The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26
1872 Fsb:z -l9f2


Personal History OF David Copperneld,"
which was Issued first In monthly num-
bers from 1s4o to 1850. there grew
under his wonderful hand enough
characters to make many books TIC
say that tho figure OF wilkins Micaw.
Dor towers far above the rest in
story that contains tho Peggottys, Lit.
tie Emily, Dora, Uriah Heep, steer.
forth, Traddles and Betsey Trotwoo,
Is suggestion of the greatness Of this
extraordinary creation. Az the novel
progresses, Mr. Micawber grows until
IL ID at last not as II Charles Dickens
were inventing SIR. Micawbor. but as
II Mr.. Micawber wore challenging
CHARLES Dickens TO depict him Hope.
!essiy hopeful. contemplating his own
moral and mental grandeur with limo.
cent delightful worzh!p. dissipated.
borrowing. beaming. he stands, eter-
hal!y alive. an eternally magnificent
cavalier OF smiling misfortune: and
Mrs aItcewber stands by his side.
hardly as a second character, but az
MS complement. Tho rwo are one. OLD
IN Sofd!d things. they are splendidly
young with hope. They arc children,
wonderful, great children. to whom
everything is real the moment Il 4,
conceived. And SO, as we live with
them and laugh at their audacious alb
turdity. we grow TO love them, lha rdly
knowing Why. till we realize that it Is
this: that they possess that childhood
immortality that most of us lose with
tie years
Mr. Micawber long has been a favor
lie citation for those who hold that
Dickens's characters arc ex,rayaEant,
II there Is any Gkravag ancc in VIII
kins 3Iicawbc-, 1t seems to the writer
mat the extravaganza Is only in the
extraVaSance OF geniusN that ne Law
ished on him. Sncaw5er Is a marvel
GUS object, reared imparishablc in a
market place OF perishing things. to
astound ana delight Us. as 1t astoun6ed
and delighted those who saw It reared
and as II viii astound and delight those
who come after us.
az the day when David Copper
~ held began his duties in the
wine warehouse OF SluF0St0ne
~ Grinby In London. he was INTRODUCED
70 stouish. middie-aged person In
9rown surtout and black tights and
shoes. with not moro hair upon his head
tw'aich was Il large one and very shin
lns) than there is upon an egg. His
lace was very extensive and bore a
certain indescribable expression as of
being about TO say some thing very
genteel. This was Mr.. Mica wber.
He carried 3aunty stick with
large pair of rusty tasses on 1t, and
On the outside OF his coat hung a largo
eyegiass. purely for effect, as he looked
through II very rarely and could not
possibly see anything when he did.
Though his clothes were vastly shah
Dy. ne wore q magnificent shirt collar
tnat made an oyerpowering erect on
ihe behoider. especially when no settled
.!iS chin IN IL as he did whenever he
Iad something more than usually con-
descending or impressive TO announce.
Mr.. Micawber explained that he was
wiling TO receive the young beginner
Thoin he now had the pleasure 10 be-
mold as an inmate of his domicile, in
short. as LOGGER.
Mr.. Micawbers house In Windsor
Terrace. shabby like himself and, like
himself, making all the show II could,
mad the blinds down on the first aoor
IN order to delude the neighbors, that
;ioor being entirely unfurnished Mrs.
Micawber. thin and faded lady. was
sitting in the parlor with a baby at
her breast This baby was one of
twins: and nobody ever saw both the
twins detached from Mrs. Micawber at
the same time. One OF them always
vas taking refreshment. Two other
onildren, Master and Miss MIcawber
completed the establishment, with
dark young woman who had habit OF
snorting and acted as servant to the
family, being, as she explained. an
orhing from St Luke's Work House,
close by"
Mrs. Micawber welcomed Master
Copperheld with the sorrowful state
ment that when she lived with papa
ana mamma sho never expected to take
ledger, but" said she 5rayely, "Mr.
Micawber being in difficulties, all con-
sideFations OF private character must
give way"
Poor Mrs. hlicawber had tried to ex-
ert herself. The centre Of the street
door was quite covered by a great
brass plate on which was engraved:
Mrs. Micawber's Boarding Establish
ment for Young Ladies'" But no young
lady ever had been to school there, nor
had the least preparation ever been
made to receive any young lady. The
only visitors were creditors, some
quite ferocious. At these. times Mr..
Micawber would be transported with
grief and modification. even to the
length of making motions at himself
With razor; but within half an hour
he would polish his shoes with extra
ordinary pains and go out humming
tune. with an air Of greater gentility
than ever.
Something Unpleasant Turns UP.
Saturday nights were Mr.. Micawbers
most difficult times. Then he would
engage In hoartrendins condolences, 40
cusing himself so bitterly that he sob
he'd; but, happily, though he might