Shade of BOSWELL, awake, arise! Know that the Lord Mayor of Lichfield,
Mr. A. C. BAXTER, has announced in the _Times_ that the house Dr. JOHNSON
was born in is put up for sale by auction on the 20th inst. Now, then,
is the time for a big brewer who would like to get bigger, or any
licensed victualler, with command of a moderate capital, to invest it in
the purchase of the premises in which the great Lexicographer and
Moralist first saw the light, and in the conversion of them into a
public-house, to be called and known by the sign and name of "The
Johnson's Head." A likeness of Dr. JOHNSON, copied by a competent Artist
from the best of Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS'S portraits, and mounted on the
signboard, would be sure to attract multitudes of respectable people,
and others, besides forming a decoration of the tavern at Lichfield, and
an ornament to that town. A pub. associated with one of the highest
names in literature could hardly fail to be frequented by numerous
bookmakers. The memory of Dr. JOHNSON might, however, be honoured by the
preservation of his home for what many may consider a nobler purpose
than that of a liquor-shop; and those who are of that opinion should
look sharp and secure his birthplace by coming forward, and taking care
that, when under the hammer, it shall be knocked down on their own
account to the highest bidder. "The man who could make a pun would pick
a pocket;" true, but he might prefer putting his hand in his own to
commemorate the name of the great SAMUEL, by helping to stand Sam.
* * * * *
FAVOURITE SEASONING AT THE GUILDHALL BANQUET ON THE 9TH OF
NOVEMBER.--_Sauce a la Maitre d'Hotel_.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed
Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be
returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope,
Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.
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Transcriber's notes:
P. 179. changed shoppy to sloppy.
p. 180. 'developes' (sic): probably not an error.
"and the story easily developes itself"
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