New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22


UREs OF THE CHURCH DOORS
THE SHAKESPEARE TRUSTS
CHARLES EDWARD FLOWER.
stratford- upon-Avon. June o.
It has again been my fortune TO dweii Tor
time in Stratford- upon-Avon and to renew the
old friendships and freshen the old associations
OF that hallowed place. Some or the kinu races
that used TO smile a welcome are seen no more
and some of the familiar resorts have been reno
waited; but in general the old borough remains
unchanged and its alluremert for the Shake
speare scholar is as potent as ever III all H"s'
land there is not a cleaner. more decorous, or
more restful town than Stratford-upni-AVoh' anu
even TO look upon IT, as you draw near. is to re-
ceiye a suggestion of peace and comfort i"e
physical prospect is still much the same tha'
,ravelIers long have known. The red BRICK
dwellings shine amid the trees the HOVER
spangle6 meadows stretch away on every Manu.
the green hills sprinkied over with copse ana
villa elimmer through silver mist. all rpuhu 'he
lovely Vale Of the Red Horse,-WeTcomDe III the
north with it's conspicuous monument; Neon III
the south. rugged and bold; Red Hi IN the
west: and far away eastward, beyond ~lue an"
sr,l,ng area Of farms and villages. the crcsts or
Edgehil. at Radley and Rising sun, "here
once the armies of King Charles con-
fronted his Roundhead foe The summer thls
year came slowly The English June uhl'
about the DIST was like the American March
There was frost and In some places there "as
light snow. and we were compelled 20 have FREE
ouent fres-so that life was often bleak ana
dreary. But all the while the verdure deepened
IN color the roads and the hedges were free from
dust: in sheltered places the white ana corai
hawthorn was abundant and the thick
pleached elms the green lanes. ana the daisied
meadows gstened with emerald sheen; ana
presently a day came when we ceased 10 eN-
change Christmas greetings. and rejected the
oyercoat and almost discarded the umorella-a
day when England. which had been all lro"ns'
decked herself once more in smiles ana we couo
look upon her face without SILVER 1t Is race
that can wear mary expressions. but wheh
propitious il is face which to see is 10 love
and nowhere is II more softly beautiful than IN
stately Warwickshire. and around the home ana
haunts Of Shakespeare.
The restoration of the Guild Hall and Grammar
School at Stratford-upon-Av has been suo'
stantaIly completed, and 1t has been done with
excellent Judgment and taste. That good Work
was planned and begun by the late Charles Ed
ward Flower and the cost Of It was borne by
him II has been carried forward under the
sunerintendence of his widow. whose noble de-
yotion TO every task and purpose cherished by
him Is that OF reverent memory and affectionate
zeal The visitor to the Guild Hall sees II now
much as II was when Shakespeare saw it, as
boy 1t is room about 10 feet long by 20 lee'
wide and about ~ feet high Three sides OF II
are panelled-the panels resting upon base OF
timber and rock. The ceiling is OF timber ana
plaster and the floor is Of stone one
massive timber runs down the centre OF
the ceiling. from north to south, and with
that the other timbers OF The ceiling run
parallel-the intermediate spaces being hlled
with plaster, finished smoothly. though with
an uneven surface. On the western size
are four spandrels. and Also high In the wall
nine windows. each about feet by 2 set near
together and filled with small, loaded diamond
shaped panes Of white glass. AT the north END
"a a large oak door-made in imitation Of the
doors Of old.-opening into passage ieadns
from the street on the west. TO the quadrangle
and "Pedagogue's House" on the east Upon the
eastern wall there are four spandrels, and there
Is a brick chimney breast. and near that Is a
large easement made OF green and white glass
through which you may look into the quad
rangIe At the south end there are thirteen large
upright and three small timbers stained black
as indeed most of the timbers are. whether new
or old,-and between these the plaster reveals
.rocas NJ ancient frescoes Five panels Of the
fresco are comprised within large oak frame
and are covered with glass. The walls above
the panels, are plastered and are hnisheu WIN
a smooth m-colored surface. The north emo
of the hall adjoins the venerable chapel tower
OF the Guild,-one Of the most picturesque obs
iacts In Stratford and unhappily, fast crumbng
10 decay In the east wall. near the north end.
there is door In the ceiling there are thirty
lipoc of imbe a a
Tho original timber ornamented with gay color.
still family visible, has been left untouched.
Presentations Of Miracle Plays and Mysteries
were effected in that hall, in the time Of Shake
speare's boyhood, and 1t may well be true as IL
believed that the first dramatic performances
the lad saw were seen by him In that
room AS sat there on sombre Sunday morn
Ing alone and listening to the rain upon the roof
the chapel bell suddenly began to ring. and
remembered the tradition that this same bell
which had sounded In his ears when he was
schoolboy, was tolled at his funeral.
The schoolroom is over the Guild Hall. and an
oak partition obviously of great age. divides 1t
in two parts. The main timbers OF the roof
which are massive and rugged. cross the room
at an altitude Of about twelve feet. and above
them is a network Of rafters The staircase lead
ing 70 the schoolroom is Of oak. and very rich.
and there are fine oak doors on the east side
and lattices the west. On the south wall
hangs a portrait OF Henry Irving as Hamlet
that great actor being honored there. as indeed
he Is everywhere else in Shakespeare's town
Eastward of the southern branch Of the school
ROOM and opening from It, Is a quaint room
called the Council Chamber. now used as IL
brary The roof rises to peak. and Is wrought
of old timbers all bare and very massive ana
strange An ancient oak table, much cut and
hacked by the jackknives OF many generations OF
boys stands ia the centre Of that room. together
with some oak benches. while around the walls
are bookcases, containing about one Thousand
volumes. and at the north side is dals SUSTAIN