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contributions to all the year round-第1部分
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Contributions to All The Year Round
by Charles Dickens
Contents:
Announcement in 〃Household Words〃
The Poor Man and his Beer
Five New Points of Criminal Law
Leigh Hunt: A Remonstrance
The Tattlesnivel Bleater
The Young Man from the Country
An Enlightened Clergyman
Rather a Strong Dose
The Martyr Medium
The Late Mr。 Stanfield
A Slight Question of Fact
Landor's Life
Address which appeared shortly previous to the completion of the
20th volume
ANNOUNCEMENT IN 〃HOUSEHOLD WORDS〃 OF THE APPROACHING PUBLICATION OF
〃ALL THE YEAR ROUND〃
After the appearance of the present concluding Number of Household
Words; this publication will merge into the new weekly publication;
All the Year Round; and the title; Household Words; will form a part
of the title…page of All the Year Round。
The Prospectus of the latter Journal describes it in these words:
〃ADDRESS
〃Nine years of Household Words; are the best practical assurance
that can be offered to the public; of the spirit and objects of All
the Year Round。
〃In transferring myself; and my strongest energies; from the
publication that is about to be discontinued; to the publication
that is about to be begun; I have the happiness of taking with me
the staff of writers with whom I have laboured; and all the literary
and business co…operation that can make my work a pleasure。 In some
important respects; I am now free greatly to advance on past
arrangements。 Those; I leave to testify for themselves in due
course。
〃That fusion of the graces of the imagination with the realities of
life; which is vital to the welfare of any community; and for which
I have striven from week to week as honestly as I could during the
last nine years; will continue to be striven for 〃all the year
round〃。 The old weekly cares and duties become things of the Past;
merely to be assumed; with an increased love for them and brighter
hopes springing out of them; in the Present and the Future。
〃I look; and plan; for a very much wider circle of readers; and yet
again for a steadily expanding circle of readers; in the projects I
hope to carry through 〃all the year round〃。 And I feel confident
that this expectation will be realized; if it deserve realization。
〃The task of my new journal is set; and it will steadily try to work
the task out。 Its pages shall show to what good purpose their motto
is remembered in them; and with how much of fidelity and earnestness
they tell
〃the story of our lives from year to year。
〃CHARLES DICKENS。〃
Since this was issued; the Journal itself has come into existence;
and has spoken for itself five weeks。 Its fifth Number is published
to…day; and its circulation; moderately stated; trebles that now
relinquished in Household Words。
In referring our readers; henceforth; to All the Year Round; we can
but assure them afresh; of our unwearying and faithful service; in
what is at once the work and the chief pleasure of our life。
Through all that we are doing; and through all that we design to do;
our aim is to do our best in sincerity of purpose; and true devotion
of spirit。
We do not for a moment suppose that we may lean on the character of
these pages; and rest contented at the point where they stop。 We
see in that point but a starting…place for our new journey; and on
that journey; with new prospects opening out before us everywhere;
we joyfully proceed; entreating our readerswithout any of the pain
of leave…taking incidental to most journeysto bear us company All
the year round。
Saturday; May 28; 1859。
THE POOR MAN AND HIS BEER
My friend Philosewers and I; contemplating a farm…labourer the other
day; who was drinking his mug of beer on a settle at a roadside ale…
house door; we fell to humming the fag…end of an old ditty; of which
the poor man and his beer; and the sin of parting them; form the
doleful burden。 Philosewers then mentioned to me that a friend of
his in an agricultural countysay a Hertfordshire friendhad; for
two years last past; endeavoured to reconcile the poor man and his
beer to public morality; by making it a point of honour between
himself and the poor man that the latter should use his beer and not
abuse it。 Interested in an effort of so unobtrusive and
unspeechifying a nature; 〃O Philosewers;〃 said I; after the manner
of the dreary sages in Eastern apologues; 〃Show me; I pray; the man
who deems that temperance can be attained without a medal; an
oration; a banner; and a denunciation of half the world; and who has
at once the head and heart to set about it!〃
Philosewers expressing; in reply; his willingness to gratify the
dreary sage; an appointment was made for the purpose。 And on the
day fixed; I; the Dreary one; accompanied by Philosewers; went down
Nor'…West per railway; in search of temperate temperance。 It was a
