The Ogden standard. [volume], July 05, 1916, 4 P.M. CITY EDITION, Image 6

About The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1913-1920

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I IHIiliri' The Honoring of m
H How the Memory of the
H Great Poet and Dramatist
Will Be Honored By All
H Nations On April 23rd--
H the Ter- Centenary of His
H Death.
H Copyright, 1010, by Tho International
H Syndicate.
SHAKESPEARE, perhaps t li o
groatest dramatist of all time,
has been honored every theat
rical soason in every largo cora-
1 merclal center of tho English speak-
H lng races for a century or more. Tho
fl Interest in his great works haa grown
H. and his genius more widely and more
H genuinely appreciated. As tho three
H hundredth anniversary of his deaflh
H approached It was planned to accen-
H tuato his place in the great histrionic
H art by having a special celebration of
H his namo by special productions of
H his plays in every part of the world.
H But tho war of the European powers
H has interfered with this plan and In
H consequence tho celebration will bo
H restricted in Its extent, and it is feared
M much less elaborate and enthusiastic
H In tho manner in which It will bo
H done.
M Shakespeare In Germany.
M Cclobrations of his supposed blrth-
H day havo been held in both England
and Germany for tho post quarter of a
M century, for Germany knows his
M works quito as well as England. Tho
fl German stage has treated him far
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more reverently than the theatres xx
England or In America, and tho Gor
man people havo ton times moro op
portunity to see tho mastdrpieces of
Shakespeare than havo the peoplo of
London or Now York.
In England tho ter-contonary cele
bration will not be as elaborate as it
would havo been In times of peace,
but the memory of the dramatist will
not bo neglected. Outdoor perform
ances of such plays as "Mid-summer
Night's Dream" and "As Tou Liko It"
will bo given for tho benefit of the
wounded soldiers. At one or two of
tho beautiful country estates where
these men are quartered there will be
pagoants showing tho most notable
characters of Shakespeare's playB. In
London tho clubs will celcbrato, while
at tho schools appropriate entertain
ments will bo given.
Celebration at Stratford.
The national celebration will be
hold at Stratford-on-Avon, tho poet's
birthplace, whoro young girls dressed
to represent Shakespearo's heroines
will danco around the Gower monu
ment that splendid memorial sot up
in honor of tho bard. Stratford-on-Avon
has for years been tho mecca
of the Intellectual of all lands who
como to wander about tho birthplace
of tho man whoso writings havo been
translated into every known language.
It is a well known fact that more of
his productions havo boon printed
than any other book In tho world ex
cepting the Bible. Tho avorago num
ber of persons who pass through tho
door of Shakespearo's birthplace every
year is thirty thousand, one-fourth of
whom aro Americans. Tho old house
has been restored as far as possible
and now belongs to the English Gov
ernment. The poet was born in a
small room facing tho street which is
tho real show place of tho house, al
though tho kitchen and cellar aro also
well preserved. In tho garden aro
flowers and trees montioned In Shakes
pearo's plays. The slto of "New
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Place," whoro tho poet died, is also
marked, as is Tudor House which was
restored by Miss Mario Corclll, tho
, noted writer.
Trinity Church, where tho bard Is
burled, Is charmingly situated amid
trees on tho bank3 of tho Avon. Tho
poet's gravo Inside tho church Is cov
ored with a marblo slab and abovo it
" is tho bust by Gerard Johnson, exe
cuted soon after Shakespearo's death,
and acceptod by the chlldron of tho
latter as an excellent portrait. Near
by is a window representing tho Seven
Aos, which was erected with tho con
tributions of American visitors. The
Shakespeare Memorial Building con
tains a theatro in which tho annual
memorial performance Is hold, a li
brary of raro volumes of Shakes
pearo's works and a picture gallery
containing the famous Drooshout por
trait of tho poet. Tho man who made
this picture was Martin Droeshout, a
Flemish engraver, who was still In his
boyhood when Shakespeare died, and
it is doubtful whether he ever saw the
poet and tho portrait was probably
engraved from a painting which was
recently brought to light at Stratford.
"Tho Ely House" portrait, a more
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pleasing plcturo, hangs in tho birth
place. It was formerly tho property
of a Bishop of Ely and was painted
in tho seventeenth century.
Nearby is tho magnificent statue
presented to the town of Stratford In
1888 by tho sculptor Lord Ronald
Gowor. The top is surmounted by a
colossal figure of the poet, and around
tho baso aro figures of Lady Macboth
(representing Tragedy), Prince Hal
(History). Falstaff (Comedy) and
Hamlet (Philosophy). There is also a
fountain and clock tower presented to
the town In 1887 by an American whose
name docs not appear on tho gift.
