The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-04-18

Il ~ OAA1A ACc AStSANsASt = -
Monday, April 20, in The Citizen.
reveals an aspect Of the immortal
novelist's nature which for two
generations has been carefully
shielded by his family as q mat
tier for their eyes alone.
Al literary event outstanding in
our time, for eThe Life of Our
Lord is the only known specimen
Iof Dickens writing -save for q
group Of letters now in the British
|! Museum not printed until now,
1.-THE publication Of this manuscript
provides the iong-sought roadway
Heading straight to the great au-
thor,s heart, a priceless opportun-
ity to delve into the innermost
character Of Charles Dickens, the
man, as he was known only to his
intimates Of his family circle.
Like all great writer's. Charles
Dickens was one man to his read
ing public and another man to his
family. The countless millions
who have read his works and
even today there are 100000
members in various Dickens club
ARE familiar with his absorbing
passion for children. Little Nell,
Oliver Twist, David Copperfield,
Paul Dombey, Tiny Tim, Little
Dorrit and the other Dickens chill
dren, are among the great achieve
ments Of his literary skin. but
only select few have been given
to know Of his real feeling for his
real children, the happy young
sters for whom he wrote The
Life Of Our Lord. = '
IN the Dickens books, too, is re-
vealed the delight Of the author
in the Christmas festival. which he
SO identified with himself that his
"a Christmas CAROL is still the
greatest expression Of our own
feelings at the Yuletide season.
But nowhere in the Dickens
novels is there any indication Of
the strength Of his religious con-
Ivietions, nor Of his attitude toward
his own children.
Sir Henry Fielding Dickens,
son of the author and the last
surviving member Of his imme-
date family. said Of him. in an
article published in the New York
Times three days after his own
death; that there was "a side Of
Charles Dickens character which
has never been sufficiently inn
pressed upon the public. That
side is the religious side. His
feelings for religion were very
deep and were ever uppermost in
his mind, which accounts for his
intense humanity. The teaching Of
the Saviour was the keynote Of
much that he wrote.
II was the death of Sir Henry
that permitted the publication of
"The Life Of Our Lord" so that
these words, written only . week
or two before his fatal injury in
| II motorcycle accident III Dccen-
Der, 1888, were prophetic in their
Implication. The revelation Of
this manuscript win. at last. inn
press upon the public the religious
nature Of Charles Dickens.
In 1923 Sir Henry had written
Of his father: "Edis religious con-
victions, though he never made .
parade Of them, were strong and
deep. Is appears BY the letters he
wrote to me and my brothers
when we started our careers, as
well as in the words of his will,
which are most solemn and inn
pressive in their religious devotion.
So strong was this feeling. In
deed. that he wrote the simple his
tory Of our Lords life for us
when We were children. The
manuscript 81 this / have in my
possession.
In 1888 Sir Henry was sim an
shaken in his decision % refrain
from publishing che manuscript,
BY the win Of Charles Dickens IL
had been originally left to Ceof-
gina Hogarth, younger sister Of
the authors wife. who had been a
goyerness and constant companion
Of his children throughout her
life.
Ceorgina protected the manu-.
script carefully until her death,
when she left Il to Sir Henry with
the stipulation that Il was not "a
be published until the last Of the
Dickens children. for whom II wa
written, were dead. Upon the
death o. Sir Henry disposition Of
the manuscript rested with his
wife. Lady Dickens. and their siS
children. who By Z majority vote
decided g permit Is publication
Is 1 literary work 81 immense pub.
ne Interest
Just before bis death. however,
Sir Henry commented that San.
ukher strong Instance - this de.
Sation of 1my fafher'sl his Is !
history Of our Lords life. which
he wrote Tor his children when
they were very young. Il i tbs
simple history az : beautiful life,