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Mudfog and Other Sketches
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The Mudfog Papers - 1st Summer Read 2022 (hosted by Cozy_Pug)
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Rosemarie
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Jun 09, 2022 08:52PM
Thank you for the great info, Cozy.
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Cozy_Pug, we'll happily wait for the update. Life comes first. I enjoyed this segment of the story. I laughed so much. I did think that it wasn't really a laughable situation (getting a drunk drunk) but Dickens has such a way with words that I couldn't help myself. The phrase "intoxicated effigy" is priceless.
The phrase "there happened to be, in Mudfog, a merry-tempered, pleasant-faced, good-for-nothing sort of vagabond, with an invinsible dislike to manual labour...." reminded me of Skimpole. But Ned has more likeability to him than Skimpole has. A reader likes Ned and Ned tries hard to please in a way that shows he considers the needs & wants of others.
When reading about Ned, I thought of Mayberry's town drunk, Otis, on the Andy Griffith show. He is a part of the town and understood and liked by all. I think the quotation Petra cited is what brought him to mind, and the fact that there is, in truth, little to laugh at in drunkenness, but Ned is clearly comedy at its best.
Let me clarify I don't condone getting drunks drunk to get them to do something. Mr Tulrumble and Mr Jennings definitely take advantage of Ned's alcoholism in order to get him to do what they want. But when written well, it is funny.
Sara your comparison of Ned and Mayberry's Otis is a good one. I thought of Otis, too, the first time I read the story. The way a writer depicts a drunk makes a difference, and it's a fine line. Otis is thoroughly lovable despite his addiction, and we're able to laugh at his antics and the situation partly due to the context of the story. I think that's why Ned works in this story, because of how Dickens wrote him and the context. As we'll see today, the townsfolk love Ned.
Petra interesting comparison with Skimpole. I found nothing likable about Skimpole from the first time he was introduced in BH. But I immediately loved Ned. His flaw is intemperance, but he's kind, helpful, and seems to be a good egg at heart.
I think comparing Ned and Mr Tulrumble will be interesting when we finish, in terms of character flaws.
Rosemarie I'm glad you're enjoying this!
Hold on to your hats - today's part of the story is a hoot...
Sara your comparison of Ned and Mayberry's Otis is a good one. I thought of Otis, too, the first time I read the story. The way a writer depicts a drunk makes a difference, and it's a fine line. Otis is thoroughly lovable despite his addiction, and we're able to laugh at his antics and the situation partly due to the context of the story. I think that's why Ned works in this story, because of how Dickens wrote him and the context. As we'll see today, the townsfolk love Ned.
Petra interesting comparison with Skimpole. I found nothing likable about Skimpole from the first time he was introduced in BH. But I immediately loved Ned. His flaw is intemperance, but he's kind, helpful, and seems to be a good egg at heart.
I think comparing Ned and Mr Tulrumble will be interesting when we finish, in terms of character flaws.
Rosemarie I'm glad you're enjoying this!
Hold on to your hats - today's part of the story is a hoot...
"Public Life of Mr Tulrumble, Once Mayor of Mudfog"
Day Four Summary
The day of the procession arrives, gray and foggy, with the sky, treetops, and church steeples obscured. At one o'clock, a feeble trumpet sounds outside Mudfog Hall. A man on horseback proceeds out of the Hall grounds, intended to represent a herald. He is recognized by the crowd as a circus man, and the crowd jeers him.
The procession continues with men dressed to resemble London watermen in the Lord Mayor's parade, as well as running footmen. Banners cannot be seen as they are hidden by the fog. Walking through the water and the mud, the band splashes and sullies the footmen. The barrel organist plays one tune while the band plays another. The circus horses dance in place rather than prancing along with the procession.
The members of the corporation then appear, riding in glass carriages and trying to appear solemn. Mr Tulrumble follows in his four wheel chaise, with postilion, accompanied by Mr Jennings and a poor imitation of a sword bearer. Behind them are Mrs Tulrumble and son, waving from their coach windows. When the procession pauses, heads turn in the direction of the Hall to see who will appear next.
Since mid-morning, Ned has been in the Mudfog Hall kitchen letting the servants see him in his armor. He is offered a mug of "something strong" to drink to Mr Tulrumble's success. The strong drink is passed round, and all are merry. When Ned receives notice to join the procession, he places the helmet on his head and majestically walks out of the Hall. The crowd roars with laughter, to Mr Tulrumble's amazement. He sees Ned and exclaims, "What’s he rolling down towards us for? Mr Jennings calmly remarks that Ned is drunk.
Ned Twigger in the Kitchen of Mudfog Hall, by George Cruikshank
Ned was accustomed to having small glasses of rum as he put the armor on, and he drank even more today. The addition of something strong from the kitchen produced a tremendously intoxicated Ned.
Ned now decides this is his penitent day and is soon sobbing and remorseful for his drunkenness. He attempts to dry his tears with a white polka dotted blue handkerchief, which is terribly incongruous with his grand suit of armor. When Mr Tulrumble commands him to go home, Ned refuses, insisting he will never abandon his Mayor. Mr Tulrumble calls for men to lead Ned home, promising them a monetary reward.
Mr Jennings quickly advises against this, as Ned could fall and crush someone with his heavy suit of armor. At this the crowd immediately backs away from Ned, who is left "like the Duke of Devonshire, in a little circle of his own." Mr Tulrumble fears Ned will suffocate, but Mr Jennings apologetically says nothing can be done. The crowd still roars with laughter, but when Ned laments that, "I’m a body, gentlemen, in a brass coffin", the crowd turns on Mr Tulrumble. They demand to know why he made a poor man wear such a suit of armor.
The crowd is considering violence against Mr Tulrumble and his carriage when Ned's wife appears. Ned sees her and immediately heads for home, moving as fast as he can in the armor. Mrs Twigger thoroughly castigates Mr Tulrumble, threatening him with a charge of manslaughter should Ned die.
Once home, amidst the loud cries of their children, Mrs Twigger attempts to remove the suit of armor from Ned. Unable to budge a single piece, Ned is put to bed fully armored.
The procession at last arrives at town hall, "amid the hisses and groans" of the crowd, who now view Ned as a martyr. Mr Tulrumble delivers a long, grand speech that only he can hear, due to the loud mob outside. Finally the corporation returns to Mudfog Hall for dinner. It is an underwhelming and gloomy evening. Mr Tulrumble delivers more long, grand speeches but receives not one cheer. When a corporation member addresses him as "Nick", Mr Tulrumble wonders what would happen if a man addressed the Lord Mayor of London in that insolent way. He's certain, "They’d nick him."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
Day Four Summary
The day of the procession arrives, gray and foggy, with the sky, treetops, and church steeples obscured. At one o'clock, a feeble trumpet sounds outside Mudfog Hall. A man on horseback proceeds out of the Hall grounds, intended to represent a herald. He is recognized by the crowd as a circus man, and the crowd jeers him.
The procession continues with men dressed to resemble London watermen in the Lord Mayor's parade, as well as running footmen. Banners cannot be seen as they are hidden by the fog. Walking through the water and the mud, the band splashes and sullies the footmen. The barrel organist plays one tune while the band plays another. The circus horses dance in place rather than prancing along with the procession.
The members of the corporation then appear, riding in glass carriages and trying to appear solemn. Mr Tulrumble follows in his four wheel chaise, with postilion, accompanied by Mr Jennings and a poor imitation of a sword bearer. Behind them are Mrs Tulrumble and son, waving from their coach windows. When the procession pauses, heads turn in the direction of the Hall to see who will appear next.
