That poverty was an evil to be avoided by all honest means however, no man was more ready to avow: concealed poverty particularly, which he said was the general corrosive that destroyed the peace of almost every family; to which no evening perhaps ever returned without some new project for hiding the sorrows and dangers of the next day[1]. 'Want of money (says Dr. Johnson) is sometimes concealed under pretended avarice, and sly hints of aversion to part with it; sometimes under stormy anger, and affectation of boundless rage; but oftener still under a shew of thoughtless extravagance and gay neglect – while to a penetrating eye, none of these wretched veils suffice to keep the cruel truth from being seen. Poverty is hic et ubique (says he), and if you do shut the jade out of the door, she will always contrive in some manner to poke her pale lean face in at the window.'
I have mentioned before, that old age had very little of Mr. Johnson's reverence: 'a man commonly grew wickeder as he grew older (he said), at least he but changed the vices of youth; headstrong passion and wild temerity, for treacherous caution, and desire to circumvent. I am always (said he) on the young people's side, when there is a dispute between them and the old ones: for you have at least a chance for virtue till age has withered its very root[2].' While we were talking, my mother's spaniel, whom he never loved, stole our toast and butter; Fye Belle! said I, you used to be upon honour: 'Yes
- ↑ 'Poverty, my dear friend, is so great an evil, and pregnant with so much temptation, and so much misery, that I cannot but earnestly enjoin you to avoid it.' Ib. iv. 149. 'Poverty takes away so many means of doing good, and produces so much inability to resist evil, both natural and moral, that it is by all virtuous means to be avoided.' Ib. p. 152. 'Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.' Ib. p. 157.
- ↑ 'I believe men may be generally observed to grow less tender as they advance in age.' Rambler, No. 78.
ried the widow of W. P. King, Esq., who left his whole estate to her, by which means she brought a large fortune to her second husband.' Burke's Peerage. Johnson visited him with the Thrales in 1774. Life, v. 455.
