New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-29
GEO. W1L1I1M CURTIS ON cH1S. DICKENS.

Trenor's Lyric Hall was densely filed last
night by select and highly intelligent audience to hear
lecture by the Hon. Geo. VIM. Curtis the character
and writings Of Charles Dickens.
Mr. Curtis commenced by saying that delight I'm the
tales OF the Imagination was characteristic Of human
nature and no more. After beautiful DESCRIPTION OF
the works of fiction which form part our English
literature, he said In 1885, young reporter of The
author OF sketches published the signature of
Boz By these sketches he added somewhat to his salary
as reporter. volume OF these were pub
lished with illustrations, by Geo. Cruikshank.
This young author was Charles Dickens the subject Of
s went to & RG s S
should write little monthly publication, adapted 10
his friends told him he had made great mistake, and
that the work undignfed. Mr. Dickens replied that
he must be permitted TO judge for hmself-he did
judge for himself and for us, and the first
numbers OF ,'Ihe Posthqmous, Papers OF the
into the field of English literature the friend Of the
world meeting It with more hearty grasp OF the hand
were simply introduced into a simple parOr, or country
house, and among common people ~, 60.
The humanity Of English literature was born with
Dickens Carlyle Indicated its beginning-the
bitterness, he was telling Of the possibilities Of
this world 1t was left for Dickens to this world
Since ' Dickens began, host Of others bad followed
writing in unison with the great heart Of humanity
Walter Savage, Lander, Charlotte BrOnte, Charles
Kingsley Robt Browning. and many others had written
in the same spirit The great object of stOrywriting
was not TO amuse the imagination simply, II
was TO make us better men and women aud TO
lead In the paths Of virtue The juRgOr could amuse
and the silly jests Of the bufoon could make laugh
il these the objects to be sought. What we wanted
was to be made happier, kinder. moro thoughinl OF
Others and less careful OF ourselves and this was what
Dickens had done. (Applause) He had touched the
great heart Of humanity, and inspired noDier
and kindlier feeling among men ana women,
one toward another Dickens In literature means what
Jenny Lind in Dickens had dealt in real
characters such meet the street every day-al
OF them, however, somewhat exaggerated, or rather
caricatured, like the pictures IN Punch; yet the
likeness was always so correct that we could
renognlze the parties they represented, Just as
we recognize the pictures Of Lord Brougham
In Punch In Dckenss stories every object was alive
Bulwers heroes never made permanent impression
the memory like those OF Dickens which in our memo
res real personalities and which remembered
rs distinctly as men and with whom we had been
familiar in life. Though the speaker had participated
somewhat in the feeling against Mr. Dickens on account
OF his American NOtes,i descriptive OF is hTst visit
the United States he was disposed to apologize Tor MN
He this country TO look after an internatlOha
copyright and not 10 be fcted and lonzed. lie went
bnck disappointed. Though Mr. Dickens had maze many
mistakes he had also told many truths Upon the whole,
the American Notes was just about such DOOh as
such man might justly be expected 20 write.
The speaker closed with touching description OF MT
Dckenss last reading IN America, at stelnWay nan AS
passed away from our city and from America
who did not say, FAREWELL farewell! May Coo bless
my friend and the worlds friend, Charles Dickens.