The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-15
DOMBEY AND SON
BY CHARLES DICKENS
Condensation by Miss Caroline Ticknor

SSIGSbS0S'Sh ~ WI
This story opens in the gloomy man
sion of Mr.. Dombey, head Of the IA
nous house of Dombey and Son, who
Is exulting in the birth Of little Paul"
heir to his name and wealth.
This great event is followed by the
death of Mrs. Dombey, who breathes
her last, clasping her little daughter
Florence to her heart. This child,
neglected by her proud, cold father,
tries vainly to win his love, but he,
with all his hopes and his affection
centered upon his son, finds no place
in his heart for Florence.
All the advantages that wealth can
offer are heaped on little Paul, who is
a delicate child, old far beyond his
years, and totally untitled to fulfil his
fathers expectations. While gentle
and loving to those about him. Pauis
alteration for his sister Florence sur
passes all his other interests, fact
which rankles in the brest of his faith
err who would be first in the affection
of, his son.
Wishing to hasten Paups education,
Mr.. Dombey sends him to DR.. Blim-
ber's school, famed for it's method OF
crushing out each boyish trait and
making learned prigs of all its pupils.
Here the boy finds a friend and cham
pion in Toots, the head boy of the
school, who falls a victim to the
charms of Florence, but in the end
consoles himself by marrying her
faithful maid, the sprightly Susan Nip
per.
The story of Paul's life at DR.. Blim-
ber's, where his weak frame is tried
and finally breaks
down, is pathetic one, although 1t is
enlivened by much that is amusing
and absurd in the descriptions of the
school and of the Blimber family.
Fatally i'll, the boy is carried home
to the big house, where all the skill In
London, coupled with his sisters de-
votion, cannot save him, and after
| lingering awhile, he slips away from
| the grand future his father has so
carefully arranged. The death-bed
scene where little Paul leaves the big
house forever, is one of the most IA
nous in fiction.
Clasped in his sisters arms, the dy-
ing boy murmus: How fast the river
runs. it's very near the sea. I
hear the waves" And now
there was a shore before him-Who
stood on the bank" He sees his
mother there awaiting him and whisp-
ers: 1.-THE light about her head is
shining on me as 60"
The bereaved father, in an agony
of grief and blasted hopes, turns cold
~ from the heart breaking appeal Of
his sorrowing daughter, who pleads
for some response in this dark hour
Bidding her seek her own apartments.
he shuts himself up in his rooms alone
Beside the dark threads in this
story, are woven many bright ones
which centre in the humble dwelling
of old Solomon ellis, maker of ships
instruments, and his devoted nephew,
Walter Gay, who with their good
friend Captain Cutie form a delight
! full trio. The Captain, who wears a
hook in place of his right hand, and
suffers patiently under the insults and
abuses of his landlady, the terrible
Mrs. MacStinger, is one of Dickens
best-beloved characters.
Walter, who has a modest position
in the great house of Dombey, watch
es with sympathy and admiration the
career of the neglected daughter of his
employer, and upon one occasion has
the JOY Of rescuing her when she is
lost in London. From the night when
the frightened child is warmed and
comforted at the sign of the Wooden
Midshipman," Florence holds Uncle
Sol and Walter in warmest regard.
When later, during Paul's illness, Wal
ter comes to plead for a loan to save
his uncle's property, the sympathetic
boy at once becomes his champion and
secures the money from his father.
From this time on Paul takes spe-
cial interest in Walter and on his
deathbed brings to Walter, pledging
to him thenceforth her sisterly affec-
ton.
The fortunes Of the house of Dom
hey are guided principally by the clev-
er and "cat-like" manager, James Cark-
er, with cleaning teeth and a per-
petual smile, the instrument and con-
ftdant Of Dombey, who by his flattery
and cunning has gained almost COM
plete control over his masters bust
ness. Working always to satisfy his
own ambitions, he mistrusts he grow
ing partially for Walter Gay and
sends him on a voyage to the Indies,
experiencing keen satisfaction. when
the youth is shipwrecked and report
ed rowned.
This loss adds one more sorrow to
those already the portion of Florence,
whose father emerging from the gloom
Of his apartments seeks divert his
mind by going on a journey with his
friend Major Bagstock, garrulous old
society beau. They travel to Lean.
ington, where Mr.. Dombey is intro.
duced to some of he majors friends,
and meets Mrs. Skewton and her wild.
owed daughter, the cold and beautiful
Edith Granger, who at once attracts
his fancy. #
Edith is proud, scornful, imperious
and for these traits the proud and
dominating man admires her the more
He offers him, scorning meanwhile
both the man and his offering, but
. willing to satisfy the irritating de-
mands of her scher1ing mother with
whom her life is uncomfortable.
A loveless marriage follows and the
naughty wife asserts her own strons
, will, refuses to further the social am
billions OF her husband, and enrages
him by showering affection upor
Florence. At last, goaded by Dom