Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-04-23

RUS - the Gay April sd comD11ly
sscribed 20 the birth Of the greatest
post earth has ever prodnced. Tvo
hnndred and tveDty-ons years hssve
, passed, yet his name stands without .
. rival. Homer for the Greeks, Virail for
world.
Amsug the days marked in the czllen-
. dar Of the Cbsntsaqua Circles this
stands a. Shakspeare's Day, and 9 pro-
cram u printed in the April Chasltaa
, qAEn for an evenings entertainment.
The Baptist Chsutanqaa Circle de-
e1aed to autedats the day by ~ hours.
20 prevent any possible prectdsnce of
! time II the natal day. and held o pleas
. ant evenings entertainment OF Tues
!, day, April 2lst, at the parl0rs Of the
Baptist Church.
Aeont GO persons were present, and
much satisfaction vas expressed With
tbs program presented
4 Openine with quotations from the
great author by various members of the
society, s0ms very witty jokes we're
played by the selecsion OF passages pre-
ssntinR some peculiar sentiment. For
instance, the first we're from Hamlet by
tbe chairman, and contained good ad
vice to the speakers
or08A 80 ~kCo@-As k38f N01a 80
pronounce it tn you. Bai II you mouth
V as some Of oar speakers do, bad a.
soon the town crisr had spoken my
lines"
Miss Florence Adams read paper
prepared for the occasion on "Shak-
speare and His Time" sho wing the con-
ditien Of the English drama vhen he
oame apon the stage and the unpar-
alleled growth Of this branch of lifera-
ture daring his life.
Shs divided his work into four periods,
ascfibinR the more sombef nature OF the
later plays 10 the cloud which hung over
his friends. vhich saddened his heart
and made him hearfsiek of the laughs
and coarse Wit Of his time. and led him
70 portray more of the evil passions,
the death dealing iealousies and politi
cal intrieues % fruitfoi IN war, murder
and ruin.
Frank MeEsas gave defamation on
Perseverance," taken from 'Troilus
and Cressiaa,n linking naturally With
the present Chsntsnqua course By lis
plot, being laid in ths Greek sieRs of
Troy.
Morris Adams told the story Of the
"fempest IN language very concise
and well chosen.
Miss Carrie Palmer gave an elaborate
pager on sShakspeare.n originally writ
ten for the Alumni Of the University Of
Washington, and presented In full In
the PosT- INTKLLIGKScER June Z, 1854.
As this vas one Of the subjects pro-
posed for the Chautauqus, MISS Palmer
kindly consented 10 repeat IL before the
circle.
As closing pisoe after an apprecia-
| BILE duet by Miss Susie Ward and Mrs.
IA. v. Ward, ths court srene from the
I.Merchaat Of Venice" was rendered In
person thongh not IN character as fol-
lows:
| Shylock. Irving Alvord
| Antonio. -. w. Btxby
bassant0.... ...........J. II. Caflysle
tiratiano. Morris Adams
Duke o.................. "A. Il. Jacobs
Psrtia. Miss Emma Clark
As no costumes were adopted the
soeue appeared as Shakspaars's argu-
ment for woman's equal rights" for
| nothing could show mi-re clearly than
this play the superior keenness and
wisdom Of the woman lawyer than the
fact that an unknown woman should
take q ease which all had forsaken,
when Bassauio was willing TO give his
life or that OF his family TO save his
friend from ''this devil Of jew" and
Antonio was already preparing
"If the Jew do cut but deep enough
To pay II presently with all my heart
Aud as that extremity should 6nd q
"law In Venice which net only re-
leased the prisoner By the anxious plea
| Of his prosecutor, but also confisoats
| the goods Of the whiiom ooRfident band
holder, leaving him ITO be hung at the 1
| Oh arity OF the State,r except "a bis for
mer helpless victim nov 10 pleased
$40 auit the fine for one half bis goods
So he will let me have
The other half In use, 70 render 10,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole bis daughter.
Two things provided more. that fof this
favor
| He presently becomes Christian;
| TIE other, that he do record eift,
Here In the court; Of all he dies pos
eesssd,
| Unto his son Lerenxo, and his daughter
IN this victory Of Pertia's as mnu,ent,
when the Duke had determiped 80 dis
miss the court a. hopeless unless Bel
turio q learned doctor come" does not
prove Shakspe ares sympathiss with she
present position OF women In Washing
ton, then words go for nothing.
| No more beautiful ssntiment ever fell
from ehakspeare's pen than those
which be makes 10 Issue from PaEtias'
bps in her plea for mercy:
.Ths quality Of mercy 3 NOS strained,
Il dfoppssh a. the Reasle rain FROM
heaven
Upon the place beneath; IL 10 twice
blessed;
Il blesssih him that gives and him that
takes.
lis miehsisst In Che mishtlsst; ID se-
comes
The throned monarch better than his !
crown;
His sospser shoss The fierce Of temporal
| power,
The attribute 20 ave and majesty
Wherein doth Sct the dread and fear Of
kings;
Bat mercy is above this scsptertd sway;
II Ia enthreuca In the hearts Of kings,
| II 10 an aitribute 10 Gasi hfneself.
And earthly power doth then show
likest Gods
Whsn mercy seasons iustiee.' p.
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