Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-21
Abraham Lincoln ss Dramatic
Critic-.rhe Latest and Greatest of
Shakspeare's COmn"cntat


Mr. Iincoln's genius is wonderfully versatile
No department of human knowledge seems 10
be UNEMPLOYED bv him. He is equally at home
whether discussing divinity with political preach
ers debating plans of campaigns with military
heroes, illustrating the POpes bull against the
comet to a pleasure party from Chicago. arguing
questions of constitutional law with Vallandig
ham sympathiLers, regulating political parties IN
Missouri, defending his policy before party con
ventions or mditing letters to the philosopher in
che OF the Tribune academy In all these, and
in the disposition of the countless questions that
have come up for ms decision during the last
two wears and halt he has displayed a variety
of attainments. a depth of knowledge. fund Of
anecdOte. power of ana ysis and correctness OF
judgment that STAN? him as the most remarkable
man of the age IL only remained for him 10 cap
the climax of popular ast0ulshment and admira-
ton by showing himself to be dramatic critic OF
the first order. and the greatest and most pro-
found Of the army OF ShakSpearein COMMENT
tors And this he has done
The Falstaf of our stage has been hOnored
with an autograph letter from the American au
tocrat Just rs Shakespeare himself was honored
with an amcable letter from King James the
First. and which, we are told, that most learned
prince and great patron OF art was pleased with
his own hand To write . We have obtained
copy Of the Presidents letter. and deem it of
sufficient interest and Importance to print in this
connection Ii reads ~ follows:
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO Mr. HAoKErr.
FxrcUTIv MANSION.
WASHINGTON, August II, $685.
Ny DEAR SE: Months ago should have ackn 'wledged
thu receipt Of your book and accomp 'rvnS kind ote,
aud have TO beg your pardon for not having done
For one Of nv age have seen very little drama
TIE first presentation % Fasisf ever yours
here last spring Perhaps q bet compliment
- srrffV Yer Al ~ n
see Il again. Some % shaksprsres plays hav- never
rea1 while others perhaps have frequent
"Lear,' ''hichaTd Third Henry Eighth Hamlet,
and especially Macbeth think equals Mac
beth" II wonderful Unlike you gentlemen OF the
profession think the sOliloeuy IN Hamlet. comnen
eng 20 my oense rank, surpaSes that eommenc ng
Ito he be " But pardon this small attempt at
criticism should like 10 hear you pronounce the open
ing speeeh Of Richard the Third"
Will you visit Washington agani II you do,
please call and let make your personal acquaintance
Yours truly, A LINCOLN.
J,Srs II H,ckrTT. E'q.
IL Mr. Lincoln had had time to dilate upon the
subject of ms letter and - analyze the plays and
passages 10 which he particularly refers, We
Wo4iii have had an article upon ShaksDetre
which would doubtless have consigned 70 merted
dust and oblivion the thousands OF TONES tina,
have been printed on that subject, and would
haze been accepted the standard authority
hehceiorth New editions OF Shakspere's plays
instead OF having long preface about what Wa.
thought and said OF them by Bishop Warburtoh
Dr. Johnson, Stevens, Malone. Ben Jonson
Lord ShaftesoHry. Goldsmith. Goethe Voltare
sad Others would simply contain Abraham Lin
coins commentary Perhaps aiter he retires e
the shades OF private life al Springfield he ma,
lie. tie few Of his leisure moments to this pleas
ink task Goethe was struck with the tact tina
in the literary circles of England the suijsc, was
Shakespeare and keiRe snde-nothing but him. M
? emf Of ShaksDears Mr.. Lincoln's criticism vii
preclude any such complaint in the future
That will finish up the subject. and there will b.