The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-06-11


positions contain greater proportion Of
native words His sentences, too, were sim.
ply framed. They flowed easily, smoothly,
and rhythmically. At times, indeed, when no
was in tho icrvor Of some glowing descrip.
ton, his sentences actually took mctrical
form. In fact, his prose became blank vers,.
What learning Mr. DfcKENs had lie never
use ost Mat ously. In all his long series
Of novels there is scarcely ever q quotati, ".
lie made no references either TO boo ks that lie
had read or to countries in which he Ind
travelled. French words lac was particular
mover to use. His thoughts were emincntIy
his own, and his style was his own. He
departed entirely from the methods of those
novel writer's who had preceded him, and
created work of fiction eut rely d ilercnt
from, and in fact quito superseding the old
romances.
1t has been made subject of comp'a Mt
against Mr.. DICKENS that he dealt too much
IN pictures Of low life that his characters
were coarse, common, and vulgar people in
whose association the reader finds no pleasure.
But If Mr.. DICKENS went into low life it
was that he m pht raise up those who were
there Before lis time no great novelist or
Gramatist had cared much for tire poor and
lowly, or spoken Of them in any terms Of
special iriendlincss Even snAREsrEARE,
wide us were his sympa,hies, never reached
down to them. HIS works ignore the dcs,i.
tute, or speak slightingly of them. But
DICKENS never lost ght OF them. lie felt
that he was the custodian Of certain talents
to lie used in their behalf md he zealously
and religiously performed his trust,
His relations with America were very pc.
cul ar. lie came here in 1912 with no
special liking for IT, .ac.lc, and he returned
To England with what scene, post 20
dislike. Ills American Notes" aniS Mar
tin Chuzzlewit followed this visit, and in
them we were held up to the laughter and
rdicple of the world. For twenty-five
years there was certain coldntss be.
tween him and the people Of this
country. lie made no rctracton
on his rar', and remained inf re- ven
on ours II was flt here that he had
done an ignoble and unworthy net that
he had accepted every hospitality from n
genera us PEOPLE whose great fault was that
they had admired him even TO the extent of
fool slncss, snd that in return he had casti.
gated them merclcssly and even savapcly.
The rebellion came, and Mr.. DGCRESs IL all
tint tine failed to speak or write single
worl in behalf of the North, and re
manned at least lukcwGrm # not
hostile dur ny the long war. Finally, in the
winter Of 1868, he came again to this coun.
Try. perhaps thinking that II would not lie
well for his reputation that he should pass
away and leave on record ntout n nation
destined to Lead the w1rll nothing hut a
! nal - ant c. r'caturs. At all events, he made
| III Wis the occasion for m apology rs com
| pleto and nolle.spirted as his attack
had been ungcner1us, AT the dinner
| given him ly tho press Of this city the even.
ing before he left tie country, Ne bore full tes,i
money to the national generosity and mag
nanimt ~" "And this testimony he added
"ro long as | live and - long as NY
desc ndan;s have any legal right IN NY
| 10 ks, | shall cause TO he rcpuLl shed
in every copy of these two looks of mine
| in VIII oh | have referred TO America.
And tlis ! will do and cause TO be
done, not in mere love AMI tlankfulncss.
| hut because | regard it as an act of plain
| justice and honor" This pledge he moro
| than redeemed, for when he returned to Eng
land lie wrote in the journal ho edited q
noble tlil 10 the good qualities of the
| people Of this country and SO after twenty
five years Lis peace was mado with tao
| United States
| Mr. DICKENS was man OF most hosrita
lie tastes. His freedom in this direction may
Lave FASTENED his death 1t certainly added
TO his bodly ailments, He was generous
fond Of society, hc;ve in all his social duties
a promoter ly pen and purse and speed
and act Of many excellent charities, founde
of the well.known Guild of Literature an,
Art" in London, charming ofihano
speaker, delightful companion, one of III
lest amateur actors i'll England, and one O
the best readers that ever channe,
an audience, ns We all have occasion
to know, Though he went much into society
he never until within a very short time wa
presented al court. 1t was supposed that III
domestic difficulties, and the will known fac
that he lived apart from his wife, had been a
obstacle to the Queens becoming PERSONAL
acqua ntod with the most influential of he
sul jccts. Once lie was requested 20 tax
pNrt in some private theatricals nt Buck NJ
ham palace but he returned answer tha
where no could not be received rs gent,
man, he could not be received as an actor.
His domestic trouble always was a we gil
uIon his mind. This trouble was totf
var ance of disposition and tastes bctwo,
himself and Mrs. DICKENS, which finally re
suited in separation acquIesced in by bot
pnrte s ns for the best interests of ull.
s',ms TO have Leon IN unfortunate and II
Judged marriage. sutng In unhapp!nef
to loth but without any positive fault o
'he part Of either. TO Mr.. DECREASES cred