The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-26

world famed author enjoyed the lux ury of schooling and play, when it again became necessary for him to turn his thoughts toward a living. With the other clerks of the solicitors office. where he had finally obtained a position, he made his first visits to the theatre and even, 1t has been hinted, acted upon the stage. So ras- cinated was he by it, that his literary career became most dangerously threatened, and England very nearly produced an actor instead of Ia- nous author.
 It was as preliminary reporter, however, that Dickens true talent first became manifest and his desire to write took definite form. Then 1t was that Boz" made his first public appearance and his sketches received notice. Imagine, if you can, the pride and joy with which the young author, for so we may now name him, read his first story in print! To him, then. it was a triumph, but in truth it was but the first flicker of that wonderful genius which has kept him alive among us tc this day.
 Close upon the heels of these popu- lar sketches followed the yet moro popular numbers of the P'ckwick Pa pers. These so delighted the public
 
 fame of the voting man spread rapid- ly over the country; the literary merit of his work increasing and strengths ening and Dickens himself first frea-l lized his great ability. While London was still enjoying the human and satire of these succeeding articles, n new series appeared and Oliver Twist took the hearts of thousands by storm. Here another phase of the, authors efficiency became apparent. as the ;chfld-her grew beneath his pen. His ever ready humor had been leading role. The force and vividity with which he drew his characters; showed plainly a certain knowledge Of his subject Indeed the greater part of his life was spent in visiting Charitable Institutions and the work house, CT sBumbledom," as it has most fittingty@ been called, he has de- clared ito be but a feeble portrayal Of that misery which under the name of charity was being inflicted upon those already half crushed by mis- fortune. Thus he passed from novel. larity and the hold which he had upon the people.
 He had, studied we'll into all those places which he so forcefully depicts; the Yorkshire school of Nicholas Nickleby. the Chancery Courts, which
 
 Bleak House, tho opium den, in which we might have found the solution of the mystery of Edwin Brood, had death not stopped the masters hand, and who could have been better ac. quainted with the interior of Little Dorit's prison-house than he, whose childhood's leisure hours had been spent in the Mashalsea? Thus 1t wal that in all his works, Ddckenu was able to present before uss with all the intensity of his ardent nature, the lifD of the lower claeges.
 In the same way, we feel the living characters through the creations of genius pen, If we may call them crea,- tions, when for each portrait, alxill- fully drawn, 8 human creature served as model. Some times the authors fmost intimate friends would recox- ni1e. not always without Indignation, their own Hkenesses set forth in manner. which though true, was often far from hattering: some times a char acter would be only typical repre- sentative of a whole class: and again. In David Copperf1eld a, Little Nell and Dr. Micawbar one sees the author's, own family described 90 tenderly and pathetical1y that the very soul of the man seems poured upon the paper, as he traces their career for ue. So dear to his heart was each work of his pen niaEdr. fnaf Was neysr without panE that
 
 to the rude hands of the publisher It has been said. that no one man. ever exercised so great an inf1uence upon the relieving and. reforming of the conditions of tho poor in any country ae Dickens upon those of magical, though at hrAt his disclosures were regarded an overdrawn, unwar- rantaible and even fanclful, but upon investigation 1t was found that they were only too true, and the fierce in- dignation aroused by these discover ies. compelled thes authorities to take actions toward relieving them.
 But the life of this great English man was fast drawtng to a close. The last ten years were spent chiefly de- Hver1ng readings throughout England, and paying final visit to our own land. None of the charm of fascina- ton of the man had diminished, but his great 1ndomitable strength was gone and itSwas only under the stiimu- lus of excitement that he seemed his former brilliant self The year eighteen seventy came in with q rush of demands, which prevented hirn. until the latter part of May. from be- l Ing free to retire to his beloved God's . H1ll and there not ten days later he laid down the burden of life and passed into the peace of the great eternity. At his own reouest. tiaA f1- neral was distinctly private. no ponp or grandeur following Enelaud's great writer to his final reating place in Westminster Abbey. Everywhere hearts were mourning the loss Of this l famous man, thousands flocked to his tomb, the poor shedding many tears by the grave of their faithful friend. 1 Much they owed to him, and today 1 they are feeling the influence Of that fire. which he kindled in their behalf. l Every day we meet people who seem to have stepped from Dickens, l books, and how delighted we are when among our friend we may num- | ber regular Mark Tapley? Gan Writings which apply to our day. as well as the time when first they were published, decline In interest or popu- larfty Is 1t possible that we. who consider ourselves 50 much more en- lightened and advanced than our fathers fail to appreciate that which they so fully appreciate? No. He F 70 sus, no less wonderful nor admired than in his own day. Indeed his I popularity Is still increasing and seems destined to attain a most un-
 usual height. More and more wide ly is he read, and more than ever is realized his remarkable genius. I which for so many yenrs, has amlis- | ed, touched, and delighted thousands \ of people. old and young. So great Tn fact is. the love for his memory l that at this very time. efforts are be- | ing made fn raise f,s~H