After observing a play, Samuel Johnson was spending some time with two of the actors in a tavern and remarked that players had “a kind of rant, which which they run on, without any regard either to accent or emphasis.” In the ensuing debate Johnson challenged them to repeat the ninth commandment with proper emphasis and to his delight, both failed.

Dr. Taylor, another chap present, reported it to Boswell who did not agree that Johnson can have argued that the emphasis should be on not and false witnesses because he puts in a footnote that the emphasis should be on shall and not and false witnesses should only be distinctly enunciated.

Johnson apparently was able to convince these actors upon reasoning they must have found sound that there was an absolutely proper way to say the ninth commandment, and by implication anything. I heartily wish more of that conversation had survived.

Strange fruit from the decaying tree of our civilization. I’ve been reading the New Criterion on the absolute and certain demise of the USA. Here is a talking head with much that makes sense, much to make one reflect, and so good I watched the whole thing in full screen.

Scruton on Consolation, Beauty, Religion (a lot), with interesting bits like the mug without a handle, playing the organ in church though he doesn’t believe in God but believes the feeling of it is crucial, etc. Only the days in which we live could bring us this, and it is curious.