The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-03-16

CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
DOMBEY AND SON
~
By CHARLES DICKENS
Condensation by
Miss Carolyn Tieknor
By CHARLES DICKENS
Condemnation by
Miss Carolyn Tieknor

Know ana - love ED8E000-the Eng.
land Of pleasant country lanes, hedge
bordered, that ran to the sea or to
quiet, green open spaces before stately
cathedrals.
And he knew, too, the horror Of mean
London streets and nunbing drudgery.
Fox two years Of his childhood he
pasted labels upon backing bottles,
liveu in m attic with two raganumns,
AID when he saw his parents once .
week he had to 20 to prison, where his
father was confined for debt. Some Of
this London that he knew Il In solver
Twist" and It crops out In other tales.
Most of 1t, however. II In "Davfd Cop
perAeld," where his father u depleted
~ the Immortal 11icawbef.
The Joy Of life ard the bitterDess,
the kindliness Of men and the cruelty
these things were burned into the mind
and soul of the sensitive boy. They are
In the books OF the man.
"HIS story opens in the gloomy
mansion of Mr.. Dombey, head
- of the house Of Dombey & 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 unified to fulfil his
fathers expectations. While gentle
and loving to those about him, Paul's
alteration for his sister. Florence. sur
passes all his other interests, a fact
which rankles in the breast Of his
father who would be first in the af-
lection Of his son.
Wishing to hasten Paurs education,
Mr.. Dombey sends him t. DR.. Blim-
ber's school, famed for its method OF
crushing out each boyish trait and
making learned prigs Of all its pu.
pills. Here the boy finds friend and
champion 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 noaid, the sprightly Susan
Nipper.
The story of Paul's life at DR.. Blim
hers, where his weak frame is tried
beyond endurance, and finally breaks
down, is a pathetic one, although II
Is enlivened by much that is anus
Ing and absurd in the descriptions Of
the school and Of the Blimber fam
lily.
Fatally Ill, the boy is carried home
to the big house, where all the skill
in London, coupled with his sisters
devotion, cannot save him, and after
lingering awhile, he slips away from
the grand future his father has Sc
, carefully arranged. The deathbet
scene where little Paul leaves the bis
house forever, is one Of the most ia
nous in fiction.
Clasped in his sisters arms, the dy
Ing boy murmurs: "How fast thu
river runs it's very near thu
sea. I hear the waves" "An(
now there was a shore before him
Who stood on the bank" He sees hi!
mother there awaiting him and whis
pers: "The light about her head Il
| shining on me as CO."
The bereaved father, in an agony O.
grief and blasted hopes, turns coldl!
from the heart-breaking appeal of hi
sorrowing daughter, who pleads fo
some response in this dark hour. Bid
ding her seek her own apartments. h
shuts himself up in his rooms alone.
| Beside the dark threads in thi.
story. are woven many bright one
which center in the humble dwellin:
of old Solomon ellis, maker Of ships
instruments. and his devoted nephew
Walter Gay, who with their goot
friend. Captain Cutie. form delight
full trio. The captain, who wears ,
hook in place of his right hand. ant
/ suffers patiently under the insults an(
abuses Of his landlady, the terrible
Mrs. MacStingcr. is one of Dickens
hest beloved characters.
| Walter, who has modest position
in the great house Of Dombey. watch
es with sympathy and admiration tn,
career of the neglected daughter o
his employer, and upon one occasion
has the Joy Of rescuing her when sh,
Is lost in London. From the nigh
when the frightened child Is warmed
\ and comforted at the sign of thu
"Wooden Midshipman." Florence holds
Uncle Sol ana Walter in warmest re
gard. When later. during Paul's Ill
ness, Walter comes to plead for LOAF
to save his uncle's property, the sym
pathetic boy at once becomes his cham
pion and secures the money from hi
father. From this time on Paul take
special interest in Walter and OF
his death-bed begs that he shall be re
membered. This message Florenc,
brings to Walter. pledging to hin
thenceforth her sisterly affection.
i The fortunes Of the house of Dom
bey are guided principally by the cley
Or anS "eat-like" manager, James Car
! {