Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-04-24
OLD SERIES.

pulses oil tbe heAft, AMI JUST the man TO
record the doings OF the immortal Pick wick
Club. and to scourge .'Squecrs" with his
satire.
| But what sort OF a reader is hep Well he
doesn't read a, all. He puts the book aside
At the outset. and never refers to it, lie
comes in much rs somc familiar friend might
do-a iiiend who 10 perfectly at home and
always welcome, n rcady-tongued. initiative
sort of man. who always has some comical
thing to relate-and in q perfectly easy
unaffected and thoroughly colloquial tone.
tells you the story. Ii il not reading, it is
story telling. And he doesn't by any means.
conhne himself to the text. He not only
trims dosn his selections, bat he improvises
without regard to what is written. As an
elocuiionist he could never succeed. His
voice is husky. not powerful, and this to-
gether with his constant use OF the rising
infection. makes his reading OF mere mar
ratiSe monotonous. Bnt il is his dramatic
genius that overcomes these defects His
power OF facial expression is wonderful; il
is much what he does rs what he says
that constitutes the charm of his perform
ance. He gives q distinct voice to each
char acter. and TO an extraordinary extent
assumes the personality Of each. AT one
momen, he is savage old Scrooge, at the
next. his jolly nephew, and in the twink!ing
OF an eye little ;imid, lisping Bob Cratchit
appears. AL this is effected by the play Of
features rs well as the varying tones of
voice. Ii is the comical or the savage twist
OF the mou;h-the former TO the right. the
latter to the left-tbe elopgation oil the lace,
the roll or twinkle OF the eyes, and above
all the wonderful lift of the eyebrows. that
produce such surprising and drligh,ful
effects. And then he not only per.onaies
his characters he performs their actions.
This he does by means oil his wonderfully
flexible hngers. which he converts at
pleasure into company Of dancers. and
makes to act and speak in a hundred ways
He rubs and pats his hands. he fourishes
all bis fingers, be shakes them, he points
them. he makes them equal TO q whole stage
company in the performance OF the parts.
But then the man bmself is also there
Dickens. the author. comes In at intervals
TO enjoy bis own fun; you see him in tho
twinkle OF the eye and the curve OF the
mouth. When the audience laugh, be beams
all over with radiant appreciation oil The
fun.
Old Scroogc, with hIs nasal growl. anG
savage twist oi the mouth was represented
to the Iiie The scene when bob" tells
what Tiny Tim said coming from cbur ch
is in the highest degree pathetic. and
brought tears to sympatbetie eyes. But we
agree with Kate Field that BoL's cry at the
death of Tin. My little. little child" is
given with too dramatic an air. Bob would
not have been so demonsirative--But the
pudding was there ever such another. How
we smell that cloth. how We sniff and almost
taste the pudding. This scene was highly
enjoyed 10y the audience. Fezziwig's party
WAS cap:ially presented. and the way in
which that Topper is represented as always
in pursuit OF the plump sister was as good
as play. Here the sly twist OF the mouth
and the twinkle OF the eye came admirably
into play.
As for The Trial from Pickwick, the scene
was presented with wonderful dramatic
power. IL was married. however. By being
so much cut down to bring it within the
time allotted to IL. Mr.. Dickens. il seemed
to US. did not gnite present the personality
Of the pompous Buzfuz. hut he brougb, out
the strong points OF hiss speech with most
comiral effect. Here the rising infection
Of voice aided in producing the most anus
ing results. But Justice Stareleigh was
the grea, success OF the place. His owl
like gravity and entire stupidity were re-
presented to the life. The effects were
here produced by most surprising play Of
features. The mouth became weak and
drawn down tho eyes wide open. round and
blinking. the eyebrows elevated ia a con-
slant effect 10 maintain the Judicial dignity
In this character. Mr.. Dickens entirely dis
appeared. and the little Justice stood in BIS
place. II was wonderful pcrsonation and
was highly appreciated by the audience.
Sam Weller vas syly humorous. and as
for old Tony. when he asked in his gruffe.t
tones - Samicel, Samivst, vy IcurHt there
a haiiey bHr the house roared, and under
cover Of that laugh Mr. Dickens disappeared
from our sight forever.
Well. Il is a great pleasure 10 have seen
and heard him hereafter his works will
have reality and power greater than ever
before, for faith IN tbe man and his
thoroughly genial and humane spi,it j,
strengthened and confirmed by his own in
terpretation OF himself.
4 Justice better verscd in Lac Than 0os-