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！
that with it the last strain of the 〃carol〃 was dying away。 After
the 〃Trial from Pickwick；〃 in which the speeches of the opposing
counsel； and the owlish gravity of the judge； seemed to be
delivered and depicted with greater dramatic power than ever； the
applause of the audience rang for several minutes through the hall；
and when it had subsided； Mr。 Dickens； with evidently strong
emotion； but in his usual distinct and expressive manner； spoke as
follows：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … It would be worse than idle … for it would
be hypocritical and unfeeling … if I were to disguise that I close
this episode in my life with feelings of very considerable pain。
For some fifteen years； in this hall and in many kindred places； I
have had the honour of presenting my own cherished ideas before you
for your recognition； and； in closely observing your reception of
them； have enjoyed an amount of artistic delight and instruction
which； perhaps； is given to few men to know。 In this task； and in
every other I have ever undertaken； as a faithful servant of the
public； always imbued with a sense of duty to them； and always
striving to do his best； I have been uniformly cheered by the
readiest response； the most generous sympathy； and the most
stimulating support。 Nevertheless； I have thought it well； at the
full flood…tide of your favour； to retire upon those older
associations between us； which date from much further back than
these； and henceforth to devote myself exclusively to the art that
first brought us together。 Ladies and gentlemen； in but two short
weeks from this time I hope that you may enter； in your own homes；
on a new series of readings； at which my assistance will be
indispensable； but from these garish lights I vanish now for
evermore； with a heartfelt； grateful； respectful； and affectionate
farewell。
＇Amidst repeated acclamations of the most enthusiastic description；
whilst hats and handkerchiefs were waving in every part of the
hall； Mr。 Charles Dickens retired； withdrawing with him one of the
greatest intellectual treats the public ever enjoyed。＇
SPEECH： THE NEWSVENDORS' INSTITUTION； LONDON； APRIL 5； 1870。
＇The annual dinner in aid of the funds of the Newsvendors'
Benevolent and Provident Institution was held on the above evening；
at the Freemason's Tavern。 Mr。 Charles Dickens presided； and was
supported by the Sheriffs of the City of London and Middlesex。
After the usual toasts had been given and responded to；
The Chairman said that if the approved order of their proceedings
had been observed； the Corporation of the City of London would no
doubt have considered themselves snubbed if they were not toasted
by themselves。 He was sure that a distinguished member of the
Corporation who was present would tell the company what the
Corporation were going to do； and he had not the slightest doubt
they were going to do something highly creditable to themselves；
and something highly serviceable to the whole metropolis； and if
the secret were not at present locked up in the blue chamber； they
would be all deeply obliged to the gentleman who would immediately
follow him； if he let them into it in the same confidence as he had
observed with respect to the Corporation of the City of London
being snubbed。 He begged to give the toast of 〃The Corporation of
the City of London。〃
Mr。 Alderman Cotton； in replying to the toast； said for once； and
once only； had their chairman said an unkind word about the
Corporation of London。 He had always reckoned Mr。 Dickens to be
one of the warmest friends of the Corporation； and remembering that
he （Mr。 Dickens） did really go through a Lord Mayor's Show in a
Lord Mayor's carriage； if he had not felt himself quite a Lord
Mayor； he must have at least considered himself next to one。
In proposing the toast of the evening Mr； Dickens said：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … You receive me with so much cordiality that
I fear you believe that I really did once sit in a Lord Mayor's
state coach。 Permit me to assure you； in spite of the information
received from Mr。 Alderman Cotton； that I never had that honour。
Furthermore； I beg to assure you that I never witnessed a Lord
Mayor's show except from the point of view obtained by the other
vagabonds upon the pavement。 Now； ladies and gentlemen； in spite
of this great cordiality of yours； I doubt if you fully know yet
what a blessing it is to you that I occupy this chair to…night；
because； having filled it on several previous occasions for the
society on whose behalf we are assembled； and having said
everything that I could think of to say about it； and being；
moreover； the president of the institution itself； I am placed to…
night in the modest position of a host who is not so much to
display himself as to call out his guests … perhaps even to try to
induce some among them to occupy his place on another occasion。
And； therefore； you may be safely sure that； like Falstaff； but
with a modification almost as large as himself； I shall try rather
to be the cause of speaking in others than to speak myself to…
night。 Much in this manner they exhibit at the door of a snuff
shop the effigy of a Highlander with an empty mull in his hand；
who； having apparently taken all the snuff he can carry； and
discharged all the sneezes of which he is capable； politely invites
his friends and patrons to step in and try what they can do in the
same line。
It is an appropriate instance of the universality of the newsman's
calling that no toast we have drunk to…night … and no toast we
shall drink to…night … and no toast we might； could； should； or
would drink to…night； is separable for a moment from that great
inclusion of all possible subjects of human interest which he
delivers at our doors every day。 Further； it may be worthy the
consideration of everybody here who has talked cheerfully to his or
her neighbour since we have sat down at the table； what in the name
of Heaven should we have talked about； and how on earth could we
have possibly got on； if our newsman had only for one single day
forgotten us。 Now； ladies and gentlemen； as our newsman is not by
any means in the habit of forgetting us； let us try to form a
little habit of not forgetting our newsman。 Let us remember that
his work is very arduous； that it occupies him early and late； that
the profits he derives from us are at the best very small； that the
services he renders to us are very great； that if he be a master；
his little capital is exposed to all sorts of mischances；
anxieties； and hazards； and if he be a journeyman； he himself is
exposed to all manner of weathers； of tempers； and of difficult and
unreasonable requirements。
Let me illustrate this。 I was once present at a social discussion；
which originated by chance。 The subject was； What was the most
absorbing and longest…lived passion in the human breast？ What was
the passion so po