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swicHA RLES DICKENS... The Ever “Appeals to All Nations at This Season of the Year-His Works Breathe the S All the Charitable World

CHRISTMAS! A well-known pub- lic man once said that—-C-harles Dickens. to a great extent. made the keeping of Christmas what it is." There is little doubt that the blaster-Author's Christmas Stories infused into the world that Christ- mas spirit which is so prevalent to- tlay~ the spirit of love and charity. Charles Dickens’ works are as popular today as they were a gen- eration ago. Branches of the "Dick- ens Societies are established in many towns on both sides of the Atlantic. Charles Dickens will never be forgotten. The millions of his readers at the present time speak that. and he will be always especially remembered at Christ- mastide.

A Retrospect

Time was. with most of us. when Christmas Day encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our own enjoy- ments. affections and hopes; grotto- ed everything and everyone around tho Christmas fire: and made ‘the little picture shining in our bright young eyes complete.

Time came, perhaps. all too soon, when our thoughts overleaped that narrow boundary; when there was some onc (very dear, we thought then. very beautiful, and absolutely Perfect). wanting to the fullness of our happiness; when we were want- ing too or we thought so, which did lust no well. at. the Christmas hearth by which that some one sat; and when we interwined with every wreath and garland of our life some ones name.

Flo-united

lVliat! Did ‘that Christmas never really come when we and the price lt-us pearl who was our young choice were received. after the hnpplatt of totally impossible marriages, ‘by the two united famil- ies previously at draggers-ilrasvn on our- account? When brothers and sister-in-laiv, who had always been rather-cool to us ‘before our relationship was effected, perfectly doted on us. and when fathers and mothers overwhelmed us with unlimited incomes? Was that Christmas dinner never really eaten alter which we arose and generous- ly. eloquently rendered honor to our late ‘rival. piesedt in» the lt0lll~ pany, then and the!‘ exchanging friendship and forgiveness, and founding an attachment not to be surpassed in Greek or Roman story. which suhslsted until death? Has that same rival long ceased to care for that same priceless pearl, and married for money. and ‘bl?- come usurious? Above all, do w‘: really know now, that we should probably: have been miserable if tvt- had won and worn the pearl, and that we are better without her?

Christmas Alaociations

Therefore, as we ‘grow older, let us be more thankful that the circle of our Christmas associations and of the lessons that, they bring, Miranda! Let us welcome every one of them. and summon t em to take their places by the Christmas hearth.

Welcome, old aspirations. glitter- lili; creatures of an ardent fancy, to your shelter beneath the holly! We knew you. and have not ou‘tllv-

__@ <._.1-_-—_-..s_ .-...-. _...-_.,_.

ed you yef. Welcome. old projects and old loves-i. however fleeting, to your nooks among the steadier lights that burn around us. Wel- come all that was ever lea] to our hearts; and for the earnestness that made you reall. thanks to heaven! Before the boy. there stetches out a future brighter than we ever looked on in our old romantic time. but bright with honor and truth. Around this little head on which the sunny curls lfc heaped. the graces sport. as prt-ii- ily us alrly, as when there was no scythe within the reach of Tlmc to shear away the curls of our first love. Upon another girl's; face near it-placider but smiling bright-a quiet and contented little fncc, we see Home plainly written.

Then Who Have Gone.

‘Of all days in the year. we will tum orr faces towards that city tiipon Chrisumas Day. and rrom ‘its slient hoe-ts bringing fihose we love. amongst us. city of ‘the Dead. is the ‘blessed name wherein we are gathered together at ‘this time, and iii the piresence that -is here among‘ us according to ‘the ‘pm- miise. we will receve and not dis- mrlss, tihc people who are dcar to us!

Aimong the figures there ‘is 011"- a poor, nits-sharpen ‘boy on earth. of a ‘glorious ‘beauty now, of whom mfs dying mother said it grieved her much iio leave ‘tum here 3110M! m;- so many years as it ‘was liketly would dialpse ‘before he caimé 1° heir-dicing such n litiile child. But he welli. qu-‘claly, and! was laid

upon hei- ‘breast. and in licr hand she ‘leads ilnlm.

