The morning call., 1893-12-14
Lights and Shades of It's Au-
thOr's Career.
COMPILER OF A DICTIONARY.
JOhnson's Qualities and Defects
Those of Typical Englisfman.
The Course Closes.

the Eighteenth Century" was delivered
By Professor Louis Du Pont Syle. in the
Hopkins Art Building yesterday afternoon.
and as usual every seat was occupied and
standing-room was at premium.
As lack of time last week had prevented
as full discussion Of Sheridan's works as
was intended the "School for Scandal
was the subject first taken up. This come
dy. the professor said. was really COM
bnation of two which Sheridan had in
tended to write. one containing the Teazle
part and the other the school for scandal
idea This fact accounts for the lack of
connection which is noticeable between
certain scenes.
Sheridan evidently believed that "easy
writing is hard reading" for his manu-
scrpts bear every mark of toll, and, indo-
lent as he naturally was. he worked hard
over the brilliant epgrams and witty
peeches which seem to flow SO naturally
from the lips of his characters. The chief
fault of this comedy is that it Is too witty.
The characters are too polished for their
positions in life. Joseph Surface is the
leading character, and is undoubtedly
modelled on MOliere's Tartuffe, though
Moliere's portrait is truer and more dell
cate. The scandal scene is partly bOr-
rowed from Congreve, and also bears
traces of Moliere.
This play was an instant success at
Drury Lane, but the money which it
brought Sheridan did not succeed in keep
ing. He went into politics and spent
money freely in the endeavOr to keep the
pace which his companions set. He was
too lazy 10 write much: too lazy even to
attend to his private CORES espoDdence,
or to the duties devolving upon him as an
under secretary.
In 1749 he published ''The Critic"
which WAS really the DEATH blow to bomb
astlc tragedy and was full of clever hits at
certain well-known passages in literature.
As politician Sheridan was not a success,
as he had TO cope with such men as Burke
and Fox. and from the time he entered
Parliament his course was steadily down.
ward. After his condemnation, tearing
down, rebuilding and subsequent burning
OF Dfury Lane Theater, which was his
only property. Sheridan became merely a
political hauger-on, and his last days were
days of debt. dissipation and misery. He
had every quality needed to make man
successful but strength and perseverance.
Lacking these he ended his lays as a sOt
and sponge. but to the last he was kind
and good to others and never Intentionally
wounded by word or deed those with
whom he was thrown in contact.
Samuel johnson. Is strong as Sheridan
u
Litchheld in 1909, he was from his birth
afflicted with scrofula. for which be was
Intellectually touched" by Queen Aune.
This disease affected his eyesight all
through life. and undou btedly was thus
indirectly the cause of many of his pecu-
liaritles and idiOsyncrasies.
In spite of this inherited trouble John
son was strong and healthy otherwise,
and as child was remarkab bic for his re-
tentive memory and wide range of read
ing. The fact that his father kept book
store gave him almost unlimited oppor-
Junities in this direction, which he was
not slow in improving.
After brief season in Oxford. where he
was not at all appreciated, although in
after years the sleepy college woke up TO
realization of the fact that Johnson was
great man and conferred upon him the
degree OF LID, he went to teaching,
but failed in this line most decidedly.
Moving to Birmingham, where be had
nothing to do and little TO eat, he dstin-
guished himself by marrying lady twen-
ty-twO years his senior who was pos
sessed of much good sense but little good
looks. This lady believed in johnson and
his future and was great help and com
fort to her husband. who loved her dearly
in spite of the difference in their ages.
Failing again in teaching, since he
lacked the one quality which teachers
must possess-patlence - he went with
Garrick. Qu0udam pupil of his, to Lon
don, where Garrick made success much
earlier than dld his older companion, who
suffered greatly before his period of proba-
ton was ended. In 1873 JohDson's poem
London" was published and found many
readers. This poem is valuable as con-
tanning much of JohnsOn's own observa-
tions and experiences in the London
streets, but Is full of insular prejudice and
melancholy philosophy.
The VANITY of Human Wishes" next
appeared, written in the same pessims tic
strain as "London," but in a mellower
| tone.
Johnson's philosophy was that selt-con-
sciousness is curse, and that the more a
man can get out of himself the more
| nearly happy he is, and this idea is borne
out to great extent in the daily lives of
mankind.
'Irene," his only play, was a wretched
failure. most deservedly. but was folio wed
in 1855 by his dictionary. which was a
great success. His failure to dedicate the
| product of his seven years labor to Ches-
terheld on account of the latter's indffer-
ence to his prvatons during that period
| of his existence was the end of ''noble''
patronage in literature.
Personally, johnson was a very polite
man in his own way, though in his last
years very dictatoral ana argumentative.
| ODe great reason for the hold which he has
on the English heart is because he was a
typical Englshman, sturdy, self-reiant,
kiDd-hearted. sensible and preiud iced.
The influence which he left behind him
was for good alone.
His best friends were Garrick and Gold
smith, whom he considered that he owned.
Bathurst he loved because he was "a good
hater" and Burke be was very fond Of.
BoSwelPs connection with him was spoken
of at some length, and many amusing
anecdotes were told concerning this
Prince of BiOgraphers" and his eminent
friend.
AT the conclusion of the lecture Profess
sor Syle thanked all present for their at
tention during the course and in closing
said: This has been entirely labor of
love on my part. but ii l have succeeded
In awakinG among You a taste for some
thing above the ordinary popular second
grade literature shall feel myself we'll re-
paid"
An enthusiastic vote of thanks WAS ten
dered to the professor for his kindness,
and many regrets were expressed that the
course had come to an end. Mr.. w. D.
Arms, secretary of the University Exten-
sion Course, will deliver course of lee
lures on the Poets of the Nineteenth
Canturv houJu ne aorIu in E.hr