The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-01
CHARLES DICKENS.
His Farewell Reading and Last
Spccch.'

The announcement that Mr.. Charles Dickens
would give his last reading on March Is brought
an immense audience to st. James Hall. "Tle
Christmas Carnl' and the "Trial from Plckwick''
were the pieces selected, and they were read with
Mr.. Dickens accustomed patlos aud humor. At
the end OF the reading bIr. Dickens said:
Ludicsaut Gehltlenen-It would be worse than
idle for IL would be hypOcrical and unfeeling, II
were to disguise that close TINS episo.ic III ny
life with feelings of very considerable pain. For
some fifteen years, in this hall and Ill many Kill
lrcd places. have had the honor oil presenting
nv own cherished IDEAS before you Tor your
rccoruition and in closely observing your reccp-
lion of them, have cnJoyed IN amount OF artistic
delight anu instruction Which, perhaps, 1t Is given
TO few men to know. In this task, ana In every
other have ever undertaken as faithful servant
of the public, always nhned witll sense OF duty 10
them, AMI always striving TO do his best, nave
bccn uniformly checred by the readiest response,
the most generous Pympathy ar the most stlmu-
lating support. Nevertheless, nave thought IL
well 1T the lrod tide Of your favor to retire upon
tluse older associations between US which date
from much further back than these. and hence
forth 10 devote myself exclusively TO the art that
first brought Us together. Ladies ana gentlemen.
In but two short weeks from this time hope tilat
vou NAV enter In your own homes, OIL new
series OF readings at which my assistance will be
indispensable; hut from these gars;i lights van
Ish now fur ever more, with one heartfelt, grLe-
full respectful and afectionate farewell.
The London News cdltorially says:
L,stnIrht Mr.. Dickens gave the last public read,
inr Of his last srries Those WHO have neglected
ihe onnortunity Of hearing him will never have
another chance At the full nnOdtiue OF his lavUl
he rcires upon those older associations Detwccl
himself and the public, which date much further
hack than his public readings, ana hencelorth ne
ntruis To devote himself exclusively 10 the art
which first brought him and ourselves together.
We are quoting Mr.. Dickens own words; lie
ended the evening with short address, as pointed
and as vigorous rs any thing which nc mas ever
either said or written, and which, perhaps, was
moi thc least interesting part OF the evening" pro-
pramme. It Is seldom that II great writer Is also
Great orator, or that he has any power OF moving
ana swaYing a crowded audience. To this rule
Mr.. Dickens, as indeed TO most other known
rules is a marked exception. From hrst 10 us
his career has been an Uninterrupted success. Ills
~nnms Euows no difficulties, as 1t recognizes ne
Jaws. To those who have watched MS career II
has been evident that thnt dramatic power winch
lies latent In all writers OF fiction has ripcne
rreatly in Mr. nickenS since lie first commenced
Ills readings, lie has cnllcd by becoming con
summatc actor and lie has also, which Is nc
small matter. become u finished speaker. Ill:
nubIir sDeeches AMI addresses. although few anf
far between, were always good. But the practice
necessarily involved in reading to large audiences
Inns iufucilcctl Mr. Dickens success as an orator
very distinctly. His last great speech was also
in the opInion of AL who heard it, his best.