Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-29

sonanty. While there Is no 1narustic in
trusion Of himself in his pictures of life,
yet the student of his works soon comes to
feel the noble and benign spirit
Of the poet pervading the lines, and
looking out between them with so distinct
personality that, without biographical
details, he learns more Of this wonderful
peasant who was born on the banks Of the
Avon, went up to London, and returned
to his peaceful birth place to die, than if,
instead of the plays and poems the exact
details OF q life had been carefully written
down from day to day. This is no figure
Of speech: the plays are so filled with
meaning that they reflect the author with
TN intensity that cannot be equalled by
any dry record Of daily events. In many
ways they exactly illustrate him: and their
wealth Of meaning is often broad and clear
| have no intention to investigate at
u Is tine, the outShOwing of the author by
the plays further than TO indicate. by a
few suggestions, how we learn from them
the temper of SGakespeare's heart and the
condition OF his feelings when each was
written. IL has been frequently claimed
that the SCnnets are their authors heart
story, wherein his most passionate emo
tons lind utterance. His art.utteraucrs
are In the plays, too. At the beginning If
his career Ss a plsy.writer, Shakespeare
seized on any striking tale he
could find, whatever its nature.
provided only that il afforded material
suitable for play, and entered with what
skull he could command, into any spirit
bis material suggested with an almost
complete self fOrgrlfulness. He was learn.
ing his art when he produced his His.
tories Of King Henry VI, Loves Libors
Lost the romantic drama of the The
Two Gentlemen Of Verona" and other OF
the early plays. After several years of
hard work and careful dramatic training
he so far mastered the play wrignts art
that the making OF plays became COmpara-
lively easy, ana his success in this depart.
nent Of literature eStab ished 10 his own
content, and in public OpiniOa. The poor
young man, who had come up 10 London
To seek his fortsne, had, by the power of
his genius and untiriug labor, won the
public plauditS, and gained a reputation.
rs a playmaker, that secured him the good
Opinions Of men, position, and abundant
means of life. His heart exulted in his
good fortune, happiness cOurted him in
her best array and his plays exhibit that
condition Of his feelings which such cir
cumStanCes would certainly produce. In
this period Of happy fortunes wee written
Romeo and juliet "A Midsummer
Venice" first and second parts
of Henry "" Merry Wives, As
you Like It." Much Ado about Nothing"
and Twelfth Night Through all these
plays there is observable spirit of JOYOUS
ness and Yiyacity, that indicates the au-
tEOrs happy, COntented dispoSitiDn and
comfortable satisfaction with the world.
These plays tell us that Shakespeare was
enjoying life, tasting de 'ighteily of pleas
ures, and summing himself in the bright
ness of his success. What lightness Of
heart and gayety sppsar in "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" with the delightful C)n.
ceils of Nick Bottom and his companion,
Who fairly overflow with fun, Need tell
of the happiness and merrimsnt OF the last
act of the Merchant Of Venice" full Of
iOetry and mirth, tAOuSh the modern
Stage finds it superfuDus? Who has
failed TO enjoy the jOvIal spirit that per-
yadcs many scenes of botl parts OF King
henry W." or has not been most heartily
amused by the mai wagIeries OF Prince
Hall. Poins, and that king OF testers, won
d,riul Jack Falstatf' The sweetness and
vivscity of the delightful pastoral As You
Like H." need no words OF praise that can
give; yet cannot pass over this play with
out tribute b its surprisingly happy spirit.
Some one has said " II ever there WIS
4 happy man ia the world the au-
thor of AS You Like IL was happy"
Although not, IN exact phrase, pastoral,
yet think we may class this play, as We
do "Comus," among the pastOrals. The
number of English pastOralS that are now
much read is not large. The most admired
and familiar are, perhaps, JOnsOn'S frlg.
meni, The Sad Shepherd; FletcherS
beautiful drama, The Faithful Shepherd.
eSs", and Millions 'COmuS' But none OF
these seem to me comparable as pa'toral,
20 As You Like At" which, throughout, is
redulcnt with poetry and happiness. Even
the IN, ianChOly Jacques permits himself 70
Laugh sapS iuterrnis,ion
An hour by hts dial"
with the fool he has found in the forest;
and is IN truth, as ne describes 1t, "a most
humorous sadness" not melancholy, but
quaint hUmOr.
The Wit and fun of Much Ado About
Nothing" and Twelfth Night are ALSO
lutely beyond parable, and make these the
best models of comedy in our LANGUAGE.
To this period Of happiness succee led
deeper strrner tone of feeling joy IS, in
its nature, transitOry: but We lind our poet
yoSs, Ssing it for no brief period. At
length he entered into another
shirt. one OF more sober earnest
thought. which prompted him to inyesti.
gate the deepest and most difficult prob
lens Of life The eXuberant iOyOusness
has passed away; there are no more pastor
ais or merry comedies now. The efforts
Of the superb intellect are directed TO
grander work, which he undertakes with
Immense ambition. King Henry v" and
Hamlet and Julius Caesar are pro,
dUced. Here we see the working OF bold
and manly soul that dsres to answer the
deepest questions, and does not shrink
from undr rtaking the most difficult proc
lens. He displays to the eyes OF orr uU-
Outstanding the aspiring hopes, The strug
Cling passions and all the deep emotionsO OF
noble and gifted characters involved In the
tolls. doubts and perpleXitieS that press
ON the path of life; or of selfish aud pow.
,rml ones battling for the accomplishment
# their purposes. He looks beneath Ntes
ordinary shows and finds the hidden truth.
He makes his rOiSterer, now grown into
The majesty of Henry ', lift up the vet OF
q rpmUuy. and weigh, with protOuudeSt
wisdom, the glittering enSigns OF royalty:
40 hard condition.
Twin born with greatness, subject 10 the
breath
OF every fool" &c
need not repeat such well.known lines.
Toe question OF escape from
,.TLr S.ing>and arrow OF outrageous fortune,
the whips and scorns OF
time,
The oppressor wrong. the proud mans con-
The pangs OF despised love, the laws delay,
The II science OF office, and the spurnS, =,
That patient merit Oh the uuNOEtAlS bohVN-
is duly considered in that memorable
soliloquy Of Hamlet, which has been so
often quoted. We have, also, Brutus, ar
gument against the friend he must XII,
lest that friend grow to be the tyrsnt OF his
country. The modest Roman OF them
ali, argues away his love for Cesar in
spirit of pure patriotism. The questions
involved in these plays are deep and sub
tie. but Shakespeare does not hesit tate to
pursue each to its legitimate end, anu In so
dcing presents before US a marvellous an-
alysis of hearts and minds.
We have in this portion Of orr authors
work the record OF an earnest, philosophlc
spirit that must have produced much
pXaltation and state OF unrest;
a very different condition from the light
hearted happiness of the proceeding period,
but mot A condition, necessarily, OF unhap'
piness, although it preceded, perhaps led
10 such a state. ,..
Again a change in our poets disPosi
ton. Hitherto he had taken favorable,
often cheerful views OF life. When he
could no longer picture happiness, he Illus
- 81 nv SnCh eX