Since mid-morning, Ned has been in the Mudfog Hall kitchen letting the servants see him in his armor. He is offered a mug of "something strong" to drink to Mr Tulrumble's success. The strong drink is passed round, and all are merry. When Ned receives notice to join the procession, he places the helmet on his head and majestically walks out of the Hall. The crowd roars with laughter, to Mr Tulrumble's amazement. He sees Ned and exclaims, "What’s he rolling down towards us for? Mr Jennings calmly remarks that Ned is drunk.
Ned Twigger in the Kitchen of Mudfog Hall, by George Cruikshank
Ned was accustomed to having small glasses of rum as he put the armor on, and he drank even more today. The addition of something strong from the kitchen produced a tremendously intoxicated Ned.
Ned now decides this is his penitent day and is soon sobbing and remorseful for his drunkenness. He attempts to dry his tears with a white polka dotted blue handkerchief, which is terribly incongruous with his grand suit of armor. When Mr Tulrumble commands him to go home, Ned refuses, insisting he will never abandon his Mayor. Mr Tulrumble calls for men to lead Ned home, promising them a monetary reward.
Mr Jennings quickly advises against this, as Ned could fall and crush someone with his heavy suit of armor. At this the crowd immediately backs away from Ned, who is left "like the Duke of Devonshire, in a little circle of his own." Mr Tulrumble fears Ned will suffocate, but Mr Jennings apologetically says nothing can be done. The crowd still roars with laughter, but when Ned laments that, "I’m a body, gentlemen, in a brass coffin", the crowd turns on Mr Tulrumble. They demand to know why he made a poor man wear such a suit of armor.
The crowd is considering violence against Mr Tulrumble and his carriage when Ned's wife appears. Ned sees her and immediately heads for home, moving as fast as he can in the armor. Mrs Twigger thoroughly castigates Mr Tulrumble, threatening him with a charge of manslaughter should Ned die.
Once home, amidst the loud cries of their children, Mrs Twigger attempts to remove the suit of armor from Ned. Unable to budge a single piece, Ned is put to bed fully armored.
The procession at last arrives at town hall, "amid the hisses and groans" of the crowd, who now view Ned as a martyr. Mr Tulrumble delivers a long, grand speech that only he can hear, due to the loud mob outside. Finally the corporation returns to Mudfog Hall for dinner. It is an underwhelming and gloomy evening. Mr Tulrumble delivers more long, grand speeches but receives not one cheer. When a corporation member addresses him as "Nick", Mr Tulrumble wonders what would happen if a man addressed the Lord Mayor of London in that insolent way. He's certain, "They’d nick him."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
A Little More
Considering the information posted on day 2 (LINK HERE), we can see how the Lord Mayor of London's Show inspired Nicholas Tulrumble's attempt to recreate his own Show in Mudfog. He did his best to copy the heralds and trumpeters, the brass band and state coaches, and even managed to get one man in a suit of brass armor.
The Duke of Devonshire in a little circle of his own - I believe this refers to William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811). His first wife, Georgiana, was a well-known socialite who was at the center of the Devonshire House Circle. This exceedingly fashionable group consisted of aristocrats, political figures, their wives, and even the Prince of Wales. Gambling featured heavily at circle parties hosted by Georgiana. The Duke of Devonshire had a more retired personality, and I assume he was only occasionally, or not at all, a part of this circle.
Anonymous vessel in the Bay of Biscay - the Bay of Biscay is a gulf off the coast of Spain. It has been referred to as "The Valley of Death" and "The Vomiting Venus". This bay experiences particularly severe weather conditions, thus shipwrecks in the area were common. I think the image of Ned that Dickens wants us to envision is that of a storm-tossed ship. That night, with Ned's bed creaking and groaning under the weight of his armor, was probably quite tumultuous.
They'd nick him. - This is word play on Mr Tulrumble's name. In British usage, it means the insolent man would be arrested.
Cruikshank's illustration - The clock on the right shows us that it's almost ten o'clock, and we know this impromptu party took place in the morning before the procession. So Ned and the kitchen servants were drinking and celebrating for at least two hours before Ned was summoned to join the parade (the church clock had just struck one when the first trumpet blast was sounded to start the procession). I think the expression on the dog's face is funny, with his wide eyes looking at Ned as if he may tumble off the table.
Considering the information posted on day 2 (LINK HERE), we can see how the Lord Mayor of London's Show inspired Nicholas Tulrumble's attempt to recreate his own Show in Mudfog. He did his best to copy the heralds and trumpeters, the brass band and state coaches, and even managed to get one man in a suit of brass armor.
The Duke of Devonshire in a little circle of his own - I believe this refers to William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811). His first wife, Georgiana, was a well-known socialite who was at the center of the Devonshire House Circle. This exceedingly fashionable group consisted of aristocrats, political figures, their wives, and even the Prince of Wales. Gambling featured heavily at circle parties hosted by Georgiana. The Duke of Devonshire had a more retired personality, and I assume he was only occasionally, or not at all, a part of this circle.
Anonymous vessel in the Bay of Biscay - the Bay of Biscay is a gulf off the coast of Spain. It has been referred to as "The Valley of Death" and "The Vomiting Venus". This bay experiences particularly severe weather conditions, thus shipwrecks in the area were common. I think the image of Ned that Dickens wants us to envision is that of a storm-tossed ship. That night, with Ned's bed creaking and groaning under the weight of his armor, was probably quite tumultuous.
They'd nick him. - This is word play on Mr Tulrumble's name. In British usage, it means the insolent man would be arrested.
Cruikshank's illustration - The clock on the right shows us that it's almost ten o'clock, and we know this impromptu party took place in the morning before the procession. So Ned and the kitchen servants were drinking and celebrating for at least two hours before Ned was summoned to join the parade (the church clock had just struck one when the first trumpet blast was sounded to start the procession). I think the expression on the dog's face is funny, with his wide eyes looking at Ned as if he may tumble off the table.
Mod
"The Duke of Devonshire in a little circle of his own" - I believe this refers to William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811). His first wife, Georgiana, was a well-known socialite..."
Yes, and she was a fascinating celebrity! By the way, to clarify something about the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire which confuses even those who live here, their country seat is not in Devon, which is in the West Country, but in Derbyshire, which is up North, next to Yorkshire! (I think they own other properties, but that is where they are based.) Their country house is called "Chatsworth", and that was my local stately home when growing up. We used to picnic in the huge grounds - and they are huge. There's a herd of deer but you rarely see it. It was designed by Capability Brown.
What might you know about Chatsworth? It was the stately home which Jane Austen based "Pemberley" on, in her novel, Pride and Prejudice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatswo...
What might you know about Georgiana (pronounced "George - ay (like the letter) - na"? If you ever saw the film "The Duchess", with Keira Knightley, that was based on a biography of her by Amanda Foreman, called Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. It's a great longish read with a lot of startling (possibly shocking to our modern perspective) information! My review is LINK HERE, and I include famous portraits, plus contemporary cartoons and caricatures.
Sometimes almost everything seems to be connected :)
I don't know who is feeling more afraid of Mrs Twigger--Ned or Mr Tulrumble! She seems like a formidable woman who is going to take charge of the situation. Hopefully, Ned will survive his night sleeping in armor.Great information, Cozy Pug and Jean.
I liked how Mrs. Tulrumble was referred to as the Mayoress! Sounds as if she may have some authority in this marriage!And it sounds as if the footman, housemaid and cook who placed the helmet on Ned were too drunk as well and complicated matters.
And I love the line about Ned being a body in a brass coffin. Great humor!
Mod
A female may hold the title of Mayor in her own right, but in addition the wife of a male Lord Mayor is actually called a "Lady Mayoress" as a courtesy. However, no equivalent title exists for the husband of a female Lord Mayor! For example, one of the kids I used to teach is now the Major of a London Borough (and you have no idea how old that makes me feel!) and she is simply called "Major". But her husband has no associated title.
