Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-19
MOTHERS IN DICKENS WORK.
None of Them to be Admired or RI
spected.
From Temple BE-.


From Temple Be-
You are student Of Charles Dickens,
are you not|
Certainiyj think you could scarcely
mention character Of his with which |
am unfamiliar"
"Very 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. am ready
to admit that on the lower orders he is less
severe"
Eager to prove that she misjudged my
favorite, | began to search my memory At
the end of ten minutes | was still search
ing, but had not spoken. The fact was /
was terribly perturbed in spirit. / was
most anxious not TO be worsted in the argu-
ment, for it seemed TO me that grave slur
had been cast upon Charles Dickens char
acter therefore, to feel that ! could only
bring forward as being worthy of respect,
David Copperfeld's childish mother was
exceedingly notifying. Georges mother
in "Bleak House" l could not mention as,
although she is undoubtedly a fine old
dame she certainly has no CLAIM to gentle
breeding; while in support of my friends
grievance there marshaled such ghastly
troupe of knaves and tools-if so mascu.
line term as knave is admissible in these
circumstances-tha / was utterly discom-
fitted
My memory is at fault" muttered to
myself, ~ will go home and consult my
Dickens"
Pleading headache made my excuses,
but as ] was leaving the room my old
friend called after me:
=" II you have headache don't pursue
this subject tonight. warn you you are
going to search for needle in bottle OF
hay, only"-somewhat grimly-" the nee-
die is not therew
/ locked myself in my study and set to
work. At the cad oftwo hours, wiser and
much sadder, paused, and gazed blankly
around at formidable heap Of volumes. /
had selected the books haphazard, and had
made pencil note on each, with this re-
suit:
"Great Expectations" No parents OF
any Importance. Slight character sketch
of Herbert's mother IA decidedly blamable
fool.
sold Curiosity Shop" Old Mrs. Gar
land weak. Kits mother Flower orders).
Mrs. Jiniwin (detestable).
Hard Times Mrs. Grandgrind (idi-
otlc). Bounderby's mother (lower orders).
Little Dorritt." Mrs, Glennam (crim-
inaD. Mrs. Merdle and Mrs. Gowan
worldly, heartles wretchess). Mrs. Mea-
giles mice, but very homely).
sour Mutual Friend" Mrs. Wilfer
(outrageous).
nicholas Nickleby." Mrs. Nickleby
and Mrs. Kenwigs Qunatics). Mrs. Squeers
Ia horror.
"Dombey and Son." Mrs Skewton IA
disgrace to her SEX. Alice's mother.
Good Mrs. Brown IAN ogress). Polite
Toodles (lower orders.
Martin Chuzzlewii" Mothers not in
it, with the exception of character sketch
"The Mother of the Gracclap "a fool.
Barnaby Rudge," Mrs. Warden (in-
tensely OBJECTIONABLE. Mrs. Rudge Qower
orders).
David Copperfeld" David's mother
(amiable but weak minded). Mrs Micaw-
Der Ia caricature). Mrs. Creakle IA poor
thing. Mrs. Steerforth (horrid). Mrs.
Heep (hateful). " The old soldier" tworse).
Bleak House" Lady Dedlock well,
well, the least said ~. Mrs. Jellyby
(another culpable fool. Mrs. Pardiggle
ian insupportable oreature). Mrs. Guppy
(abominable). Georges mother flower
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 APP
pear, perhaps it is just as well they should
be.