The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-08-16
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which can make it seem like base in
gratitude, i not brutality, 10 speak the
truth concerning him who bore t. But
The truth should be spoken, novorthe.
less, and when We say that no.with-
standing tho great debt which Charles
Dickens has rolled up in his own favor
aud against the Christian public. he was
guilty Of an irreparable wrong. we say
only What all men know, but which for
reasons. sufficient and insufficient. most
men keep 90 themselves.
The great novelist had an instructive
as well as educated hatred of shams:
and yet-we say It without bitterness
his whole lifo was, in certain sense,
sham, lie was keen observer and
faithful aud fearless reporter. What ap.
pearcd to him a wrong, aud especially
II that wrong bore upon Gods weak
ones was attacked with promptness
and yigor, aud with such thorough
knowledge Of its assailable points, and
such unerring skin in reaching them.
that very little remained for others 60
do. How fow Of all the intelligent peo-
pie Of England, comprohondod tho fall
bearing Of the irresponsible and brutal
systems Of private instruction, in vogue
in that enlightened kingdom, before the
days Of Squeers and Bhmber and
Smiko aud little Dombey
In this country, thank God, no such
evils are known, for tho very good roa-
son that they cannot exist. But there
is an evil which is co-extensiye with
Christian civilization an evil, before
which imperfect systems Of education;
stagnation Of public justice in oonnec-
ton with chnncery courts and debtors
prisons; gambling, thievery, and Amer
ican pecuharitios sink into nothingness.
Tint evil is the one from which Mr.
Dickens himself most suffered; and To
which, so far as human judgement may
decide, his untimely death is attribut-
able That eyil-a although there may bo
a softer name for tits gluttonness
Mr. Dickens died Of apoploxy brought
on by oyor-eating and oyer-drinking
This is the truth, bluntly stated. The
great novelist, when in the flesh, did
not hesitate to utter truth because il
might offend, He even took occasion
to put it in such unquestionable shape
that it could not but offend, His right
to do 80 has never been contested. --
Even the toadies and liokspittlos Of this
free country, quickly forgave him for
putting them in his books without fiat
tery. And after twenty-five years OF re-
Election and growth, the entire Ameri-
can nation are ready not only to forgive
what at first sight seemed miserable
return for well-meant hospitality, but
to commend the faithful critic for his
truthiullness as well as his iearlessness,
Very few men who have ever lived
have done go much to bless mankind as
Charles Dickens; and this enconium is
good against all the charges that have
been, or may be brought against him,
touching his Christianity or his ortho-
doxy;-and yet, il through causes
which he might have ayered, ,ho died ten
years or ten days sooner than he should
have done, who will hold him guiltlessi
The care OF such life was RESPONSE.
bility Of no common kind aud that re-
| sponslbility under God, was with Mr.
Dickens himself Sermons ON temper
anee are Of little account; few heed the
words which are spoken for eobriety
and prudent living. But the sermon
which Mr. Dickens preached at Gad's
Hill on the 9th Of June last, is one that
should have weight. No book that ho
has ever written or ever could write,
can possess 1.-THE Of the power for
moral effect that inheres in the circum-
stances and surroundings Of those last
moments. Warnings he had had in
| plenty, but he needed them not. APP
petite was more to him than sentiment,
or even than life, and so, at his own
well-fied board, with his festive friends
about him, be passed to bis account
\ The tidings Of his death -as was
4 proper filed the two hemispberes with
mourning. Tears Of genuine sorrow
fell in showers Of tenderness, in romem-
brance Of all be had done for tho world
Shall no one weep for what be left, I'M
done ? And shall we do bis memory
the great injustice to f'rget that with all
his wonderful gifts 81 discernmont, he
failed 70 recognize az au evil that which
destroys and peryerts, more than ali
other evils combined, the very sanctna-
~ of God the human soul 2 But il,
IN bis life. he failed 10 present this esiI
il its proper light the manner OF bis
death will render such work unnecsssa-
~ The case could not be more strong.
~ put viii the world read il Alright?
Packard's Monthly
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