So Lori, I'm afraid it's not necessarily implying anything - although Charles Dickens could well have used this nuance to stress how self-important it made a character such as Mrs. Tulrumble feel, through no work or honour of her own, but only through her husband.
I think of it as similar to the Queen and Prince Philip. His status as "Prince" did not derive from her, as he was a Prince already (of Greece and Denmark). His additional titles as her consort were Duke, Earl and Baron. But if we had a King, then his wife would be Queen!
Jean you're not interrupting at all! Thank you so much for the additional information. I wasn't entirely certain I'd found the correct Duke of Devonshire, so I just provided basic information. Chatsworth is beautiful - I can see how it inspired Jane Austen in creating Pemberley. I've been mispronouncing Georgiana forever lol. I thought it was "Georgie-ahna". I'm glad to know that tidbit :D
Connie Mrs Twigger certainly struck fear in Ned lol! I'm afraid her angry blast probably washed over Mr Tulrumble with no effect. Poor Ned, what a miserable night stuck inside that suit of armor.
Lori I think everyone but the dog imbibed a bit too much in the servants hall. This whole section is just so funny, I love this lighter side of Dickens.
With the mayoral procession behind us, let's see what Mr Tulrumble is up to now that he's taken office...
Connie Mrs Twigger certainly struck fear in Ned lol! I'm afraid her angry blast probably washed over Mr Tulrumble with no effect. Poor Ned, what a miserable night stuck inside that suit of armor.
Lori I think everyone but the dog imbibed a bit too much in the servants hall. This whole section is just so funny, I love this lighter side of Dickens.
With the mayoral procession behind us, let's see what Mr Tulrumble is up to now that he's taken office...
"Public Life of Mr Tulrumble, Once Mayor of Mudfog"
Day Five Summary
Mr Tulrumble's position as Mayor of Mudfog suffered from the procession debacle. The situation further deteriorates when he develops an interest in statistics and philosophy, which leads him to an unpopular decision.
The Jolly Boatmen is a public house, beloved by Mudfog residents longer than anyone can remember. It is well liked for its "good strong beer" and music provided by the fiddle and tambourine. The Mudfog corporation has never hesitated to renew annually the Jolly Boatmen's music license.
Mr Tulrumble, with his newfound interest in statistics, reads pamphlets on crime. He concludes that the music at the Jolly Boatmen is causing a moral degradation of the townsfolk, and he resolves to deny the music license to the public house.
The landlord of the Jolly Boatmen comes to town hall on the appointed day to receive his music license renewal. All appears to be in order when Mr Tulrumble stands and speaks. He considered the increasing depravity and excessive indulgences of the Mudfog townspeople. He compiled his own statistics on the staggering amount of beer delivered to and being sold by the pub. To further support his position, he refers to a large book of quotations from the Middlesex magistrates. Making matters worse is the musical entertainment, as "a tambourine and moral degradation were synonymous terms, and a fiddle and vicious propensities wholly inseparable.".
The corporation is staggered by these statistics, and drowsy and hungry for their dinner. They therefore concede to Mr Tulrumble's argument "and [refuse] the music license to the Jolly Boatmen."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
Day Five Summary
Mr Tulrumble's position as Mayor of Mudfog suffered from the procession debacle. The situation further deteriorates when he develops an interest in statistics and philosophy, which leads him to an unpopular decision.
The Jolly Boatmen is a public house, beloved by Mudfog residents longer than anyone can remember. It is well liked for its "good strong beer" and music provided by the fiddle and tambourine. The Mudfog corporation has never hesitated to renew annually the Jolly Boatmen's music license.
Mr Tulrumble, with his newfound interest in statistics, reads pamphlets on crime. He concludes that the music at the Jolly Boatmen is causing a moral degradation of the townsfolk, and he resolves to deny the music license to the public house.
The landlord of the Jolly Boatmen comes to town hall on the appointed day to receive his music license renewal. All appears to be in order when Mr Tulrumble stands and speaks. He considered the increasing depravity and excessive indulgences of the Mudfog townspeople. He compiled his own statistics on the staggering amount of beer delivered to and being sold by the pub. To further support his position, he refers to a large book of quotations from the Middlesex magistrates. Making matters worse is the musical entertainment, as "a tambourine and moral degradation were synonymous terms, and a fiddle and vicious propensities wholly inseparable.".
The corporation is staggered by these statistics, and drowsy and hungry for their dinner. They therefore concede to Mr Tulrumble's argument "and [refuse] the music license to the Jolly Boatmen."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
A Little More
Statistics - In nineteenth century Britain, the field of statistics grew in popularity. Population growth and the Industrial Revolution provided reams of numeric data that could be studied, interpreted, and used (in theory, but not always in practice) to improve manufacturing processes and socioeconomic conditions. In 1833, the Manchester Statistical Society was founded. It is one of the oldest statistical societies in the world and still continues today. Earlier in 1833, the British Association for the Advancement of Science added a Statistics Section to its organization. Mr Tulrumble's observation of the deliveries of beer to the Jolly Boatmen and calculation of the amount of beer-jugs consumed by the Mudfog townsfolk reflects the trend of the time. This is also a way for Dickens to parody the British Association, which we will see him do in greater detail when we read our third sketch.
Middlesex magistrates - Middlesex is a county in southeast England; it is bordered on the south by the River Thames. The magistrates' duties included handling public house licenses.
Statistics - In nineteenth century Britain, the field of statistics grew in popularity. Population growth and the Industrial Revolution provided reams of numeric data that could be studied, interpreted, and used (in theory, but not always in practice) to improve manufacturing processes and socioeconomic conditions. In 1833, the Manchester Statistical Society was founded. It is one of the oldest statistical societies in the world and still continues today. Earlier in 1833, the British Association for the Advancement of Science added a Statistics Section to its organization. Mr Tulrumble's observation of the deliveries of beer to the Jolly Boatmen and calculation of the amount of beer-jugs consumed by the Mudfog townsfolk reflects the trend of the time. This is also a way for Dickens to parody the British Association, which we will see him do in greater detail when we read our third sketch.
Middlesex magistrates - Middlesex is a county in southeast England; it is bordered on the south by the River Thames. The magistrates' duties included handling public house licenses.
Statistics are deadly items. They often can prove whatever the bearer chooses for them to prove, without a thought for the consequences or possible meaning of the numbers themselves.
How dare the Mayor refuse a licence to the Jolly Boatman!I think that this decision will come back to haunt him.
Meanwhile, I'm sure he's enjoying his wine and port, etc at home.
Sue I agree, I'm not too fond of statistics. Every time there's talk of statistics, I think of the quote my husband loves so much about three kinds of lies... :D
Rosemarie I know! Who knew tambourines and fiddles led to licentious vagaries and crime 😂. That line cracks me up about tambourines and moral degradation being synonymous terms.
It kind of ties in with what Sue said about statistics - anyone with an agenda can twist anything to suit their position and argument. And I know this has come up in other group reads here in Dickensians - that at this time, beer was consumed far more than water due to poor sanitary conditions. Tulrumble assumes that every jug of beer carried away from the Jolly Boatmen will be consumed for the purpose of drunkenness, but he makes a false assumption. Plenty of those beer jugs will serve a whole family during a meal.
Rosemarie I know! Who knew tambourines and fiddles led to licentious vagaries and crime 😂. That line cracks me up about tambourines and moral degradation being synonymous terms.
It kind of ties in with what Sue said about statistics - anyone with an agenda can twist anything to suit their position and argument. And I know this has come up in other group reads here in Dickensians - that at this time, beer was consumed far more than water due to poor sanitary conditions. Tulrumble assumes that every jug of beer carried away from the Jolly Boatmen will be consumed for the purpose of drunkenness, but he makes a false assumption. Plenty of those beer jugs will serve a whole family during a meal.
