The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-02-20

thing. which is really creditable to the character
of William Shakespeare, surprising him to have
been the author of those immortal plays, ms
biographers have utterly failed, and even Richard
G.. White i no exception TO the remark. We are
struggling to retain the idea that William Shakes
peare Is the bona fde author of those plays,
commonly attributed TO him, but we find the
foundation slipping out from under our feet.
We feel somewhat as the worshippers of idols
may be supposed 10 feel when compelled by
science and revelation. 10 acknowledge that their
favorite idol-god IS no god, but 4 senseloss block
of wood or stone, only fit 10 be cast to the
s.moles and bats" Miss Bacon may be called
crazy, and Judge Holmes Il visionary book-worm,
but let those who Will examine the subject as
thoroughly as they have done, 1Crite better books.
The Judge may exclaim in the words of job,
30 that mine adversary had written a book"
ON page 464 of Judge Holmes Authorship
of Shakespeare we find this utterance:
1.-The verdict Of the Shakespeare Society upon the
whole traditional biography Of William Shakespeare
Is, that he was a joyial actor and manager, not much
difering from other actors and managers. I can
not marry this TO his verse; says the learned critic
and philosopher. No; nor nobody else
The question then may be asked, who then
was the author of those plays? Judge Holmes
undertakes to prove that ''Sir Francis Bacon"
was the author. Upon 4 question of such inn
pcrtance and involving a discussion embracing so
wide Il range of research and analysis, we do not
care to even venture an opinion as yet; but we
must still ask the question, propounded in our
columns n few weeks ago, Did Shakespeare
irnte Shakespeare"
Some days ago, we loaned our copy of Judge
- 80. 81 A. ,
gentleman, and he returned it, with the following
note:
Honolulu, Feb. 9, 1869.
My DEAR SIR Il return Judge Holmes extgaor-
binary work upon the authorship of Shakespeare.
The authors task requires a discipline and exer-
else familiar TO lawyers, the more Industrious of
whom are, not infrequently, tempted 10 examine
complicated questions of literary Identification. AZ
they have been trained TO such work, they generally
do it well. The present instance Is not exceptional.
Yet | have been too long at the bar TO bc transported
by the ingenuity or force of any argument, | always
wait for the other side, especially when surprised.
The difference between plausible theories and plenary
proof Is illustrated in Judge Holmes book. 81 it is
in the numbCrless eXpOsitions of the authorship of
Junius; or, TO compare small things with great, how
easy il Is to suggest, but how hard to fix upon, the
veritable author Of . Social Life in the Tropics
\ Senator who sat during the impeachment of
Judge Chase, c~omplimented the argument of Luther
Martin, because it prevented hin from thinking of
10y NI%Ne @NN N"S 1890 NA'Nht ~ 1N@ALo ~ AN NLAN
Judge Holmes fertile mind has been 50 successfully
exercised in exposing the extraordinary intellectual
excellence of the author of the so-called Shakespeare's
plays, that it is quite impossible to think of anything
else. 1t does not signify whether that author be
styled Bacon or Shakespeare, or whether his Chris
tan name be Francis or William. Whoever wrote
those plays must have had vast comprehension, pro
found phiosophic depth, subtle discrimination, vigor-
Gus and splendid imagination, bOundless wit, aesthetic
culture and susceptibility of the most delicate cast,
accurate observation of men and things and of all
the phenomena of nature, an exuberance of learning
and an universally of intellectual power, which far
exceeded the natural proportion of any single man,
or even a whole generation. Judge Holmes pays Il
rich tribute to the calm loftiness of Lord Bacon's
soul and intellect by the suggestion that a mind
like his should care but little for any lustre that
might be added to his name, or his memory, by these
writings; or, that. at least, he should be willing to
wait untirit should shine forth with an illumination
sufficiently brilliant and clear to reveal by its own
light the soul and genius of himself'
Excuse my long note. | am enthusiastic over
Shakespeare. Truly, your friend, -