Johnson's companions spoke of him as "Ursa Major;" but, as
Goldsmith generously said of him, "No man alive has a more tender
heart; he has nothing of the bear about him but his skin." The
kindliness of Johnson's nature was shown on one occasion by the
manner in which he assisted a supposed lady in crossing Fleet
Street. He gave her his arm, and led her across, not observing
that she was in liquor at the time. But the spirit of the act was
not the less kind on that account. On the other hand, the conduct
of the bookseller on whom Johnson once called to solicit
employment, and who, regarding his athletic but uncouth person,
told him he had better "go buy a porter's knot and carry trunks,"
in howsoever bland tones the advice might have been communicated,
was simply brutal.
While captiousness of manner, and the habit of disputing and
contradicting everything said, is chilling and repulsive, the
opposite habit of assenting to, and sympathising with, every
statement made, or emotion expressed, is almost equally
disagreeable. It is unmanly, and is felt to be dishonest. "It may
seem difficult," says Richard Sharp, "to steer always between
bluntness and plain-dealing, between giving merited praise and
lavishing indiscriminate flattery; but it is very easy--good-
humour, kindheartedness, and perfect simplicity, being all that
are requisite to do what is right in the right way.
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