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Show Johnson on Melancholy. Talking of constitutional melancholy, melan-choly, he observed: "A man so afflicted, af-flicted, sir, must divert distressing thoughts, and not combat with them." Boswell "May not he think them down, sir?" Johnson "No, sir. To attempt to think them down is madness. mad-ness. He should have a lamp constantly con-stantly burning in his bedchamber during the night and. If wnkefully disturbed, dis-turbed, should take a book and read and compose himself to rest. To have the management f tne mind Is a great art. and it may be attained In a considerable degree by experience and habitual exercise." Boswell "Should not he provide amusements for himself? him-self? Would it not, for instance, be -ight for him to take a course of heniistry?" Johnson "Let him take a course of chemistry, or a course of rope dancing, or a course of anything to which lie is inclined at tho time. Lot him contrive to have as many retreats re-treats for his mind as he can. as many things to which It can fly from itself. "Boswell (Life of Johnson). |