Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1893 — Won by Praise. [ARTICLE]

Won by Praise.

Doctor Johnson was very susceptible to flattery. Gilbert Stuart, the American portrait painter, learned his art in the English home of Benjamin West. One day he met Doctor Johnson, whose dislike for the American colonies was notorious. “Sir,” demanded Johnson of young Stuart, “where did you learn English?” “Out of your dictionary, sir,” replied the quick-witted artist. The old man became gentle. Doctor John Ewing, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, while visiting in London, dined with Doctor Johnson. He had been cautioned not to contradict the great men, and he saw from the silence that Jell upon the company when Johnson entered the room that he was regarded as a literary despot, whose opinions were to be received and not criticized. Johnson attended to nothing but his plate, Having eaten voraciously he surveyed the guests for the first time. The conversation turned upon America, and Ewing defended the colonies, ’’What do you know, sir, on the subject?” exclaimed Johnson. “Sir,” he thundered on, “what do you know in America? You never read books there.” “Pardon me, sir,” blandly replied Ewing. “We have read the ‘Rambler.’” The compliment to the author pacified the enemy of the colonies.