The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-22
By William Makepeace Thackeray.

A for the charities of MT. Dickens,
 "A multiplied kndnesses which, he \ has conferred upon us all upon cur children; upon people educated and rneducated; upon the myriads here and at home, who speak our common tongue; have not you, have not I, all of us, req son to be thankful to this kind friend. who soothed and charmed so many hours, brought pleasure and sweet laughter to so many homes; made such multitudes of children happy; endowed us with such a sweet store of gracious thoughts, fair fancies, soft sympathies, hearty enjoy ments? There creations of MT Dick ens which seem to me to rank as per sonal benefits; figures so delightful that one feels happier and better for know ing them, as one does from being brought into the society of very good men and women.
 The atmosphere in which these people live is wholesome to breathe in; you see a personal kindness; you come away bet ter for your contact with them; your hands seem cleaner from having the privilege of shaking theirs. Was there ever a better charity sermon preached in the world than Dickens Christmas Carol?" I believe it occasoned immense hospitality throughout England was the rleans of lighting up hundreds of kind fires at Christmas time; caused a wonder fdl outpouring of Christmas good feel ing; of Christmas punch brewing; an awful slaughter of Christmas turkeys. and roasting and basting of Christmas mi Inx- of ohi ! that amiable organ at the back of his l honest head must be perfectly monstrous. All children ought to love him. I know two that do, and read his books ten times ;er once that they peruse the dismal Ireachments of. their father. I know one who, when she is happy, reads Nicholas | Nickleby;" when she is unhappy, reads Nicholas Nickleby;" when she is in bed reads Nicholas Nickleby;" when she Is tired reads Nicholas Nickleby;" when she has nothing to do, reads Nicholas l Nickleby," and when she has finished the book, reads "Nicholas Nickleby" over again. This candid young critic, at 10 l years of age, said, q like MT. Dickens books much better than your books. popa;" and frequently expressed. her de-
 
 d book like one of MT. Dickens books Who can? Every man must say his own 1 thoughts in his own voice, in his own way; lucky is he who has such a charm ing gift of nature as this, which brings | all the children in the world dropping to him and being fond of him.
 1 I remember, when that famous 'Nich- | oIas Nickleby" came out, seeing a letter | from a pedagogue in the north of Eng Hand, which, dismal as it was, was im- | aensely comical MT. Dickens il-ad- .ised publication" wrote the poor school master, ''has passed like a whirlwind over the schools of the north.' He was a proprietor of a cheap school-Dothe- boys hall was a cheap school. There were many such establishments in the northern l counties Parents were ashamed that never were ashamed before until the kind satirist laughed at them; relatives were frightened scores of little scholars were taken away; poor schoolmasters had to shut their shops up; every pedagogue was voted a Squeers, and many suffered no doubt, unjustly; but afterward school toys backs were not so much caned schoolboys' meat was less tough and more plentiful. and schoolboys' milk was not so skv-bue What a kind light of beneV- elence it is that plays round cfumihies and the Phenomenon, and all those poor
 theatre people in that charming -pooh'
 What Il humorl and whsse a good hf'n'or'
 One might go on, though the 'ash
 would be endless and needless fhrohl- cling the names of kind folks With whom
 this kind genius has made us familiar IWho does not love the Marchioness and
 MT. Richard Swiveller? Who does not
 sympathize not only with Oliver Twist
 tut his admirable young friend, the Art ful Dodger? Who has not the inestima :, ple advantage of possessing 2 Mrs. Nick