The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-14
INGsRsOLL OF SHAKESPEARE.
The Fsmou. Inhdei's Eu'ogy of EngIand's
Great Poet.

The appearance al the Academy OF
Music last night Of Bob. 1ngersoll the
notorious inddel and al-around sceptic.
right in the midst Of powerful rell-
gious crusade against sin and vice in
every shape or FORM was an incentive
TO tho curiosity Of many prominent peo-
pie, who greeted me VISITOR III MS lee
ture ON Shakespeare. The majority of
those nroeort had never seen Mr.. Inger.
soil ,,ho,. ,rore somewhat surprised TO
find him a straight man, rather stout,
with q ,toar-shaycn face. bald-head,
Win ecsrCitv of white fringed around,
and an ossv bearing. Mr.. IngersOll
wears enectaclag. fe uses manuscript TO
which ne sficks rather closely. Ecsticu-
latos well. and possesses deep. pleasing
voice mar makes his delivery quite effec-
tive Tfo snoke Tor two hours His au-
dience was a credltable one They lis
tened closely 10 the discourse. and APP
plausc was given reeiy.
The lecturer. after a brief introduc-
ton. in which he gave running sketch
Of Shakespeare's early life, combatted
the theory that Bacon wrote the immor-
tai dramas which have come down to
us. He claimed that Lord Bacon lack
cd the Imagination ana the broad, eX-
pansive information necessary Tor the
production of such comprehensive gems
OF thought.
Mr.. IngersolI then delivered one of
the most elaborate eulogies upon the
genius. knowledge and powers of Shakes
pearc ever heard n this city. He con-
WINGED some OF his hearers that he wor-
shipped nothing higher than the works
Of the bard Of Avon, and did not fail
To flavor the discourse with vein Of
inndelty, at times cropping out, appar-
entity in spite Of The speaker. Shakes
peare. said he. was an icOnoclast. lie
cared nothing for The thoughts of the
world. recognized that Nature disregarded
both life and death and knew that the
sun shines as brightly upon collins as
upon revelry. The poet created no types,
but made characters, individuals, living
persons lie thought OF q character as
an entity. "He can throw "a character
of so perfect" said the speaker. "as TO
appear to do his own talking" His char
actcrs act from within, and the didactic
element i'm the great playwright IS lost
in the dramatic He never preached. lie
never used the pulpit 10 enforce some
maxim"
Mr.. Ingerson took occasion 10 pay a
splendid tribute 90 woman's cOnstancy
and faithful devotion. In this connection
he spoke so earnestly and used so many
lofty descriptive adjectives as TO wreathe
the faces of many of his fair hearers
i'm smiles.
tie declared that Shakespeare made no
perfect men in depicting his characters,
but ideal women. "He has done more
for woman" said the lecturer, than
all the other dramatsts Of the world
together" In describing the genius that
taF no - fnffaf no said
II do not believe the human mind Will
ever produce or learn To appreciate a
greater love play than Romeo and Jul
let
Drifting back 10 theories born and
nursed through long-cOntinued campaign
against Christianity. the infide orator held
that Shakespeare was great enough e
know that crimes were but mistakes, an'
that there was no darkness other thar
ignorance; that man was but prey t.
destiny, and that the destiny Of each an'
every man was invincible.
Growing pontedly humorous, Mr.. In
gersoll opposed the theory that Shakes
peare was physician, upon the sroun'
that the poet had too much sense 10 nav
been a member Of that profession. III
was not a lawyer, said the lecturer
His sense Of justice wasn't dulled by read
ing English law; nor was he a scientist
He simply possessed a vivid imagination
and observed nature in every form. Ill
was natures mirror. From leaf and
drop Of water he could construct the fores
and the sea-
In conclusion Mr. lngersoll said: "H
was an intellectual ocean whose wave
washed all the shores OF thought, toward
which all rivers ran and from which tn
isles and continents Of imagination, geniu
and knowledge sprang
one Of the most striking features o
Mr.. Ingersoll as a speaker il his wonder
full command of language. His vocab1lar.
would be a valuable acquisition to an
| lecturer. With a self-conhdence appa
rcntly born Of conviction, a keen appre
citation of the most effective means OF eN
preston, and a hrrnness Of delivery to-
| seldom seen in public speakers, the lee
turers sharp thrusts at the Creator
| Word are frequently smothered beneatl
the subueties Of an orators art.