Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-23
sHAKEsPEARE's GRAVE AGAIN.

In 1877 J. Parker Norris suggested the
opening of Shakespeares grave and rev.
erently examining the remains and the
casket and such deposits as it might be
found to contain, to set at rest disputed his
torical allegations. Mr.. Norris was at once
made the target for reproach, and even
abuse, for the proposed dissertation. All
sorts of opprobrious epithets were sent in
his direction, and had he been sensitive to
anathema he must have fallen in shame
and have gone TO the unexplored region
where Shakespeare has solved the prob
lem However, the authorities agreed
with Mr.. Norris, and the tomb would have
been opened long ago but for interposition
on the part of superior officers, who were
influenced by the downpour of abuse show
cred upon Norris. The debate on the ques-
ton continued until last year, when there
was pause. In the Manhattan Norris now
returns to the charge, and again asks,
Shall We open Shakespeare's grave?'
There would seem to be no good reason
why an affirmative response should not
be made. Outside of the superstition
about its being dissertation, and the
shock to the sentiulental, what harm
can come of it? There is nothing in the
idea that is disrespectful TO the memory or
bones of the great poet 1t is true it will
be a direct infringement of his supposed
command, and will call down the maledic-
tons bottled up in the famous curse craven
above the tomb and ready to be poured out
upon whomsoever shall disturb the dram
atist's bones. But this has terror only for
the superstitious classes. To Mr.. Norris
rescue has now come DR.. Ingleby, one of
the Life Trustees Of Shakespeare's Birth
place, Museum and New Place, at STRAIT
ford-upon-Avon. He believes theintereSts
of literature justify the elimination. Norris
advances very fully the reasons for his pro-
posal, which he now renews. Shakespeare
and his family are so buried as to show
that they We're esteemed persons of i'm
portance. Therefore the graves may CON
tain historical data and the body be well
preserved. Tombs of equal age and like
construction, when opened, have shown
the features so well preserved as to admit
of the application Of photography.
Think" says ne, 50 Of a photograph of
Shakespeare History is full Of accounts
Of the tonnbs Of Kings and Queens and
mobiles being opened, and the bodies found
in comparatively good state Of preserya-
ton. William the Conqueror's portrait was
painted from his remains after he had been
entombed four hundred and tilty-fve years.
Princess Mary, dying in 1882, was found in
1917 to be preserved as to features, but
crumbled to dust on admission of air to the
casket The body of King Edward ",
after three hundred and six years of burial,
was examined, and the skeleton found in
tact. So was il too with that of Henry
VII.
Queen Katherine died in 154s, and in
1882 was disentombed, and her face found
almost as perfect as il was when she was
first laid in her leaden coffin, and wrapped
in her waxed sheet. The coffin was three
or four times disinterred thereafter up TO
1856, and the remains, except on the last
occasion, found nlfdecayed. In the old
times waxed cloths were placed upon the
faces of distinguished dead, and that found
an the grave of Charles /. bore a perfect i'm
preston of his features, SO tkat cast
might have beer taken. Public sentiment
did not prevent or condemn the opening of
the graves of Schiller, Raphael, Milton,
Burns, Ben Jorson and Bacon, and the ex-
animation of their skulls, and the taking
of casts of the heads in some cases. Even
if but bones remain in Shakespeare cas-
ket, the skull viii settle the disputed points
about the Stratford bust, and 90 far toward
establishing the correctness or falsity of the
conventional forehead of Shakespeare that
distinguishes all his portraits. So, too il !