Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-16
CHARLES DICKENS.

At Getting on Friday evening IN
Henry Ward Beecher's church, one of tn
congregation in speaking referred to the
death of Charles Dickens and was troub-
led to decide whether to pronounce him q
christian or not.
Mr.. Beecher said he supposed that the loss
they had sustained would produce more a
feeling of personal loss than any that had CO.
CURED since the death of Walter Scott.
Dickens was the man of the household.
He was man with gentle, sympathetic. and
human feeing-more so than almost any
that used the pen. He took hold of what
they might call the great middle class of feel
ing in the human mind. Whether he was
christian man in the experimental term God
only knew He could speak about his per-
sonal private life He thought the
other question difficult matter to decide.
When man was brought up under different
circumstances and in different institutions
from their own they would be apt to appar-
rcntly differ, and they would be hardly rec
ognized from them. They were influenced
by some men whom it was very difficult to
appraise or classify, or say whether they
were little nearer this or that side, or
whether they were truly Christian or not.
He recollectcd that his father had great
doubts at one time as to the Christian life
and character of Bishop Heber, in Germany,
and expressed his doubts therefor; but no
one in this generation would entertain these
doubts for moment.
Mr. Dickens has accomplished more than
any man in his life-work-so to speak-with-
out any distinctive Christian bias. His labors,
and the results attendant thereon, were far
different from those of Bulwer and Byron.
His writings did not teach pride, and certain
v had no tendencies towards license and dis
sipations, but the generic influences of his
writings were to make man pure and more
humane, and to render the household more
happy and contented. He did not believe
there was line to be found in his writings
that would tend to produce RIGHTEOUSNESS or
dissipation. On the single account of drink,
| would make an exception. He stood upon
that ground upon which God in His provi-
dcnce is already operating. He belonged to
the old school, who did not advocate temper
ance principles and he was glad that the
old school was passing away. Dickens was
a great benefactor of his race, though he was
not engaged in higher sphere, such as the
spiritual element. God has given him sue
cess in his work-such success that was sell
dom vouchsafed to others similarly engaged.
He devoted his life to the amelioration OF the
human race, and he accomplished good IN
this respect. We must be grateful to God
fol what he has done. What he did he did
we'll, and he has passed off the stage in one
moment in the fulFenjoyment OF his faculties.
Charles Dickens is man who is entitled to
the highest and noblest honor, and is entitled
to be reckoned among the best of men.
The House displayed great liberality in
passing the River. and Harbor bill,
which contains appropriations for all parts
of the country, among them for the i'm
provement of Union river, Me-, 5000 !;
for improvement of navigation opposite
Bath, $4,000; for the Kennebec, SO, 200;
for Portland harbor, $4,000, for Saco
river, $4,000; for Kennebunk river,
$4,000; for Merrimack river, $4,000; for
Taunton river, $4,000; for Plymouth
harbor, $4,000; for Hyannis harbor,
Sl2 900: for the preservation and improve
ment of Boston harbor, 100000; for the
construction of a breakwater at Block
Island, $50, 900; for Pawtucket river,
$4,000; for Providence river $4,000; for
Connecticut river, $4,000; for New
Haven harbor, $l5, 200; and for Burling-
ton harbor, $4,000. Surveys are also
ordered at Royals, Naragaugus and Sui
ivan river, Maine; Cocheco river, New
Hampshire; Paweatuck river, Rhode
Island and Housatonic river, with Bridge
port and Southport harbors, Connecticut.