The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10
DAVID COPPERFIELD.

a Review of One of the masterpieces of
Dickens by ''Ben Andys."
For TIE HOWARD LITERARY CLUB-
Charles Dickens. an English writer of much
note, first saw the light at Landport
Portsmouth, England, February, 1912.
He began active life as a lawyers appren-
tice during which time he studied steuog-
raphy He commenced reporting for the
True SIM and afterwards for the Morning
Chronicle, and it was in the latter paper be
wrote several detached articles which
were subsequently, published under the
title of "Sketcher by Boz In 1887 he
began to publish the "Posthumus Papers
of the "Pickwick club, which met with
immense success, establishing his reputs-
ton at once.
He wrote many novels, but David Cop
perfeld' seems TO have been his favorite.
and it is supposed to delineate to some
extent his own life. The characteristic
simplicity of his style. the every day peo.
pie he portrays and the manner with
which he blends the humorous and pa
thetic are strikngly exemplified in "Da-
high. Ii contains many important
truths and wholesome morals, which the
careful reader cannot fail 10 see and ap-
preciate.
The touching description of the child
wife and the faithful nurse Pegotty are
impressed upon the readers mind, while
it would be impossible to forget timid
"Dr. Chillip" and the indomitable AUNT
Betsy TrotwOod.' The birth of Master,
not Miss Copperfeld, as Aunt Betsy so
fondly hoped, sent that worthy body back
TO the land OF shadows, while the uulucky
circumstance OF Master David's birth on
Friday predestined him to be unlucky
and 10 sec ghosts, which, If he did not
experience materially, ne allowed to take
existence in his Imagination during tn ose
lonely hours of the "Murdstone" tyranny.
The influence, quiet yet deep. OF those
early associations of his childhood, which
continued through life, fresh and vtgor-
Gus, the memories connected with his
mothers death and her burial in the
country chnrchyard. the recollection OF
his early visit to the old house boat at
Yarmouth Flats. whose humble roof shell
tered the rough but generous Daniel
Pegotty, his nephew Ham. little niece
Emily and that lone and Torn" creature,
MIS-. hi billb Is MIlLLtu Will
such force and simple beauty that one
fingers entranced over the pages so fraught
with deep and tender feelings.
His life at the Rookery, the first half at
Salem house, where Mr. Creakle kept
"keen twigs to fog the fool, and Thomas
Traddles in particular. and where Mr..
James Steerforth took young Copperield
under his protection. and the life OF Murd-
stone and Grinby's-all these are differ
ent phases of Copperfeld's life-Which
led up TO the memorable runaway, the
magnificent order" at the public house,
and the final ending of his troubles when
he reached Aunt Betsy's at Dover.
The friendship that existed between
Master Copperfield and the true and ever
generous Agnes Wickfield, to whom in
case of need he applied for help and ad-
vice was never broken. aud he settled all
inward strifes between good and evil by
referring to her counsel, and her words of
advice uttered in a firm and quiet Voice,
irresistably led him onward to higher an d
nobler aims.
And then the final ending Of his love
episodes, that blissful time when Dora
and Jip, ever inseparablo were won, and
young Master Copperfeld began to in
struct his adorable Dora in keeping house
and accounts, which invariably ended in
a miserable failure to the delight of the
reader, and Dora and Jip in particular.
But Dora and domestic duties did not en-
gross ali of his time, for his writing and
reporting went on. Here in this period
OF domestic troubles the young man
plouRhed his way through the brunt of
disappointment and Encouragement to the
front rank OF wielders of the pen.
The touching and pathetic description
OF the emotion OF Pegolty and Ham when
they discovered Emily's flight with Cop
perfield's old school-iellow and the devo-
ton of the old uncle vino began his weary
pilgrimage over many seas, through
strange lands, into the cantons OF Switzer-
land, through the provinces of France.
over mountains and across lakes, search
ing for the errinfi one, causes the earnest
reader to dwell sadly over these pages
The death of Dora and the subdued and
loyal grief OF her husband cast shade
over the invariRhle features OF Aunt Betsy
and Mr.. Dick. when his mind is not on