The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-18
Charles Dickens Readings.

! Ine admirers of DICKENS, and who is moi
among that number will be interested IN the
following descriptions Of the great Author
readings in Paris
We have new local sensation. Charles Dick
ems has already given readings from his own
works at the BRITISH Embassy, before a fnll and
fashionable audience, for the benefit of tho
British Charitable Fund, and at the somewhat
hlgh rate OF twenty francs (S4) per ticket The
great hamOrist created decided imnress,op
upon the versatile conductors OF the Ptr,s ma
pers, while TO his own countrymep and tho
Americans 10 the city his presence afforded nm.
4lloyed satisfaction. He read "a d~amatized
abrldgment OF . David Copperfeld, ingeni-
ousiy arranged by himself to preserve The 1nitv
VI regular plJt, and of the three bundre1
persons WHO assembled in Lord COwlev's or4at
drawing room to hear him there was n ona
who dld not hang upon his words, laughing
when he babe them and melting INTO tears .1
his Wall. 1t may amuse your readers 10 see the
effect produced by this performance upon the
French editors taking lie Temps az fair
0 m pie:
. Ii Is difficult to explain to the French nub.
nc observes lie Temps what the Engljsb cali
reading. 10 IL a mature of The pulp,t, The ham,
ny, Inc magic lantern end The sDectocIe-,ho
spectacle principally, for it is a substitute for
theatrical amusements which were loy.g nrdaiha
tied by Ehgllsh religion, and as consLonenc.
prevented ~ great extent from takino root in
hnglish manners, that public readings grew
INTO vogue. We have certaInlv mn
Reader III France at all comparable 10 MIR. Dick
'hs. he is indeed, a reader who does not read
OF ne knows oy heart the work of which he
'ecltes us an abr'dgment. The book il before
lim' out ne scarcely gances at it. lie repre-
'oh'S every parsonage with d variety of intona-
'iop' q irwin OF accent, and a power of realiza.
non "nicn u truly marvellous. For two hours
~ cap' 'a'ed attention without appearing to
eel, ana what Is more, without CAUSING tho
east fatigue. '"'
After havlng seen and heard Mr. Dickens
nc 10 more curious than ever to read his novels
So en'ireiy Goes TIE genius OF observation
1e" 10 Dc incarnate IN him. The actor and
no acaaem'c reader may learn much in the
'noo' Vi DicaeaS' Such purity of dction and .
WHY 81 pli"ole and 80 powerful are very rare
iueou' we regret that there were not more
'oncn people among the audience, for. even :
.'nouS understanding the language, thew
ouia nave oeen struck with the wonderful tai.
- Vi 'he reader. lie is true, however. tn n =
lehcn opinion wodld not be very favorable in !
rinciple to the IDEA of a celebrated wr;tsr \
aklns show of himself even for charitahls s
irpo'e. Shakespeare and Molisre acted in E
'"s o"a u pays 1t Is true, but would they have t.
owever, the attention of the audience tbo a
hsu n art of the reader the success oh. q
lned, dlsarn criticism in this case t.
'au'ns, however. IS an entertainment that will q
yer become acclimatised with us. The roll ii. o.
on Of tne Englsh nan, which does not allow
~ ~ s 500 eomsoy acted at theatre permits
Ia ~ me near a comedy read BY celebrated al.
or" Inc religion OF the Frenebman wh;ah &C
''ns MIN to damn the Comedian. does not n,sl s'
medy.' w i"'su al pr
loe s.'oe says that " Dicksn. appeals more -
eot'y 70 the heart than BAlzac. General
e''i0aS touch him the misury of the hmm.