New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-04
ORLEANS SATURDAY, MARCH 1871

| Anne Adelaide Proctor, to whose legends
and lyrics he wrote a touching preface. He
| was the first to welcome Mrs. Thomas
| -Adolphus TrollOpe, whose novels OF Aun,
| Margaret's Trouble, Mabe!'s Progress, etc.
are attributed to his own daughter. The
| friend OF these women, OF Fanny Kemblc
George Eliot and Miss Burdett Coutts, to
the last OF whom he dedicated Martin
Chuzziewit, ana whose private donations
in certain quarters he managed ior wears,
could not iisbelieve i'll feminine intellect.
Indeed, | am ol.ttashiOned enough to be
grateful to Dickens for his female charlc-
ters. He has conceived silly women, weak
women, incOnseIuent women, cold women
of society. women perverted by circnm-
stances or rendered llnlOvely by miserable
Inheritance. but he has never drawn a
thoroughly bad woman. Even the worst OF
all, worst in the worlds eyes, redcems her
self at last by devotion and seli:sacriiice.
and her vice is but the excess OF virtue. Al
lusiOn was made to the numerous proverb-
ial phrases orig mated by Dickens. and to
the many characters whose names now
stand as synonyms: and then. in refer
ence to the religious aspect of Mr. Dickens
life, a few sharp thrl,sts were made at the
ccnsOriOus elergymcn who would attack the
theology OF the great novelist, and in con
nectiOn with this the lecturer referred
tOuchingy to the diSrespect paid 10 the re-
mains OF the late George Holland, wholr
she designated as an honest and IL noble
man. If Charles Dickens be IA heathen,"
said she, "let us all be heathens if we can"
Perhaps the most interesting portion OF
the lecture was Il recount OF the incidents
attending her personal acquaintance with
Mr.. Dickens. We doubt II Il better delinea-
ton OF the character of Mr.. Dickens has
ever been presented. She spoke warmly of
his noble generosity to struggling authors;
his unbOunded love of humanity; his refusal
to accept bar0netcy in order that he might
die plain Mr.. Dickens; his reply to the Queen
in refusing to perform as an actor where he
was not received as an authOr-all We're re
tcrrcd to in Il spirit OF the highest adlnira-
ton. and presented in such Il manner as to
vividly portray the nobility OF the man. She
then closed her lecture with a peroration
which is both beautiful! and touching:
dickens. the uncommercial traveller for
the great house of Human Interest Brothers.
has made his last Journey. The light of
Gad's Hill has gone out: the light OF the
world is dimmed. He lies with England's
best and greatest-with ,uneful Handel
gazing heavenwartl above him, with Gar
rick by his side. with johnson at his feet
with Dryden, Chaucer, Spencer and Milton
near by; with mighty congregation OF
kings and queens, philosophers and generals
to sing hozannas AS they welcome him to
that congregation of living. humble souls
silently filling the somber abbey from noon
to night, treading lightly lest the dead be
walked, casting flowers into the still open
grave until the dark void Is I.ade bright
and beautiful as if with the bloom of ever
lasting peace and hope. Last to lnger is Il
woman, listening to the voice of memory lis
it repeats the words of him who lies so
silently at her feet: % woman. God beloved
III old Jerusalrm! The best among us need
deal lightly with thy faults. if only for the
punishment thy nature will endure in hear
ing heavy evidence against on the day OF
Judgment
This worlds day of Judgment has come
to you. Charles Dickens, and this grateful
woman casts humble flowers upon your
grave for your loyalty TO duty, for your
loyalty to literature, for your loyalty 10 tie
drama. for your loyalty t. friendship. for
your love of humanity, for your love of
truth-lOving it better than Shakespeare
and Skakespeares country. better than
Irving and lrving's country-for your love
of children. for your tenderness toward the
OutcaSt of her SEX. And is she lets fall the
last pansy in her hand she murlnErs: The
old. old fashion. The fashion that came in
with our first parents and will last un-
changed until our race has run its course.
and the wide tirlnanent is rolled up like !.
scroll. The old, old fashion-leath. O.
thank God. all who see It. for that older
fashion vet. of immortality. and look upon
him, angels of young children. with regards
not quite estranged. now the swift ,iver
bears him to the ocean.