The Washington times., 1901-12-01
DIR. JOHNSON.
A New Anecdote of the LexIcogra-
PheF.

a New Anecdote of the LextcOEra-
PheF.
The recently published story of Miss
Mary Bagot contains the following anec-
dote of DR.. Johnson. related by the niece
| of Sir Joshua Reynolds:
During one of my visits to my uncle.
when I was young and shy. he requested
me to sit at the head of his table on a
day when he expected a large party.
Among the guests we're Cumberland, Car
rick, and Dr. Johnson. I trembied at the
name of the latter. and in consequence of
his presence begged that mine might be
dispensed with. My uncle laughed at my
folly, would not attend to my entreaties,
and assured me If 1 would provide a good
dinner that nothing more would be re-
quired OF me by his old friend, who prob
ably would not trouble his head about me
in any other capacity 1 did my best as
to the dinner and took my place at the
top of the table, determining not to Of
fend by my words, by dint of not speaking
at all
The conversation, by some unlucky
chance, turned upon music, to which Dr.
Johnson was totally insensible. Where
upon he INDUCED his cloquence at the ex-
pense of his sense, in a violent philippe
against the art itself. concluding by his
opinion, most positively delivered that no
man of talent, or who was in any degree
capable of better things. ever had. ever
could, or ever would devote any portion of
his time and attention to so idle and frivo-
lous purpose. l happened to be exceed
ingly fond of music. which conquered my
fear of the sage, ard prompted me to say
to my next neighbor. I wonder what DR..
Johnson thinks of King David? He (Which
did not intend) heard the remark
started, laid down his knife and fork. got
up, walked to the head of the tabIe-as
thought to knock me down-but | did him
an injustice. for, laying one of his large
hands on each of my shoulders, he said.
Madame, | thank you. l stand rebuked
before you, and promise that on one sub
ject at least you shall never hear me talk
nonsense again. There is no pleasanter
anecdote of the good doctor in existence"
Sir Walter Scott could be uncommonly
philosophic as regarded his own work
He once wrote to Miss Bagot:
81 am very much obliged by your COM
me1dation of my attempts in poetry. In
one point OF view they certainly stand in
need of Indulgence, for they are like or
phans, cast on the world, for whom their
ostrich parent never cared since they
were sent forth. To say the truth, an
early experience of what authors suffer
who place much OF their happiness in the
success of their literary productions de-
termined me to be as Indifferent as pos
sible to mine, and | assure you | have
never looked at one of them since they
left me till last summer. when | read
The Lady of the Lake and found 1t bet
ter than | expected; however l did not
like it well enough to venture upon the
rest, and / may say, with Macbeth, 4 am
afraid to think what / have done; look
on I again, | dare noti'"
This same Mary Bagot has recorded in
her "reminiscences date 1929 this story
Of Dean Stanley as a schoolb5y: While
we were at the Water Color Exhibition
l was introduced to an elderly clergyman,
with dark, intelligent eyes, as the father
Of Arthur Stanley in whose Tour to the
FyreGees | had found so much pleasure
and felt SO much astonishment last No
vember. Since that time he has been
placed at Rugby and AIR Stanley told NE
his last communication from him was as
follows; Dear Father have been very
unTell. l therefore took a dose of physic
ana locked my door. being anxious to be
well by Thursday. when we are to have an
examination and our head master viii
examine us himself | should think this
anecdote must be unrivaled in school his
tory. and feel more than ever convinced
that. If he lives, the world Will hear
more of Arthur Stanley. York
Tribune.