New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-17


tcnance is benignant yet troubled and rucl"l.
Ii is most thoughtful ana venerable 1ace ana
vet it is the passionate face Of man who has
nosscd through many storms of sclf-coniiict ana
been much ravaccd by spiritual pain Inc lace
Of Garrlck, on the contrary, is eager, animated,
triumphant, happy, showing nature OF apsolu'e
Simplicity n sanguinc temperament, ana u hihu
that tempests may have RULED, out never con-
vulsed Garrici kept his storm and stress Tor
his tragic performances there was no paricc VI
it in his personal experience. III was goo" "
see these old friends thus associated Id the peeu
full church that they knew and loved IN the sweep
DAYS when their friendship had just pcS"h anu
their labors and their honOrs were all before thcn'
placed myself, during tie service, where coui''
look upon both the busts at once and presently l"
the dcath-lkc silence, after the last amen oil even
song had died away, ] could well bellcVe 'hHe
those familiar figures were kneelng Deside me, "s
50 often they must have knelt 1eneah inns sioiio"'
and venerable roof: and for one worShlPpei Nv
least the beams of the weStcrinc sun, that maze
a solemn spendor through tie church, hi"ill"oo
visions no mortal eyes could Sec
Beneath the bust of Johnson, upon stone SAD
affixed to the wall, appears this inscription;
The friends of SAMUEL JOHNSON. Ill d.; native
Of Iiclicld erected this monument as tibu -, ~
respect to The memory Of man OF c%tensivc l Tir
q. a -
tan. lie died the 18TH of December, 1884 aged 20
years.
similar stone beneath the bust of Garrick Is
inscribed as follows
Eva Maria. rect of DAVID GARRICK. ESD. caused si
Beloved husband, who died the 2oth Of January 179
aged SO years. lie had not only ne amlaSae quqil,
t tiGs Ui al t"e veil vehc ne oG.cryan Of his
friends. His death ccpscd the fayeV OF na'i2hs
pleasure.
This observation" is the wel-hnown statement
of Johnson. who however much he may have
growled about Garrick always loved him and
deeply mourned for him. These memorials OF an
author and an actor are not rendered the more
impressive By being surmounted. MS al present
they arc, in Lchfed Cathedral, with old battle
flags-commcmoratives souvenirs Of the S0th Rcgl-
uent, Staffordshire ENTHUSIASTICALLY and In
teresting relics in ther place hut inappropriate
10 the cffgies Of johnson and Garriok.
The house in which johnson was born stands at
the corner of Market-st. and Brcadmnrkct-st, fac
ing the little Market Place of Lichield. II is
an old and quaint building. three stories in height.
having long peaked roof. The lower story Is
recessed. so that the entrance is sheltered by a
pent lis two doors-for the structure now con
sists of two tenements-are approached by
means of low stone steps, guarded by an iron
rail There are ten windows five in each ro".
in the front of the upper stories. The pcnt-rcoi
is supported by three sturdy pillars. The hous'
has front OF stucco. bill in one Of the lowe
windows certifes that Just now tais house Is 10
Let" Here old Michael Johnson kept his book
shop in the days OF good Queen Anne, and from
this door young Samuel Johnson went forth -
lis school and his play. The whole various pa
thetic impressive story 0! his long. laborious,
sturdy bencicent life drifts through your mmi
as you stand at this threshold and corJufc up
the pictures OF the past Opposite TO The house
and facing it is the statue OF johnson presented
10 Lichled in 1898 by James Thomas Los, th"n
Chancellor of the diocese On the sides ot l'S
massive pedestal are sculptures showing. first the
boy borne his fathers shoulders listening -
the preaching Of DR.. Sachcverell: then tie youth
Victorious in school, carried aloft in triumph By his
admiring comrades and finally. the renowned
scholar and author. in the meridian Of bis great
ness. standing hareheaicd In the market place Of
Cttoxcter. doing penancc for his undutiful TO-
fusal. when lad, 10 relieve his weary and IL
father in the work Of tending the boOk-stall az
that place. Every knows that touching
story, and no one who thinks of il when standing
here will lock with any feeling but that Of rev
crcnce. comminglcd with the wish 10 lead true
and simple life. upon the noble, thoughtful face
end figure of the great moralist, who now seems
to look down with benediction upon the scenes
Of his innocent and happy youth. The statue.
which is III eloquent contrast with the humble
birthplace points the expressive moral Of
splendid career. 40 tablet has yet been placed
on the house in which johnson wac born. Per
haps it is not nccdel. Yet surely This place, il
any place on Garth ought 10 he preserved and
protected as a literary shrine. johnson not
great creative poet neither Shakespeare.
DRYDEN q Byron, or a Tcunyson: but he was Que
of the most massive and majestic characters in
English literature; superb example OF sell
conquest and moral supremacy; mine OF eN-
tcnsve and diversified lcorning; an intellect Re
maIkable for deep penetration and broad and sure
grasp Uf the greatest subjects; he eXcrted as few
men have ever cxcrted the original elemental
| force OF gcnlns and hi. immortal legacy = his
fcllow-lncE was abiding influence for good
| The world is better and happier bccads" OF him.
! and because OF the many earnest characters and
honest lives that his example has inspired and
| this cradle OF greatness ought 70 BE- saved ana
marked, for every succeeding generation. as long
as time cndnrcs.
Ore of the interesting features Of this town is
an inscription that wildly recalls the ancient
strife Of Roundlcad and Cavalier. two centuries
and half ago. This is found upon Stone
scutcLcon, set in the wall, over the door OF the
house that is No. - Dam-st. and these are its
words: March I'd, 1919, Lord Brooke Genera!
Of the Parliament Forces preparing 10 i'csc9c the
Ccsc Of Llchicld then garrisoncd For King Charles
the First Received his dcath-wound On the spot
leneath this Inscription, BY shot in the forehead
from Mr. Dyott, a gentleman who had placed Inn
self the l}attlerncnts Of the great stccplc, 10
annoy the Bescgcrs." One Of them hc must have
| annoyed most seriously. II was a long Shot. Sir
Iucius,' for standing on the place Of that ca
t2strophc and looking up 70 the battlcn,cnts Of
the great stceplc il seemed 10 have covered n
distance Of full 400 feet Other relics Of those
Roundhcad wars were shown in tie Cathedral, in
| an ancient now used for the Bishops Con-
| sstory Court--thcsc being two cann0u-bal!S -four
and the rnnred and rIhfV a1ncntS