The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-03
DICKENS "MoTHERs."
Not Ono of Them Can He Either Admir-,
or Respected.


Not ono of Them Can He Either ADMIRED
or Respected.
"You are student OF Charles Dick
ems, are you not?'
Certainly; think you could scarcely
mention character of his with which I
am unfamiliar"
every we'll, then, II 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,
wNl own that have wronged him.
am ready to admit that on the lower
order he is less severe"
Eager to prove that she misiudged my
favorite, began to search my memory.
At the end of ten minutes / was still
searching, but 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 mortifying. Georges mother
in BLEAK House. / 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 ma7shaled such
CHASTITY troupe of knaves and fools-if
50 masculine a term as knave is admis-
sible in these circumstances-that was
utterly discounted.
"My memory is at fault" i muttered
to myself. Il will go homo and consult
my Dickens"
Pleading headache, L made my ex-
:uses. but as I was leaving the room my
old friend called after me:
"If you have headache don't pursue
this subject tonight. l warn you you
are going to search for needle in a
bottle of hay, only"-somewhat grimly
--"the needle is not there!"
locked myself in my study and set
to work. At the end of two hours, wiser
and much sadder, paused, and gazed
blanllly around at formidable heap
of volumes. | had selected the books
haphazard, and had made 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.)
"Old Curiosity Shop" Old Mrs. Gar
land, (weak.) Kits mother, dover
orders) Mrs. Jiniwin. (detestable.)
Hard Times Mrs. Gradgrind, Gdi-
otic.) Bounderbys mother, Qower
orders.)
Little Dorrit." Mrs. Clennam, (crim-
inal,) Mrs. Merdle and Mrs. Gowan,
(worldly, heartlcss wretches) Mrs.
Nleagles, mice, but very homely.)
sour Mutual Friend" Mrs. Wilfer,
(outrageous.)
Nicholas Nickleby." Mrs. Nickleby
and Mrs. Kenwigs, Qunatics.) Mrs.
Squeers, Ga horror.)
"Dombey tS Son." Mrs. Skewton, Ia
disgrace to her sex.) Alice's mother,
Good Mrs. Brown" ian ogress.) Pollie
Toodles, Cower orders.)
Martin Chuzzlewit." Mothers not in
it, with the exception of character
sketch: 1.-The Mother of the Gracchi, "
"a fool.)
"Barnaby Rudge." Mrs. Warden, lin.
tensely Objectionable Mrs. Rudge,
Qower orders.)
david Copperfeld. David's mother,
(amiable but weak-minded.) Mrs. Mi
cawber, Ia caricature.) Mrs. Crealsle,
Ia poor thing.) Mrs. Steerforth, (hor.
rid.) Mrs. IIeep, (hateful.). "The old
soldier" (worse.)
"Bleak House." Lady Dedlock, (well,
we'll, the least said-.) Mrs. Jellyby,
(another culpable fool.) Mrs. Pardig-
GLE ian insupportablc creature.) Mrs.
Guppy, (abominable.) Georges mother,
(lower orders.)
In "Oliver Twist" Tale of Two
Cities" and "Pickwick," the mothers
are very much in the background, and
taking Mrs. Bardell as specimen of
those who do appear, perhaps it is just
as well they should be. Temple Bar.