Morris tribune., 1888-06-13

cuSStOn na0 grown OUT OF th6 Iacb that 10r
more than 200 years the production Of
the plays by Shakespeare had been
considered . literary miracle, and the dispo-
sition OF an incredulous age to eliminate it;
and now, what was the result of all this
labor but transportation and magnifying Of
the miraclei ForILwhat other Is 1t than q
miracle If we add six cubits and a span TO
the stature Of Goliah: or increase the strength
Of Hercules by superadding Samson's; or
augment the wisdom of Solomon with
that Of Socratesf For surely he does
no less than these who doubles the In
tellectual stature of Francis Bacon, who,
from his known works, is adjudged by almost
all great critics to have been the greatest man
that ever lived Shakespeare alone, IL any,
matching him in greatness IL 1t should be
proved that Bacon should stand upon the
shoulders Of his only supposed compeer to be
measured for his niche in famc's temple;
that, bisected, he was the greatest two men
that ever ived-have we not miracles No.
hut we have more, for there be phenomena
that are greater than any miracle, and this
Is one. II the pen that wrote the Essays,
tho Advancement Of Learning and the new
Organon, wrote, also, not only clear"
Hamlet, Macbeth" "Othello" and STU.
illus Cesar" but Romeo and Juliet, )" "Mid-
summer Nights Dream "As You Like It."
"Comedy Of Errors" and others, then, In
deed, was 1t magic pen, and he'who welded
it the composite Of all humanity, with Q
quantum Of divine leaven superadded, such
as has never been vouchsafed to any other
man.
For Shakspere, unlearned as he was, to
have sounded all the depths and shoalsn OF
learning, to have culled SO much wealth from
the debris Of dead languages with which he
was not familiar, was miracle; for Bacon
to have added the production Of the plays to
that Of his other works, was a phenomenon;
and is as much greater than the other as the
equipoise and rotation Of the solar system Is
greater than the floating Of an axe head or
the transformation of rods into serpents.
There are two facts worthy Of note: The
turning from SHAKESPEARE Is an expression
of the widespread unbelief in his ability; the
turning to Bacon Is an expression Of the gen.
eral recognition Of his transcendent genius.
If Shakspere did not write the plays, then
it must have been the man who "rnade all
knowledge his province" It Is also worthy
of note that the greatest merit OF the ones
charming poetry is its philosophy; and the
greatest charm Of the others meritorious
philosophy is its poetry. If the authors were
not one, surely Shakspere borrowed Bacon's
sage and left his muse for surety.
It is natural that the theory should be Wig
orously combated so long as it is only q
theory, for it may be an injustice is being
done; but If it can be demonstrated, it would
seem that all men should hail it with joy. for
it raises the standard of humanity to twice
its supposed hight. It is compliment to the
human race, to the planet on which we live,
and humanity should feel such a dilatation
Of the soul as must, for time, seem like in
dation.
= 1.-THE GREAT cRYPToGRAM."
/ The full title of Mr.. Donnelly's book IL:
"The Great Cryptogram: Francis Bacon's
Cipher in the So Called Shakespeare Plays"
1t is magnificent imperial octave volume
Of 1000 pages, and is divided into three parts
or books: Book 1.-The Argument Book Il
The Demonstration. Book III-Conclusions.
Throughout it is written in an easy, enter
tanning style, such as will hold the attention
OF the reader. From typographical stand
point the volume Is a credit to the art pre-
sentative, being beautifully printed, with
engraved titles and numerous illustrations,
all Of very high order. The frontispiece is
portrait on steel Of Lord Bacon, from the
celebrated painting of Van Somer. The
work is published by r. s. Peale & Co.,
whose principal Office is at 407425 Dearborn
street, Chicago. The publishers announce
that the second edition will probably be
issued in two volumes, as the original price
of the work was based on the supposition
that it would contain only 700 pages. 1.-The
Great Cryptogram" is sold by subscription
only, and an army Of agents will soon be in
the field. 1t win not be sold in the book
stores, but orders may be sent direct to the
publishers by those who have not had an op-
portunity to subscribe.
ATTACK ON THE SUBSCRIPTION BOOK.
The intense feeling against Mr.. Donnelly
and his book has manifested itself in almost
every form Of opposition imaginable, from
the fippant charge Of hallucination and
crankiness to the sober imputation of willful
demning the book In advance, some have
gone so Far as to find matter Of criticism in
the method by which the book Is published
and sold-that is, the subscription method,
as If that could affect the merit OF the work.
Grants, Blaine's and Logan's books were all
Mark Twains. By this method publishers
are warranted In undertaking what would
otherwise be too hazardous, and many books
are thus issued which could not otherwise see
the light Some Of the best editions OF the
Shakespeare plays have been published in
this way, and never could have been pub
lished in any other way. Not only this, but
thousands Of people are thus induced 60 read
who rarely see the inside of library " book
store, and the cottage without small collec-
tion Of choice books is now the exception,
Besides this an army Of enterprising men
and women find profitable employment; and
this book should certainly offer them > field
faFsa hq m
ton has ever occurred.
A list of eminent men who have been book
agents comprises many authors and states
men. The following is from The Philadel-
phia Times:
"George Washington was book agent,
and a good one. Prior to the fateful Brad
dock expedition he sold over 200 copies in
Fairfax and adjoining counties in Virginia
of work on The American Savage Jay
Gould, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Mark
Twain were in early life book canvassers. So
also was Longfellow, and his success was re-
ic1s ~