The Greeley tribune., 1909-03-24
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THE DOCTORS AND LAW.
fERS OF DICKENS
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The open meeting of the medic Il
fraternity at the city hall last even-
ing was not largely attended, but the
hundred or more people who were
present had the real pleasure OF re-
Eewing many old acquaintances-th,
doctors and the lawyers of Dickens.
H. N. Haynes defended the legal
fraternity against the satire of the
great author. He said Dickens was
no doubt the most extensively read
author OF this or any other genera
ton. He delineated not only the law
yers. but All the professions of the
time. from the viewpoint of an icono-
clast and in so doing he had an OBJ
!ect In view-the correction OF abuses
In many instances the absurd
systems we're remedied. In those
days they had the shyster lawyer the
same as today, and there is scarcely
Il community who has not at least
one. They furnish straw bond and
drum up their own cases. Their real
harm is to their own client, who they
usually succeed in getting into Jail.
In Dickens time there were differ
ent lesrees Of lawyers. There were
solicitors, attorneys and barristers
and 1t required many years of ap-
premiership and tax Of a THOUSAND |
Lounds to become a barrister.
1t was stated by the speaker that
the light thrown upon the chancery
practice of England by the story Of
L. l.
the correction of the abuses and de-
lays Of that great institution upon
which our own courts of equity have
long been founded. Dickens was an
office boy and an Office clerk for
solicitor for some three years, and he
was also short hand reporter for what
was known as the Doctors Commons.
For this reason he was familiar with
the minor details of the practice. but
knew nothing about the real trial of
cases before the higher courts. 1t
was impossible for him to become
barrister, as he never had sufficient
money. He depicts the trial of Oliver
Twist by a police magistrate where
the latter IS determined to find the
lad guilty, although the man from
whom the "Artful Dodger" stole the
handkerchief believed that Oliver was
not the right boy.
Almost every one of Dickens stor
les has something to say about the
debtors prison, and this is not sur
prising, seeing that his own father
was in one of these institutions abo,
half the time. 1t has been said that
the character Micawber was a cal
feature of his own father, and he
voiced the irony of his own neglect
in the oft repeated statement that
Micawber was always waiting fol
something to turn up. MIR. Haynes
! showed that every book Dickens
& wrote had its moral and its purpos'
g and the influence was as great as th
e story of Uncle Toms Cabin.
: Mr.. Haynes spoke of Uriah Heap
2. the scoundrel, and Jiggers, who wash
r ed his hands in scented soap that he
? might cleanse himself of the moral
atmosphere of his numerous criminal
clients. The lawyers of today do not
; court an extensive criminal practice
and a moral deterioration is notice
: able in those who give too constant
| devotion to that practice. He paid Il
glowing tribute to Sidney Carton.
who defended Charles Darney the
husband of the woman he loved. He
also deplored the fact that many {
; the greatest legal minds of today
, were kept in the background like
Sidney Carton from the terrible
>f ~,
DR.. Spizak spoke entirely from A
literary point of view, and contrary
to the general anticipation, his dis
c1ssion had nothing to do with med
les or science All together Dickens
has twenty-eight doctors. and IN
every one of them he has magnified
lsome ridiculous type or trait. He
first gives his doctor ridiculous
name. such rs DR.. Specks or Dr..
Sowemup, and then a face to sult
the name, an attitude to suit the
Itace. and clothes him in manner
Ito carry out the attitude. His I'M
pination had no bounds, and ms
whole works are an evidence thas
ridicule and satire are the sharpest
weapons. The doctor read numcr-
ous funny passages form the dihe'-
ent stories touching upon the doe
Itors. which kept the audience IN an
Iuproar all the time. The scene be
Tween the little doctor and DAVID
lCoppertield aunt 'he night that
David was born was revived WIN
Laughter.
In reference to Dickens fantastic
IMAGINATION and eNaggerations, there
is lust one passage which shows the
author's capacity along TINS inc
more vividly than any other an"
that is where he describes Martrl
Ghr,zzlewit as, - gentleman Win
sucb an obvious disposition for pm
niles that the rich pattern OF ms
waist coat. the bright spots upon MS
cravat. and even his slistening urn
l,ets. seem to have broken out upon