New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-25
MR. DICKENSS DEBTS AND CREDITS

superb mustaches) must not expect 10 carry
it by storm.
mr. DICKENSS DEBTS And CREDITS
We have not undertaken seriously to reckon
the amount of money which Mr.. Dickens Will
make by his visit to America, but have been
content with hoping that it would be plump
and comfortable sum. We might have amused
ourselves by guessing-yibrating between the
minimum of 100000 and the maximum OF
81 ,OO0OOO-but guessing about a eentlemans
private profits is a diversion which we cheer
fully resign to the ancient females of the news
paper press If Mr.. Dickens had come over
possessed Of some mysterious and subtle power
of picking our pockets without giving us any
quid pro quo, and were at present ayaging
desolated and depleted land, we should feel 1t
our duty as ono of the guardians of the public
prosperity 10 brstle with statistical statements,
and to compile numerical tables calculated TO
put this community upon its guard. But thus
far the proceedings of the rayager have been
rely open and above board. lie advertises
upon Il certain night, in certain public
room. at a certain hour be will read from GER
tain books. No half price. No mistake about
the books No substitution of Laws Serious
Call to the Unconyertcd for COpperfcld. No
fosting OF Hamlet upon the company IN the
place of young Dombey. If people have
taste for the entertainment, and can trum-
phantly work out the financial problem of buy
ing a ticket of admission 10 tho same they go.
They are gratfed. Mr.. Dickens IS Gratiied-
Mr. DAAby. the agent or MI. DICKENS, IL gIau-
fed. Everybody is gratifed except those who
cannot get in, and those who are always plunged
into the depths OF jealous misery whenever
other people are specially successful; while
even these mouIners experience KIND OF
gloomy JOY in demonstrating what huge slice
Mr. Dickens will carve from the national wealth
of this Republic.
There is something extremely vulgar and
entirely unworthy of the enlightenment OF the
age In tie wide-mouthed wonder with which
the peCuniary success of men of letters IL DIS
cussed. Some observers can never understand
how it happens that n man with no visible
means OF support can sit down at table,
scribble over n few sheets OF paper, and ac-
tually sell tho manuscript for cash III hand
Why, ANYBODY could do that. 10 il done so
easily. L is accomplished in II very few hours.
SIX pages of copy, and then unlimited cakes
and ale Now, if that talented individual, who
goes by the name of anybody, supposes that 1t
is such an easy matter TO write, not great
works of art ike Mr. Dickens's famous novels,
but the least leading article in respectable
daily journal. we advise the said individual to
try the experiment.. So difficult is It to do even
this work WELL such peculiar ability and tram
ing does il require, that we do not believe
there are fifty men in the United States whose
services in this department we should think
worth having, even il we could have them Tor
an old song. A writer might be immense IN
ESSAYS, powerful in sermons, delicious IN copies
Of verses. aud ingenious in various ways, and
vet the veriest bunglcr in the construction OF
leading articles lie might, indeed, he made
something Of by training and by patience but
what time have we for training young asprants,
and how can we turn our establishment into u
school for apprentices in the art of writing
We seek the men who already know how to
write and we employ them, If We can make
il worth their while 10 engage with us. The
moral of this illustration is not far to seek.
The educated and tasteful public requires
commodity of which such books as
"Piekwickn or "Olver Twist or MI
| ThackeIays Vanity FAIR" may TIC CON
sidered as representatives. When Mr. Dickens
began his career, there was no lack OF mover
writer's of a certain school-gentlemen OF pecu-
| liar and distinguished merits; but he gave 10
prosecution new and more earnest character
and especially he enlarged its field and di2nI-
| fed its PURPOSES and made il, as II had never
been before, the ally of humanity and reason
able reform. The demand for these books has
been immense not by happy accident, but
because they met want quite AZ important,
| quite as worthy of satisfaction rs any material
necessity. How hard the most popular English
author OF the day has worked Ia satisfy this
demand those only can know who have tolled
in the same way. although not with equal sue
cess. There il u story of his shutting himself
ND to write one of his Christmas tales and
coming out after the accomplishment of his
task very haggard and ghostly parsonage.
| But this was only an episode in a life Of sim
liar wearing and tearing application. 1t is
pretty hard 10 see why man who gives mp
| his whole time to the instruction and enter
tainment of the public should not be paid quite
rs well as il he supplied the community with
butter, and beer. and beef, and cheese, and
great coats, and boots, and other like merchan"
disc. There is no howl of public dissatisfaction
when trader makes great sum by the astute
manipulation Of tea aud tobacco 10 u Thought