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！
deterring offenders from the perpetration of crimes。 In those same
days； also； the newsman brought to us daily accounts of a regularly
accepted and received system of loading the unfortunate insane with
chains； littering them down on straw； starving them on bread and
water； damaging their clothes； and making periodical exhibitions of
them at a small charge； and that on a Sunday one of our public
resorts was a kind of demoniacal zoological gardens。 They brought
us accounts at the same time of some damage done to the machinery
which was destined to supply the operative classes with employment。
In the same time they brought us accounts of riots for bread； which
were constantly occurring； and undermining society and the state；
of the most terrible explosions of class against class； and of the
habitual employment of spies for the discovery … if not for the
origination … of plots； in which both sides found in those days
some relief。 In the same time the same newsmen were apprising us
of a state of society all around us in which the grossest
sensuality and intemperance were the rule； and not as now； when the
ignorant； the wicked； and the wretched are the inexcusably vicious
exceptions … a state of society in which the professional bully was
rampant； and when deadly duels were daily fought for the most
absurd and disgraceful causes。 All this the newsman has ceased to
tell us of。 This state of society has discontinued in England for
ever； and when we remember the undoubted truth； that the change
could never have been effected without the aid of the load which
the newsman carries； surely it is not very romantic to express the
hope on his behalf that the public will show to him some little
token of the sympathetic remembrance which we are all of us glad to
bestow on the bearers of happy tidings … the harbingers of good
news。
Now； ladies and gentlemen； you will be glad to hear that I am
coming to a conclusion； for that conclusion I have a precedent。
You all of you know how pleased you are on your return from a
morning's walk to learn that the collector has called。 Well； I am
the collector for this district； and I hope you will bear in mind
that I have respectfully called。 Regarding the institution on
whose behalf I have presented myself； I need only say technically
two things。 First； that its annuities are granted out of its
funded capital； and therefore it is safe as the Bank； and；
secondly； that they are attainable by such a slight exercise of
prudence and fore…thought； that a payment of 25S。 extending over a
period of five years； entitles a subscriber … if a male … to an
annuity of 16 pounds a…year； and a female to 12 pounds a…year。
Now； bear in mind that this is an institution on behalf of which
the collector has called； leaving behind his assurance that what
you can give to one of the most faithful of your servants shall be
well bestowed and faithfully applied to the purposes to which you
intend them； and to those purposes alone。
SPEECH： NEWSPAPER PRESS FUND。 … LONDON； MAY 20； 1865。
＇At the second annual dinner of the Institution； held at the
Freemasons' Tavern； on Saturday； the 20th May； 1865； the following
speech was delivered by the chairman； Mr。 Charles Dickens； in
proposing the toast of the evening：＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … When a young child is produced after dinner
to be shown to a circle of admiring relations and friends； it may
generally be observed that their conversation … I suppose in an
instinctive remembrance of the uncertainty of infant life … takes a
retrospective turn。 As how much the child has grown since the last
dinner； what a remarkably fine child it is； to have been born only
two or three years ago； how much stronger it looks now than before
it had the measles； and so forth。 When a young institution is
produced after dinner； there is not the same uncertainty or
delicacy as in the case of the child； and it may be confidently
predicted of it that if it deserve to live it will surely live； and
that if it deserve to die it will surely die。 The proof of desert
in such a case as this must be mainly sought； I suppose； firstly；
in what the society means to do with its money； secondly； in the
extent to which it is supported by the class with whom it
originated； and for whose benefit it is designed； and； lastly； in
the power of its hold upon the public。 I add this lastly； because
no such institution that ever I heard of ever yet dreamed of
existing apart from the public； or ever yet considered it a
degradation to accept the public support。
Now； what the Newspaper Press Fund proposes to do with its money is
to grant relief to members in want or distress； and to the widows；
families； parents； or other near relatives of deceased members in
right of a moderate provident annual subscription … commutable； I
observe； for a moderate provident life subscription … and its
members comprise the whole paid class of literary contributors to
the press of the United Kingdom； and every class of reporters。 The
number of its members at this time last year was something below
100。 At the present time it is somewhat above 170； not including
30 members of the press who are regular subscribers； but have not
as yet qualified as regular members。 This number is steadily on
the increase； not only as regards the metropolitan press； but also
as regards the provincial throughout the country。 I have observed
within these few days that many members of the press at Manchester
have lately at a meeting expressed a strong brotherly interest in
this Institution； and a great desire to extend its operations； and
to strengthen its hands； provided that something in the independent
nature of life assurance and the purchase of deferred annuities
could be introduced into its details； and always assuming that in
it the metropolis and the provinces stand on perfectly equal
ground。 This appears to me to be a demand so very moderate； that I
can hardly have a doubt of a response on the part of the managers；
or of the beneficial and harmonious results。 It only remains to
add； on this head of desert； the agreeable circumstance that out of
all the money collected in aid of the society during the last year
more than one…third came exclusively from the press。
Now； ladies and gentlemen； in regard to the last claim … the last
point of desert … the hold upon the public … I think I may say that
probably not one single individual in this great company has failed
to…day to see a newspaper； or has failed to…day to hear something
derived from a newspaper which was quite unknown to him or to her
yesterday。 Of all those restless crowds that have this day
thronged the streets of this enormous city； the same may be said as
the general gigantic rule。 It may be said almost equally； of the
brightest and the dullest； the largest and the least provincial
town in the empire； and this； observe； not only as to the active；
the industrious； and the healthy among the population； but also to
the bedridden； the idle； the blind； and the deaf and dumb。 Now； if
the men who provide this all…pervading presence； this wonderful；
ubiquitous newspaper； with every description of intelligence on
every subject of human interest； collected with immense pains and
immense patience； often by the exercise of a laboriously…acquired
faculty united to a natural aptitude； much of the work done in the
night； at the sacrifice of rest and sleep； and （quite apart from
the mental strain） by the constant overtasking of the two most
delicate of the senses； sight and hearing … I say； if the men who；
through the newspapers； from day to day； or from night to night； or
from week to week； furnish the public with so much to remember；
have not a righteous claim to be remembered by the public in
return； then I declare before God I know no working class of the
community who have。
It would be absurd； it would be impertinent； in such an assembly as
this； if I were to attempt to expatiate upon the extraordinary
combination of remarkable qualities involved in the production of
any newspaper。 But assuming the majority of this associated body
to be composed of reporters； because reporters； of one kind or
other； compose the majority of the literary staff of almost every
newspaper that is not a compilation； I would venture to remind you；
if I delicately may； in the august presence of members of
Parliament； how much we； the public； owe to the reporters if it
were only for their skill in the two great sciences of condensation
and rejection。 Conceive what our sufferings； under an Imperial
Parliament； however popularly constituted； under however glorious a
constitution； would be if the reporters could not skip。 Dr。
Johnson； in one of his violent assertions； declared that 〃the man
who was afraid of anything must be a scoundrel； sir。〃 By no means
binding myself to this opinion … thoug