226 Anecdotes.
��produces enmity so certain, as one person's shewing a disposition to be merry when another is inclined to be either serious or displeased.'
One may gather from this how he felt, when his Irish friend Grierson I , hearing him enumerate the qualities necessary to the formation of a poet, began a comical parody upon his ornamented harangue in praise of a cook, concluding with this observation, that he who dressed a good dinner was a more excellent and a more useful member of society than he who wrote a good poem. ' And in this opinion (said Mr. Johnson in reply) all the dogs in the town will join you/
Of this Mr. Grierson I have heard him relate many droll stories, much to his advantage as a wit, together with some facts more difficult to be accounted for ; as avarice never was reckoned among the vices of the laughing world. But Johnson's various life, and spirit of vigilance to learn and treasure up every peculiarity of manner, sentiment, or general conduct, made his company, when he chose to relate anecdotes of people he had formerly known, exquisitely amusing and comical. It is indeed inconceivable what strange occurrences he had seen, and what surprising things he could tell when in a communicative humour 2 . It is by no means my business to relate memoirs of his acquaint ance ; but it will serve to shew the character of Johnson himself, when I inform those who never knew him, that no man told a story with so good a grace, or knew so well what would make an effect upon his auditors 3 . When he raised contributions for some distressed author, or wit in want, he often made us all more than amends by diverting descriptions of the lives they were then
1 ' His Majesty's printer at Dublin, madam. She was habitually a slut and a gentleman of uncommon learning a drunkard, and occasionally a thief and great wit and vivacity.' Life, and a harlot." ' Mme. U'Arblay's ii. 116. Diary, i. 88.
2 ' " I have known all the wits," 3 Hawkins (Life, p. 258) says, that Dr. Johnson said, "from Mrs. Mon- 'in the talent of humour there hardly tagu down to Bet Flint." " Bet ever was Johnson's equal, except Flint ! " cried Mrs. Thrale. " Pray, perhaps among the old comedians.' who is she ? " " Oh, a fine character,
passing
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