The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-24
IOHNSON'S LOVE OF STUDY

His eAhaustless love of knowledge is
another sign of the marvellous vitality
which gave johnson SO much influence in
his day and makes him still power
in our own. Every human being he
observed whose mind is not debauched
will be willing to give all he has to get
knowledge On receiving his pension
he said. Had this happened 20 years
ago, should have gone to Constantinople
to learn Arabic Like his own Rasselos
he was pleased with every kind Of
knowledge He was glad to listen to a
man who could talk only OF pig iron, and
once tried to learn knitting. "A man"
he said to Boswell, would not submit to
learn to hem rutfie of his wife OF OF his
wife, maid, but if mere wish could at
tain it, he would rather wish to be able
to hem rufile.'' Robert Hall, when he
was passing 90, might be seen stretched
upon his rug studying Italian. i'll order to
read Dante; and Johnson, who entered
at "a a brief petition, when he ''purposed
to apply vigorously TO study, particularly
of the Greek and Italian tongues" Greek
he said, is like lace: every man get as
much of it as he can. In his Old age he
read the ''-Eneid'' through in twelve
nights, and had great delight in it; and
six months before his death he had asked
DR.. Burney to teach him the scales of
music. This intellectual ardor remained
with him to the last, and at - he writes:
My purpose is to pass eight hours every
day i'll serious employment. Having
prayed, propose to employ the next six
weeks upon the Italian language for my
settled study His acquisitions, accord
ing to Boswell, who wrote sometimes in
'Johnsonese.' We're made by violent IL
ruptionS into the regions of knowledge,
he may be said to have devoured books
rather than to have read them. and. like
all book-loverS, like to glance over the
titles of books on the shelves of library.
knowledge, he said, lis Of two kinds.
We know a subject ourselves or We know
where we can find information upon it.
When we inquire into any subject, the
first thing we have to do is to know what
books have treated Of it. This leads us
to look at catalogues and the backs of
books i'll libraries. Johnson advised
Boswell to keep a number of books about
him i'll order that he might be able to re-
fer to any subject upon which lie wanted
instruction at the time. What you read
then he observed. you will remember:
but if You have not Il book Immediately
ready, and the subject molds in your
mind, it is Il chance if you have again 4
desire to study it. His passion for read
ing did not. however. lead him to take
much care of books. Wordsworth is said
to have been so indifferent as to open a
splendid volume with knife that had
been used for butter; and johnson seems
to have treated his books in the slovenly
way in which he treated his own person.
He could not possibly have used them
worse. No great reader, it may be OBJ
served. could be less of book
He was never, like Southey, a slave to
his books, but considered that they were
useless without a knowledge of life He
knew more books than any man alive.
according to Adam Smith, but. on the
other baud. few men who have followed
literature as a profession have lived more
i'll society, and none, we may safely affirm
have enjoyed it more thoroughly. To
talk was Johnson's delight: and so well
did he talk that even Burke. IA master in
the art, was modeStly content to ring the
bell to him. In Burke alone had Johnson
his match. Burke" he said. lis the
only man whose common conversation
corresponds with the general fame which
he has in the world, and when ill, he
declared that it would kill him to en-
! counter Burke in an argument. On one
occasion johnson said, That is the hap
pest conversation where there is no COM
petition, no vanity, but calm, quiet in
terchange of sentiment But this was
fax from being his prevalent mood. Easy
talk across the wafnuts and the wine did
not generally suit johnson. He wanted
an opponent worth Of his steel. lie de-
lighted in the tug of war; he was not
satisfied unless he gained a victory. ''IIe
has no formal preparation, said Boswell
no tlourishin. with his sword; he is
through your body i'll an instant" He
liked to enjoy his talk leisurely.