Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-25


him as he isl
WHO WAS THE AUTHOR OF SHAK-
SPEAREiS FORKS?
The old agitation on the question of who
was the author of Shakspeare's works has
broken out afresh in the literary world,
and bids fair to rage as violently as it did
some twenty years ago, when half the peo-
pie in the world came to doubt if there
had ever been such man il existence as
William Shakespeare, and the rest had come
to the conclusion that if he ever lived he
was an imposter, who had attained fame
by stealing the laurels of Lord Bacon, or
some other man, and palming them off as
his own. The occasion for this fresh out
break of the discussion is the alleged dis
covery of a genuine manuscript of Lord
Bacon in the British museum consisting of
collection of notes and quotations which
bear strong resemblance to many of the
passages found in Shakspeare's plays.
Taking this manuscript for text Mrs.
Potts has written book which has been
simultaneously published in both England
and America, and which is devoted to an
ingenious argument designed to prove
that Bacon was the author of the works at
| tributed TO Shakespeare. She holds
that no sufficient explanation has been
given of the resemblances of the writings
of Shakespeare and Bacon, and rejects IN
toto the argument that they are accounted
for INV +ba 70 ut ~, 4La-o o1+,O-c NOV baUa
studied the same sciences, learned the
same languages, read the same books, fire.
quented the same sort of society. To satisfy
the requirements OF such hypothesis it
will be necessary further to admit that
from their scientific studies the two men
derived identically the same theories;
from their knowledge of languages the
same proverbs, turns of expression and
peculiar use of words, that they preferred
and chiefly quoted the same books in the
Bible and the same authors; and last, not
least, that they derived from their educa-
ton and surroundings the same tastes and
the same antipathies, and from their learn
ing, in whatever way it was acquired, the
same opinions and the same subtle
thought.
1t has long been a marvel to the reading
public how any one man could be possessed
of all the knowledge that is contained in
the works of Shakespeare. The author must
have been a master of the English Ian
gUage to SO concisely express his thoughts;
he must have been thoroughly versed in
tho w riouc orEc oDd coioooae. bava Iaay, of
a metaphysical and philosophical turn of
mind, we'll read in ancient and modern
lore; familiar with the customs and Ian
guage Of all modern nations as well as of
their mental bent and know their cities as
we'll as one to the manner born, and above
all he must have had converse with men
and women in every grade of life, from
the ignorant country lout to the princes,
kings and queens of Europe. Authentic
biographies of Shaskpeare do not
mention anything of his tray
els in foreign parts, and we
are led to suppose from that fact that he
was at no time away from the land of his
birth. Of course it might have been pos
sible for him to have learned much regard
ing foreign lands from association with
those who had travelled, but it is not likely
that he could have informed himself of the
minutest details by such means. Bacon
was man of wide information and extern
sive study, had spent years at foreign
courts and during his public career had
associated with the most refined society of
England. All agree that he might have
written the plays, and some hold that, the
stage not being in good repute, he did not
care to father them and chose Shakespeare
as their foster-parent. It is probable, too,
if he was the author, that he was greatly
assisted by Shakespeare, whose knowledge
of the requirements of the drama was as
| extensive as that of of any of his contem-
poraries, and certainly greater than that
of Lord Bacon.
1t is doubtful if any amount of con-
troYersy will clear away the mystery of the
authorship Shakspeare's plays and
poems. It would be interesting to know
of a certainty if he or some one else was
the genius who inspired the most complete
dramatic pictures that adorn the English
language, and contributed such a wealth of
imagery, such an effulgence of poetry,
such grand and ennobllng sentiments to
the sum of human enjoyment. But after
all the discovery would be of little utility.
We have the mine of wealth, and it can
not be taken from US. We are grateful to
the author whoever he may be, and whether
it shall be demonstrated that we are in
debted to Shakespeare or Bacon, or neither
of them we shall reveI In the beauties of
his pen pictures just the same.
Economy is Wealth.
Hat Department, Boston One-Price, corner of