Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-07-28
Charles Dickens.

It Is true that the fashionable ~torv-tcl-
Ter passes away. Every history Of litera-
ture Is body of dismal proof of that
truth. But the influence and the adj
miratiou Of great genius do not pass away.
The mere novelist. the delineator Of the
temporary form, Of society and of persons
as affected by them will gradually become
curious a. hc becomes obsolete But the
stOry-tellcr who deals with human nature
itself. and who paints human character,
which does not lose it, fre~Iuc-- with the
lapse Of time. although ne may direct his
force at a particular ana even tran-itory
object is not the prey pt a changing fash
ION DOR of whimsical taste. Don Quiz-
otc" is a story with a purpose but it il
told hv great genius. and therefore IT. IS
dear To- every generation of men. Ii II %
permanent contribution To the realm of
imaginative creations. like the drama. of
Shakespeare or the tales of Chauccr. And
every -torv-tcllcr. Iu the degree Of his re-
Mus. has the same hold of the world.
Sternc was not Ioyablc man. lie had
no especial humanity. Certainly there
was no lofty and generous purpose in
Tristan Shaudy." But My nclc Toby
is one of the beautiful figures that the i'm
agiuation Of the English speaking race
will not loose Sternc will not fade from
the common knowledge like Mrs Bchn or
any other story-tclicr that is already for
gotten. It is great mistake in those
who read Scotts novels thirty years ago
to suppose that they are not read now. 80
our children will read Dickens. And the
blithc story-tcller who has made this gen
Grafton rejoice, who has touched with 80
mastery hand the deepest springs Of
ucuerous emotion and of high resolve
who far more than any other. has been the
literary minister Of that sentiment Of hu-
manity which Is the spirit # the age. will
not fade from the English heart like n
fashion, but will rather be. like Chaucer
one Of the darlings Of its permanent sf-
lection
When it j. said that Dickens was the
/ peoples story-tcler, how much Is said
The word people describes a universal
range of sympathy. 1t signifies no class
but means all classes II includes. o.,
the old allitcratiye phrase was, the peer
and the peasant And how immense the
. service to the general faith in each other
which we all really wish to cherish. is
that of a man who shows. as Dicken did.
that the greatest and most universal pop
ularity. the favor Of the most ignorant
and Of the most educated. may be won
without pauderiug To- a single mean i'm
pulse. without the least ridicule of noble
and generous emotion. without any touch
Of baseDes> What work is 80 truly lpf-
ty as that which. while morally cheering
and strengthening al mon. also inspre5
and justhes deepal Mutual confidence,
/ This is the service Of Dickens. If he was
a great artist, so be it. If he was carl
turist, 50 be it. If he was not gen
tleman, again 80 belt. But he was the most
popular author Of a time when reading
was universal, and popular without hint
Of lmpurlty. lie was more widely loved
than any author has ever been in his time
and he left no man living whose death
would be 50 sore and personal grief to
the English speaking race
Farewell, kind master! How many
and many in America or in England. gath
ering roses in that solemn week in juno.
did not wish that they could lay them up
on his grave For even 80. sweet and
perennial as June roses, full Of al SUM
mer warmth and beauty. shall be the
memory Of the man whose tender touch
still makes, and will yet make, summer
in thousand. thousand lives. s.-HqTsr' ;
N190ziDs for AWgus.