National Republican., 1873-11-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
A washingtonian Rt shnkspcnre's Dirih-
place,

4 washiBgtonla ut shnkspcRre's nirih-
place.
The private life Of great man Is always
,nc Of interest and curiosity to his admirers.
Is no exception. Ills numerous
biographcrs, although they have expended
much time and talent In industrious research,
have so far thrown but little light on this |
subject, giving but few stray incidents In |
his career, and leaving us to our conjectures |
for the rest. However, the scene of bis
birth, love and death affords us the means Of
Interesting observation.
But a short time since the writer landed In |
Liverpool, with his hopes high In auticipa- |
tion Of the pleasure before him; and after
visiting Its sights started on his travels. |
From here to Chester the railway passes
through district possessing but little that Is
Of value TO one pressed for time. The latter
city Is one that will delight the students Of
history by Its quaint houses, old Roman
walls and other remains, and intimate con.
ncction with the events Of the past. After
leaving here the traveller gradually enters
one Of the greatest manufacturing aud mining
districts In the world. In some parts the
ground not occupied by buildings Is literally
works. Here and there you may sec circular
walls Of brick surrounding the mouth of
some exhausted mine, while in almost every
direction tall chimncys and surrounding
works meet the eye. In the nclghborhood Of
Wolvcrhampton the manufacturing and other
establishments are almost innumcrablc, and
continue for distance Of between fifteen
and twenty miles, rendering 1t nearly impos-
sible to detect where one town ends and the
other commences.
Passing through Birmingham, VIC enter a
district totally the reverse, for here ngricul-
ture rules, and you arc pleased with the quiet
beauty of the scenery, which is seldom found
out Of England. Some one has said that
England is one great workshop; another
AYERS that 1t Is a perfect garden Of beauty.
Both are correct. Situated In this
EDEN OF PEACE AND QUIET IS sTRATFoRD,
at whose little brick depot we soon arrive.
Leaving my "hand luggage" In charge of the
stalion-master, who gave me some drec-
tions, wendcd my way up the road leading
to the town. i had gone but short distance
when l was accostcd by comlcal-loOking
character, who appeared to be afflicted with
some distressing malady, which kept one
arm and leg and one side of his face In con-
tinual twitching; one whose company would
evidently make you nervous. Touching bis
hat, he said; GOOD day, cir. l am guide.
| have showed around the poet Longfellow,
JET. Davis and Artcmus Ward, who carica-
tured me In Punch, sir; and II you would
like to SEQ Stratford, l will show you the
way"
succumbcd to such cloqucncc and secured
him Immediately. Here was an unexpected
treasure. We first directed our steps to
Shottery, q little village about half n mile of,
where Shakespeare woOcd Ann Hathaway.
We passed through several fields devoted To
market gardening, and entering u collection
| OF peasants houses soon arrived ut a most
picturesque little cottage. 1t was built OF
rough-hewn beams and stone plastcred
together and rooted with thick thatch of
straw, whose projecting caves seemed to in
vite the birds to take up residence under
them. A hedge surrounded the house and
little garden, which was crowded with fra
grant flowers and few cabbages, the back
ground being filled up by stables and shade
trees. Imagine the soft twilight of summer
eve gradually stealing DER the scene; the orb
Of night Just .peeping through the foliage and
shedding its light upon the landscape, n few
felines perched on the gable, and
| WILLIAM AND ANN SEATED BY THE DOOR
looking at each other and the moon, signing
much, and whispering soft words, and your
picture Is complete. The interior Of the
house Is old-fashloned and interesting. The
| walls and ceilings are low, being supported
with unfinished oak, while the doors arc COW
cred with highly-caryed panels and other
evidences Of genius. In the main room on the
ground floor Is IN immense fireplace, nearly
| as high as the apartment ITSELF This Is also
highly ornamented with pots, pans and ket-
| ties hung around, and by Its eide stands a
dilapidatcd, high-backed bench, the mos re-
| markable piece of furniture here. II Is the
famous "courting chair" on which the lovers
billed and cooed. OF course l sat down.
After sitting long enough to become inspired
examined some of the ancient clothing OF
the Hathaways, and sought my guide, who
was waiting outside, when we set out on our
return to the town.
During the time was engaged In exam
lining the interior Of the house, my guide i'm
provedhis opportunity to quietly gather some
mementoes In the botanical line, which he
drew forth and presented when at q safe dis
tance; thus eyincing his knowledge of the
relic gathering propensity so peculiar to an
American. This Is characteristic that be-
longs not only to those of our nation who
are Of little note, but even to our statesmen.
who gave striking Illustration of 1t In the
back-pay steal and other like instances.
On the way 10 the church, which was our
next point, observed that the streets were
well nacadamized and keft In neat condi-
| Ion, and that the houses were generally of
unpretending brick bearing modern ap-
pearance. The church Is structure Of
moderate size, Of that
| STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE PECULIAR TO OLD
English sanctuarics, and bears upon every
| exposed part the evidence that time wears
away even stone. 1t is situated close by the
narrow Avon In small enclosure, the most
prominent features of which consist In grave
stones, which arc placed everywhere
against the church walls, against each other
and even the flagstones OF the walks are
utilized TO commemorate the virtues of the
departed. Stone-cuttng and undertaking
| are among the acknowledged industries OF
| the town. In entering the edilce you pass un-
der an antiquated archcd porch which shows
Its age by the well-worn stone carvings upon
| II, and are admitted through an iron gate by
an old lady who expects little fee before
| you leave. Once In you look about at the
numerous tombs, arches and stained win
dows, and then pass to the farther end where
the altar is. Separating this part from the
visitor Is wooden railing, over which you
lean and read that strong little rhyme about
dust, stones and bones on the slab above
| Shakspeares remains. Beside 1t Is one IT,
memory Of his wife, and In q niche In the
| wall above Is an cfiigy which represents him
| In sitting posture, cushion on his lap,
with pen In his right hand, and his left
resting on scroll Of paper. Beneath is a
long inscription, followed by the date OF his
death and his age. The monument and sur
roundings are hardly fitting to one so great;
but Shakespeare memory Is preserved III far
better material thanpcrishablc marble. Look
Ing about at the many memorials of the dead
we conclude that this Is q very quiet way Of
reminding the rustic church-goers OF the
sureness OF death, and one that tends to
make them thoughtful and attentive.
Before leaving was presented with sub
scription list by one of the attendants, who
stated as Its object the construction OF
MEMORIAL WINDOW IN THE CHURCH
for Shakespeare, and that the contributions
were wholly by Americans, who were allowed
to give one dollar and upward. As the Wash
ington monument Is not finished aud small
contributions were unacceptable, abstained.
Leaving hero We proceeded up the street,
passing on our wa the old grammar school
where the bard Is said to have obtained the
greater part OF his early education. 1t is q
dllapidated old concern, partly built OF wood
and brick, the roof u shingled curb On the
corner diagonally opposite Is an educational
Institution of another description, being no
less than q tavern, where tradition says-tra