The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-16
The Lilo and Works OF Charles Dickens.
.DinIrana .uaa horn In Eal,ruaeu 1910

His father, Mr.. John Dickens, was an
official of the British Admiralty, who
after leaving this service in 1916, settled
in London and became connected with
the metropolitan press. Dickens was
''articled" for the bar, but his tastes
were in another line, and young Dickens
connected himself with the staff of a
newspaper, and thus, as o journalist, he
began his literary career. His first con-
tributions were police reports, which he is
said to have made peculiarly lively and
interesting. He also made sketches of
London life, in its more familiar aspects,
and these having come out over the sig
nature of "Boz," in this way, it will be
seen, that he began his literary life. His
adoption of this non,me de plane, is
thus explained by writer:
"He had younger brother, q simple
hearted and credulous boy, whom it had
pleased him to baptize as "Moses," by
reason of his curious resemblance to the
hero of the case of green spectacles in
Goldsmith's charming story of the wi
car of Wakefield Their little sister,
unable to shape her lips to this name,
called the boy "Boz," and Dickens, fas-
cinated ythe droll syllable, adopted it
as the mask of his first literary effort"
Dickens first formal work was the
"Pickwick Papers," which came out in
serial form, under the name of "Boz."
This made the young writer distinguish
ed. We regard this one of Dickens
best achievements. AS another has we'll
said: we recall with interest "the ample
paunch and elaborate CATERS of Mr..
Pickwiclz, the anxious face and the slcn-
der legs of Mr.. Winkle, tho airy gestures
and the defantly knowing hat of Mr..
Samuel Weller"
Nor will our legal friends easily forget
the case of Bardell vs. Pickwick. This
work came out about the year 1886. when
Dickens was about twenty-four years old.
Next followed, i'll the year 1887, "Oliver
Twist" admirable novel. Who can
over forgot the picture of Oliver plead
ing ''for more" or of Fagin, the master
thief, as he sits in the fclon-cell of New
gate, "biting desperately at his finger
nails" Next camo "Nicholas Nicklcby,"
with the wan, shadowy features of Smike
impressed upon its pages; and also the
petty tyranny and exquisite tortures of
the brutal Squeors. With regard to the
effect of this work on certain class of
English schools, where boys were fcl on
thin soup and thinner letters, we have
tho authority of Dickens, himself, who,
when in New York, modestly remarked
to Mr.. Henry Ward Beecher, that since
this work of ''Nieholas Nickleby" was
written, "those schools had disappeared
from England" Next came 'AIaster
Humphreys Clock" and "Old Curiosity
Shop" with the image Of "Little Nell"
and "Barnaby Rudge." This brings us
to the year 1S41, about which time, Mr..
Dickens visited this country. After his
return to England, from 1924, he
published his much abused american
Notes." Next followed "NIartin Chuz-
zlewit." After this, Mr.. Dickens visited
Italy. Upon his return to England, he
established the "Londom Daily Ne,cs."
But this he soon forsook, and returned
to serial and independent publications
of his own fancies.
In 1850, after Dickens had published,
in 1918, "Dombey and Son." and in
1840-9 '"The History of David Copper
field" he founded that weekly miscel-
lany, "HouseAold Ipords," which, after
nine years of service in its behalf, he
abandoned for 'AN the Year Round."
Next came in rapid succession from
Dickens prolific pen and teeming fancy,
"Bleak House," 1851 ''Little Dorrit,"
(1856,) "a Tale of Two Cities" "The
Uncommercial Traveller" 'Great Ex-
pectations," "Our Mutual Friend"
works which engaged the last twenty
years OF his life. When the great
master died. he was engaged in publish
ing "Tho Mystery of Edwin Drood,"
which work, it is said, he had COM
xN11 e., T.