New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-19
THE ANNE HATHAWAY COTTAGE.

"Tbe stntfor.upon-AvoH Herald OF Friday.
April g. comments as follows on the recent purchase
Of this important Shakespearan relic
The purchase of Anne Hathaway's cottage has been
completed, and Alderman ThompsOn-ilcky man
is TO receive $4,000 from the Birthplace trustees Oi
course any other body or person would have haggled
over the figures but in this instance Alderman Thomp
son was master OF the situation. The trustees OF
shalespeare's Birthplace were, in way. compelled
to purchase the property when 1t came INTO u mhr
ket or the Nation would have soundly rated them Tor
their neglect Last year the trustees obtained their
act 10 deal with the accumulated funds OF the trust
and one OF the objects they had in view In going to
Parliament was to obtain possession OF such historical
buildings as Auna Hathaways Cottage and Mary AT
denis house at Wllmcote Alderman Thompson
watched his opportunity. Here a grand chance
for making nearly clean sweep OF this fund' An
advertisement duly penned, drawn up In thhi
fine commercial spirit by which some men are I'm
,r.d and sent 10 a London newspaper. There were
reples to that advertisement and no one but Alder
man Thompson will know their contents. He got
The trustees into corner By hold1ng over thih
threat that II they did not purchase by certain day
the property might pass into other hands spiehd'u
piece OF ingenuity. And IT succeeded lie trustees
OF whom be 1t remembered, Alderman Thompson ID
the latest distinguished accession. came 10 his terms
and Anne Hathawsy's Cottage is now the property
OF the Nation.
II Is safe and that is something. 1t might have got
into the hands of a Snowman, who might bave 'htro
dnced adoments and accessories quite out OF keephg
with the historical associations OF the cottage some
rnreeectpg people seem 70 think that e. 900 FOR cot
tace I'm a tumble-dOwn condition and bringing III
rental OF Ell a year Is a fancy price. Not bit OF u!
Look at the prestige. An ardent lover OF Shakespeare
and perhaps a sincere sdmlrcr Of one or two OF his
leading characters II Is the poets reputation that
Alderman Thompson has been selling. Having ois-
played such unexamped generosity cannot the trustees
recognize all this graciousess the part OF one OF
their body by sparng few pounds more TO nave
portrait of the modest Alderman painted by some clever
artist who Is an adept in bringing out the commercial
traits Of really smart business 10 adorn the walls
of the cottage? Then the counterfeit preSentment
could be pointed TO that Of one OF strafords bne
factors. Really something Of the kind should be done
10 mark such unparalleled unsehshn Then the
Town Council wonderfully prone TO recognize virtue In
every form. might be induced to confer additional
honors upon a public spirited citizen. Ar they made
Mr. Thompson an Alderman after Ire had succeeded in
getting a thousand pounds damages out Of the rate
PAYERS pockets besides imposing another round thou
sand for expenses surely they might 70 further In their
patriotic cOursc and make him next years Mayor.
This woud show a nice discrimination Of merit and a
proper appreciation OF his lellency I'm taking SO 900
the part Of local repre- scntativcs IL they did not
recognize In appropriate form an act which ha.
been commented upon by almost every newspaper In
the land quito think with "The Daily News that
Alderman Thompson will wake up some fine morning
and be surprised at his modemtion.