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jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com / By Jesse / October 23, 2012

“After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley’s ingenious sophistry to prove the nonexistence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal.

I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it.

I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it–

“I refute it thus!”

Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson

I have read all of Boswell’s works about Samuel Johnson in my day.  I have visited a number of places which the famous pair of Boswell and Johnson frequented in London, and even in Edinburgh, during their trip to Scotland.   It was a multipurpose trip, since I visited the grave of Adam Smith and the Scotch whiskey museum there as well.  No sense limiting oneself.  Even the haggis and haddie were good.

Although Johnson’s famous Mitre Tavern is no longer standing in London, the place where it had been is marked with a plaque, as these things there often are.

Even mythical places like 221B Baker Street are marked with a plaque,  or at least it had been on some grotesque commercial building, until an enterprising fellow built a small Sherlock Holmes museum across the street and had the address moved.  I was there when the actor Jeremy Brett, or someone who could have been his twin, was on hand to hand out his card as a consulting detective.  Now that’s show business.

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