The New York herald., 1870-06-11
Tho Death Of Charlie. Diclse...


as we read the brief details OF the grim mes
ssnger's call upon Charles Dickens in the
midst of the pleasures Of q cheerful dinner
party The news of the sad event in both
hemispheres has fallen upon the public mind
with the shock of an unexpected misfortune |;
and yet, considering the brain overworked and
the body worn out from the long aud exhaust
ing strain upon it, this sudden dissolution is
not surprising. 1t is rather to be wondered
at that, with so many examples and warnings
of this kind constantly occurring around us,
we should still cherish the delusion that there
are, or ought to be, certain exemptions from
the inexorable laws governing this frail and
uncertain earthly existence. Charles Dickens
has gone the way OF all the earth. His work
is done; he rests from his labors but he
leaves behind him the record of talents indus
triously employed in his wisely chosen voca-
tion for the general good of his fellow men,
and especially for the ameloration OF the sui
ferings and the righting of the wrongs OF those
too much neglected classes of modern civilza-
ton, the story of whose lives, honest or Grim
inal, is desperate struggle for existence.
The British metropolitan journals can hardly
find terms sufficiently expressive of their ad-
miration of the genius as novelist and the
merits as public benefactor of the deceased
author of the genial Pickwick and his nume-
rous family. Let us, however, while dealing
generously with the dead, deal justly for the
truth and for the living. Charles Dickens
was a great novelist, and in his sphere, we
may say, he was the greatest among his CON-
temporaries. But when his enthusiastic ad-
mirers rank him in genius with Shakespeare
they are two enthusiastic. Dickens was man
of genius, but his was not the comprehensive
genius of Shakespeare; nor did he possess the
exquisitely beautiful perceptions of character
which we find in Walter Scott; nor the pol
ished sentimentalisms of Bulwer; nor the
analytical descriptive powers of Victor Hugo;
nor the critical faculties of Thackeray nor
the orientally poetical and philosophical mind
of Disraeli. Compare the last work of Dickens,
edwin Drood," as far as printed, with the
latest novel of Disraeli "Lothair," and the
difference will be seen between the limited
thought, instruction and philosophy opened by
Disraeh.
In another aspect the contrast between
these two writers of fiction is very remark
able. It is the contrast between st. James
and St. Giles; for while the heavy atmos-
phere of st. Giles prevails in the novels of
Dickens, the social air of st. James prevails
in the works of Disraeli. Dickens was in his
element in his delineations of life among the
English low classes, and of the lowest his pic
lures are the best Disraeli is at home among
the ruling minds and beauties of the aris-
tocracy, and his range of vision embraces the
ruling elements in the social, political and
religious world. The characters of Dickens
are individuals, each confined to a narrow and
insignificant walk; the heroes and heroines Of
tions-political, religious and social-which
are agitating the realms Of civilization. We
may, in short describe Dickens as the
graphic shorthand ver6atins reporter Of scenes
in low life, and Disrael as the matured
statesman and philosopher, giving us his
broad political and social views in the disguise
of a charming romance.
Even in his travels we find Dickens adher-
ing to his ruling passion for the ludicrous, and
for incidents and characters absurd, vicious
or grotesque. His american Notes" are only
a series of hastily drawn caricatures of indi-
viduals and trifling incidents and the journal
of his Italian travels, in which he is more
thoughtful and deliberative, will not compare
in grace or beauty of description with the
Italian sketches of N. P. Willis. In what, then,
lies the worldwide fame of Dickens as lite
rary genius? 1t lies in his graphic descriptions
OF low life, in his everyday living characters
among the struggling masses, good and bad,
and in his never-failing purpose to encourage
the good, to discourage the bad to correct
abuses against the weak and defenceless, and
to create sympathy and kindness, not only for
suffering virtue, but towards the ignorantly OF
helplessly vicious and unfortunate.
He labored faithfully, though comparatively
within limited sphere. His mind was micro
scopic, magnifying small things into things
wonderfully interesting; and it is not in
nature that an eye which is microscopic shall
possess also the powers of the telescope.
Charles Dickens, it may be truly said, employed
the talents given him wisely and well. So fal
as we in America are concerned we can truly
say that the mistakes of his first visit were
fully, and to the general satisfaction, repaired in
his second that in this country his death will
be universally lamented, as his works are uni
versally admired for the good fruits they have
borne and still promise to bear; and that
many Americans can testify to the attractive
social qualities of the man and to the generous
hospitalities they have shared in his house.
He lived an Industrious and useful life, and he
leaves behind him fame and name which
will live respected, fresh and green, for genera
tions to come.
SwINDLING IMMIGRANTs-A WHOLESOME