National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-21
Yatiaual gernblitau.
THE STORY OF DICKENS AND Els
WIFE.
WY THEY -ALESSON FUR
YOUNG PEOPLE.

WY THEY sEPARATED-ALEssO FUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. f
Mr. Forster, the friend and biographsr, tells
the story thus: Despising society, and failing
to Ind In his home those satisfactions which
tie true home life demands, . tone of restless
ness became apparent about 1857. If Dickens
had any social tendencies 1t was for those b.
meath rather than those above him I'm life.
This ID attributed to defects Of temperamene
coming from early trials and successes. Mas
tering fortune and fame, he did not attain re-
nunciation and selfsacrffice. Until Cooper
field" was finished his life was In his books.
His friendships were with the creatures of his
rich and marvellous fancy. Combined with
habits Of singular provision, method and order,
ne had an Impotence Of nature, rushing at en-
joyment without counting its cost. After
Copperfeld," his Imagination seemed to fail,
70 want spur. While his subsequent works
embodied creations Of character and humor a.
nne as any in his earlier days-Margoid, Lir-
r1per, Pip-he had lost the old free and fertile
method. So, Is Mr. Forster noted, s:there
came, from time to time, intervals of unusual
impaiience and restlessness, strange to
see IN connection with his home" Old
pursuits were laid aside for new occupa-
lions and excitements-political addresses,
private theatricals, readings "strollins,
wandering ways" craving to find some
means BY which life might become easier.
This craving called from Forster the remon-
STRANGE Of friendship, and to one of these en-
treaties we find Dickens, I'm 1857, saying sadly.
81 have no relief but In action. am becom-
ing incapable Of rest. I should rest, break
and die If spared myself. Much better to die
doing" Other letters breathe strange yearn-
ings. At one time he wishes to live in the
Pyrenees for six months. Then he has an idea
Of living in Switzerland, above the snow line,
in some astonishing convent" cam alto
gether in dishevelled state of mind-motes
of new books in the dirty air." ssWhy is it,"
he cries, shat q sense comes always crushing
on me, as Of one happiness have missed in
life and one friend, and companion have
Fever madeW Again, the "serious idea" of q
winter on the top Of Mount st. Bernard, with
the monks and dogs for a whole winter. An
other time his fancy flies to Australia, only he
will finish 'Little Dorrit" before leaving. "The
old days! the old daysp' he means, ashall I
ever, wonder, get the frame of mind back as
ii used to be thenl' 81 feel that the skeleton
in my domestic closet Is pretty big one."
THE CLOUD FALLS.
Then came the sorrovful ayowal-not alto
gether unexpected. says Mr.. Forster, but ga
great shock, nevertheless" ''Poor Catherine"
writes Dickens-Cstherine being his wife,
"and are not made for each other, and there
Is no help for It. 1t is not only that she makes
me uneasy and unhappy, but that make her
what you know in the way of being amiable
and.complying; but we are strangely assorted
for the bond there Is between U.S. God Snows
she would have been Q thousand times happier
II she had married another kind of man, and
that her avoidance of this destiny would have
been at least equally good for US both. I am
often cut to the heart by thinking what pity
Il Is, for her SAKE, that ever fell In her way"
Nothing on earth could make her understand
me, or suit US to each other. Her tempera-
ment will not 60 with mine" ''What is now
Detailing me have seen steadily coming since
Mary was born, and know too well that you
cannot, and no one can, help me-" Again, an
other letter: 1.-THE years have not made it
easier to bear for either of US; and for her sake
as well as mine, the wish will force itself upon
me that something might be DONE" And
again: 81 claim no immunity from blame
There is plenty of fault on my side, dare say,
In the way of thousand uncertainties, caprices
and difficulties of disposition; but only one
thing will alter all that, and that is the end
which alters everything"
THE END.
This was in 1857. In 1857 Mr.. Dickens and
his wife lived apart. 'The eldest son went
with his mother, Dickens at once giving effect
to her expressed wish in this respect, and the
other children remained with himself, their in
tercourse with Mrs. Dickens being left entirely
to themselves" They never met during the
remainder of their Lives. She had lived with
him quarter of q century, and borne him ten
| children. She was the wife Of his youth and
his fame. Before he died he coldly wrote these
words about her in his will: az desire here
simply to record the fact that my wife, since
her separation by consent, has been in the re-
ceipt from me Of an annual income of E6OO,
while all the great charges of a numerous and
expensive family have develved wholly upon
myself" The man who dismissed his wife and
who wrote these words was the creator of Ag-
mes, and the sweet, beautiful story of love and
devotion which that fanciful life contained. It
is not for US to look deeply into the hearts of
men like Dickens and Byron or Shakespeare,
but rather to take from their lives the inspira-
ton of genius. But this narrative, even as Mr..
Forster tells 1t, Is . sad story of impulse and
| selfshness, and it so darkens the character of
Dickens that We turn from the contemplation
with bitter, bitter sorrow.