, 1870-08-07
IkClIc-W0rAhtps

We all fell with sincere regret that in Mr.
Dickens the country has recently lost one OF
the moet remarkable writer's Of the present
century. A favorable foreign critic OF our
T.1s Of spohbs pebc vn ssnma1t eseea BY s
death, md Tho patriotic pride thus indicated
in tile glory OF our most popular writer,
Against this VIC have nothing to say The
memory Of Alr. Dickens is naturally and
ins s can % be more proper thai that this regard
should be freely manifested. Bat With the
general and becoming expressions Of regret
there mingio some manifestation 80 gro
tesluc that it il impossible to pass them over
ample, that At 1 sale Of Mr. Dickens
property Chinese gong sold for
81 gulneas, or about ten times its
market value. Certain silver ladies', ornament
ed with figures Of the heroes of tho Piek7eick
Pn1Nrs, soId for prices warning from 13 to
! IL held to be Just three time ~ vsluable ~
! Wipkle The mo1t remarkable price, how
! over, was given for stuffed raven, the bird
! beng, as We arc told, the original Of GrP"
il Burndly Eudye: and selling in consequence
| for 1aN gulneas. The raven, We arc informed.
! was not very merito1ions animal himself;
and. though we muet confess ourselves to be
Anythinp hGt competent judges Of tho value OF
stuffed ravens, VIC presume that he must nave
sold for at least 30 simcs his natural value
|
We should commend tho anecdote to the con-
sideraion Of A1r. Barnum, il that enterprising
pe7sos still hono1s the world with hls presence
and would suggest to him the propt1ety
Of discovering the original Of Ed
ar ss.Ene Po'1 iest Isven Of ssnaiion ssa more ss
within lis powers. perhaps he might discover
the bi1tl of which Shakespeare was thinking
when he talked about tho hoArse raven who
ctoahed the fatal entrance Of Duncan, a
search through the farmhousea in tho neigh
bothood Of sstrAtfori-on-Avon would surely
reveal some venerable bind which may be eup~
posed TO have perched on the hand Of the d.
/ VINE William. Meanwhile We should rathet
like to know what the fortunate possessor OF
this aniintl will do with him. OF coufse he
will " IN eone WI! e set i2o guneas s!a worth =
He hopes. it mAy be, to be known throughout
the metropolis n the fortunate holder Of the
| raven, For Bome purposes 1t may possibly
pay to enjoy such notosicty. There Ia the
, welEknown case Of the New York llattez, who
: many dollars, for admission to one of Jenny
1inde concerts. But il he expects the
D simrle qualification Of showing the bizs
. to hie friends, and sayinG to every frcst
!. visitor, Ihi. ~ raven which was descslbst
d By Charles Dickens, We win wArn him in .
. friendly spiit that It il just possible that h
may become something Of bore, aud tina
. rakh persons will perhaps be fonnd after
r timc to declare that ravens described BY Nj
. Dickens have = sineulaIty family FeeemblAnc
e sc1ibed Mean hilc he had better take mean
q to identify his precious possession, for il it
T. onee generally known that ! Datnxby RudE
3, raven may fetch leo guineas, tho market vi
4 speedily be g1utted with true original Darnab
u Nudge ravens, and possibly the LAST yesige
Of highly respectable race Of birds may
;. exiupated from the British Ielande. EuouS
d snun.boxes have been made from the wood
r. the Royal George to build two or three frs
" rates, and the rope which hung Palmer il 81
n to have been Somewhere about mile
n We fesr ihas The mind ot the bold speculate
d. may speedily be humbled By whole dock
q. I spurious limitations.
T. The wozahip OF relica is undoubtedly COZ
y mon, though very singular and l1ration
d, phepomanon. Sir Waiter Scott, as we kno
aa bad the misfortune TO sit upon the w1ncglA
" sancti6ed with tha touch OF his Lips u fa
IN from which the raven may, we will hope.
y prtseryed), md thereby preu,aturelx equelch
ii one relic OF which the market value 1t i
OF In come cases, indeed, We can partially undt
in stand tho feeling. The writing OF = great N
us may bc CHARACTERISTIC, even the coat he VIC
'ut may incidentally make our kno~1edge Of hin
I great an'srayen, We can only wonder in dui
sat surrliee. Let us. however, cndeavor u
ful shortly to estimate the true value
ihis kind OF alteration. What Is
10 e,ate Of mind Of \ man vino thinks Il
Do auy tside connected in any Way With ono
th- Iii. Dickens least popular works deserves
I'd I'D the Lid Of iaolatry which Nr. Dickens !o
ve. have chosen llimsclf: or which bis fsle,
;ol- would desire to be paid to him! Owe @ ro
AZ rather asl, is it symptom that s,ns The sdn z;
S;4 tien, though e1tsavagAnt, Is OF hoa.ns ~
- tISAf
sho upon which The great D.ruum is alone wot
s1- to be.tow , name7 The ProScroi,l p
bc- | might tx = an nferrst in she ahocs which
has once tlackcd for his hero but tho vi
ace, admiration ia not generally supposed to be
snr- cordins to Knowledge. In proportion =
Her people values its great writer's NTH \ diSczi
), oi mating ke.l, CT haa = Predominant desizs
ers- advertise its admiration bJ lndicrous sxtE,
. Of gAnce. We may judge. in eouae degree Of
th.. value ef popular enthusiasm. and, possibly
"a! scEe degree also, OF .Ee salac OF lis nbi.c