New-York tribune., 1912-02-07
DICKENS.

The celebration of the one hundredth
anniversary Of the birth Of Dickens
serves several worthy purposes. 1t can
not add TO his fame, which was long
ago raised above the need of eulogy and
secured against dctractiOn or neglect.
II does demonstrate. the worlds ap-
probation Of his genius. which is no
small matter for the worlds credit 1t
gives a fitting opportunity for the col
lection Of Il relief fund for some Of his
descendants. 1t also inCites a wide
spread rcrCading and discussion Of his
works. and this is perhaps the most
valuable feature Of the cOmmcmOration.
Estimates of the genius Of Dickens
doubtless differ widely. Doubtless. too,
criticism can find many blemisheS in his
works. Comparison of him with other
great fiction writer's Of the last century
Scott. Thackcray. Hawthorne, Reade,
Collins. Hugo. Turgcnieff- may show
his inferiority to each Of them in some
respect. as il will also show his superb
ority in others But such consldcra-
tiOnS are hardly profitable. Dickens is
destined 10 remain one of the foremost
figures in one of The foremost eras OF
English literature, and his works fill
place i'm the imaginative equipment Of
the popular mind which is rivalled In
scope and importance by writers so few
that they may he counted upon the
fingers Of the hand.
1t will not be iniudicious to cmpha
size as perhaps the most deserving
theme of the present Commcmoration
the profound humanity Of Dickens and
the dircctnpsS and universally Of his
appeal 10 the human heart I'm its mani
fold scnsibilitics and feelings. and even
i'm its passions. The multitude Of his
characters is astonishing. and there are
no duplicates Each is distinct por-
traiture of some separate temperament
and spirit And while cNaCCeratIon and
caricature run riot all over his cXubcr
ant pages. there Is hardly one character
that is impossible. and there are few
which readers will not readily identify
with individuals I'm actual life about
them. In their vices and their virtues
they are all intensely human. with Il
humanity that is not Of any one land or
age. but is universal. That is n char.
acteristic of the true classic. and the
possession Of ii gives 10 Dickcns's writ
inCS their sure It'll" 10 Immortality.
This cOmmcmoration should lead
many TO a realization Of the enormous
debt which they uuconSciouSly owe I"
Dickens, and Of the extent 10 which his
writings and characters and apt say
ings have become parts OF their own
thoughts and minds and lives m"
frequency with which h" Is directly and
knowingly quoted or some Of his char
actcrS are employed aS SMILES is be
wildering. But still more IS ne unCon-
SciouSly thus drawn upon. even by those
who profess or affect to care little for
him. The traditional examples Of the
pious soul who persisted I'm ascribing
Sterne's remark about the tcmpcrlnG OF
the wind to the shOrn lamb 10 the
Scriptures, and OF the austCrc clergy
man who asked his hearers 10 reflect
how much they would lament the time
which they had wasted i'm reading
Shakespeare when they found them
selves about TO enter that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller
returns, apply to many Of those who af-
feet to dcprcciate or at least not 10 hc
moved or Influenced by Dickens. They
dccry him in his own phrases uncou-
SciOuSly absorbed and rc-cmpoycd.
And this Is, perhaps, the highest tribute
which they could pay 10 his genius