" MOTHERS " IN DICKENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 35

" MOTHERS " IN DICKENS.

11 1 say," remarked an old friend — a mother — to me recently, " that Dickens has done us the most cruel injustice. I imagine that there is no man living who would dare to state as a serious fact that mothers are in reality a detestable and contemptible class — surely the world's history proves the contrary—and yet how has Charles Dickens treated us 7 Shamefully, I say. Our very pride in our children has been made ridiculous, and, according to him, when we are not demons we are fools 1 "

"Oh, no, no," I interrupted; "you must be mistaken." My friend fixed me with her steady eyes. "You are a student of Charles Dickens, are you not 1 "

"Certainly; I think you could scarcely mention a character of his with which I am unfamiliar."

" Very well, then, if you can point me out one moiher in the whole of Dickens' novels, with any claim to education, who can be admired or respected, I will own that I have wronged him. lam ready to admit that on the lower orders he is less severe."

Eager to prove that she misjudged my favourite, I began to search my memory. At the end of 10 minutes I was still searching, but I had not spoken. The fact was I was terribly perturbed in spirit. I was most anxious not to be worsted in the argument, for it seemed to me that a grave slur had been cast upon Charles Dickens' character; therefore to feel that I could only bring forward, as being worthy of respect, David Copperfield's childish mother, was exceedingly mortifying. George's mother in "Bleak House" I could not mention, as although she is undoubtedly a fine old dame, she certainly has no claim to gentle breeding; while in support of my Mend's grievance there marshalled such a ghastly troop of knaves and fools — if so masculine a term as knave is admissible in these circumstances — that I was utterly discomfited.

"My memory is at fault," I muttered to myself. " I will go home and consult my Dickens."

Pleading a headache, I made my excuses, but as I was leaving the room my old friend called after me :

" If you have a headache don't pursue this subject to-night. I wain you you are going to search for a needle in a bottle of hay, only "—somewhat grimly — "the needle is not there 1 "

I locked myself in my study and set to work. At the end of two hours, wiser and much sadder, I paused and gazed blankly around at a formidable heap of volumes. I had selected the books haphazard, and had made a pencil note on each, with this result:

" Great Expectations." No parents of any importance. Slight character sketch of Herbert's mother (a decidedly blameable fool). " Old Curiosity Shop." Old Mra Garland /weak). Kit's mother (lower orders). Mrs •iniwin (detestable). " Hard Tiroes." Mr* Gradgrind (idiotic). Bounderbj i mother (tower orders).

"L«*te Datxit." !**•» Clenam (criminal). Mrs Mfiidle and Mrs tfowtm (worldly, heartless vrexcnes). lira Meggies (nice, but very homely). •• ©at Mutual Friend." Mrs Wilfer (outttgveus) " Nicholas Nickleby." Mrs Nickleby and Mrs Kenwigs (lunatics), Mrs Squeers (a horror). " Dombey and Son." Mrs Skewton (a disgrace to her sex). Alice's mother, "Good Mrs Brown" (an ogress). Pollie Toodles (lower orders). " Martin Chuzriewit." Mothers not in it, with the exception of character sketch— "The Mother of the Gracchi " (a fool). " Bamaby Rudge." Mrs Varden (intensely objectionable). Mrs Rndge (lower orders). "David Copperfield." David's mother (amiable, but weak-minded). Mrs Micawber (a caricature). Mrs Creakle (a poor thing). Mrs Steerforth (horrid). Mrs Heep (hateful). " The old Soldier " (worse). " Bleak House." Lady Dedlock (well, well, the least said, ). Mrs Jellyby (another culpable fool). Mrs Pardiggle (an insupportable creature). Mrs Guppy (abominable). George's mother (lower orders). In " Oliver Twist," " Tale of Two Cities," and " Pickwick," the mothers are very much in the background, and taking Mrs Bardellas a specimen of those who do appear, perhaps it is just as well they should be.

" My friend was right," I murmured regretfully ; " but I wish she had not called my attention to the fact." — Temple Bar.