The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-02
DICKENS IN BOSTON.


posrox fov So 1887.
All tho Dickens excement "a cordned 10 class OF
persons-a class sometimes usedl perhaps bus never
popular These monopolistsf the Juror are the specu-
la.ors In tckets-those Jews OF amusement who live
the odge OF everyby pleasure without ever having
their souls sotensA by taking little themselves and
who are equally ready to make their game out OF the
notorlety tho great ampoone out OF the popular
hunger and thirst for the exquisite notes Of some mar
veous prma donna AS there to be but four fead'
ngs'' here, and IS the charge for tickets
was put very low, all these were readily sold
out Some, but apparently not many, were
bought to SELL nearly the whole number falling from
the nrst into the hands Of bona fdc purcbasers-sod
OF Boston. who wish TO treat their wives and very
respectable families sight Of tho only foreigner who
appreciated Boston, admired Boston and fattered
and praised Boston in beautiful print; moro than that
evento sight OF the man who praised Boston and the
Boston people those very pages which be riiicuied
and vinled all the rest Of the country Here Ia dis
tncton that does not often. Surely the privilege
OF sitting and gazing that for two hours must
be well worth 81 any Bostonian possessing particle
Of sectional pride; aud where is the solid OF Boston
who is wanting in that particular article Of intellectual
furniture? fr-e = is.ss s..sf sAx
But let the Bostonians take care. They may not
know what is coming. The thing that is coming may
be very like the following extract from Mr.. Dickens
CnuZZ.0Wt.
were spoken Of Boston. but merely
the hero happened 10 be in another city. The next hero
may land in this amiaole town. Mr. Dickens rs
speaking OF a conversation between Americans
Il rather barren Of interest. to say tho truth;
and the greater part OF It may be summed up IN one
virtues associations seemed inelied into
dollars Whatever the chance contributions that fell
into the slow caaidron o. their ak they made INC ruer
dollars; measures gagged by their dollars life was
auc,ioueered appraised put up and knocked down Tor
Its dollars. The next respectable thing to dollars was
venture having their attainment for its end. The
Of that worthless ballast honor and fair dealing,
winch any man cast overheard from the ship OF nis
good n me aud good INTENT ths moro ample stowage
room he bad for dollars Make commerce one huge
lie and mighty theft Deface the banner OF the nation
for idle rags polute IT star by star and cut out
stripe oy stripe as from The arm Of degraded soldier.
DO anything for dollars. What is flag to themS
OF the man who writes thus must DO himself
the puresl Of the pure every possible respect and
from . country whose people, even the dull
est always talk like the fellows in Congrevss comedes
who not mercenary and never discuss money, and
the most dcpraved Of whom say anything worse
than Is to be found in Surgeons sermons. Imagine
such authority telling Boston that it regards 'Lonor
and fair dealing" "wortbless ballast" Woadn'i
Boston be cut up and put down at thats
Or imagine Boston.ans reading future volumes OF
Dickens to and their dinner parties described in such
words as these which in chapter xL, American
Notes.: -
never in my life did such stless heavy dulnoss
these meals; the very recollection OF 1t
mo ana lol .ee md sao
spirits forming part OF the banquet could soak NV
and r5vel in their glad enjoyment; but sitting With
many fellow animals 10 ward of thirst ana hnnger rs
business-o empty eacn creature ms nanoo
away have these SOCIAL saeraments stripped OF every
thns but the mere greedy satisfaction Of the nat raj
cfavings goes against the grain vita me thai Sc
rously beeve the recollection OF These ianera ieasts
wit be waking nightmare to me all my iife
How would Boston like that for tho great authors
of voy dinner partyf or this tor any other
of gathering of its wits ami philosophers
Nothing could have made head against the dcprcss-
luz inluencs OF the general body. There was mag
nesism Of duluess ia them which would have beaten
down tho most faceti0u5 companion that The Garth
ever knew. A jest would have been crime and
smile would have faded into grinnng horror. such
weary. nsupportaOio isav.ness; such mass OF AMI
maea indigestion in rs.psct o. all that WIS ssnai
together elsewhere since tho world began.
There ridiculous. dun, absurd and outrageous Poo
pie United States, there in all othcr states
Nc Dickens his sketches oftheso cbaractor and
thcu, printing ihem in England puts them forth aud
ccu veritablo pictures Of the whole peo-
pie declaring the habits aud he laughs a.
na.ous lie sketches in England his poornoasc people,
and all Ensiishmen not associated IN the management
poohouses laugh NJ bate these people. lie does
for English model boarding scuoois, or Tor The
Enssn Chancery Court He appeals TO the Whole peo-
satire healthy, perhaps enecve bat be picks
ridiculous people and does not satirizo them as
they are but holds them up 70 the world as tho
types and images of tho whole people Pawksns, 10
Martn Chuzzewit 10 not ridiculous as boarding house
rogue woo migh, be found anywhere, but as a rogue
wno te found only in4hs country.
Tue Norriscs not sarzed pretenders and people
who vant 20 DO thought great deal boter than lLcf
ere, hui Americans In lhus putting whole people
In the pory Tor the sins OF certain persons IN laugh
ing at tba nation collectively because he found IL
may pretenders many wretenes, mnca ignorance AMI
b ant seif-assert,n--iu doing this Mr. Dickens has
stimulated naosi jealoas,es and disiSe aud has min-
iered FAR he able TO Keeping alive The hareds
and hternesses that part two great peoples speaking
evil than he will ever balance with good though te
1.-Two 10 write thousand volumes crammed full OF senti
some OF tho tickets for the readings have said,
bui apparently not large number, fell INTO the hands
The SPECTATORS. They nearly ali sold by those
thrifty fellows az an advance OF my cents per Ticket
ms did not naicse tremendous excitement The
advance al tho price OF tickets mas mark either tbc IN
clessng excitement and desire the great man,
The small number o. tc~ets that 80 hands OF
dealers. Tcoss hsvs risen IN price apparently just Ia
proportion taey have become scarce; though rhs
ticket dealers make somo oxerton TO work up mania
over aud his readings So far they have had
small They have promised themselves
the price Of SINCE $50 but to-day bought a
for Monday ST. seats for subsequent
nights tor much loss.
Il may seem odd that there not great excitement
novelist here, whatever may prove to
elsewhere. particularly in view OF the Bostonian
tendency 10 doze all literary men who SO high p
envy between them and Boston cot ria Bn hoard
the other day hiDs this subject from gentleman
who - in sympathy with tue really high culture and
intellect that exists hcrc-by which do not the
intellect that 10 seed In The magazines HIS hint
touches the national sentnents-tne real patriotism
wbal Is best in the city socletyand the remembrance
that kept of Mr. Dickens thoughts and expressions
| against during tho war.
Errors OF Judgment Of course, are not 10 follow .
man all his lie; neither tho blunders OF the poll
tcian 10 be remembe cd against the In any other
character. Certain points the present mako Mr.
Dickens an exception - that rule. il be rcmem.
bersi that tae bii.erest parts Of Martin chuxzlewn
| and Of the "Amerlcan Notes are hose which
assaulted nation tho OF slavery. Hardly
pase without ts snccr, Its cavi savage diatrbs
uader this head We wers altogether damned In that
horr BILE evil. Indeed, In the American Notes.
1t 10 he observed that Nr Dickens IL less bit
ter "a proportion as he Is far from slavery lie
landed at Boston and exceedingly pleased, aud
dou otless got himself veil dled with Boston notions