Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-03-22
SHAKESPEAREAN RECITAL.
Henry w. by Mr.. Williams in the
Messenger Opera House Tonight,


Apropos Of the Sakesperean re.
cital in the Messenger Opera House
to-night,we hope the audience will be
large, and not of the elite alone but
of the "eyery day folks as well for
we do believe that the general COM
mon crowd, the everyday unambl~
tious vulgus, the u~nbooklsh, I'M
learned people do have a great en-
joyment of the plays and good
things of Shakespeare, helped only
and explained and digested and ass
simulated through the commentaries
and i'll lstratiohs of their daily ex-
~perlences and Observation-Disclosures
preparations. Indeed, we sometimes
doubt whether Shakespeare ever
took a high artistic view of what he
was doing, or eyer, any more than
Isaiah or ST, Paul, judged his W
Sc f. We doubt whether he was
anything like as smart as his stu>
dents, or knew ha'f as much about
the dramatic art as later Shakes
peareans. The instinct of genius
is one thing, but art criticism is
another. Nobody ever accomplish
ed anything by the rules of art.
We exceedingly doubt whether
Shakespeare, If alive, could pass an
| examination on his works, any more
than Horace on his metres, or Caesar
on Latin grammar before u titled
professors or examination boards.
We have profound learning and
obvious wisdom to get in consider
ing the lilies, and beholding the
fowls Of the air. Nature is a high
instructor. We can be too deeply
learned, and lose the best things by
buyirg them with much care. The
poor actor said:
Those earthly go1fathers of Heavens
light,
That gave a name to every fixed star,
Have no more profit from their shining
nights
Than those that walk and wot no: what
they are,
Too much 10 know is to know naughs but
fame,
And ev>ry godfather can give a name,
Learned as we'll as uulearned, art
circles and art .critics and Shake-
speare clubs, and all that, have mos
tiyes and ways and language of their
own, technical, unnatural, ard, for
the most part, quite out Of sympa-
thy with Natures child, the true
poet. When pride, and vanity, and
ambition come aboat and the glare of
worldliness shines, the dew and
freshness of the morning all pass
away. In matters of truth and
earnestness it is forever SO; "Three
spoils company and four is a
crowd Single hearts, pure, true
tastes, the high flavor of sober, sim
pie, genuine joy, are not to be
bought with money or learning, or
captured by syndicates. The doors
OF the kingdom of heaven are open
only to simple, single>hearted chill
dren, and its privileges are guaran-
teed to the lowly and unselfish. The
wonders Of truth and beauty, of
knowledge and wisdom that abound
in Shakespeare, are like fruit and
blossoms growing freely on a tree
made for the special enjoyment of
~children, and for all who have
healthy appetites and fresh feelings,
The Providence Of God is impair
tial; nature has no pets. The best
gifts are bestowed freely for the use
Of the million.
All that's truly delightful in life,
Is what all, if they will, may enjoy.
:. For "every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and COM
eth down from the Father of Lights
and Shakespeare was a great gift
to mankind,
And so all who can should go out
tonight and hear Mr.. Williams a.
the Messenger Opera House in his
; Shakespearean recital, both for The
purpose Of enjoying 1t themselves
r and for the further and higher an6
praiseworthy purpose of aiding the
library fund CT the Goldsboro TRADED
School, whereby the love of litera
!. ture and the mean of indulging an6
widening that love among thu
/ young and, mediately, among thu
masses may be the better fosteree
and promulgated. Hence these run
ming reflections and suggestion
! on the art of THE ARGuS.