Modus Operandi

Samuel Johnson portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (Wikipedia)

In his book Human Accomplishment social scientist Charles Murray makes the case that the two greatest periods of advancement in the Arts and Sciences occurred during Ancient Rome and, to use his term, "Dr. Johnson's London".  Samuel Johnson presided over London intellectual life from the late 1740s until his death in 1784.  He often met with the learned ladies in drawing rooms both with and without other men in attendance.  For the men, Johnson and the famed portrait painter, and first president of the Royal Academy of Art, Sir Joshua Reynolds formed The Club which met initially in a tavern called The Turks Head Inn. Club members included the political philosophers Edmund Burke and Charles Fox, economist Adam Smith, dramatist Oliver Goldsmith, Corsican patriot Pasqual Paoli, and of course his celebrated biographer James Boswell just to name a few.

Dr Johnson with some club members at Sir Joshua Reynolds home. (Wikipedia)

The Club met once a week and members were permitted to bring a guest.  They discussed important matters of the day along with anything else that struck their fancy over beefsteak and brandy.  I can't help but think this cross pollination amongst men of high intellect but in different fields enhanced their creative output in their chosen discipline.

"There is nothing that has been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or Inn."
~Samuel Johnson

The just rebuilt and reopened Red Lion Pub in Chicago's Lincoln Park.

photo DNAinfoChicago

 

Only a couple of weeks ago, The Red Lion Pub (TRLP) reopened after having been closed for 6 long years. I have been a regular since I moved to Chicago in 1988. The old building had fallen into severe disrepair and had to be torn down and rebuilt while lawsuits and other complications were dealt with.  I should quickly add that I have no financial relationship or official involvement of any kind with TRLP, I wish to see it prosper the way it once did but with a more active spirit of Dr. Johnson's Club in mind only now also with women of keen intellect in conspicuous attendance. The Lion's Den blog will highlight cultural events, institutions, and people who make great things happen in Chicago.  We will encourage them to stop in at TRLP for refreshment and lively conversation in an atmosphere they will find welcoming and supportive.

~GSL