New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-20

Lei INS II Ed,tcd nv Laurence Hutton. With Por
traits and Fac-simIles. 18mo, PIP. III. Harper
Brothers.
Dickens was so delightful correspondent that tine
least Of his letters Is worth preserving: much moro
such n correspondence as Mr.. Hutton has edited SO
we'll between the great novelist and an Intimate le"o'
himself brother Of the PEN and no mean craftsman
II IL indeed matter for regret that none OF the letters
OF WlIkie Collins to Dickens have been preserved, put
Dickens, fearing lest after his death improper use
might be made Of the correspondence OF MS frienus'
made IL rule to burn all the letters he received ex-
cept business ones. wlhe Collins was young man
and young writer when he first made the acquaintance
NJ Dickens who was then in the full flush OF his fame
and about forty years old Collins had puollsheo
biography Of his father, the well-nown painter ana
his first novel; "AntOnna." Dickens had Just startea
Household Words and WINS on the lookout FOR literary
talent He was quick to recognize in Collins some
thing than talent and he encouraged helped ana
grew to like him. Ten years Inter daughter OF
Dickens was married to brother OF Collins which
event drew the bonds Of friendship sol ugpter ana
there was break In tho intimacy until the death OF
Dickens The rise Of wilkie Collins to the front rank
as writer of fiction steady and rapid, as these
letters indicate, the appearance OF each new work OF
his being punctuated by the generous and often enhus
astIc praise OF the Master. He took genuine delight
in the successes of bis friend and thought every novel
OF Collins better than the last though probably many
may question whether the author Of "The Woman In
| that story.
In the letters to Collins much Of Dickenss life,
habits temperament and predictions is exhibited
and illustrated, and perhaps that which stands out
most prominently Is his hisrlonic bent. There can
be no question that Charles Dickens might have been
q great actor had he not been great writer The
dramatic instinct singularly strong in him. IL
showed Itself IN his readings continually. and was the
basis OF their great and fascination. He was
an amateur actor far superior In ability to the majority
OF professionals. In the plays performed at Gad's
Hi. lie produced n powerful impression. In "The
Lighthouse "The Frozen Deep" and many other
plays In which he aeted-sonletmes on his private
stage, sometimes In public, for the benefit Of the
Literary Fund and other worthy oblectshe invariably
moved and delighted his audiences. 1t cannot be said
that he preferred acting to writing for author ever
entered heartily and lovingly into his work. But
the creative imagination In him found expression In
many ways. and be was able to throw himself into
dramatic part energetcally and wholly into the
working out Of his literary conceptions. These letters
to Collins full OF illusions to his private theatricals
upon which he avlshed time, money and energy. and
which achieved great reputation. lie had at his
| command for the preparation Of scenery the first
scenic artists OF the tlme namely Sanfeld and Telbn
His companies all nearly all men Of letters
wilkie Collins wrote several Of the plays for his
friend. and they were capital examples Of brilliant
dramatic authorship Then too the breezy vgOr and
dash Of Dickens carried every before II. and the
representations went on WIFI spirit never
seen before since in amateur theatrcas.
When Dickens IL not talking about these perform
ances, the dramas written for them he is apt 10 be
engrossed In discussion OF the literary work he and
Collins got into the habit of doing In partnership
number OF the famons Christmas numbers of House
hold Words" and "All the Year Roundn were written
10 collaboration thus, and one of them" No Thorough
fare"-was altogether the work Of Dickens and Collins
each writing half Of 1t. AS an example of the
| itr NJ neh att
which. Collins being Ill and having novel running In
" Household Words" Dickens offers to take his place
and do his work-that Is, carry on the story-if his
friend should get and find 1t impossible to pro-
cecd II was kindly and no doubt perfectly sincere
offer, but though Dickens confident that he could
have easily caught the style OF Collins we must take
leave to doubt the feasibility Of such experiment
For both Dickens and Collins pronounced literary
mannerists and their mannerisms far apart as
can we'll be conceived. Collins moreover had sty 10
SO peculiar and strongly emphasized that it must
have been very hard to initiate by writer far less
confirmed In an opposite style than was Dickens. II
would certainly have been highly interesting expert.
ment, but whether 1t would have succeeded is quito
another question.
There Is interesting letter on "Grnith Gaunt, in
which Dickens, while frankly praising and declaring his
admiration for the book, less frankly admits that II
1t lad been offered to him for publication in All the
Year Round,' he must have declined to print several
|
lied his correspondent to show this letter TO Charles
Reade and II would have been Of interest to know what
tat fiery writer thought and said about IL. He was
| not In the habit OF Withholding his opinion
when he was crossed and 1t was generally a
very decided opinion and not marked by
| special suavity, either In form or contents
Dickens, however, always had the courage OF his be-
lefs. and the real InanlIness of his character was
| further shown in the readiness with which, when he
made mistake, he retracted and acknowledged IT, for
ID takes more courage and higher integrity to admit
| error than 10 stand up for the most unpopular
cause, however righteous 1t may be. Poor Collins
suffered greatly from illhealth; in fact mora than
half OF these letters have reference to his many Ill
Desses. Dickens often passed the summer months in
France, and when there lie is constantly begging his
friend TO come over and stay with him. lie fitted I'D
pavilion In his garden on purpose for the invalid and
writes temptingH "The Pavilion Is all ready and Is a
wonder Upon ny word, 1t Is the suggest oddty
| ever saw-the lookout FROM II the most wonderful IN
the worlds Dickens spent the winter OF 1s55-5e In
Paris and Collins there too most OF the time Here
| they planned "The Wreck Of the Golden Mary the
Household Words Christmas story and here also the
| idea OF The Frozen Deep was eoncel ed AT this
| time a queer version OF AS You Like IT. the wor,
| Of Georges sand was presented at the Francas and
Macready having reported 1t As an amazing concoc
ton, Dickens went % see II. lie describes "A as a
kind OF theatrical representation that think might
be got mp with great completeness by the patients in the
| asylum for IDIOTS Drearlness In no word for H.
vacancy Is word for Il, CANNON Is no word for a.
there Is TO word for IL. Nobody has anything 10 do
but 10 sit upon rs many gray stones as lie can When
jacques had sat upon seventy stones and forty
two roots Of trees (which at tho end OF the second
actI we came away. lie had by that tine been made
violent love 10 by Celia, had shown himself in every
phase of his existence to be utterly unknown Ia
Shakespeare. had made the speech about tho seven
Ases out Of IT. rsht Sses, and spfepss Of aetns %