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Contributions to All The Year Round
Contributions to All The
Year Round
by Charles Dickens
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Contributions to All The Year Round
ANNOUNCEMENT IN 〃HOUSEHOLD WORDS〃
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
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Contributions to All The Year Round
〃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
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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
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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；
wal