And increased consumption means an increasingly successful business too, ultimately a good thing for the town’s coffers I would think.
Sue wrote: "And increased consumption means an increasingly successful business too, ultimately a good thing for the town’s coffers I would think."
Sue that's a good point. Mr Tulrumble seems to have made a short-sighted decision by denying the Jolly Boatmen their music license. Let's see how his story ends...
Sue that's a good point. Mr Tulrumble seems to have made a short-sighted decision by denying the Jolly Boatmen their music license. Let's see how his story ends...
"Public Life of Mr Tulrumble, Once Mayor of Mudfog"
Day Six Summary
Mr Tulrumble won his battle to preserve the moral integrity of Mudfog, but he suffers from his win. The townsfolk loathe him, and his old friends shun him. His magnificent house on the hill is a lonely place. Mr Tulrumble now regrets having taken the office of Mayor and longs for the simpler times before he was wealthy.
Mr Tulrumble dismisses his secretary, sending him back to London. He then places "his hat on his head, and his pride in his pocket" and goes to the Lighterman's Arms. Inside, two old men view Nicholas suspiciously, asking if he's there to ban pipes and tobacco because they lead to crime. Nicholas extends his hand and offers a sincere apology. More men arrive, and Nicholas does the same for them. The men shout for joy, place Nicholas' old chair by the fire, and celebrate with hot punch and pipes.
The next day a renewed music license is given to the Jolly Boatmen. That evening, Nicholas and Mrs Twigger lead a dance to the music of fiddle and tambourine. Ned dances hornpipes and generally shows off.
Nicholas' son does not want to give up the wealthy life and so goes to London. He there falls into debt, repents, and returns home to Mudfog.
Nicholas ends his six week career as a public man and is soon to be found dozing in corporation meetings again. It was at his request that his story was written as a cautionary tale. Nicholas wants those aspiring to public office to learn the lesson he has, "that puffed-up conceit is not dignity, and that snarling at the little pleasures they were once glad to enjoy, because they would rather forget the times when they were of lower station, renders them objects of contempt and ridicule."
The End
Day Six Summary
Mr Tulrumble won his battle to preserve the moral integrity of Mudfog, but he suffers from his win. The townsfolk loathe him, and his old friends shun him. His magnificent house on the hill is a lonely place. Mr Tulrumble now regrets having taken the office of Mayor and longs for the simpler times before he was wealthy.
Mr Tulrumble dismisses his secretary, sending him back to London. He then places "his hat on his head, and his pride in his pocket" and goes to the Lighterman's Arms. Inside, two old men view Nicholas suspiciously, asking if he's there to ban pipes and tobacco because they lead to crime. Nicholas extends his hand and offers a sincere apology. More men arrive, and Nicholas does the same for them. The men shout for joy, place Nicholas' old chair by the fire, and celebrate with hot punch and pipes.
The next day a renewed music license is given to the Jolly Boatmen. That evening, Nicholas and Mrs Twigger lead a dance to the music of fiddle and tambourine. Ned dances hornpipes and generally shows off.
Nicholas' son does not want to give up the wealthy life and so goes to London. He there falls into debt, repents, and returns home to Mudfog.
Nicholas ends his six week career as a public man and is soon to be found dozing in corporation meetings again. It was at his request that his story was written as a cautionary tale. Nicholas wants those aspiring to public office to learn the lesson he has, "that puffed-up conceit is not dignity, and that snarling at the little pleasures they were once glad to enjoy, because they would rather forget the times when they were of lower station, renders them objects of contempt and ridicule."
The End
And that is the story of Mr Tulrumble and his short career as Mayor of Mudfog. I love this story - it's lighthearted, funny, and has a great moral at the end.
Mr Tulrumble's character flaw is vanity, and he reaches a low point when he realizes his flaw and makes an effort to change. Dickens took a timeless problem and created an entertaining tale to make his point. Most of us have read later works by Dickens, where he takes a deeply serious tone and powerfully condemns public officials for their wrongs. One writing style is lighthearted, the other is full of strong hammer blows. Are they equally effective?
Mr Tulrumble's character flaw is vanity, and he reaches a low point when he realizes his flaw and makes an effort to change. Dickens took a timeless problem and created an entertaining tale to make his point. Most of us have read later works by Dickens, where he takes a deeply serious tone and powerfully condemns public officials for their wrongs. One writing style is lighthearted, the other is full of strong hammer blows. Are they equally effective?
Tomorrow is a free day (although I will share another background post) - catch up, continue the discussion, or take a break. We'll begin our next selection from Mudfog and Other Sketches on Tuesday, reading and discussing "Some Particulars Concerning a Lion". I've chosen to read these selections in their chronological publication order, rather than their order in the book. So we are jumping around a bit.
If anyone would like to read all seven selections from Mudfog and Other Sketches in their order of publication in Bentley's Miscellany, the dates for each piece are below. The selections we're reading together are in bold.
"Public Life of Mr Tulrumble" January 1837
"The Pantomime of Life" March 1837
"Some Particulars Concerning a Lion" May 1837
"Full Report of the First Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything" October 1837
"Mr Robert Bolton: The 'Gentleman Connected with the Press'" August 1838
"Full Report of the Second Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything" September 1838
"Familiar Epistle from a Parent to a Child" February 1839
I do want to mention a trigger warning of sorts for the sketch about the first meeting of the Mudfog Association (this one is not part of our group read). It includes an instance of scientific animal experimentation that I found deeply disturbing, especially since it involved a pug (I'm a pug mom, my precious pug is in my profile picture). Anyone who is sensitive to this type of material may want to skip this story.
If anyone would like to read all seven selections from Mudfog and Other Sketches in their order of publication in Bentley's Miscellany, the dates for each piece are below. The selections we're reading together are in bold.
"Public Life of Mr Tulrumble" January 1837
"The Pantomime of Life" March 1837
"Some Particulars Concerning a Lion" May 1837
"Full Report of the First Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything" October 1837
"Mr Robert Bolton: The 'Gentleman Connected with the Press'" August 1838
"Full Report of the Second Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything" September 1838
"Familiar Epistle from a Parent to a Child" February 1839
I do want to mention a trigger warning of sorts for the sketch about the first meeting of the Mudfog Association (this one is not part of our group read). It includes an instance of scientific animal experimentation that I found deeply disturbing, especially since it involved a pug (I'm a pug mom, my precious pug is in my profile picture). Anyone who is sensitive to this type of material may want to skip this story.
Cozy, I read the First Report yesterday and found it distinctly un-funny and disturbing for the reason you mentioned.
Rosemarie wrote: "Cozy, I read the First Report yesterday and found it distinctly un-funny and disturbing for the reason you mentioned."
Oh no Rosemarie, I'm so sorry! :( I should have posted a warning earlier but kept forgetting to.
Edit to add - I edited message 2 to include a trigger warning.
Oh no Rosemarie, I'm so sorry! :( I should have posted a warning earlier but kept forgetting to.
Edit to add - I edited message 2 to include a trigger warning.
Mod
No worries, Cozy. Dickens can't win them all.
Bionic Jean wrote: "It's intended to be satirical, but evidently can touch a raw nerve :( Perhaps Charles Dickens was trying to recapture a more an 18th century mood, as with [author:Jonathan Swift|183..."
I'm not really sure, Jean. I know it was a different time, and we're far more sensitive to how animals are treated today. Dickens loved dogs and had several, but he may not have had the emotional attachment to his dogs that people do today.
Maybe he did have a Swift-type satire in mind when he wrote that sketch. I don't care for Swift's writing, his level of satire is too extreme for my taste. So that part of the story is a big fail for me. I enjoyed it up to that point, it was funny, but the experiment crosses a personal line for me. I can't go there.
