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Story
November 1, 1905
The Abbeville Press And Banner
Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Biographical note on Daniel Defoe's early childhood in 1661 Cripplegate, where at age 4 he witnessed plague-era precautions in his father's shop, as recounted by Sir Walter Besant.
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OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
Childhood of Defoe.
Sir Walter Besant in his latest book says of the author of "Robinson Crusoe" and "Journal of the Plague": "Defoe was born in the year 1661. His father lived in Cripplegate, where, as we know, he had a shop. The child, therefore, was 4 years of age in the plague year. A child of 4 observes a great deal and may remember a great deal. Defoe says: 'When any one bought a joint of meat he would not take it out of the butcher's hand, but took it off the hooks himself; on the other hand, the butcher would not touch the money, but put it into a pot full of vinegar which he kept for the purpose.' This must surely have been seen by the child and remembered. It happened in his father's shop before his eyes."
Sir Walter Besant in his latest book says of the author of "Robinson Crusoe" and "Journal of the Plague": "Defoe was born in the year 1661. His father lived in Cripplegate, where, as we know, he had a shop. The child, therefore, was 4 years of age in the plague year. A child of 4 observes a great deal and may remember a great deal. Defoe says: 'When any one bought a joint of meat he would not take it out of the butcher's hand, but took it off the hooks himself; on the other hand, the butcher would not touch the money, but put it into a pot full of vinegar which he kept for the purpose.' This must surely have been seen by the child and remembered. It happened in his father's shop before his eyes."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Family
What keywords are associated?
Defoe Childhood
Great Plague
Cripplegate Shop
Plague Precautions
What entities or persons were involved?
Defoe
Sir Walter Besant
Where did it happen?
Cripplegate
Story Details
Key Persons
Defoe
Sir Walter Besant
Location
Cripplegate
Event Date
1661
Story Details
Sir Walter Besant describes Daniel Defoe's birth in 1661 in his father's shop in Cripplegate. At age 4 during the plague year, Defoe observed and remembered plague precautions, such as customers taking meat from hooks themselves and butchers handling money with vinegar pots.