New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-08
SHAKESPEARE's CLOWNS.

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SHAKESPEARE'S CLOWNS.
LECTURE BY GEORGE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
CAP AND BELLS
A large audience assembled in Association
Hail. last evening, hear George Vaudenhof givea de-
sorpton OF shakcspeares Clowns. The lecture may De
called history Of testers from the time they FIRST De-
came historic, and illustrated with readings from
Shakespeare and Longfeow. Longfellow's Robert OF
Sicily he recited IT, elected great applause, as well
as Touchstones sayings in AS you Like IT,"
He began by saying that the fools and testers OF
Shakespeare though imaginary characters were repre-
senayes OF real English creations OF the age and OF the
clowns Of the to-day with their vapld, WORKOUT
Jokes The testers and clowns OF that time were neces-
sary appendages OF princes house In Touchstone
we have sample Of the half wit half folly OF the cOurtly
fool II certain that the jester known in the time
of Cedric the Saxon. He was originally natural born
fool taken care Of by relative for the sake OF his
property.
There was once such fool in England, called silly
Billy who used occasionally to have flashes very much
like common sense At one time. when Dewlyelocted
public functonary had just made his maiden speech,
Billy went through the streets like newsboy, crying
the honorable members speech. On examination 1t was
found to be blank sheet In answer to the remon-
strances Of the buyer Billy would answer at was
nsught."
1t marvel that people cOuld have found amuse-
the actions tnesc
The baron then had such amusements as We have.
Conversation was little cultivated, and ennu was the
greatest enemy The baron would accept anything to
help pass the time during his heavy dinners At such
time we can imagine that the poor witess fool might
supply some mrth 10 the heayy-witted baron.
1t was the futile attempts of the fool TO find apt
phrases and sense, which caused the amusement OF his
| master The master Of Jack Oates once procured a
ounce pie Jack liked ounce pie and hated the cook,
30 he tried to satisfy both desires He began by pleading
sickness and led 10 the kitchen fire. Jack watched
the oven and when the cook went for some sugar. lie
snatched il and The pie burnt bis stomach so he
jumped into the up his armps, and ate the pie
The knight seeing way TO get out Of IT, discharged his
cook and Jack obtained both wishes.
Later the fool was chosen for his quantness and
humor Such one was Yorick the jester OF the
King of Denmark. To mark his high office, he wore
wear" says Jacques. In very early times he was was
dressed in long robe Of yellow squirrels tails attached
the border with ms head shayed and an ape as his
sueSi then. were the costumes of the ancient Jester
but those Of shakespeares time part cOlored
Clothes with hood like monks cap, either with ASS
ears or a cock's-cOmb the apex Thus the fool in
Lear offers his cock the King. He always
red wand with fools face upon the head rs his scep
ter Thus he paraded with full license speak he
chose He grew be power in the land and an init
mate, believed by his master. The fool in Lear had
shrewdness almost amounting to wisdom, though he
always bunted these arrows of wisdom with SOME non
sensical ending to his speeches.
his wit he hid biting or bitter truth.
Trpo the fool of Francis L. the occasion of the visit
OF Charles ". asked his master who the greatest
fool. "Why, you" said the King mo was yester-
day. but to-day there are two greater than am One
for putting himself IN your power. though you are the
greatest for allowing him to get away The two kings
felt rather embarrassed at this free exposition OF their
Fuller says that no one but fool would he lester,
out none Dut & man eUHS Wf court n 1901 was
of Henry vlI He stood in high favor with the tyrant
and beloved by the whole court. His influence with
the King was often used In such good cause as to merit
IN h
Cardinal WOlsey, whom he disiked, passing through
crowd Of 6egsars at the prelse,s gate. Here was
money satisfy OF the Cardinals creditors, at
which WOlsey much amazed aud offered his head TO
the KING II II shown thai he any one. After
getting the declaration from him that he owed his wealth
to the poor viii obtained 40 from him. This he dis
tribued among the beggars at the gate. and then
turning with the empty bag overwhelmed the Cardinal
As the wit and wisdom of Shakespeare were presmi-
nent above those OF his eoemPorare so his fools were
wit than the wits and critics OF the time. They stand
neS SeG dher esss Of %eee
the who were kept for their musical attanments
sample OF the half fool half clown who succeeded the
licensed jester and they are the type Of the low comedy
man who delights the galleries now
practice prevailed at early period 10 introduce
the clown between the acts to amuse the crowd the
abused. They often nterpeated their sayings in
the parts assigned them For this reason think that
Shakespeare is not 10 be charged with the low remarks
which often appear in the words put IN their mouths.
The remarks uttered by the porter In Macbeth erept
acted this part originally, filed the pauses i'll the
play with the bald and ribad nonsense, which
petuated for the next who took the part This
taken down in the prompers book and then published
as the genuine work Of Shakespeare
Cromwell certainly entertained no clowns. The antics
OF his "Praise-COd Barebones" followers made 1t
necessary. The dssolute courtiers of Charles H. who
succeeded Cromwell all clowns, following IN the
train OF the Merry Monarch. We learn from one Of
Shadwes plays IN 1C60 that IL not then fashion
able TO keep fools OF all the motley minded gentlemen
described by Shakespeare, TOuchstOne Is the prince
Perhaps his best bit of fOOling is the myses
the clown the forest He fluids that in his love for
Audrey he has rival in William. This gives Shake
speare chance show the difference between the
fool and the rustic clown and IN the encounter the
rustic little chance against the cOurty and bells
Mr.. vandenhoh concluded his lecture by recitng the
dialogue In this scene.