I'm not really sure, Jean. I know it was a different time, and we're far more sensitive to how animals are treated today. Dickens loved dogs and had several, but he may not have had the emotional attachment to his dogs that people do today.
Maybe he did have a Swift-type satire in mind when he wrote that sketch. I don't care for Swift's writing, his level of satire is too extreme for my taste. So that part of the story is a big fail for me. I enjoyed it up to that point, it was funny, but the experiment crosses a personal line for me. I can't go there.
Mod
I was just trying to clarify what I suspect Charles Dickens was trying to do. Jonathan Swift might have loved babies, yet he still wrote A Modest Proposal, in which he suggested that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food to rich gentlemen and ladies.
Both authors were very young when they wrote their respective pieces. Perhaps they had not yet found the boundaries of what was acceptable to their public.
I loved this story. It was funny, well written, interesting and had a nice ending where all are friends again. Goes to show what a little forgiveness and understanding can do. We all make mistakes and it's nice to know that things turn out despite them. Thank you, Cozy_Pug, for such a great lead. The added information enhanced this read a lot.
I found the next instalment on-line. My book doesn't seem to have it. I'm looking forward to Tuesday.
I enjoyed the story as I was reading it but probably would’ve found it quite forgettable if not for your wonderful leading of the discussion, Cozy! Thank you for all the extras :)
I too enjoyed it, happy ending. Its good that our hero came to his senses to make things better for everyone.
This was a humorous, entertaining story with a nice message. Mr Tulrumble will be much happier when he can just act like another townsperson, and enjoy the company of his old friends. I'm looking forward to the next story in a few days, Cozy Pug.
I just finished the story and caught up on all the posts. (Life has been getting in the way of my reading lately). I enjoyed the humor, and the characters so much. I liked how sometimes the narrator (or Dickens himself I suspect) addresses the reader directly, and then at the end it all ties together when we find out Mr. Tulrumble hired the author to pen this tale of his.Thank you so much, Cozy, for choosing this fun story and for all the excellent background information. Can't wait to read more.
Life got in the way for me too, and I've just caught up. I planned to read the story through and then the posts, but instead found reading each section at a time was the perfect way to appreciate this story. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful details, Cozy_Pug! You added so much to the story!I agree that this was very fun and loved the moral at the end. In fact, I think my favorite line was "he put his hat on his head, and his pride in his pocket ..." But another I loved was when Ned said about the armour: "I couldn’t stand under it, sir ... it would make mashed potatoes of me,. Dickens' descriptions--they are so effective!
Fantastic presentation, Cozy. I enjoyed all the background as much as I did the story. Almost like an elaborate Aesop's fable..."be careful what you wish for" or perhaps "pride goeth before a fall". I lagged a bit behind at the end, but I am all caught up now and looking forward to the next story.
Jean I appreciate you helping to clarify Dickens' possible reasoning for the unspeakable incident in the First Meeting sketch.
Petra that's a great point that the Mudfogians were willing so quickly to forgive and forget Mr Tulrumble's wrongs. Glad you were able to locate tomorrow's story!
Janelle I'm glad you enjoyed the story! I have a link I'll share when we finish up at the end of the month, it refers to Mudfog and Other Sketches as "the greatest Dickens novel you've never read". There's good stuff in here that's sort of been forgotten, since all these sketches originated in Bentley's, and the sketches in this novel were never compiled until 1880, ten years after Dickens passed away. His Bentley's sketches never received the recognition that Sketches by Boz did.
Nidhi I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I also love a happy ending. :)
Connie I agree - it can be lonely at the top. I loved how Dickens set the physical stage for Mr Tulrumble distancing himself from the townsfolk. Having him build a mansion just outside town, on a slight hill, is a very tangible way of elevating oneself over others. I liked that detail.
Bridget I also love when Dickens talks to us readers. One of my favorite laugh out loud lines refers to the grand acceptance letter "written by the Lord knows who". That little aside is short but pleasingly punchy.
Kathleen that is a fantastic phrase describing Mr Tulrumble's humbling moment - I love it, too. Ned had so many great lines - he was a joy of a character to read about. I really wish Dickens had written more Mudfog stories about Ned.
Sara this story does have a fable feel to it, I agree!
I'm happy everyone is ready for tomorrow's story, "Some Particulars Concerning a Lion". We're going to cover that one quickly, just two days, but it's a shorter, less involved sketch.
For today, I have a short background post about a bit of marketing Dickens did for Bentley's Miscellany...
Petra that's a great point that the Mudfogians were willing so quickly to forgive and forget Mr Tulrumble's wrongs. Glad you were able to locate tomorrow's story!
Janelle I'm glad you enjoyed the story! I have a link I'll share when we finish up at the end of the month, it refers to Mudfog and Other Sketches as "the greatest Dickens novel you've never read". There's good stuff in here that's sort of been forgotten, since all these sketches originated in Bentley's, and the sketches in this novel were never compiled until 1880, ten years after Dickens passed away. His Bentley's sketches never received the recognition that Sketches by Boz did.
Nidhi I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I also love a happy ending. :)
Connie I agree - it can be lonely at the top. I loved how Dickens set the physical stage for Mr Tulrumble distancing himself from the townsfolk. Having him build a mansion just outside town, on a slight hill, is a very tangible way of elevating oneself over others. I liked that detail.
Bridget I also love when Dickens talks to us readers. One of my favorite laugh out loud lines refers to the grand acceptance letter "written by the Lord knows who". That little aside is short but pleasingly punchy.
Kathleen that is a fantastic phrase describing Mr Tulrumble's humbling moment - I love it, too. Ned had so many great lines - he was a joy of a character to read about. I really wish Dickens had written more Mudfog stories about Ned.
Sara this story does have a fable feel to it, I agree!
I'm happy everyone is ready for tomorrow's story, "Some Particulars Concerning a Lion". We're going to cover that one quickly, just two days, but it's a shorter, less involved sketch.
For today, I have a short background post about a bit of marketing Dickens did for Bentley's Miscellany...
An "Extraordinary" Advertisement
In January 1837, Dickens created an eye-catching, three page advertisement circular for the second issue of Bentley's Miscellany. He placed it in the February issue of several popular periodicals. The copy is written in the style of the Royal Speech given at the opening of Parliament, something Dickens was familiar with from his days as a parliamentary reporter. The advertisement provided Dickens with a platform on which to state what biographer Michael Slater calls his "editorial manifesto" -
"It has been the constant aim of my policy to preserve peace in your minds, and to provoke merriment in your hearts; to set before you the scenes and characters of real life in all their endless diversity; occasionally (I hope) to instruct, always to amuse, and never to offend. I trust I may refer you to my Pickwickian measures, already taken and still in progress, in confirmation of this assurance."
Phiz illustrated the circular, which shows Dickens walking ahead of a man carrying a tremendous quantity of copies of Bentley's Miscellany. Magazines are falling off the pile, and an enthusiastic, joyous crowd happily tries to catch them.
Dickens' "manifesto" is a great early example of the rapport and trust he always wanted between himself and his readers, and he considered this relationship carefully in his writing. He envisioned himself entering a reader's home, and Dickens cultivated the idea of a warm, fireside visit when a reader opened one of his periodicals or novels.
In January 1837, Dickens created an eye-catching, three page advertisement circular for the second issue of Bentley's Miscellany. He placed it in the February issue of several popular periodicals. The copy is written in the style of the Royal Speech given at the opening of Parliament, something Dickens was familiar with from his days as a parliamentary reporter. The advertisement provided Dickens with a platform on which to state what biographer Michael Slater calls his "editorial manifesto" -
"It has been the constant aim of my policy to preserve peace in your minds, and to provoke merriment in your hearts; to set before you the scenes and characters of real life in all their endless diversity; occasionally (I hope) to instruct, always to amuse, and never to offend. I trust I may refer you to my Pickwickian measures, already taken and still in progress, in confirmation of this assurance."
