The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
DICKENS READING BOOKS.

recent European steamer has brought to Scribner
& Wexford q number of volumes from the library of
Charles Dickens, stamped with his crest. and many
containing marginal notes by his hand. Among the
most valuable and interesting this collection
two small volumes containing much Of Martin
Chuzzewit and of Nicholas Nickeby" as he read
i'll public The books his reading copies and
densations of his novels. The volume of ''Nicholas
Nickleby is condensed to three chapters. and even
those have been reduced by the authors hand. For
example. in the description of Mr.. squeers he cuts
out "tho eye he had useful. but not
ornamental. being of grecnish gray and in
shape resembling the fanlght of street
door" Many passages are undcrscorcd with
two lines of blue ink. Here is slight change from
tho original written in small though legible hand
When squcers bids Nicholas good night his first
evening at Dotheboys Hall, he says ~ don't know
I'm whose towel to put you on but if you II make
shift with something tomorrow morning Mrs.
squeers will arrange that in the OF the day.
Dickens has written in, Il don't know, by the by
whose towel TO put you But il YOU II make shift
with your pockethandkcrchicf in the morning Mrs.
squcers will look into it," There is not a page
without some alterations. Here eighteen
pages taken right out of the body of the book and
lied up with narrow red ribbon Half page of new
introduction il inserted to the chapter describ
ing Smike's departure 1t is written in blue ink
blue paper and pasted in:-"Time pas sed
away. The poor creature Smiko paid bitterly
(heavily written and scratched Quit for the
friendship of Nicholas Ncklcby all the spleen and
ili-humor that could not be vented on Nicholas
bestowed on him. Stripes and blows, stripes and
blows, stripes and blows, morning noon and night,
were his penalty for being compassi onatcd by the
daring master. Squoers jealous of the in
fuence which the said new master acquired in
the school, and hated him for IL. Mrs Squeers hated
him from the first, and poor Smikc paid heavily for
ALL" Further ON there arc three pages scaled up
with tlfe margin that comes on postage stamps. Con-
dcnsation appears 10 have been the great aim of the
novelist in these reading books, and there is not
word left in that could be stricken out.
The reading copy of Martin Chuz1owit" Is called
Mrs. Camp and evidently made in this country,
for il bears the imprint of Tcknor Fields and the
date 1865. There only eighteen pages In all in
this book, and third of these is crossed out and only
now and then Is there word written in. One
call his every tone and gesture In reading these little
books. The recollection of the former Is made par
ticularly vivid by the upstrokes OF the pen ut the end
of sentence.
Among the other works from Gads Hill is a copy of
Leigh Hunts poctical works. inscribed 'ro Charles
Dickens, from his constant adnirer and obliged
friend. Leigh Hunt" copy OF Hoods comic annual
for 1872 with sonnet To Dickens his proposed
voyage to America, and presentation copy of Fitz
Greene Hallcck's poems, inscribed 'To Charles
Dickens Esquire, from his friend and adrnirvr Fitz
Greene Halleck, New York. North America, 9th June,
1872.