The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-14
Death OF Dickens-Com or the
Press.

Press.
From the Philadelphia Age.l
The death of Charles Dickens, with
out any previous announcement Of i'll
ness was an event that took the public
by surprise on Friday, and occasioned
very general regret. AS Dr. johnson
said on Garrick's decease The stroke
ofdeath has eclipsed the gaiety ofnations
and impoverished the common stock of
harmless pleasure" The author of
our day who is, perhaps the most popu-
lar, and certainly one of the most pro
life, will add no more to the pleasant
and wholesome literary entertainment
which he has affordedto the whole read
ing world He dies, toe, at an age
when much more was to be expected
from him. Allibones Dictionary Of
Authors gives 1912 as the year OF his
birth, and he was thus but fifty-eight
year of age His works are too familiar
to the public to need recapitulation.
"Pickwick Papers" established him in
public favor, which he never lost,
though there has been great inequality
in his productions But their moral
tone was uniformly good though rather
low. His characters seldom move under
the influence OF any elevated moral or
religious sentiments. The young Grad
grinds narrowed by Il hard and selfish
education, are mellowed by an inter
course with circus riders; for cakes and
ale, and certain jovial gaiety are Mr.
Dickens antidotes to most Of the ills OF
life Few have written so much and
recognized so seldom the influence Of
religion on mankind; with him, indeed,
it commonly takes the form OF cant and
impOstue. But if, like Miss Edgeworth
and other writers, he has built upon
system of rather narrow worldly moral
ity-certainly this is doing far better
than the host Of writer's who have con
tributed to corrupt mankind, and sap
both morals and religion. All the
good domestic feelings are tostered by
his writings-hc tricks ont no heroes
of vice in false colors. His real vii
lains are repulsivc and arouse only de-
testation But to the weakness Of hui
man nature he accords a wide indulg-
cnce He recognizes with very quick
and generous perception the redeeming
traits Of human character. He was Il
Satirist, but no cynic.
OF his own personal character we
really know very little. In the case of
Il great author it j. rather with the char
acter OF his writings that the public has
to do. His debut in America excited
great and cordial enthusiasm. He
came heraldcd by his fame and received
a hearty welcome. His appreciation Of
it was vulgar and snobbish. He car
ricaturcd the people who had with un-
usual fervor shown respect and kindness
to him. In later years he came to this
country again a Il lecturer, and put
forth a somewhat evasive apology for
his former censurcs. They were ieadi-
" excused, for they really were OF no
Importance. He met with entire success,
and went back, we doubt not, in high
good humor with everybody. His life
will Of course furnish theme for
biographcrs, and we shall no DOUBT have
him put before the world in his best a..
poet. We have, ourselves, never heard
ANYTHING of him 10 lead us to expect
great pleasure or editication from his
private history 1t is the writer. not
the man, who has enlisted our interest.