The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-10

uoeS uOb Setn aOi6 TO forget the On6sOD-
jectionable feature of the alliance-'tAnd
never dare misfortune cross her feet,
unless she do it under this excuse, that
she is issue to faithless jew" There
could be no basis of social cordiality
between Antonio's set and Shylock's
race. Pocahontas is said to have been
received by royalty. but that does not
prove that similar honors would be ac-
corded to every squaw who might be
transported to England. 1t is clearly
against reason to assert, that notwith-
standing the contempt and dislike in
which ShyIock was held, his society
was sought and full recognition granted
him.
A very ingenious argument is framed,
to show that the miser was not an old
man, and evidence of his age is chal-
lenged with confidence based on the
belief that it can not be adduced. We
cheerfully and with no less confidence,
accept the issue and present our proofs:
Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be
thy judge,
The difference of Old shylock and Bassanio.
Shy My own hesh and blood to REBEL
-, Salar. Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at
DUKE. Antonio and old shylock, both stand
forth.
R0rtia. Ipray you, show my youth old Shy
locks house.
Shylock himself tells us that he is
old; Salarino is astonished to find him
capable of passion so late in life; he
is addressed in a grave and dignifed
court in terms having direct Preference
to his advanced age, and Portals inqui-
ry satisfies us that she thought him old.
His own testimony, and that of those
who knew him well, is competent evil
dence on this point. It cannot be out
weighed in the public Judgment by a
calculation made upon the data that he
had but one daughter, that she ran off
with Christian, and that her father
could make himself heard in the street.
That he might have been married more
than once, land that Jessica was the issue
of his last marriage, or that he might
have contracted matrimony late in life,
OF that of several children born to him,
only the youngest survived, seem to
have been excluded from the calculation,
as events too impro bable for considera-
ton. No matter; we are not reduced to
the necessity of manufacturing evidence.
In giving our views OF the usurer's
character and condition, we intend to
show some Difference for Shakespeare
poets statements, we might evolve va
rious theories respecting Shylock, that
would be more subtle than solid. We
might venture to assert that all old men
are asthmatic and dyspeptic. We might
disregard our own observation and that
OF our readers, and contend that none
but men who are hale in lungs and
broad in breast can attract the attention
of the ubiquitous small boy. An intel
ligent friend of ours suggests that the
voice of woman or of a child in distress
suffices to excite q connection in the
street. We think the suggestion fully
answers the proposition to which it re-
lates.
If, after men have passed their physi-
cal prime, they cease to seek OF acquire
wealth, and refuse to attend suppers,
then the late Vanderbilt was not an old
man n month before his death, and Bry-
ant is yet, perhaps, a merry youngster.
There is small reason to believe that
Shylock's business interests conficted
with Antonio's. or that the two were
competitors in the market. The former
confined his operations to loaning money;
the latter was a ''royal merchant,
whose capital was invested in maritime
speculations. Shylock indeed says that
Antonio "lends out money gratis but
he subsequently explains that the loans
were made for "Christian courtesy"
Antonio could lily afford to largely di-
vert his capital OF his attention from
his regular enterprises, on such unre
munerative terms. He explains the
extent TO which he II, rrarted Shy-lool1,-
81 oft delivered from his forfeitures
many that have at times made moan to
me; therefore he hates me-" But these
charitable actions do not authorize us to
look upon him as Shear" Of the Eialto,
nor to degrade lin to Shylock's level,
by depicting him as the jews rival.
Nor is it true that Shylock was more
anxious to crafty his hatred of Antonio
than he was to augment his own wealth.
His own assertions disprove it-''I hate
him for he is Christian; but nao.e Tor
that * he hviLGa Gown the rate of
usanoa here with us in Venice !: l
will have the heart of him if he forfeit;
for were he out of Venice, can make
what merchandise Twill" We perceive
why he preferred the pound OF flesh to
paymgnt o. the sun. named in the bond.
Antonio's death would insure more due
ats than his friends were able to pay
Tor his life. Avarice IS the miser's master
passion; his hatred is founded upon it
and controlled by 1t. He will not &C
cept the three thousand ducats he
protests that payment of twelve times
the debt will not swerve him from his
purpose. But then Antonio has ''thwart-
ed him half c, million" and may do so
again, and in comparison with that sum,
10000 ducats are insignificant. However,
when Portia tells him that all his prop
erty is confsoate unto the State of
Venice. if in cutting off the flesh he
sheds enc drop of blood, mark how sud-
denly his hatred yields to greed, and he
proposes to have the bond paid thrice,
or even once, and Antonio released.
The predominant passion sweeps aside
all other emotions.
Nor is Shyloek the only character in
the play who harps on nationality. All
the others call him Jew, sometimes in
derision, sometimes in aversion. His
servant, his sonin-law, Antonio and his
set, the duke and the Judge, all call him
Jew. Is it because they forget his ma
tionality that they are partial to the
term?
Our investigation ia the preparation
of this article, confirms Us in believing
Prof. Cumnocks PRESERVATION OF the
miser to be misconceived and inaccurate.
We have attentively read the elaborate
defense of the Prof, written by a gen
tleman of acknowledged literary as well
as legal ability, whose versatile talents and
varied and extensive information have
all been brought into requisition to
make the personation appear true to
the original. We believe he makes for
this friend as strong case as can be
made from his standpoint. But we
think Shakespeare is opposed to him.
He reared pretty structure, of pleasing
exterior and seeming solidlty. 1t ar-
pears to have fallen. AS It's builder
contemDlataS IFS rims we tender him