Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-22
DIR. JOHNSON AT DINNER.

DIX. JOHNSON Al DlNNEhs
He was a strange, terrible looking
man, writes Laetitia Boothby, quite un-
like the picture i had formed Of him.
He had massive, rugged face, full Of
seams aud scars; lack.luster eyes; a
capacious mouth, which he contorted by
whistlings and gurglings; great, thick
arms, which he could not keep still; and
vast person that rolled about like one
who stands upon tossing ship. He
looked sternly around the table, ] met
his gaze. aud quailed before it. But
some fish being put before him, he fell
TO it with fearful cagerness. like a starv-
ing man, cramming great portions of it
into his mouth, and chewing with such
energy that the veins about his forehead
stood out like ropes. Twas disgusting
sight TO see him eat. He tore, he did
not cut his meat; he mixed strange
messes in his plate Of vinegar, butter
sance, aud claret; and some veal being
set before him, what does he do but call
aloud for a lemon aud brown sugar, with
which he plentifully anointed the slices,
aEd then fell to eating them with a
noisy, snoring vahemence that berelt
me Of my appetite. Mrs. Thrale, who
sat next to him, seemed used to his be-
havior; hut once after watching him, |
met Mrs. Montague's cye-she lightly
shrugged her shoulders, with visible
satiric smile. Poor thing she was the
very essence of refinement and breed
ing, and the shock to her sensibilities
by the spectacle of DIR. johnson eating
must, to judge from my own sensations,
have been peculiarly trying. DR.. John
son 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 gaily, now with
DR.. Aston, now with her master las 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 depress
greater minds into silence. But by and
by, DIR. Aston, observing DIR. Johnson to
be drinking water, ventured to recon-
mend him some old Burgundy, which
johnson declined. "0h, DR.. Aston"
says Mrs, Thrale, you must know that DR..
Johnson practloep more penaHces than
Capuchin friar. He begins with a med
ical, and runs out into moral consider
alton; and what between his fear for his
soul and his fear for his health, he de-
nies himself nearly all the pleasures of
life.9' Madam" answered pr, John
sou, q II yaa would stop that little whirl-
igig tongue oil yours, you would COM
pensate me for the loss of the rest. "
q Pray, sir, said DIR. Aston, what OBJ.
lection have you to wine" A sound
one, sir answered DIR. Johnson, " it dis
a grees with me. "And yet sir, says Mrs.
Thrale, "you will eat heartily Of veal
pie stuffed With plqwsv-a mess that
would poison an ostrich" " Madam"
he answered, you have to accept life
on the conditions under which it IS Of
fered. ] can eat veal pie and plqms
without injury to my health, for when
my hunger is appeazed, ! eat no more
but of wine, madam, 1 am never to
know when | have had enough. One
glass creates the want for another, and o
second demands the support OF q third
Besides, madam, | have no confidence
in my powers OF resistance. There Is q
needless vivacity in wine that is above
the reach of judgment. Come, Or.
Aston, let us pledge one another IN
water and put in for q hundred.
WELL" said Sir Charles Bracebridge,
" for my part / would rather die at fifty
a wine drinker than live to q hundred
on water" And, sir, you will have
ali the fools in the country to agree with
YOU" answered johnson; then, after
pause, he said sternly: I" If you must
think at all, sir, why will YOU not think
wisely2' Il have qply y6ur word, sir,
that / do not think wisely said Sir
Charles, surlily. "Sir, said DR.. John
son, you are an old man, and should,
therefore be a sensible man. Consider,
sir, if you talk so wildly, what are the
Young people to think who are listening
to yon3 Why, sir, l had rather be an
American than emit such folly. Sir
Charles muttered something beneath his
breath. Mr.. Boothby laughed out, and
my lady uttered succession Of shgill
saueaks like psal Of gigglps. nut the
rest were someEhat disconnected by this
rudeness, aud l observed that Mrs.
Thrale engaged the doctor in conversa-
ton. either TO restore his temper or to
restrain his further impertinence.