New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-10
CHARLES DICKENS.
HIS FIRST READING IN NEW YORK.

as Micawber somewhere remarks, "crushed out
of his original form by the accumulatiye force
of q combination of circumstances In time,
however after some surging and seetlGng, the
| human sea settled into calm. SO settled, it
presented beautiful and touching spectacle
The heart, the intellect, the wit, the sensibility,
the beauty, the wealth, the industrial power of
the foremost Of American cities were all repre-
| scented in that vast assembly-were all
| united by q common impulse in doing hOmags
to man of true and benelicent genius. To
see and TO feel this was to be deeply and mex
pressibly thrilled-was 10 realize, with gladness
and gratitude, the profound devotion OF true
hearted men and women to great natural
guide and leader. An immense chord OF feel
ing has been touched and sounded by Charles
Dickens. In thirty years of literary lie-years
of self-imposed, unremitting, scrupulolis toll
animated by that noblest Of all motives, the
desire to augment the happiness OF mankind
he has created immortal works OF art, has
peOped literature with vast variety OF char
acters, has interpreted human nature and the
passing age has struck down great social
abuses. has taught the sacred lesson of charity,
has comforted the poor, has stretched out handa
of loving pity to the Outcast and wretched.
has supplied never-failing source of innocent
and happy laughter has stimulated the high
poetic instincts of our race, and has in every
way ncuIcated sweet, pure, and noble ideals
of character and of conduct. Thus labOring lie
has won in equal measure the homage and the
love of his generation. Something of this af-
| fectionate feeling was heartily expressed by his
audience last night; nor in all that great
| throng was there a single mind unconscious OF
4 - 0lst
| partially, to thank Charles Dickens for all the
! happiness he has given to the world. 1t is a
| better world because of him. The present 10
happier for his sake, and the future will
| brighten at the coming of his genius.
| In the Readings that Mr.. Dickens gave, last
night, the character Of that genius was fully
and admirably denoted. The Keynote OF all
his writings is sounded in the Christmas
| CarOp and the "Pckwick Papers" Humanity
| and humor blend in that note, and make an
exquisite music. Other of his works, it is true,
express more amply, and in more minute and
| elaborate detail the scope of the writer's mind.
the vigor and wealth of his. imagination, the
wonderful thOroughness of his analysis of ma
| ture, the keenness of his intuitions, the depth
of his pathos the remarkable perception that
he has of the somber and tragical aspects of
human experience, and the rich resources OF his
eloquent style. There are single passages ~
in "The Old Curiosity Shop and in that
strong and splendid tragic creation " Tale OF
| Two Cities to which the critic will naturally
and necessarily recur, in forming a true esd
| mate Of this extraordinary man; i mere Il no
! written storm like the storm IN which Steertorth
| goes down to death. There is no horror more
! CHASTITY than the face of Jonas ChuHzewit In
the wood. There is no pathos more heart,
breaking than that which enwraps the aged
mOurner at Nelly's grave. There is no emblem
| of self sacrifice more vivid or more sublime
than the figure of Sydney Carton at the guIllo-
tine. The assured power of maturity is palpa-
| BILE in all these scenes and persons. They
express a deep heart that has suffered deeply.
Yet, TO the acute thinker, the char
acteristic quality of that heart and mind are
evident enough in the Christmas Carol" and
the "Pickwick Papers" Not humanity and
humor alone; but delicate inventive skill--thee
fine talent of the artisan airy and delghtfui
| fancy, true comprehension OF character and
of social relations, thorough acquaintance ana
sympathy with common Joys ana common aI S sTL.
! purpose to inculcate the religion OF love. Inc
J geniality of the Christmas season has never
been so entirely uttered as it Is in this little
work. The great fires roar in its, pages, and
bright eyes sparkle. and merry bells ring, and
sunlight and starlight and JOY wrap II ronno
| about in delicious atmosphere of honest ardent
goodness. There is one touch of paathos IN IL
! which no heart can resist. 1t is where poor
Bob Cratchit speaks of Tiny Tins grave.
You may read it o thousand times, but you can m
never read it without q mist i'll the eyes. III
would have done you good to see how green
place it is" Bob says but you'll see 1t often.
Sunday. My little, little child My little
| child!" There is another touch-a touch OK
| thOught-which expresses the great authors
faith, and is, indeed, the concentrated spirit OK
all his teachings ages OF incessant LABOR
| by immortal creatures for this, earth must
pass into eternity before the good OF which IL
is susceptible is all developed. :. Any Christian
| spirit working kindly in its little sphere, wnat-
ever it may be, will find its mortal LIE too
| short for its vast means OF usefulness" Inc
| author who teaches thus assuredly does not
work in vain. 1t is another article OF his falth'
too that there is nothing In the world so IRE,
| sistibly contagious as laughter and GOOD
humGr and that he has proved BY gc the ssObS ~
won abundant sympathy, last night. Not alone
the music of his tones, but the deeper voice OF
| his genius, found an echo in every heart.
| Mr.. Dickens is not only an excellent reader
but greatly gifted actor. To read ms VOTES
is to see that he possesses in an eminent ue,
! gree the dramatic instinct. TO hear him read
| is to see that he also possesses, ID almost equai
| fullness the dramatic faculty. In reading as
| well as writing he enters into every chaiac.er
| that he creates His personality, Tor the tlIne,
ia extinct Now he is Scrooge, presently he is
| Mr.. Fezziwig anon is he Bob Cratchlt, ana
nv and by he passes, with extraordinary NcrsatlI-
! ity of mood through the guises OF Sergeant bnz-
| friZZ, the Little Judge, Mrs Clnpplns Nlnhle Tue
renowned sportsman, and Samuel W eiier' no
several presentations are complete nc all poiits'
! This capacity of merging ones sell INTO cnaI-
| acter is of course, the indlspensable reqlllSSle
for good acting. To say that Mr.. Dickens nas
it is sufficiently TO explain the c9i !Il I;a
! triumphs that he has achieved in reading MS
| own works. 1t is needful to add, however, tIiie
| he uses it like an artist. The chief feature III
his method is simplicity--whlch implies per-
| feet knowledge of the effect TO De proui9eua
| and perfect control of tho means ina.
! ita IL.