The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-06-29
Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens.
To forestall some descendant Of Harriet Beecher
Stowe it is desirable that the following letter should
be read by the rising generation. just after the pub
LEGATION of the Pickwck Papers, and in early life Dick
ems married the daughter of Mr. George Hogarh, the
author and critic They separated by mutual consent
in 1853 and the at the time called forth great
deal of ill-natured comment. 1t to have been
one of those I-assorted marriages. where there was
so little congeniay to render companonship con
slant source of irritation to both parties! We fancy
she is one of those sraitlaced secarans Who would
think it an objectionable sin to eat dinner on
sunday-one of those vsaged saints who would
regard that person in imminent danger of the judg
ment who relaxed his facial muscles into smile on
"the Lords day "-possibly good enough sort of wo-
man in her way but with just such ways calcu-
lated to drive frantic man of his genial temperament.
At the time of the separation this letter written
by him for the purpose of being shown to the public:
"MY DEAR -: Mrs. Dickens and l have lived
unhappisg together for many years. Hardly any one
who ras known US intimately fail TO have known
that are, in all respects of character and tempera
ment, wonderfully unsuted to each other. suppose
that people, vicious in themselves, ever
joined together who bad greater difficulty in un-
derstanding another, or who had less in common.
An attached woman servant (more friends to both OF
than servant), who lived with us sixteen years,
and is married, and who was, and still is in Mrs.
Dickens confidence and mine, who had the closest
familiar experience Of this unhappiness in London, in
the country, in France, in Italy, wherever have
been year after year. month after month, week after
week, day after day. will bear testimony to this.
Nothing has, on many occasions, stood between US
and a separation but Mrs. Dickens sister, Georgne
Hogar;h. From the age of fifteen she has devoted
herself to house and children. She has beeh their
playmate, nurse, nstructress friend, protectres ad
visor and companion. In the manly consideration to-
ward Mrs. Dickens, which l to my wife, 1 will
merely remark of her that the popularity of her
character has thrown all the of her children on
else. | do not know not by any
stretch of fancy imag ne-what would have become
of them but for this aunt, who has grown up with
them, to whom they devoted and who has sacri-
feed the best part of her youth and life to them
"She has demonstrated, reasoned suffered, and
toed and come again to preventa separation between
NJ rs. Dickens and Mrs Dickens has often ex
pressed to her her of her afectonate and
devotion in the house-never more strongly than in
the last twelve months.
"For some time past, Mrs. Dickens has been in the
habit of representing to that it would be better
for her to go away and live apart; that her always in
creaSing enlargement made mental disorder under |
which she sometimes abors; MORE that she felt her
self unfit for the life she had to lead my wife, and
that she would be far better away have uniformly
replied that she bear misfortune and fight |
the fight out to the end that the children the
first consideration, and that feared they must bind
US together in appearance
q AT length, within these three weeks it was sug |
gested by Forster that even for their sakes it
would be better to and rearrange the
happy home. l empowered him entreat with Mrs. |
Dickens the friend of both of for one and twenty
years. Mrs Dickens wished to add on her part Mark
Lemon, and did On Saturday last Lemon wrote |
Ii, Al.
fully accepted the terms proposed to her. OF the
pecuniarv part of them, will say that they gen
erous as Mrs. Dickens lady Of distinction aud
| a man of fortune
1.-The remaining parts of them are easily described |
my eldest boy to live with Mrs Dickens, and to take |
care of her; my eldest girl to keep my house both
my girls and all my children but my eldest live |
with me in continued companonship of their Aunt
Georgine, for whom they have all the tenderest atc
tons that have among young people, and !
who has higher claim las have often declared for
ma"y years. upon my affection, respect and gratitude
than anybody in this world
hope that no one who may become acquainted |
with what write here possibly be cruel and
unjust as to put any msconstrucon on our separation
so tar. My Older children all understand it perfectly
and all accept it as inevitable
" There is not shadow of doubt or conceament
among US. Ny eldest and are one as to it all.
Two wicked persons, who should have spoken
very different of in consideration of earned respect
and gratitude, have, las am told and indeed to my
personal knowedge( coupled with this separation the
name of young lady for whom have great attach
ment and regard. will not repeat the namo-I honor
it too much. Upon my soul aud honor, there is not
on this earth more virtuous and spotless creature
than that young lady. know her to be nnoceut and
pure and good my daughters.
" Further | am quite sure that Mrs Dickens having
received this assurance from me, must now believe IL,
in the respect know her to have for me, and in the
perfect confidence know her, in her better moments,
to repose in my truhulness.
On this head, again, there is not shadow of
doubt or concealment between my children and me.
All is open and plain among though
brothers and sisters. They perfectly certain that
would not deceive them, and the confidence G
US is without fear. C. D."
WOODEN AND IRON SHIPs-At a recent meeting, in