The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-17
CHARLES DICKENS
Should the Evil Which Great Men Do
Live After Them.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
viii you permit me to ask q question or two in
reference to the above named gentleman? What
is the object OF so many correspondents OF your
paper (who profess to know so much Of the late
lamented authors private life) in attributing to
him such poor ptiable frailties are continually
found In human nature In every grade, aud which
seem to be Inseparabe from us all since the world
began? Is 1t to show that he was good preacher,
but bad practicer-a man who had peculiar
gift OF drawing the frailties OF Others but never
touching or correcting his own? In this respect
which OF us can throw stones? Those OF US who are
not authors-those OF US who have not talent
enough to become public teachers-have
the same fault. and in our everyday
life and conduct we give it expression.
Is this principle founded on correct and healthy
moral tasleg Is the attacking and lault-nnding in
dead mems private characters plank in the plat
form Of Christianity? or Is 1t pandering to an I'M
healthy curiosity that recols upon ourselvesY Are
the moral and intellectual and human Influences
OF the writings Of such men as Dickens ana Lord
Lytton strengthened by the discovery that these
men were not what they ought to be? Was the
intended light thrown upon the private II fe OF
Lord Byron by Mrs. stowe conducive TO q good re-
sultY Was the late attempt to throw light Oh
the character OF Abraham Lincoln labor OF
charity, or was IL not rather las the tendency Oi
all these pos t-mortem discussions Isl to shattcr
somebody's idol and make IN en- think that there ~
less good in the world than they thought! rake
the private life OF most great men, Wnetncr III
science, In art or IN religion itself, ana 40 we nno
them periecti Those OF US VINO are pr9c,i LEA.
Men take ideas where we can md them II tiey
suit us, or II we can consOrt them WIN our own,
sometimes arrive at conclusion bnaJ Woulu
Shall we turn away because the mau who gave us
she seed that we nourlsh INTO mower anu run was
not what he ought TO be In other respects Those
OF lis who are not practical, but VINO Turn TO our
favorite author with thankfulness Ior the good he
has done us or tried 70 do us, VIII mud sadness
an onr neart that we never knew before when we
are told that the man who reused in better
Thoughts, hoer feelings, purer aspirations, nobier
Incentives and q broader charity TO all men was
himself only a teacher after all. There are false
Idols and true idols. Pull the false ones down if
Won Will, but leave US those whose tendency Is to
make us better men and women. We cannot afford
TO lose them let the man be what he
may who carved them. Dickens are ours
now, bequeatbed TO by the man
whose relics are laid in Westminster Abbey.
ana who, whatever may have been his faults
only human. One more question and close. Why
is Il that every one persists in telling US that Dick
ems was merccnary--that lie only came to
America To make money? Supposng that he did,
IL knd-hearted open. listed America to he the
only people VINO regret what they gave 10 near
time shower hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
upon other foreign performers WAC bave lett them
no legacy, but VINO are only 10 DE remembered oy
the sweetness OF their voice or TIER impcrsona-
singers actors or lecturers, Tor his creations VIII
i've IN America In the hearts or her people whcn
the genius OF others IL forgotten or Superseded
Were friend OF Charles Dickens would never
cal myself such again II the only reno Oh 'nat
Iriendship that preserved was % feather IN the
arrow that fred ut his reputation. Yours
JAMES SMITH.
No. los ASYLUM STREET. uARTFoRD.