The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

DAILY NEWS.—The first and the principal days
of the Shakspere Tercentenary Commemoratio❑ are
now over, and it is no longer matter of prediction
that as an outward show—so far, at least, as Lon-
don is concerned—they have proved a failure. A
few civic dinners, and a few social suppers, some
tawdry flags, and some forced speeches, larded with
all the stock quotations that have almost lost their
sense through repetition, are all that we shall have
to look back to as matter of special celebration of
this year. With so lame a result of so much prior
trumpeting many patriot hearts will he grieved ;
they will regard it as a confession that, nationally,
our love for Shakspere is only pretended, and they
will feel sore at the sneers which will be levelled,
here and abroad, at this feeble demonstration of our
love for the poet. Doubtless, too, the cynical will
find in the occasion fresh proof and illustration of
the unreality of all our feelings, and will preach us
brilliant sermons on the old text that there is
nothing in anything; that there is hollowness in all
our life ; and that a clever sham is the ultimate
object of all nineteenth century virtue. Yet when
we have said that this failure was predicted, have
we not both explained and excused it ? It was
predicted, because such things always fail with us ;
and they fail because we cannot bring ourselves
heartily to undertake them. Pageantry is natural
to some nations— to us it is unnatural. We are an

undemonstrative people—we hide our warmest
affections—and they are very warm, whatever the
cynics may say—beneath a robe of reserve; and,
like Joseph, we retire to an inner chamber when

we give Way to the uncontrollable yearnings of our
hearts. Stoical by habit outwardly, we cannot on
set occasions, and to order, all at once throw off
our second nature, and become genial and jocund
merrymakers. Our efforts in that new line must
be inevitably awkward in appearance, and dis-
tasteful to ourselves. Other muses, too, con-
tribute their influence to the same result. We
are not in this country accustomed to the gor-
geous processions and ceremonies with which
elsewhere the rites of religion are associated.
Even our skies oppose their normal inclemency to
our indulgence in outdoor shows. They reduced
our chief Horticultural Society to bankruptcy by
persistent rain on fete days, and at one time they
almost extinguished the Volunteer movement. Such
influences operating through centuries help to make
an Englishman's true life in his home, and mar our
rare efforts to combine in open-air celebrations. So
we must be content with the home affections and
individual independence which our nature and
country bestow and foster, even though we must
thereby sacrifice the taste for gorgeous ceremonial,
and the skill in combined pageant, which minds
more mobile and gladsome, and a climate more
bright and exhilarating, make easy and pleasant to
our neighbours. The same causes which wrought
the discomfiture of the external show added doubt-
less their weight to the deterioration of what may
be called the more intellectual part of the prepara-
tions. Nothing can be done effectually without
practice and practical knowledge, and the bringing
together of a select band of orators at a dinner, or
the casting of a commemorative play, can sca►cely
be expected to be well done by those who never
did the like before. The Mayor of Stratford made,
six months ago, a frank and manly appeal to the
public for both help and consideration; and the
public, if it has felt afraid to contribute much of
the former, has liberally given the latter, and has
only tacitly protested against such blunders as the
theatrical arrangements have disclosed. But for

