Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-20
STRAWBERRIES n
England Indignant az the Pro.
pOsal 20 Exhume the Bard's
Remains.

TENDER has not been wanting in the
usual crop Of wonderful crop Of news
paper c~oncoctions. We have been
startled by one tale. at least, SO curl,
Gus and unexpected that it has sent
an instant thrill throughout the length
and breadth Of England, and stirred
even the most lSnguid pulses as neither
Tonquin wars, nor Chambord funerals
nor Java earthquakes could ever have
stirred them. A little pamphlet,
lugubriously entitled ..5hakspoare's
Bones and written by a certain Dr..
Ingleby, suddenly set the whole coun-
try in a c%ommotion. The excitement
has subsidized as quickly asst arose.
With a hollow pretence Of antiquarian
zeal which deceived very few people,
DR.. Intleby had Audhciously suggested
that ShakspeaTe's remains be dug up
and investigated, so that we might
settle once tor all by comparing his
skull with the bust at Stratford
whether that monument or the vari-
GUS portraits which have been handed
down to US are faithful presentations
Of the inimitable Swan Of Avon"
The inscription on the poets tomb
seemed to forbid any such body
snatching but DR.. Ingleby would fain
have persuaded us that Shakespeare
never wrote it aud that it need no
longer be respected. He has failed,
however, to convince either the public
or the Stratford Mayor and corpora.
ton, while the Vicar Of Stratford, Mr..
Arbuthnot, who appeared at first less
averse to the proposed elimination,
has thought it prudent to disclaim
having expressed any intention oil
abetting DR. Ingleby.
THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS FURIOUS
Public opinion, as it happens, has
Indignantly and p~assionately de-
nounoed the exhumation, and there is
now little danger Of the Shakespeare
body snatchers being allowed to work
their will. The press has united in a
furious protest against the scheme,
nor is it likely that any arguments,
however ingenious, DR.. Ingleby could
bring forward will convince English
men that there is the least good to be
got by the proposed dissertation
Good friend, for Jesus sake for.
beare To digg the dust encloased
heare; Blest be ye man vt spares thes
stones, and curst be he who moves my
bones Whether Will wrote the in
scription himself or 1t was piously in
dented after his death matters, snd
can matter, little to any reyerent
mind. In ell probability the touching
words titly expressedt tho poets wishes.
Beyond all shadow Of a doubt they
express the deliberate wish Of nine
hundred aud ninety nine men out Of
every thousand readers OF Hamlet
and "KiRg Lear and "0thello." The
pretext invoked to excuse this most
untimely of Shakesperean ''reyiVals''
will not bear a moments serious dis
cussion. Should the skull not CORES
pond, or (horrid thought) should no
skull at all be discovered, what meal
eulable disappointment would be
caused, and how many pious Ameril
can tourists would be tempted to pro
family II poets bones must be dug
up at all let il be elsewhere and not
in a mere spirit Of childish curiosity.
doLDsMITH's BNoARED FoR TOMB.
There is a lonely court close toFleet
street, where the body Of another poet
lies, iorlorn and forgotten. No railing
protects Goldsmith's tombstone-no
barrier keeps il sacred from the indif.
ferent clerks and busy lawyers who
hurry over the Wondering graves
around il. DR.. Ingleby would be
doing right good service now If he
would agitate for the disinterment of
poor Nolls" bones. They have lain
where they are too long already for
the credit of the millions whom his
works have delighted. II is time
they we're better sheltered from the
weather, and what filter shelter could
there be for them than the roof Of
Westminster Abbey?
many AmStiCuub Will utdI Mltn
sorrow that the interesting old build.
ings in Chancery Lane known as
Bottles Houses" are in course Of
demolition. 1t was here Hazlett
lodged and lived through the strange
love story he has told in his "Liber
Amoris'-a story sadly 'iof the earth
earthly, and incOmprehensible in con-
neetion with a man so high and INTEL
lectual, so keen to discern the absurd.
or the homogeneous in others. His
very vulgar flame" Sally Walker,
about whom he r~hapsodizes in the
" Liber Amoris, was the daughter, Of
his landlord at No. 81 Southampton
Buildings. There he spent some Of.
his best years, and, in the intervals
left him by bis impassiouate courtship,
wrote his Sketches Of EnglishPieture
Galleries" and much Of his delightful
Table Talk" QD
Charles Lamb also once Inhabited
Southampton Buildings, and this very
No. 8 afforded him a theme for one Of
the most charming essays. The build
which are now being torn down
are haunted by host Of literary mem
cries, and, however palatial may be
the structure reared In their place, IL
is safe to say that London will be