There was a gallant ‘boy who fell. for awe-y, upon a ilyiirniiog sand, beneath a lhurnling sun saiid: "Tell itheiii at lhmne. ‘with my lust love, lmw much .l cotuild have wish- ed to kins tihem once. but l died contented and‘ iloiie‘ my d-uty!" Or there was another. over "vhoni read the words. ‘Therefore ‘we commit lhlis body 1o the deep." and so ‘coast-ghoul to the lonely ocean and sailed on. Or there was ano- ther, who lay down to his rest in the dark shadow of grealf. forests» and. on emrtih. awoke no more. 0 shall they not from lland amd sea and ‘truest. be brought home at sndh a time!

‘Christmas! In every cheerful im- also and. mtggeaton that ‘the season brings. say ‘tine bright star that rested above the lpoor roof. ‘be the stair of all ‘the Chlflﬂiffllﬂi-l worlld!

Uliariles Dickens himself realized Ynlleifdt‘ as a. tiinie for tpeslee arm-d good-still. and worked. indefatigab- ly t0 that end. There ‘i-s lltltle dotulb-t thart he was Pilhe lllﬁihll! throvitgli his workis—of ibningng the nations upon earth nearer together at. (iiirisimns. With lira magic wand he ‘strikes the rock of ‘our self- centred. indifference and! forth gush tenderness and pity and joy. in ttllle "Christmas Carol" he turns the ihard and iselifkih man into n xva-rnt-hearfed and gniioful one: in "The Chimes." a-i Christmas story of bells that rang a-n old year out and a new one in; iii "The ‘Cricket on ithe Hearth." a fairy tale of llioinc: "The Battle of Life." a dove sbiry. nnd in "The Haunted’- ‘Nilan find the Ghostﬁs Bargain." a ‘ilancy for Christmas tfnie. ,

‘Charles ‘Dickens will never ‘be out of date. iii-mi will alwinvs be ‘eiapaolailily remtevmbe ed at Christ- mas time. ‘Ho, wdm never the neglect- r-tl or forgotten. The millions oi‘ his readers wt the ‘present Lllllf‘ speak for fihm. l‘n hl"s own mea- sure h? shares wittili ‘Shakespeare the ‘immortality not only of great genius, om of a. world genius. His work-s will keoo it's memory geeeti. The name or Charles Dickens ‘i... n household vrord wherever the English ‘immerse ‘is spoken; but when adl this ‘s sdmiltvted ‘if. in impossible not fro recognize ihis Clilfvstirlre commission. his ex- traordinary inwglst. hrs sh-iirlnr; gi-fits. ttﬂleilher with wilt. ithe misg- ination. the ‘pathos and‘ the kindli- noss whtldi lhe ibrottght to ‘bee-r on ‘the infenpvnetartfon of ‘the comedy and ‘tlhe tragedy of iiiie oomrmoit people he ‘knew so well. "Lord keep his memory green."

B. A. T. PRICE

(i.

“1545/1,‘

pirit of Peace and Goodwiil-e- army Tim Still spears to,

hailif slrrlnlnlng back and iislr bend-

LITTLE EMILY

Some Characters

AND

Extracts

FROM HIS WORKS

POOR LlTTiE ltllbibi‘! How vm-ihamtng she is as riititilc Flinily. with her blue eyes and daring, iortvlhadlowring even her own lili- lmimiry lfatc ‘by the very coquefiry m‘ her baby love with David llnpperﬂuitl. ‘Her :beaii-ty and ‘her cleverness mode her nhe lilo‘. of the YHFIWDUMI boaiihouse, and as she plays lIHIOCCIIUY ‘upon the beach and dire-amps of‘ be-‘ng n lady. the tiny ilgurre stands ou-f- dlstmct against ll-lie bilue ‘water. And then as years rdll on. and Ha‘in-da‘n_2e ileantenl- ‘Ham-tells licr of h-“s great love, she realizes his faith- fuiitie-sts. but. yctt is petulant, at iilie thought 0i’ her dreams of neiig it ‘lady were t0 come 1'0 naught. And ‘tllen at ‘this cruiisiiil moment Steer- tonfh comes into ‘herfife and she leaves all those ‘that love tier to be- come a "lady." Anti yet the fragile slim-y of ‘flifs oil-e‘ of cur cuthtrrs chi-lrlrirn ends. as ‘we nl-l know, in n trhiltlph for ‘lior gront-sotlled unole lﬁ-zicotty’. Poor little Emily! Weuik and Frail, ‘but yet so ltovlng.

