New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
DAY WITH CHARLES DICKENS Nv BLANCHARD JEnRoIp
svo. pp CO. shepard Gill;

voted 10 personal descriptions OF some Of the most oee
brsted recent English authors. The present Issue con
tains several interesting recOectons OF DICKENS WIN
characteristic extracts from his writings and an est
his genius and literary influence The Work Is
deeply eolored with the individual sentiments OF the
author whose relations with Dickens were close and
adcctiOnate. The picture Of his inner lie VIII not at
once be recognized by those who had less familiar ac-
suainance with the subject who knew him best and
closest saw how little ne would produce to the
cutter world Of the bright, chValrous engaging, and
deem and tender heart that beat within his bosom The
vel OF Kindness was open To mankind and from 81 gen
eratons Will drink; hut It never fathOmed Charles
Dickens an writer's about him have testified,
was so eTaciously well as lavshly endowed
Ny Nature that every utteraDce was sunny,
every sentiment pure. every emotional opinion
iustinctively Ight-ke wOmans. The head that gov
erDod the rchlystored heart wiSe prompt and alert
81 the same time. He communicated 10 all he did the
delightful of with power Prod gal rs he was
he seemed ever reserve more love and tenderness
than he gave His vgor sustained as well as pl
liant and daring. His mind, so marked in MS setrc-
spect and equal poise. weak on great occa'
sons as the judicial mind so often is There was some
tlng feminine in the quality that led MN TO the rsnt
verdict the approximate word the Of the heart OF
The question in hand. The air about him vibraed win
Dis activity his surprising vitality. In difficulty
men felt safe merely because he present. Most
easily among an thinkers IL has been ms fortune to
know was he master OF every situation IN winch he
placed himself Not only because OF the latent conscious
pnwer that was in him, and the Hghtly cheerulness
which became the puremuded servant of humanity who
had used himself 20 victory because ne adopted
always the old plain advice, aud dclberated well before
he acted with ysOr which iuseparabie from
activity Of his"
It's often supposed that tho "Chd's History OF En-
gland was prepared in regular course fot Household
and that Dickenss prctcnSc of writing it for ms
own children only auot uncommon professional liz
Mr.. JcrrOld quotes from autograph letter which
the sincerity Of tho great novelist a tins case:
writing little history of EnsLud for my boy. which
viii send You when 10 is printed for him. though vour
boys are too old 20 profit bv il. - is curious
tlat ] have tried 90 impress upon him tWrltIne,
dare say, at the moment with you) the
exact spirit OF yOur paper The Preacher Parrot ,.
for don't know what should do Il he to get hold
Vf any Conservative or High Church notions ana the
best way Of guarding against such horrible result IS
take IT, 10 wiring the parrots neck IN his very cradle
beayen IL YOU could have been with me at the hospital
dinner last Monday. There were men thcre-your city
aristocracy-who made such speeches, and expressed
such sentiments any moderately intelligent dustman
would have blusned through his cindery bloom to have
thought or Sleek, SOLDERING bOw-paunchcd Oyerled,
apoplecc snortiug catte-dnd the auditory eapng up
IN their delight! Ineyer such illustration OF the
power OF purse or felt degraded and debascd by its
contemplation. since / have had eyes and ears. The
sbsurdty Of the thing horrible to laugh at 1t
was perfectly overwhelming. Bnt II l could have par
10 with ANYBODY who would nave lcIt IL As You
would have DONE would have had quite another as
p,ct OF would at least ike CLASSICAL mask, have bad
one funny side 70 relieve its dismal features"
Nj Jerrold describes peculiar instance Of the wise
and active sympathy Of Dickens which an
habtual trait OF his character. "When Ada, Lady
Loye.acc. dying, aud suffering the fortunes
81 a slow internal disease, she expressed craving
to see Charles Dickens, and talk with him. He
went tober AMI found a mourning house. The lady
stretched upon a couch herocaly enduring her agony
The appearance OF Dickens's earnest sympathetic face
was immediate relief She asked him whether the at
teudaut had left basin Of ice and spoon. She had
Then give ire some now and them and don't notice
when crush IL between my teeth II sOothes my PAM
and-we can talk The wOmany tenderness, the whole
mess, with which Dickens would enter into the deca-
such situation, Will rise instantly TO the mind
Of all him That he was at the same
moment tho most careful OF nurses and the most
sympathetic and sustaining of eomfOrters, who can
doubt DO you prayr the poor lady asked.
Every morning and every evening" was Dckens's
answer in that rich, sOnOrOus voice which crowds hap
ply can remember; but Of which they can best under
stand al the eloquence who knew how simple and de-
won't he was he spoke OF sacred things-O suffer
ing Of wrong, Of misfortune"
Another example Of the same kind relates Douglas
Jerrod, the father Of the writer. His engaging man
uer when ne came suddenly contact with sick friend
dofes descriptions but from his own narrative of his
walk with Iny father. which he told made his heart
heavy aud was gloomy task, 1t is easy for friends to
understand patience, solcituGe. and kindly counsel
and designed humor with which he through with
IT, father very i'll but under Dickenss thought
full care he had rallied before they reached the Temple
We strolled through the Temple Dickens wrote Inc,
on orr way 20 a boat and have lively recollection
OF him stamping about Elm Tree Court, with his hat in
one hand and the other pushing his hair back laughing
lu his heartest AZ ridiculous remembrance We
had in common, which had presented in some exag-
gerated light to divert him. Then againOt the same
day.-'The dinner-party large one and did not
ft near table. But he and arranged before We
in to dinner that he only 70 eat some simple
dish that We agreed upon and only to drink sherry
and-watcr' Then, We exchanged " God bless youl"
and shook hands. And-they never met again."
The following auecdote which is quoted by author
fro the private journal OF OF Dckens's intimate
friends illustrates his almost juvenile precocity as
newspaper reporter Dickens began his career when
youth Of nineteen, under his uncle, John Henry Bar
row. who started The Mirror Of Parliament in oppos
non 70 Hausard Hansard always compiled his reports
from the morning newspapers whereas Barrow gagged
special staff Of able reporters sending each important
Grafton proof 70 its speaker for correction When
Stanley Illuminated his philippe against o'COnnel IL
fell young Dckenss turn 10 report the last third Of IT,
The proof Of the whole speech was forwarded to Mr.
stanley He returned it TO Barrow, with the remark
that the twohirds badly reported as TO be
unintenigble but that if the gentleman who had so ad
nlraby reported the third Of his speech could be
sent him. he would speak the rest OF TO MIN alone
Accordingly at hour appointed, young Dickens made
his appearance Mr.. Staney's. notebook in hand 1t
was with evident hesitation that the servant ushered
him into the library the tables Of which covered
with newspapers. Presently the master Of the house
appeared eyed the youth suspicousy, and said, beg
pardon but had hoped TO the gentleman who had
reported part OF my speech, &c 1 am that gentleman
retOrfed Dickens, turning red IN the face, and