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unjust things said of them without indulging in undue resentment；
and avoiding worreting； petty； and self…tormenting cares。 An
intimate friend of Lord Palmerston； who observed him closely for
twenty years； has said that he never saw him angry； with perhaps
one exception； and that was when the ministry responsible for the
calamity in Affghanistan； of which he was one； were unjustly
accused by their opponents of falsehood； perjury； and wilful
mutilation of public documents。
So far as can be learnt from biography； men of the greatest genius
have been for the most part cheerful； contented mennot eager
for reputation； money； or powerbut relishing life； and keenly
susceptible of enjoyment； as we find reflected in their works。
Such seem to have been Homer； Horace； Virgil； Montaigne；
Shakspeare； Cervantes。 Healthy serene cheerfulness is apparent in
their great creations。 Among the same class of cheerful…minded
men may also be mentioned Luther； More； Bacon； Leonardo da Vinci；
Raphael； and Michael Angelo。 Perhaps they were happy because
constantly occupied； and in the pleasantest of all workthat of
creating out of the fulness and richness of their great minds。
Milton； too； though a man of many trials and sufferings； must
have been a man of great cheerfulness and elasticity of nature。
Though overtaken by blindness； deserted by friends； and fallen
upon evil days〃darkness before and danger's voice behind〃
yet did he not bate heart or hope； but 〃still bore up and
steered right onward。〃
Henry Fielding was a man borne down through life by debt； and
difficulty； and bodily suffering； and yet Lady Mary Wortley
Montague has said of him that； by virtue of his cheerful
disposition； she was persuaded he 〃had known more happy moments
than any person on earth。〃
Dr。 Johnson； through all his trials and sufferings and hard fights
with fortune； was a courageous and cheerful…natured man。 He
manfully made the best of life； and tried to be glad in it。 Once；
when a clergyman was complaining of the dulness of society in the
country； saying 〃they only talk of runts〃 （young cows）； Johnson
felt flattered by the observation of Mrs。 Thrale's mother； who
said； 〃Sir； Dr。 Johnson would learn to talk of runts〃meaning
that he was a man who would make the most of his situation；
whatever it was。
Johnson was of opinion that a man grew better as he grew older；
and that his nature mellowed with age。 This is certainly a much
more cheerful view of human nature than that of Lord Chesterfield；
who saw life through the eyes of a cynic； and held that 〃the heart
never grows better by age： it only grows harder。〃 But both
sayings may be true according to the point from which life is
viewed； and the temper by which a man is governed； for while the
good； profiting by experience； and disciplining themselves by
self…control； will grow better； the ill…conditioned； uninfluenced
by experience； will only grow worse。
Sir Walter Scott was a man full of the milk of human kindness。
Everybody loved him。 He was never five minutes in a room ere the
little pets of the family； whether dumb or lisping； had found out
his kindness for all their generation。 Scott related to Captain
Basil Hall an incident of his boyhood which showed the tenderness
of his nature。 One day； a dog coming towards him； he took up a
big stone； threw it； and hit the dog。 The poor creature had
strength enough left to crawl up to him and lick his feet；
although he saw its leg was broken。 The incident； he said； had
given him the bitterest remorse in his after…life； but he added；
〃An early circumstance of that kind； properly reflected on；
is calculated to have the best effect on one's character
throughout life。〃
〃Give me an honest laugher；〃 Scott would say； and he himself
laughed the heart's laugh。 He had a kind word for everybody； and
his kindness acted all round him like a contagion； dispelling the
reserve and awe which his great name was calculated to inspire。
〃He'll come here；〃 said the keeper of the ruins of Melrose Abbey
to Washington Irving〃he'll come here some…times； wi' great
folks in his company； and the first I'll know of it is hearing his
voice calling out； 'Johnny！ Johnny Bower！' And when I go out I'm
sure to be greeted wi' a joke or a pleasant word。 He'll stand and
crack and laugh wi' me； just like an auld wife； and to think that
of a man that has SUCH AN AWFU' KNOWLEDGE O' HISTORY！〃
Dr。 Arnold was a man of the same hearty cordiality of manner
full of human sympathy。 There was not a particle of affectation
or pretence of condescension about him。 〃I never knew such a
humble man as the doctor；〃 said the parish clerk at Laleham； 〃he
comes and shakes us by the hand as if he was one of us。〃 〃He used
to come into my house；〃 said an old woman near Fox How； 〃and talk
to me as if I were a lady。〃
Sydney Smith was another illustration of the power of
cheerfulness。 He was ever ready to look on the bright side of
things； the darkest cloud had to him its silver lining。 Whether
working as country curate； or as parish rector； he was always
kind； laborious； patient； and exemplary； exhibiting in every
sphere of life the spirit of a Christian； the kindness of a
pastor； and the honour of a gentleman。 In his leisure he employed
his pen on the side of justice； freedom； education； toleration；
emancipation； and his writings； though full of common…sense and
bright humour； are never vulgar； nor did he ever pander to
popularity or prejudice。 His good spirits； thanks to his natural
vivacity and stamina of constitution； never forsook him； and in
his old age； when borne down by disease； he wrote to a friend： 〃I
have gout； asthma； and seven other maladies； but am otherwise very
well。〃 In one of the last letters he wrote to Lady Carlisle； he
said： 〃If you hear of sixteen or eighteen pounds of flesh wanting
an owner； they belong to me。 I look as if a curate had been
taken out of me。〃
Great men of science have for the most part been patient；
laborious； cheerful…minded men。 Such were Galileo； Descartes；
Newton； and Laplace。 Euler the mathematician； one of the greatest
of natural philosophers； was a distinguished instance。 Towards
the close of his life he became completely blind； but he went on
writing as cheerfully as before； supplying the want of sight by
various ingenious mechanical devices； and by the increased
cultivation of his memory； which became exceedingly tenacious。
His chief pleasure was in the society of his grandchildren； to
whom he taught their little lessons in the intervals of his
severer studies。
In like manner； Professor Robison of Edinburgh； the first editor
of the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica；' when disabled from work by a
lingering and painful disorder； found his chief pleasure in the
society of his grandchild。 〃I am infinitely delighted；〃 he wrote
to James Watt； 〃with observing the growth of its little soul； and
particularly with