按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all periods of time。 The scholar and the statesman； men of peace
and men of war； have agreed in all ages to delight in gardens。 The
most ancient people of the earth had gardens where there is now
nothing but solitary heaps of earth。 The poor man in crowded
cities gardens still in jugs and basins and bottles： in factories
and workshops people garden； and even the prisoner is found
gardening in his lonely cell； after years and years of solitary
confinement。 Surely； then； the gardener who produces shapes and
objects so lovely and so comforting； should have some hold upon the
world's remembrance when he himself becomes in need of comfort。
I will call upon you to drink 〃Prosperity to the Gardeners'
Benevolent Institution；〃 and I beg to couple with that toast the
name of its noble President； the Duke of Devonshire； whose worth is
written in all his deeds； and who has communicated to his title and
his riches a lustre which no title and no riches could confer。
＇Later in the evening； Mr。 Dickens said：…＇
My office has compelled me to burst into bloom so often that I
could wish there were a closer parallel between myself and the
American aloe。 It is particularly agreeable and appropriate to
know that the parents of this Institution are to be found in the
seed and nursery trade； and the seed having yielded such good
fruit； and the nursery having produced such a healthy child； I have
the greatest pleasure in proposing the health of the parents of the
Institution。
＇In proposing the health of the Treasurers； Mr。 Dickens said：…＇
My observation of the signboards of this country has taught me that
its conventional gardeners are always jolly； and always three in
number。 Whether that conventionality has reference to the Three
Graces； or to those very significant letters； L。； S。； D。； I do not
know。 Those mystic letters are； however； most important； and no
society can have officers of more importance than its Treasurers；
nor can it possibly give them too much to do。
SPEECH： BIRMINGHAM； JANUARY 6； 1853。
＇On Thursday； January 6； 1853； at the rooms of the Society of
Artists； in Temple Row； Birmingham； a large company assembled to
witness the presentation of a testimonial to Mr。 Charles Dickens；
consisting of a silver…gilt salver and a diamond ring。 Mr。 Dickens
acknowledged the tribute； and the address which accompanied it； in
the following words：…＇
GENTLEMEN； I feel it very difficult； I assure you； to tender my
acknowledgments to you； and through you； to those many friends of
mine whom you represent； for this honour and distinction which you
have conferred upon me。 I can most honestly assure you； that it is
in the power of no great representative of numbers of people to
awaken such happiness in me as is inspired by this token of
goodwill and remembrance； coming to me direct and fresh from the
numbers themselves。 I am truly sensible； gentlemen； that my
friends who have united in this address are partial in their
kindness； and regard what I have done with too great favour。 But I
may say； with reference to one class … some members of which； I
presume； are included there … that I should in my own eyes be very
unworthy both of the generous gift and the generous feeling which
has been evinced； and this occasion； instead of pleasure； would
give me nothing but pain； if I was unable to assure them； and those
who are in front of this assembly； that what the working people
have found me towards them in my books； I am throughout my life。
Gentlemen； whenever I have tried to hold up to admiration their
fortitude； patience； gentleness； the reasonableness of their
nature； so accessible to persuasion； and their extraordinary
goodness one towards another； I have done so because I have first
genuinely felt that admiration myself； and have been thoroughly
imbued with the sentiment which I sought to communicate to others。
Gentlemen； I accept this salver and this ring as far above all
price to me； as very valuable in themselves； and as beautiful
specimens of the workmanship of this town； with great emotion； I
assure you； and with the liveliest gratitude。 You remember
something； I daresay； of the old romantic stories of those charmed
rings which would lose their brilliance when their wearer was in
danger； or would press his finger reproachfully when he was going
to do wrong。 In the very improbable event of my being in the least
danger of deserting the principles which have won me these tokens；
I am sure the diamond in that ring would assume a clouded aspect to
my faithless eye； and would； I know； squeeze a throb of pain out of
my treacherous heart。 But I have not the least misgiving on that
point； and； in this confident expectation； I shall remove my own
old diamond ring from my left hand； and in future wear the
Birmingham ring on my right； where its grasp will keep me in mind
of the good friends I have here； and in vivid remembrance of this
happy hour。
Gentlemen； in conclusion； allow me to thank you and the Society to
whom these rooms belong； that the presentation has taken place in
an atmosphere so congenial to me； and in an apartment decorated
with so many beautiful works of art； among which I recognize before
me the productions of friends of mine； whose labours and triumphs
will never be subjects of indifference to me。 I thank those
gentlemen for giving me the opportunity of meeting them here on an
occasion which has some connexion with their own proceedings； and；
though last not least； I tender my acknowledgments to that charming
presence； without which nothing beautiful can be complete； and
which is endearingly associated with rings of a plainer
description； and which； I must confess； awakens in my mind at the
present moment a feeling of regret that I am not in a condition to
make an offer of these testimonials。 I beg you； gentlemen； to
commend me very earnestly and gratefully to our absent friends； and
to assure them of my affectionate and heartfelt respect。
The company then adjourned to Dee's Hotel； where a banquet took
place； at which about 220 persons were present； among whom were
some of the most distinguished of the Royal Academicians。 To the
toast of 〃The Literature of England；〃 Mr。 Dickens responded as
follows：…
Mr。 Mayor and Gentlemen； I am happy； on behalf of many labourers in
that great field of literature to which you have pledged the toast；
to thank you for the tribute you have paid to it。 Such an honour；
rendered by acclamation in such a place as this； seems to me； if I
may follow on the same side as the venerable Archdeacon （Sandford）
who lately addressed you； and who has inspired me with a
gratification I can never forget … such an honour； gentlemen；
rendered here； seems to me a two…sided illustration of the position
that literature holds in these latter and； of course； 〃degenerate〃
days。 To the great compact phalanx of the people； by whose
in