In these lines, Prufrock talks about the eternal Footman. We do not know who he is, but the fact that he is "eternal" implies a metaphysical presence. As the poem focuses on death heavily, it is likely that the Footman is connected to death. A footman was responsible for welcoming visitors, which implies this footman might welcome Prufrock to the afterlife. The fact taht he snickers, instead of laughing, conveys a lack of respect and care, as if the Footman thought very little of the speaker. All this contributes to a disheartened mood.
Johnson thinks that change in the English language is good. He thinks that the man who spends his time thinking will come up with good ideas and these will need new words. He also refers to the men who do not have much time to speculate but will turn ideas into popular opinions; these will also create new practices and, as a result, new words will be created. These ideas are from these lines : "Those who have much leisure to think ....... proportion as it alters practice."
He thinks language change should not be stopped. " As by the cultivation of various sciences, a language is amplified, it will be more furnished with words deflected from their original sense..". Johnson thinks that change cannot be stopped, though. There are many factors, internal and external, that make language change. He says that he will not be able to comply with what many schoolars have asked from him: to stop any language alteration.
