pe experience, and
stored learning; but if an enthusiasm for mercy, a belief that human
life itself is not fitly bought by the torturing of the helpless, an
amazement that any Christian, nay that any man should call one of
these tormentors "friend," be sentiments the holding of which by one
of my name fills you with sorrow if not with anger, it without doubt
is plain that our name is but a name to you, and that your respect
for it should have been withdrawn when it first came into prominence.

I do not believe you know what things these men have done; it is a
terrible task for any man to read their literature; if you had done
so I do indeed believe that not your sorrow only but your anger would
be deeply roused, but--not against me.

I remain, Sir,
Faithfully and Respectfully yours,
STEPHEN COLERIDGE.

It gives me peculiar pleasure to bring up this letter from the now
distant past; thirty-two years have not made me wish to withdraw or
change a word of it.

CHAPTER VII: DR. JOHNSON

Of all the Masters of letters that have adorned and elevated the speech
of our race Dr. Johnson is in many ways the most lovable. The son of a
poor bookseller in Lichfield {40} with an uncouth figure and an
undistinguished countenance, he rose by the massive force of his
character and the tireless persistence of his industry to an unchallenged
supremacy in the literary world of his age, displaying in his whole life
the truth of his own dictum that "few things are impossible to diligence
and skill." Disdaining the common habit of the times he would owe
nothing to the patronage of the great. "Is not a patron," he wrote to
Lord Chesterfield, "one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for
life in the water, and when he has reached ground encumbers him with
help?"

[Picture: Dr. Johnson. From a contemporary etching published February
10th, 1780]

He was not very patient with the stupid, or merciful to the absurd, and
vanity never came into his presence without receiving swift and mortal
blows; but the chastisement of his caustic tongue never fell upon modest
worth, and there never lived a man who was a more faithful and
affectionate friend.

The style of his writing is always balanced and so