The times., 1898-02-27
A New Book Bv Dickens

viii A7hCtNiitS anu Essays, bN Andtit
Dickens, edited by Frederic ]. Kitton. ]
is not a communication from the spiri
world, but simply a collection of letters
and manuscripts which do not appear il
other editions of this authors works
They are all in the characteristic Dick
ems style, though some of them are OF
subjects far remote from those on which
he wrote in his novels. Among them ar,
essays on pre- -Raphaelitism, Macready
as "Benedicll," the Niger Expedition, Tho
American Panorama, Court Ceremonies
Crime and Education, Capital Punish.
ment, the Amusements of the People. the
Demeanor of Murderers, and dozens of
other things. Some of these essays APP
peared as letters to London papers, and
some in Household Words
AN American in Europe" which is a
comment on the work of Henry Colman,
European Life and Manners. or Famil-
Tar Letters to Friends" published some
where in the forties, is an essay not of
a nature to increase Mr.. Dickens popu-
larity in this country, but it is a pro-
duction so lively in its style and so eS-
tremely apropos to certain phases of
modern life, that il is worth a quotation
or two. Dickens begins in this way
and one may picture the vindictive slash
with which his righteously indignant
quill struck the foolscap:
'Why, an honest republican. coming
from the United States to England on a
mission of inquiry into ploughs, tur-
nips. mangel-wurzel and live stock cam
not be easy unless he is forever exhibit
Ing himself to his admiring countrymen.
with countess hanging on each arm,
duke or two walking deferentially be-
hind, and a few old English barons (all
his very particular friends) going on be-
Tore, we cannot, to our satisfaction. COM
prehend. Neither is his facility for get
ting into such company quite intelligi-
BILE; unless something of the spirit which
rushes into print with record of these
genteel professions pervades the aris-
tocratic as well as the republican breast
and tickles the noble fancy with a bird s.
eye view of some thousands of American
readers across the water, poring with
open mouths and google eyes over de-
scrptions of its owners domestic mag
nificence.
1--WE do not say but that there are
parts of these letters which exhibit the
writer in the character of a good-nat
ured, kind-hearted private individual,
though of a somewhat cumbrous and
elephantine jocularity. and Of a rather
startling sentimentality-as when ne
goes TO see the charity children as
sembled at St Paul's and has impulses,
on account Of their extraordinary beau
ty TO pitch himself out of the whispering
gallery headforemost into the midst OF
those young Christians; homage to
youth and innocence necessarily involv-
e u. of
several undersized pairs Of leather
breeches. But what Mr.. Colman
may choose to write in this pri-
pate aspect Of himself to his
friends, is a very different thing from
what he is justified in calling upon the
public 10 read. A man may play at
horses with his children in his own par
Ior and give nobody offense; but if ne
should hire the opera house in London or
the Theater Franchise in Paris for the
exhibition of that performance, at so
much a head. he would challenge crit
icism and might Very justly be hissed-
This is caustic enough. for beginning.
But after some quotations from the book /
in question, showing how Mr.. Colman /
was impressed with the number of SER |
wants and the general nicely of living in /
great English country mansions Mr.. |
Dickens again dips his pen in vitriol. Lis
ten to this:
1--WE find our American friend. for a lit
tie time in the company Of Scotch gen.
tlemen. who keep small ivory spoons in
their pockets to shove their snuff up their
noses and who likewise carry small
brushes in their pockets 10 sweep their
noses and upper lips with afterwards-
which is well known to be a practice uni
versal with the bench and bar of Scot
land, and with the principal members of
the Scottish universities, whose snuff is
art aT them in |
coal scuttles by Highlanders, who cam
not be made to sneeZe by any artificial |
process whatever
Mr. Dickens is to be congratulated on |
he fact that that American wrote book
With such excellent opportunities for rid
cule secreted within its covers.
Another very entertaining essay is on
he subject of whole Hogs" 1t is not,
Is might be imagined, a treatise on pork, |
lut deals with those peculiar individuals |
who insist that their particular fad or {
ancy is the one thing needed for the
egeneration Of mankind; in other words, |
hose who insist on the taking OF the {
whole hog, or none.
"It has been discovered SAYS Dickens, !
he corners of his mouth curling down. I
ward with grim amusement, that man.
lind at large can only be regenerated by Z
teetotal society, or by a peace society, I
II by always dining on vegetables. 1t is {
4 these certain means of regeneration is l
Utterly defeated il so much as a hairs 5
,readth of the tip OF either ear of that ,
articular Pig be left cut Of the bargain $
And the author proceeds TO 'go for | {
nese three particular Hogs, and chases
hem squealing. through the streets. TO
he great amusement of beholders. Some
{ us have seen these Hogs. and heard
hem contentedly grunting on various oc-
asions. here in America. This, for in
lance, has familiar flavor:
WHO are those gentlemen walking two | 1
nd two, with medals on their stomachs | @
nd bows I'm their buttonholes? These.
r, are the Committee. Are they? Hurrah,
urrah, One cheer more for the COM +
ittee! Hoo-o-o-o-rah! a cheer for the v
everend Jabez Fireworks-fond of | n
,eaking: cheer for the gentleman with s
le stand-up collar Mr.. Gloss-fond of | il
,eal1nG: cheer for the gentleman with | g
lie massive watch-chain. who smiles so | "
Seetly on the surrounding Fair Mr.. Glib a.
fond of speaking; cheer for the rather | S
rty little gentleman, who looks like a | Il
inverted Hyena, Mr.. Scradger-fond of | s
,eakingi cheer for the swarm who fol- | o
w, blackening the observation-disclosures. n
tors from everywhere in general-all D
pod men-all fond of speaking; and all | u
oing to speak. The Reverend Jabez Fire | b
orks, and the great Mr.. Gloss. and the | K
opular MIR Glib, and the eminent Mr. | lc
cradger. and the distinguished swarm ! Is
ON everywhere, have ample opportuni- | A
(and profit by It. tool for speaking to | {,
,eir hearts content. For is there not | o.
day a Grand Demonstration Meeting; ! m
Id tomorrow another Grand Dem III
1stration Meeting; and the day | a.
tier tomorrow Grand Unit | V;
Regenerattve Geological Vista
on; and the day after that a Grand OF