After this day there was another pretty long interval, during which Dr.
Johnson and I did not meet. When I mentioned it to him with regret, he
was pleased to say, 'Then, Sir, let us live double.'
About this time it was much the fashion for several ladies to have
evening assemblies, where the fair sex might participate in conversation
with literary and ingenious men, animated by a desire to please. These
societies were denominated Blue-stocking Clubs, the origin of which
title being little known, it may be worth while to relate it. One of the
most eminent members of those societies, when they first commenced, was
Mr. Stillingfleet, whose dress was remarkably grave, and in particular
it was observed, that he wore blue stockings. Such was the excellence of
his conversation, that his absence was felt as so great a loss, that
it used to be said, 'We can do nothing without the blue stockings;'
and thus by degrees the title was established. Miss Hannah More has
admirably described a Blue-stocking Club, in her Bas Bleu, a poem in
which many of the persons who were most conspicuous there are mentioned.
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