Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-07-22
CEr.SHLRs DICKEyvs.

IL Is true that the fashion of story-tellers
passes away. Every history of literature
is n body of dismal proof of that truth.
But the influence and admiration of great
genius do not pass away. The mere nov
elist. the delinoator of the temporary forms
of society and of persons MS affected by
them. will gradually become curious as
no becomes obsolete. But tho story-teller
who deals with human nature Itself, ana
who paints human character, which does
not lose its freshness with the lapse of time
although he may direct his force at par
ticular and even transitory object, is not
the prey of changing fashion nor of
whimsical taste. "Don Quixote' is sto-
nv with purpose, but IL Is told by a great
genius, and therefore II Is dear to every
generation of men. 1t is permanent con-
tribution to the realm of imaginative crea-
tons, like the dramas of Shakespeare or the
tales of Chauccr. And every story-teller,
in the degree of his genius, has the same
hold of the world. Sterne was not a Iowa
bic man. He had no especial humanity.
Certainly there was no lofty and generous
purpose in Christian Shandy." But My
Uncle Toby is one of the beautiful figures
that the Imagination of the English-speak-
ing race will not lose Sterno will not fade
from the common knowledge like Mrs.
Behn, or any other story-teller who is al
ready forgotten. 1t is a great mistake in
those who read SCOTS novels thirty years
ago to suppose they are not read now. So
our children will read Dickens. And the
blithe story-teler who has made this gen.
Grafton rejoice, who has touched with so
mastorly hand the deepest springs of gen
erous emotion and of high resolve-who,
far moro than any other, has been the liter
airy minister of that sentiment of humani-
ty which is the spirit of the age, will not
fade from the English heart like fashion,
but will rather be, like Chaucer, one of the
darlings of its permanent affection.
When it Is said that Dickens was the peo-
Pies ry-teller, how much is said The
word people describes universal range o.
sympathy. 1t signifies no class but means
all classes. II includes, as the old ALTER
alive phrase was, the peer and the peasant
And how immense the service to the gen
eral faith in each other we all really wisl
to cherish, is that of a man who shows, a
Dickens did, that the greatest and most un
iversal popularity, the favor of the mos
: ignorant, and OF the most educated, ma.
be won without pandering to a single meal
impulse, without the least ridicule of no
BILE and generous emotion, without an.
touch of bascness What work is so trul.
= lofty as that which, while morally cheer
ing and Strengthening all men, also in
spires ard iustifies a deeper mutual conf
dence? This is the service of Dickens.
he was not great artist so be ii. If he wa
not a gentleman, again so be it. But h
> was the most popular author of a tim
when reading was universal, and popula
without n hint of impurity. He was NOR
widely loved than any author has eve
been in his time; and he left no man liy
ing whose death would be so sore and per
sonal grief to the English speaking rae
, as his has been.
= Farewell, kind master! generous heart
How many and many in America or il
England, gathering roses in that solemn
week of June, did not wish that they coul
, lay them upon his grave ! For even 81
sweet and perennial as June roses, full {
all summer warmth and beauty, shall b
the memory of the man whose tende
touch still makes, and will yet make, sun
NOR in "A thousand, thousand lives.-Hd,
!, per's Magazine for august.