The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-05
MIMI, on the 26;h to b. distributed ovel
Minnesota and Dakota

MIMI, on the 26,h to b. distributed over
Minnesota and D.khta III
SHAKESPEARE REPS BONES. II
England Indignant at the Proposal
to Exhume the Immortal ,Bards
Remains. @;5
"A London letter TO The New York
Herald says: This Sc ptember has not
been wanting in the usual crop Of won-
derful newspaper connections. We have
been startled by one tale, at least 30 Gu
rious and unexpected that it has sent an
instant thrill throughout the length and
breadth of England, and stirred even
the most languid pulses as neither Ton
Quin wars, nor Chambord funerals, nor
Java earthquakes could never have stirred
them. A little pamphlet, lugubriously
entitled "Shakespeare's Bones" written
by certain DR.. Ingleby, suddenly set
the whole country, in q commotion. The
excitement has subsidized as quickly az it
ouarian zeal which deceived very few
people, DR.. Ingleby had audaciously
suggested that Shakespeare's remains be
dug up and investigated, 80 that we
might settle once for all by comparing
his skull with the bust at Slratford
whether that monument or the various
portraits which have been handed down
to us are faithful presentments Of the
inimitable ''Swan Of Avon"
The inscription on the poets tomb
seemed to forbid any such body.snatch-
ing; but DR.. Inyleby would fain have
persuaded US that Shakespeare never
wrote it, and that it no longer need be
respected. He has failed, however, to
convince either the public or the STRAIT
ford mayor and corporation, while the
vicar of Stratior1, Mr.. Arbuthnot, who
appeared at first less averse to the pro-
posed examination, has thon. bit it pru-
dent to disdlalm having expressed any
intention of abetting Dr.. IngIeby.
Public opinion, as it happens has in
dignantly and passionately denounced
the exhumation, and there Is now little
danger of the Shakespeare body-snatch-
ers being allowed to work their Will.
The press has united in furious pro-
test against the scheme, nor is it likely
that any arguments, however ingenious !,
! DR.. Ingleby could bring forward will
convince Englishmen that there is the
least good to be got by the pro osed
dissertation. 'Good friend, for Jesus
sake forbeare To digg the dust encloased
heare; blest DE ye man vt spares thes
stones, and curst be he who moves my
BONES" Whether Will wrote the inscrip-
ton himself or it was piously indented
after his death matters, and can matter,
little to any roverent mind. In
all probability the touching words
ii ly expressed the poets wishes. Be-
yond all shadow ola doubt they ex-
prese the deliberate wish of 800 men out
of every 1,OOO readers of Hamlet" and
liking Lear" and Othello." The pretext
invoked to excuse this most untimeIy of
Shakspearean "revivals" will not bear
a moments serious discussion.
Should the skull not cor
respond or (horrid thought) no skull
at all discovered, what lncalculable dis
appointment would be caused, and how
many pious American tourists would be
must be dug up atall, let it be elsewhere
and not in a mere spirit of childish Gu.
riosity.
There is a lonely court close to Fleet
street where the body of another poet
lies, forlorn ard forgotten. No railing
protects Goldsmith's tom bstone-no bar
rier keeps it sacred from the Indifferent
clerks and busy lawyers who hurry over
the Wondering graves around it. DR..
1ngleby would be doing right good SER
vice now if he would agitate for the dis
interment of "poor Noll's bones. They
have lain where they are too long al
ready for the credit of the millions
whom his work have delighted. 1t is
time they were better sheltered from
the weather, and what filter shelter
could there be tor them than the root
of Westminster abbey?
Many Americans will hear with sor.
row that the interesting old buildings in
Chancerv lane known as "Bootle's
houses" are in course of demolition. II
was here uazlitt lodged and lived through
the strange love story he has told in his
"Liber Anoris." "a story sadly ''of the
earth earthly" and incomprehensible ir
connection with man 80 high and in
tellectual, 80 keen to discern the ABSURD
or he homogeneous in others. His very
vullar 'fiaine'-Saily Walker-abou
whom he rhapsodizes in the "Libel
Amoris," twas the daughter Of his land
lord at No. 8 Southampton buildings
| There he spent some of his best years
and, in the intervals left him by his
passionate courtship, wrote his "Sketch
es of English Picture Galleries." anc
much Of his delightful liable Talk"
Charles Lamb also once inhabited
Southampton buildings, and this very
No. afforded him theme for one o
his most charming essays. The build
ings which are now being pulled down arr
haunte by host of literary memories
and, however palatial may be the struc
ture reared in their place, it is safe tt
say that London will be vastly the poor
er for their disappearance.