Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-02
Sir Joshua Reynolds House in Lei
eRRIer HnunrG.

stand, 1864 Main street
ss--u@-----z-
Sir Joshua Reynolds House in Lei
cester square.
Hogarth, on the east side of Leicester
square, felt no local accession of honor
when Reynolds set up his easel on the
west side The new conner was social,
the old settler kept himself to him
self, as the wise saw has it, Study
the works of the great masters forever"
Oracle on the west side From the east
came Hogarth's utterance, in the asser-
ton, There is only one school and
Nature is the mistress of it." For
Reynolds judgment Hogarth had GER
tain contempt. The most ignorant
people about painting, he said to War
pole, are the painters themselves.
There's Reynolds, who certainly has
genius; but t'other day he offered
hundred pounds for a picture that /
would not hang in my cellar" Ho-
garth undoubtedly qualified his sense
with some nonsense: Talk of sense,
and study, and all that; why it is owing
to the good sense of the English that
they have not painted better"
1t was at one of Reynolds suppers in
the square that an accident took place
which aroused the wit-power of Johnson.
The rather plain sister of the artist had
been called upon by the company, after
supper, as the custom was, to give
toast. She hesitated, and was accord
ingly required again, according to Gus
tom, to give the ugliest man she knew.
In moment the name of Oliver Gold
smith dropped from her lips, and imnle-
diately sympathizing lady on the OPP
posite side of the table rose and shook
hands with Miss Reynolds across the ta-
BILE, johnson had heard the expression,
and had also witnessed the pantomimic
performance of sympathy, and he cap
ped both by a remark which set the ia
BILE in a roar, and which was 10 an effect
which cut smartly in three ways.
Thus" said he, =" the ancients, on the
commandments of their friendships
used to sacrifice beast betwixt them"
The affair ends prettily. A few days
after the Traveller was published
johnson read it aloud from beginning to
end to delighted hearers, of whom Miss
Reynolds was one. AS johnson closed
the book she emphatically remarked,
well. | never more shall think DIR.
Goldsmith ugly" Miss Reynolds did
not get over her idea. Her brother
painted the portrait of the new poet, IN
| the Octagon Room in the square; the
mezzotinte engraving of it was speedily
all over the town. Miss Reynolds (who
it has been said used herself to paint
portraits with such exact imitation of
her brothers defects and avoidance of
his beauties that everybody but himself
laughed at them thought it marvellous.
that so much dignity could have been
given to a poets face, and yet so strong
a likeness be conveyed; for DIR. Gold
smiths cast of countenance, she pro-
ceeds to inform us, and indeed his
whole figure from head to foot, impressed
every one at first sight with the idea of
his being low mechanic-particularly
| believe, q journeyman tailor" This
belief is founded on what Goldsmith had
himself once said. Coming ruffisd into
Reynolds drawingroom, Goldsmith an
grily referred to an insult which his
sensitive nature fancied had been put
upon him at a neighboring coffee-house,
by "a fellow who, said Goldsmith, took
me. | believe. for a tailor The compa-
nv laughed more or less demonstratively
and rather confirmed than dispelled the
supposition.
Poor Goldsmiths weaknesses we're a
good deal played upon by that not too
polite company. One afternoon, Burke
and young Irish officer, O'Moore, we're
| crossing the square to Reynolds house to,
dinner They passed group who were
gaping at, and making admiring remarks
upon, some samples of beautiful foreign
husseydom, who were looking out of the
windows of one Of the hotels. Goldsmith
was at the skirt of the group, looking on.
Burke said tc 0'Moore, as they passed
MIN unseen, Look at Goldsmith; by
and by. at Reynolds and you will see
what i make Of this" At the dinner,
| Burke treated Goldsmith with such cool
ness that Oliver at last asked for an ex-
planation. Burke readily replied that
| his manner was owing to the monstrousl
| indiscretion on Goldsmith part in the
square, of which Burke and OMoore
had been the witnesses. Poor Gold
smith asked in what way he had been so
indisereet.
why" answered Burke, :" did you
not exclaim, on looking mp at those
women, what stupid beasts the crowd
/ must be for staring with such ad-
miration at those painted Jezebels while
man of your talent passed by IN
roticed2
Surely, my dear friend, cried Gold
smith, horror struck. Il did not say so
IF you had not said so, retorted Burke
"how should l have knownitT' That's
true" answered Goldsmith, with great
| humility; Il am very sorry, It was very
foolishl l do recollect that something q
lhe kind passed through my mind, bni
| did not think had uttered it'll