The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-20

II We we're 10 judge FROM the number Of vacant charo
scattered here and there in stsinwsy Hall last night we
should ssy that the game OF the spsculators In tickets
for the Dickens readings was somewhat spoiled; noe
that the sudisncs nearly large and quite q
respectable a. usual In fact artist author or reader
assd desire any better but nsverthssss the thing was
patent that the house not crowded and that tickets
were sold BY the army Of spsculao on the sidewalk a.
lev ssvsnty-nvs cents Mr. Dickens selected Tor hin
subjects, nicholas Nckeby II squssr's School," aud
Boots a the Holly Tree Innn Dickens Is Of an
actor than a. socutioniss, and we were strongly i'm.
pressed With the idea that there are many
people who could have read his stories better
than he does himself and We we're further
led to the idea that his books can better enjoyed By
reading them than BY hearing them read by Dicksn6
The only Characters for example, in Ncklsby which he
gave IN completely pictorial form were squssrs and
John Brodie In squeers had not only the voice
and manner Of the illteats despot OF Dotheboys HALL
bus Mr. Dickens delivered his sayings with one eye
closed 80 40 10 complete the picture The lisp OF MISE
squssrs which Of the catching points in the de-
lneaton Of that unamabe young adys character was.
II We may use the term, artistcaly done. and John
Brodiss dialect brought the rude and kind hearted
countryman before u.s. But We must say that poor
Smke suffered sadly No one who heard Mr.. Dickena'
efforts to portray in speech the character which
NJ has ~ uomiIholy acSCIiDoa In PRINT pus
must have felt less sympathy with the unfortunate
outcsst boy than the written description haslsft with all
who read "Nicholas Nickebyn Tho reading OF the let
tes an inmitable touch OF humor and the scene A
the card table between Nicholas. John Brodis, Mss
Squeers. and Miss Masde Price was Representatives
OF the authors idea with which We are mot dis.
posed to md fault We have seen tho picture and
heard the dialogue many time in the printed pages
Of the story, and herein lies the inequality OF Dcksns'
reading power. Now and then he literally reproduceS
himself and you his characters before you
times he disappoin ones impressions OF the most sub
tie and agreeable idea Of the impenonasions which he
has drawn In the second portion OF the reading Boots
q the Holly Tree Inn" Mr. Dickens was more .. home
than in Nicklsby In reading a. IN writing Dickens %
not always aiuent In pathos Carcature 10 hs forte.
and he is absolutely without master when he gsts
among holsters and shoots and ths lower strata Of
English life.
Mr. Dickens has now given rs the finest illustrations
which he has written OF English society in its various
phases he has seen it. Why not treat u with sight
Of Martin lhuzzlsw Mark Isplsy, Elijah Pogrsm, Jef-
ferson Brick and Mrs Todssrss They all exist to-day.
vsnced civilization, but they ssl i've" The ssnsi-
tivensss Of twenty years ago has vanished and Mr.
Dickens need fear that will welcome his pictures
Of these distinguish American worthless with as much
pleasure complacsncy - those OF sam Weller, Mr..
Pecksnin, Sarey Camp and "Ars. Squeers, my dear"