DICKENS THE HUMANE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11539, 16 January 1932, Page 11

DICKENS THE HUMANE

CHARACTERISTIC LETTERS. AT* HEIGHT OF FAME. Dickens’s humanity and sense o' humour are revealed time and ag a ! . in a volume recently published. ■ This book shows us Dickens at the bright of his fame, finding time to deal as friend and counsellor wan Ike Baroness Burdett-Coutts’s P9 s /‘ ba rr of begginc letters —about 40U a day—and personally investigating the genuineness of the application*. SHOCK FOR MR. BURGESS. On one occasion his energy proved 100 much for one correspondent, and wc find him reporting to the Laioness: A Mr. Burgess is. n common beggingletter : writer—Feur-post bedstead \n liis room—admirable steak on the fi re—handsouio wile—two -extract cliuarily jovial children —shelves 'ul of glasses, crockery ware, children ,s toys, etc., etc.—-cupboad full of prowencler —■‘everything parliculai ly cheerful; and .cosy. It was such a clear case (ho was. not at homo himself; I think ho must have stepped out to fetch the beer) that 1 liu\e caused an inquiry to be made of the Mendicity Society., 1 liey know huu well. , Usually, however,. DicEms was imploring assistanco for others with all the persuasion of his power, lie writes to Miss Coutts. as she thyn was. on the death of. Mr. Elton, the actor: — .:.i . ■ He was a struggling man. Ihrougn piiis ■ wholei existence-— always very poor, and never extravagant. His wife died mad, three years ago, and he was left a widower with seven children—who weyc expecting his knock at the door, when a friend arrived with the terrible news of his death. If in the great extent oi your charities, you have a niche left to fill up, I believe In my heart that this As as sad a case as you could possibly put into itdeath of the raven. We find this, description of Hie burial of, Dickens’s . favorite raven: „ The rayon;wfis rernpved with .every regard for Iriy feelings, iu a covered basket. It was taken rif "«my to; ho stuffed, but - litis, riot yet. come heme. 'He • left? a, considerable pi’ o P" erty (chiefly in’ cheese y and halfpence) buried .in- different parts, of the garden; and the new .raven—ior 1 lmve a successor—administers to tlie effects. He had buried in one place u . , 1 /I very .large hammer,,, and AoveraE rayv/ pptatees, which were ffisc'ovefdd • yestemay. He , was very uneasy, /j.u-st k .before death,, and wandering. ip his mind talked ajriazing nerisense. .’. ' i From> .these letters,' , wp. are reminded," also, that Dickens.-reckoned Friday to .be his : lucky; clay, and made the liappiest decisions, of his life on that:day. ■ 'f.