New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-23
CHARLES DICK EMS AT HOME.
TIE DEATH OF CHARLES DICKENS.
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


LONDON. June 11-Sudden as his death was
NJ last 1t can hardly be called unexpected His friends
snew that he had had grave warning, avor thah tno
public had been allowed 10 suspect When his phy
ordered him last year 10 break off his readings ana "en
he failed TO appear at Preston, even after MS
had begun to assemble, there some who fet tne
appointment so bitterly that they complained eVuI
HE might have read just once more sald som.
most thoughtess and most exacting among Ms
But he stood al that moment on the Diinh Vi % -
gulf down which he has just gone plunti"e' - :.
threatened then with the attack OF apopeHy VIM 20.
last seized him and struck its one swIl' la'di oo"'
ne WIS man An robust and energetic that II was dcut
a, hIio,o hin, capable Of illness His physicians
,ovv the truth They knew that he had overaXed MS
strength great IL was, and that the soie Heicino
which could prol0ng his life and perhaps, leave MN 10
die wears hence some less dreaded naady wasres bu
he could not take it, II as necessary to him 10 Work
as to breathe II he gave up for time one form OF IN
tense exerton turned TO another scarcely less unre
uniting Could he hut have abandoned his puDhc leau
ngs two three years could he nave eIt u"T'eu
the beginning Of the Mystery OF Edwin Brood coud he
have relaxed his ncessant for his weekly magazine
IN Rne could he have been somebody else ana not hii
soft Charles Dickens might have been living today ana
tbewords great grief his too early death postponed
for a score Of years.
NJ aconaintance with Mr.. Dickens was slight ana
cannot add much out Of my personal knowledge Oh MN
IN the general store first met him III 1866 Hlehu
.ad ,ven me note of introduction. which brought me
An nvtation TO call him the next day at the once OF
anne Year Round in Wellingtonst., Strand MY er-
rand was not one OF curiosity, but Of business HE
TRIBUNE wanted him 10 write novel Tor its readers
He was very willing TO do it, and was pleased by re-
suest Of that sort coming from the leading journal OF
America lido Mt know whether his last visit had then
bcn MANNED but he talked about the country and the
,o,e in a tone which struck pleasing contrast
IN that which many English friends OF ours
assume He did not think it necessary TO pat
IN
have been written for its failure was due to cause
which beg 10 commend to such people as still oppose,
no matter for what reason, act Of legislation that
honest men on both sides of the water are agreed in de-
handing Mr. Dickens had closely studied the law in
respect 10 copyright between England and America lie
was of opinion that not possible TO convey to US or
reserve to himself the legal property in novel to be
written by him in England and published by The TRfB-
tSE in America We have TO thank the party which be-
leyes in piracy for preventing Mr. Dickens from writing
what ! think he was sincerely DESTROYS OF writing,
uovele expressly composed for his friends in America
This interview lasted for perhaps hour and half,
and rs the talk turned mainly business, it is natural
that should remarked the very unusual business
rapacitv which Nj Dickens showed Then and after
wards 10 other casual acquaintance he spoke
freely about his affairs Ipresume it is not gener-
ally known that he has for many years been his own
publisher Messrs. Chapman Halls names appear on
the title pages Of his books, but they have been only
Mr. Dckenss agents. He owned the copyright OF every
one of his novels early days. 1t is true before his
fame had increased and before the property in any one OF
his novels had fortune he had sold his rights as
author in considerable number of his books AHthese
ne repurchased often by dint OF great trouble and by
,acut negotiations always at price far beyond that
which they had brought in the beginning. 1t was not
only matter OF calculation with Mr. Dickens, it was
matter OF pride His books his children he did not
want them in strangers hand subject to the au
thority Of anybody but their author The copyrights
were much dispersed, and when it became known that
Mr. Dickens was bent on buying them up, the price,
which was already high, advanced very consider
ably Tie British book publisher is just as
capable Of driving hard bargain as MS
American rival, and Mr.. Dickens had to pay
dearly his discovery of that interesting fact AT last
he carfIednis point ana held I'm his own grasp by a
good legal title all his earlier writings with the atter
he had never parted with none, suppose during the
last twenty years. Every six months Messrs Chapman
d Hall handed in their accounts 1t was Mr. Dickens
who settled the terms Of publication the form In winch
each successive edition should appear and all other
details What called the Charles Dickens edition was
his idea and his avOrte not account OF its beauty or
rcadableness for il is printed compacty in small type,
but on account of its cheapness. What pleased him
was that everybody should he able to buy complete
set of his writings, and 50 he had them all
condensed into think, seventeen volumes, separately
published andkOd at three shings and sixpence each
He understood the market studied it, and adapted the
supply Of his books TO the demand. He told me four
years ago that the copyright Of each of his books be-
came every year valuable that is brought in more
actual money. II is to he regretted that there is no
really satisfactory edition among the many that have
appeared think it always Mr. Dickenss intention
10 issue his complete works in form worthy OF theiI
place in literature perhaps after what is called the
library edition had been exhausted or the stereotype
plates from which it is printed worn ont
or perhaps after the series had grown more
complete in his mind, and better
had Ia
occasion any 10 be troubled by hostile criticism
If it pleased the writers in Biackcood 10 flourish their
tomahawks about his head, they might indulge their
fancy without hurting their target But it is possible
enough that Mr. Dickens dsked TO be told that his great
powers were falling and that he had done any
thing equal to Pickwck written at wentyfOur So long
there people to say he could not write up to his
old mark long he would have kept writing He had
Just pride in his capacity for work, and doubt whether
he had lived 20 years longer he would have thought
his series complete if he would have dstrusted
his ability to compose long as hand
could hold pen
In many respects Mr. Dickens must be almost as well
known in America in England All the world is
familiar with that energetic, weatherbeaten grizzed
face, with the costume always little in cut or
IN color with the erect figure and rapid pace you
I'LL III the streets IL is hardly more than fortnight
since last saw him In Pail Mall, and said then He
will never look much older than he does now :" not in
the least thinking how literally and sadly true my
words we're TO He would not have much changed
had he lived, he ought 20 have lived through
two more busy decades. The last time / saw him in
public was at the dinner given by the London Rowing
Club TO the beaten Harvard crew He was not then in
very good health. II had been doubtful whether he
could come at all, aud believe he only last be
cause he had promised his who is member OF the
Club that the dinner He not only did not want
osappoint him. but it may be said that he disap
Ponied anybody 10 whom be had given promise His
speech was telegraphed the same night TO Anerca-a
utng that pleased him much it, cordial sympathy
WIN our representatives in the defeat gratfed all
Americans