Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-06-12

ing merrily - though gforhying over tneif
vanquished foe.
A correspondent of the Evening Star re-
ports . novel and probably generally un-
known incident of the early careers Of the
candidates for President and Vice President.
The following is the letter: Editor Star !;
North Pownal, Bennington county, vermont,
formerly known as Whipple's Corners, = SIT
uated in the Southwestern corner OF the Otate,
and BY the usually Travelled road one passes
in an hours ride from New York through the
corner of Vermont BY wav Of North Pownal
into the State Of Massachusetts. In 1851
Chester A. Arthur fresh from Union College
came to North P0wnal, and for one summer
taught the village school. About two years
later James A. Garfield, then young student
at Williams College, several miles distant, IN
order to obtain the necessary means to defray
his expenses while pursuing his studies, came
also to North Pownal and established writ
ing school in the same room formerly occu-
pied BY Mr.Arthur, and taught classes IN PEN
manship during the long winter evenings.
Thus from . common starting point In early
life, after the lapse of more than quarter OF
. century, after years Of manly toll these
distinguished men are by the action Of the
Chicago Convention brought into close re-
lationsbip before the nation and before the
civilized world.
This is the anniversary of the death Of
Charles Dickens. He died 10 years ago, and
his reputation a. a novelist is undeniably
much less to-day than it was at the time Of
his death. 1t has visibly decreased within
four or five years, it having become the fash
ion in certain quarters to speak of him as a
much overrated author who, from certain
personal qualities and popular extravagances
Of style, had been made to pass for great
genius 1t is hard to tell how Dickens will
stand in another generation. In opposition
to the critics holding that his fame will stead
ily decline, and that 40 years hence he will
be known merely - one of many clever
story-tellers, other critics, equally competent,
believe that he will be rated higher in the flu
ture than he has ever been in the past. He
certainly had original genius. His "Pick-
wick Papers" was the pioneer of series Of
fictitious narratives exemplifyin the life and
manners of the lower and middle classes,
never before thoroughly treated in literature.
Indeed, such literary incorporation Of high
and wholesome animal spirits has never been
presented. A fact. in connection with the
publication of "Pickwick" has almost ceased
to be remembered. Dickens was engaged
by Chapman & Hall to furnish the letter.
press to accompany the sketches of Sey mour,
then a very popular comic draughtsman,
Dickens part being intended to be entirely
subsidiary. The result was wholly unantici-
mated the letter.nreas at once eclipsiny the
illustrations. II wa, verv much a. if Long
fellow had been emnioved to write a
hnrle.one for . trounc Of E,h;on;an minstrels
Seymour committed suicide before the ap-
nesrance Of the second number of the "Pa-
pers. and was suco ecded by II. X. Browne,
lPhizO Manv persons still think that Dick
ems never did ANYTHING 40 good As "Pick.
wick" He never made another effort in the
same vein but some of his novels. such as
"Dombev and SON" s.Dayid Copper6eld." !"
"Hard Times sRieak House. "and "A Tale
of Two Cities" are generally regarded as
nerformance. Of loftier aim and greater i'm
portance. After 'Martin Chuzzlewit," his
neEe!y huinofou: vel" was l" "e"s"ie
llnqulshed, out MS VII ana humor increased,
As his subsequent tales testified. His child
o.oo.;or. I;Lo sspovI novhorn at ;ttlo
Nell" SOLVER Twist" "Tiny Tim" have
..,o, boo,, .cn.o.,I,o1 IIo ~os tLo f;.s< o,,
never oee" SpP'o"cAeu. iAc ~~' ''ie MS .u
thor to exhibit the poetry OF common life,
noo- ,m~ anI I'll, ..I,n hs, na~ar ~ haSo,o hun
poor anu iowly, WHO hau never DeIore Deeh
taken into literary account. Dickens's de.
cline Of reputation ia Iaruelv owing IL il
thought, to the biographies and correspond
ence nuhl,shed since his death. sh,winv him
=. h.ro h.a monv ~ooLro,.o. ora suoi,ro..
70 n~'e ""u i,'~ny "eAN"esseS an. sn,ai!"esS
tnat l'~u "o' oeen :u:Pec'eu ny N's so",irers