25 FEBRUARY 1905, Page 22

The Dickensian, Edited by B. W. Matz (Chapman and Hall,

Ss.), is "a magazine for Dickens lovers," and is published by the Dickens Fellowship. It contains things new and old about Dickens and his writings. Sir W. H. Bailey writes on "Wellerisms and Wit," and the next article is a review of "Oliver Twist" reprinted from the Monthly Review of January, 1839. We see that Mr. Ley, who criticises a recent Life of Dickens, says that Betsey Trotwood is the master's "most successful piece of work." Possibly ; but it can hardly be denied that the Betsey Trotwood of the early chapters is as little like to the Betsey Trotwood of the later as is the Pickwick whom we meet in Rochester to the Pickwick who arranges the affairs of his friends when the story is wound up with such tactful benevolence.