Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-05

being absent in London, and sometimes
coming down 10 visit her at Shottety.
Ii was in 1897, about ten years after he
went to London, that the poet began TO
buy property in Stratford, and 1t was
about eight years after his first purchase
that he finally settled there, at New
Place. This mansion was destroyed
long ago and there is now modern
edifice on the estate. His lawn, his
orchard and his garden are indicated,
and the grandson OF his mulberry Is
growing on the very spot where that
famous tree once stood. The site OF
the old house-the foundation can still
be scents the most commodlous In
Stratford; and on the oppositt corner
stands now, as it has stood Tor elght
hundred wears, The chapel of the holy
Cross, with square dark tower and irei-
ted battlement and normal porch,
one OF the most romantic ami picturesque
churches in England. L. was easy,
when standing on that stored spot, 10
fancy Shakespeare, IN the gioamlnS Oh
summer day s.rolling on the lawn
beneath his elms and listening to the
soft and solemn music OF the chapel
organ; or 10 think OF him as stepping
forth from his study in the late and
lonely hour OF the night, and pauslng 10
"count the clock" or note 1.-THE exhala-
tons whizzing in the air"
The funeral train of Shakespeare, on
that dark day when it moved from New
Place t. Stratiord Church, had but
little way to 90. The river Avon, 30
remarkable for its beauty, surely, must
have seemed to hush its murmurs, the
trees to droop their branches, the sun
shine to grow dun as that sad procession
passed! His grave is under a grey
pavement in the chancel, within the
rail, and his wife and two daughters are
buried beside him. The pilgrim who
reads, upon the gravestone itself, those
rugged lines of grievous entreaty and
awful imprecation which guard the
poets rest, feels no doubt that he is
listening to his living voice, for he hiss
now seen the enchanting beauty OF the
place; and he has now felt what passion
ate affection it can inspire. How does
such a pilgrim doubt, when gazing on
the tainted bust above the grave-made
by Gerard Johnson, stone cutter that
he beholds the authentic face q
The approach to the
that seven centuries old
is across an old churchyard thit ky
sown with graves, through a lonely
avenue of blossomiug bine-trees, leading
to a carven porch on its north side
Time itself has fallen asleep in this
ancient place. The low solo OF the
organ only deepeus theawful sense OF
its silence and its dreamless repose.
Beeches, yews and elms grow in the
church yard, and many low tomb and
many a beaming stone are there In the
shadow, gray with moss and moulder'
Jog with age Along the edge OF the
burial ground flows the peaceful river,
refl9cting the great spire in its dark,
silent, shining waters.
Our own Washington Irving beauti.
fully observes in his sketch Book:
Chow would it have cheered the spirit
OF the Youthful bard, when, wandering
forth in disgrace upon doubtful world,
he cast back heavy look upon his
paternal home, could he have foreseen
that, before many years he should re-
turn 10 it covered with rn)wn; lst
his name should become the boast and
glory OF his native place; that his ashes
should be religiously guarded as its
most precious treasure; and that its
lessening spire, on which his eyes were
fixed in fearful contemplation, should
one day become the beacon towering
amid the gentle landscape, to guide the
literary pilgrim OF every nation to his
tomb. J. F. B.