Evening star., 1939-07-19
Book About Dickens
Draws Criticism
Thinks Revival Of Scandal Of
World Celebrity Will Not
Alter Public Affection

World Celebrity Will Not
Alter Public Affection
To the Editor Of The Star:
A book has recently appeared in Lon
don called Dickens and his Daugh-
ter" by Gladys Storey. The book states
Gladys Storey was the close friend of
Mrs. Perugini, the third child Of Charles
Dickens. Mrs. Perugini dying In 1929
at the age of SO.
The book unfolds censurable moral
action in Charles Dickens after separa-
ton from his wife, and quotes Mrs
Perugini as saying: II loved my father
better than any man in the world. I
loved him for his faults. My father was
a wicked man. very wicked man"
The accusation is that Dickens after
separation from his wife lived with a
young actress of l8, provided home for
her, had one child who died.
1t would seem unfortunate that after
more than half a century since the
passing of Charles Dickens, such a dis
turbing accusation should be brought
to life to distress those who admire the
personality and books OF Dickens.
I may be permitted to say, as lee
turer on Charles Dickens and his
Times" knowing his many hamts in
England and the homes of his fanciful
creations, admiring his great humanity,
his deep compassion for childhood, the
prisoner the poor Of the Workhouse,
loving his books, the statement ad-
vanced by Gladys Storey has been deep
ly distressing.
shall make a preliminary statement
and then endeavor, by showing the in
ner life and spiritual fineness OF Charles
Dickens, to refute the accusation, so that
the affection that still fingers with SO
many OF us may not be lessened.
Mrs Perugini was 80 when she died.
At that advanced age mentality Is un-
certain and vacillating. A fancy may
be taken for fact.
Gladys Storey has written q book. A
revived scandal OF a world celebrity
would help the sales OF such a book
Each case is surmise I do not
know.
John Forster, his biographer, keen
critic and stern arbiter. speaks so fre.
quently of Dickens traits OF character,
his manliness, generosity, delicacy his
capability of strong attachments Of
friendship.
For his children Dickens wrote "A
Life Of Christ" so they could under
stand. Il exhort you, my dear children
to guide yourselves by the teachings of
faith in any mans narrow construction
Of its letter, here or there"
Sir Henry Fielding Dickens, the last
son, who has recently passed, writes of
his father: If I were asked what was
the abiding memory of my father, I
would say it was his lovable, great
hearted nature
And his daughter Mary: MY love for
my father has never been approached
by any other being hold him In my
heart Of hearts, as one apart from all
others. My father loved Christmas and
considered 1t should be fragrant with
the love we should have one to the
other"
And from this fowered the beloved
Christmas Carol Of which Lord Jeffrey
wrote: Through the Carol you have
done more good, fostered more kindly
feelings, and prompted more benen-
cence than can be traced to all the
pulpits since Christmas 1912"
In Dickens books humor radiates
illumined by fancy and pathos. Evil and
vice are touched with delicacy, never
extensively.
DR.. Charming, that great spiritual
leader, we'll expresses: Charles Dick
ems in his books shows that life may
wear a tragic grandeur, that amidst
follies and excesses the moral feelings
do not wholly die, and that the haunts
of the blackest crimes are sometimes
lightened up by the presence Of the
noblest souls"
Charles Dickens died suddenly at
Gads Hill Place, June 9, 1870
From far-away America Longfellow
sent this message: 1T is no exaggera-
ton to say that the whole country is
stricken with grief"
To Charles Dickens the world has
given its greatest gift, an affectionate
and tender remembrance. 1t will be
difficult to disturb this.
OTTO TORNEY SIMON.