LITTLE DORRIT

LITTLE NELL.

it has been started aha-t ‘several rcvievners of tithe "Olld Curiosity Shop." owned to havlilrg wlem ovzr the ‘death. lat‘. iLiitUlQ lNell. “A awry of a strong spa-ii iimprlsoned in a iti-wii loveily ibotly." in Piltilatiteiphla, i’. S. A.. by ‘tlic slide of the statue oi‘ Dickens, liable Neill stands as iii‘ she were his good genius. The character 0f IJILUG Neill has been u. grower nor good. "l love little olnildixen,” said the great author and his creation of Little Neil proves it. Bret ‘iris-rte, ‘in his posti- ant verses, draws a vivid picture of o: g-roum of l'lli hers, nurtured and reckless iviitli guild ‘hunger, leaving tliu.r dirltvk and ‘gambling to "hear cit‘ lJ-‘tamﬂ Neil," snows very clearly what her intiiucnicc has been.

___é<oo-—-—--

FLORENCE DOMBEY. i____

The chart-actor ‘of "Ulttle Dorrit." ‘is aliii ‘gentleness and soi-Hlenylng heilitiwlless. ll. ‘lists ibccn said fihat ‘Ciiiilrics Dickens. ‘as adad oftwieivc summers i. aoouainifed with it iliitlile girl of l1 ‘years, in "imp; smznlli huusc .in Sonnets Toivn." wlios name "was Mary Ann. Titus "wit! min. who claimed ‘tin the the Orisiualor "lnuilclloriiit" died not ‘l-onig s-incc in loiigiand. , Had she llllved ii, ‘few months longer she ‘would have reached‘ iher 100th ‘birthday. This lppiy, lM-m, Mary Anne Cooper iftien started that "Charles untied inn his little gini. flmt aiilteiwards he called me ‘Lltitlo 'D°l'i‘~ii2.'b0causeliedid not ‘like tiho nameort Mary-Anni." However, the character of Little Dorrit is treat- ﬂl W131i! Ltlnealtmastier with sweet

. 8510a. iior burl-h in the debtors" (the blnrsliallsea) the moor niofiier passing ‘in the stifling ‘room on a hot summer allteonoon, is ‘umftmgotuuhirc. iAnd iliow wretch- od her lllfe is depicted‘ and what

in “Doiivbey a-nd Son." Dickens given! ns tihe chnrzlic-ici" of a i/hilii with a sweet tifaptuhtfon. but ut- ‘terfy niegillected. Iltlllorelicc. "who to know “was to hove" winn/ing a last smilie from her dying mother, nonlcng late and ‘early too ‘help the liltiile, delicate‘ Pistol-the hope and pride of the‘ arrogant and‘ ﬂeilfliell fainter-in the tasks lie was so soon ‘LO iary dmtm; Eiicvrenice with tier cumi-y head upon ‘the black of the rough toild‘ dog, wiho is lie-r only comitorter spec ‘hire ntualc of her voee was heard. even in the dark vaililey of the shadow. when on the death 01f litills Paul sthe would wander aimind the lnirge mansion. fearing ‘to meet ‘hei- mther and ye-t yearning ilotr ‘his wove. her hen/rt ibre-akﬂng rin ‘hm- emrrts to quell who‘ pent-nip feelngs, amt-l‘ her great dove 'f‘.or her stmvnuotheir, ‘Dtliln, who, in the-r hitter contempt tor the nn-naiturail and proud father, ipitlea and‘ lloves the neglected oiirild. In ithe character ‘of Florence. , _ D-ckene In” mmmed; the amoopzmes pathos tiitre is ‘iii these few words: of sweetness and goodness and we ‘Al'- whl" 9°70‘! W‘ 11°!‘ 0M1!’ W‘! ilglfee wiiih Caqrinin (mo; malt she "l? ‘with creature beach ‘to ‘per- is “ii-lentils Delight." WW "hr-t it was not ‘the habit or nil the world to live locked up in rte-chow yurdle, surrounded by thigh Wntills with spikcsin the top, wowlid tbn a d-lillioult matter to some," And‘ then tvhen .1110 tgrent change Qﬂlne and the pamper debtor of the Mnilllrﬂhﬁi-SQS ‘Wnllks oult an opulent a iload erect and deep compassion ""1 wildeﬂcelllﬂiat- .for thiose ‘late comipaniona. accompanied ‘by his non and elder daughter. Jaimie fjor- rt is mflﬁﬂilhg—tﬂlle had lingeretpa Mifltlle Whrlc ‘to lblll farewell to the 5flllaﬂlid ‘bedroom- which‘ was to know her llli) mlore, rbuf, yet, had been lier only solage itlis-qugh _ many and liiaiiy a weary night, I ‘Little Dori-it was u favorite chame- ter “with Dicke‘nﬂ—~.l>erhs|ps in the unornows of "the child of iihe LMdrs- liaisea. as in: fhc wocs of David mpperfled. ‘Dickens was living h‘ls own life.

