South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-18
FAMOUS WITS OF
HISTORY
HOW DICKENS HUMoR TURN
I'D TILE TABLES ON 4 CRITIC.

HOW DICKENS HUMOR TURN
Ed TILE TABLES ON A CRITIC.
Ebert Hubbard said that Dick
ems was educated a. the University
OF Hard Knocks" His boyhoO1 was
spent in misery. poverty and in a
most discouraging atmosphere for
developing humor.
His father was a poor clerk in the
navy pay department Of Great Brit
ain and did not seem 10 be able 10
manage either his life. his family or
his job. When Dickens was Is his
father was In prison for debt. AMI
for four years rhe hoy had been
passing labels on packing cases for
a living
When Dickens was % he was
famous. OF all writers OF all times
no one ever had a greater number
Of readers or had more successful
financial returns than the author
OF David Copperield." BLEAK
House" The Cricket on the Hearth"
and all the other ovels 50 we'll re-
membered
Undoubtedly, the fact that Dick
ems overcame such a miserable be-
ginning and did not allow his mind
70 become warped or saddened By
his struggles. was due 10 the fact
that he had a most unusual and de
lightful appreciation Of humor and
an ability 10 write in a humorous
vein
His first success, The Pickwick
Papers" was written IL the most
charming. humorous style And the
first character, "Pickwick." which
he created, was a fun provoking
gentleman. Even the name he chose
10 write under is amusing" Boz
the nickname of one Of his brothers
At one time report went abroad
that "Boz. the Rmous novelist. was
in a critical state OF heath. AS il
happened he was not seriously III
at all. but was deeply absorbed in
writing The Cricket on the Hearth.
An American friend wrote to
Dickens and expressed much con-
Germ over the report. and extended
his sympathy TO the great writer
Dickens promptly replied-for he
loved 10 write letters-and assured
his friend that he was entirely we'll
and that he was very busy on the
manuscript of his new book. He
said
You see, 1 am not in a critical
state but in cricket state.
Another incident is told by Fields.
IN his Yesterdays with Authors"
where Dickens's humor saved him
from what might have been a dis
agreeable experience to most peo-
pie.
Like many great men. Dickens was
malgned as to his personal life,
religion and books.
one day he was travelling from
Liverpool 10 London in the same
compartment with a Clergyman and
two ladies'
As usual the four travelling com
panions fell into conversation After
the conversat ton Jagged, one of the
ladies took out the new novel.
BLEAK House" and prepared 10
read.
The clergyman asked her what
she was reading. and she handed
him the book. He gave one look
at the volume and launched forth
on a bitter TRADE against the book,
its author and his life.
Dickens was highly amused But
finally some of the untruthful state
ments were too much and he re-
scented them. A hot argument en-
sued, Dickens not then disclosing his
ide nifty. The minister was very i'm
patient with Dickens concerning the
stand he took in defending himself.
and at one time in a slurring way
said.
You speak as if you know this
man Dickens Well"
I Dickens smiled as he replied
Perfectly well. No man knows
! him be1ter than ! do"
: But mis- sense of .humor and the
! dramatic forbade him from enIight-
I ening the party yet II was too
good, He would have some more
\ fun
The argument kept up until the
/ train pulled into the London station
I Then the clergyman introduced him
self and asked who Dickens NIGH
7 be
With a twinkle IN his eve and a
! suppressed laugh the great novelist
J bowed as he handed the clergyman
his card and swiftly left the train.