FATHER O'LEARY AND JOHNSON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 19, 14 May 1908, Page 37

FATHER O'LEARY AND JOHNSON

It is recorded of the Rev. Arthur O'Leary, the famous Irish wit, that he became a friend -of Johnson, the lexicographer, as the result of the intrepid attacJc which he delivered on the stern barrier of the literary king's prejudice (says the ' Cork Examiner '). The witty Irish priest was introduced to Johnson by Edmund Burke, and their initial conversation turned to the Hebraic records and language. But as Father O'Leary did not manifest a thorough acquaintance with the Hebrew tongue, Johnson, who was in one of his uncontrollably sa»age moods, turned, to Burke and said : ' Here is a minister of the' Gospel who doesn't understand our oldest language. What a stupid man is this you have brought to me.'

Father O'Leary's treatment of the rebuke did honor to his reputation for huiior, resourcefulness, and versatility.

He turned on the irate Johnson and spoke to him in the soft, mellifluous tongue of the Gaedhal ; but never a response came.

A feigned expression of horror and disgust crept over the features of the Irish priest, as, with a deprecatory shrug and with finger pointed at Johnson, he remarked to Burke : ' Here is the English writer of an English dictionary, and he does* not understand the language of the sister country. Wh*at sort of a, dunderhead is this you have brought me to ? '

The effect was electric. An insensate prejudice on Johnson's part was softened into a warm predilection, and he and the commiserating Father Arthur afterwards became fast, friends.