Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-20
CARDINAL wlsEuAN ON susKs-
pEANE.
Extracts OF Criticism.

The July number OF the Catholic World con
tains IN interesting essay on Shakespeare. written
by the late Cardinal wissmsn. 10 response 10 an
Invitation 70 deliver lecture before the Royal
Institution OF Great Britain. IL Was bis last
Intellectual sxertson, and though never delivered
vas written from HE dictaiion. by his amanuensis
II IL. however. only a fragmentary portion, "a
the Cardinal was not able 20 complete the work
r The essay begins with these hne comparisons:
There have been somo men in The worlds
histery-and they are necessarily few-who. by
their deaths. have deprived mankind OF the
power 20 do Justice 10 their meriss in those par
ticalar spheres of excellence in which they had
been pre- eminent. When the immortal Raphael
for the last time laid down his palette, stl moist
With the brilliant colors which he had spread
upon his unfinished MASTERPIECES. destined TO be
exposed TO admiration above his bier, he leit
none behind him Who could worthily depict and
transmit 70 "a hts beautiful iinoaments; 50 that
postefity has had TO seek In his own paintings,
among the guards al a scpuiehre, or among the
youthful disciple in an ancient school, some tx.
ure which may be considered as representing
himself.
when his mighty rival, Michael Angelo cast
down that massive chisel which one after
him vas worthy or able 10 WELD, none survived
him vino could venture 20 repeat in marble the
rugged grandeur OF his countenance; but we i'm
agine that We can trace ia tho head OF some IN
finished satyr, or IN the sublime couutenance of
his Moses. the natural or idealized type from
which he drew his stern and noble inspirations.
"And. 10 turn to another great art. when Mo
zart closed his last uncompleted score. and laid
him down TO pass from the regions OF earthly TO
those of heavenly music. which none had ap-
preached so closely a. he, the science over which
he ruled could hnd no strains ia which sorthily
10 mourn him except bis own, and Was compelled
% sing for the iFst time his own marvellous re
QUEEN at bis funeral.
mo less can il be said that when the pen
dropped from Shakespeare hand, when his last
mortal illness mastered the strength Of even his
genius. the world was left powerless to describe
in writing his noble and unrivaled Characters
tics. Hence turn back upon himself and
endeavor TO draw from his own works the only
true records Of his genius and his mind"
After abiding to the meagrs materials which
exist for his biography, the Cardinal continues:
"N hat matters Il TO US that he paid 90 many
marks shiliings to PURCHASE a homestead in
Sratford-upon Ayong The simple autograph
OF bis name Is now worth all the sums that he
has expended. One single line of one OF his
dramas. written in his own hand. would be worth
to his admirers all the sums which are known 10
have passed between him aud others. What has
become of the goodly foos which must have
once existed written in his own hand1 Who're
are the books annotated or even scratched by
his pen, from which be drew his SUBJECTS and
sometimes the substance OF bis dramasI What
vandalism DESTROYED the first or dispersed the
second of these valuable treasuresI How is it
that We know nothing Of his method OF compost
tonl Was il in solitude and sacred seeluSon.
self imprisoned for hours beyond the reach of
the turmoil of the street or the domestic sounds
OF homer Or were his uRrivaled works produ-
ced in scraps of time and fugitive moments, even
perhaps in the waiting room OF the theatre. or
he brawling or jovia sounds OF the tavsrnr
SHAKESPEARE AT COMPOSITION
w as he silent, thoughtful, while his fertile
brain was seething and heavng in the iermenta
ton OF his glorious conception. that men
should have said, Hush Shakespeare IL az work
with some new and mighty imagiuingsH or
wore he always that light aud careless spirit
which often belongs 10 the spontaneous facility
of genius; so that his comrades may have
wondered when. and where, and how his grave
characters his solemn scenes. his fearful catas
trophies. and his sublime maxms original wis
dom, were conceived, planned, matured, aud
finally written down. TO rule forever the worth Of
letter. Almost the only fact connected with his
literary life which has come down 20 us ia one
which has been recorded. perhaps with jealousy,
certainly with ultemper, by Lis friend. Ben j ohm
son-that he wrote with overhaste; and hardly
erased line though il would have been better
bad he done 50 with many.
SINGULAR CLAIA.
may be very naturally asked: Have | a single
claim to put forward upon your attention and in
dugeneel | think | may have one; though
fear that when | mention il il may be con-
sidered either paradox )r a refutation of my pre-
tentons My claim. then, TO be heard and
borne with is this---thst have never in nv life
seen Shakespeare acted, have never heard his
eloquent speeches acclaimed by gifted perform
ers; have not listened 90 his noble poetry as
uttered by the kings and queens of tragedy:
have not with essed his grand, richly concerted
scenes endowed with life by the graceful ges-
lures, the classical attitudes, the contrasting
emotions, and the pointed emphasis of those vho
IN modern times may DO considered to have even
added to that which his genius produced: know
nothing OF the original and striking readings or
renderings of particular passages by masters of
mimic art: L know him only on his Hat page, as
he is represented in immoyable, teatureless, IN
emotional type
Nor am / acquainted with him surrounded
perhaps sometimes sustained, but, At any rate,
worthily adorned aud enhanced in accessory
beauty, by the magic illusion OF scenic decora-
tons. the splendid pageaniry which he simply
hints at, but which. l believe. has been real
lied TO It's most ideal exactness and richness
banquets, tournaments, and battles, with the al
most deceptive accuracy of costume and arohi
lecture. When | hear of all these additional
ornaments hung around his noble works. the i'm
preston WHICH they make upon mlnN creates
deeper sense OF amazement and admiration
how dramas written ter the Globe Theatre
wretchedly lighted. incapable of grandeur even
from want of space, and without those mechani-
cal end artistic resources which belong 10 later
age. should be capable of bearing all this add
tonal weight OF lusire and magnifcenco without
It's being necessary 10 alter word, still less a
passage. from their original delivery. This ex-
hibi,s the nicely balanced point OF excellence
which is equally poised between simplicity and
gorgesusness which can retain its power aud
beauty whether stripped 20 It's bsrest form or
loaded with exuberant apsurtenances.
" After having said this much of my own
probably snenvied position. | think | shall not
be wrong IN assuming that none of Shakspeare's
enthusiastic admirers, one OF whom / profess
myself TO be, and few Of my audience are in this
exceptional position They will probably con
slider this disadvantage on nv side. and 70 some
extent must acknowledge it, for Shakespeare
wrote to be acted, and not TO be read.
READING sHAKsPKARK.
" But. on the other hand, is il no; something
TO have approached this wonderful man. and 10
have eommuned with him in silence and il soil
tude. face to face. alone with him alone. 10 have
read and s,ndied and medtated Oh him ia carly
youth. without gloss or commentary. or preface
or glossary For such waa my good or evil