The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-10
lS GRUB SlREET.
Some OF the Now World Famous Men Who
Worked and Starved There

Some OF the Now World Famous Men Who
Worked AMI Starved There
London COLLECTION.
Up TO the seventeenth century Grub
street WI on the outskirts of London. It
was street tenanted by bowyers fietohers,
on John Fox lived in Grub
street, though lie did not write his
famous Book of Martyrs there. Fox's
residence In Grub street occurred ahout
1872. John Speed. the tailor archG ologist
was a resident of Grab street, where he
was famous as the most responsible parent.
having a family of twclvc sons and six
daughters. Grub street of old and Milton
street to-day is noted tor It's great number
of alleys and courts.
From Grub street issued such famous old
literary ,skits az Jack the Giant-kiler."
TON Hickathrft," Tho Wise Men OF
Gotham" ard scores of others now part
of every boys library. Probably lite
rary men first began TO populate Grub
street in any numbers during Crom.
wells time. Then n great number of
sedit,ous and lIbelOus pamphlets were
circulated, and as the authors. for safety.
had to seek obscure living places,
they found fitting retreat in the
maze of alleys which webbed the Grub.
street section. At any rate. by the COM
mencement of the eighteenth century Grub
street had become quite notorious rs the
Door authors quarter of London. All the
authors but very favored few were poor
then The life of q Grub-street author wac
that of modern tramp, only he did more
work and obtained fewer square meals.
But they were true BohemIans always.
When Dr. johnson was u resident OF Grub
street he made the acquaintance OF poet
named Samuel Boyse. whose poem on the
Deity and other works had earned him
high praise. Boyse could not 90
abroad to seek work because his clothes
were in pawn. so ne lay abed with his
arms thrust through two holes In the In
sective blanket. which was bis only cover:
ing. writing and starving. johnson raised
enough money to get his clothes for him.
but two days later BOyse was in bed again
eating q stew of beef and mushrooms pur-
chased by tine repawnng Of his suit. Il
might as well eat while / may" he said,
for must some day starve whether Will
or not"
Another Grub-street friend of Johnson's
was Derrick. of whom he wrote: Il hOnor
Derrick for his strength OF mind"
One night when Floyd. another
poor author. was wandering about
asleep upon a bulk. Upon being sud
denly awakened Derrick started mp. My
dear Floyd" said he. Il am sorry to see
you in this destitute state; will you 20
home with me to my lodgingsW and they
good fellows they were. Will any man
say that they did not deserve a sounder
sleep than a Vanderbilt on his bed of dOwnf
One of the most extraordinary Of the
Grubstreet colony of Johnson's time was
the poet, Richard Savage. whose life is per
haps the best work of the photographer
which exists. Savage claimed to be the
illegitimate child of Lord Rivers by
the Countess of Macclesfeld, who
was divorced from her husband on account
of the crimnality of which the poet was
the fruit. The wretched life of savage,
neglected IN childhood by his unnatural
parent. and prosecuted by her when he AS
old enough to suffer by it, is we'll known.