The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-10-01
JOHNSON'S BIRTHDAY
England to Celebrate Bicenten-
NAL of Writer'S Birth.
AN EXHIBITION OF RELICS.
Actual House Remains In liehfieId
Where the Great Genius Was Born.
Old Three Crowns Inn Also Exists.
Sept. 18 the Big Day.

sept. 10 the Big Day.
Shakespeare excepted, 1t Is doubtful
II there is another great writer of the
past whose personality appeals more to
readers on both sides of the Atlantic
and to Americans in particular than
does that of DR.. Samuel Johnson, the
irascible English scholar and poet, re.
nowned photographer and hero of the
uost remarkable biography ever writ
ten.
Lichfield, the little city in Stafford.
shire. England. where DR.. Johnson was
born, was his home for over thirty
years This month is likely to see
Lichtield thronged with Americans. for
1t Is at this time that Johnson's city
will celebrate In way worthy of his
fame the two hundredth anniversary
Of its great mans birth.
Preparations for the Johnson bcen-
tenary celebration have been going on
for many months. DR.. Johnson en-
tered this mundane sphere on Sept IS,
1903 and on Sept. Is. 1909 the com
memoration exercises In his honor will
begin at Lichfield with an exhibition
of relics of the grouchy old philosopher
In the venerable house in Market square
where he first saw the light of day.
Authentic Birthplace.
Unlike a good many other literary
shrines, there is no doubt about the
authenticity Of DR.. Johnson's birth.
place. Luckily for the photographers
admirers, the quaint two stored house
with pillars where old Michael John
son kept his bookshop became the
property of the corporation of Lich-
field few years ago. 1t then was in
sorry condition, but has been rever-
emily restored and now Is practically
as it was when Samuel johnson lived
In It, Part Of the exhibition of John
soniana which visitors to the house
will see next September Is a perma-
nent collection which has been formed
and placed in the building since its ac-
QUESTION by the corporation, but other
relics of the sage are to come from
many quarters. While examining these
and going through the house visitors
will be able to use their imaginations
as a juvenile poet apostrophizing
good master duck" and what not 9th
er pets and later as a studious youth
filling his head with the contents of
the tones In his fathers bookshop.
Later still they will see johnson. who
was described as "the best qualified
for Oxford of all the young men that
t.
without his degree because of INSULT
cient means to continue his studies.
and finally they will figure him. after
the failure Of his i'll fated academy,
quitting Lichfield for London In COM
pany with David Garrick. who had
been one of his two pupils.
The second day Of the I.ichfield cele-
bration will be devoted mainly to visits
to places of interest associated with
Johnson and his friends. One of these
will be the old Three Crowns inn.
which stands next door but one to the
Johnson homestead Regarding its
claim to have housed the choleric
scholar and his biographer there is no
question. DR. Johnson. in fact. almost
i
when he came down to Lichfeld from
London and he first brought Boswell
with him in the historic year l776.
The old inn is said to be practically
just as it was when Johnson and Bos-
well drank innumerable cups of tea
there.
To Play "she Stops to Conquer"
On the afternoon of this day there
will be lecture on THE Life and In
iuence of the Master at the Lichfield
Grammar School," where Johnson was
a pupil under Hunter. which peda-
gogue he described as very severe
and wrong headedly severe" On the
evening of the second day of the cele-
bration there will be a performance
by local amateurs of Goldsmiths COM
edy "She Stoops to Conquer" which
was dedicated to Johnson.
Next day other places which are as
ISOLATED with Johnson and his friends
will be viS1ed Among these will be
Edial, where the i'll starred academy
for young gentlemen" in which the
scholar managed to sink most of his
VIE NIUE fortune, was situated.
Sept. Is, Johnson's birthday. win
however, be the big day OF Lichfield's
celebration. On this date there viii
be great gathering of citizens visitors
and children in the Market square
where stand statues OF the doctor anG
his faithful Boswell Addresses will
be made by distinguished scholars.
hymns will be sung and medals pre-.
sented Later the mayor of Lichfield |
will hold reception at the guildhan
and the annual meeting of the johnson.
club will be held. The evening will |
witness a Johnson supper at the old |
George hotel. Sunday, Sept. 10, will |
see the end of the Johnson celebra ton |
with service at the cathedral. which |
has been described as the most chaste
and one Of the most perfect In tn.
world"