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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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