The New York herald., 1874-09-11
The Spelling OF Shakespeare o,
Bacon.

The Spelling OF Shakespeare or
Bacon.
There was an ingenious gentleman in Phila-
delphia who published few years ago mar.
vellous Shakespearian pamphlet. 1t consisted
wholly Of the name Shakespeare, spelled in
over two thousand ways. There was Sbak-
speare, Shakespeare, Shoeckspear, Sheakspare,
Shuckspere, Shikespere, and almost every
thing but Spokeshire or Shyspoke It looked
like list of letters written by over two thou
sand lunatics, transcribed by delirious postal
clerks and put in type by band of inebri-
ated compositors. No one ever pretended
that Shakespeare wrote his name Scha ek-
speer or Shaxpir, but the object of the pam
phlet was to show in how many ways he
might have spelled it if he had wanted to.
This work attracted great deal of attention,
and the author became famous though just
now we must confess we cannot remember his
name.
The success of such a truitless piece Of in
genuity, the labor of months, no doubt, shows
how universal and permanent the interest in
Shakespeare is. This generation is far from
being contented with the criticism these plays
have received from the great men of the past.
Ben Jonson's enthusiastic verse, Milton's ref
erence to 'Nature's sweetest child" DR.. John
sons brilliant analysis, the estimates of
Schlegel, Goethe, Pope, Colerdge, Lamb,
Hazlitt, the annotations of Stevens Malone,
Knight, Halliwell, Dyce and hundreds of
others do not satisfy the investigating spirit Of
the day. Never before did his genius have
such worldwide recognition, nor was the de-
sire to know the man ever SO intense as it is
now New and splendid editions of the plays
are constantly issued; every doubtful verse or
phrase is analyzed; even the force of q
comma or explanation point is measured,
as in the 'Jottings on the Text Of
Hamlet" recently made by Professor Hiram
Corson, Of Cornell University. Shakespeare
is in the full meridian of his glory, and
nearly three hundred years were needed to
enable the world to comprehend him. Those
who stand at the feet Of mountains cannot
see their greatness. It is revealed best to
those who leagues and leagues away behold
them relieved in jet against the sunset and
journey toward them in the gigantic shadows
they cast. So Shakespeare stands alone and
supreme in far away grandeur for us.
The evidence we have had Of this universal
interest in the plays is unexpected. The pub
lication Of the article from Fraser Magazine
entitled 'Who Wrote Shakespeare?" has
called forth responses from students, actors,
lawyers, poets teachers and journalists; and
the high character of many of these contribu-
tons is evidence of how closely the
subject has been studied. We print to-day
another collection of opinions which must aid
the public in forming conclusion. Judge
Pierrepont is thoroughly convinced that
Shakespeare wrote the plays, and, indeed,
AYERS that all people who believe Bacon their
author are insane. He did not at that time
know that the Shakespearian scholar, Mr..
Daniel Dougherty, holds that Bacon was
probably one of the authors. Mr.. Doughcrty
thinks, and is prepared to show his reasons
hereafter, that 'the plays which were brought
out under the name of Shakespeare could not
have been produced by one man alone" Mr..
A. Oakley Hall, on the contrary, thinks that one
man alone must have written them. We also
give today an interview with both Shake
speare and Bacon, through the politeness
of Mr.. Foster, in which the former
admits that the glory belongs to Bacon. 1t is
pity that while the two spirits were about it
they did not give curious public more def
mite information. Mr.. John E. Owens. like
most actors, is firmly convinced that Shake
speare wrote both the plays and sonnets,
and that the Baconians, by admitting the au-
thenticity of the sonnets, have destroyed their
own argument.
Thus the controversy has progressed, and
we are glad to say it has been conducted in
On honorable spirit. But few of our cor
respondents appear to be quite indignant at
the claim set up for Bacon. Two thousand
ways of spelling Shakespeare's name have
been given to the public. and some of our
friends no doubt, think that if Lord Verulam
wants the credit of the "Novum Organum'
and of Hamlet also, then the proper way
to spell Bacon would be Hogg.
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The Buffalo Courier, tho organ of the demo-
cratic party in Western New York, looks with
favor upon the proposed national convention
OF peace and reconstruction, and thus shows
wisdom. Generally speaking, the politicians
are afraid to say anything about it. They
want "time to think" In other words they
wait to see how public opinion will drift
before declaring themselves. The truth is,
our politicians, even those who claim to be
leaders, are . Door. cowardlv. shallow set.