he general withholding from any active partici-
pation in the celebration, so far as it has been
attempted at all, a graver reason lies, partly perhaps
unconsciously at the root. Those who can truly
understand Shakspere do not love to talk about
him, or to hear him talked about. He tinges
their life, he fills their imagination, he offers the
impersonation, in every different sphere, of what
they love or what they seek to be ' • he gives words
to their profoundest unspoken, almost unshapen,
thoughts; he flings the soft magic veil of human joy
and sorrow, laughter and tears, round the images of
the divine spirit that dwells within us all; and
therefore it is a sort of desecration, it jars upon
the most sensitive nerves, when unsympathetic
voices expatiate on his " characteristics," or clever
orators lug in by head and shoulders their " appro-
priate quotation." So it happens that the true
Shakspere worshippers could not bring themselves
to be present at the banquets or the other forms of
common place glorification which have seemed
fitting to very respectable persons. They have
rather fled away where no discordant sound could
reach them, and their real number is rather to be
estimated by those who aro conspicuously absent,
than by the few men of name and mark who have
given their bodily presence at feast or play or con-
cert. But the Shakspere worshippers may happily
be numbered by a more positive test. This year has
perhaps brought out one or two exceptional editions,
but every year sees now tb.ree or four fresh impres-
sions of his works. They are of all sorts and sizes
and prices, with notes and without notes, with
illustrations and without illustrations, reproductions
of old and scarce copies for the luxurious student,
penny a week issues for the apprentice or artisan.
And they all sell. No book that ever was printed
—save one—has had a circulation so enormous, so
increasing, so real. It is not the fictitious circula-
tion of fashion, it flows through depths where
fashion is unheard of, where even the few shillings
needful are subtracted from the demands of neces-
sity rather than the outlay of enjoyment. So with
the acting of his plays. It barely subsists, bolstered
up with all the ingenuity of scenery and decoration,
in the aristocratic West-end, but it flourishes peren-
nially in remote Islington, in Shoreditch, end in
Southwark; and in every provincial theatre Shake-
pere is steadily played to audiences that no sensa-
tion pieces will long attract. And this loving know-
ledge of his works tad on Saturday its celebration,
in almost the only genuine display of enthusiasm
which was witnessed. Primrose-hill failed, like every
other display, in the matter of procession and ban-
ners and music. Bat a huge crowd of working men
was there, drawn not by the pageantry which had
been recommended, and which they rather con-
temptuously ignored, but by the desire to be pre-
sent at the simplest of acts, performed by one
whom only his genius distinguishes. Doubtless
we shall see the act mocked at, as the reverence for
old world unselfishness, and heroism, and faith,
which lined the streets with a bodyguard of un-
washed hands when Garibaldi entered London,
was mocked at. But the emotion which drew these
crowds to the route from Nine Elms to Piccadilly,
and that which covered Primrose-hill with their
multitude, has its seat in the same centre, and
cares litle for mockery, however clever and epigram.
matic. It is an outburst from the heart, and not
the creation of the intellect. It tells that the pulse
of the nation's life still beats strong and warm,
though some of its members may be diseased and
corrupt. And so it tells us.that the reverence and
love which Shakspere inspires, though we may
fail to show it outwardly, is working its silent
work in teaching, and purifying, and raising his
country. Here is the true glory and distinction of
our Tercentenary. The first anniversary came in
political storm and tempest; the second shone on
the chill reflection of restricted education and pre-
tended "sensibility ;" the third beams in the light
of a people growing to know their strength, and
with their strength their duties and their destinies.
Devoutly thank we Heaven that at such an hour
gentle, true, tender, good Shakspere has his monu-
ment in the people's hearts.
HERALD.—The King of Prussia has returned to
Berlin, to cherish, as it would seem, the delusion
that his army is invincible. We have no wish to
deny the skill of the Prussian commanders or the
bravery of their men; but it is childish to talk as
the Prussians do of the assault of Duppel as a glori-
ous victory. They had overwhelming numbers,
improved artillery and small arms. The Danes were
wearied out by a struggle which they had long felt
to be hopeless, and the Prussians have no more rea-
son to be proud of the slaughter they have perpe-
trated in Sundewitt and Alsen than a giant who
has crushed beneath his savage blows a crippled
dwarf. 'I he Prussians may congratulate themselves
that their military authorities have not allowed
scientific invention to outstrip them, and that the
most is made of the money voted or taken for the
army. That is all, 'Co have beaten the Danes is
no proof of any especial valour or skill, and the King
and the Democrats will fall into a horrible blunder
if they fancy that because they have beaten the
Dares when they were five to one, they can beat
the French upon equal terms. At present both
parties are unanimous in their delight over this
victory, bat the Liberals will not improbably soon
find cause to regret it. The King will be confirmed
in his obstinate adherence to his army reorganisa-
tion, to which he will attribute the recent success ;
and unless the Liberals abandon their constitutional
claims there will be no reconciliation between the
King and his people, and no resumption of regular
parliamentary action,. All these triumphs of the
army, over which the heedless unscrupulous demo-
cracy raises a shout of triumph, are staggering
blows to its cause. With the prestige of success to
hack him Herr Von Bismarck will be able to defy
the angry assailants who threaten him with im-
peacament and condign punishment. Their mis-
fortune will be of their own making, and no one
will compassionate them. They forced him Von

~~

b'

