Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-11

1916; a work of a peculiar, almost
unique character, containing as it does
the impressions of a man of orig
inal genius, who views Italy,
not as a scholar, an antiquary'
or an artist, but as a humor-
ist. He did not continue long in his
new post ofeditor Ofadailynewspaper
In 1850 he assumed the editOrship OF
a weekly periodical, started by him.
self, called Household Words, y
which has ever since continued to be
published under his charge, and has a
wide circulation both in England and
America. Here appeared his "Child's
Hictory of England, republished
separately in 1852; and his story OF
"Hard Times" republished in one
volume, 1854. A full list of his works
proves him to be a man of vigorous
industry and methodical habits Of la
Dor; and his example is valuable as
showing that the highest genius is
not incompatible with uniform dill
gence and a life Of steady toll. The
editor of the American Encyclopedia,
TO whom we are indebted for the fore
going facts, says Of our deceased au-
thor: 1.-THE great popularity which
Dickens enjoys wherever the English
language is spoken renders it a super
/ fuOus task for US to enter upon any
I extended or elaborate criticism of his
works. iHe has opened a new and ORR
ginal vein of fictitious composition.
His popularity is not a transient
whim or fleeing fashion, but is fairly
earned by great and obvious excel
lences. His place in English litera-
ture, throughout all time, will be as
secure as that of Sterne, Fielding or
Scott. He is peculiarly and pre-emi-
nently a man of genius. He has
fashioned himself upon no existing
models; no writer draws more exclu-
sively from innate and selfcontained
sources; in no one do we see fewer
indications of the influence of other
mems minds. Very rarely in Dick
ems do we find a quotation from, or
an alluSion to, any other writer. His
novels, as works of art, T open to
obvious criticism. His plots are not
skillfully constructed; many incidents
are introduced which are improbable
in themselves, and do not of neces-
sity contribute any thing to the final
catastrophe. His leading quality is
his humor, which is original in its es-
sence and bOundless in its supply.
His combinations, quaint, startling,
ard g~rotesque, are forced, but
are the spontaneous growth of a mind
Of inexhaustible fertility. In pathos,
the reverse pole Of humOr, his merit
is hardly less conspicuous. He has a
peculiar comprehension Of the sOr-
rows and sutferings of childhood; and
some of the most beautiful and effec-
tive of his pathetic passages have
been drawn from this source. He is
a very sharp observer, and an excel
lent artist in that style of verbal
painting in which the effects are pro-
duced by the minute d~elineatiOn of
particulars. This power, it must be
admitted, he uses rather too freely;
md many of his descriptions, espec-
ally in his latter works, would be
improved by compression. The
and success of his writings are
some degree to be ascribed to the 4.
act that they are Sc strongly infused
With the personal qualities of the wri- q.
or. He is a nan Of genial nature I
nd humane spirit, with a vehement l
lstred of injustice and oppression, q
trOng aversion to cant and hypocrisy, Z
nd generous and expanded sympa-
Hi powerful and popular pen t
always been exerted on the side Of c
Ocial reform. Through these traits
f character, as revealed in his writ T
lgs, a sort Of personal relation is es- t
ablished between him and his read h
rs, which makes them very kind to C
is literary virtues, and a little blind t
D his literary faults. 1t has been OBJ 9
,cted to his novels that they set too t
ign value upon good temper and t
eniality-the easy growth Of a t
organization and happy tenn q
erament-as compared with the Il
.erner virtues which are the fruit of t
Elf discipline and selfcOntrol; and a
nat they make convivial pleasures a
% attractive, and fail to warn a
cOnviviaI excuses. Mr.. Dick t
Is has also acted with distinguished ri
lccess in private theatricals, and has p
read his own works to large Il
Id gratifed audiences in almost p
,ery part Of the United Kingdom. "
| 1855 he amicably separated from 81
rs. Dickens, with whom he had b
7ed some twenty years, and had sev- hi
al children. The cause was an I'M la
ngeniality of temper, implying no 81
shOnOr to either party" In 1866, ii
Dickens for the second time Wis ps
d the United States, and, notwith- di
his american Notes" Of ds
Y. was well and favorably received, ia
turning to England with impress er
ms of our country that since have if
md most favorable expression. He "t
5 written much within the last four ne
ars, and at the time of his death fat
S engaged on the " Mystery of Ed an
u brood, a work that ca
much of his old SUI
he humor and pathos. 1t
now on its passage through the :
and finds more readers than sol
? other of the works Of the great orr
novelist Of his time, perhaps of er
age. 1t was his peculiar forte to n
resent the poorer and working wa
ses Of his cOuntrymen, and to be 70
can of inducing reforms almost ne'
,reat in the sum total as those ef the
ed by the combined press Of Eng Cla
d in the last twenty-five years. rev
first sketch depicted the mystery by
misery Of the poor Of London, lea.
last was devoted TO the same pur- crlr
e, to the end that justice might be eve
e the unfortunate, the weak and Gre
erring. Taken all in all, his was her
orthy life, a life not without its shar