The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20

/
MIS-. hoylance. iSn
Dickensconsidered David Copperfeld''
rs the best of his books, and the reason
for his preference may be looked for in the
fact that 1T is TO great extent autobio-
graphical. The author has himself de-
clared that many ofsthe incidents in
Dayid's career are identical with those ex-
perlenced by himself sb that, up to GER
tain point, he may be considered as the
prototype OF the hero Of the story. To q
certain extent, also, Mr. Mcawber was
q portrait OF the noyelisPs father who,
like him, was remarkable for rhetorical
exuberance, a peculiarly which found
frequent and always agreeable expression
in many OF the novelist letters, written
long before "Copperfeld' was thought Of
mo one" says his biographer, could
know the elder Dickens without secretly
liking him the better for these flourishes
OF speech, which adapted themselves so
readily to his gloom as well rs TO his
checrfulness, that IL was difficult not to
fancy they had helped him considerably
In both, and had rendered more tolerable
to him, II also more possible, the shade
and sunshine OF his chcckered life.
II delighted Dickens to remem-
Der that II was OF one OF his
connections his father wrote cele-
brated sentence: And must express my
tendency TO believe that his longevity is to
say the. least OF i) extremely problem
atical.' There also existed in the per-
sonal appearance of the Mcawber q re-
semblance TO that OF his prototype. A
friend and ncighbor Of Mr. John Dickens
describes him as "a chatty, pleasant COM
| Igfa
dote, and a genuine vein OF humor. He
was a well-buit man, rather stout, OF very
active habits, little pompous, and very
proud las well he might bel Of his talented
son. lie dressed well, and wore q good
bunch OF seals suspended across his waist
coat from his watch chain"
A writer says that Dickens also availed
himself Of certain peculiarites Of Thomas
Powell, 80 so-called literary man, OF
America, many OF whose idiosyncracies
were set forth in story published in the
Boston hder some years ago. Like Nj
cawber, Powell had q trick Of becoming
very confidential on small or no provoca-
ton. He also had large family, and q
perfect mania for writing letters, even to
persons in the same room-other points of
resemblance TO Mr. Dickens Micawber.
Dora Spcnlow, David Copperlicld's
| "chid-Nifc," was drawn from living
person, for Dickens. too, had his Dora in
1920, who, like Dayid's iiancee, Twas
striycn for rs the only thing TO be attained,
and even more unattainablc, for neither
did he succeed, nor happily did she die;
but the one idol, like the other, supplying
q motive TO cxeriion 10 the time, and
otherwise opening out TO the idolator,
both in fact and fiction, n highly unsub-
stantial, happy. foolish time" A letter
from Dickens to his biographer cofnrms
the statement that the Dora in fiction Is
founded on Dora in fact. The descrip-
ton Of Dora in Little DOrritt," was de-
rived from the same original.
Dickens, thinking thai n grotesque little
oddity among his acquaintance would be
safe from recognition. had given way to
the temptation OF copying too closely the
pccnliaritics OF her face and figure. Al
though in Miss Mowchcr's "Ain't | yola-
tile" his friends had quite correctly ecog-
nizcd 10 the iayorite expression OF differ
ent person, and other traits were not hers
at all, yet he was shocked and gricvcd to
discover that lac had given pain 10 a per-
son who saw in Miss Mowchor n strong rc-
semblanco la herself, and speedily RENE
died, ~ far ~ was practicable. the injury
he had unintcntionnlly inflicted by max
ing certain alterations In the subsequent
portrayal Of the character.
In llarold Skimpolo Of BLEAK House"
Dickens deeply injured the susceptible
ties OF his friend, Leigh Hunt, whose &C.
ccniricitics he had Enthusiastically cxag.
gcraicd Ia icOnncciing them with Skim
pole. Although the novelist felt that il
WIS wrong In being thus tempted 60 ntil
izo the power he possessed OF reproducing
the pcculiarites OF his friends and their
natural fruits OF character, he apparently
found II irresistible. Harold Skimpole's
likeness 10 that Of his prototype was 80
easily recognized that il led 10 much 10.
mark; unfortunately, part in the plot
was assigned 10 him which no fascinating
loiblcs or gayetios OF speech could redeem
from contempt The story Is n long one.
and ~ well told by others that a rupoti-
ton OF u Il unnecessary. Suffice Il 10 say
that Dickens's Intention WIS not an un-
kind one. lie erred from thoughilessness
only, aud often expressed his regret that
he had made the character speak too
much like his old friend.
For the character OF Lawrence Boythom
he was similarly indebted 10 another
friend, Walter Savage Landor Boythom
forms a strong aud not unplCasing con-
trasi 10 Skimpoic, 10 that the conse.
quenccs arising from the portrayal were
not ~ disastrous M In the case Of Leigh
Hunt; In fact, no objection was made, rs
ludicrOus traits were employed 10 enrich
without impaining an attractive person m
the tale.
A striking pamphlet on the subject Of
chnnccry abuses and DELAYS afforded
Dickens a valuable hint IN his treatment
Of the great chnnccry suit, in "lcak
llouso." Of Jarndycc VI. Jamdycc.
One Of the suiiors In thai grcat case was
"a little mad woman IN a squeezed bon.
net, who Is always In Tie court from lis
sitting 10 IT, rising. and always expecting
some incomprchensiblc judgment to be
given In her favor She carries
some small letters In her rclculc which
she calls her documents; principally con.
sisting Of paper matches and dry laycn.
der" The name OF the Little Old Lady"
was Elite, aud her portrait was taken from
life. One who knew her we'll informs me
that she was always towering In or about
the chanccry courts, generally In court,
and that she was the victim Of some pro.
longcd chanccry suit which had turned
her head.
Another character In BLEAK House"
can be identified. The portrait of that cx.
pert detective, Inspection lucket, was
taken from the late Mr. Field. chief Of de.
tcciiyc police, who frequently had the
honor Of accompanying Dickens during
l III .ynl.r.tl... . al. IauUt. a -