ll offended when, comparing
all our acquaintance to some animal or other, we pitched upon the
elephant for his resemblance, adding that the proboscis of that creature
was like his mind most exactly, strong to buffet even the tiger, and
pliable to pick up even the pin. The truth is, Mr. Johnson was often
good humouredly willing to join in childish amusements, and hated to be
left out of any innocent merriment that was going forward. Mr. Murphy
always said he was incomparable at buffoonery; and I verily think, if he
had had good eyes, and a form less inflexible, he would have made an
admirable mimic.

He certainly rode on Mr. Thrale's old hunter with a good firmness, and
though he would follow the hounds fifty miles on end sometimes, would
never own himself either tired or amused. "I have now learned," said he,
"by hunting, to perceive that it is no diversion at all, nor ever takes a
man out of himself for a moment: the dogs have less sagacity than I could
have prevailed on myself to suppose; and the gentlemen often call to me
not to ride over them. It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the
paucity of human pleasure should persuade us ever to call hunting one of
them." He was, however, proud to be amongst the sportsmen; and I think
no praise ever went so close to his heart as when Mr. Hamilton called out
one day upon Brighthelmstone Downs, "Why, Johnson rides as well, for
aught I see, as the most illiterate fellow in England."

Though Dr. Johnson owed his very life to air and exercise, given him when
his organs of respiration could scarcely play, in the year 1766, yet he
ever persisted in the notion that neither of them had anything to do with
health. "People live as long," said he, "in Pepper Alley as on Salisbury
Plain; and they live so much happier, that an inhabitant of the first
would, if he turned cottager, starve his understanding for want of
conversation, and perish in a state of mental inferiority."

Mr. Johnson, indeed, as he was a very talking man himself, had an idea
that nothing promoted happiness so much as conversation. A friend's
erudition was commended one day as equally deep and strong. "He will not
talk, sir," was the reply, "so his learning does no good, and his wit, if
he has it, gives us no pleasure. Out of all his boasted stores I never
heard him force but one word, and that word was _Richard_." With a
contempt not inferior he received the praises of a pretty lady's face and
beha