Though he was attentive to the peace of children in general, no man had a
stronger contempt than he for such parents as openly profess that they
cannot govern their children. "How," says he, "is an army governed? Such
people, for the most part, multiply prohibitions till obedience becomes
impossible, and authority appears absurd, and never suspect that they tease
their family, their friends, and themselves, only because conversation runs
low, and something must be said."

Of parental authority, indeed, few people thought with a lower degree of
estimation. I one day mentioned the resignation of Cyrus to his father's
will, as related by Xenophon, when, after all his conquests, he requested
the consent of Cambyses to his marriage with a neighbouring princess, and I
added Rollin's applause and recommendation of the example. "Do you not
perceive, then," says Johnson, "that Xenophon on this occasion commends
like a pedant, and Pere Rollin applauds like a slave? If Cyrus by his
conquests had not purchased emancipation, he had conquered to little
purpose indeed. Can you forbear to see the folly of a fellow who has in
his care the lives of thousands, when he begs his papa permission to be
married, and confesses his inability to decide in a matter which concerns
no man's happiness but his own?" Mr. Johnson caught me another time
reprimanding the daughter of my housekeeper for having sat down unpermitted
in her mother's presence. "Why, she gets her living, does she not," said
he, "without her mother's help? Let the wench alone," continued he. And
when we were again out of the women's sight who were concerned in the
dispute: "Poor people's children, dear lady," said he, "never respect
them. I did not respect my own mother, though I loved her. And one day,
when in anger she called me a puppy, I asked her if she knew what they
called a puppy's mother." We were talking of a young fellow who used to
come often to the house; he was about fifteen years old, or less, if I