登陆注册
5577200000056

第56章

KNEBWORTH, JULY 29, 1865.

[On the above date the members of the "Guild of Literature and Art"proceeded to the neighbourhood of Stevenage, near the magnificent seat of the President, Lord Lytton, to inspect three houses built in the Gothic style, on the ground given by him for the purpose.

After their survey, the party drove to Knebworth to partake of the hospitality of Lord Lytton.Mr.Dickens, who was one of the guests, proposed the health of the host in the following words:]

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, - It was said by a very sagacious person, whose authority I am sure my friend of many years will not impugn, seeing that he was named Augustus Tomlinson, the kind friend and philosopher of Paul Clifford - it was said by that remarkable man, "Life is short, and why should speeches be long?" An aphorism so sensible under all circumstances, and particularly in the circumstances in which we are placed, with this delicious weather and such charming gardens near us, I shall practically adopt on the present occasion; and the rather so because the speech of my friend was exhaustive of the subject, as his speeches always are, though not in the least exhaustive of his audience.In thanking him for the toast which he has done us the honour to propose, allow me to correct an error into which he has fallen.Allow me to state that these houses never could have been built but for his zealous and valuable co-operation, and also that the pleasant labour out of which they have arisen would have lost one of its greatest charms and strongest impulses, if it had lost his ever ready sympathy with that class in which he has risen to the foremost rank, and of which he is the brightest ornament.

Having said this much as simply due to my friend, I can only say, on behalf of my associates, that the ladies and gentlemen whom we shall invite to occupy the houses we have built will never be placed under any social disadvantage.They will be invited to occupy them as artists, receiving them as a mark of the high respect in which they are held by their fellow-workers.As artists I hope they will often exercise their calling within those walls for the general advantage; and they will always claim, on equal terms, the hospitality of their generous neighbour.

Now I am sure I shall be giving utterance to the feelings of my brothers and sisters in literature in proposing "Health, long life, and prosperity to our distinguished host." Ladies and gentlemen, you know very well that when the health, life, and beauty now overflowing these halls shall have fled, crowds of people will come to see the place where he lived and wrote.Setting aside the orator and statesman - for happily we know no party here but this agreeable party - setting aside all, this you know very well, that this is the home of a very great man whose connexion with Hertfordshire every other county in England will envy for many long years to come.You know that when this hall is dullest and emptiest you can make it when you please brightest and fullest by peopling it with the creations of his brilliant fancy.Let us all wish together that they may be many more - for the more they are the better it will be, and, as he always excels himself, the better they will be.I ask you to listen to their praises and not to mine, and to let them, not me, propose his health.

同类推荐
  • 卫生家宝产科备要

    卫生家宝产科备要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新城录

    新城录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吴江雪

    吴江雪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜕庵集

    蜕庵集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 哈姆雷特

    哈姆雷特

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 少年派续写之爱无时差

    少年派续写之爱无时差

    钱三一,林妙妙,邓小琪,江天昊,四人考上大学后的生活。零钱cp该何去何从,是随着青春的散场,还是因为爱而再次相聚————————————————————————林妙妙:你从何时开始喜欢我钱三一:可能从你说,我喜欢你,就像风走八百里,不问归期。也可能是广播站事故之时的你,冷静自持。所以,从何时喜欢你,并不重要,重要的是,我知道,此生非你不可。
  • 君临天下:废材九小姐

    君临天下:废材九小姐

    一朝穿越,她成了紫迷国丞相府文不成武不成的九小姐。废材?白痴?姐姐和家人唾弃她,丫鬟欺压她,太子殿下更一脚把她踢开娶了自己的姐姐。唯有他,在紫迷国一手遮天、拥有妖孽天赋的落瑾殿下独宠她一人,却又在无意间发现了自己的秘密。在这乱世的背后,神秘的父母离开她,究竟隐藏什么秘密?
  • 跳街舞的灰姑娘

    跳街舞的灰姑娘

    本书已出版。<br/>青春的战斗,原本就来的残酷些,那些对生活的渴望,对梦想的执着,对未来的憧憬,往往就湮灭在一个如梦幻般绚烂的泡沫中。<br/>什么时候我学会了竞争,才发现了生命的意义,成熟的意义。<br/>那些流过的汗,流过的泪,在它们翩翩坠地迸裂时,盛着多少无奈的回忆。<br/>我曾抱怨,我曾愤怒,我曾嘲笑这世界,当现实给了我一记重重的耳光后,我才恍然大悟。那些成功的人,都是努力着的。努力才有希望,努力才能看见彩虹。<br/>这是关于她们的故事,蜓羽的容忍,若夏的逃避,小妖的混账,三个B-girl的成长故事。<br/>因为孤独,才会想要在一起,因为不想寂寞,才会想要手牵着手,一路走下去。<br/>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 都市全能高手

    都市全能高手

    考试有李白帮忙作诗,治病有神医华佗指导药方,打架有战神刑天庇护左右,林风的世界从此开始了翻天覆地的变化。
  • 入道升仙

    入道升仙

    一个豪门公子哥,只因读书入迷,疯魔成病,被世人所唾弃。看他是是如何打开困境,一步步走上修道之路.....
  • 我家系统有点猫饼

    我家系统有点猫饼

    系统智商日常不在线,猫莱表示很无奈┐(?-`)┌
  • 空姐猝死之谜

    空姐猝死之谜

    最近,一本叫做《耶稣裹尸布之谜》的悬念小说一举打破《达·芬奇密码》“世界图书排行榜第一”的神话,成为备受国际书坛瞩目的新书“黑马”;国内影视剧场,从热播的《梅花档案》到《一只绣花鞋》,再到迅速蹿红的《解密》、《暗算》,情有独钟的“粉丝”们再度掀起“红色悬疑热”的狂潮……恐怖离奇的犯罪、阴森诡异的气氛和丝丝入扣的推理,是悬疑小说魅力永存的秘诀;而觅一部这样的好小说献给读者,则是我们孜孜以求的目标。
  • 清高宗乾隆(世界伟人传记丛书)

    清高宗乾隆(世界伟人传记丛书)

    清高宗乾隆帝,姓名爱新觉罗·弘历,生于康熙五十年(1711年)八月,卒于嘉庆四年(1799)正月,是清朝第五任皇帝,入关后的第四任皇帝。雍正十三年(1735年),雍正去世,弘历即位,改年号乾隆。