The New York herald., 1874-09-21
Can This Statement Be Authenticated
NEW YORK Sept, 10. 1874.
MOHAWK.
Sarcasm-Pure and Simple


The discussion now progressing in New York
about the authorship Of Shakespeare's plays Is
one OF the healthy signs of the times. 1t is ques
ton which comes home TO the bOsoms Of all
families, and should be introduced as popular
study In the public schools. The literary world
owes an unpayable debt to those who so nODly
stand up for their Bacon, and 1t about time that
we had thrown overheard such fossil remains as
Lord Southampton, Ben Jonson. Beaumont and
Fletcher and the other divertng vagabonds. The
world Tor some time has been swindled into be-
leving these having known Shakespeare at the
Globe, the Mermaid and other places where play
ers most did congregase III the days OF ELIZA and
our James," but what has that to do with SHAKE
speare as an author2
That anybody at this advanced day and in this
age OF reason should believe that William Shake
speare wrote Shakespeare Is a rare cOnceit, and
SIMPLY proves tnat We are led by tradition and
not governed by facts. That Bacon In his day
should never have been iound guilty OF writing the
plays of Shakespeare mas nothing to do with the
right OF ownership; but that BIZ, the son OF the
poor bankrupt gloyer-who ran about the lanes OF
Shottery bareI0oted, perhaps and hit of Sir
Thomas Lucy's deer in Charlecote range-that this
boy should II his future have been capable OF
is simply, IN manner, iaughabie. Genius Is
naturally arlstocratlC. Bacon IN the halls OF
have conceived such immortality; but tnat the
boy who learned his .'ttle Latin and less Greek"
In the grammar school OF Strat,ord, and after.
wards held horses at the theatre door IN South.
wark should have done so, Is almost impossible.
It Is very true That the Earl OF southampton was
his friend, that lie owned an interest IN the Globe
Theatre. that Ben Jonson wrote verses in his
honor. that good Queen Bess bade Master Shake
speare write her play in which the jolly knight.
Jack Falstaf, should torsake the Chepe and be in
love. 1t is also true that Master Shallow quarter
Ing his three htceS, should stand as portrait for
that same knight Of Chariecote against WHOM. the
deer-ralder scrawled those immortal lines and
nailed on the Charlecote gates. This is ali very
my Lord Bacon the great man OF his time, and was
1t not reserved for Smith, and Bacon christ
ened Delta. and Holmes 10 discover IN the nine
teenth century that shakespeare was dummy
and that Bacon was shakespeare
1t is, perhaps, singular, In proof OF the Baconian
theory, that in no place Is there any meution Of
Shakespeare's name IN connection with the great
Lord Bacon. In the earliest edition of the plays
his publishers. rms, perhaps, is nothing lie is
the friend and proteQs OF southampton, who is the
gallant young patron OF literature This, how;
Fletcher and Green, VINO hated him, all testify to
Shakespeare, the dramatist, the poet. the actor
stage OF that day certify to Shakespeare. But this
Is nothing. In iact nothing Is anything in proof
Della Bacon and Holmes and one Smith, OF Lon
don. Bacon IS never mentioned In connection
with the plays OF Shakespeare in any paper OF tina.
day. and yet he must have written shakespeare" !"
because Pope pronounces him 1.-THE wisest.
greatest. meanest OF MANKIND" while VIII
Shakespeare was but poor, comparatively unedu-
Gated boy rom the banks OF Avon. Pope III MS cee-
brated line said more than THIS, and 1t seems as II
the qualities wnch he there bestowed on the great
Lord Chancellor were legitlmatey transferred
TO those VINO would pull down Shakespeare from
the niche OF lame and put up Francis Bacon in his
place. Pope calls Bacon the ''wIsest greatest,
meanest o mankind" Pope was iull OF mean
ness himself, anu was not as We'll fitted TO pass
Judgment on the lord OF Verulam as are the men
OF he present day. Bacon was wise and he was
great, aud however true or false may have been
the charges preferred against hlm by the House OF
Lords in al that followed thai charge OF br
he developed no meanness. Certainly none to the
extent OF attempting to deprive man greater
chan himself IN one parncuiar, OF the honor OF
dramatic authorship. Ihat meanness winch struts
through magazine pages III the motley OF an
own time.