Phiz illustrated the circular, which shows Dickens walking ahead of a man carrying a tremendous quantity of copies of Bentley's Miscellany. Magazines are falling off the pile, and an enthusiastic, joyous crowd happily tries to catch them.
Dickens' "manifesto" is a great early example of the rapport and trust he always wanted between himself and his readers, and he considered this relationship carefully in his writing. He envisioned himself entering a reader's home, and Dickens cultivated the idea of a warm, fireside visit when a reader opened one of his periodicals or novels.
"Some Particulars Concerning a Lion"
Brief Summary
Dickens (writing as Boz) considers the similarities and differences between the animal lion and the human lion. He offers examples of human lions and where they can be found. He then relates his observations of a human literary lion attending a dinner party with his "keeper".
Brief Summary
Dickens (writing as Boz) considers the similarities and differences between the animal lion and the human lion. He offers examples of human lions and where they can be found. He then relates his observations of a human literary lion attending a dinner party with his "keeper".
A Little More
This sketch was published in the May 1837 issue of Bentley's Magazine. Headed as a "Stray Chapter by Boz", this was a filler piece. Dickens accidentally underwrote the May installment of Oliver Twist and needed to write an additional piece to meet his monthly sixteen page requirement. The piece is somewhat ironic as Dickens insisted at the time that he didn't want to be lionized, but the public and his peers were doing just that. It's quite easy to imagine that Dickens is the literary lion in the piece, but relating the experience from the point of view of an observer.
Extended metaphor - The entire piece is built upon this literary device, in which Dickens compares and contrasts animal lions with human lions, ultimately focusing on a literary lion. The metaphor is further developed when Dickens describes how the literary lion is put on show and performs like a circus lion.
"A Box Lobby Hero", Thomas Rowlandson, 1786
A box-lobby lion - (In a theater, the box lobby leads to the viewing boxes.) A "box-lobby lion" may refer to a 1786 satirical etching by Thomas Rowlandson entitled "A Box Lobby Hero. The Branded Bully, or The Ass Strip'd of the Lion's Skin." The ass in the lion's skin is one of Aesop's fables. There are varied versions, but the common premise is an ass (donkey) that clothes himself in a lion's skin either for amusement or to be left alone to graze. The ass is caught out in the first instance by his braying, in the second by his ears. The moral of the story is variously, "clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away" or "don't trust appearances; clothes do not make the man". Rowlandson's etching depicts a bully/ass (the tall man) being stripped of his lion's skin. Smaller men pull the bully's ponytail, kick him in the backside, and spit in his face. A dog relieves himself on his leg, and the crowd watches and laughs. A poster on the far wall shows an ass with a lion's skin draped over its back and is entitled, "The old fable is verified".
Regent street animal - Regent Street was a popular destination for shopping and strolling, to see and to be seen. Judith Flanders describes this in the "Street Performance" chapter of The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London. Regent Street attracted both wealthy and not-so-wealthy crowds; prostitutes also worked in the area. Dickens may be referring to well-to-do young gentlemen who teased or bullied poor young men.
In such cue tonight - I found two archaic uses of the word "cue". One meaning refers to acting a part; the other refers to one's mood or humor. Given the context, with the lion described as "jocose" upon arrival at the dinner, I think the meaning of "cue" here must be mood. I can't imagine his keeper would admit that the lion was acting a part.
Mr Punch - Refers to the classic Punch and Judy puppet show.
Boswell - From a 1952 article entitled "Johnson and Dickens: A Comparison" by Oliver D. Savage -
"On the subject of lions (celebrities) and those who exhibit them [Dickens] writes: 'the keeper performed that very dangerous feat...of putting his head in the animal's mouth...' Boswell frequently presents a melancholy instance of the lamentable results of this achievement."
James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson (published in 1791) is a biography of the English writer, who was also Boswell's good friend. Johnson's temper, when provoked, could be fierce. In The Life of Samuel Johnson, Boswell compares himself to "the man who had put his head into the lion's mouth a great many times with perfect safety, but at last had it bit off", when Johnson lost his temper.
The keeper - Someone accompanies the literary lion to the dinner party, but who? Could it be the lion's publisher or his business advisor? We know the keeper is a man, so we can rule out a wife. What do you all think?
Charles Dickens, 1837, lithograph from an original drawing by Phiz
This sketch was published in the May 1837 issue of Bentley's Magazine. Headed as a "Stray Chapter by Boz", this was a filler piece. Dickens accidentally underwrote the May installment of Oliver Twist and needed to write an additional piece to meet his monthly sixteen page requirement. The piece is somewhat ironic as Dickens insisted at the time that he didn't want to be lionized, but the public and his peers were doing just that. It's quite easy to imagine that Dickens is the literary lion in the piece, but relating the experience from the point of view of an observer.
Extended metaphor - The entire piece is built upon this literary device, in which Dickens compares and contrasts animal lions with human lions, ultimately focusing on a literary lion. The metaphor is further developed when Dickens describes how the literary lion is put on show and performs like a circus lion.
"A Box Lobby Hero", Thomas Rowlandson, 1786
A box-lobby lion - (In a theater, the box lobby leads to the viewing boxes.) A "box-lobby lion" may refer to a 1786 satirical etching by Thomas Rowlandson entitled "A Box Lobby Hero. The Branded Bully, or The Ass Strip'd of the Lion's Skin." The ass in the lion's skin is one of Aesop's fables. There are varied versions, but the common premise is an ass (donkey) that clothes himself in a lion's skin either for amusement or to be left alone to graze. The ass is caught out in the first instance by his braying, in the second by his ears. The moral of the story is variously, "clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away" or "don't trust appearances; clothes do not make the man". Rowlandson's etching depicts a bully/ass (the tall man) being stripped of his lion's skin. Smaller men pull the bully's ponytail, kick him in the backside, and spit in his face. A dog relieves himself on his leg, and the crowd watches and laughs. A poster on the far wall shows an ass with a lion's skin draped over its back and is entitled, "The old fable is verified".
Regent street animal - Regent Street was a popular destination for shopping and strolling, to see and to be seen. Judith Flanders describes this in the "Street Performance" chapter of The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London. Regent Street attracted both wealthy and not-so-wealthy crowds; prostitutes also worked in the area. Dickens may be referring to well-to-do young gentlemen who teased or bullied poor young men.
In such cue tonight - I found two archaic uses of the word "cue". One meaning refers to acting a part; the other refers to one's mood or humor. Given the context, with the lion described as "jocose" upon arrival at the dinner, I think the meaning of "cue" here must be mood. I can't imagine his keeper would admit that the lion was acting a part.
Mr Punch - Refers to the classic Punch and Judy puppet show.
Boswell - From a 1952 article entitled "Johnson and Dickens: A Comparison" by Oliver D. Savage -
"On the subject of lions (celebrities) and those who exhibit them [Dickens] writes: 'the keeper performed that very dangerous feat...of putting his head in the animal's mouth...' Boswell frequently presents a melancholy instance of the lamentable results of this achievement."
James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson (published in 1791) is a biography of the English writer, who was also Boswell's good friend. Johnson's temper, when provoked, could be fierce. In The Life of Samuel Johnson, Boswell compares himself to "the man who had put his head into the lion's mouth a great many times with perfect safety, but at last had it bit off", when Johnson lost his temper.
The keeper - Someone accompanies the literary lion to the dinner party, but who? Could it be the lion's publisher or his business advisor? We know the keeper is a man, so we can rule out a wife. What do you all think?