thunderous day; and the clouds were so immoderately watery; and so
very much disposed to sour all the beer in Hertfordshire; that they
seemed to have taken the pledge。
But; the sun burst forth gaily in the afternoon; and gilded the old
gables; and old mullioned windows; and old weathercock and old
clock…face; of the quaint old house which is the dwelling of the man
we sought。 How shall I describe him? As one of the most famous
practical chemists of the age? That designation will do as well as
anotherbetter; perhaps; than most others。 And his name? Friar
Bacon。
〃Though; take notice; Philosewers;〃 said I; behind my hand; 〃that
the first Friar Bacon had not that handsome lady…wife beside him。
Wherein; O Philosewers; he was a chemist; wretched and forlorn;
compared with his successor。 Young Romeo bade the holy father
Lawrence hang up philosophy; unless philosophy could make a Juliet。
Chemistry would infallibly be hanged if its life were staked on
making anything half so pleasant as this Juliet。〃 The gentle
Philosewers smiled assent。
The foregoing whisper from myself; the Dreary one; tickled the ear
of Philosewers; as we walked on the trim garden terrace before
dinner; among the early leaves and blossoms; two peacocks;
apparently in very tight new boots; occasionally crossing the gravel
at a distance。 The sun; shining through the old house…windows; now
and then flashed out some brilliant piece of colour from bright
hangings within; or upon the old oak panelling; similarly; Friar
Bacon; as we paced to and fro; revealed little glimpses of his good
work。
〃It is not much;〃 said he。 〃It is no wonderful thing。 There used
to be a great deal of drunkenness here; and I wanted to make it
better if I could。 The people are very ignorant; and have been much
neglected; and I wanted to make THAT better; if I could。 My utmost
object was; to help them to a little self…government and a little
homely pleasure。 I only show the way to better things; and advise
them。 I never act for them; I never interfere; above all; I never
patronise。〃
I had said to Philosewers as we came along Nor'…West that patronage
was one of the curses of England; I appeared to rise in the
estimation of Philosewers when thus confirmed。
〃And so;〃 said Friar Bacon; 〃I established my Allotment…club; and my
pig…clubs; and those little Concerts by the ladies of my own family;
of which we have the last of the season this evening。 They are a
great success; for the people here are amazingly fond of music。 But
there is the early dinner…bell; and I have no need to talk of my
endeavours when you will soon see them in their working dress〃。
Dinner done; behold the Friar; Philosewers; and myself the Dreary
one; walking; at six o'clock; across the fields; to the 〃Club…
house。〃
As we swung open the last field…gate and entered the Allotment…
grounds; many members were already on their way to the Club; which
stands in the midst of the allotments。 Who could help thinking of
the wonderful contrast between these club…men and the club…men of
St。 James's Street; or Pall Mall; in London! Look at yonder
prematurely old man; doubled up with work; and leaning on a rude
stick more crooked than himself; slowly trudging to the club…house;
in a shapeless hat like an Italian harlequin's; or an old brown…
paper bag; leathern leggings; and dull green smock…frock; looking as
though duck…weed had accumulated on itthe result of its stagnant
lifeor as if it were a vegetable production; originally meant to
blow into something better; but stopped somehow。 Compare him with
Old Cousin Feenix; ambling along St。 James's Street; got up in the
style of a couple of generations ago; and with a head of hair; a
complexion; and a set of teeth; profoundly impossible to be believed
in by the widest stretch of human credulity。 Can they both be men
and brothers? Verily they are。 And although Cousin Feenix has
lived so fast that he will die at Baden…Baden; and although this
club…man in the frock has lived; ever since he came to man's estate;
on nine shillings a week; and is sure to die in the Union if he die
in bed; yet he brought as much into the world as Cousin Feenix; and
will take as much outmore; for more of him is real。
A pretty; simple building; the club…house; with a rustic colonnade
outside; under which the members can sit on wet evenings; looking at
the patches of ground they cultivate for themselves; within; a well…
ventilated room; large and lofty; cheerful pavement of coloured
tiles; a bar for serving out the beer; good supply of forms and
chairs; and a brave big chimney…corner; where the fire burns
cheerfully。 Adjoining this room; another:
〃Built for a reading…room;〃 said Friar Bacon; 〃but not much used
yet。〃
The dreary sage; looking in through the window; perceiving a fixed
reading…desk within; and inquiring its use:
〃I have Service there;〃 said Friar Bacon。 〃
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