The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-06-16
Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens.
As announced in Saturdays
COURIER, Charles Dickens, the great
novelist, the pcnefactor of English
speaking people, is dead. The event
has created q profound impression
among millions Of readers in both
homisphcros has cast gloom over
those mere intimately acquainted
with his life, character and
works; who feel that in his death
the world has lost one of it's truest
men and brightest intellectual stars.
Charles Dickens, through the
magic of his pen, has welded
greater influence than any other
person who has lived in tho nine
teenth century. Ho reformed abuses
ofhoary antiquity, wrought changes
and reforms that q powerful monarch
on his throne could not have reached,
and bettercd the condition of thou
sands of his countrymon who had
been oppressed by odious laws, and
trampled upon by the arrogant and
soul-less officials Of the English gov.
ernment. Each one of a dozen of
his novels has accomplished moro
real good, has done moro for humani-
", than has been accomplished by
all the monarchs that have ruled
England forcenturies past. Dickens
was reformer in the truo sense of
the torn. Lilo reformed tho prison
laws OF England. He reformed the
schools; ho reformed tho pauper-
system; with one grand and noble
effort he swept away the chancery
abuses which had been accommodating
for centuries until tho jurisprudence
of his country had becomes mockery
and rcproach. 1t is said that tho
Lord Chancellor who succeeded to
the office shortly after Dickens had
completed the portrayal of Jarndyce
and Jarndyco in "Bleak House,"
ordered the chancery dockets Of
Great Britain purged of all tho old
and chronic cases, the litigation of
which had absorbed fortunes and
consigned contestants to paupers'
graves.
Dickens power and versatility was
wonderful. From the year his first
venture was made until tho time of
his death, he averaged nov G! every
two years, besides contributing to
the publications, of which, he was at
various times manager. He wrote
apparently without an effort, with
an ease and facility to which even
the greatest writer's are, compare
tively, strangers. One of the earli.
est and best of his productions-the
"Pick wick Papers was written at
the age of twenty-five the last
-" Edwin brood lis left unfnish-
cd. His readers have comprised all
classes of humanity. The poor
laborers have boon his earnest audi
tors; the clergy have been ms pupils.
High and low alike, have profited by
his teachings ; there is not person
with the faintest symptom of a
heart but feels himself better man,
after having read his "David Cop
perield," and his 'dOld Curiosity
Shop" Each Of his books contains
some characters by whose study
every one may profit. Drudging,
outcast, Smike tho patient little
angel, Nell; the generous large
hearted Cheerybles; the true phi
losopher, Weller, each convey their
lesson, and speak to the reader in q
fubtle way that impresses the lesson
upon the mind. OF every novel that
no wrote some good was born, some
virtue rose to walk tho world, and
bless it with it's light.
Dickens will live with future gen.
orations as Shakespeare, and Milton
md Walter Scott have lived. A
century hence his fame will DO as
widespread as it is to-day. The
simple novelist will take rank with
he grandest poets, and ages hence,
MS name will DO revered as belong
Jag to ono Of the greatest writers
mentioned in English history, as
distinguishing man, to whom the
world owes honor and gratitude for
services beyond all price.
William Gilmore Simms, one ofthe
most eminent authors of the South,
died on the evening Of the 18th inst.
lie was native OF Charleston, s. c.,