Charles Dickens, 1837, lithograph from an original drawing by Phiz
Tomorrow is a free day to catch up, continue the discussion, or take a break. I will provide a biographical post about Dickens tomorrow - it covers a significant event that affected Dickens for the rest of his life.
We'll begin our third selection from Mudfog and Other Sketches on Thursday, reading and discussing "Full Report of the Second Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything".
**Please note there are two sketches with almost identical titles. Be sure to read the Report of the Second Meeting, not the First Meeting.**
We'll begin our third selection from Mudfog and Other Sketches on Thursday, reading and discussing "Full Report of the Second Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything".
**Please note there are two sketches with almost identical titles. Be sure to read the Report of the Second Meeting, not the First Meeting.**
"In such cue tonight" - I found two archaic uses of the word "cue". One meaning refers to acting a part; the other refers to one's mood or humor. Given the context, with the lion described as "jocose" upon arrival at the dinner, I think the meaning of "cue" here must be mood. I can't imagine his keeper would admit that the lion was acting a part.And yet the double meaning fits so well...because there is nothing genuine about the lion--he is acting a part as all such prima donnas do.
This one was quite fun, with so much tongue in cheek that I could almost hear Dickens chuckling as he was writing.
I think you are right to ID the keeper as a publisher, the PR man who goes in advance of the "star" and sings his praises, intensifying the idea that this man is separate and above all others.
I wonder if this is self deprecation or if Dickens was thinking of others whom he had seen strut and crow for the crowds. He did like to expose others and this might be an early venture in that direction.
I had a difficult time with this piece but then started to catch on to what was happening. The Lion is the conceited and/or arrogant and/or bragging (etc) member of society or gathering who struts his stuff in some exaggerated manner that is pompous and self-serving in some way.
The essay is very well done and assembled.
Cozy_Pug, I did wonder who the Keeper was and kept looking for clues. As a Literary Lion, I thought of the publisher or, perhaps, a keen fan of the Lion. But if the fan, it is more likely that the fan would have put on the party, rather than coming to the party. Therefore, the Keeper is probably someone in the publishing field who's income, in some part, relies on the Lion.
The Regent Street Lions were interesting. I could see the people strutting up the street showing off their clothes and attitudes. Some things do not change over the years.
I did not know the reference to Boswell or the Box Lobby Lion. Thank you for this information.
To me, the keeper sounds like a publicity agent and manager in one. Keeper is actually an apt word-in a humorous way.
My take was it wasn't so much that the lion was arrogant but that the problem was the expectations of the people. His presence was an attention-getter, and he was paraded around like a curiosity. And very much like the lions in the circus, this is unnatural. So I thought of this as Dickens' opinion of how his public role was viewed sometimes, whether he wanted it to be or not.And I too thought of the keeper as having a PR focus, said to "apply himself seriously to the task of bringing the lion out, and putting him through the whole of his manœuvres."
Such a unique little piece! I really appreciate the background and explanations, Cozy_Pug, particularly about the box-lobby lion.
This was a great piece! Everyone’s thoughts are perfectly stated. I kept thinking of the lion as a celebrity which is exactly what you described, Kathleen. I can only imagine that Dickens was writing about himself here and Sara you make an interesting suggestion that he was writing about others he’d observed or known. I like this idea very much.I’m with the publisher as to who the keeper could be.
Sara I thought about the double meaning of "cue", too - it does work both ways. I was thinking the keeper would never admit to the admiring crowd that his literary lion was playing a part for them, but it's certainly possible he was thinking it to himself.
I think this piece could definitely be both about Dickens himself as well as other literary lions. Dickens was gaining recognition and popularity during this time, from his Sketches by Boz and The Pickwick Papers. Comparisons to Tobias Smollett and Henry Fielding were appearing in reviews, and Dickens was beginning to move in artistocratic circles. Being compared with England's beloved and highly regarded authors opened doors for him, and he was treated as a literary lion.
Petra I struggled with this piece, too. I had to read it a few times before the light bulb lit up. I went into it thinking it would be about zoo lions lol.
I think certainly there are literary lions who are arrogant and probably don't even need a keeper at events, because they do just fine parading themselves about. But I think Dickens was describing here either a newly minted lion (as he was) or a reluctant lion (as he claimed to be). This type of lion needs a keeper to bring him out at events and show off, like when they were making puns at the dinner table.
I didn't know about Boswell or box lobby lions, either! I didn't even know what a box lobby is - I've not been to a theatre that has boxes. I'm learning as I go, and I'm gaining even more admiration for Jean and her wealth of knowledge!
Rosemarie I thought of a publicist/agent, too, but I didn't know if that was a thing for authors back then. I agree keeper is great term - keep the lion in line and performing at his best.
Kathleen yes, I agree, I don't get the feeling this particular lion is arrogant. It feels like this process is still new to him. That's a great line you quoted about the keeper - he really is there to direct the lion through a public performance.
Lori This is a fun essay, and what's remarkable about it is that Dickens wrote this quickly to fill up pages in the month's issue. Only a couple of years into his career as an author, he had the ability to compose a piece like this with relative ease. No wonder people were lionizing him!
I'm so glad you all enjoyed this sketch - I think it's a lot of fun.
I think this piece could definitely be both about Dickens himself as well as other literary lions. Dickens was gaining recognition and popularity during this time, from his Sketches by Boz and The Pickwick Papers. Comparisons to Tobias Smollett and Henry Fielding were appearing in reviews, and Dickens was beginning to move in artistocratic circles. Being compared with England's beloved and highly regarded authors opened doors for him, and he was treated as a literary lion.
Petra I struggled with this piece, too. I had to read it a few times before the light bulb lit up. I went into it thinking it would be about zoo lions lol.
I think certainly there are literary lions who are arrogant and probably don't even need a keeper at events, because they do just fine parading themselves about. But I think Dickens was describing here either a newly minted lion (as he was) or a reluctant lion (as he claimed to be). This type of lion needs a keeper to bring him out at events and show off, like when they were making puns at the dinner table.
I didn't know about Boswell or box lobby lions, either! I didn't even know what a box lobby is - I've not been to a theatre that has boxes. I'm learning as I go, and I'm gaining even more admiration for Jean and her wealth of knowledge!
Rosemarie I thought of a publicist/agent, too, but I didn't know if that was a thing for authors back then. I agree keeper is great term - keep the lion in line and performing at his best.
Kathleen yes, I agree, I don't get the feeling this particular lion is arrogant. It feels like this process is still new to him. That's a great line you quoted about the keeper - he really is there to direct the lion through a public performance.
Lori This is a fun essay, and what's remarkable about it is that Dickens wrote this quickly to fill up pages in the month's issue. Only a couple of years into his career as an author, he had the ability to compose a piece like this with relative ease. No wonder people were lionizing him!
I'm so glad you all enjoyed this sketch - I think it's a lot of fun.
The Tragic Death of Mary Hogarth
Mary Hogarth, age sixteen
Mary Hogarth was Catherine Dickens' sister, younger by four years. Mary lived with the newlyweds at both Furnival's Inn and Doughty Street.
Dickens and Mary enjoyed each other's company very much. Mary served as a companion or chaperone during Dickens' and Catherine's courtship. After the couple married, Mary lived with them and provided help to Catherine during her first pregnancy. Catherine was expecting again in the spring of 1837, and Mary's assistance was invaluable to the couple.
Mary Hogarth's room at 48 Doughty Street, 2014
On Saturday, May 6, Dickens and the two sisters attended a theatrical production entitled Is She His Wife? Or, Something Singular, a Comic Burletta. Dickens had revised this farce earlier in the year and then supervised the rehearsals. The three returned to the Dickens home later that evening. Around one a.m., just as Mary had retired to her room for the night, Dickens heard her cry out. He found Mary visibly ill. A doctor was sent for, but he could find no apparent cause for her illness. Dickens held Mary as she slept and helped her sip brandy as a restorative. Sadly, Mary passed away in his arms on the afternoon of May 7. She was seventeen years old.