mes. JARLEY-

J.\lR.i,EV'S WMX-WORK." "Read tit again." ‘said ‘the lady colrlniloioentily. ' " amley's wainWorl-i," repeated Noll. _

"That's ‘tnef’ suild the ‘lady. "i am iMtffl. Jaliley."

Giving the ohfild an encouraging look inf-slider! ‘to reassure her and let lier know that. aitihougb she

stood in the presence of the original 10719).“ must not ah?!’

licnscilf i0 be iltleliiy‘ overwhelmed and bdfllt.‘ down, the lady of the caraven iinilloltbevtii another scroll. wliereoii tr-as ltiic dnscniptioil. "One hundred figures ‘the full sizc_ of life." aiiri iihon another scroll on which ‘was ‘written. "The only sflnipendiri-s (‘cfftxrfiloll of real wait- work in the ‘morltll! nnd ilhen. sever- ml smaller ‘siCPOHS f-vrtlt such. En- acntpniuns as. "Noni exhihtiflnl wlihiiiii." —— "The genifine and only Janlgy," -_ "Jaiﬂtefs iinrivavlled collection." -— "Jerry! is the (ic- iight of szlie Nobility and Gen-try." ——-“'I‘.llt> Royall- Famltly. are the ‘patrons of Jarley." When she lino exhibited these ‘leviathauis of’ public tlilllbillliiéllléllfy to tllc astonished cirivd. site bilillizllt TOPUI strecimtarzs ‘if the Ilesser fry in tihc siiaipc or ‘nandlbyis. some of, wltuoh were couched in tllic iilcrtn of parod- ies-intizomilar mellodies as ‘ﬂBeliéve me ‘if all Jii-rleyka vi-nx-work so rari.‘."—-"l SITW thy show in “youth- fill pi'Z.in<~."——“()vem tilie waxcr to Jwnley.‘ while, to consult all! tastes. (falters were comlposetl with a view to the» iiiaiiiter and more IT-ﬂce- Hous ‘lilYldl-Lél, as n parody ion the favorite £131‘ "if l had in donkey." lxtazliining: "if l lmoiykl W07- wouldn't go ’l‘o s6..- M-rs. Jiutleys tvnx- work about Do you than-k him? Oh! nu. no! Tlren ‘run to Jaiiiey'a."——

besides seven"; coinpoivtions la prose. ‘pnmportiiig w ‘be dialogues ‘between ‘the Enltpemor of China and an oyster, ior ‘the Anchbishvtn of Canterbury and a dissentcr 0n fihQ subject of church-antes, but all having ihe same ‘littoral. namely. that: the render must make ‘haste to Jarleyﬁs and that tiliildren and servants we-rn admitted at ‘half- price. when she had biimisht all these testimonials of her import- ant position in society iio bear upln her young comipatron. Mrs. Joiﬂey milled them» up, and havlltl; pirt them wrevfinilly tawny, sat dnwln ssznin and hooked at the child in tutiumph-Oiid ‘Curiosity Shop- i--<o-o->i——-

BARNADY RUBGE

a thmkcy

\ l'd acknowledge

Barnaby ltcilddng tllie tomb as he had been diirectedt looked on in silence. fascinated by intensity of cuirioisitiy, Ibnt repcllllcdl, neverthe- less. by some strong and sec-rot liormr which (iUll-Viilfﬁeil him in every nerve.