Charlecote, the scono of tho poaching
incident which started tho poet on
his journey to London, is a few miles
away, as is the cottage where the poet
courted his wife. Anno Hathaway.
Tho monument to Shakespcaro in
tfco Poet's Corner In "Westminster Ab
bey was placed thero by popular sub
scription in 1741. It is nearly always
wreathed In flowers. In tho National
Portrait Gallery in London hangs the
famous Chandos portrait of Shakes
peare. It shows Important variations
from tho portrait bust owned by tho
Garrlck Club and tho Droeshout en
graving, and was probably painted not
many years after tho poet's death
from descriptions furnished by his
friends. Tho Zoust portrait came to
light in 1725, and several others, such
as the Janson portrait ,and tho Felton
.portrait, all show variations from the
Droeshout picture so, after all, we
can only lmaglno what manner of
man tho Bard of Avon was In ap
pearance. Thore is also a death mask
which resembles a portrait owned by
tho Kessolstadt family, but neither
portrait nor mask has been proven to
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resomblo tho poet.
Honored In Denmark, Franco and
Italy.
Denmark, Hamlet's land, has hon
ored Shakespeare by a splendid mo
morial showing the poet seated In a
largo stone chair. The figure Is both
colossal and dignified. It stands In
Copenhagen and is tho work of L. Has
selrlls. There will bo an elaborate
presentation of Hamlet in that city
in honor of tho ter-contcnary anni
versary. In France the people are holding a
series of lectures on tho art of Shakes
peare, and in Paris thoy are especially
well attended. Literary clubs are
planning banquets with readings from
Macboth, Hamlet and Julius Caesar.
In tho rural districts tho school chil
dren will givo a series of pageants. At
Bordeaux they will present ono or two
plays with elaborate staging.
In Italy sevoral of tho operas in
spired by Shakespearo's works will be
produced. Gounod's "Romeo and Ju
liette" will bo given with an all-star
caste, while "Otello" and "Falstaff"
will also bo sung. Italian admirers of
Shakespearo will have a banquet.
In Holland tho Shakespearo Club
will celebrate the day by a dinner and
readings from some of his play3. Thoy
will also send a wreath to his grave
at Stratford-on-Avon.
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Even in far away Japan thero will
bo an outdoor performance of "As x
Tou Llko It" glvon in Japaneso. All
of tho Shakespearo plays havo been j;
translated into tho Japanese language 3
and havo becomo tho basis of tho
drama courso in tho schools. At Toklo, k
Yokahoma and Kioto a Shakespearo
play will be given by natlvo actors. t
Greatest Celebrations Here.
For more than ton years the Shakes- f
peare societies of our country havo f.
been proparlng for tho ter-centenary.
Tholr celebration will not end on April t
twenty-third, as wo shall likely havo
elaborate Shakespearean productions .'
throughout tho year. Already we have
been treated to a notable production ;
of Macbeth and Tho Merry Wlvos of "
Windsor by American players, and h
Henry tho Eighth with Sir Herbert
Troo as Cardinal "Woolsey. Perhaps
the greatest of all the celebrations will
bo thoso hold by tho public school
children everywhere from tho Atlantic
to tho Pacific. Moro than fifty thou- i
sand schools have special programs j,
arranged for tho week In which the jj
anniversary occurs. They rango from f
a simple reading of a play to tho J.
most elaborato pageant. ji'
Thero are several statues erected In ".
memory of tho poet in this country, 9t
the finest one being on tho Mall in "
Central Park, New York City. This f
Is ono of the best works of John Q. A. u
Ward. It will bo wreathed in flowers j
on Anniversary Day. t
After threo hundred years tho real i-
greatness of Shakespeare is fully rcc-
ognlzed, men and women of all na- "
tlons are proud to do him homage, j-
and In tho language of one of our ,
noted writers, "ono cannot concelvo i
of any future stato of civilization Jf
whoro ho will not reign supremo as jj
tho literary Idol, for his soul Is in
men's hearts." ',
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H Copyright, 1010, by The International JJGGznt. JSs3J &-mmmmm
Syndicate. c&Jtett&--B&' Jri 20yCT&
rHE day of Shakespeare's birth ZGOJGCJ -cannot
bo exactly ascertained.
