The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-01
Amusements of the Learned.
Chambers Journal.)

COhiheAA'(
That learned folks as we'll as others indulge
in amusements of an eccentric nature may be
CLEANED from the following examples culled at
random:
Cardinal Richelieu, We are told, spent his
hour of relaxation in jumping over the furniture
and on one occasion he was discovered jump
ing with his servant, to try which could reach
the high side of wall. De Grammont, know
ing the cardinal to be jealous of his powers,
offered to jump him for wager-a proposal
which shows the courage as much as the event
showed the diplomacy of the courtier. The Of
fer was accepted; but de Grammont took care
that his leaps should never quite reach those
of his eminence; and thus he lost few louis,
but gained speedy and high promotion by the
favor of his triumphant and gratifed opponent.
Dr. Johnsons playhour was employed in
taking walk down Fleet street; but then that
walk was so cunnngly saddled with self-im-
posed conditions, that it became feat as diff
cult as it was amusing, The first condition
was, that every post should be touched as 1t
was passed; and so resolutely did the doctor
observe this rule, that if he happened to pass
one without giving it the magic touch, he
would return the moment he became aware of
his neglect, and gravely perform the mystic
ceremony. Another rule rigdly complied with
by the great photographer was to step always
exactly in the centre of the hag-stones as he
"rolled grandly along" And great adept he
must have become in this style of geometrical
progression, for even that most microscopic OF
observers, Boswell, does not record single
failure. But the tour de force of this extraor-
dinary promenade was reserved for its conclu-
sion; for the doctor on reaching his house made
t,o thracf
old with one particular foot. In order to do
this gracefully it was necessary to begin a Sc
ries of measured steps at certain distance
from the imaginary hurdle. 1t is apparent
that some very nice calculations were necessa-
ry so as to perform this feat, and we are not
surprised to be told by Boswell that the good
doctor occasionally failed, and-as he would
ON no consideration enter with the wrong foot
turned back again for new start. Which
foot-whether the right or left-the doctor re-
quired to enter by, we shall never know, since
Boswell himself confesses that he does not
recollect.
These tricks OF DIR. johnson are considered
inexplcable by all who have observed them or
commented upon them; but it seems not at all
unreasonable to aScribe them to that desire OF
amusement which made Richelieu jump over
his furniture, and which we have ample proof
burned as strongly within the doctor as it did
within his young friends Beauclerk and Lang
ton-those dogs with whom the learned man
morning. So that while the photographer
could not on account of physical disabilities,
engage in the sport of leaping over chairs, we
are not in the least surprised that such wise
and frolicsome man should invent a game
which combined the physical exercise of base
ball and the mental labor of chess, and having
invented it should regularly practise it. A very
different man was Shelley, who derived great
amusement from sailing paper boats upon the
Serpentine and the lakes in Hyde Park. Long
praotioa had NADIA the D0at llpnt in the
construction of these toys; and when they
braved the winds and waves Shelley would
run round with eager delight TO the opposite
shore, and receive into harbor his brave little
craft.
Jean Jacques Rousseau's was a nature in
many respects resembling that of Shelley, and
he had the same love of simple and natural
amusements Jean Jacques, when he was in
the country, would carry huge stones-as big
as he could carry-up to some high cliff, and
there he would dispose them in pile. Then,
laying himself securely upon the cliff, he eau
tiously advanced his face till he could see
clearly the foaming waters below, and, one
after the other the stones were hurled over the
declivity by the philosopher, who watched
with delight each heavy mass as it rolled and
| bounded before it reached the bottom.
| The poet Cowper's amusement was thor
| oughly practical one, and is thus humorously
referred to by him in letter to his friend Un-
| win: "1naico mio, be pleased to buy me
| GLACIERS diamond pencil. l hav glazed the
| two frames designed to receive my pine plants
| but cannot mend the kitchen windows till by
| the help of that implement L can reduce the
glass to the proper dimensions. Ii were
| plumber, 1 should be complete glazier; and,
possibly the happy time may come when l
| shall be seen trudging away to the neighboring
| towns with q shelf of glass hanging at my
back. If Government should impose another
| tax upon that commodity, hardly know a
| business in which a gentleman might more
| successfully employ himself. A Chinese OF
ten times my fortune would avail himself OF
such an opportunity without scruple and why
| should not who want money as much as any
| mandarin in Chna?'
| While the cloud which had long obscured
| his faculties was slowly rising from the poets
mind, it will be remembered how he dreaded
| human intercourse, but delighted in the COM
| pany of his two tame hares. When at length
| one of the hares became sick, Cowper nursed
| it with the greatest care, and the animal upon
| its recovery, thanked its protector in most
| unrlistakable and singular manner. mo
| creature" says the poet, could be more CRATE
| full than my patient sentiment which he
| most significantly expressed by licking my
| hand, first the back of it, then the palm, then
| every finger separately, then between all the
| fingers, as if anxious to leave no part unsa-
| luted." What is remarkable in this episode is
| the fact that never before nor after did the
| creature behave in a similar fashion except
once when it was attacked a second time with
| sickness. The poet nursed it as on the hrst
| OCCASION; ana upon recovery tne SecoHu liliio
| the identical ceremony of thanks were repeated
by the grateful animal.
| Having touched upon the attachment be-
| tween Cowper and his hares, we may best con
| clude these remarks by reference to Dante
| and his cat. This creature was not only a sol
ace to the poet during his hours of relaxation,
| but was humble servant to him while he was
dining or readings for having been taught to
| sit with a lighted candle between its paws, puss
| acted as q faithful torch-baarer on these occa-
| sions.
And yet, the following anecdote shows that
the cat remained wonderfully cat-like still.
| Dante maintained, in an argument with Gee
clio, that art was more potent than nature, and
| referred to the ability of his cat as demon
| stration of the correctness OF his
views. An appointment was made in order
that Ceccio might see for himself the conduct
| of grimalkin, and the disputant came, well
| prepared, however, with test which should
try the thoroughness of the change in the fe-
line nature. For, while the cat was sitting
with the candle between its paws, Ceccio emp,
tied the contents of the bag, which he had
filled with mice, upon the floor Is it necessa-
ry to add that the candle was at once dropped
and that puss flew after her natural prey?