The New York herald., 1874-09-20
Opinion OF l.. Clarke Davis.

FHllAADBLPHIA, sept. IL, 1874
l had o very pleasant interview recently with
Mr.. l.. Clarke DAVIS, managing editor of the Phla-
delphia Inquirer. l called upon him as a matter
OF course in relation to the present Snakesperian
discussion, and confess myself glad to become the
medium through which to express his very bright
and interesting opinions. 1 don't suppose that
any further Introduction OF this gentleman Is
needed beyond the simple mention OF his name,
for the little literary coterie composed OF himself
and his accomplished wife, Mrs Rebecca Harding
Davis, is so we'll known, and among the readers
OF magazine lore so highly appreciated, that to
almost every one who reads this will be suggested
q dozen reasons why the views given be.
low are entitled to very considerable weight
discovered Mr.. Davis away 'aloft," where
editors are usually found, up to hts elbows in his
manuscripts and proofs, and after climbing sew
eral pairs Of stairs learned that access was much
easier to his thoughts than to his whereabouts
The hour Of my arrival was exceedingly inoppor-
tune, and the interview Of necessity conducted in
an on-hand sort OF q way; but yet was IN his
presence just long enough to secure some very
happy thoughts, which. l am sure, Will be re-
garded as rich contributions to all who defend the
authenticity OF the plays.
sYou have read Mr. Holmes works" queried.
"Yes," was the response; "and Della Bacon's
also the latter is not quite as large as our city
directory, but very nearly so. Despite the fact
that am only middle aged, deem 1t, however, a
very felicitous circumstance that have Gigested
the volume, sentence by sentence, and still sur.
viver
"Tnen you do not consider the work powerful
one," asked.
'No, not powerful" was the response; "Arch-
bishop Whateley once wrote an essay In which the
claim was made that no such character as Napo-
leon Bonaparte ever had an existence. defy any
unprejudlced mind OF the present generation to
read this work without having his faith shaken in
the identity ol Napoleon But Miss Bacon's book
has not the clear, strong, and apparently logical
The style OF Della BacOn's book is very obscure.
and 10 her arguments she does very little else than
beg the question:"
"You are not Baconian, thensn was my next
question.
.and | Will tell you why Most OF US admire
Shakespeare for what ne has said; for the terse-
ness, strength and beauty OF his diction and for
the solidity and comprehensiveness OF his style.
But there are other qualities in his plays equally
deserving our astonishment and admiration. sup
in nH'I the great tragedy Of Macbeth suppose pose
we curtail Midsummer Nights Dream OF
attitudes that would render both these plays emf.
nently successful as pantomimes. mean TO say
mate knowledge of stage business and dramatic
effect that Lord Bacon could never have pos
that he led. Recall the murder scene In Mac
BETH. The crime has been effected, and the
hands Of the author Of the deed are stained with
blood. Suddenly there comes loud knocking on
the outer gate. Why, the effect Of tins simple
stage trick upon the audience Is terrible; 1t sgni-
! fes detection, and this little thing must be ever
regarded as one OF the greatest incidents in the
/ entire play. The prompter produces 1t by pound
ing upon an anvil located In one OF the wings and
yet 1t conveys more to the audience, more excite
ment CONSERVATION and terror, than could be
! conveyed In volumes OF words Think you
Francis Bacon would have known anything Of
/ this 2'
| But, Mr.. Davis" said ], "dont you think that
J Bacon or some one else might have furnished the
language OF many OF the plays, and that Shake
! speare might have adapted 1t to his knowledge OF
stage erectsS
mo; do not think co. answered Mr.. Davis.
"There is uniformity and consistency between
the language and the situation tnat cOnclusivey
prove ~ me that the author OF one was the orlgl-
! natOr OF the other. The language Is always con-
! slstent with the situation, and nothing out the
situation can explain the force, gigor, yehemcncy
! or else the grace, sweetness and purity Oh tne
great dramatists most remarkable lines. once ad-
init that Shakespeare devised the situation-L e..
the stage effects and believe that you must also
| admit that he must OF necessity have originated