The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-07-01
DICKENS.
"Reminiscences of the Great Novelist,

"Reminiscences of the Great Novelist
From the Cincinnati Commercial1
TO his great abilities as a delinea-
tor of character, Charles Dickens add
ed the power of impersonating it.
He had all the natural qualities of: q
tirstrate actor, and had he taken pro.
fessionally to the stage would proba-
bly, have achieved an unparalleled
success either in tragedy or comedy.
Yet MIR. Dickens must have gone
through a severe course of study and
training before 'venturing before the
public as reader of his own stories,
for it is related to us by q gentleman
familiar with the incident, that he: at
tributed the failure Of his first private
rehearsal to the defects of his reading
rather than the defects of his story. .
AS the incident has never been
made public, and is known to very
few now living, it will not be without
interest at this time. It was in No.
vember, 1856, we believe, but cannot
vouch for the accuracy of the date,
that MIR. Dickens gave his first pri-
vate reading. in the presence of q few
literary. friends. Tho reading took
place at the house of Mr.. Reynolds,
now banker in Australia, but at the
time living in Wympole street, Lon.
don. Among those present were
Mark Lemon, lately deceased, the
well-known. editor of Punch; Mr..
Chapman, of the firm of Chapman &
Hall, Mr.. Dickens first publisher, and
MIR. Hunt, a journalist Of local cele.
brity. MIR. Dickens had chosen one
OF his "Christmas Carols" though
which of. them we are unable to saw
and proceeded to read it. At the con-
clusion of the reading, Mr.. Lemon,
rising and advancing towards Dickens
with the remark. "This is horribly
bad" seized the manuscript from the
authors 8 hands, and was about to
throw it in the fire, when he was ar.
rested by the remark Of Dickens,
:but it is really good; the faults are
in the reading" and thus one of. the
most popular of the Carols was saved
from destruction. A few days after,
Dickens was entertained at Kneb.
worth, in Herfordshire (Bulwer Lyt-
tons countyeseat), and again read the
Carol. Buiwer did not like it, but
Charles Lever, the novelist, who was
among the party, was charmed by it,,
and 1t was owing to his very faYora.
BILE opinion of it, hat::Dickens was en-
couraged to venture it's publication.
The event showed that Lever was a
better judge Of it's merits than tho au.
thor of the "Iast Days of Pompeili."
OF Dickens first venture in iitera.
ture, we are told that when quite
young he forwarded to DR.. Block,
the editor Of the London Morning
Chronicle, a series Of sketches, which
while thoy. displayed. extraordinary
talent, also manifested the immaturity
OF tht writer. e. DIR. Block declined TO
published kindly and encouraging
letter, concluding with q request that
Dickens should CALI and see him.
This he did, and was. first employed
on the paper to report the proceed.
ings Of police courts, which he did
with such graphic power that be Boon
found a more favorable and remuner.
alive employment on: the Chronicle.
a favorite OF the Doctors, he became
intimate in his family, and finally
married Miss Block, his first wife.
Charles Dickens, Jr., the issue Of this
marriage, died, we believe, about ten
ysars ago, in Calcutta, whore he psas
praeticing 40 bsrrister.at.law. Mr.
Dickens second wife; from whom he
subsequently Heparated, was 4. Mis-
i{Hoota rfk. dan ohfaYs enf III. TJ;o ~