The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-13
CHARLES DICKENS.
PARTICULARS OF BIS SUDDEN ILL
NESS AND LAST HOURS.
Interesting "Reminiscences.

Interesting "Reminiscences.
The cable dispatch announcing that Charles
Dickens, the celebrated author, died at half
past six o'clock on Thursday evening of par
alyss has occasioned profound sorrow every
where. Dispatches from Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and other cities speak Of the an
nouncement as matter Of general comment
and universal sadness. The following dis
patches from London give the particulars Of
the melanchly event:
LAST HOURS OF THE GREAT NOVELIST.
LONDON, June 80 P. NJ.
The London Globe In its last edition this
evening startled the community with the an
noi16cement that Charles Dickens had been
seized with paralysis and was lying insensible
at his residence at Gadshill, near Rochester,
in Kent. The news spread rapidly and created
the most profound regret. But the worst was
still to come. kilograms have since been re-
ceived announcing the death Of the great
novelist at a quarter-past six this evening.
Mr.. Dickens was entertaining dinner par
ty at his house at Gadshill, on Wednesday.
Miss Hogartin, who was seated near him, OBJ
served evident signs of distress upon his coun-
tenance. She then made the remark to him
that he must be Ill. To this Mr.. Dickens re-
Piled, .sOh, no; have only got a headache,
shall be better presently He then asked that
the open window be shut. Almost immediate
lyhe became unconscious, and fell back into
his chair insensible. He was Immediately con-
yeyed to his room and medical atten dance
summoned, but Mr.. Dickens still remained un-
conscious, and never recovered animation. The
condition OF the patient becoming worse and
worse, It was deemed advisable to summon
physicians from London. kilograms were
promptly dispatched, and this morning several
London physicians arrived at Gadshill. A
consultation was held, and the case was at
once pronouced hopeless. The patient sank
gradually, and died at fifteen minutest past six
this evening.
Mr.. Dickens had been i'll for several days,
but not seriously. He had even visited Ro-
chester and other points during the present
week. Various "reminiscences of the eminent
author have been recalled by his sudden de-
mise. It Is stated that Mr.. Dickens has sever
81 times of late complained that he expert
enced considerable difficulty In working, be-
cause his powers Of application were becorn-
ing impotent. He also said that his Thoughts
no longer came ito him 80 spontaneously as
in former times. While at Preston, he had
need Of medical aid, aud called upon physi-
clan, who warned him. not to continue read
ing, because he was doing 80 at the peril of
his life. ~
EXPRESSIONS OF THE PRESS, &c..
LONDON, June 10.
The death Of Mr.. Dickens has plunged the
nation into mourning. All the London papers
have obituary articles this morning.
Tho Times says: 'sThe ordinary expressions
: OF regret are now cold and conventional. MIL
: Hons of people feel the personal bereavement.
Statesmen, savans and benefactots Of the race,
When they die, can leave no such void. They
cannot, like this great novelist, be an inmate
of every house."
The Daily News says: "Withouc intellectual
pedigree his writings form an era in English
literature. He was generous, loving and uni
versally beloved. BE leaves, like Thackeray,
an unfinished story"
me Morning Post says: "Charles Dickens
did more than any other contemporary to
make English literature loved and admired"
The Telegraph regards the distinguished
dead as public servant, whose task is nobly
fulfilled.
Upon the announcement of the death Of
Charles Dickens, the Queen hastened to send
letter Of coincidence to his afflicted family.
The last letter written by Dickens was dated
June 9Th. This contained expressions of
deepest reverence for religion, and Is quoted
in the newspapers to-day as repudlating any
contrary impressions which might be derived
from accidental expressions in his books.
-s THE CAREER oE DICKENS
1s 30 familiar to the majority Of readers that 1t
seems almost superduous to retrace it in Civ
ing expression to the common feeling Of sor-
row for bis death.
Born at Portsmouth on the 7th Of February,
1872, the son Of an officer in the pay depart
ment of the royal navy, he was placed at
the proper age In an attorneys office with
the purpose or making him lawyer. But
his destiny was not to be thwarted by the
law. sTno True AUeH6 Oi naS genius WAS uoI
long In developing itself In contributions to
the newspaper press, and In early manhood
he became Connected with the True Sun. and
soon afterwards with the Morning Chronicle
as reporter and critic Of passing topics. no
his legal apprenticeship and to his birth on
the margin Of Southampton Water we owe
many Of the happiest Of his delineations,
Messrs. Dodson 4 Fogg and Sergeant Buztuz,
and Others, and much Of that familiarity with
the sea in all Its moods of tempest and tran
guilty, which makes passages of David Cop
perfield resemble the marine pieces of Joseph