Identifier: moreaboutunknown00bell (find matches)
Title: More about unknown London
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Bell, Walter George, 1867-1942
Subjects: London (England) -- Antiquities London (England) -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : John Lane New York, John Lane company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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llrooms, making them noisy with their chatter. Wefollowed the footsteps of Carlyle, who withdifficulty had found the stout, old-fashioned,oak-balustraded house. These, I was told atthe head of the stairs on the first floor, were thesalons in which Johnson received his guests,panelled, rather poky, right and left of the landingor vestibule. The sleeping-rooms were nextabove, but possibly the Sages own sanctum, whichwe know was upstairs, was one of these. In thetopmost long garret, the length of the house-front, with its sloping roof, Johnsons sixamanuenses working upon the English Dictionarytoiled at their heavy task. All this left me cold, for I had been there before.My interests for the moment were with Mrs SamuelJohnson, and I sought out the kitchen. It is below ground, of course, rather like a vault,notable for nothing except the wide space of itsopen fireplace. Its proportions seem to tell thatnot only were men great drinkers in thoseGeorgian days, but great eaters as well. I must
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BK. JOHNSON S HOI SE l\ • DR JOHNSONS WOMANKIND 177 seem horribly ungallant going into the kitchento visualize Mrs Samuel Johnson, but where elseshould I place the good lady ? Of course, herrightful place should be in the salon, by SamJohnsons side, receiving the great—for JoshuaReynolds, Samuel Richardson, Roubillac, DrBurney, Hugh Kelly and more we know wereguests at Gough Square. Garrick often, Iimagine, for from this house Johnson went out tosee the performance of his tragedy Irene, whichGarrick produced at Drury Lane. I love thestory repeated by Boswell (very likely it is untrue)of Johnson stolidly seated among the audience,and being dissatisfied with some of the speechesand the conduct of his own play expressing hisdisapproval aloud. The same incident is told ofLa Fontaine. But I am doubtful about Mrs Johnsons place.I think she was a good housewife and helpmate,and for this reason—you may think it a strangeone. When Sir Joshua took Roubillac to GoughSquare, the Sage, we ar

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