The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-22

gold Of Printing -House-Square; Tom Taylor, Mar
Lemon, Walter Thornbury, Andrew Halliday, VIII
make Bohemianism respectable; Westland Mars
ton, who used to come to Bronson Alcott's Conver
sations at Alcott House, Ham Common, with BIZ
hopes of a renovated race, who has, however
these many years, tried to realize his visions il
the mimic life Of the stage.
At last the beast is fed, the man is ready for hi
entertainment. The select chorus sings DR.. Johl
Smiths grace:
'Deum ,audate. propter beneficial sua,
Dorninum In excelsis laudate. Amen"
Lord Lytton, the Chairman, rises, and his speecl
in proposing the toast of the evening was Ger
tainly perfect thing OF it's kind
score of times the speech was interrupted b.
ringing cheers; but when Dickens arose he hat
to stand long while the shouts and thunder
stormed upon him. Men leaped upon chairs
tossed up napkins, waved not only glasses, but de
canters and haH-emptied champagne bottles, ove
their head-not without baptizing sundry per
sons under them-and then there was pressing
up the aisles from the lower tables until Dickens
was girt about by solid wall of his friends
Twice his throat faltered as he began; the glow o
his face came beforet he words, and all felt that
was sacred moment with him. His speech, flint
as it was, could not equal the impression of tina
first look. he said:
No thanks that can offer you can express m.
sense OF my reception by this great assemblage
nor can in the least suggest to you how deep the
glowing words OF my friend the Chairman, ane
your acceptance OF them, have sunk into my heart
But both combined have 80 greatly shaken the
composure which ] am used to command before
ordi hat I
some traces OF an eloquence more expressive thar
the richest words. (Cheers.1 To say that an
ferventy grateful to you is to say nothing; TO say
that can never forget this beautiful sight Is tc
say nothing; to say that it brings upon me rush
OF emotion not only In the present, but In the
thought Of it's remembrance in the future by those
who are dearest to me, is to say nothing; but tc
feel all this for the moment, even almost to pain
is very much indeed. (Cheers.] Mercutio saws
of the wound in his breast, dealt him BY the hand
of foe, that '"ris not 80 deep as we'll, nor sc
wide as church door; but It's enough, twill
serve" I may Say of the wound In my breast
newly dealt to me by the hands OF my friends, tina,
it is deeper than the soundless sea, and wider
than the whole Catholic Church. [Cheers and
lauphl I may safely add that it has for the mo-
ment almost stricken me dumb. I should be more
than human, and I assure you am very human
indeed [cheers1, if ! could look around upon this
brilliant representative company and not Zee
greatly thrilled and stirred by the presence OF SO
many brother artists, not only IN literature, put
also in the sister arts, especially painting among
whose professors, living and unhapplly dead, are
many Of my oldest and best friends. [Cheers.]
hope that may, without presumption, regard
this thronging Of my brothers around me as tes-
tmony on their part that they believe that the
cause of art generally has been safe In my keeping
[oheersl, and that it has never been falsely dealt
with by me. (Cheers.l Your resounding cheers
lust now would have been but 80 many cruel re-
proaches to me if could not here declare that,
from the earnest days OF my career down TO this
proud night, have always tried to be true to my
calling [cheersl-never unduly to assert it, on tae
one hand, and never, on any pretense or consde'
ration to permit it to be patronized in my person,
has been the steady endeavor OF my life lcheers ];
and have occasionally been vain enough TO nope
that may leave Its social position IN England
better than found it. [Cheers.1 Similarly and
equally hope without presumption, trust that
may take this general representation OF the pubic
here, through 30 many orders, pursuits,
and degrees, as token that the public
believe that, with host OF imperfectlons
and shortcomings on my head, have ae
q writer in my soul and conscience, tried to be
as true to them as they have ever been true to me-
[Cheers] And here, in reference to the inner cir,
Gle of the arts and circle OF the public,
feel it duty tonight to offer two remarks. have
in my duty at odd times heard great deal aoou'
literary sets, and cGques, and coteries, and par.
