New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-11
CHARLES DICKENS.
HIS SECOND READING.


Ano+bor crowd greeted Mr.. Dickens with az.
fectonote welcome last night, at Steinway
Hall. The reading that was given comprised
six chapters selected from =" David COpperiield'
and one from "Pickwickr In the former were
included the episode Of David and Dora and
Steerforth and Emily, together with the descrlp-
ton of dinner with Wilkins Mcawber. The
latter was descriptive of Mr.. Bob Sawyers
party in the lodging house of Mrs. haddle.
The shadows of pathOs and the lights OF hui
NOR are deity blended in these selections, and
they were faithfully and delightfully."- repro
duced in the readers Interpretation Simplicity,
delicacy, reaity-these are the chief elements
of Mr.. Dickenss method as a reader and as an
actor. That they fare the elements OF his
method as a writer was long ago known to every
student of bis literary art. The works that he
has created could only have been created in ono
way: by minute diligent, and long-continued
observation of external life, faithful introsDec-
ton. and conscientious labOr-directed and
governed by the instinct Of taste. 1t was the
opinion of VOltare that the man Of taste Is
more rare even than the thinker MIR. Dickens
is both in one. He has been and is a great
observer. He has looked quite through the
he wishes TO describe is first definitely fixed in
his own mind, and is then as definitely painted
in words No vagueness pars either the con-
! ception or the painting. His characters arc
real to him. and he makes them real to lli
readers: and therein consists tue spell that he
| wields no less as an actor than as writer.
I'm rejecting upon the Readings that he has
| given the conviction of his absolute truthful
| hon IN m
| irresistible force. He has worn no mask.
! He has been an honest artist, ron
! the first and what he is doing now Is only tle
natural OutgrOwth Of what he has Deen OOng
all the days OF his life. To have heard these
readings is to have witnessed the spontaneous
| expression of "A great nature in the maturity
| of its greatness. There is something fine and
touching in the spectacle OF a lie SO earnest
and a career so symmetrical. writers ana
actors may well take to their hearts the mean
ing of the success of Charles Dickens. To
! learn the lesson of his fidelity 70 the simple
mechanical requisites OF art would DC an IN
! valuable gain To many persons Oh DOM ulOse
| classes His Reading, last night, was iuiI OF
| this Excellence. As on the first occasion ne
perfectly persOnatcd Bob Cratchit, the Little
| Judge Wrinkle, Weller and old Scr00ge-In the
| latter case even To so slight a detail rs the
| habit of putting the hand TO the mouth when
| speaking-sO, on the second occasion, he 0mlited
| no characteristic OF the unctuous humor ana
! stately bombast of the heroic Mlcawber, nor MIS-.
! Micawber's sweety insnuating gabble nor
particle of Mrs. Crupps garrulity nor the dole
| ful ldrawl of "lornD Mrs. Gummidge, nor the
! sbrill. vixenish sDitefuness OF Mrs. Raddle, nor
the bland benevOlence and child-lke simplicity
| of Mr. Pickwick Hard work was evident at
every point; but II was work that had been
done and that now told only IN Its periect re-
| sultS Ina this reading, rs before, Mr.. DICKENS
was happiest ia bis humorous embodlments.
! The moment he enters the realm OF humOr ne
is a monarch, and q merry one. His clear eyes
twinkle. his face is expressive or DuDOllng ihlIth
that is almost fOrcibly restrained, his voice
grows richer with iOlty, his whole being seems
| aroused His great comic hits last night, were
] Mrs. Gummidge Mrs. Raddes, and the story
of the necklace. There was true hnlnor, also, III
his personation of Bob Sawyers servant, and
I'm the delicious episode of poor little Dora.
| A he is somewhat less effective IN OntbuTsis
| of passionate emotion, 1t Is from Lack OF
| strength of voice, and not from lack of sympathy.
! Such bursts, hOwbeit, seldom occur in his read.
| ings--and. for the rest, his Interpretation OF
| simple pathOs is altogether perfect and admi-
| rabie. Who can forget Bob Cratchlt, holding
! Tiny Tins hand, then throwing HIM q KISS,
and brushing tear from his eyes, as ne pre-
| pares to propose the health OF Scr0Oger ~
| was a little action, but lt meant SO much!
! Those only who have children and fear to lose
| them, or loving them hare lost, can Know
! how much il meant. There were kindred
touches in Mr.. Dickenss Interpretation OF
| Pegotty. As the poor old man told, III sucI
sad, STRAIGHTFORWARD, hlInpt way, l"O o'Vi9 VI
| his Wanderings in search of Little Emily, Tiers
could not have been dry eye IN inc
| audience The noble aifectionate, almost
Christ-like hero stood very vislbly before us
| "TheIe was a fine, massive grandeur IN DIS
| face SAYS the story; aud that same eXiiltat0h
| sbone in the face of Charles Dickens, as 10
smoke the words-"And God only knows how
! GOOD them mothers was to me-" IN description,
| Mr. Dickens eXcels all writers OF nctlOl' pisI
or present-excepting, perhaps, ms great aho
! lamented brother In art, Inackelay' iHng
| Tempest chapter, IN DaVld OopperIlG;lu'
is a noble specimen OF his power III llIS ulIco-
ton. That chapter he read III greatly Son-
| densed form, last night; ana MS nluihs
! of il was brilliant and remarkable III
vmnb of simple and natural elOcutOn.
| The storm seemed to grow as ne pro-
! coded and every imaginative listener
! mnst have felt that strange, subtle
symnotby which sometimes seems to exist be-
| tween the strife of the elements and the tlaSc
! ordinations of human fate. Death ana Temp
! est closp hands at the climax of that thrilling
| scene One of the best artistic points M tho
novel is made as the narrative closes; and Mr.
Dickens gave il ample force, last night as ne
described the dead man, whose name H. I'M
mentioned -" But he led me to the Sh0ie;
And on that part of it where she and ihu
looked for shes,-twO children,-On that palt
of # where some lighter fragments oil the OH
boat blown down last night had been scattered
Inv the windS-amOng the ruins OF the HOUSE
he had wronged,-I saw him lying with ms
head upon his arm, as had often seen MN "'
mt school
LII. ..attVIIX