to him, how Dr. Collier[1] observed, that the love one bore to children was from the anticipation one's mind made while one contemplated them: 'We hope (says he) that they will some time make wise men, or amiable women; and we suffer 'em to take up our affection beforehand. One cannot love lumps of flesh, and little infants are nothing more. On the contrary (says Johnson), one can scarcely help wishing, while one fondles a baby, that it may never live to become a man; for it is so probable that when he becomes a man, he should be sure to end in a scoundrel[2]. Girls were less displeasing to him; 'for as their temptations were fewer (he said), their virtue in this life, and happiness in the next, were less improbable[3]; and he loved (he said) to see a knot of little misses dearly.'
Needle-work had a strenuous approver in Dr. Johnson, who said, 'that one of the great felicities of female life, was the general consent of the world, that they might amuse themselves with petty occupations, which contributed to the lengthening their lives, and preserving their minds in a state of sanity.' A man cannot hem a pocket-handkerchief (said a lady of quality to him one day), and so he runs mad, and torments his family and friends. The expression struck him exceedingly, and when one acquaintance grew troublesome, and another unhealthy, he used to quote Lady Frances's observation, 'That a man cannot hem a pocket-handkerchief[4].'
The nice people[5] found no mercy from Mr. Johnson; such I mean as can dine only at four o'clock, who cannot bear to be waked at an unusual hour, or miss a stated meal without incon-
- ↑ Ante, p. 246.
- ↑ Johnson could never have said 'it is so probable that he should be sure.' For his use of the word scoundrel see Life, iii. 1.
- ↑ 'Women,' said Johnson, 'have not the same temptations that we have they may always live in virtuous company; men must mix in the world indiscriminately.' Ib. iii. 287.
- ↑ 'Women have a great advantage that they may take up with little things, without disgracing themselves a man cannot, except with fiddling. Had I learnt to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.' Ib. iii. 242.
- ↑ Nice in the sense in which it is commonly used at the present time is not given in Johnson's Dictionary.
