Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-09-26
Dickens and Thackeray.

Dickens and Thackeray.
Dickens and Thackeray are at present
the lords Of the novel; and as psTtisans Of
one or the other, the world Of novel read
ers are pretty equally divided. Critics are
perpetually comparing one with the other;
and we are sorry TO observe that these
gentlemen, with something like ingraiitnde.
are inclined to speak di,paragingly of Dick
ems, and 10 sigh amid bis autumnal leaves,
for the freshness and fulness Of bis spring.
In the possession OF such men, 10 measure
one against the other is somewhat ungener
ous. When similar companions we're insti'
Iuted 10 Germany, between Schiller and
Goethe, the latter vas wont to say. The
fools; they ought TO be thankful they have
two such men to quarrel about" Prefer
ence iu the matter of Dickens and Thack
cray is the result of mental constitution,
and cannot be affected by argument
Dickens has, by far the more cxuberant
genius, the richer plenilude OF gift; his
faults are the faults Of excess. lie is
pomegranite which has burst with its ripe
ness. He overlays bis work from sheer
wealth of resource. Humor, whim, and
animal spirits, carry him captive at times.
He has the keenest eye for oddiiy that
ever perhaps looked ont on the odd world.
To him the street pump has rakish as
pect, and he reads a mans character in
the way be wears his hat There is Ger
tain fi,fulness and levity 10 Bis mind, Which
is it's chief fault, and which lies at the bot,
tom of all tie defects which have been laid
TO his charge. But the prime test of q
writer is the depth to which he has affect
ed his time; and the application of this
test Dickens need not fear. His wit and
humor have coored the language OF the
streets; people unconsciou>ly qnoie him in
drawing rooms; and from him are gathered
half the telling points in the Headers Of
our morning newspapers. Then. IL we
,hiuk for a moment, no other English
writer-with the exception OF Shakespeare
and Scott-has peopled the popular imayi'
nation with such medley of characters,
with whom we bsve become quite familiar,
and of whom we constantly catch ourselves
talking, as if they were personal acqna'nt'
ances. And these characters are so queer,
go unique, so perfectly original, so unlike
the other persons we meet in hooksj and,
still more, we always think Of them with q
certain pleasantnesS; we g eet them with q
smile, hearty good morning, kind mo
tion of the hand, as it were.
Thackeray's good points, on the othel
hand, are quite dssimilar from those of hi
rival. Les efforescent MS genius, he i
greater as an artist. He commands hi
powers; his powers do not command him
His mind is altogether of a qnieter, mar
lier. 6rmer texture. There is nothing ly
rical or impetuous abo1t bis writing
Above all things, he is re,icent, and he
credited for what he keeps TO himself q
we'll as for what he gives. lie speak
when he says nothing. His stories are un
romantic in point OF characters aud Incl
dents; the movement is far from rapid
and 10 his latter works, more especially. b
turns continually on his reader and lecture
him on the spot. A very considerabl
volume Of moral essays could he Guile
from Thackeray's novels. His style, d
rectness, high bred ease, continual dexib
lity and grace and adaptation TO the maj
ter in hand, is perhaps the most perfect {
any contemporary writer One of the mo:
unsentimentsl writers, he is one Of the tel
derest of writers, when bis mood deepen
After its truth and rarity, the most cur
ons thing about its pathosis its unexpected
ness. 1t is always sndden, short, su
prising. The moving stroke, the seutenr
sighing Of graves. a far off, happy time, th
touch, which is like the touch OF spirit
finger, comes out from the midst of con
mon places. or characteristic cynicism tiDge
with pleasantness, and If the tears are O
the cheek of the reader, they are there b
fore be is aware. His leisurely style ,
writing copduces to finish; and il he b
not Dickens variety Of character, what
has is more sharply defined, and stands o
IN bolder relief. We are not so intima
with the cut Of their garments, their mod
Of progression along the street, but we a
more Intimate with their hearts. Thacl
ersys great characters are worth mo-
than Dickens great characters; and
deed, one or two Of Warrington al
COL Newcome-take their places alol
with Uncle Toby and Parson Adams.
permanent glCries Of English fiction, The
do not smuse from ecceniricity Of attire
odd forms OF expression, or from peculiar
ties Of gait or feature; but they becon
friends vbom We esteem, whom We lo'
for their goodness Of heart, for their man
parily. for their contempt Of oil lying aI
bescpsss. Young people are the chief nov
readers nowadays. aud these high simpl
heroic gsntlemsh- the soul Of an q
sient hnight beating beneath modsl
eogb--oe yossR man can dnd better col
uo6ioos y alf the range Of fiction. III!
eon nt enee sllnnlsts, sdSiss and vshpo