Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24

III tnelI TeVeIeDt dcCepiduCc VI ahS
claims Of Moses and Isaiah.
This Is q very able and scholarly con-
tribution TO the Baconian theory Of the
authorship Of Shakespeare's plays. etc.
But the very title Of the book puts us
upon guard. II does not invite US 10
any calm, judicial investigation Of the
old-time belief. The author does not APP
proach the reader In any such false
colors. But he startles US upon the
very frontispiece with the bold assump-
ton that his pet theory has passed the
hypothetical stage Of controversy and
must now be accepted as established
fact with this assumption. we are fully
prepared for the most undisguised par
tisanship In the discussion.
We cannot attempt In this brief notice
even a full outline Of the authors argu-
ment. II is sufficient to say that II is
replete with learning. and with ingenuity:
and a5undantly vindicates the au-
thors ability and preparation for the
work he undertakes. The discussion is
confined entirely to an examination Of
the internal evidence of authorship In
the thought. style, and parallelism Of
the works OF Shakespeare and the
works Of Bacon. MANY OF the parallels
are fancied and forced. but some
Of them are very striking and interest
ing; but not more satisfactory. we sub
NIT to an honest inquirer. than Arch
bishop Whateey's Historic Doubts
Concerning Napoleon Bonaparte."
The author does not venture upon
the dangerous ground Of the external
evidence. We have no suggestion of any
apology. or explanation for the seclusion
under which all OF Shakespeare's con
temporaries and the generations which
have succeeded have so credulously
rested. Before Shakespeare can be de
throned there must be some plausible
reason ass gned to meet the emergency
Why and how was he enthroned? The
farther inquiry is 10 be faced, Why did
not some OF his CONTEMPORARIES In
an age which was certainly not barren
OF literary taste and acumen. or of rival
asprants for the honors and rewards OF
authorship, unmask the impostcr, or at
least suggest doubts OF his title to pri
macy among them? The Baconan theo-
ry bristles with inquiries like these. and
II will not do FOR ia advocates to be ST.
lent as the grave when the air is full OF
them.
We have no time or space even to re
peat or dwell upon these embarrass-
ments to our Baconian friends.
We are very sure that any OF our III
crary friends who may read the boof
will be abundantly compensated for tn
time expended. and tho warfnest adherer'
Of the old faith In Shakespearan right
win find pleasure and instruction IN nc
lualnting himself with the reasons al
yanced by the author OF this little boob
for stripping him OF his laurels
The volume Is handsomely PRINTED
upon good naper with clear type. 1t IS
published by the Sareent Publishin'
1ich e.
rhicago. and It's mechanical execution
would do credit to their oldest and hes
established competitors In business. II
deserves, and we have no doubt, will
have a large sale in the literary circles
If the country.
WASHINGTON; OR, THE REVOLT
TON. BY Nathan Allen. ITO to l7Se
Illustrated F.. Tennvson Nicely. CHICAGO
and New York. 1895. Pages, 1888. Price.
30 cents.
drama, but not intended for the stage.
The author is Of Revolutionary stock.
and cherlshes great reverence for the
gamers OF our independence and the
founders of our republic. He wishes T.
stimulate his feliow-citlzens to IAN ever.
our ancestors by the maintenance of
honesty in government" Of which he
thinks there Is not enough nowadays.
lie does not display any special dra.
matte power. and there are few, II any,
striking, declaimable passages In his pro-
duction. But the introduction Of the
leading actors In our Revolutionary war
as dramatis personae and interlocutors
tends 10 impress them upon the memory.
His resume Of the events OF the war
from its inception to the victory over the
boastful and dismayed Burgoyne at Sara
toga Is very accurate and verified by
coplous foot notes. The rest of the great
struggle, when France came to our aid,
is reserved by the author for his second
part His high appreciation OF the cha
racter and services OF Washington is
properly very conspicuous. Yes: how
grandly great he was. But for the per
sonal character of Washington. together
with his real ability as military chief
tain, the Colonies would probably have
been reduced to submission before they
had placed themselves In a position IN
which the French Government were WILL
ing TO openly espouse their cause. Wash
ington. almost solitary and alone. wrought
them into that position.
We have alluded to the paucity Of
striking passages or speeches In this
prose drama. About the best Is the la
mentation OF Arnold over the death Of the
brave Herkimer, who was killed at Fort
Stanwix In iii. Washington Is made
to say some good things, and he utters a
brief lamentation over his loss of Gene
raj Mercer at Princeton. But he is repre-.
scented as using an expression which
Is amenable TO criticism. He says: In
the very zenith Of our exultation. envious
fortune, coming with rapid steps to our
unwilling lips. presses the cup OF bitter
ness Thus now Is pricked the bubble
of our pleasure" He Is here made TO
compare his successes at Trenton and
Princeton. which had raised him to the
zenith OF exul alton" to a mere bubble
II pleasure" How lame and impotent!
Our author makes Franklin employ a
very doubtful figure. when he save: The
blushing maiden and the beardless boy
rushing for precedence to cast into the
caldron OF seething war their mite Tor
their country's freedom" Was the cal
dron a good place, even rhetorically, into
which they could cast their mites7 was
the war seethiDg or the caldron?
But the authors style. though not opu-
lent. is generally correct. We hope he
viii be successful In attaining to a largo
degree his ayowed object In turning from
hIs law-books in order to present his pat
riotic reminder to the great American
public. We shall welcome with pleasure
Its second part.
GYPsY's COUSIN JOY. BY Elizabeth
stuart Phelps. author Of Gypsy Brey-
ton" with Illustrations by Mary Fair
man Clark. New York: Dodd. Mead &
Co. $50 pages.
This is a new edition Of very aitrac-
tive book for girls. The scene opens In
Yorkbury, a small town In Vermont The
heroine's name is Gypsy Breyton. and her
cousin JOY whose mother 10 dead and
whose father Is travelling, comes to pay
her a visit. JOY lives In Boston. ana be-
ing an only child. Is very much spoiled