The sun., 1892-10-23

an account Of another Of these Reniuses who
called herself by some fno name she had
| not quite the Same stock OF virtue" said he
NOR tho aame stock OF honesty as Bal
Flint: but I suppose she envied her ac'
| complishments for she was 30 little moved py
tho power OF harmony that. while Bet Flint
thought shs was drumming very divinely. the
other Jade had hor Indicted for nuisance
And pray" asked Mrs. Thrale. what bs.
came OF Bet. sir ?" "Why. madam. she stole
q quilt from the man OF the house. and he had
her taken up: but Bet Flint had . spirit not to
| be subdued: no. when she found herself
obliged to 60 to Jail. che ordered sedan chair
and bade her footboy walk before her. How
ever. the boy proved refractory. for he was
ashamed. though his mistress was not.
And did she ever get out Of jail again. sirF'
"Yes. madam: when she came to her trial the
Judge acquitted her. 30. now she said to
me. tho quilt is my own, and III
make a petticoat OF it, Oh. l loved
Bet Flint" Then tine Doctor gave an
account Of another lady, who called herself
Laurinda. and also wrote verses and stoie
| furniture; but he had not the same afIeo-
| tion for her he said. though she too was
| lady who had high notions OF honor" Then
| followed tho history Of another who called her-
self Hortensis, and who walked up and down
In the park repeating = book OF Virgil. But
tho Doctor OK Explained that, though he knew her
story. he had never had the good fortune to SEQ
her. After this. he proceeded to discourse on
the famous Mrs Pinkethman. "She." he said.
"tod mo she owed all her misfortunes to her
wit: for she was SO unhappy as to marry man
who thought himself also wit, though be-
lIeye she gave him not implicit credit for IT.
but It occasioned much contradiction and Ill
will" "Bless me. sir!" cried Mrs. Thrale
"how can all these vagabonds contrive to get
at YOU Of all people ?" "Oh the dear crea-
lures" rrled he. laughing heartily. y" can't
but be glad to see them"
As johnson was the leading man OF letters.
SO the great Mrs. Montagu" was the leading
literary lady Of the time. This lady. whose
maiden name was Elizabeth Robinson. mar
ried Edward Montagu. grandson OF the nrst
Earl OF Sandwich. Her husbands death had
left her In the possession OF handsome for
tune Her writings DR.. johnson was In the
habit OF depreciatinG perhaps moro than they
deserved. but OF her conversational abilities
he entertained a high opinion. "Sir." he
would say. that lady exerts moro mind In
conversation than any person I ever met
with" 1t was probably to tho famo OF her
conversation and Of the bas bleu parties
which assembled at her house that she owed
tho greater part OF her reputation. She was
the acknowledged Queen OF the Blue Stock
ing. although the epithet originated with
rival giver OF literary parties Mrs. Vesey. who.
replying to the apology OF gentleman who
declined an invitation to ono OF her meetings
on the plea of want OF Dress exclaimed: Pho.
pho! don't mind dress! Come in your blue
stockngs!" Once. when Miss Burney and DR..
johnson were staying at Streatham. Mrs.
inf al hnf ha r9
Montagu would dine there tho next day
Thereupon DR.. johnson began to see-saw.
with a countenanco strongly expressive Of in
ward fun. and. after enjoying it some time In
silence. he suddenly and with great anima-
tion turned toward tho young novelist and
cried: Down with her. Burney. down with
her! Spare her not Attack her. fight her.
and down with her at oncel You are a rising
wit and she Is at tho top: and when was be-
ginning the world and was nothing and nobody.
the JOY Of my life was to flre at all the estab-
lished wits: and then everybody loved to
halo mo on. But there is no game now:
everybody would be glad to see me conc uered.
But. then. when l was new. to vanquish the
dear soul. So at her. Burney-at her. and
down with her." The first meeting with the
celebrated blue stocking is thus described. 1t
should be noted that Mrs. Montagu was not a.
yet aware that Evelinn " had been written By
Miss Burney. "She Mrs. Montagu) is middle
sized. very thin. and looks infirm: she has a
sensible and penetrating countenancs and the
air and manner Of a woman accustomed to
being distinguished and Of great parts DR..
Johnson. who agrees in this. told US that .
Mrs. Harvey OF his acquaintance says she can
remember Mrs. MontaGu trying for this same
air and manner. Mr.. Crisp has said tho same:
however. nobody can now impartially see her
and not confess that she has extremely we'll
succeeded. AS soon as Mrs. Montagu
heard my name. she inquired very civlly after
my father. l am sure he is very high III her
favor. because she did mo the honor OF ad-
dressing herself to me three or four times.
But my ease and tranquility were soon dis
turbed. for she had not been In the room moro
than ten minutes ere turning to Mrs. Thrale.
she said: oh. pa'am. but your Evelina'-I
have not yet got it-1 sent for it. but the book
seller had 1t not However. I will certainly
have it." "Ay. ay. hope 3d." answered Mrs.
Thrale. And I hope you will like 1t, too for
its a book to be liked" Miss Burney now be-
gan vehement nose-blowinc for the purpose
OF shielding her face with her handker-
chief Il hope. though" said Mrs Mon
tagu. dryly. 1T is not In verse. can
read anything In Prose. but have q great
-
no." returned Mrs. Thrale: it is all In prose.
assure you. 'Tis q novel; and an e1ceedng-
but 1t docs nothing good to be praised too
much. 30 / will say nothing more about It,
only this. that Mr. Burke sat up all night to
read it." Indeed? Well. propose to myself
great pleasure from 1t. and am gratified By
hearing that 1t Is written by woman" "And
Sir Joshua Reynolds" continued Mrs Thrale.
has been ofrerin.: lfty pounds to know the
author" "Well. will have to read it on my
Journey. am going to Berkshire. and 1t shall
be my travelling book" mo. maam. IL
you please. you shall have It now. Quoeny.
do look for 1t for Mrs. Montagu. and let it be
put In her carriage and 60 to town with her"
Miss Thrale roso to look for the book. and. in
Miss Burney rose. too Intending
to walk of. for her situation WAS inoxpressi-
bly, awkward: but thon she recollected that IL
she went away it might seem like giving Mrs.
Thrale leave and opportunity to tell her tale.
and therefore she stopped at a distant win
dow. whore she busted herself in contemp plat
Ing the poultry. And Dr. Johnson" added
tho kind pufler. says Fielding mover wrote SO