The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-24
WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE.
A Contribution TO an Interesting Dis.
cushion.
Wee bacon the Author OF Shakespeare
PIsyse-1Ir. Donneiiy's Theory Drs-
eusssd- Shakespeare's Poetry and
Baeon's Philosophy.

Did Francis Bacon write she plays as.
cribed to William Shakespeare? Mr.. Igna-
ra,ius D5nnelIy says yes Criticism and
comment say 40. Sxinburne likens Shakes.
peare to an unsounded sea; and for two GEN.
turies minds OF every pbaae and caliber have
been sndeavoring to explore this ses. No
orhsr single source has given impetus to
such iitersry food as that which comes
from the Shak espearean dramas. They have
been studied aud admired by the ablest men
that have lived since their publication.
Coleiidge, for Instance. who believe to have
been quite - competent as General Butler
is; sLd sohlesel. whoss critical Judgment
will compare not disadvsntsgsously With that
Of Appleton MORGAN; and Goethe, too, who
will pcssibiy stand shoulder to SHOULDER
with IRnatius Donnelly.
"To know . man we'll were to know him
self" Many ofthe most eminent critics OF the
6hakespsarean drama were no less poets and
philosophers than critics. Indeed G oeths is
scarcely less than Shakespeare, and Cole.
ridge scarcely lets than Goethe. They
knew. in the general sense that we
know any thing. the human soul. They
knew themselves; by the affinity OF genius
they Knew their eqnas. and certainly none
% competent fs they to know whoms,ever the
Infinite Father created above them. Their
requirements embraced the learning OF their
time They kew Shakespeare; they knew
Bacon. And they also knew that the mighty
mind which mapped out the Insia 1ratio
Magma did not evolve Othello and Macbeth.
IL addition to these observations on criti.
cisn We may consider that Sainte- Bsuvs-
the king Of critics. who sounded all the
shoaIs aud depths OF learning, and whose
knowledge OF character was not q Wait less
than that OF Shatespeare-saw nothing TO
indicate that Francis Bacon was the author
the Sbskespearean drama.
As believers In the Baconiau authorship
have seen no name mentioned deserving
special consideration except that of Henry
Temple; and even his opinion, every one
will admit was only pre- eminent in matters
Of state. Entering upon . political career
ct The sse OF twenty-five as Lord of the
Admiralty. passing on from that to Secretary
OF War, aud from that to Prime Minister,
servirg in this capacity longer than
any other man, except Liverpool. and
almost continuously In some offics OF
government from the time of his political
advent until his DEATH his estimate OF the
plays that bear Shskespeare's name, and the
question ~ to whether Shakespeare or Bacon
wrote them,is hardly worthy to be placed be-
side that CT some others who favor the su-
thorshipof Shakespeare, much less to counter
act IL.
Mr.. Donnelly sayu he has discovered the
cipher OF Bacon in Henry Nv. and the Msrry
Wives and upon this bases the theory that
Bacon wrote the 6hakespearean plays. This
II DO d assertion, and to substantiate il IL Is
necestsry to present premise fully "a bold.
NJ Donrelly, however, Is equal TO the occl-
sion ne has created. He declares that Ban,n
Is . universal genius. This IS absurd alto
gether unworthy . critic who assumes to re-
veal tie secrets Of the great. Fartherm Ore, the
detection of universal genius is beyond the
ken Of those who thus FAR, at least, have
claimed to discover 1t in Bacon.
The best argument In favor OF Shakespeare
Is that Of nature, and yet, strange Is it doth
appear, this is brought forward in favor of
Bacon; not In its simplicity, in which alone
are its beauty and forcs and truth, but in O
way which shows that nothing bat vast in
tellect strengthened and enriched by laborl-
Gus study. could have produced the
6hakespearean plays-and that Bs.
con was the only man OF
his age who pos sessed this requisite great in
tellsct and universal kno Wedge. Let cir
cumstances 90 what they wil they can no,
completely obliterate the divine mark, and
the apprsca,ive soul, though the winds o
adversely pile the clouds into n mount a
deep as Pelion, will see IL and rejoice.
Shakespeare, it is said, was the son OF a
wool dealer (Mr. Donneliy prefers hatchery
stanoss. having occupis ia his native town
the flee Of High BAillff and Chief Nh niclpal
Dignifsrv. but gradually sunk into great dis
tress aud ultimately was recipient OF
charity. Genius" rays Irving, delights to
nestle ITS offspring in strange places" Whai
of shskespeare's childhood? Nothing his
toiicsl and yet the general conclusion can
not be far from accurate. We know that his
father was poor. and that his intellectual die,
was rot at all like the curriculum OF Ca IN
bridge. His name in childhood Is not
respondent with the halo of the school angel
rs In manhood with that of the worlds first
genius He wss not the infant Bossuet, mol
the infant Bacon, nor possibly the infsn.
Ba'zac. Whether prec5cious or dull we
know rot. 1t is evident that his mind
was not Of sy the sa5y
He was free OF the customary environ
ments Of education, and fortunate tina. be
was free for all his productions in after life
are the fullblown fruit that grows nnhinder
ed from an abundant soil and falls in III
feaxo1. Though the plays may have beer
well revised. they do not bear the marks o.
strain O. drudRery in competition, whict
must nave been the case bad Bacon writtea
them when he was young and obscure, o.
even after he began his judicial and political
career, and before he reached the position oil
Chancellor. 1t is manifest that Shakes pear'
was student in youth His work aound
anty shows it. But OF what was he stu
dente OF nature and human nsture-.h
eum and substance of his poetry. Above all
Shakespeare knew man and had the gentle
msa Bacon known him one-tenth ash veil q
the ylete;an Shakespeare he might have
achieved glory a. q statesman instead o
shane. IL is shallow and pedantic trick tC
sneer at the base born genius and kneel to tn
learned aristocrat. The raltry spirit In which
the ridiculous claim for Bacon is made il
cbyious-not to deter rhine the authorship o
the plays. nor to enhance the fame o
Bsccp. but rather that those max
ing il may be rep1ted erudite- If dis
ciplire Is so highly advsntageous-quit.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT it be smiss to es.ab'is
schools specially equipped for the training o
pcett? | know the voice OF Q perse cutst
world will say no, but If We can develop
Shsksspeares let the work begin.
Francis Bacon was not poet BY n ,turs
vet behold the poetic marvels OF his liz
guistic historical aud metaphysical stables
"A marvel verily-a more astounding one thai