Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-01-06

tHC hcSt dHu listened 10 tnelr COnVefSa-
ton. They were discussing Shakes
peare versus Bacon.
We see to what our aspirations for
fame, for place in the hearts Of hui
manity, brings US all. A doubtful rep
utatlon Of having thought great thoughts,
or having borrowed other mems great
thoughts. And no man can tell whether
Mr.. A. was the great man or Mr.. B.
oh lamenlable state Of affairs in which
none meets with just reward ] am a
Baconise. Shakespeare was compare
lively unlearned, as far as we can as
certain the truth. Ii is strange, 10 say
the least, that he should have been
able To compose in style so elegant
that acholars Of all ages since have
not been able TO surpass it. Bacon
was one Of the most learned men
of his age, a man OF most compre-
hensive intellect, and vast fertility IN
writing. Would il be great matter for
wonder, then, that he should compose
plays, Ian occupation at that time ia
disrepute) under an assumed name, and
leave his works under the cover of
nom de plume ~
"It would not at all be surprising,
think, " said Roe. "But we have held
80 long 10 the time honored traditions
Of our bard, that the eruption Of these
new ideas well nigh threatens 10 shake
my faith in everything. fear long
Tor the return Of the good old days Of
medieval superstition, so might hug my
fancies closely. | cannot give up the
Devastating expedition, bombasiic Sir
Thomas Lucy, and the subsequent adj
ventures OF your would be myth. You
would try and make me believe that
there was no William Tell, that be was
only a link in a great neurological
chain; but 10 me he is human. NV
fancy IS more credulous than yours"
wait few centuries, Mr.. Paul,
aud you, among others, will have
reached such point of unbelicf as 10
question there ever having existed such
a being as Washington. You will pro-
badly rank him among such heroes as
Hercules and Achilles. The different
stores now told Of him. then will he
fabulous adventures. And in still more
remote ages. when our capitol is IN
ruins, psychologists will wander among
the ruins, endeayoring to decipher an
inscription on a corner stone; or IT may
be that, in experimenting excavations
Of strange old ruin, they will chance
to cxbume fossil Smithsonian mum
my; alter Studying it, features long and
atien;iyely, the world will listen and
applaud as the savant pronounces the
specimen Of the race, American, very
"You have ccslsiuly
dipped INTO the future far as human eye
can see. perhaps q little farther. New
iheless. believe ia an enlightened age
we should have enlightened ideas, and
as we receive more light from different
sources, we should be willing 10 cast
aside 40 exploded theory and adopt The
more plausible; this is a practical age.
Granting that il is exploded, said
Roe, wIckedly. "Of course am speak.
ing in general now" well, said Lew
is, latter al your talk and thoughts, !
wager that neiiherof you have altered
your opinions jot. "We agree 10 dis
agree, Mr.. Paul. Il itno, soy Eyes. ex.
actly; you hug your Shakespeare, while /
cndeaynr 10 shake my Ba-
con free from the dust and dirt OF cen
luries, which seem TO have hidden an
reliable trace Of The origin Of the works
due to Bacon; il must have been he :"
" You admit that the authofshlpis doubt
ful and likely TO continue So at
would be impossible to admit anything
else under existing eircumstances.-
Begging your pardon for changing the
subject so abruptly | am hungry for
some music tonight and am very anx-
ious TO hear you play. Will you favor
me - lie rose with a cour,ly bow to
conduct her 10 the piano, but Roe said,
while could hear my heart beat, u
do not feel able 10 play tonight, so you
will excuse me, but Breta will take my
place very acceptably. Breta, play that
new piece ! gave you" As rose, he
sat quietly back ia his chair, seeming
TO take little interest in the substitute.
was intensely piqued and was pro.
voked with Roe for telling me to play
for him. would much rather have
drummed on his head just then than
have drummed for him on the piano.
was sure he would think OF It as such.
But, in playing the Dance ofthe Witches,
forgot my surroundings and was keep
ing time TO the weird motions of the
aerial dancers: now, on long run they
would sail high IN the air, executing
unearlhly gyraiions; then come scour.
ing down again on half tones, ONLY TO
execute a wilder dance than before -
But even witches cannot dance forev-
er, so struck the last notes, and turned
on the piano stool about to rise. There
was little silence. "Do you play Che
pins Funeral March, Miss Fan2 4
have heard it once, and tonight, if you
play it, should like to hear II again"
Cousin Roe grew pale, and shud-
dered, but ! said yes, aud began to play
a march, grand aud solemn, mourning
and sobbing, yet triumphant; we seemed
to march on and on with sad band Of
music leading us--to the last resting
place. How mony ghoSily memories
rose up shreking and wailing and
r,,sbad fbrnurk thn.o