The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-24
Mr.. Souinburne on = y
~ ~ Charles Dickens.

in ~
nearly century 1t is by Agcuon Swinb,rne and is en-
titled Charles Dickens" There il nec,,ar ,;o,,ane l.;
the TACT that Mr Swnburne contributes such an article "a
inns umehonored review pointed BY Dr. Robertson
Nieol the editor of the British Weekly For in ,sse NJ
Swnotne gave punSent expression his contempt for the
and duer than lis fellows Of n, roo. no
fessionsly comic press declaring that o,ts,de h,
inner circle OF ITS contributors and subscribers mortal
who does not desire to be clothed with rdcuie as with
garment will appeal any question of literature 70 m.
authority OF the Quarterly Review The poet has evidently
reented since then. Perhaps Dr. Neon suggests the
editor Of the Quarterly has 70 the conclusion thar
here rs no better way OF daiming er.iS than by giving
Mr.. Swinburnes article is in the nature OF paneryric
oil one whom he terms the Euslishman Of his
ever lived to make the life Of other bright and
more glad and perfect than ever without M bene6cen
influence; possibly or imasinahly could have been Ii
victor fugo was the one greater and far greater genius
hen working in the world" there is no dsparasepen TO
Dickens in the statement Of this fact io to the French
author Mr. swinhurne comedies "cnmpotence We quote
further from the article
Dickens doubtless rish his preference Of David
Copperheld all his other masterpieces il il ouly anono
ounces that it held improbable or Impossible fof great
writer to Judge Alright Of his work best to scee,
aud 70 prefer the finest and fullest example OF his active
genius but when all deductions havs been made from the
acknowledgment due 70 the eountecam OF Martin Chur-
zlewit The fact remains that in that UNEQUAL and irregular
masterpiece his comic and his tragic genius rose uow and
then to the highest pitch OF all no son Of Adam and
no daughter Of Eve on this Gods earth his occasional
friend Mt Carlyle might have expressed IT, could have
imagined it possblehumanly possible-for anything in
later comedy to rival the unspeakabc perfection Of Mrs
!
her claim to be acknowledged Lady FalstaH
nforced u not by the spiritual authority Master Dumb
by the eorrelatve evidence OF Mrs Beech -rsadsr
above the level OF nesenee which prefers to Shakespeare
the Partisan bsen aud Norwegian Sardou can DISPUTE
the fact that Mrs Camp has again to that
uniusginable supremacy OF triumph
David Copperhed from the FIRST chapter the last
Is unmsaEahe by any eye above the level and beyond the
wssht OF beeues as one of the masterpieces 70 which
time oub add charm and unimaginable value
The narrative coherent and harmonious tqt Of
Tom Jones and TO say This Is 10 Try it by the highest
and apparently the upatsuable standard But
venture 10 reatirm conviction that the glorious
masterpiece OF Fediug radiant hene6cert genius IL
in some points suprror b no means superior in an Tom
is far competer and living type gallant boyhood
and generous Young manhood than David but ever the
luster Of Partridge pad and lunar beside the noontide
glory OF Micawher Bljdi is poisonously plausible
villain than Oriah Sophia Western remains unequaied
by her sister heroine Amelia perfectly credible and
adorable type OF Young English womnnhood. naturally like
one OF Shakespeare women socially fine and lady
as Congreve's Miilaman Angelica. But large
minded and liberal genius as teldnss could never have
conceived any hgure hkc Miss IrotWoods group like
that OF the Peggoys As easily could it have imagined
and realized the magnificent setting Of the story with It's
homey foreground Of street waysd and its tackg ound Of
One other Of Dickens novels Great Expectations" Nj
Swinbune gives place beside David Copperheld" These
are Dickens great twin masterpieces OF Great Elk
/ peetations MI Swinhurne writes.
The story IS iucomparaby the finer story OF the
there be superior. ii there ne any equal it, On the
whole range English fiction And except in VANITY Fair
and The Newcomes Il even they may claim exception
there surely be found equal nearly equal lumber
OF living and ever living hs1res The traqeiy and the
comedy the realism and the creamery Of life fused
or mingled together wi'h little less thar Shakcspearc5n
strength and skill of band To have created Abel Magtch
is TO be god indeed among ct deafness
Pumbechook is actually better and droer and
imaginative life than Pecksnf Joe Gsrsery is worthy TO
have been praised and loved by Fielding and by
Stene Mr., Jassers and bis clients Mr. Wemmck and his
and his bride such figures w Shakespeare when
dropping Of poetry might have created If his lot had
been cast later century Can much b" said for the
creatures OF any other god ''
Twice only Aid Dickens make Of history back.
ground for his novels ir Banahy Rpdge and Tale Of
/ Two Cities SAYS Mr. oUinhurne
In a Tale o. Two Cities Dickens for the second and
last time did history the honor enroll the Of
fiction This faultless work Of and creative has
nothing Of the and eHuber9nce which makes Of
/ Barnaby Rudae so marvellous an example OF youthful
genius in all the glowing growth Of It's bright and fiery april
but it has the classic and poetic perfect sSec
story which Immediately preceded unusually liable
the usually fatuous objection which dullness has not
grown deceny ashamed Of bringing against the characters
the posture the mechanism OF puppets and dab which
found its final and supremey offensive expression in the
chatterns dunecry and the impudent malgny OF
suuate and pseudosophica quack as George Henry Lewis
Not such past in the noble science Of defama
ton could plausiby have dared cite in support of his
solcnt and idohe impeachment either the leading or the
supplementary characters in "A Tale OF Two Cities The
pathetic and heroic figure OF Sydney Carton seems rather
70 have into the shade Of comparative neglect the no less
living and admirable figures and over which stands
and towers in memory, Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry.
Madame Dearge and her husband equally and indis-
puaby to be recognized by the sign OF eternal life
Mr. swinburre concludes that there IS only book
which he can not but regret that should written
nscruable in the unushabe designs OF maleyo-
lent Providence permitted 70 suggest 70 him the
preparation Childs History OF England would al
most up child Catholic or Calvnistie OF
serie or doya principles the cheapjaek radcsisna
which nothing honor love revere in history.
ond ought therefore confess that il in reason pretend
nothing which build hope Of patriotic adj
vance or progressive endurance in the future
As may be judged by the extracts quoted MI Swinburne
article Characterized by extraordinary intemperanee of
language He speaks in place OF the bsexual George
Eliot" and refers Mathew Arnold as "a man whose
main achievement in creative literature was TO make himself
bv painful painsaking into OF pseudo Wardsworth
MIR Andrew Lang the editor OF the Gadshill edition OF
Dickens told that his Intrusive eondeseension or adua
ton was perhaps somewhat siiperauou in front of the
reprinted Waverey Novels bur that his oense becomes
an outrage the pernence becomes impudence when suen
rubbish shot down the doorstep Of Charles Dickens
To one recent English writer however Mr. Swnhurre goes
out Of his way pay tribute of respect he audes 20