Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-25
me Letters Of Charles Dickens

The Letters Of Charles Dickens.
The publication of the letters Of Charles
Dickens, together with the recent death Of
his wife, have renewed public interest in
the great novelist and excited fresh discus
sion a. to his merit IS . writer, and char
acter Is . man. 1t is fair to say that in the
main the criticism il unfavorable. Dick
ems private letters, although carefully edit
ed by the loving hand OF his eldest daugh-
ter and sister-in-law reveal the man - no
was. We are impressed with the j~ustness
Of the criticism OF the London Times that
with all his transcendent genius he was
not . gentleman" 1t has been veil said
Of him that he could eat . mans bread
and drink his wine and then lampoon him
after the feast was over. In this way, he
rewarded the generous hospitality be re-
ceived everywhere in America. With all
his ridicule Of English snobs, he was him
self the prince Of snoDs. His iashy dress
and diamond studs and rings are familiar
to ali. With all his graphic pictures OF
avarice, no man 10 the world Of letters ex-
hibited'a more sordid love Of money. His
letters from America in 1858 are full Of
references to his crowded houses and his
sstonished receipts, but contain no refer
snces to the marvellous change that had
taken place in our grand country since his
first visit ia 1912, nor Of q great war,
which had just concluded, and its wonder
full results. In fact Dickens was an ego
tist OF the most offensive character. He
disparaged others in his efforts to elevate
himself. He made = god Of himself, and
bowed 10 worship Of his own creation with
more than eastern idolatry. The true man
ID always . sincere, Q genuine man, but
Dickens was utterly hollow and heartless.
after living with his wife for more than
twenty years, after she had born him
seven children, and shared with him the
privations Of his earlier career, and had
given him the bloom and glory Of her wo-
manhood. he put her of when her cheek
had faded, upon the fiimsy pretext Of in
compatibility. The fact was that he had
grown great in the worlds estimation-at
home and abroad he was lionized, feted
and hattsred-snd his vanity could no
longer brook association with the wife Of
his youth, whose plsin and simple manners
had become insufFerable to him. His
heartless and cruel conduct in this matter
has NO parallel in the lives Of distinguish
ed men, except. perhaps. in the divorce Of
Napoleon from Josephine. But Josephine
was the victim Of . remorseless but kingly
ambition, not Of . mean and contemplate
vanity. Napoleon wanted TO found . dy-
nasty, and unfortunately the wife Of his
youth bore him no offsprings TO bear his
name or sit upon his throne. But while
for political reasons he tore himself assun-
der from Josephine. his heart vas : q TO
her 10 The last. When his proud empire
toppled about his head be fed to her side
for counsel and sympathy. The true gem
tleman kas always proper self-respect, and
n equal respect for others. 1t was the
beaufiful blending Of these elements OF
character that made Washington the grand
est man in our history. But Dickens was
lacking in both these qualities. he pos
sssssd inordinate vanity, but no genuine
self-rnpect- No one ever made greater
sacrifices to secure social recognition from
the snobs Of the English aristocracy than
did he. with all his affectasion Of social in
dependence. In his efforts TO seeure favor
with his superiors in social position, be
ofs<n sacrificed his dignity, while his i'm
sulting and arrogAnt manners TO those
whom be regarded ~ his interiors were
equally - disgusting and unmanly. His
lettsrs reveal his characteristic humor, bat
they gave evidence, too. Of the vulgar,
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