| | | | | | A Seemingly Unrelated Diversion (which isn't) or The Boswell/Johnson Interchange and Its Modern Relevance | | | | | | | | | Recently, the Maestro, Lucetta and I took a brief break from our strenuous musicological-slash-domestic-slash-agricultural duties (ranging in breadth from fugal analysis to asparagus-stalk shredding) and passed a pleasant weekend away in neighbouring Bunions' Corners (named after Captain B.B. Bunion, who, as well as commanding a small boat on Crabbe Lake, had invented head cheese). Though only 13 kilometres from Chezlee, Ont., it seemed as if we were miles away in some exotic, foreign oasis. | | | | | | | | | Whilst there, we happened to be sauntering through the Bunions' Corners Milk Can and Butter Churn Museum when I made a most AMAZING DISCOVERY. Hidden at the bottom of a dusty, cobwebbed churn was a copy, published in 1798, of Dr. Johnson's Table Talk, Containing Aphorisms on Literature, Life and Manners with Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons, selected and arranged from Mr. Boswell's Life of Johnson. | | | | | | | | | By the time I'd read the title, the museum had closed. Fortunately, Lucetta and the Maestro heard my cries and helped me out through the lavatory window. My hands were still trembling with anticipatory delight as, later, I opened the precious treasure in the Bunions' Corners Bide-a-Bit motel, and I was not disappointed. | | | | | | | | | Me being pulled outa the lavatory window! | | | | | | | | | However, before sharing the nuggets I garnered, I must inform you of a small technological problem regarding printing and publishing in 1798. For some reason, and for some time, at this time SOME (but not all) letter S's were represented by something that looks like the letter F. For example, instead of Susie Smith, you would have Fusie Fmith. | | | | | | | | | Now, as awkward and difficult as it is, I feel duty-bound by my respect for the past to present any quotes from the book exactly as they appear in it! And now to share | | | | |
