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abitants of which it consisted； he always sided with Francis against the others； whom he suspected （not unjustly； I believe） of greater malignity。 It seems at once vexatious and comical to reflect that the dissensions those people chose to live constantly in distressed and mortified him exceedingly。 He really was oftentimes afraid of going home； because he was so sure to be met at the door with numberless complaints； and he used to lament pathetically to me； and to Mr。 Sastres； the Italian master； who was much his favourite； that they made his life miserable from the impossibility he found of making theirs happy； when every favour he bestowed on one was wormwood to the rest。 If； however； I ventured to blame their ingratitude； and condemn their conduct； he would instantly set about softening the one and justifying the other； and finished commonly by telling me； that I knew not how to make allowances for situations I never experienced。
〃To thee no reason who know'st only good； But evil hast not tried。〃 MILTON。
Dr。 Johnson knew how to be merry with mean people； too； as well as to be sad with them； he loved the lower ranks of humanity with a real affection： and though his talents and learning kept him always in the sphere of upper life； yet he never lost sight of the time when he and they shared pain and pleasure in common。 A borough election once showed me his toleration of boisterous mirth； and his content in the company of people whom one would have thought at first sight little calculated for his society。 A rough fellow one day on such an occasion； a hatter by trade； seeing Mr。 Johnson's beaver in a state of decay； seized it suddenly with one hand； and clapping him on the back with the other； 〃Ah； Master Johnson；〃 says he； 〃this is no time to be thinking about HATS。〃 〃No； no； sir；〃 replied our Doctor in a cheerful tone； 〃hats are of no use now； as you say； except to throw up in the air and huzza with；〃 accompanying his words with a true election halloo。
But it was never against people of coarse life that his contempt was expressed； while poverty of sentiment in men who considered themselves to be company for THE PARLOUR； as he called it； was what he could not bear。 A very ignorant young fellow； who had plagued us all for nine or ten months； died at last consumptive。 〃I think；〃 said Mr。 Johnson； when he heard the news； 〃I am afraid I should have been more concerned for the death of the DOG； but〃 （hesitating a while） 〃I am not wrong now in all this； for the dog acted up to his character on every occasion that we know； but that dunce of a fellow helped forward the general disgrace of humanity。〃 〃Why； dear sir；〃 said I； 〃how odd you are！ you have often said the lad was not capable of receiving further instruction。〃 〃 He was；〃 replied the Doctor； 〃like a corked bottle； with a drop of dirty water in it； to be sure； one might pump upon it for ever without the smallest effect； but when every method to open and clean it had been tried； you would not have me grieve that the bottle was broke at last。〃
This was the same youth who told us he had been reading 〃Lucius Florus；〃 Florus Delphini was the phrase。 〃And my mother；〃 said he； 〃thought it had something to do with Delphos； but of that I know nothing。〃 〃 Who founded Rome； then ？〃 inquired Mr。 Thrale。 The lad replied； 〃Romulus。〃 〃And who succeeded Romulus？〃 said I。 A long pause； and apparently distressful hesitation； followed the difficult question。 〃Why will you ask him in terms that he does not comprehend？〃 said Mr。 Johnson； enraged。 〃You might as well bid him tell you who phlebotomised Romulus。 This fellow's dulness is elastic；〃 continued he； 〃and all we do is but like kicking at a woolsack。〃
The pains he took； however； to obtain the young man more patient instructors were many； and oftentimes repeated。 He was put under the care of a clergyman in a distant province； and Mr。 Johnson used both to write and talk to his friends concerning his education。 It was on that occasion that I remember his saying； 〃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 s