The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
His Domestic Difficulties and Sepa-
ration from His Wife.
HIS SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA.
His Impressions Of New York, Boston, Phila-
deIphia, Baltimore and Washington.
CLOSING SCENES OF HIS LIFE.

MAN ~
We have received the last and concluding vol
ume OF the Lille OF Charles Dickens" The COM
pletion OF this work is the most important literary
event since the publication OF Moore's life OF
Byron" the volume before US begins with the
writing OF 'Copperheld" and closes with the death
Of Dickens- We are sure our readers will gladly
accompany US as we follow Mr.. Forster in contem-
plating the fulflment and close OF the lie OF the
most famous Englishman OF this generation.
In 1850, when Dickens finished 'Copperdeld," ne
was In the year OF his age, ana was al
ready the most celebrated English writer living.
Thackeray. as the author OF vanity Fair" and
sHenry Esmond.n might dispute this predoml-
nance. Just As George Eliot, with "Adsm Bede,"
came later TO dispute IL But while ThacKeray ana
George Eliot might satisfy the higher tastes Of the
cultivated few. and while in the graver essentials
of literary work philosophy, depth Of insight into
character and wide range OF thought, there is
nothing In Dickens to equal Becky Sharp and
Adam Bede still his genius was more in sympathy
with the heart OF England. He came home to
Fngilsh- speaking people no man had come since
Burns. Like Burns, his influence moved alike
tne loftiest and the lowliest. His characters be-
came proverbs, his stories were upon every stage,
his fancies embodied themselves In our language.
Even now the writer or the orator finds no
surer way OF conveying his meaning than to use
the name OF Fagip or Pecksnin or Mcawber. He
lived IN an atmosphere OF incense. America We'd
with England In anectionate appreciation when
living, and In sorrow when ne died. As years go
he IVES not an old man when he passed away, and
it was In the ripeness OF fame. His gifted contem-
poraries-those who labored with him In the
same csIling-gave him praise as hearty as the
people. Even literary emulation lost Its envy.
Thackersy and Bulwer were enthusiastic in COM
mending his work, and nothing Is more eloquent
than the words OF Carlyle-himsen a master and
king, and celebrated long before Dickens was
even q reporter ior the press-which M. Forster
quotes In his volume lit Is almost thirty years"
says Mr. Carlyle, "since my acquaintance with
HIM began; and on my side may say every new
meeting ripcned n into more and more clear dis
ccrnment OF his rare ana great worth a. brother
mana most cordial sincere, ciear-sighied,
quietly decisive, Just and loving man-ti at length
he had grown 10 sucn o recognition with me as
have rarely had for any man OF my time" I'll am
profoundly sorry for you, and. indeed, for myself
and for us all II is an event world wide, unique
OF talents suddenly extinct. and has 'eclipsed,'
too NAV say. the harmless gayety of nature No
death since 1900 tse death OF his wieD mas fallen
on me with such a stroke. No literary mans
hitherto ever did. The good the gentle, high
gifted ever friendly, noble DicHens-eyery inch OF
him sn honest man."
s'coPPKRFfEIp- AND BLEAK "uorsE.v
"Copperneldn filed the measure OF the fame OF
Dickens. No book since "Pckwickr had been SO
widely read, and there "the Suspicion as Mr..
Forster remarks. that underneath the fiction lay
something OF the authors hfe." .Copperneldn
was followed by BLEAK House, and we hear
Interesting stories as to the resembances
between some OF the actions and prominent
persons then living. Miss Mowcher appears to
have been lady in private English life who conn.,
planned to Dickens OF his using her as an Illus
tration. Mrs. Nicgleby was copied rom the
authors own mother, while Micawoer was a por-
trait OF his father. We have some queer speeches
and sentences from the elder Dickens, which
might have been taken from Micawher "The
oan-dogs would, shortly have him az bay,r .He
was about 10 proceed TO Paris 20 consolidate
Augustus French '"The supreme Being must be
an entirely different individual from what have
every reason TO Believe Him II He would care in
the least for the society OF your relations All
this Is In the best manner OF Micawber. Boythorn
In "Bleak House," 10 q portrait OF Walter savage
Landor while Harold skimpoie was sketched from
Leigh Hunt Dickens admits the portrait, and we
learn that he softened the picture and changed
the name from Leander to Harold In obedience to
the representations OF Forster and Barry Corn
wall. Leigh Hunt was not aware OF the resem.
blance until kind friends pointed IL out, and we
have a manly letter from Dickens 10 him en-.
deavoring to soften the pain occasioned by the
delineation. Mr.. Forster takes some pains 20
prove that Dickens did not draw his own char.
acter as David Copperneld. No one would have
supposed that he did. The Peggotty group "were
the authors own favorite people, while Mrs
Steerforth was an especial iavorite OF Thackerays
In "Bleak House." Joe, the wretched boy was q
character that interested him deeply and we
agree with Mr.. Forster that IL Is one OF the most
tragic and touching OF his creations.
CHRISTMAS PASroMiAE.
"Blcak House, was finished and the death OF
friends came to darken the days. Watson, whom
he loved 80 well, Mrs Macready ami Count d'Orsay /,
"Ah, mel An, me 80 he SAYS .'out this is all a
dream. may be- and death will wake usrp We
have merry glimpses OF home nfe pleasant 20
dwell upon, thinking OF the clouds that came so
soon. There was a Christmas pantOmime IN 1854
IN Dickens house, Marx Lemon PLAYING as
the giantess Glumdulen, Dickens tie ghost OF
Carer Thumb, under the stage names OF TIE
Infant Phenomenon and the Modern Garnck. The
other parts were played by the children OF Lemon
and Dickens-one child singing a ballad abou,
miss Wilkins" which made ThacserAy 'ron OF
his seat with laughter Then, II being Crimean
war times, we had Dickens as a tes,y Old Baron,
singing ballads 10 the children against the car OF
Russia Merry times and only twenty years ago!
Only twenty years. and Thacxeray Lemon and
Dickens. with their gibes and laughter, gone into
the shadows and the night
IDLE DAYS IN FRANCE.
lizard rmesn was written which gave extrava,
CANT pleasure TO Mr.. Ruskin, but 10 no che else
for 1t had no life. Then trip 10 Italy and swltzer
land and much roaming on the Continent. all brill
iantly sketched here In the best vein. Then came
three summers at Bouogne, aud picture OF Ea-
genie. Empress OF the French, worth looking az
now:-'The Empress was very pretty, and her
slight figure sat capitagy on her gray horse. when
the Emperor gave her the despatch to read AN
nouncing the fall OF sebastopoD, she nushed ana
fred up In very pleasant way aud kissed 10 with
az natural an impulse as one could desire 70 see.r
Il.ara ~ Itsio De- Il