DICKENS FELLOWSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 16

DICKENS FELLOWSHIP.

CHARACTERS AND ORIGINALS.

'EFHESIAN'S' ATTACK ON DICKENS

Some reference to "EpheeianV attack on Charles Dickens was made at the fortnightly meeting of the Auckland branch of the Dickena Fellowship, when the subject, "Dicken's Originals," was the basis of the evening's programme. I Q opening the meeting the president, the Rev. A. B. Chappell, said that the pending publications of attacks upon Charles Dickens, as author and man, were no cause for alarm. The subject was an old one, and was not likely to have any "detrimental effect upon Dickens loversthroughout the world. There was no foundation for the attacks and there was no need for the Dickens Fellowship to apologise to the public for its existence. The programme was in the hands of the secretary, Mr. W. Mervyn Lusty, who dealt with some of the more important originals of Dickens' characters, and attempted to show that Dickens did not spitefully caricature his own parents," as alleged by "Ephesian" in his 'book, rhe speaker based his talk on Edwin Pugha work, "The Dickens Originals." Among the originals dealt with were John &*?£?>« ("Micawber" and "William \u •¥/"•. Djetam, sen. ("Mm. Nickleby"). Maria Beadnell ("Dolly Var--5' „*P ora Spenlow," "Flora Finching" and Estella"), Mary Hogarth ("Rose Maybe and many others), Henry Burnett (Nicholas Nickleby" and others), Judge Talfourd ("Tommy Traddles"), and Leigh Hunt ("Qarold Skimpole"). Readings were given as follows:—"Dolly Varden," Miss B. D'Authreau; "Mr. H a^Sr(l^ ll i? J Mr - Lain «' of Ha «on Garden) Mr C. Kidson; Mrs. Manning ("Mile. Hortense") Mr. T. Clarkson and Ikey Solomons ("Fagin"), Mr. W. D. Lusty Ihe programme concluded with an admirable sketch from "David Copperfield." arranged by Mrs. J. D'AuthreauT The c j lara » e r» were as follow:—"Mr. Murd•tone, Mr. J W. Kealy; "Mies Murdetone," Mrs F. Linthwaite; "Janet," n"% D'Authreau; "Mr. Dick," Mr. ■?• David," Master G. LinthTr ° tWOOd> " M - J -