The Washington times., 1895-02-15
Will Shakespeare, as Seen by
StratfOrd's Vicar.
HIS IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA
The Study of the Poet and Dramatist More
Prevalent rth-Distingulshing Names
of Our cities-5ehooling of Gentle Will
Many Americans Visit Stratford-Two
Lectures to Ee Given in Washington.

The Church OF Holy Trinity, at Stratford-on-
Avon, is the shrine to which all lovers of gentle
Will Shakespeare bend their steps when on
the soil OF merrie England. Those who have
been on that pilgrimage will doubtless re-
member the genial vicar, Rev. G. Arbuthnot
He has been there for fifteen years. and, as
he told The TIMEs yesterday, nearly every
Sunday afternoon after the services
are concluded it has been his pleas
ure to show to parties OF from
twenty to twenty-five Americans the
grave and bust of Shakespeare. "And So"
said he, now that have come to America to
see its people 1 find friends everywhere go
whom had met at the old church.
A kindly face, black hair and beard. tinged
with gray. clerical and scholarly appear
ance, and figure of solid build are the out
ward sembalnces OF the vicar OF Holy Trinity
on-Ayon. A genial heart, eyinced by the
cordial grasp of the hand, together with
strong personal magnetism. makes an indi-
viduality that wins friends everywhere. He
says that he has come to see his many friends
in America first of all, and then our great
country. During the four months he has been
.
fornia and back through New Orleans and
the Southern States.
REV. MR.. ARBUTHNoT's IMPRESSIONS.
TIE blizzard of a week ago in.erfered with
his enjoyment OF the first part of his stay in
Washington, but since then he has seen the
points OF interest and largely traversed, as he
says our ''city of magnificent distances"
do you know" he continued, II was
! struck with the way you Americans have of
/ giving your large cities distinguishing
names?'
The vicar is much pleased with our magnii-
cent buildings and broad streets, with their
/ symmetrical arrangement and fine yistas.
1.-The difficulty with our foreign cities" said
I he, sis that they are so old that the streets
are often narrow and Irregular. You have
had an opportunity here in the United States
to lay out your streets before your cities we're
/ built"
1t is impossible to talk with Mr. Arbuthnot
without Imbibing much that is interesting of
Shakespeare and his home Ii Is, of course,
| a fayorite subject with him, and he has many
charming tale TO tell.
Il found" said he,' that the study OF
/ Shakespeare Is not so common here as
/ farther North As yet / have not found
single Shakespeare society here. and in Phil
adelphia, the home of your greatest Shakes
pearean scholar. DR.. Horace Furniss. the
solitary society there consists OF only eighteen
members.
by the way" continued he, "Dr. Furniss
{ was some time ago elected as one OF the trus-
tees of Shakespeare's birthplace, but untor-
1 tunateiy there was n law which prohibited an
allen from holding the place. OF course DR..
/ Turniss could not renCunce his American
/ citizenship. so another trustee had to be
elected. We ali regretted it very much. for
we think that Shakespeare's birthplace ought
10 belong 10 the whole world.
EXTENT OF sHAKEsPEABE's SCHOOLING.
Mr Arbuthnot thinks that people do not
generally understand the extent of Shake
speare's schooling. "Our grammar schools,
l imagine" said he correspond to your
high schools. and it was a grammar school
which Shakespeare attended Our schools
are graded as elementary and grammar
schools and then the universities. Still
I Shakespeare left school early, for at the age
/ OF tweuty-one he went to London to seek his
fortune
There is another thing about which 1 find
/ many have an erroneous idea. They speak Of
the church rs a little church. As matter of
fac; il is large parish church one hundred
and nineiy-seyen feet long, as large suppose
a most OF your churches here. The village
also is larger than is commonly supposed, as
it has eight thousand inhabitants.
/ Il have. continued he. some very fine
views OF scenes In the church and about the
village which l show with the stereopticon in
my lectures. Here is rubbing from the
inscription over the grave: Good friend, for
Jesus sake forbear'
BEST BUST IN EXISTENCE.
This show as well as a copy of the bust
which rests in niche in the wall. The
features OF that bust ought to be the best in
existence. for if gave satisfaction to rela-
tives and friends vino knew him. 1t is much
better than your American busts, as for in
stance. the one in the Corcoran Art Gallery
/ also have a fac-simile of the register OF
deaths OF the church, which dates back to
1855 and contains the entry of Shakespeare 3
death.
April Is. VIII Shakespeare. Gent That
was in 1876
A lecture will be given tonight at the Ma
tional Rifles Hall, before the National Geo
graphical Society. by Rev. Mr.. Arbuthnot, on
''Shakespeare's England" Admission will
be by invitation. Monday night he will give
a public lecture in the lecture-room of st.
Pauls P. E. Church, for the benefit of the
rectory.