The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-13
DIR. JOHNsON,s WALk DOWN BROAD.
WAY.
Reported for The sun by JAIME. Boswell, r.a.

"Sirl" rOarcd the great DR. Johnson,
pushing way the remnants Of the boiled NUT
ton upon which we had dined, "your CONVEX
sation Is pIerile. Puere, / say, sir, although
its juvenile feehleness Is not without some Of
the characteristics Of idiocy. Let US take a walk
| down lroadwav"
Boswell-It is benevolent Of you to suggest II.
walk down broadway with DR.. johnson we're
| indeed privilege.
We walked together down the crowded street,
and as we went my eminent friend, who seemed
TO be IN unusually good spirits, discoursed much
Of what he saw and heard. I am sensible OF my
more than criminal folly In allowing many OF
his priceless observations to escape my memory.
Some things, however, / carefully recorded In
my note book, sitting up half the night for that
purpose.
We had not gone far when lively but ragged
urohin ran uD and accosted DR.. johnson in the
following strange manner.
"Sbinc, sir7 Shine 'em up? OnIy Ave cents"
Boswell Begonei Youth, are you aware that
It ia Dr. Johnson whom you accost so irrover-
ently1
Johnson-My child, are you aware that the
frequent elisons In your phraseoloey make II az
painfully unintelli0ible az It IL inconsequent In
In It's arrangement OF ideas7
Urchin-Back yer boots for nickel.
Johnson-Ahl I apprehend the intent OF your
remarks But you should school yourself in
department, my little friend You should ap-
proach me politely, dor your cap, and prefer your
professional services in some such form as this:
DIR. Johnson" or sir" as the case may be,
d" / should be pleased 20 be favored with your
kind patronage this morning. and grateful for
any small pecuniary estimate which sou might
place upon the value OF my services"
Hey" said the boy, ARE yer coddin' me7"
At the sight OF the great DR.. Johnson, the
profound Moraiist, the stately LexicoVraphist,
the mssterly Critic, the wise Philosopher,
bestowine his invaluable instructions upon this
Arab Of the street, my satisfaction and amaze
ment knew no bounds. Listen / said to the
boy, for ne freely gives you counsel which the
wealth OF kings cannot purchase"
Johnson-My shoes do not seem to require
your attentions. But YOU appear to be bright,
likely boy, and II you will come to my room in
Bolt court will give you a farthine.
Urchin TO companion)-Hi, Tml The old
cock sez as he'll gimme farden. Tim. wot's a
farden?
TIM dunno wot's a farden; but mind yer
eve for that big cuss. Jack-1 think he's an old
sharp, and farden's some Of his coincidence
games
My celebrated friend, from his slight innrmity
OF hearing, did not catch these remarks. and he
walked on in good humor. cheerfuy humming
busy thorouGhfare and the fine buildings which
lined its sides for miles and miles impressed
him visibly. lie would survey the architecture
OF the shop, and then would glance at the
numherless vehicles that rumbled past us,
clucking TO himself in his extraordinary fashion
and so loudly that more than one omnibus
driver hauled up TO the curbstone and stopped.
Johnson-Bozzy, this Is wonderful The
American nation concentrates and intensines
the varied enterprises Of the human race, dis
playing restless energy and keen perception
Of the poientlates OF wealth that Is phenome-
mall say phenomenal, sir, and / speak adyisedy.
Boswell-You speak, sir. with your usual
discrimination. II Is phenomenal.
At this point young man, characterized by a
certain eager hungry vet bookish look-a hyens
Of literature, as 1t were-stepped from a tavern
door and in inuated himself into the notice of
my learned companion.
Reporter-Dr. Johnson presumed
Johnson-Sr. II IL.
Reporter have taken the liberty to address
you In order to ascertain your views on rapid
TRANSACTION publication in the Herod the New
York HcfOd.
sir" shouted DIR. johnson, In a manner well
calculated to discourage intrusive inquistive-
ness, 81 have no views Oh rapid transit"
Reporter-Wel, DR.. Johnson-or shall cut
ceremony between men Of letters and call
you SAN l"-I should like to interview you on
the currency question; is it mush money or
hard pan?
johnson passing onl-Sir, your persstency is
only transcribed by your impertinence, and
your impertinence by your beggarly ignorance
OF the requirements Of common decency. My
"views" on matters of public polity are pub
lished exclusively in the Rambler SIR Good
morning.
HoaMpI-Will ha No
see that you anger my illustrous frendf
Reporter dollowinG)-well, Dr. johnson. the
Hcrod would like to print your opinion Of lam
many What do you think Of John Kely2
Sri" beloved the Doctor, fairly becoming
apoplectic with rage " think YOU are u scoun-
drelly nuisance, and curse me II | haven't a
mind to choke you-cho1e the elephantine as
surance out OF you, sir"
Very well, DIR. Johnson" replied the stlll
suave representative OF the press, "as you
please. The Herod never threatens but il you
do not see Ut 10 communicate your views on the
Moody ana Sankey movement, on the Beecher
scandal, and on the authorship OF Shakespea ares
plays-bedad, SURF. it's foine ould rakin' down
your dicthsionary II be Citing in the Herod to-
morrow Tomorrow"
II was with extreme difficulty that Gained
the ponderous wrath Of my rate companion:
and this was only done by leading him into a
tavern near at hand, and suggesting soothing
memories Of the Miire.
Johnson-Sr, l will put my opinion of the
American nation into the form of an apoph-
thegn they are ruscally race OF conyicts, for
whom hanging were too good and CORVALLIS
aud Tareton and the rest betrayed their trusts
as Englishmen when they failed To rid the con-
tinent OF such pestIferous brood. Attack my
dictionary, indeed
hut as We found ourselves further and further
down town, and as the evcr-chanGing piano.
rama brought new scenes aud new marvcls to
our view, the honest Indignation ofthe Lexicog-
raphist subsidized in measure, and he beamed
again upon broadway. The pavement was
crowded with ladies, the peculiarties Of whose
costumes excited DR.. Johnson's curiosity and
interest.
Johnson-sir, the tenacity with which those
garments are pinned back, the anterior paucity
aud posterior plethora Of dress, SO TO speak,
surprises me. l never saw anything like that at
TunbIdge Wells. believe, sir. that the display
Of personal outline should be moderated by a
just conception OF the requirement Of feminine
modesty-yet the effect is not altogether dis