The herald., 1895-03-23
WARDE ON SHAKESPEARE
The Famous Tragedian Gives Most
Instructive Talk
Lucid and Erudite Discussion Of the
Bard and the Development Of
the Drama

The size and quality of the audience
that assembled yesterday afternoon in
Music Hall for Mr.. Frederick Warde's lect-
ure was credit to the city. Every seat
in the large auditorium was filed, up
stairs and down, many stood, and there
were about twenty people sitting on the
stage besides. Men there were as well as
women, and boys and girls of various
ages.
The subject was Shakespeare, which
would not be considered popular one in
the ordinary acceptation of the term, yet
the hall was full in the middle of the
afternoon, and MIR. Warde handled his
subject in SO mastery manner that the
interest did not waver during the hour or
more that he talked.
He is more magnetic on the platform
than upon the stage, is graceful and easy
in his manner, his speaking voice is
beautifully moduated, his diction a
scholarly; and his eIunciaton is most
refined and beautiful.
Commencing with DR.. Jonson's eulogy
upon Shakespeare, the speaker took up the
origin of the drama about 500 years be-
fore Christ with Thespis, passed on to
Eschylus and Sophocles, and then to
Euripides, who completed the early drs-
ma, with full dramatis personae and
added scenery and various stage effects.
hC VI WIG piSocub Was COul pdTcu
to that of the past and explanation made
of why and how it is now so extremely
attractive. 1t is innate with all of US
born with us-and from infancy when thu
little girl croons over her doll and the liz
tie boy with cooked paper hat and IN
sword bestrides his fathers walking sick
and plays at being soldier. on throigh
the various phases of existence aIiare
actors.
At the age when the young MAJ and
the maiden enter society; T.. here Mr..
Warde made an effective pause. aid with
genial smile and a low bow saa-"We
all know how much acting thre is in
society," 1t is not, therefore, Surprising
that the drama has such hold upon us.
The speaker then referred to the actor
and his art. comparing the LIVING breath
ing, soul-inspiring delineatr OF great
parts in the drama with artpts in sculpt-
ure, in painting, in musis in poetry;
and he holds that the great actor-he
who lives up to high Heal In his art
is the greatest of them al.
Mr.. Warde then reiched his subject
proper. and for nearH an hour held his
audience spell bound while he spoke in
glowing terms of Shakespeare's great
ness, his knowledgeof human nature, his
wonderful inspiradon. in which he in
various plays depcted the innermost feel
ings of: men snd women the height
and depth of az the senses and passions
that was humanity; and passages were
read illustrating the various points
touched upoA.
He spoke OF the Baconian controversy.
and in numerous ways pointd out weak
points in che arguments in favor of Lord
Bacon S navlng written the plays.
1t was a most scholarly and mastery
address from beginning to end. and was
an Intellectual feast to all the hundreds
whowere present.
yhe net proceeds of the lecture will be
devoted to the uses and purposes of the
Fewsboys' Home, and, as Mr.. Warde
made no charge for his services and the
owner of the hall gave it's Use without
charge, the sum realized will be large
enough to prove substantial aid to
worthy object.