bible. The
religion which he presents is sentimental
and aesthetic; with an eclectic creed, and a
free and easy practice. The clergymen he
depicts are all vulgar hyPocrites, like
Stiggins, of the PieIwicb Papers, or gross
and greasy gluttOns, ike Chadband Of Bleak
House. 1t would seem that though Mr..
Dickens has mingled so much in society
that he has never yet happened to make
the acquaintance of clergyman who was
at once sincere in his profession and a gen
tleman in his manners. Itwould be public
charity if some one would introduce him to
DR.. Hamilton, or Mr.. Melville. Certainly
the introduction of such character into one
of his works, would be a most refreshing
novelty.
But in his very sympathy with the hum
bier classes, for which we have given him
credit, he often widely misses the mark
where he comes to point out the means for
the amelioration of the evils which they
suffer. He would do away with the obser-
vance of the Sabbath so far as the laboring
poor are concerned. He would substitute
sail on the Thames for a visit to church,
and mug Of beer and pipe in some pub
lie garden. for quiet Sunday at home with
John Bunvan and the Bible. 1t Is wonder
full to see his confidence in Sunday dinners
and excursions, as the great remedy for the
social disadvantages of the hard working
classes. According to Boz, a JUG of beer
is beatitude, and a pipe of tobacco the
grand panacea for most of the ills that poor
peoples flesh is heir to.
We dwell thus at some length upon this
topic. because among the thousand eulogi-
ums which we see ON the sympathy for the
suffering and down trodden, which charac-
terizes this author, attentions seldom called
to this most vicious thread which runs
through all his writings. The reformer of
social abuses who would promote the happi-
ness of man by teaching him to disregard
the laws of God, advocates a fatal error, for
after all it Will be found that the best di
viuity is the best humanity.
*CHAPTER III. at was Sunday evening
in London. Maddening church bells made
the brick and mortar echoes hideous. Every
thing was bolted and barred which could
furnish relief to an overworked population.