The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-30
"rlIE SUBJECrIOS OF HAMLET
y stlnkesperrnn CrJtIc'x Criticism or IL
Wheeling pOet's New lsnoL

"a ss"bes4seFeAu tr(ilch Erlt!clSll OF the
Wheeling Poets New Book.
An accomplished Shakesperean scholar
Of New England makes long critical re-
view OF "The Subsection OF Hamlet" by
Mr.. William Leighton, Of Wheeling, 80
handsomely published by Messrs. J. B.
lippencott 4 Co., Of Philadelphia. These
words OF praise will beread with interestin
a community proud Of Mr.. Leighton's
talent and achievements:
As l have read and shut the book now,
l become its advocate. No, will read
nothing on the other side TIL have finish
Cd this notice Of it. I will not have my
mind preludiced. For the time It's the
opinion fire cannot melt out Of mo that
Hamlet was mad. Mad let us grant him,
then," ! say, with old Polouious. And
not mad, us he himself claims, NORTH
northwest" but due north, straight and
STARK. at this moment, fresh from the
cogent argument here, / believe him 10
have been quite incapable Of knowing "a
hawk from handsaw," however "south.
erly" the wind might be. II
will give odds to the most fanatic
assertion Of his sanity, but he will agree
with me and the book ut the moment he
finishes it and lays down. It comes with
the imprimature, il one may say so, OF so
accomplished q Shakcspearian scholar as
Joseph Crosby, OF Ohio, who-g;yes it his
iavoring send of. And it fully answers 10
his praise, as ''more than a clever and
speculative essay" and as opening "a new
psychological prospect from which to view
and study one OF the profoundest charac.
tiers ever portrayed in dramatic literature"
The line oil argument accumulatcs its
proofs OF an unsound mind in Hamlet, ali
along; from his beginning with az little
more than kin and less than kind" to his
ending in ''the rest is silcnce.." With
something Of the warmth Of the writer's
conviction, it draws one to come to his
conclusion. Mr.. Leighton chooses well
his motto for his essay, in the lines:
"a pipe for Fortunes finger
Tosound what s;opsshe please"
They tit well his intention and theory.
The main point is worth while-,hat the
prince is following Il habit which has be-
come disease OF his mind; that OF having
his thoughts captivated by whoever speaks
to him, or by the last exciting circumstance,
10 the exclusion or confusion Of all the
previous determinations Of his will. Will
the theory hold :? It seems tenacious, as
this interesting book sets forth, all along
the vacillating, passionate, tragic course Of
the unhappy prince, up to the catastrophe,
when, US it says here, tho poor ghost is
proved to have "placed its cause
in very incapable hands, and the
avenging OF bis murder hangs on
uncertain chance. It is, indeed,
accomplished ut last; but, by the craziuess
and incapacity OF bis agent, comes amid
general. ruin that falls not alone on his
murderer, but on his own son and widow"
Was Hamlet thus mad ? It will Railways be
among the theories that he was SO, and it
Is cogently put in this last essay 10 get at
the heart OF his pathetic mystery. The
writer here presents it with such power, by
cumulation Of arguments and by strength
Of his own faith in it, that his work must
DO reckoned with whenever the ever recur.
ling question shall come up. His ability
and zeal in its presentation will make this
handsome book OF his welcome among
Shakespeare's students and lovers. .