River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-03-27
The JuG-RIpeE LITERARY.
The Soho Masters Assumption of Shakes
peare Provokos Criticism.

The Scho oil Masters Assumption of Shakes
peare Provokes Criticism.
tEThe last meeting of tho jug Ridge
Literary was a pleasurable event in
many respects, but there was feature
or two that demand attention at our
hands. We have rothing against the
new schoolmsster, but we would be de-
relict in our duty as a journalist If We
failed to call him down peg from his
lofty perch in attempting to read from
Shakespeare. What can country
sehoolmaster know about the divine
poet, we should like to know?
In his assumption of the soliloquy
in Richard ILL., where the guilty
King wonders whether it is better in
the mind to suffer the sings and arrows
Of outrageous fortune, or to fly to others
we know not of, our new schoolmaster
made CHASTITY spectacle of himself. 1t
Is the opinion of your correspondent,
given without fear or favor, that this
was piece of botchwork unworthy to
be presented to q jug Ridge audience.
The depicting of the character in cos
tune was also an insult to the intelli-
gent ladies and gents present, who
Shakespearian character without its be-
ing labeled with lot Of cast-off clothes
of the period. This unseemingly piece
Of presumption was very properly re-
sented.
eF The young gent who threw the
turnip and hit the would-be Shakespear-
ian reader on the ear moves in the very
best circles on the Ridge, and his excel
lent aim was a matter of congratulation
all around. The idea of the schoolmas-
ter strutting in upon his critical audi
ence in tights with sword dangling at
his side was simply absurd. 1t is small
wonder that he was greeted with shouts
of laugh ter. particularly from the la
dies. When our ambitious Richard
reached the line, ''Oh, that this too, too
solid flesh would melt" the shouts Of
laughter were simply deatening and
were heard clear across the Dawson
place to Squire Dawson's residence.
Solid flesh in connection with the reve-
lation of those tights was too much for
jug Ridge audience.
The tempta ton 20 strip him of his
cloak and leave him standing there be-
fore a critical audience in those tights
was too great to resist, and three we'll
known and popular young gents were on
the stage as IL actuated by simultane-
GUS inspiration, and it is needless to say,
he was shorn of his toga in tho twinkling
of an eye. This created great merriment.
He made a feeble resistance and had
the audacity to appeal to the audience,
but our people were entirely in sympa-
thy with the fun-loving boys, who were
urged on with lusty cheers. 1t is true
that he felled two of the boys with we'll
directed blows from his sturdy fists, and
for this he will have all the fighting he
can stand up to before his term closes.
We know whereof we affirm.
tEThe reception of this fellow at
our Literary shows the folly Of new
corners in a community putting on more
airs than they can conveniently carry.
We regret to state that the minis
ter, of whom we had right to expect
better things, seemed to be in sympathy
with the pedagogue, and went so far as
to rise in his place when the turnips
were flying the thickest and call for fair
play. A few turnips SHE'D in his direc-
ton had the effect of silencing him.
Strange that the minister should thus
take the chances of destroying his in
fuence in our community. We trust we
are no alarmist, but if he should find a
goodly number of buttons and shingle
nails in the contribution box next Sun
day, when he is expecting quite lift
to help him out with that old grocery
bill, he will understand where the
trouble lies. More anon.-N. Y. World.