The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-04
II.

II.
They who set down Boswell as merely q
Ounce let him OF much too easily. He was. IS
We have said. q spiteful Ounce. and. what was
least creditable to him. he put OF the venting
Of his venom until he was shielded from
punishment by the death OF the object
OF his secret dislike It Is impossible
to reconcile his pretended love and rev.
erence for DR.. johnson with the worse
than stupid. the malicious. indiscretion Of
some Of his disclosures. II. for instance. the
answering and conscientious moralist, whose
beautiful treatment Of the street-walker drew
tears from the rugged Carlyle and who meyer
penned q word which he did not from the bot
| tom Of his soul believe would make for
good. had known that the following light
Jest would be deliberately spread before the
eyes Of a sneering world. 1t would have made
him turn In his grave. The passage to which
we refer occurs in the first volume Of the
Life" He tJohnsonl for o considerable time
used to frequent the green room and seemed
to take delight in dissipating his gloom by
mixing in the sprightly chit-chat Of the mot
ley circle then to be found there. Mr.. David
Hume related to me from Mr.. .Garrick that
johnson at last denied himself this amuse.
ment. from considerations OF rigid virtue. say
ing. I'll come no more behind your scenes,
David. for the silk stockings and white bosoms
Of your actresses excite my amorous propen-
sities'" . 90. -.
Another victim OF this odious mixture OF
stupidity and malice was John Wilkes. who
also bore Boswell's sycophancy with good
humored liberation. Wilkes never denied. or
attempted to palliate the errors and excesses
Of his youth. but he tried to make those who
protested to be his friends forget them by the
genuine reform which he accomplished in
middle life. But repentance. however sincere.
could expect no sympathy from Boswell. On
the contrary. he took care In the " Life to re-
port johnson as saying: 1T is wonderful to
think that all the force OF government was re-
qured to prevent Wilkes from being chosen the
chief magistrate OF London. though the livery
men knew he would rob their shops. knew he
would debauch their daugters" This was bru-
tai enough. considering that It was published
at moment when the world was beginning to
forget and condone Wilkes's folies. Boswell.
however. must needs append a foot note in
which. while pretending to soften the express
sion. he contrived to make It more CALLING. ~
think 1t incumbent on me- he says. to make
some observation on this strong. satirical sally
on my classical companion. Mr. Wilkes. Re-
porting 1t lately from memory In his presence.
depressed It thus: They knew he would
rob their shops. Ohe burst: they knew he would
debauch their daughters u he could" which.
according to the French phrase. may be said
rencheir on DR.. Johnson" 1t may indeed. We
may add that In another allusion to Wilkes.
Boswell excelled himself When johnson and
Wilkes after their reconciliation were sitting
together talking In almost afrectionate terms
the laird Of Auchinleck declared that 1t sug-
gested the lion lying down with the lamb He
goes on to tell US: "'When mentioned this |
1.-THE speech about the lion and lamb to the
Bishop Of Killsloe tDr. Dcrnardl. With the |
goat" said his lordship:" remark which Of
course was never meant by the prelate to be
repeated or printed.
Boswells repeated attempts to read indecency
into the ingenious utterances Of DR.. johnson. |
than whom no purer-mindsd man ever lived. |
OF these outrages on his friends memory a |
single specimen must suffice. to wit, the same |
In which johnson. as the whole company gath |
cred around him. declared Of certain lady |
without, OF course. the slightest thought Of a
double sntendre: The woman had bottom OF |
good sense" In this perfectly colorloss re-
mark Boswell finds occasion for leer. He |
proceeds to inform US that the word bottom |
thus introduced was 30 ludicrous. when con-
trasted with the Doctors gravity. that most OF |
us could not forbear tittering and laughing: |
though recollect that the Bishop Of Killaloe
kept his countenance with perfect steadiness.
while Miss Hannah More silly hid her face be-
hind lady's back who sat on the same settee
with her." DR.. Johnson was naturally indig-
nant that any expression OF his should excite
ridicule when he was guiltless Of intending It.
He. therefore. on this occasion resolved to
assume and exercise depotio power. glanced
sternly around. and called out In strong tone.
Where's the. merrimentr Then collecting
himself and looking awful to make us feel how
he could impose restraint and. a. It were.
searching his mind for an invulnersble word.
! say the woman was fundamentally sensi-
ble': as II he had said. Hear this now. and
laugh II you dare We all sat composed as at
, funeral" The "glosses' here interjected
by the biographer. his interpretations Of John
sons mind. are. as Mr.. Fitzgerald recognizes.
and edifyins.
HI.
We are indebted TO Miss Fanny Burney for
ifelike and inimitable description Of the atti-
Jude OF Boswell toward his idol. and recipro-
,ally OF Johnson toward his worshipper. She |
WAS staying at country house whore John
son also was visitor. when Boswell called.
Now let US hear her recount the story. which. |
however familiar It may be. is too well told
over 10 be stale: -. =, II
"As Mr.. Boswell was at EtraathAmt: only
,pon morning visit. COLLATION. was ordered.
It which all were assembled; Mr.. Boswell was
~ *-is,il: .; . =