The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-10
Death of The Great Novelist, Yes
terday Afternoon, Near Lon
don, at The Age of So.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
His Career as Journalist, Novelist,
and Playwright-The ImmOr-
tai Mr.. Pickwick, and
His Other Household
Characters.

LONDON, June 10.-Charles Dickens, the emil
nent author died yesterday afternoon, at the
age of ffty-eight.
Later Particulars.
LONDON, June 10-Charles Dickens died at
twenty minutes past six o'clock last evening, of
paralysis,
THE CAREER OF CHARLES DICKENS.
The announcement which the above cable
despatch makes will create a sensation no less
profound in this country than in England. The
yoluminous writings of Mr.. Dickens were so
well known throughout the length and
breadth of the land his books have been for
years in the hands of so many such eager null
titudes have thronged the halls In which his
readings have been delivered, that his death will
come home to hundreds of thousands, and will
be mourned as would be the death of near and
valued personal friend.
His Early Life.
Charles Dickens was born at Landport, Ports
mouth, England, on the 7th of February, 1872,
and had, therefore fully completed his fifty
eighth year at the time of his death. His father,
John Dickens, had for many years held posi-
tion in the pay department of the navy, from
which he retired in 1885, on pension He was
a man of considerable literary requirements,
and, removing to London after his resignation,
he became connected with one of the daily papers
of the English metropolis as reporter of Par
liamentary debates. His son Charles he in
tended for the profession of the law, and accord
ingly placed him at an early age in an attorneys
Office as clerk. In this position he was by no
means idle, but acquired a thorough knowledge
of the complicated machinery and technical
phraseology of the law, which he was enabled
in after years to turn to such excellent use.
The drudgery Of the work, however, weighed
heavily upon his spirit, as taste for literary
pursuits was developed and manifested chiefly
at first by an indiscrminate reading of novels
and plays.
He Becomes n Journalist.
Happily, his fathers journalistic associations
enabled him to exchange his dstasteful pursuits
for a more congenial occupation. He became
attached to the True S,ta, a daily London jour
nal, as a reporter, and soon after transferred
himself to the Morning Chronicle, a paper
which at that time possessed large circulation
and was at the very height of its popularity,
under the management of Mr.. John Black 1t
was in 1884 that he had begun to contribute to
the Old Monthly Magazine, his first paper in
that periodical being 'Mrs. Joseph Porter over
the way" This was followed by "Horatio
Sparkins," and "The Boarding House," but it
was not until the publication of the second
paper under the last title that he assumed the
pseudonym of "Boz, 'as may be found by reference
to the Old Monthly for August 1884. Mr..
Elack soon recognized the ability of the
young man, and gave him an opportunity to
exercise it to the best advantage by publishing
a series of Sketches of English Life and Char
acter, in which were displayed his versatility
and piquancy of style. These sketches were
published in the evening edition of the
Chronicle, over the signature of
"BOz,o
and at once attracted great attention by reason
of the remarkable and original vein of observa-
ton which characterized them, although by
many they were denounced because the powers
OF the unknown writer were exercised to &c
great an extent in the delineation of scenes of
misery and vice, and the exposure of the in
frmities of humanity The popularity of the
sketches, however, was so great, that in 1861
they were collected and published in three
volumes, under the title of 'Sketches by Boz,
and enjoyed large sale.
Early Dramatic Triumphs.
While writing the Sketches" strong incli.
nation towards the stage induced Mr.
Dickens to test his powers as a dramatist anC
his first piece, farce called The Strange Gen
tLendn, was produced at the st. James Theatre
on the opening night OF the season, September
20, 1886. The late Mr. harley was the hero O
the farce, which was received with great favor
This was followed by an opera, called tn
village Ooquettes, for which Mr.. Hullal
composed the music, and which was brought on
at the same establishment, Tuesday Decembe
@, 1886. The quaint humor unaffected pathos, AM
graceful lyrics of this production found promp
recog ignition, and the piece enjoyed prosperou
run. The Village Coquetes took its title fror
two village girls, Lucy and Rose, led away b.
vanity, coquetting with men above them i
tation, and disearding their humble thoug
worthy lovers. Before, however, it is too late
hey see their error, and the piece terminate
apply Miss Rainforth" aud "Miss Juli
mith" were the heroines, and "Mr. Bennett
nd 'iMr. Gardner" were thsir betrothed lovers
.Blaham' was the Lord OF the Manor, VIII
ould have led astray the fair Lucy" Their
as a capital scene where he was detecte
"Lucys" father, played by Strickland, url
pg an elopemenE, Harley had a trlhin