The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-22
Dickens as q Worker.

We trust that amid all the dispute
which has ragged rs to the religious and
other peculiarities of Charles Dickens,
the true example of his life as conscien-
tious and indefatigable worker will not
be lost upon tho young OF this genera
tion. Mr.. Dickens might have chosen q
higher vocation than that Of novel.writ-
ing-though he seems to have been orig
inally designed for that pursuit rs clearly
as DR.. Chalmers was for the pulpit or
Garrison was for agitation against sla-
very-but when he had once settled to his
work he gavo It all the powers OF his
mind and all the perseverance, and care
of which he was capable. His habits OF
labor were regular rs those of book
keeper or bank clerk, and certainly no
less arduous. An artist who occupied
the same room with him for sometime,
was surprised at the anxious assiduity
with which he prosecuted his writing.
Said he: IL looked In his face, and watch
ed the anxiety and care. saw the blot.
ting and the rewriting of his works, and
I was astonished to find how much he
owed to his indomitable perseverance"
Our younger eaders will think II some
what strange that the author of "Pick-
wick" and "Nicholas Nickleby," the par
ent of more humorous characters than
can be found elsewhere In modern litera-
ture, should be Mt the same time drudge,
80 far as labor and method are concerned.
Hero, however, Is tho secret of all intel
lectual success. Michael Angelo, when
he was discovered studying the art ruins
of Rome In his last years, said he was
still at school. Charles James Fox. COM
plimentcd for his skill In carving, said
he had been all his life n "pains.taking
man." One who knew Daniel Webster
most familiarly remarked that he had Of
ton thought that II other men had used as
much care In the preparation Of their
speeches rs Mr.. Webster did, they might
have furnished rivals to him In oratory.
It Is not surprising. however, that these
grave characters. like statesmen and sculp-
tors, should ''toil terribly" as one Of them
acknowledged ho did but Il seems harder
To believe that tho same qualities of un-
tiring industry. patience and routine must
also characterize the "light artillery" Of
humorists and rOmancers. So It Is how
ever, II they would rise above mediocrity.
The manuscript of tho late N. p. Willis
indicated slowness In composition and the
utmost caro- In the arrangement and alter
alton of his seemingly careless sentences.
Washington Irving collected and preserved
the material for his best passages with .
nevcr-ceasing watchfulness. And 50 twas
with Dickens throughout his career. He
spent two years in preparing for the writing
OF ono of bis works; he sat 30 many hours
day at his desk penning his thoughts II
they came. and waiting for them II they
did not; he published his own books and
conducted ail the business connected with
them with the precision and forethought.
and we may add the success, Of an expert.
enced merchant. How many Of our young
men are showing like fidelity 10 their own
powersp The question Is not whether
their capacity Is equal TO that bestowed on
Dickens-that belongs to higher power
or whether thoy can reap similar suoc~ss
Ia any other walk of life; but whether they
nre using their faculties rs conscientiously
and faithfully rs no did his. Therein is the
llsssoa &. The lifc Of Dickens, and We hope
II viii 90 hana in hand with hs works to
do the race goOd.