Thn (non-UfUn . 1.1.
H -i ment y h0 dlcd on APr 23rd,
H 1616. in tho flfty-thlrd year of his
H ago. Tradition haa fixed tho same
M dato as his birthday.
. the son of John and Mary
H Arden Shakespeare, who lived on Hcn-
H 7 f!Lreet In tno lltu English town
H of Stratford-on-Avon. Their homo
H was a poor ono. and tho room In which
H tho great poet was born was poorly
H furnished, Its walls wero white-washed
HI ' and celling consisted of uncovered
H rafters.
j After a tlmo unprosperous times
H came to tho Shakespeare family and
m tho father tried various ways of mak-
H lng a living such as dealing In corn
m and timber, and finally opening a
H butcher shop. William was the third
H child. His early lifo was passed liko
H tho village boys of that age. and his-
m tory does not record an act which
H would set him apart from other lads
of his ago. Ho attended tho public
school of the village and was studious,
learning Greek and Latin. Ono of his
biographers describes him as a "chost-nut-halred,
fair, brown-oyed boy, good
humored and over ready to wait upon
his parents." Owing to tho financial
reverses of his father young William
was forced to leave school at tho age
of fifteen and assist his father In tho
butcher shop. Aubrey In his biog
raphy asserts that the lad often as
sisted in tho killing of tho sheep and
calves offered for salo. Tho father
was compelled to mortgage his prop
erty. Taxes wero unpaid and finally
tho property wont under tho hammer.
Tho young man thon became a clerk
in an attorney's offlco, and how well
he spent his tlmo there is exhibited in
his remarkable knowledge of law as
Bhown in his writings.
Married at Eighteen.
At the age of eighteen ho married
Anno Hathaway, one of the daughters
of a farmer of Shottery, a llttlo vil
lage within a mile of Stratford. This
lady was eight years his senior. Threo
children camo of the union, two of
whom survived their father. The
lng players frequently camo to tho vil
lago and the young man took an active
interest In their performances and
soon came to know tho old English
comedies and also tho "stago business"
of tho performers. Ho often wished
to go to London, but with a family
dependent upon his slender purso it
was next to imposslblo for him to
leavo his work even for a few days.
A poaching expedition, howovor, set
tled tho matter. It scorns that he went
with some others on a poaching trip
to tho deer park at Charcot and was
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recognized and about to bo arrested.
In revenge ho mado a ballade on tho
owner which caused that gentleman
to redouble his persecution of young
Shakespearo to such an extent that
the young man was obliged to lcavo
t&at part c$. the country or to spend
some time m Jail as tho laws against
poaching at that time were severe. He
left his family at Warwickshire and
started for London, the land of op
portunity which his genius demanded.
Goes to London.
On reaching the city ho found him
self practically penniless and for a
time he eked out a living by holding
tho horses of gentlemen outside the
theatro. Some tlmo later ho seems
to havo found some of his strolling
player friends who helped him to ob
tain work in a printing establishment.
But this did not satisfy his ambition,
and through his acquaintance with
James Burbago ho managed to get a
part on tho stage. Queon Elizabeth
loved tho play and was an enthusl
astio patron of tho player. Llttlo
wooden theatres began to spring up
in various parts of London and woro
crowded to tholr capacity. Shakes
peare, although ho continued to act
upon tho stago until a fow years be
foro his death, nevor attained very
much prominence as a player.
In 1693 his first work appeared in
tho shape of a narrative poem, "Venus
and Adonis," dedicated to the Earl of
Southampton, tho poet's patron and
friend. "Lucreco" followed a year
later and was dedicated to tho same
nobleman.
First Piny.
It Is not certain at what date
Shakespeare's career as a dramatic au
thor began, as his earliest dramatic
excrciso scom3 to havo been whipping
into shape for the stage plays whlcfc
woro out of dato. It is generally con
ceded that "Love's Labor Lost" was
his first original play and after that
he turned out plays rapidly.
In 1596, after an absenco of ter
years, ho returned to Stratford and
purchased valuable lands and assisted
his father in rebuilding his fortune,
About this tlmo Hamnot, tho only son
of tho poet, died. After John Shakes
peare, his father, had received mate
rial aid ho set about to obtain a coat
of arms. The son was now a rising
author in favor at Court and tho fa
ther began to search the family troo
for ancestors who had dono good
service for the Crown. After awhile
he discovered that one of his forefa
thers had dono service for King Henry
tho Seventh, and the crest was forth
coming. Two years later tho poet
was styled "gentleman" in a legal doc
ument. Loved HJs Birthplace,
Tho poet lovod his birthplace and
frequently visited the village where he
had now become a man of importance,
In fact so important that his neigh
bors began to ask him for loans, somo
of which aro still unpaid. Unlike
most mon of artistic temperament, ho
was a fairly good business man, a
shrewd bargainer and a tax dodger of
tho keenest typo, for ho actually
evaded tho restrictions against brew
ing malt liquor for his private uso.
