The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-11
LEcruaE ON snAxxsrsAnn


Frederick WasAe Addresses che High
seAee1 Rspils.
Nj. Frederick Wsrds, the eminent ira
Rsdian, isctured On Shakespeare and His
Plays" before the public teachers and
students Of the high school at the Central
building yesterday afternoon. The large
hall Vas crowded with pupils, teachers
and strangers. At it, Close. Miss Anna
Barry. on behalf Of the high school,
thanked and compiimsnted Mr.. Wards
and closed by presenting him with large
basket Of choice 6owsra
Principal Of the high school. Twitmyer,
introduced the speaker. Of whom he spoke
- not unknown In art, scianoe and litsra-
turs. ~ well ~ standing % the head Of the
dramatic profession.
shaksspsars. Mr.. Wards said. had left .
Legacy 70 postsrity that exceeded in value
The works Of any other writer, not sxclud-
Ing Cicero. Shelley, Byron, Bulver. Scott,
Thscksray. Tsnnyson and others. for the
genius Of Shakespeare overshadowed them
Ill. The origin Of the drama the
speaker skstchsd from its inception by
Thespis. 500 years B. c.. through its vari.
Gus stages OF Improvement to the time
the Roman church adopted IL to illustrate
its passion plays. IL became 20 impressive
aud important that the church cast IL out.
tearing il would overcome the church. Il
prospersd. however. and had grown to b
. power In that IL has become the ND
holder Of right and justics, held up to
scorn vice and immortality, and in fact
elevated and instructed. The drama. Mr..
wards said. Was born in ~ The little
baby girl grooming over her rag doll was
acting her part to b realised ~ . mother
in after years; the little boy strutting
about - . soldier acted the part Of man:
young girls trying on long dresses acted
their parts: tbs young man who put on Q
mask to fsighten or amuss acted Q part:
everything partook Of the drama; every
lady present knew how much actiag there
was in society; men In every walk Of life
were actors In their way. The lawyer at
the bar, the Clergyman in the pulpit, the
political orator. the senator In congress, all
were actors and eli represented the drama
Of every-day iifA How much more effect.
i've then Was IL when these various phases
we're conferred on one stage. With tho neces-
sary accessories Of scenery. and peopied
with characters representing incidents Of
life and death. awakening sympsthiss, Gre
ating laughter. exhilaratsd by music and
presenting . succession Of living, moving.
breathing pictures that remain indsiibly
impressed on the mind
Acting WAS the greatest Of oil arts be-
cause il comprised them all The sculptor.
from . shspsless block a. stone, evolved
the figure Of IN Apollo, ethereal In form
and divine in face. but when completed il
lacked life and remained nothing but
marble. The painter. by his deft touch.
produces on canvas landscape scenes that
rivaied nature. but no sunlight could ever
break through the branches Of i,s trees:
water could nos dow In iss rivules: It re-
mainsd, after all. iifslsss, nothing ba,
paint and canvaA The poet lifted the
soui TO heaven. bus the actor surpassed
them al. for by his magic art hs CON-
hined the accom- piishmsnss Of oil the
others with living characters passing b.
fore the eye. The actors were the aah-
ssract aud brief ehroniciers Of the time. -
whose field for good vas unlimited aud
whose mission 10 never snded.
Nr. wards gave Z concise skesch OF the
life Of Shakespeare from his birth. Aprii
., 1854. 10 his death. on his birthday, lei6
on which last data. BY . peculiar coin.
ciaence, Cervantes also died, leaving the
world poorer by the loss Of two great men
who had % Trandiy enriched IL. The
greatness OF Shakespeare vas never con-
sidered BY Shakespeare himself. for he LEFT
no biography. ard The only rscords Ia b
found q him eesa = ~ Rstis village