As. he stood. at. tliinit moment,

‘independent man “with his _

PAUL DEMBEYL =2..___- .__...._ ._

immiywsiostbothnzs trace and his figure wsremll in ‘the stnon! Sh" of ins-lightens as itisvrnmiv reveal- ed as thou!!! it had been broad dayJ-lo was about uhreeutI-tww- fy years old, and. ‘though m-‘t-lwr spare, oi‘ a fair betBht and stmnﬂ make. ills lhanr. of Wlhlcli he had p ‘great proflnsvlon. was red, and. hanging h] dikofklﬂl‘ llb0llil- hi! (34:13

and shoulders, gave no hi! rNiJP-S‘! .

looks an expression quite unearth- ly, enhanced by the palettess 0i h‘... eonupicxloili amd- ‘the siawy lustre cif his lalrge, pfﬂflflldlllg eyes. S-Lirtiling as ihiis aspect wus.

the leaiturcs were good. and 019W.

‘was miiielJi-Ing. even plaintive in his went and‘ llitstsard asPWt- B"! ‘the absence of Lilo soul is for more terrihﬂg ‘in n t-iw ng man =tl_iun in a dead one; and in: th's un- fortunate ‘being its noblest WW9"! ‘WQN? wanting.

‘His dress of green. cluinislr tiy trniinied here and‘ ‘ihere— apparently (by it"s own harmle- ‘Wlllll/gililil)’ face; brightest where the cilotli was most worn and soil- <~|;, nIﬂ-"l poorest. where ‘it ‘was tit tile ‘lwsi; A ‘pair ‘c-r tawdry ruffles drtngllcd at this wv-n sis. ‘while his tlitroat iron nearly bare. iHe had crnanieitietl his hat auiiih n cluster cit meanest-it's feathers. but they wc-rg llﬂliip and broken. and now t-ralled. nesihgentily tlisrwn h-is back. ctr-feta his ode was ‘the sheen hi-i-t oi‘ an ofd sword ‘wlitihﬂwl- b18116 0" ggabbﬂfd‘; and some ‘partilcoloretl ends of atrniaanentwl portion of ‘ll-in attire. This ‘illiutteied and confused disposition (‘if alll the 11101193’ will!“ ‘that formed his tlress, bespoke. ill

n scamwly loss ‘iiogroo tliiin iris roger iiiiii ‘llfliiﬂllilatl manner. the tlidsorilor oi’ his lmiintii. and by n grotesque contrast sat off and ho~ ‘ig-hrtcntsl fiill.‘ more iZuii-pressivo wdplnesa iii.’ his facc.-—‘Bwmn-by Hull-ﬁe.

-—-———-<eo—-—-— MR. JINGLE

"You have been ‘in Sipailn, ‘Sir " said Mr. Tracy Thurman. "ilfvcd there-ages."

"Mla/ny conquests. qiifred Mr. ‘Ihiipman.

"Conquests! Thousands. Don fhcibamo - ‘Flitzig-‘Gmndew-aanily’ daughter-Donna‘ (Ihristina-— splenriild cre-atinireI-illovo me w dis- tmotiion-jealiotis fath er-h trib- souled tlaughter~lianiisomo Eng- lislimntr-Doniia Christina in ties- paIrHprtisi-ilc nclth-stoinntrli pump in niy portniantesu-opnratioii performed-old Boinro iii ecstas- i.... consent to our union-—join hands and floods of tears-roman- ‘tic story very.

"is the lady lti England sir?" ‘inquired l\lr. Tupnian, whom ilie tiescription of

sir " in.-

ll.)\\', on her

clinrins iiiid produced a DOWCPIIH‘

impression. _ “Dead. sir—ilend." ‘said the stranger, applying to his right eye the brief remnant of n very cld cninhric handkerchief. "Never re- covered the stomach punip—-uii- derminod constitution-Joli a victim." "Aiid her father?" inquired the pot-tic Snodgrni-s. “Remorse and misery," the stanrger. “Sudden lllﬁlllppﬁﬁl‘: once-talk of 'he whole cit_v—- teal-ch made “vcrywhers-wifhoitt access-public fountain in

“unvre mile who seemed to

ii it‘ l‘

l: - horses. did"the stranliél‘ ltﬂliifhll» iintll they ‘reached Jtochenter bmdge, by which time the noteg books, both of Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Snodgraaﬂ. WW9 wmllletel)’ filled with selections from his. adventures-Pickwick Puller!‘- ~—-<-oc—-——— JO. '

HERE'S the boy. gentleman!

