NOTES THE aim of these notes is not to take the place of the teacher, nor to deprive the pupil of the benefits of thinking. The intention is to give only those explanations that may be difficult to obtain, and which the pupil should know before coming to class; therefore all matter is avoided which tends to lead away from the immediate subject under consideration. It is left to the teacher to use his own discretion in estimating the advisability of dwelling on grammatical errors and peculiar expressions in use during Addison's time. PAPER No. I. Although Addison is describing an imaginary character, yet the likeness to himself is apparent. The student should trace points of similarity. Page 3, line 7. learned tongues. Latin and Greek. Allusion Page 3, line 17. controversies of some great men. to a work, Pyramidographia, or a Discourse of the Pyramids of Egypt, by a Persian scholar named John Greaves. (See Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. XXIII., for life of Greaves.) 155 Page 4, line 5. Will's. Coffee-house named from its proprietor, William Urwin. It included two buildings in Covent Garden, one facing Bow Street and the adjoining one Russell Street. Its popularity began when Dryden frequented it, and was declining in Spectator's time, although it was still the gathering place for literary men. Page 4, line 8. Child's. Coffee-house which stood in St. Paul's Churchyard, but the exact location is not known. It was frequented by physicians, philosophers, and clergy. Page 4, line 9. Postman. A penny paper which was very popular at that time. It was edited by a Frenchman, M. Fonvive. Page 4, line 11. St. James's coffee-house. On St. James Street overlooking Pall Mall. Here Whig politicians congregated, and here Swift "became a notable figure." (See Henry Craik's Life of Swift, Chap. V.) This building was removed in 1806. Page 4, line 14. Grecian. This coffee-house one of the oldest in London- was frequented by lawyers and scholars, and was the scene of many learned disputes. The site, in Devereux Court, Strand, is now marked by Eldon Chambers. Page 4, line 14. Cocoa-Tree. Chocolate-house as distinctively Tory as the St. James was Whig. It was located at No. 64, St. James Street, Piccadilly, and is still standing. Page 4, line 19. Jonathan's. Coffee-house in Change Alley, where the lower class of stock-jobbers were found. Page 5, line 23. print myself out. Put my thoughts and opinions on paper. Page 7, line 11. Little Britain. Small neighborhood in cen tre of London, just east of Christ's Hospital. It was called Little Britain because it was formerly the residence of the Dukes of Brittany. In the early part of the seventeenth century it was a favorite mart for booksellers. (For further information see "Little Britain," Irving's Sketch Book. New York: Silver, Burdett & Co., 1896.) PAPER No. II. These characters represent typical men of the times, and it is not worth while to inquire what particular persons Addison may have had in mind. It is mere conjecture, at most. Page 7, line 20. country-dance. In this dance partners, ranged in rows, face each other and in couples dance down the line and back to places. It is somewhat similar to the Virginia reel. Page 8, line 9. Soho Square. South side of Oxford Street, was then the centre of fashionable life. It now marks the eastern limit of the social world of London. Page 8, line 12. fine gentleman. Notice the qualities which entitled him to the term. Page 8, line 14. Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege. Dissolute wits of the time. The latter was then well known as a dramatist, but to us his greatest merit consists in his being the originator of "the school of prose comedy, which reached its highest point in Congreve and ended with Sheridan." (For further information see Introduction to Works of Sir George Etherege, by A. Wilson Verity. London: John C. Nimmo, 14 King William Street, Strand, 1888.) Page 8, line 15. Bully Dawson. A man of low morality who aped the higher classes and tried to get into their society. Page 9, line 13. Game-Act. Poaching was so common that it was necessary to pass laws for the preservation of game. Page 9, line 16. Inner Temple. One of the four Inns occupied by legal societies which have the exclusive right of calling candidates to the bar. It is called Inner Temple to distinguish it from the Middle and the Outer Temples. The fourth of these "Inns of Court" is called Gray's Inn. They are all situated in what is called "The City," a tract between the "East End" and the "West End." (Instead of Outer Temple, Lincoln's Inn now makes the third.) Page 9, line 23. Aristotle and Longinus were versed in art; Littleton and Coke in law. Page 10, line 9. wit. Intellectual ability. Page 10, line 18. Plays began at five or six o'clock in the afternoon. Page 10, line 22. Rose. A tavern in Russell Street, near Drury Lane Theatre, and consequently much visited by play-goers. Page 12, line 4. Captain Sentry. See Spectator, No. 517. Page 15, line 17. chamber-counsellor. A chamber-counsellor gives advice only in private. PAPER No. III. Page 17, line 7. Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. A square or garden on the south side of High Holborn Street, not far from the Inner and the Middle Temples. It was the scene of much lawlessness and rioting till 1735, when it was railed off and became more reputable. Now it is a fine park, with imposing buildings fronting it. Page 19, line 4. Sir Richard Blackmore says, etc. Addison quotes from Sir Richard Blackmore's poem, The Creation, which at that time was unpublished. PAPER No. IV. Page 23, line 16. province for satire. A theme which furnishes to the writer abundant material for the exercise of his wit. Page 23, line 19. Horace, Juvenal, Boileau. Three satirical poets. Horace (65 B.C.-8 A.D.) and Juvenal (60-140 A.D.) were Romans; Boileau (1636-1711) a Frenchman. Page 27, line 1. Punch. Any man who places himself before the public. Punch was the chief character in the puppet show Punch and Judy. (See use of "Punchinello" in Spec tator, No. 14.) PAPER No. V. See Macaulay's History of England, Vol. I., Chap. III., for account of country gentlemen and country clergy. Page 31, line 18. present of all the good sermons. It was a common practice of the clergy to read sermons written by other people. PAPER No. VI. Page 35, line 13. so good an husband. So economical. Page 37, line 21. the dress. Indication of service. |