The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-05-03
DICKENS "MOTHERS."
Not One of Them Can Be Either Admins
or Respected.

Not One of Them Can BE Either Admired
or Respected.
"You are student of Charles Dick
ems, are you not?'' s.
Certainly; 1 think you could scarcely
mention character of his with which L
am unfamiliar"
Every well, then, if you can point me
out one mother in the whole of Dickens
novels, with any claim to education,
who can be either admired or respected,
/ will own that have wronged him. L
am ready to admit that on the lower
order he is less severe"
Eager to prove that she misjudged my
favorite, began to search my memory.
At the end of ten minutes l was still
searching, but l had not spoken. The
fact was | was terribly perturbed in
spirit. | was most anxious not to be
worsted in the argument, for it seemed
to me that grave slur had been cast
upon Charles Dickens character; there
fore, to feel that could only bring for
ward, as being worthy of respect, David
Copperfield's childish mother, was ex-
ceedingly notifying. Georges mother
in BLEAK House" 1 could not mention,
as, although she is undoubtedly fine
old dame, she certainly has no claim to
gentle breeding; while in support of ny
friends grievance there marshaled sub
CHASTITY troupe of knaves and foQSAt
so masculine term as knave is d1nis-
sible in these ircumstances-thaIw was
utterly discounted.
my memory is at fault" / huttered
to myself. 81 will go homeard consult
my Dickens"
Pleading a headache, l mad my ex-
cuses, but as l was leaving tho room my
old friend called after me:
'If you have headache dot pursue
this subject tonight. l war you you
are going to search for a Dedle in a
bottle of hay, only'-somewat grimly
-"the needle is not there!'
l locked myself in my stray and set
to work. At the end of twolours, wiser
and much sadder, l pauseL and gazed
blankly around at formidable heap
of volumes. l had selected the books
haphazard, and had madea pencil note
on each, with this result
Great Expectations" No parents of
any Importance. Slight Character sketch
of Herbert's mother, Ia decidedly blam-
able fool.)
cold Curiosity Shop Old Mrs. Gar
land, (weak.) Kits mother, Qower
orders.) Mrs. Jiniwin (detestable.)
Hard Times" Mr.. Gradgrind, (idi-
otic.) Bounderby's mother, Qower
orders.)
Little Dorrit." Mrs. Clennam, (crim-
inal,) Mrs. Merdle and Mrs. Gowan,
(worldly, heartless wretches.) Mrs.
Meagles, mice, but very homely.)
Our Mutual Friend" Mrs. Wilfer.
(outrageous.)
Nicholas Nickleby." Mrs Nicl1leby
and Mrs. Kenwigs, Qunatics.) Mrs.
Squeers, "a horror)
'Dombey & Son." Mrs, Skewton, Ia
disgrace to her sex) Alice's mother,
Good Mrs. Brown" tan ogress.) Polite
Toodles, dover orders.)
Martin Chuzzlewit." Mothers not in
it, with the exception of chareter
sketch 1.-The Mother of the GraGhi,"
Ia fool.)
'Barnaby Ridge" Mrs. Warden, lin
tensely objectionable.) Mrs. Ridge,
Qower orders.)
David Copperfield. David's mother,
famiable but weak-minded.) Mrs Mi
cawber, IA caricature.) Mrs. Creakle,
"a poor thing.) Mrs Steerforth, (hor-
rid Mrs. Heep, GRATEFULLY. 1.-THE old
soldier" (worse.)
BLEAK House." Lady Dedlock, (well,
we'll, the least said-.) Mrs. Jellyby,
(another culpable fool.) Mrs. Pardig-
gle, ian insupportable creature.) Mrs.
Guppy, (abominable.) Georges mother,
dover orders.)
In "Oliver Twist" "Tale of Two
Cities" and "Pickwick," the mothers
are very much in the background, and
taking Mrs. Bardell as a specimen of
those who do appear, perhaps it is just
as we'll they should be.-Temple Bar.