Herc he is. very muddy. Vilry hoarse. very fussed.

Nnine. Jo. Nothing else lltﬂl 118 knows on. Don't know that every" body has two tiarnes. Never heard of sich a thing; Don't know that J0- is short for a langer name.,Thinlos it long enough» for him. He dim! fliid no fault with it. Spell it? No. He can't spell it. No father. iio mother. iio friends. Never been to school. What's home? Knows R brooms a broom. and knows it’! wicked to tell a lie. Don't recollect who told him about the broom, or about the lie, but knows both. Can't exactly say wliat'll be done [to blm after he's dead if he tells n lie to the gentleman here. but bo- lieves it'll in» something very bud to punish him, and serve hlni. right —ai\d so he'll tell the truth-Bleak House.

_- __._-oe->i- ~ -- ESTELLA

4h in

IN "Great Expectations." Charles Dickens gives tis a masterly study of a complex child anti woman in Estella. if thcrc is a certain analogy between Little Nell. hope- lessly endeavor-lug to siivo her I-‘iort-nce Doinbey striving tn soften wrclchetl old gratidfailicr, anti hnr atlnniniitiili: fntiici‘. there is certainly another between thawin- lialllly. irresistible little Emily, and quite the most remarkable, of_ the little mirls of I).lCk9ll|.'<i‘*!§i‘llBllll. Poor Pip fails humbly and . hopc- lrasly’ iii lovi: as if slie-yvcre ii small, imperious queen and he her

' slave. She trealtp him aboniinably,

this lad from the forge, with the livnrt of a true gent cmnn l-w-‘llititt billlelllll his shabby tiont. Her sull- en disposition. nnd insqlent manti- t-rs. Wliata contrast to little Jane Pocket in the same ||00k.'JillIé. n have prematurely

iiiken upon herself some charge oi’ the others."

--:0->~~~——~ ~-

MISS Nmnsrr/i GRUMMLES AND miss mostsawa KENWIGS

IN ‘Nicholas Nickiehy," lliero are two little girls stunt‘ of 11,4 pro- fci‘ the hnby Iltlfﬂlllttrl zilitl beauties. What theatrical perform- uncc has. ever hiiil bigger or better pleased audiences tllnt those who. in their own nriiiclitiirc. can view tiint infant phenomenon. Miss (‘riiiiiiiilei-l, in tho famous iiitcrluilo of "The Savage alid the Maiden?" We have—nnil enjoy-a full des- cription of the costume in which she rehearsed it.‘ “A dirty white flock with tucks up to the knees short trousers, sandalleti sliocio, white spcncer and pink gauze bon- net." When Nicholas hnd to can- vass for patronage with the gifted Miss Siievelllccl. "the infant" accompanied them to play -‘pro- - priety nnd cnrrlcti a. fringed parasol without a handle, ivhicii shu had an lnconveiilnnt huliit of dropping into areas. Though so used the glare of the footlights, alt-i ‘l ice not seem to have boon other thn-i n well-behaved small mortal,‘ in private life. not half as forward ns Miss Morienns Kenwlzb of the long flaxen pigtails. who danced to the admiration of all ‘when tho soles of her shoes had been carri- fully chalked." and following suit when hor mother fainted at the news of rich Uncle Lillyvickfs marriage. "came to" with astonish- ing celerity when when “she found no ono was looking at her."

replied '

the I

great square suddenly ceased play- .‘ ink-Weeks elapsed-still a stop-‘

page-workmenemployed to clean lt—~wnter drawn off-—fathor iii-law discoyergd sticking head first in the main pipe. with ii fiill con lesstomin his nlllht hoot-took iiiir out. ﬂilﬂﬂll fountain played awn) again. as well as ever.

"Will you allow me to note iha littieupmance down, sir?" salt Mr. grass deeply affected.

"cert-unity. sir. certainly mt more. if you like to hear 'em- strahiejife mine-rather curiou blowﬂy-riot extraordinary, bu slngnl "

"I. i strain. with an occnslor

n or ale. by way of parent

iiflwhen the coach changed