Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-04-09
HERE JOHNSON LIVED
A PASSING GLANCE AT THE GREAT
LsxicoGRAPHER'S HAUNTS.

LExiCOGRAPHER'S HkUNTS.
The Old House Where the Dictionary Was
Written apd Where Famous Men Assem-
bIea-The Club johnson Started Still Ex-
lists In Amended Form.
A few days ago turned into Cough
square, off Fleet street, TO see a noted house.
This was once the residence Of DIR. John
son, where the great dictionary was writ
ten.
In the garret beneath the roof Johnson's
ananuenses worked on this book. Here
died the doctors wife-an unpretentious
domicile, yet one In which noted men and
women once eongregated. Leigh Hunt
described Johnson's friends as "a rniscel
lauy creditable to the largeness Of his hui
mauity." There were poor and obscure
people, but there were rich and famous
ones also, such al Sir Joshua Reynolds,
Cave, DIR. Hawkesworth and Garrick, TO
select only n few names at random.
Let us follow the old doctor about Lon
don II little and look at what remains Of
the extraordinary places where his pecul-
iarities led him 10 live. He came from
LitchieId to besicge the capital In 1877.
lie was then 2s years old and had as cap
ital In life n diseased frame, n deadly mel
anchly, wife 90 years older an uncon
querable belief in himself and an intel
lect. All thee but the wife--"his deai
Tetty''-be brought to London with him.
lie first lodged with staymaker on Exc
ter street near the Strand. where he paid
q few pence n week for n garret. lie took
Ii Il h
10 buy tat the Pine Apple tavern near
by.
II dined very we'll, p" he told Boswell,
long after, for eiVhtpence, with very good
company several Of them travelled - The
Pine Apple has long since disappeared and
modern structures cover the site of the old
tavern.
After time johnson got enough money
ahead 10 fetch his Tetty TO London, and
together they lived for IA time in lodgings
near Hanover square, Regent street. This
was the first and last time that johnson
lived away from his beloved Strand and
Fleet street. Nor did he remain here long.
Though a poor part. yet IL was in the west
end and in an mir uncongenial to the stur-
dy Independence OF johnson, crusted old
Tory as he WIS.
After some time Tetty, in need of fresh
air, took lodgings at .Iampstead 10 which
"hcr husband rcSortcd occasionally
Az time went on the indomtable indus
try of johnson earned for him more com
forts. In i5ts he is really able to indulge
in little spree Mt the fashionable water
ing place of Tunhridge Wells. Thackeray
in THE NirRnians," introduces him tG
us, though he postdntes the visit some
eight years TO make IL "tit in"
In l752 died his dear Tetty, who despite
hia devotion, "by no means treated him
with that complnceucy which is the most
engaging quality in wife But he al
waya mourned her loss. And now the be
rcaved husband gets down into Fleet street
where he lives constantly for 40 years
though In different places. 1t was at his
first Fleet street residence--inncr Temple
laue-that Boswell called upon him and
first made hm acquaintance Here in the
monkisb quiet of the temple, though only
few yards oil the waves of London life
were surging aronud Temple Bar. John
son lived for five years llis chambers are
still to he seen by the curious. Near him
lodged Goldsmith, and two generations
after Lamb, SO that, Notwithstanding
tho Temple precincts have been through
centuries the home of great lawyers, theii
fame as associated with individuals rests
principally upon the residence of these
three great writer's.
1t was while he lived here that he start
ed the club that has of all others the fond
est place in tho hearts of the English and
ourselves for who can read the records
of the Literary club, first meeting at the
Turks Head, Gerard street. in the pur-
lieus of soho, without envying those who
could enjoy the unfettered talk of the co.
pious Burke, of the sledge hammer John
needless n. T.