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！
itself by his name。
I have no fear here of being misunderstood … of being supposed to
mean too much in this。 If there ever was a time when any one class
could of itself do much for its own good； and for the welfare of
society … which I greatly doubt … that time is unquestionably past。
It is in the fusion of different classes； without confusion； in the
bringing together of employers and employed； in the creating of a
better common understanding among those whose interests are
identical； who depend upon each other； who are vitally essential to
each other； and who never can be in unnatural antagonism without
deplorable results； that one of the chief principles of a
Mechanics' Institution should consist。 In this world a great deal
of the bitterness among us arises from an imperfect understanding
of one another。 Erect in Birmingham a great Educational
Institution； properly educational； educational of the feelings as
well as of the reason； to which all orders of Birmingham men
contribute； in which all orders of Birmingham men meet； wherein all
orders of Birmingham men are faithfully represented … and you will
erect a Temple of Concord here which will be a model edifice to the
whole of England。
Contemplating as I do the existence of the Artisans' Committee；
which not long ago considered the establishment of the Institute so
sensibly； and supported it so heartily； I earnestly entreat the
gentlemen … earnest I know in the good work； and who are now among
us； … by all means to avoid the great shortcoming of similar
institutions； and in asking the working man for his confidence； to
set him the great example and give him theirs in return。 You will
judge for yourselves if I promise too much for the working man；
when I say that he will stand by such an enterprise with the utmost
of his patience； his perseverance； sense； and support； that I am
sure he will need no charitable aid or condescending patronage； but
will readily and cheerfully pay for the advantages which it
confers； that he will prepare himself in individual cases where he
feels that the adverse circumstances around him have rendered it
necessary； in a word； that he will feel his responsibility like an
honest man； and will most honestly and manfully discharge it。 I
now proceed to the pleasant task to which I assure you I have
looked forward for a long time。
＇At the close of the reading Mr。 Dickens received a vote of thanks；
and 〃three cheers； with three times three。〃 As soon as the
enthusiasm of the audience would allow him to speak； Mr。 Dickens
said：…＇
You have heard so much of my voice since we met tonight； that I
will only say； in acknowledgment of this affecting mark of your
regard； that I am truly and sincerely interested in you； that any
little service I have rendered to you I have freely rendered from
my heart； that I hope to become an honorary member of your great
Institution； and will meet you often there when it becomes
practically useful； that I thank you most affectionately for this
new mark of your sympathy and approval； and that I wish you many
happy returns of this great birthday…time； and many prosperous
years。
SPEECH： COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS。 LONDON； DECEMBER 30； 1854。
＇The following speech was made by Mr。 Dickens at the Anniversary
Dinner in commemoration of the foundation of the Commercial
Travellers' Schools； held at the London Tavern on the above date。
Mr。 Dickens presided on this occasion； and proposed the toasts。＇
I THINK it may be assumed that most of us here present know
something about travelling。 I do not mean in distant regions or
foreign countries； although I dare say some of us have had
experience in that way； but at home； and within the limits of the
United Kingdom。 I dare say most of us have had experience of the
extinct 〃fast coaches；〃 the 〃Wonders；〃 〃Taglionis；〃 and 〃Tallyhos；〃
of other days。 I daresay most of us remember certain modest
postchaises； dragging us down interminable roads； through slush and
mud； to little country towns with no visible population； except
half…a…dozen men in smock…frocks； half…a…dozen women with umbrellas
and pattens； and a washed…out dog or so shivering under the gables；
to complete the desolate picture。 We can all discourse； I dare
say； if so minded； about our recollections of the 〃Talbot；〃 the
〃Queen's Head；〃 or the 〃Lion〃 of those days。 We have all been to
that room on the ground floor on one side of the old inn yard； not
quite free from a certain fragrant smell of tobacco； where the
cruets on the sideboard were usually absorbed by the skirts of the
box…coats that hung from the wall； where awkward servants waylaid
us at every turn； like so many human man…traps； where county
members； framed and glazed； were eternally presenting that petition
which； somehow or other； had made their glory in the county；
although nothing else had ever come of it。 Where the books in the
windows always wanted the first； last； and middle leaves； and where
the one man was always arriving at some unusual hour in the night；
and requiring his breakfast at a similarly singular period of the
day。 I have no doubt we could all be very eloquent on the comforts
of our favourite hotel； wherever it was … its beds； its stables；
its vast amount of posting； its excellent cheese； its head waiter；
its capital dishes； its pigeon…pies； or its 1820 port。 Or possibly
we could recal our chaste and innocent admiration of its landlady；
or our fraternal regard for its handsome chambermaid。 A celebrated
domestic critic once writing of a famous actress； renowned for her
virtue and beauty； gave her the character of being an 〃eminently
gatherable…to…one's…arms sort of person。〃 Perhaps some one amongst
us has borne a somewhat similar tribute to the mental charms of the
fair deities who presided at our hotels。
With the travelling characteristics of later times； we are all； no
doubt； equally familiar。 We know all about that station to which
we must take our ticket； although we never get there； and the other
one at which we arrive after dark； certain to find it half a mile
from the town； where the old road is sure to have been abolished；
and the new road is going to be made … where the old neighbourhood
has been tumbled down； and the new one is not half built up。 We
know all about that party on the platform who； with the best
intentions； can do nothing for our luggage except pitch it into all
sorts of unattainable places。 We know all about that short
omnibus； in which one is to be doubled up； to the imminent danger
of the crown of one's hat； and about that fly； whose leading
peculiarity is never to be there when it is wanted。 We know； too；
how instantaneously the lights of the station disappear when the
train starts； and about that grope to the new Railway Hotel； which
will be an excellent house when the customers come； but which at
present has nothing to offer but a liberal allowance of damp mortar
and new lime。
I record these little incidents of home travel mainly with the
object of increasing your interest in the purpose of this night's
assemblage。 Every traveller has a home of his own； and he learns
to appreciate it the more from his wandering。 If he has no home；
he learns the same lesson unselfishly by turning to the homes of
other men。 He may have his experiences of cheerful and exciting
pleasures abroad； but home is the best； after all； and its
pleasures are the most heartily and enduringly prized。 Therefore；
ladies and gentlemen； every one must be prepared to learn that
commercial travellers； as a body； know how to prize those domestic
relations from which their pursuits so frequently sever them； for
no one could possibly invent a more delightful or more convincing
testimony to the fact than they themselves have offered in founding
and maintaining a school for the children of deceased or
unfortunate members of their own body； those children who now
appeal to you in mute but eloquent terms from the gallery。
It is to support that school； founded with such high and friendly
objects； so very honourable to your calling； and so useful in its
solid and practical results； that we are here to…night。 It is to
roof that building which is to shelter the children of your
deceased friends with one crowning ornament； the best that any
building can have； namely； a receipt stamp for the full amount of
the cost。 It is for this that your active sympathy is appealed to；
for the completion of your own good work。 You know how to put your
hands to the plough in earnest as well as any men in existence； for
this little book informs me that you raised last year no less a sum
than 8000 pounds； and while fully half of that sum consisted of new
donations to the building fund； I find that the regular revenue of
the charity has only suffered to the extent of 30 pounds。 After
this； I most earnestly and