Dickens was consumed with overwhelming grief. It was incomprehensible that a healthy young woman could die so suddenly and with no apparent explanation. He took a ring from Mary's finger and wore it throughout his life. He also expressed a wish to be buried with Mary and composed the inscription for her tombstone, which read -
Young, beautiful and good
God in His mercy
numbered her with His angels
at the early age of seventeen.
Mary Hogarth's tombstone, with additional family members' information
Buried on May 13, Mary Hogarth's death upended Dickens' life. He contacted his two publishers - Chapman and Hall, to cancel the May installment of The Pickwick Papers, and Richard Bentley, to cancel the June installment of Oliver Twist. The effort required to write at this time was beyond Dickens' ability. John Forster says, "[Dickens'] grief and suffering were intense, and affected him...through many after years." Adding to the grief and loss, Catherine suffered a miscarriage the week after Mary's death.
Dickens would often look through Mary's clothing (which he kept), and he would dream of her for the rest of his life. She came to represent for him the ideal young woman, frozen in time at seventeen years of age. Biographer Claire Tomalin says, "...[Mary] remained a symbol he needed to hold onto, of the flawless and unattainable beloved." This symbol is one Dickens incorporated in several novels, in the form of a female character who is young, beautiful, and seemingly perfect in every way. Sometimes these characters die young, just as Mary Hogarth did.
The "Fireside Plate", by George Cruikshank, Oliver Twist, Rose Maylie on the far right - character inspired by Mary Hogarth
At the time of Mary's death, no cause could be found. In correspondence, Dickens asserted her death was due to heart disease. The possibility of a stroke has also been considered. Sadly, Catherine's younger brother George would also die suddenly and unexpectedly five years later.
Mary Hogarth, age sixteen
Mary Hogarth was Catherine Dickens' sister, younger by four years. Mary lived with the newlyweds at both Furnival's Inn and Doughty Street.
Dickens and Mary enjoyed each other's company very much. Mary served as a companion or chaperone during Dickens' and Catherine's courtship. After the couple married, Mary lived with them and provided help to Catherine during her first pregnancy. Catherine was expecting again in the spring of 1837, and Mary's assistance was invaluable to the couple.
Mary Hogarth's room at 48 Doughty Street, 2014
On Saturday, May 6, Dickens and the two sisters attended a theatrical production entitled Is She His Wife? Or, Something Singular, a Comic Burletta. Dickens had revised this farce earlier in the year and then supervised the rehearsals. The three returned to the Dickens home later that evening. Around one a.m., just as Mary had retired to her room for the night, Dickens heard her cry out. He found Mary visibly ill. A doctor was sent for, but he could find no apparent cause for her illness. Dickens held Mary as she slept and helped her sip brandy as a restorative. Sadly, Mary passed away in his arms on the afternoon of May 7. She was seventeen years old.
Dickens was consumed with overwhelming grief. It was incomprehensible that a healthy young woman could die so suddenly and with no apparent explanation. He took a ring from Mary's finger and wore it throughout his life. He also expressed a wish to be buried with Mary and composed the inscription for her tombstone, which read -
Young, beautiful and good
God in His mercy
numbered her with His angels
at the early age of seventeen.
Mary Hogarth's tombstone, with additional family members' information
Buried on May 13, Mary Hogarth's death upended Dickens' life. He contacted his two publishers - Chapman and Hall, to cancel the May installment of The Pickwick Papers, and Richard Bentley, to cancel the June installment of Oliver Twist. The effort required to write at this time was beyond Dickens' ability. John Forster says, "[Dickens'] grief and suffering were intense, and affected him...through many after years." Adding to the grief and loss, Catherine suffered a miscarriage the week after Mary's death.
Dickens would often look through Mary's clothing (which he kept), and he would dream of her for the rest of his life. She came to represent for him the ideal young woman, frozen in time at seventeen years of age. Biographer Claire Tomalin says, "...[Mary] remained a symbol he needed to hold onto, of the flawless and unattainable beloved." This symbol is one Dickens incorporated in several novels, in the form of a female character who is young, beautiful, and seemingly perfect in every way. Sometimes these characters die young, just as Mary Hogarth did.
The "Fireside Plate", by George Cruikshank, Oliver Twist, Rose Maylie on the far right - character inspired by Mary Hogarth
At the time of Mary's death, no cause could be found. In correspondence, Dickens asserted her death was due to heart disease. The possibility of a stroke has also been considered. Sadly, Catherine's younger brother George would also die suddenly and unexpectedly five years later.
I have long thought this was such a tragic moment in Dickens' life and that Mary's death changed the trajectory of his writing. Although I knew he was present for her death, I did not know that he was actually holding her. To have such a thing happen to a seventeen year old for such an unexplained reason, one can hardly doubt that it would shake a person to the core.Of course, what happens in these instances, is that the person is transformed into a perfection in death that they could never have attained had they lived. She would always be seventeen, beautiful, and on the cusp of life, while everyone else, including Dickens himself, would age, and slow, and embrace imperfection.
Sara wrote: "I have long thought this was such a tragic moment in Dickens' life and that Mary's death changed the trajectory of his writing. Although I knew he was present for her death, I did not know that he ..."
Yes, I've found references to two letters Dickens wrote at the time, saying that he held Mary until she died, and even a bit longer. What a shock it was to the family, Mary's and Catherine's mother was beside herself with grief. And then poor Catherine, suffering a miscarriage. Just a tremendously sad time.
You're absolutely right - it's like Mary was frozen in that moment and was made forever perfect. A couple of biographies examine the effect Mary's death had on Dickens from a psychological angle - Claire Tomalin has an interesting take on it.
Yes, I've found references to two letters Dickens wrote at the time, saying that he held Mary until she died, and even a bit longer. What a shock it was to the family, Mary's and Catherine's mother was beside herself with grief. And then poor Catherine, suffering a miscarriage. Just a tremendously sad time.
You're absolutely right - it's like Mary was frozen in that moment and was made forever perfect. A couple of biographies examine the effect Mary's death had on Dickens from a psychological angle - Claire Tomalin has an interesting take on it.
One more note on Mary Hogarth's death and Dickens' writing - there are at least a couple of people here I remember from the group read of The Old Curiosity Shop earlier this year.
There is a character in that book who is modeled heavily on Dickens' idea of Mary Hogarth.... (view spoiler)
Now we move on to our third selection from Mudfog and Other Sketches, written a little over a year after Mary Hogarth's death.
There is a character in that book who is modeled heavily on Dickens' idea of Mary Hogarth.... (view spoiler)
Now we move on to our third selection from Mudfog and Other Sketches, written a little over a year after Mary Hogarth's death.
"Full Report of the Second Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything"
Day One Summary
The previous October, Bentley's Miscellany provided exceptional coverage of the first semi-annual meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything (MA). They now offer the reader the same unrivaled reporting on the second meeting of the MA by printing in full the reporter's correspondence "in the order in which it reached our office."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
Day One Summary
The previous October, Bentley's Miscellany provided exceptional coverage of the first semi-annual meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything (MA). They now offer the reader the same unrivaled reporting on the second meeting of the MA by printing in full the reporter's correspondence "in the order in which it reached our office."
Today's discussion ends at this point in the story.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
Mudfog and Other Sketches (other topics)Nicholas Nickleby (other topics)
Sketches by Boz (other topics)
Oliver Twist (other topics)
The Pickwick Papers (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
John Forster (other topics)
William Harrison Ainsworth (other topics)
John Forster (other topics)
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