The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-03-20
DR.. johnson at Dinner.

He was a strange, terrible looking
man, writes Laetitia Boothby, quite
unlike the picture had formed of him.
de had massive, rugged face, full of
seams and scars, lack-luster eyes
capacious mouth, which he contorted
by whistlings and gurglings; great,
thick arms, which be could not keep
still and a vast person that rolled
about like one who stands upon toss
ing ship. He looked sternly around
the table. / met his gaze, and quailed
before it. But some fish being put be-
fore him, he fell to it with fearful
eagerness, like starving man, cram
ming great portions of it into his mouth,
and chewing with such energy that the
viens about his forehead stock ont like
ropes. Twas disgusting 81 hit to see
him eat. He tore, he did not cut his
meat he mixed strange messes in his
plate Of vinegar, butter sauce, and
claret and some veal being set before
him, what does he do but calls aloud
for a lemon and brown sugar. with
which he plentifully anointed the slices.
and then fell to eating them with a
noisy, snorting vehemence that bereft
me of my appetite. Mrs. Thrale, who
sat next to him, seemed used to her be-
havior but once after watching him, 1
met Mrs. Montague's eye-she lightly
shrugged her shoulders, with visible
satiric smile. Poor thing she was
the very essence Of refinement and
breeding, and the shock to her sensi-
bilities by the spectacle of DIR. johnson
eating must, to judge from my own
sensations, have been peculiarly trying.
DIR. Johnson was pretty silent during
the early part of the dinner, and, but
for Mrs. Thrale, little would have been
spoke. She did not appear to mind the
sage's presence, but ratified on pailv.
now with DIR. Aston, now with her mas.
ter, Gas she styled her husband.) and
now with Mr.. Whitehead. But these
preferred to play the part of listeners
rather than speakers, from awe of DR.
Johnson's reputation, which was. in
deed, considerable enough to depres,
greater minds into silence. But by an6
by, DR.. Aston, observing DIR. johnson
to be drinking water, ventured TO re
commend him some old Burgundy
which Johnson declined. ooh, DIR
Aston, says Mrs. Thrale, "you mus
know that DIR. Johnson practices NOR,
penances than a Capuchin friar. H,
begins with medical, and runs on
into a moral consideration and wha
between his fear for his soul and hi,
fear for his health, he denies himsel
near all the pleasures of life" "Mad
am, answered DIR. johnson. elf yoI
would stop that little whirligig tongu,
OF yours, you would supply me with
pleasure that would compensate m,
for the loss of the rest. "Pray. sir.
asked DIR. Aston, "what objection bav,
you to wine ?" GA sound one. sir.
answered DIR. Johnson sit disagree
with me-" "And yet sir" says Mrs
Thrale, "you will eat heartily of yea
pie stuffed with plums-a mess tina
would poison an ostrich. " MADAM.
he answered, "you have to accept Iif
on the conditions under which it i
offered. can eat veal pie and plum
without injury to my health, for whel
my hunger is appeased, 1 eat no more
but OF wine, madam, l am never I,
know when / have had enough. On,
glass creates the want of another. and
second demands the support of a third
Besides, madame, have no confidence,
in my powers of resistance. There is
needless vivacity in wine that is abov,
the reach of Judgment. Come, DIR
Aston, let us pledge one another il
water and put in for hundred.
" Well, said Sir Charles Bracebridge
" for my part 1 would rather die at 81
VINE drinker, than live to a hundred
on water" "And, sir, Won will bav,
all the fools in the country TO ngre,
with YOU" answered johnson then.
after pause, he said, sternly. ct
you must think at all, sir, why will yor
not think wisely p ct have only vou
word, sir, that 1 do not think wisely, >
said Sir Charles, surlily. Sir" sale
DIR. johnson, you are an old man, and
should, therefore, be sensible man
Consider, sir, if You talk so wildly
what are the young people to think whc
are listening to you? Why, sir, 1 haC
rather be an American than emit sucl
folly" Sir Charles muttered some
thing beneath his breath, Mr.. Boothb,
laughed out, and my lady uttered sue
cession of shrill squaks, like n peal o
giggles. But the rest were somewha
disconnected by this rudeness. and
observed that Mrs. Thrale engaged tn
doctor in a conversation, either to re
store his temper or to restrain hi
further impertinence.