Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13

WsE"L' spz1oAz Exz,,e112Z
In the latter part of the sixteenth century
two great lights suddenly blazed out in the
galaxy of British intellects. So far did they
surpass all who went before, that each is
taken as the founder of new system, both
as the beginners OF new era So great have
they seemed to all who have come after that
comparison is considered high praise. So far
did they outshine all contemporaries in their
several lines, that those are for the most part
only quoted as witnesses to these two; and
while the time abounded in heroes, states
men, scientists and explorers, these two gave
Ii that distinctive glory which still attaches
to the Eliza bethan age These men were a
certain dramatist, whose name is in dis
pute, but usually printed "Shakespeare, ("
and Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam and
Viscount of ST. Adams. Comes now
the Hon. Ignatus Donnellv and offers
to prove that these two were one;
that shakespeare" is nom de plume,
adopted in mild burlesque of a GER
tain witty actor and stage manager; that
the authorship of the plays was concealed for
political reasons, and thus the ignorant actor
las been credited with the philosophers
work 1t is as If we should place Pixies
Peak upon Popocatapetl, or add the strength
of Samson TO the muscles and stature of
Golah. If We must add the greatest philoso-
pher down TO that time TO the greatest dra-
matist of all time, the colossal intellect thus
evoked overpowers the common mind, and
we can only remit the explanation to the
philosophy of miracles.
Let us, therefore, examine Mr.. Donnelly's
argument carefully, and add to it what
Others have discovered, for Tue theory is no
new thing For nearly half a century it has
been gaining adherents; at least $50 books
and pamphlets thereon have been issued, and
literary men are already ranged in two hos
tile camps-the Baconians and Shakespear-
ians This article is merely an attempt to
present the evidence in compact form, and
point out the strongest and weakest counts
in Mr.. Donnelly's plea, just issued.
TIE CosTRAsTED TWO.
No two men could differ more widely than
the known philosopher and the supposed
drnInatist Lord Bacon was nobly born,
rich Except during one period of his life and
learned beyond all men of his time, a re-
fined courtier, a profound lawyer and an
able judge, an a-iStocrat in politics and a
life long companion of nobleInel and the
adherents OF royalty OF the supposed
dranatist the exact reverse was true in
every respect until the middle or latter part
of his life, when he had gained fame and
fortune. The contrasted evidence is amaz-
ing and startlingly suggestive. OF Lord
Bacon we know as much as of any man il
English history. He WIS born at York
house, in the Strand, London, Jan. %, 1861
and died at Highsate, April Q, 1925 His
father was a baronet, Sir Nicholas Bacon;
his mother of noble blood and extraordinary
talents. The few specimens extaut OF her
letters are perfect models OF graceful and
classical English The style Is noticeably
''Shakespearian." She adopted Puritan
views, and her letter warming her sons
Francis and Anthony, against the theatre.
bears a striking similarity to passages in the
great dramas. Francis was precociOus and
his health was delicate. At S years Of age
he read the books usually perused BY his
parents; at II he produced az essay on the
laws Of the imagination; ut - lie entered
Trinity college, Cambridge, whence he grad
pated with high honors, ami q the age of lG
he issued q protest against lie philosophy Of
Aristotle, then preferred ct the college, and
against the general system Of teaching
''They learn nothing" lac said, Except 20 be-
ieve. They are like a becalmed ship, thcv
move but by the wind of other mems breath
and have no oGrs OF their own TO steer
withaL' From childhood he was polite ana
witty.
''How old are you, my pretty boyl" asked
Queen Elizabeth when his mother brought
him 10 court.
Two years younger than your ma jcstv's
happy reign" replied the witty little couT~
tier.
He read all the Greek ard Latin authors
critically, spoke French ana Italian. and
had some knowledge OF D@2ish end German.
He Travelled on the continent of Europe.
studied in Paris, read law TWO yeay-s, and was
admitted 10 the bar at the ace of u st IS
hs was made counsel extraordinary to the
queen; at 81 he WIS chosen member Of parlia-
nent FOR MiddleSex. and devoted himself to
a reform of the laws. Subsequently he was
special counsel 10 King James !; then sole
ttor general, attorney general, and finally
lord high chancellor. In lGiS &c was created
Baron Verulam, and IN 1871 NiscoCnt Of
St Adams
We turn now TO the alleged dranatiS., and
are at Once almost loss ia obscurity. ~ first
view be would seem no more = real historical
person than RoInulus or Agamemnon- We
know :nat there is 8 name, Shakespeare"
attached TO immortal works, from which We
form exalted conceptions OF the author, and
a portrait accompanying the worEs, which Is
admitted 10 be al Improvement or dstter-
ing imitation CT s very different picture. We
also Know that there was IN individual whose
name bore c very slight similarity to th5
other il sound, and closer Resemblance Il.
spelling; that he came - m early ago from
Sorauorc -on-Avoa. lived thirty years in Lon.
don, grew very rich as manager Of a theatre.
returned 70 his native place, and spent his
few remaining years in easy living, diversified
DIV some rather discrcditablc actions But
thnS individuals real name We cannot know,
Eince the few OF lis relatives who could write
spo LED 1t II AZ lels- iifsA -fvc different ways,
from JecoueSpecr, SiScSslleor and .iaxpvr.
enough the $40" evolution OF Sbaxpeer.
shackSoFr ShaeksueeT and SHAKER. dawn