St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-02-21

countrymen and our tiag, our press and
our institutions, because he repaid
muniticent hospitality by unmcrited
abuse. We regret Mr.. Dickens, pres
ence in this country because, during the
progress of war in which the dearest
hopes of the American people Were at
hazard. he, in season and out of season.
at the social table, i'll his personal rcla
tons with Americans, i'll his letters 10
friends i'll this country, bore testimony
against the war and denounced the cause
of the United States Government. 80
ANNOYED were Americans who had access
to him at the offensive expression of his
opinions that they were compelled to quit
his presence in order to avoid the uu-
pleasant scene which must result from an
honest indignation. We regret his pres
cnce here most of all, because our people,
IN their enthusiasm over = story-tcller
who has given them hours of plasure are
willing TO forgive the insults he has put
upon them, and to forget the truth,
which it is painful to US to record. that
Mr.. Dickens is par excellence the one
thing which should be most disgusting 10
4 nation of democrats-a vulgar snob
We realize that this Is u severe title, but
it is Il Just one. and TO it we look tor tine
only hope that the American people viii
be self-reSpectful in their treatment of
him. An aristocrat may possibly be
honored by democrat with perfect right
4 snob, never. Mr.. Dickcns's vulgar
love of display, and his willingness 10
play the Uriah Hccp to those no better
than himself except in empty title, show
him to be without that manly instinct
which the American people delight above
all things TO honor The recognition
heretofore extended to him in this cou,.-
Irv has been out of all proportion to his
true status us novelist. 1t l. not lust
to other eminent writers. both native
and foreign, that Mr.. Dickens should be
chosen truIn among them 10 he the rcCip-
lent of special honorS. Nathaniel llaw-
thornc was infinitely his superior; but
the American people never paid him
special court. Ms Stowe has received
no such recognition. Neither Irving,
Prescott, Bancroft, Motley nor any OF
those who have rendered the American
world of letter famous. and givcn il lis
position in the general literature OF the
race, ever received such recognition IL IS
accorded to the del.ncator OF the living
monstrosiiies of London. We drplure
this especially in the case of Mr.. Dickens
on account of his social relations. After
having brought up 4 very large family
10y u wife respected 10y all who knew her,
he, in her old AGE. casts her oil and lives
apart, 10 conSort, if the Lonl, II press Is
to hc believed, with younger and hand
somcr mates. His name has been asso-
Glazed uuplcasantiy with that OF his own
si~tcr-in-law, Miss llogarih. and with
that OF NJ Amy S,d-wick. the not, i
actress. With this stigma upon has
name. however much we may admire H.
talents. he Is no person 10 receive the
hOnnrs of Il people who honor virtue II
men. or TO ue admitted to the social cir
Gle and to be introduced 10 our wives and
daughters. We urge these consilrrL-
tionS in reference to Mr.. Charles Dick
ems in no spirit OF unkinlncSS TO English
literary men. We owe Il grcat and last
ing debt 10 the authors OF Great Britain.
We did owe something 10 Mr.. Dickens.
But the debt wis long ago Cancelled. Al
ter heapin% upon him such honors Is
have never been vouchsated any other
author in this country. i'll acknowledge
mcnt of the Indebtedness. his total lack
OF courteous appreciation OF gentlcmanly
treatment, and his immediate return Of
Scurrileu$ abuse, have proved him un-
worthy to receive, save contempt, any
thing from the American people, either
honors, adulat.on, or-what he most
Mants=lollarS