speeches-literary & social-第35章
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and therefore it cannot honourably; grant more pensions to
deserving applicants until it grows richer; and it cannot grow rich
enough for its laudable purpose by its own unaided self。 The thing
is absolutely impossible。 The means of these railway officers and
servants are far too limited。 Even if they were helped to the
utmost by the great railway companies; their means would still be
too limited; even if they were helped … and I hope they shortly
will be … by some of the great corporations of this country; whom
railways have done so much to enrich。 These railway officers and
servants; on their road to a very humble and modest superannuation;
can no more do without the help of the great public; than the great
public; on their road from Torquay to Aberdeen; can do without
them。 Therefore; I desire to ask the public whether the servants
of the great railways … who; in fact; are their servants; their
ready; zealous; faithful; hard…working servants … whether they have
not established; whether they do not every day establish; a
reasonable claim to liberal remembrance。
Now; gentlemen; on this point of the case there is a story once
told me by a friend of mine; which seems to my mind to have a
certain application。 My friend was an American sea…captain; and;
therefore; it is quite unnecessary to say his story was quite true。
He was captain and part owner of a large American merchant liner。
On a certain voyage out; in exquisite summer weather; he had for
cabin passengers one beautiful young lady; and ten more or less
beautiful young gentlemen。 Light winds or dead calms prevailing;
the voyage was slow。 They had made half their distance when the
ten young gentlemen were all madly in love with the beautiful young
lady。 They had all proposed to her; and bloodshed among the rivals
seemed imminent pending the young lady's decision。 On this
extremity the beautiful young lady confided in my friend the
captain; who gave her discreet advice。 He said: 〃If your
affections are disengaged; take that one of the young gentlemen
whom you like the best and settle the question。〃 To this the
beautiful young lady made reply; 〃I cannot do that because I like
them all equally well。〃 My friend; who was a man of resource; hit
upon this ingenious expedient; said he; 〃To…morrow morning at mid…
day; when lunch is announced; do you plunge bodily overboard; head
foremost。 I will be alongside in a boat to rescue you; and take
the one of the ten who rushes to your rescue; and then you can
afterwards have him。〃 The beautiful young lady highly approved;
and did accordingly。 But after she plunged in; nine out of the ten
more or less beautiful young gentlemen plunged in after her; and
the tenth remained and shed tears; looking over the side of the
vessel。 They were all picked up; and restored dripping to the
deck。 The beautiful young lady upon seeing them said; 〃What am I
to do? See what a plight they are in。 How can I possibly choose;
because every one of them is equally wet?〃 Then said my friend the
captain; acting upon a sudden inspiration; 〃Take the dry one。〃 I
am sorry to say that she did so; and they lived happy ever
afterwards。
Now; gentleman; in my application of this story; I exactly reverse
my friend the captain's anecdote; and I entreat the public in
looking about to consider who are fit subjects for their bounty; to
give each his hand with something in it; and not award a dry hand
to the industrious railway servant who is always at his back。 And
I would ask any one with a doubt upon this subject to consider what
his experience of the railway servant is from the time of his
departure to his arrival at his destination。 I know what mine is。
Here he is; in velveteen or in a policeman's dress; scaling cabs;
storming carriages; finding lost articles by a sort of instinct;
binding up lost umbrellas and walking sticks; wheeling trucks;
counselling old ladies; with a wonderful interest in their affairs
… mostly very complicated … and sticking labels upon all sorts of
articles。 I look around … there he is; in a station…master's
uniform; directing and overseeing; with the head of a general; and
with the courteous manners of a gentleman; and then there is the
handsome figure of the guard; who inspires confidence in timid
passengers。 I glide out of the station; and there he is again with
his flags in his hand at his post in the open country; at the level
crossing; at the cutting; at the tunnel mouth; and at every station
on the road until our destination is reached。 In regard;
therefore; to the railway servants with whom we do come into
contact; we may surely have some natural sympathy; and it is on
their behalf that I this night appeal to you。 I beg now to propose
〃Success to the Railway Benevolent Society。〃
SPEECH: LONDON; SEPTEMBER 17; 1867。
'On presiding at a public Meeting of the Printers' Readers; held at
the Salisbury Hotel; on the above date; Mr。 Dickens said:…'
THAT as the meeting was convened; not to hear him; but to hear a
statement of facts and figures very nearly affecting the personal
interests of the great majority of those present; his preface to
the proceedings need be very brief。 Of the details of the question
he knew; of his own knowledge; absolutely nothing; but he had
consented to occupy the chair on that occasion at the request of
the London Association of Correctors of the Press for two reasons …
first; because he thought that openness and publicity in such cases
were a very wholesome example very much needed at this time; and
were highly becoming to a body of men associated with that great
public safeguard … the Press; secondly; because he knew from some
slight practical experience; what the duties of correctors of the
press were; and how their duties were usually discharged; and he
could testify; and did testify; that they were not mechanical; that
they were not mere matters of manipulation and routine; but that
they required from those who performed them much natural
intelligence; much super…added cultivation; readiness of reference;
quickness of resource; an excellent memory; and a clear
understanding。 He most gratefully acknowledged that he had never
gone through the sheets of any book that he had written; without
having presented to him by the correctors of the press something
that he had overlooked; some slight inconsistency into which he had
fallen; some little lapse he had made … in short; without having
set down in black and white some unquestionable indication that he
had been closely followed through the work by a patient and trained
mind; and not merely by a skilful eye。 And in this declaration he
had not the slightest doubt that the great body of his brother and
sister writers would; as a plain act of justice; readily concur。
For these plain reasons he was there; and being there he begged to
assure them that every one present … that every speaker … would
have a patient hearing; whatever his opinions might be。
'The proceedings concluded with a very cordial and hearty vote of
thanks to Mr。 Dickens for taking the chair on the occasion。'
Mr。 Dickens briefly returned thanks; and expressed the belief that
their very calm and temperate proceedings would finally result in
the establishment of relations of perfect amity between the
employers and the employed; and consequently conduce to the general
welfare of both。
SPEECH: LONDON; NOVEMBER 2; 1867。
'On Saturday evening; November 2; 1867; a grand complimentary
farewell dinner was given to Mr。 Dickens at the Freemasons' Tavern
on the occasion of his revisiting the United States of America。
Lord Lytton officiated as chairman; and proposed as a toast … 〃A
Prosperous Voyage; Health; and Long Life to our Illustrious Guest
and Countryman; Charles Dickens〃。 The toast was drunk with all the
honours; and one cheer more。 Mr。 Dickens then rose; and