Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-19
JUDGE SNEED.
An Interesting Lecture ON Shakt
speare and Hts WOrk-The
Question Of Authorship.

American, III
An intelligent and ~appreciatiye
audience listened for an hour and
forty-fve minutes last night to a most
interesting and instructive lecture de-
livered by the Hon. John i. I. Sneed
at the Christian church on the ques-
ton as to the authorship Of the works
known as Shaksp cares.
The speaker said that he was not
seeking to unsettle the belief Of three
hundred years standing; did not pro-
pose to strike the sun from the literary
armament, but simply to inquire into
certain facts, the production Of which
had brought such men as Lords
Brougham and Palmerston, and with
them many others, from absolute con
victiOn to a position of doubt and
uncertainty.
Beginning with the year 1852, when
an anonymous article appeared in an
English review entitled, "Who Wrote
Shakspeare's Plays ?" a number Of
writers on both sides Of the Atlantic
have put forth similar inquiries, and
the investigations thus begun have de-
veloped some remarkable and inter
esting facts. tending to render it very
doubtful whether the commonly re-
ceived opinion has any substantial
basis of fact to rest upon.
Reference was made to a number OF
remarkable analogics to be found be-
tween the plays and the acknowledged
writings Of Bacon-parallels 30 strik
ing as to call out the query; If Ba-
con did write the plays Of Shakespeare,
did Shakespeare write all OF Bacon's
works? Raleigh, Spencer aud Bacon
appear to have had no knowledge Of
the existence of Shakespeare. Spen
Ger makes illusions to some of the
plays, but %studiously ignores the name
Of Shakespeare.
Answering the question, Who wal
Shakespeare and who was Bacon? the
speaker gave a sketch of the life anC
training of each, bringing out il
strong contrast the circumstances o
their personal history, associates ant
education. Shakespeare, the son of al
honest butcher, who could not writ
his own name; taken from school a
the age of fourteen to help his 'fathe
in his business. Going to London il
after years and finding employment il
holding the horses of those who cam
to the theaters to witness the enter
tainments, then getting into the com
! pany of the players in menial ca
pacity. and gradually working up til
he became an actor and d manager,
buyer Of plays, which we're entered a
, Stationers Hall as his property Ba
> con, a dilligent student in all depart
! ments Of knowledge, but slow in max
{ ing money and fame for himself,
: briehess barrister for t~wenty-6v
= years, casting about for some mean
/, Of quick revenues" all these play
appearing between 1882 and 1911
When he was raised to the AtiornC
Geueralship the plays ceased to al
: pear.
The speaker made a generous d
tense of the memory of Bacon fro.
the accusations which caused h
downfall for acts which were in a gre
measure the faults of the times, al
, which through the malice of his en-
mics were magnifed beyond their re
y element.
The lecture closed with the renal
that the pilgrim to the tomb of Az
I would say let the question rest, b.
II Justices sweetest word would answ
+ it should not rest until the citadel
! doubt has capltulated and the tru
{ stands revealed in the fullilight Of da
y that all might say:
Can such things he,
y Aud overcome u3 like n summer cloud
Without our special WondeTi