St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-27

it for the destruction of them. 1t
curlOuSly enough happens that 1gnatiuS
D0nnelly is named for this very man,
and he is trying to head off Shakespeare.
Before this time there were ingenious
critics seeking to show that Shakes
peare was Roman Catholic. | have
little doubt that Shakespeare was just
as much Catholic as Protestant, for
the time at which he wrote was tue
period when England had both dis
turbed its faith and had imperfectly at
tanned any other faith. 1t was old
Henry VIII. who made England Prot
estant. and yet refused to allow it to
protest against himself; his first heir
made the prayer-book; his second heir
burned the people who used the prayer
book: his third heir burned the
people who had burned the folks who
used the prayer-book. 1t was the
house that Jack built over again. A
fine talent like Bacon and fine genius
like Shakespeare would pay just as
much attention to either side of that
theological controversy as was neces-
sary for their several purposes.
Shakespeare was hack writer in one
sense, but all the great work of litera-
ture is done by the hacks. No amateur
ever did anything that extended beyond
amateur boundaries. The greatest
amateur actress of the world is only
known to a parlorful.. Mr.. Donnelly is
essentially an amateur in the literary
field. He miScOnceiveS the amount of
information in the age when he would
destroy the respectable fable of Shakes
peare for the absurd fable of poet
who was at bottom mere riddle
maker.
/ was only last year at the house at
Wilton, England, where Shakespeare
brought his company down to play in
the presence of King James l., who was
making a visit there; The audience
was no doubt composed not only of the
earl and the king and the fine ladies.
but of all the ladies' maids, lackeys. and
the aim of the man who made the piece
was to draw tears and applause from
that audience by striking the true keys
of human nature. What matters it how
a career commences? There was Grant,
who died but yesterday, brought up by
a tanner in an obscure country town. and
put to riding horses which had not been
broken. He got to hObnob with kings
andsQueenS and TO make great settle
ments in the polity of the globe. But
you may be sure that no man like Grant
would ever undertake to find cipher
underneath great career. Reverend
men who are really religious, believing
in poetry and prOfoundneSs, too, will
take Joy in the simple authenticity of
Shakespeare and never seek to con
found him with heavy. crafty, over
reaching judge, who yet is entitled to
all consideration for his solid philos-
ophy and vast learning. Here we have
i'll the present time Wagner as the most
popular poet and musician. Where did
he go for the subjects of his intricate
musical compositions? He went back
to the nursery of the German races
when heathenism and Christianity were
contending together in the same
garment, and myths and mira
Giles and the great poetry of
human nature were involved with
each other. He took the 'Flying
Dutchman," who had to sail forever
because he had sworn that he never
would stop sailing until he turned a
about the minstrel singer who had gone
off with Venus and lived with her, and
returned to this earth to seek forgive
ness. These are the inspirations of
everlasting poetry. In like manner
Shakespeare took up the ordinary leg
endary history of the kings Of his coun-
try, and did work of patriotism in his
plays of the Roses and of King Lear.
He borrowed from everybody who went
before him, and probably often tackled
up the plays of secondary aud unknown
men in which he had discovered meat
and quality. Mr.. Donnelly must be-
come poet before he can understand
Shakespeare. He must also become a
scientific man before he can understand
Bacon. His literary performance is
about that of the man who does tricks
with a pack of cards.