Charles

about this period, and while still a mere boy, was a drudge in a blacking warehouse. He received little education, though he was for two years at a private school in Hampstead Road, London. About 1826 he became an attorney’s clerk, and while in this position studied shorthand and other subjects, and finally was able to exchange his occupation for that of a newspaper reporter and critic. He exhibited eminent ability both as a reporter and a depicter of scenes in city life, and in 1885 he was engaged on the “ Morning Chronicle,” edited by Dr. Black, then one of the leading daily by of the metropolis. On June 9, 1835, appeared the first of the series of ‘Sketches of Life and Character by Boz,” which were published in the evening edition of that paper, under the title of ‘Thoughts about People, by Boz.” The “Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Everyday Life and Everyday People,” collected from the “ Morning Chronicle” of 1835-1836, were published by Macrone in 1836, in two vols., with illustrations by George Cruikshank. From this publication may be dated the origin of Dickens’ fame, There is no space to recite here the many products of his genius familiar in every secular library. In 1841 Dickens visited the United States for the first time. Here many aspects of society struck him in a curious light, and on his return he wrote “American Notes for General Circulation” (Chapman and Hall, 1842). His frank and gro ly exagyerated comments aroused a certain amount of feeling. In 1845 Dickens went to Italy, and paid a visit to Rome. On his return a new _ enterprise awaited him. The “ Daily News” started on Jan. 1, 1846, was intrusted to his editorial management; but, despite his early training, this was an occupation uncongenial to his mind, and in a few months the éxperiment was abandoned. He visited the United States a second time in 1867-1868 on a reading tour. The enthusiastic reception he met with caused him somewhat to modify the severe opinions he had expre ed in his ‘‘ American Notes,” and a sort of apologetic note was prefixed to the next edition of them, with the desire expre ed that it should accompany all future editions. He was one of the founders of the Guild of Literature, and in many other ways took an interest in charitable schemes, especially in connection with the literary profe ion. He died June 9, 1870, at his residence, Gad’s Hil] Place, near Rochester, England. In his will Dickens expre ed a wish to be buried in “an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner, without any public announcement of the time or place” of burial. So far as was consistent with the nation’s desire to honor the great author, these directions were followed, but his modest request was not allowed to prevent his interment in Westminster Abbey.