His wife's debts ho left unpaid and
was careless about his own. Ho was
continually in litigation with some
body. Aubrey, who was his earliest biog
rapher, declares that ho was "a hand
some, well shaped man, modest and
amiable and otherwise- gentlemanly."
From 1595 until his death ho divided
his timo between London and Strat
ford, coming to tho latter-place to. rest
. and perhaps to get atmosphero for his
work, for In "Tho Merry Wives of
1 Windsor" and tho "Taming of the
Shrow" his references to tho part of
tho country in which ho spent his boy-
hood days aro unmistakable. "As You
Liko It," too, is a play of pastoral
s lovers, the heroine of which Shakes
r pearo has made ono of tho most en
l chanting women of literature.
A Favorite at Court.
' He was frequently called to Court
in reference to new plays and thero Is
a tradition that Queen Elizabeth was
so delighted with the humor of Fal
staff in "Henry IV." that sho com
manded Shakespearo to continue tho
' story and show Falstaff In lovo, and
1 "Tho Merry Wives of Windsor" was
written. So eager was tho Queon to
' see the play that she commanded the
poet to havo it ready In fourteen days.
' Her request was fulfilled, but many
Shakespearean scholars declare that
1 on account of its being' so hurriedly
written tho humor of Falstaff lacks
1 the spontaneity and freshness of the
i Falstaff of "Henry IV."
His "Merchant of Venlco" was writ
ten when the Jew was contemptible in
tho mind of Western Europe, whero he
was regarded as the personification of
1 greed. Today tho tragic figure of
Shylock is ono of the most command
ing characters in dramatic art.
Tho early years of the seventeenth
century wero stormy ones for tho
poet and ho was now In tho mood
for turning out tragedies. "Julius ;
Caesar" was written during tho clos
ing years of Elizabeth's reign, and
"Corlolanus" was finished shortly after
her death. "Hamlet" followed, and
is Bald to bo taken from a folk talo
of Northern Europe of tho fifteenth
century. Shortly after tho accession
of James J ho showed favor to sov- j
era! actors, among whom was Shakes- I
peare, and when "Othello" was pro-
sented ho asked that others be given. j
"Macbeth" was completed In 1606,
and its Scottish background shows ;
the suggestion of King James. "King
Lear" was his next work, and In this
tho dramatist mounted to the subllm- ' ;
est heights of dramatic creation. Other
plays followed In quick succession and
Shakespeare's fame spread over the
known world.
Retired at Forty-seven.
Ho loft London and returned to ,
Stratford in 1611 with an ambition to
becomo i a country gentleman. Ho j
was but forty-seven years of ago, but ;'
men grew old early In those days, i
and he felt that the tlmo had como .
to retire. His sources of incomo had j;
been from his plays, from his stock
in tho Globe Theatro, which unfor- , j
tunately was destroyed by flro In
1613. Ho owned valuablo land in
Stratford from which ho derived a
good interest and ono of his biogra
phers Is of tho opinion that his in
como in later llfo was not lcs3 than
fifteen thousand dollars per year. His ;
family at that tlmo consisted of his
wlfo and two daughters. Tho oldest '
was already married to Doctor John I
Hall, and tho second, Judith, wedded
John Quincy, a wine merchant of
Stratford, shortly beforo hor father's
death. Early In 1616 Shakespearo had
a draft of his will prepared which
ho signed in March. It is related
that ho died on April 23rd, 1616, of "a ;
feavour" after "a merry meeting" at
Stratford with his old friend Bon '
Johnson and the poet Drayton. It Is '
not unlikely that tho cause of this (,
fever was the unsanitary condition of ;
tho street in which ho lived. Two
days later ho was burled inside tho
chancel of Holy Trinity Church. Over
his gravo aro cut in stono lines that
have become familiar to the English- ( ;
speaking world:
"Good friond, for Jesus' sake foro
bcaro To dig tho dusto enclosed heare; j
Bleste bo .tho man that spares theso I.
stones
An curst bo he that moves my bones."
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