New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-26
WALTERS SHAKESPEARE.
AN IMAGINATIVE LIFE.


seems to afford opportunity for more casus'ry
than would be for ediiication. In the case Of
almost any other man than Shakespeare lf we
rxcent Homer. perhaps, it would be possible
to say without much hesitation whether any
given biography was or was not entitled to be
called "a true life" In Shakespeare's case, how
ever so very little Of our knowledge rests upon
certitudes and so much of our commonly received
belief has nothing behind it but tradition or
gossip. that it is not possible to dogmatize
about the subject If an enthusiast like Major
Walter chooses TO give us what appears to him the
most probable Interpretation Of such evidence,
internal and external, as we possess. and to term
il the "true life' OF the poet, 1t Is not open
to the sternest sticller for facts to charge him
with invention since, for all any man knows,
the actual truth concerning Shakespeares life
NAV be exactly what Major Walter suppoScs. Those
good people however. who think that the title
he has chosen could be warranted only by I'M
portant new discoveries will be disappointed;
at least they will not find in this volume any
conclusive evidence for the views-often very
decidedly new-which the author advances as
confidently as though he had abundant and even
superfluous proof for every one of them
But let no Shakespearean jump to a hasty con-
clusion about Major Walters book. Because 1t
is not and in the nature Of things could not he a
biography based upon entirely inedited material
il does not follow that it is a work Of no value
or consequence. On the contrary, it is a remark
able book; full of the rarest kind of Shalespearean
erudition a book which perhaps no other man
but the author could have written. For 1t en-
braces a survey, full, loving, comprehensive, not
alone of Stratford ITSELF but of all the Shakespeare
country for many a mile round about. This
really wonderful and quite unique enterprise is
the outcome of some twenty years personal re-
search carried into every nook and corner. But
even so painstaking and thorough an inquest
must have failed Of due expression had not the
writer had at his hand an illustrator whose in
dustry explains and enlightens his text at every
turn. The illustration OF the book is indeed most
profuse; that is to say, every page in the volume
has one or more woodcuts upon it, and there is
scarcely anything in the whole range of matters
discussed which is not thus elucidated. The
headings of the chapters indicate in general
way the method of the author Thus he begins by
examining "Stratford ard its Neighborhood :
hext he passes to Snitterfleld-Ilis Fathers
Birthplace and Early Home; then he treats Of
Mary Arden and Wilmcotc"; whence we pass 10
Aston Cantlow": thence to The Henley Street
Birthplace" Anne Hathaway, of course, leads to
examination v.
mands a survey of WOotton Warren. Then there
is a curious chapter on Shottery Old Manor House,
assuming that it throws light the hand-fasting
ceremony between Shakespeare and Anne Hatha-
way. The "Luddington Marriage" follows natu-
rally, and then careful account of the Chapel Of
the Guild and Jollife's Grammar School. Holy
Trinity Gods Acre, Holy Trinity Church. the
Lucys,, Charlecote Hall and neghborhood, Shake
III, fla
book to a conclusion.
Major Walter has set out with the avowed pur-
pose of upsctting much if not all the Shakespeare
tradition founded on Aubrey, Rome etc. lie Wig
orously contests every statement which tends, di-
rectly or indirectly, to lower his hero, and he en-
ploys all his ingenuity to the bringing out Of
new theories fully in accord with his own high
estimate of Shallespeare's moral character In
the course Of this purgatOn, as it may be styled,
the enthusiastic Major rejects all the legends Of
the poets wild and hayward boyhood and youth
and denies the whole Devastating episode fatty.
He puts out Of court the legend about apprentice
ship to a butcher Will have none of the horse
holding tradition, and most vehcmcntly insists
upon the entire parity and legitimacy Of the early
relations between Shakespeare and Anne Hatha-
way For the rehabilitation Of the poets repu-
taton in this respect he relies mainly upon the
prevalence Of the practice Of hand-fasting at the
time and in Warwickshirc, and it must be admitted
that he is able to adduce from the contemporary
records several cases which may very well be
closely analogous TO that of Shakespeare. Major
Walter will have nothing short Of perfection. and
so he is imperative on the subject Of sweet Aruc
Hathaway's beauty, end gives us a really charm
ing picture of the young poets wooing quite in
Z" Romeo and Juliet" style In describing the
country about Stratford, and the historic places,
the Major frequently shows his good taste by
citing those delightful and pOetcal records Of
tours about the Avon which Mr.. William Winter
has contributed at various times to American maya
zines. Major Walter had the pleasure on ore oc-
casion of Ralph Waldo Emcrson's companionship.
and tells characteristic anecdotes of the Con-
cord Sage at the Shalespearean Mecca.
The theory adopted here is that of Shakespea re s
employment first in notarys office at Stratford,
when lie began to dabbe with dramatic adapt
alton, earning something handsome by such work
before he launched into more original labors
Then, Major Walter supposes he went TO London.
and at once began to assume Importance 10 write
directly for the stage, and TO acquire large profits
What the Major has to say on the question Of
education will he found interesting. lie alone
among Shakespeare biographers has turned his
attention to the Roman Catholics in the Shake
speare country as possible repositories Of uuhacll-
neyed traditions. lie has succeeded in uncarth.
ing some beliefs which certainly 20 to strengthen
his theory Of the hand-fasting ceremony and the
legal and ecclesiastical Value attached to it, and
which further indicate an ancient legend 10 tho
effect that the young Shakespeare had the free run
of two or three quite respectable private libraric,
for that period. If this last could be luil}
authenticated it would be Of considerable impor
lance, for there is no greater puzzle in the life
of the poet as now known TO us tor unlnown than
that which has to do with the sources of his
literary knowledge. Much of his wisdom may. nc
doubt, be ascribed TO original reflection and Oh.
servation upon life; but another considerable part
Of his philosophy obviously rests upon reading
and, until the present time, nobody has succeeded
in making even plausible guess as to when and
whore this Ieadng was done. Minor Walter dncs