The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-23
A GLANCE AT DICKENS.

like to have an entire Day 10 tnlilk
over the subject, and another day to
write it with all possible care, and with
direct reference both to the thought
and it's literary garb-the style. But
men who are not placed over special
departments, but are general writer's
on multitudinous topics, must fill each
days appointed task as well as it is
possible to do so. An author of the
~undoubted gifts of Charles Dicken de-
serves to be discussed in measured
words with the utmost regard for the
extent and variety OF his works. We
affirm at the start, that he was a ge-
MUS and with very marked and unmis-
taxable qualities. 1t has been some
years since we read a book of any kind
by him. If we were essaying a maya
zine paper we would first go over at
least his chief productions again before
putting pen to paper. Here again is an
embarrassment, particularly to any one
with a literary conscience. A great au-
thor in any province of letters deserves
faithful, just treatment.
1t was an event for a great nation
richly productive of works of genius,
to have at the same time three such
authors. nOvelists, as Dickens, Thack-
cray and Bulwer. The first two hold
their own perfectly. absolutely up to
this year of grace, 1897, as among not
only the great novelists, but among the
popular novelists. Bulwer has lost cast
and has fallen into the sere and yell
. low leaf" but he has left novels, we
would believe, that are of permanent
value and interest. There are a half
dozen or more that possess very gen
uine charm. 1t is easy to criticize him,
as it is Scott and Dickens and indeed
all writer's, but the 80 is much of beauty
and Entertainment and artistic skill in
many of his best novels. They will
come to the front again just as other
neglected or forgotten novels nave
come. Who reads Charlotte BrOnte's
books now? Ever George Eliot, great
as she is, has to a considerable extent
failed of interest to the present gen.
Grafton, and books are eagerly sought
that are not to be mentioned in the
same week with her best and most Wig
orous productions.
In 1S4O-5O, Dickens was considered be-
yond doubt the foremost name in the
English literature of that time. Thack-
gray had not hen been accepted as the
equal of his great rival and contempo-
rary. Later he was placed first by
many able and critical minds. The
English reading world "devoured'
Dickens's creations as they came in
succession from the press. They were
mostly long novels. as are Thackeray's
but wondrously pleasant and engaging.
We recall even when Pickwick appear
ed, and everybody around was reading
it and laughing over it and talking of
it with others. We were a chap then
and had not tackled it. The great men,
the scholarly men, the men of genius
read Dickens and enjoyed him anc
praised him. One of the most gracious
and touching compliments he ever re-
ceived was from the great Thackeray,
in his famous and exquisitely delight
full lecture on "Wit and Humor.'
we're THESE IlCh VI - VI L ~
training, of wide reading mistaken in
their estimate Of Dickens? Were they
blinded as to his very gifts
and over-estimated them? We showed
in our recent paper on him that late
critics of the better kind loved and
praised him. So it was with the lead
ing contemporary writer's Of
They read, criticised. analysed and
praised him. If necessary We could
easily seek and reproduce the judg-
ments of contemporaries with him.
We said in the first paper that he had
certain blemishes of style open to crit
icism. and these have been seized upon
to his dispraise. But his great char
acteristics and excellencies remain, and
they reveal a genius of rare and pecu-
liar powers. He had two qualities that
stand out with great prominence-his
pathos and his humor. He is a master
of both tears and laughter. Some wri-
ters find fault with his pathos, and
think it artificial. The people who have
cried over his pathetic scenes thought
them very natural and very touching,
and knew nothing of their being hol-
low and insincere. His humor is ire
sistible. We pity the reader who can
find no fun in "Pickwick,' in Mark Ia
pley. in Dick Swiveller and the March
ioness. in Mr.. Wrinkle, in Sairey Camp,
in Mrs. Bardell and the Artful Dodger,
in Captain Cutie and Ned Bunsby.
Who can read such character sketches
as Tom Pinch, Tim Lincolnwater, Lit
tie Nell and others without admiration
and tenderness? There is a splendid gal
flery of portraits, mostly original alto
gether, thai are unlike those of any
other novelists. Scott is the only Eng
lish novelist who has created so many
unique, strong, clearly marked char