If

d
Bismarck
~;nto this policy of aggression, en
pursuing it he will be able to disarm theu":
However, the' world will nct much Fenc..e!ra_
itself cow with the internal affairs of Prussia.
have lost all hitt
cause we heve ace-mired the conviction that tn.",
rest in the conflict of parties, bee!
Prussian Liberals, yk,+h whom our sympathies
naturally go, inaemuce:' as they are struggling.!tt
the maintenance of tr The
of political morality and sagacity.
influence which this e•-altat,:on of King Willie
.0
a the Conf.erenceris.
may have upon the proceeding,
much more important. We feaC that it will be., 'of
a eonet`itution, are destitute aese
ceedingly mischievous. The Kit'g is sopro.ue.
to yielderly°
his army that he will be very unwilling
any remonstrances of other Powers, and En. aY,,,vhiee
probably enter upon ambitioue scheme's 311 " his
they cannot possibly acquiesce. In at'Y ca"
demands will rise far higher than they
6 uccessof.l.
done a fertnifeht ago, and the chance of a
result to the labours of the Conference is Prce°Pei'el
tionally diminished. The Prussian semi`'
journals announce, with great complacency from
the King has ellready received despatches ',rico
several Sovereigns of Europe congratulating ",he
upon the victory at Duppel, and that amongs.t the
Sovereigns sending these congratulations fa to
Emperor of the Freeich. Is it, then, the ettqueol
for every Sovereign to congratulate every ". g° h
ould eau.
brother" upon his triunephs, even when the triaoP,,,,
is a disaster to another e
Has the Emperor of the tench condoled wAll tra,
King of Denmark at the same time that he oong'r,
tulated the King of Prussia ; or would he if to-030..4
row the news should reach PI. iris that the DO:„
qt icily dear " good bro.tliet;)
fleet had destroyed a Prussian town, or blown ,rd
with his ship Prince Adatbert, I he Prussian LO'll
High
.Admiral, dispatch a telegrane to CaPerhbaisgte;3o'
with. his congratulations Of course, if such 0
e.ttque.tte of courts, false and foolish as lye in% scot
alder it, we can have nothing to say agaie.et,t"' -ttbo
taken by the Emperor of the French ; but .44,°11,, eat
other hand, this despatch of compliment is to bete'
as an expression of the Emperor's real opinion%
cannot sufficiently express our regret. The tbe
peror may, of course, if he thinks that it is for ,„„
interest of France that Denmark should be dislne,'t
bered, refuse to fulfil his guarantee to protect tile
state, but he might, at least, spare the feelings ef
.Danes and not take the needless trouble of encour9o„
ing the Prussians in their bloody work. If tiles;
are really the sentiments of the Emperor, if be 13„1,
felt himself obliged to declare his satisf,iction at 'l';
fall of Duppel, the prospects of the Con ference ern"
dark indeed. If Prince Latour D'Auve rgne is ti
make common cause with Herr Von Valan 0134
Baron Von Beust, and support propositiot s Ohl
Denmark can only accept with the certainty -f
speedy ruin, nothing will result from the la bouts °0
the plenipotentiaries. The English Minierye
purchase peace, and get rid of a disagreable bus iees,p4
would indeed throw its weight into the same 05:n4
but Denmark will certainly not sign her own T.,n1,1
and if she has to suffer dismemberment she 'hi
submit, indeed, to the force nzajettre so long 0 S
has no power to throw it off; but she will note 'l4
accepting.. a peace, proclaim her submission to t'llcd
an ininstice. If the only diisculty in the wilts-.
the. Conference were the protest which the dePti..;l.
tion. s which profess to speak for the Estates of P'-t
stein. and Schleswig have come over to pr°ell-
- any settlement made without their conee:,
rence, it. would very soon come to a satisfectori
conclusion. Indeed we do not suppose that the
gentlemen themselves believe that the elighte-r.-
. attention. will be given to their protest, or even tbs.;
it will be received. Yet they have not reckon':
altogether vainly in coming to England. rbe,,/,1
will not influence the ministers of the noneGer"-t
Powers or the public opinion of this country, "1°-
they can keep a watch upon Herr Von Beust and
the plenipotentiaries of Austria and Prussia, 013
worry those gentlemen it they show any signs °-
f
acting reasonably and moderately.