Word: cham
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Dates: during 1890-1899
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...with the many pretty and clever women whom Johnson had added to the list of his acquaintance. But one of the less known anecdotes of Johnson makes clear what, in spite of success and reputation and the pleasure of being dictator-or, to use Smollett's word, the great Cham of literature-remained a pervading quality of his great, uncouth, impeded man of genius. He asked an old beggar woman, who accosted him once in the street, who she was, and her reply that she was an old struggler gave the doctor keen delight. Johnson, too, so he rejoined...