The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-27

Little Dorrft. and In the description
Of Mr.. Pfckwick's experiences In the
elect. we see how WILDLY he has
used that knowledge. II u said that
out stopping. His habit OF observa-
ton OF human nature followed him
all through his life. That Is one rea-
son. though not the only one. why
his characters are 20 real, why they
seem to be alive today.
After these childhood struggles with
poverty there came time OF brighter
and happier days. Charles was sent
to a private school. where he remain
ed for three or four years filled with
quiet work. But the family fortunes
were not very much changed for
the better. The father had obtained
position as q reporter on a morn
Ing paper. and Charles. when he was
barely sixteen, resolved also to be-
come a journalist. With that unre-
strained energy that he used In all
his work, he threw himself into the
study Of shorthand. We know all
about It from David copperfieid's
struggles with shorthand: ''the
changes that were rung upon dots,
the unaccountable consequences that
resulted from marks like flies legs"
and how the kindhearted Traddles
and the simpie-minded Mr.. Dick read
to him the speeches OF Pitt Fox. and
Sheridan. So that In his seventeenth
year Dickens became q reporter at
Doctors Commons.
1t was In 1893. when Dickens was
twenty Zone, that the first blossoms of
his literary genius began to show
themselves. In December the Monthly
Magazine published his first original
paper. The Poplar Walk" These
IL - Krx.~
eral years. and were beginning to at
last week OF March, 1895. appeared
the first number Of ''Pickwick
Papers" The public was taken by
storm: he suddenly came into n popu-
larity that lifted him to the highest
pinnacle Of success, popularity
which. Judging by the sale Of his
books. has not diminished, but in
creased In the seventy-five years since
tho publication OF ''Fickwick." Book
followed book from his creative pen:
oliver Twist" Nicholas Nickleby,"
Martin chuxxlewit," "David Copper
field" BLEAK House." "Our Mutual
Friend----tfe whole long list. closing
with Edwin Brood" whose mystery
WAS left unsolved as the pen drop
ped at last from NckenS lifeiess
hand on June s. 1870.
Dickens had many kinds Of sue
cess "a d writer. He compelled the
attention OF all classes OF people. he
| made large sums of money by reading
his own stories to thrilled and de-
lighted audiences. and his readings
were nowhere more successful than
In the United States. II liz a wonder
| that his head was not turned by all
the adulation which ne received: but
whatever were the weaknesses Of
Dickens character, inordinate conceit
was not one OF them. He never
! reached the point where he felt that
he could slight his work and still be
! successful.
But every admirer of Dickens. every
student OF his life, must understand
that in his best books there is some
thing more then the man himself.
| That was his gift "Micawber is the
supernaan." says Gilbert X. Chester
ton. We can only walk round and
round him. wondering what we shall
say. All the critics OF Dickens, when
all ts said and done, have only walk
ed round and round Micawber. won
! dering what they should say. ! have
done the same thing. and l have not
found out yet" And that is true OF
many more of the hundreds of char
acters born of the genius of Dickens.
Something was given TO him which
was more than himself, and unlike
some other mon OF genius. he used
| that gift In a way to uplift his read
/ crs. TO break some chains that held
! men in bondage. 10 make home
brighter to make purity and nobility
| of character attractive.
II can't get away from It," said a
| young reader lately IN speaking Of
| one OF Dickens stories That Is good
| news: for II will be well If the pres
! ent generation Of young folk come TO
| know we'll such characters as Oliver
Twist, David Copperfeid, Nicholas
| Nickieby. and all the rest of the
famous galaxy.