, 1870-08-18

rietr-an old enemy OF Dickens. and. ia my
opinion, very unfair one, for, while Il con-
stAnt,y etroVe to depreciate him, no journ,l
ever stole moro from his writiuGs--has this
week spoken out wf.at has been widely said
IN society am thorough adulirer OF Dick
ens. knew him pretty intimately, and all that
l eTes saw OF bin made me like him as = man
As we'll - a11nfre him a. an author. But
cannot e1cuse this will. Think the legacy to
Hiss Terpal1. Mlate 1.au4e IL 30 painful to the
wife. in lad taste and qdita Unnecessary, ~
tho all might haze teen gireu IN another
to Miss hosaath. and the ciliili1g coiduess
wi.h WAiyh Mrs. Dickens ia referred to. dis
c5edltatfe to Dickens. It is legacy OF
hatred, and must make every member of tho
family more or less uncomfortable. Ths dit-
ftrelc.s with Mrs. Dickens, aftot all, ware
questions Of temperament. No reHectioa
was ever breatbed upon her character. Yet
Bhe was allowed to be ignorant Of bis Illness,
she WIS., studlously kept away frora tha fune-
tal, and has been treated throughout as
though deserving to wear the Scarlet Letter.
The Ndtxrddy ker1eto refesa to the mode in
which Dickens first naade known lis DOMESTIC
troubles to the world, aud conttasts that
parade with the stzict silence Of the wife. It
then continues
''Wtth the worst taste. Sir. Dickens, when in
married !.ts public property; aad dying he has 70
ptated ttle wrong anu offence. Ptut1sa aQd pnc-
tioua and stilted In as expressions OF gratitude TO
his Mfes 4tsser. liberal III tue prosiaon tn !, he
has male for rnat lady, not foEgetful OF au0tber
1ady, he has reduced his Wtfe'a income By one han
alter his death, With something Of se!f-lauta1ory
ANNOUNCEMENT that he has already been far TOO
generous to her during his !fe- lie leaves to bis
Wtic, Is al annuity, the Interest ol 10U0, coupled
with the boRstfn Reminder that he hls since their
Brpa1 alton allowed her E60a q year. We hard
Mr. Dickens had been annorci bY
tis wite:s temper, or lack OF sympathy with his
k,nlas S. cf which ne are told mat be Ii tue evan
Eelstt might nave warmed his heart or Ills peu
Tlen hc CAME to speak OF the mother of hi,
ehNdren with the wor.ls Ut lying man- Ills
heart might Tie all charity anu all love 10 1na
whole human race. tntit was chilly enough 10 one
dsrossesseF! ia,fE, that lady his OWL Wife-Tho,
nheteer M ehe has Tronys Or soEsows, at least keos
item tu hcfstt1. TU Miss Tefnau anu ui55 uo.
garth al. Dickens Very likely has Inties, and he
as ehccEfuly lecosulzel them bJ word a,i,i .leti
Aiv VIC toll 10 believe that all Its duties to his
Without slayle woru OF recognition, Or, II Il
were needed, Ut forgiveness and reconciliation :"
Tho above is seyere to sa7agess, aud the
writer puts dark shade eyaryuhere; but to
much Of it no answer is possible. Dickans Vas
8 man Of strong likes and dis1kes. He hai
wife, and the feeli.g grew. To offend her
s.s to secure his anger, and this very will il
q species OF wrathtul Fetort. am glad at this
moment TO communicate fact which his not
been mentioned il. tho English press. A COM
plete reconciliation has taken plsce between
sltz. Dickens aud her sister-it seems
Too Painful to .dd-and between Mrs.
Dickena and her eldest daughter.
a few days ago thcro u.s meeting bofwesn
the three; much shedding OF Tears and
i'oignaucy OF feeling; but tho end il AZ have
described. 1t would appear that it was the
deceased alone who stood in tho var. Hi
death uuites the chilaren to the mother, and
sister to sister! One wishes the veteran Mr.
Hcgasth, whose death occurred 4 few mouths
since. could hare witnessed this meeting.
Mr. Hogarth, WHO WIS the intimate friend Of
Walter Scott, aud WIN often sat with Wilson,
in the ''Ambrosial Nights" was sngularly
man. and no one can exagge-
rste the grief which he felt at the difference
between his daugh.erp. have hea1d his
voice break - he spoke Of it, He liked his
son-in-law, and WAS once exceedingly proud Of
BIN bat, after the separation. ne could not
Iear to hear his name mentioned. His sym
pa.l,ies we're solely with the wife, and it ap-
y ared as though, some lored ideal WAS shat
cred when Dickens told his wife he could live
With her no louger.