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owe one of the best biographies ever written。 One is disposed to
think that there must have been some genuine good qualities in
Boswell to have been attracted by such a man as Johnson； and to
have kept faithful to his worship in spite of rebuffs and
snubbings innumerable。 Macaulay speaks of Boswell as an
altogether contemptible personas a coxcomb and a boreweak；
vain； pushing； curious； garrulous； and without wit； humour； or
eloquence。 But Carlyle is doubtless more just in his
characterisation of the biographer； in whomvain and foolish
though he was in many respectshe sees a man penetrated by the
old reverent feeling of discipleship； full of love and admiration
for true wisdom and excellence。 Without such qualities； Carlyle
insists； the 'Life of Johnson' never could have been written。
〃Boswell wrote a good book；〃 he says； 〃because he had a heart and
an eye to discern wisdom； and an utterance to render it forth；
because of his free insight； his lively talent； and； above all； of
his love and childlike openmindedness。〃
Most young men of generous mind have their heroes； especially if
they be book…readers。 Thus Allan Cunningham； when a mason's
apprentice in Nithsdale； walked all the way to Edinburgh for the
sole purpose of seeing Sir Walter Scott as he passed along the
street。 We unconsciously admire the enthusiasm of the lad； and
respect the impulse which impelled him to make the journey。 It is
related of Sir Joshua Reynolds； that when a boy of ten； he thrust
his hand through intervening rows of people to touch Pope； as if
there were a sort of virtue in the contact。 At a much later
period； the painter Haydon was proud to see and to touch Reynolds
when on a visit to his native place。 Rogers the poet used to tell
of his ardent desire； when a boy； to see Dr。 Johnson； but when his
hand was on the knocker of the house in Bolt Court； his courage
failed him； and he turned away。 So the late Isaac Disraeli； when
a youth； called at Bolt Court for the same purpose； and though be
HAD the courage to knock； to his dismay he was informed by the
servant that the great lexicographer had breathed his last only a
few hours before。
On the contrary； small and ungenerous minds cannot admire
heartily。 To their own great misfortune； they cannot recognise；
much less reverence； great men and great things。 The mean nature
admires meanly。 The toad's highest idea of beauty is his toadess。
The small snob's highest idea of manhood is the great snob。 The
slave…dealer values a man according to his muscles。 When a Guinea
trader was told by Sir Godfrey Kneller； in the presence of Pope；
that he saw before him two of the greatest men in the world； he
replied： 〃I don't know how great you may be； but I don't like your
looks。 I have often bought a man much better than both of you
together； all bones and muscles； for ten guineas！〃
Although Rochefoucauld； in one of his maxims； says that there is
something that is not altogether disagreeable to us in the
misfortunes of even our best friends； it is only the small and
essentially mean nature that finds pleasure in the disappointment；
and annoyance at the success of others。 There are； unhappily； for
themselves； persons so constituted that they have not the heart to
be generous。 The most disagreeable of all people are those who
〃sit in the seat of the scorner。〃 Persons of this sort often come
to regard the success of others； even in a good work； as a kind of
personal offence。 They cannot bear to hear another praised；
especially if he belong to their own art； or calling； or
profession。 They will pardon a man's failures； but cannot forgive
his doing a thing better than they can do。 And where they have
themselves failed； they are found to be the most merciless of
detractors。 The sour critic thinks of his rival：
〃When Heaven with such parts has blest him；
Have I not reason to detest him？〃
The mean mind occupies itself with sneering； carping； and fault…
finding； and is ready to scoff at everything but impudent
effrontery or successful vice。 The greatest consolation of such
persons are the defects of men of character。 〃If the wise erred
not；〃 says George Herbert； 〃it would go hard with fools。〃 Yet；
though wise men may learn of fools by avoiding their errors； fools
rarely profit by the example which； wise men set them。 A German
writer has said that it is a miserable temper that cares only to
discover the blemishes in the character of great men or great
periods。 Let us rather judge them with the charity of
Bolingbroke； who； when reminded of one of the alleged weaknesses
of Marlborough； observed；〃He was so great a man that I forgot
he had that defect。〃
Admiration of great men； living or dead； naturally evokes
imitation of them in a greater or less degree。 While a mere
youth； the mind of Themistocles was fired by the great deeds of
his contemporaries； and he longed to distinguish himself in the
service of his country。 When the Battle of Marathon had been
fought； he fell into a state of melancholy； and when asked by his
friends as to the cause； he replied 〃that the trophies of
Miltiades would not suffer him to sleep。〃 A few years later； we
find him at the head of the Athenian army； defeating the Persian
fleet of Xerxes in the battles of Artemisium and Salamis；his
country gratefully acknowledging that it had been saved through
his wisdom and valour。
It is related of Thucydides that； when a boy； he burst into tears
on hearing Herodotus read his History； and the impression made
upon his mind was such as to determine the bent of his own genius。
And Demosthenes was so fired on one occasion by the eloquence of
Callistratus； that the ambition was roused within him of becoming
an orator himself。 Yet Demosthenes was physically weak； had a
feeble voice； indistinct articulation； and shortness of breath
defects which he was only enabled to overcome by diligent study
and invincible determination。 But； with all his practice； he
never became a ready speaker； all his orations； especially the
most famous of them； exhibiting indications of careful
elaboration；the art and industry of the orator being visible in
almost every sentence。
Similar illustrations of character imitating character； and
moulding itself by the style and manner and genius of great men；
are to be found pervading all history。 Warriors； statesmen；
orators； patriots； poets； and artistsall have been； more or
less unconsciously； nurtured by the lives and actions of others
living before them or presented for their imitation。
Great men have evoked the admiration of kings； popes； and
emperors。 Francis de Medicis never spoke to Michael Angelo
without uncovering； and Julius III。 made him sit by his side while
a dozen cardinals were standing。 Charles V。 made way for Titian；
and one day； when the brush dropped from the painter's hand；
Charles stooped and picked it up； saying； 〃You deserve to b