The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-10-03
GOLDSMITH AS A SOCIAL MAN.

Boswell records SEINE club-talk, in which
Johnson, Garrick, Goldsmith, and Others
were engaged |; and do not see but that
Goldsmith "held his own" with the best
Of them. AS q matter of course, johnson
would go sounding on with his powerful
voice-to which he was as fond of listen
ing as any enc-and drown the inslgnif-
can't squeak of poor "Noll ;" but when
Noll did manage to worry in bit of a
sentence edgewise,it was gem in its way.
None of them need have been ashamed of
it, even if unwilling TO hear it
Boswell tells usn good deal, too, about
Goldsmith's dress; and other Biographies
hint somewhat that his contemporaries
were in the habit of judging of tie char
acter of our gentle poet by the color and
fashion of his clothing. But what fool
ishness does the attempt to read his char
scter in this manner appear! One day
you might have seen him in plush breech-
es, peach-colored coat, and variepated
neck-tie, his wig and cue all that fashion
demanded-tbe next day. in rags and in
Jail for debt. 0 a
He did not set his heart upon dress at
any time. When he adorned his person,
L ~,
and believed he ought to purchase the
very best; and not because his mind was
foppish and swayed by the fimsy feelings
Of tue fashionable and the gay.
Boswell was foolish enough to endeayor
to persuads Posterity that Goldsmith was
"buckish' and vain, because he once ap-
peared in plush attire. He shall not read
for me, from any phase of his dress, the
character of my tavorite wit.
Be it remembered, that was special
occasion when Goldsmith came out in
plush, to the establishment of Boswell, DR.
] ohnson, and other MEN of "valor in learn
Ing" and hourIsbed his brand-new WIG
, in their presence. IF remember rightly
it was the night when his play of "Shs
Stops to Conquer" was to be put on the
stage. johnson and the Others were go
ing with Goldsmith, to see it produced
and give it the advantage of their pres
snce and favor; and Colby, feeling hilari
Gus, dressed himself in an unusually bril-
liant style, as became an author who's
D comedy had been accepted.
: Those who saw Goldsmith and his com
panions walking the streets of Londol
e that svening,in the direction of the theate
no doubt saw peculiar company. Their,
was BOzzy, well-habited gentleman
neither over nor under dressed-of medi
UNI height and compact build-a fai
representative of the Scotch laird Their
was johnson, Of giant form, heavy features
majestic eye-rolling in his gait, like
: balloon on the pointof ascension dresset
] in rough, brown clothes, his unkempt wi:
awry, and his chapeau put on any way il
careless mood-swinging his big Gun
savagely, and talking right and left, Xix
a philosopher from tie wilds. And Their
q was Colby, in his magnificent plush sui
. and splendidly dressed wig-the admiret
:. of all admirers "-strutting proudly am
listening impatiently to the ceaseles
> moralizlng of the irrepfessible DR.. Sam
Q as though anxious to slip In q bit of DIR
humOr himself. 1t was rare company
I those three-one which can be seen bu
: seldom, and one which, ain my minds ey,
!: Horatio," could gaze on forcver,as 'twere
But who, on that great occasion, coul
:, read Colby from his dress brooches?
A stranger, on beholding him, accouter
ed as he was, would have said: See 20
{ fop, walking with the fine gentleman an,
q the uncouth countryman? And yet it wa
ia this very superficial manner that Boz
We'll and other intimate acquaintance c
Goldsmlth's criticised him-and read hin
: -Ladjes' Repository for October.