File:The book of the Cheese, being traits and stories of "Ye olde Cheshire Cheese", Wine office court, Fleet street, London (1920) (14775375994).jpg

Identifier: bookofcheesebein00reid (find matches)
Title: The book of the Cheese, being traits and stories of "Ye olde Cheshire Cheese", Wine office court, Fleet street, London
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Reid, Thomas Wilson
Subjects: Cheshire Cheese (Inn)
Publisher: London : "Ye olde Cheshire Cheese"
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image:
lingeringlook, and the next turn in the old stair-case brings us to a private room, containingone of the most valued treasures of the CheshireCheese, nothing less than the original chair used byDr. Johnson at the Mitre, the old Chancery Lanetavern, patronised occasionally by the Doctor andnow pulled down. This chair was acquired by theproprietor of the Cheshire Cheese, and sedulouslyprotected from all accident and injury. The betterto ensure this end it is now enclosed in a glass case.On the back of the chair is a medallion of Dr.Johnson with the inscription—Born Sept. 18th, 1709.Died Dec. 13th, 1784. C. pics of the chair can besupplied to order in oak at £5 each, but the medallionand inscriptions, which are perhaps modern, or atleast post-Johnsonian additions to the original chair,are not copied. A notice card upon the seat of thechair announces to the visitor that This chair wasin daily use by Dr. Samuel Johnson, while belowfollows the quotation :— More regal in his state than
Text Appearing After Image:
Relics and Art Treasures of the ^Cheese 21 many kings. Though he passed away when GeorgeWashington was hi the zenith of his renown aftersplendid epoch-making achievement in arms anddiplomacy and council, the memory of the greatDoctor IS as fresh and fragrant as ever, as on theday when he last sat in the chair before us, the oracleof a select company of wits and scholars. It is idleto moralise further on this more than royal rehc.Each intelligent visitor, as he reverently contemplates it, will pursue his own line of reflection. Turning from the chair we find at the other endof the room a glass-fronted cupboard, which containsmany original samples of the old willow patternplate and also of the unique badge plate, which hasbeen in use in the house for many years. Here, too,are several specimens of the old punch glasses, whichhave found favour with so many generations ofconvives of the Cheshire Cheese. The stranger isnot perhaps without a tremor of gastronomic emotionwhen the spoon used f

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