The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-16

The shakcspcarc-Isacon Controversy.
The Hon. Ignatius Donnelly is just
on the eve OF bringing out his much her
aided book, which as he confidently
announces, will set at rest the question
as to who wrote Shakespeare. He sets
sail tomorrow from New York for Eu-
rope, whittier he goes to superintend the
bringing out of the work in England
simultaneously with its publication in
this country.
lie was in Chicago on Monday and
that evening he delivered lecture at
Central Music Hall to a large audience
that gathered together to hear him tell
some Of the various reasons why he
holds that Bacon and not Shakespeare
WINS the author of the most wonderful
book ever coined out OF the human
brain.
Donnelly is scholar OF some repute,
and was once n member OF Congress.
He is man of high position in Mime
sofa. He faced an unbelieving audience
in Chicago Monday night, and was
Piled with all sorts Of questions by devo-
tees OF the great name.
However, the Chicago Tribune says,
he was equal to the occasion, and ere
tired, alter one OF the liveliest battles
ever waged in a debating room, with the
honors Of war" We quote from the
IribunGs report us follows:
Having slaughtered his critics he
slaughtered Shakespeare. The plays, he
said, had modified the world, like Christi
anity. The learning which they dis
played was incredible. Lawyers pro-
nounced their author lawyer; doctors
"a doctor.
And what was he?
He came from dirty little village.
The first mention OF his name was when
n mud-heap was removed from his faith
er's door. He was poacher; he made n
disreputable marriage; he belonged to a
society OF bucolic beer-drinkers; he went
to school where nothing but dog-Latin
was taught; he was bred in place
where only six Aldermen could sign
their names. "And the Aldermen" said
Mr.. Donnelly, "were, OF course, the best
men in the town"
There was Il roar at this.
"You understand" added the lecturer,
"that l am speaking of the sixteenth
century"
Up rose gentleman OF professional
mien. lie had been sitting in the bal
cony. "Mr. Donnelly," he said, "do
you not believe that Shakespeare wrote
Venus and Adonis' and Rape of Lu-
crece'?"
mo, sir, don't"
"What do you believe he wrote?"
else. There is nothing in Tennyson so
polished as the poems which you name.
How should believe that young man
came up from the country, disgraced,
fleeing from justice, and wrote u poem
full OF the language OF the universali-
ties2"
ais there anything more extraordin-
ury," cried somebody else, lin Shaks-
peare's knowledge than in Ben jon
son's%
"Jonson had n universally educa-
ton"
"Jonson was bricklayer."
"No, sir, he was not. His mother
married bricklnyer. Ben Jonson was
at Cambridge"
The fight was going to wax hot, when
Mr.. Gunther, the candymaker, arose.
Mr.. Gunther wanted to know why, if
Shakespeare could not write, his family
Ind monument placed over his tomb
representing him rs standing with u pen
in his hand.
Thiswas aposer. Mr.. Donnelly unused.
Irish wit came to his rescue. co." said
he, "If you are going to take testimony
from tombstones you offer evidence that
no properly constituted court would ac-
While the laugh ran round Mr.. Joseph
Wright, the lawyer, caught the speakers
eye. "Mr. Donnelly," said he, impress
sively "if Henry Irving claimed the
authorship OF plays that were written for
him would not the members OF his COM
pany expose himY
Mr.. Donnelly regarded his interlOcutor
in silence. 81 will trouble the janitor,"
he said, after pause, ito get me some
more water. II am to answer every
body in the house must drink"
Replies like these kept the lecturer
ahoat amid the tempest OF criticisms. 1t
was readiness rather than wit, but it
preserved good temper and good humor
throughout the hall.
"Did not AIarlowe testify to Shaks-
peare's authorship pursued Mr..
Wright.
Marlowc died before Shakespeare
wrote.n
"Do you mean, sir, that Shakespeare
had written nothing in 1888"
y play had been attributed to him.
But at that time he was probably hold
ing horses ut the theatre Doors"
"And Jonson," did he not testifyP"
mo doubt; no doubt. But in his po- |
en- on the Fifteen Great Wits OF Eng
land he refers to Bacon as having filled |
all numbers, and omits Shakespeare al.
together. Besides Whispering very
mysteriously), Jonson was in the Sc
crct."
Mr.. Gunther, the candy man, was not
by the answers made to Mr..
Wright, "If no plays" he said, remain
in Shakspeare's handwriting, do any re-
main in Bacon'sT
Bacon was too foxy to leave any"
said Mr.. Donnelly.
At which Prof. Pearson, OF the North
western University, grew red in the face,