The New York herald., 1874-09-13
A NEW VIEW OF SHAKESPEARE.

To THE EDITOR OF THE BERALD:-
Observations or Professor Y. CULVER Rigadoo
d. b.. President Of the Society for the Prevention
of Hard Times "Originator OF the new method Of
propagaung superior order OF human beings"
author of ''What Know About Ciams," ''How to
Avoid Paying Your Rent compiler OF the New
York. Brooklyn and Jersey City Directory OF Free
Lunch Routes" and several other rare and inter-
esting volumes:-
Observation Ffrst-I have not got much TO say
about this thing nor about that thing. Ior about
anything In particular, but as regards the ques-
tion sWho wrote Shakespeare's Pays" Will say
a few words.
Let me, however, make the preliminary remark
that the man who could write accurate biog-
raphy of the immortal William would achieve i'm
mortality equal to that OF Shakespeare himself.
Now, l do not pretend to be an inspired writer,
but shall here endeavor to throw such light on
the controversy as will forever set the matter
at rest and render unto Shakespeare the
honor that Is justly due to Shakespeare
That is If there is any honor connected with the
authorship OF such compositions which consider
exceedingly doubtful, for with the exception OF a
few schoolboy souoquies, noted only for their Pc
cuiarly rugged language, the plays OF Shakespeare
are too vulgar and verbose to meet with general
appreciation.
Even Shakespeare was ashamed of his produc-
tons although at the time OF writing them he was
forced to pander to the tastes OF depraved public
by earning his bread in such an ignoble man
per. Just so soOn as he was enabled TO retire on
a competence from his degrading pursuit he did so
with alacrity and made no claim TO MS unworthy
productions being heartily ashamed OF his work.
1t is mistake to suppose that Shakespeare ''dld
not write o an age, but for all time" The fact Is
lie wrote only for the stage, with which ne was
connected and he did not consider that ne was
writing Tor posterlty, for he should have known
that all such nonsenscal supersfitions as ghosts,
in more advanced aud enlightened age.
With respect to his SollOQ leave out the sentl-
TO be overheard giving vent to his thoughts nova
days, be he KING or peasant IN such language as
TINS,
Now is the winter of our discomfort
Made glorious summer by this son OF YORK.,
And all the clouds tn at lowered upon our house.
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried
he would most assuredly deserve and get strait
jacket. Suppose Tor example General Grant had
bastlc manner, what think you would be done
with MIN, II instead OF quietly remarklng, II VIII
fight out this line if 1t taxes all summer" ne
should have raved like mailman and roared out,
Down with the negro driving fends OF hell
Go tell that God forsaken traitor Lee
M P um%sl hs dies ns ans S s sh Be- roasn DER
And so might any OF his soliloquies be ridiculed,
for no one believes that Richard Ill any more than
General Grant ever used such unheard of express
sions Spakespe8re's plays are a libel on human
Ity, his characters being all fools or knaves, or
base mixture OF both fool and knave, and from all
we can learn their iustrlous author combined
both qualities IN his own person.
No other man Of his age was so well qualified to
write such distorted views OF human nature as the
one who at the age Of eighteen married a woman
eight years older, and ran away from her charged
with stealing from geatleman's park. On enter
ing that great depot OF roguery, London, his boon
companions were doubtful characters or, rather
persons OF no character whatever, writers,
actors, parmaids, bawds, all persons OF low de-
gree. 1t is true that Queen Elizabeth was amused
by his wit and novelty; so would she have been
but little notice OF him, however; neither did her
courtlers. Sir Walter Raleigh LORD Bacon and
others OF that class condescendingly noticed him
on account OF the amusement he afforded them.
1t Is absurd to think that Bacon, Raleigh
or Queen Elizabeth was ever guilty OF
pennlng such abOmlnable trash, and had Snakes
peare known what a demoralizlng eject his plays
would have had upon after generations he would
doubtless have endeavored strenuously to destroy
them entirely. as he did in part
Alas how corrupting have been The lnnuence
OF Snakespeares plays upon this generation.
LOOK at the pulpit Down-hearted ministers,
sitting on ''the ragged ends OF anxiety" even
s'wlshing they were dead" Look at the stagei
Performers hauled or by scores to the police
courts tor dancing the cancaD. Barnum's HIP
quest OF al audience, and many other dire Ca
lamities too numerous to mention.
But again, having established the fact conclu.
sively that Shakespeare was the author OF Shake.
speareis plays, We hope the question will be Tor.
ever at rest along with the other questions Of
former times:-Who was the father OF Zebedee's
children Who struck William Patterson 2 Have
you seen Tom Collnsi Did Henry Ward -?
&C., &C., &c.