quaintness and the old-world atmosphere which adheres to them, but
because of the tradition which clings to them; and the most popular
tradition of all, and the one of which the proprietors are most
proud, is the Dickens tradition.

There are scores of such inns in the city of London and throughout
the country whose very names immediately conjure up some merry
scene in his books and revive never-to-be-forgotten memories of
exhilarating incidents.

Time, the devastating builder, and the avaricious landlord have played
havoc with many. Several, however, remain to tell their own tale,
whilst the memory of others is sustained by a modern building bearing
the old name, all of which are landmarks for the Dickens lover.

Many of them, of course, existed only in the novelist's fertile
imagination; but most of them had foundation in reality, and most of
them, particularly in Pickwick, are mentioned by name and have become
immortal in consequence; and were it not for the popularity of his
writings, their fame in many instances would have deserted them and
their glory have departed.

Inns, hotels and wayside public-houses play a most important part
in The Pickwick Papers, and many of the chief scenes are enacted
within their walls. The book, indeed, opens in an hotel and ends
in one. The first scene arising from the projected "journeys and
investigations" of those four distinguished members of the Club took
place in an hotel, or--to speak correctly--outside one, namely, the
"Golden Cross" at Charing Cross. There is even an earlier reference
to a public-house near St. Martin's le Grand, from where the "first