riers about keeping Lhis man up, and keeping that
man down; about sworn disciples, and sworn un.
believers; and mutual admiration societies, and
know not what other dragons III the upward path
I began to tread it when was very young, WITH
out influence, without money, without companion,
introducer or adviser, and l am bound to put II
evidence in this place that never lighted on these
dragons yet. [Cheers.] So have | heard 10 my
dav, at divers other odd times, much generally tc
the effect that the English people have little or nc
love of art for it's own sake and that they 90 not
greatly care to acknowledge or do honor to the
Nv m uniformly
actly the reverse. [Cheers.l l can say that OF my
countrymen, though cannot say that Of my coun'
try. A laugh.l
And now, passing to the immediate occasion o.
your doing me this great honor, the story OF my
going again to America Is very easily ana orle1y
told. Since was there before vast and entirely
new generation has arisen in the United States
Snoe was there before most OF the best knoWI
of my bo oks have been written and published; the
new generation and the books have come togethei
and have kept together, until at length number.
of those who have SO widely and constantly reac
me naturally desiring little variety in the rela
tionship between Us, have expressed strong wisf
that should read myself. (Cheers.] This WISH
at first conveyed to me through public channels
and business channels, has gradually become en-
forced By an immense accumulation OF Letters
from individuals and associations OF Individuals
ali expressing in the same hearty, homeG cordial
unaffected way, kind of personal interest In mt
4 had almost said o KIND OF personal atectloI
for me [cheers1 which am sure you would agree
with me it would be dull rnsensibity on my par
not to prize. Little by little this pessa pressure na
says, my household gods strike terribly deeI
root I have torn them from their places, ant
this day week at this hour, shall be upon the sea
You will readily conceive thai l am inspired pc
side by natural desire to sec Tor myseI I'M
astonishing change and progress OF q9arte
of a century over there, to grasp the hands o
,aany faithful friends whom left there, 70 see th'
faces Of the multitude Of new friends upon whom
have never looked, and last, not least to use m!
best endeavor to lay down third cable lcneers
| Of intercommunicatlon and alliance between tn'
| Old World and the New. Loud cheers.1 Twelve
| Years ago. when Heaven knows little thought
should ever be bound upon tho voyage which nov
laws before me- wrote in that form OF my writing
which obtains by far the most extensive circrla
| tion, these words Of the. American nation:
| know full we'll, whatever little NOTES my beam.
ewes may have deserted in theirs that they are
| kind, large hearted, generous and great peop'e.
| IHear.l In that faith I am going to see them
again: IN that fsith shall, please God, return
from them in the Spring; in that same faith to iv
and to die. ] told you, IN the beginning, that
GOULD 3ot thank you enough, anG Aeaven knows
| If may quote one other short sentence from my
self, let it imply all that have left unsaid ant
| vet most deeply feel. Let it, putting glrdl
round the earth, comprehend both sides OF tn
Atlantic at once IN this moment, anu say, aS LII
Tim observes, "God bless us every one.'
The scene at various passages Of this addres
was indescribable, although some Of its alluson
may not be wholly intelligiblo in this countr!
When, for example, he spoke with much feeling
bis never having permitted his calling, on ary pre-
tence or consideration, to be patronized In his pei
son, it was appreciated by those who knew thf
not only had aristocrats who sought him in SUI
cess whom they had snubbed in early day
been snubbed in their turn, but that whe
o still higher parsonage than any arst'
crat, desired to have Mr. Dickens act in theatr
cal part in an exalted drawing-room, ne had r.
turned the simple answer; "Mr. Dickens decline
to appear as an artist in any place where he cou
not appear as o man."
When the dinner was over Mr.. Dickens returne
to the ante-room, where mutitudes gathere
about him to bio him farewell, noble Lord shoe
his hand at the door as he wac departing and, whe
he had got outside the door, an old woman Of IL
people graspsd bis hand, aud, STOPPING, kissed