Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-29
OUR LITERARY COLUMN.
URIAII HEP AND SAMUEL WELL
LER. CONTRASTS IN CHARACTER.

" 2. ii Ct
URIAI HEP AND SAMUEL WELL
LER. CONTRASTS IN CHARACTER.
y Probably two OF the GREATEST con-
trasts in literature, both the product
of the same masterful mind. are Sam
uel Weller and Uriah Heep.
When Mr.. Dickens made Samuel
Weller. he embodied i'll one person all
the native shrewdness OF u street
gamin, the sincerity of honor. the gen.
tleness of u woman and fidelity of the
highest tyne, browning it all with The
keenest and most perfect faculty OF
unconscious humor.
One cannot but grow enthusiastic over
the faithful Weller, as lie voluntarily
made himself Il prisoner in order to re-
main with MIR. Pickwick, his master.
AND who can suppress the good Amer
lean disposition to cheer, when sam
ueP' fatty refused to leave MIR. Pick
wick even to marry the pretty maid
he loved SO well, though AIR. Pickwick
had abundantly provided FOR him.
1t was not that the faithful fellow
loved his sweetheart less, but because
gratitude, plus duty, plus love. makes
a greater combination than love. even
for pretty girl, can Guido. His duty
to his benevolent master was ever up
permost even in derogation of his per-
sonal interests. But who is going to
bdNS Cuie Ol SUu, SuNi Gam ~ 49,
PicSwick. with all the Importance i'm
aginable but none of pertness.
Sam was such n jolly fellow: open
and straightforward as the day with
friends, keen and observant with
strangers, ever ready to resent n ia
milarity. quick to discern an enemy.
| lively at repartee and a perfect phe-
nomenon at ridiculous comparisons
which were ever ready upon his
| tongue. Sam Weller, outwitting the
1 t-n ls,,Y. a. r. TDtr1r, tnl- iut
Will outline many Il newer and older
scene. This keen sense OF the ridicu-
lous and ready wit were masked be-
hind an imperturbable countcnance
wrapped in the smile OF human kind
ness. Not even the observant ca
Judge realized he was being made fun
| of. though he scrutinized most care
fully SamuePs face.
Bitterness was unknown to Samuel
Weller. though he was dumbfounded
| at Mr.. Pickwicll's kindness to Mr.
Jingle and his cherished victim, John
Trottcr. Sam was amazed, that after
Job had "gammoned" them. he was
to be treated kindly. that was all. 1t
is true he had evil designs upon the
red nose Of shepherd" but who, with
Sans spirit and provocation, without
his disposition, would have behaved
as well and left it to Toney to put the
red nose" In the horse trough? Sam
| did not lack in courage, though Mr.
Winklo did. for to that gentleman's
sorrow, he found 1t exemplfied, when
Sam through Il INSTRUMENTATION of
MIR. Pickwick's wishes by too literally
interpreting that gentleman's orders
made Mr.. Wrinkle n prisoner.
His indomitable spirit could not be
cowed or overawed. When he went to
take Mr.. Pickwick from the PEN"
after that gentleman's celebrated
drunken hunt" Sam burst through
the crowd like q hurricane and with
appropriate gestures and comments
expressed his contempt for the assem-
bled mob
His treatment of the fiat boy" can
not but be q source Of merriment, while
his silent contempt for the pompous
footmen, expressed in most beautifully
rounded sarcasm, while going far over
their heads, was but an evidence of
his street education" SO carefully
given him by Mr.. Toney Weller and
later association.
FOR moment. 1t is but justice to him
TO say that he possessed vocabulary
ana Vernacular that has never been
surpassed for simple, but effective eX-
preston of feeling or description,
but with 1t all was mingled his fidelity
and wit. which never left him, whether
In company with his interiors, his
equals or his betters. Such is the al
most immortal Samuel Weller
1t Is was almost with a feeling of
pain that wo turn to the writhing.
sleek and meally-mouth Urah Heep
with his snake-lilko movements, damp
clammy hands," and "beady eyes" Jt
seems pity that Dickens could have
con1ured up such q character. until
one looks about him and stumbles sud-