anecdotes of the late samuel johnson-第26章
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ying； 〃A boy should never be sent to Eton or Westminster School before he is twelve years old at least； for if in his years of babyhood he escapes that general and transcendent knowledge without which life is perpetually put to a stand； he will never get it at a public school； where； if he does not learn Latin and Greek； he learns nothing。〃 Mr。 Johnson often said； 〃that there was too much stress laid upon literature as indispensably necessary： there is surely no need that everybody should be a scholar； no call that every one should square the circle。 Our manner of teaching；〃 said he； 〃cramps and warps many a mind； which if left more at liberty would have been respectable in some way； though perhaps not in that。 We lop our trees； and prune them； and pinch them about；〃 he would say； 〃and nail them tight up to the wall； while a good standard is at last the only thing for bearing healthy fruit； though it commonly begins later。 Let the people learn necessary knowledge； let them learn to count their fingers； and to count their money； before they are caring for the classics； for；〃 says Mr。 Johnson； 〃though I do not quite agree with the proverb； that Nullum numen abest si sit prudentia； yet we may very well say； that Nullum numen adestni sit prudentia。〃
We had been visiting at a lady's house； whom as we returned some of the company ridiculed for her ignorance。 〃She is not ignorant；〃 said he； 〃I believe； of anything she has been taught； or of anything she is desirous to
know： and I suppose if one wanted a little RUN TEA； she might be a proper person enough to apply to。〃
When I relate these various instances of contemptuous behaviour shown to a variety of people； I am aware that those who till now have heard little of Mr。 Johnson will here cry out against his pride and his severity； yet I have been as careful as I could to tell them that all he did was gentle； if all he said was rough。 Had I given anecdotes of his actions instead of his words； we should； I am sure； have had nothing on record but acts of virtue differently modified； as different occasions called that virtue forth： and among all the nine biographical essays or performances which I have heard will at last be written about dear Dr。 Johnson； no mean or wretched； no wicked or even slightly culpable action will； I trust； be found； to produce and put in the scale against a life of seventy years； spent in the uniform practice of every moral excellence and every Christian perfection； save humility alone； says a critic； but that I think MUST be excepted。 He was not； however； wanting even in that to a degree seldom attained by man； when the duties of piety or charity called it forth。
Lowly towards God； and docile towards the Church； implicit in his belief of the Gospel； and ever respectful towards the people appointed to preach it； tender of the unhappy； and affectionate to the poor； let no one hastily condemn as proud a character which may perhaps somewhat justly be censured as arrogant。 It must； however； be remembered again； that even this arrogance was never shown without some intention； immediate or remote； of mending some fault or conveying some instruction。 Had I meant to make a panegyric on Mr。 Johnson's well…known excellences； I should have told his deeds only； not his wordssincerely protesting； that as I never saw him once do a wrong thing； so we had accustomed ourselves to look upon him almost as an excepted being： and I should as much have expected injustice from Socrates； or impiety from Paschal； as the slightest deviation from truth and goodness in any transaction one might be engaged in with Samuel Johnson。 His attention to veracity was without equal or example： and when I mentioned Clarissa as a perfect character； 〃On the contrary；〃 said he； 〃you may observe there is always something which she prefers to truth。 Fielding's Amelia was the most pleasing heroine of all the romances；〃 he said； 〃but that vile broken nose； never cured； ruined the sale of perhaps the only book； which being printed off betimes one morning； a new edition was called for before night。〃
Mr。 Johnson's knowledge of literary history was extensive and surprising。 He knew every adventure of every book you could name almost； and was exceedingly pleased with the opportunity which writing the 〃Poets' Lives〃 gave him to display it。 He loved to be set at work； and was sorry when he came to the end of the business he was about。 I do not feel so myself with regard to these sheets： a fever which has preyed on me while I wrote them over for the press； will perhaps lessen my power of doing well the first； and probably the last work I should ever have thought of presenting to the public。 I could doubtless wish so to conclude it； as at least to show my zeal for my friend； whose life； as I once had the honour and happiness of being useful to； I should wish to record a few particular traits of； that those who read should emulate his goodness； but feeling the necessity of making even virtue and learning such as HIS agreeable； that all should be warned against such coarseness of manners； as drove even from HIM those who loved； honoured； and esteemed him。 His wife's daughter； Mrs。 Lucy Porter； of Lichfield； whose veneration for his person and character has ever been the greatest possible； being opposed one day in conversation by a clergyman who came often to her house； and feeling somewhat offended； cried out sudden； 〃Why； Mr。 Pearson；〃 said she； 〃you are just like Dr。 Johnson； I think： I do not mean that you are a man of the greatest capacity in all the world like Dr。 Johnson； but that you contradict one every word one speaks； just like him。〃
Mr。 Johnson told me the story： he was present at the giving of the reproof。 It was； however； observable； that with all his odd severity； he could not keep even indifferent people from teasing him with unaccountable confessions of silly conduct； which one would think they would scarcely have had inclination to reveal even to their tenderest and most intimate companions； and it was from these unaccountable volunteers in sincerity that he learned to warn the world against follies little known； and seldom thought on by other moralists。
Much of his eloquence； and much of his logic； have I heard him use to prevent men from making vows on trivial occasions； and when he saw a person oddly perplexed about a slight difficulty； 〃Let the man alone；〃 he would say； 〃and torment him no more about it； there is a vow in the case； I am convinced； but is it not very strange that people should be neither afraid nor ashamed of bringing in God Almighty thus at every turn between themselves and their dinner？〃 When I asked what ground he had for such imaginations； he informed me； 〃That a young lady once told him in confidence that she could never persuade herself to be dressed against the bell rung for dinner； till she had made a vow to heaven that she would never more be absent from the family meals。〃
The strangest applications in the world were certainly made from time to time towards Mr。 Johnson； who by that means had an inexhaustible fund of ancecdote； and could； if he pleased； tell the most astonishing stories of human folly and human weakness that ever were confided to any man not a confessor by profession。
One day； when he was in a humour to record some of them； he told us the following tale：〃A person；〃 said he； 〃had for these last five weeks often called at my door； but would not leave his name or other message； but that he wished to speak with me。 At last we met； and he told me that he was oppressed by scruples of conscience。 I blamed him gently for not applying； as the rules of our Church direct； to his parish priest or other discreet clergyman； when； after some compliments on his part； he told me that he was clerk to a very eminent trader； at whose warehouses much business consisted in packing goods in order to go abroad； that he was often tempted to take paper and packthread enough for his own use； and that he had indeed done so so often； that he could recollect no time when he ever had bought any for himself。 'But probably；' said I； 'your master was wholly indifferent with regard to such trivial emoluments。 You had better ask for it at once； a
