St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-24
LAST DAY OF THE CET.ERR ALTON
IN HIS HONOR AT STRAIT,
FORD.
MEETING UNDER TWO FLAGS.
AMERICA AND ENGLAND KNOW NO
DIFFERENCES AT THE POET,s
TOMB.
MEMORIAL WINDOW UNVEILED.
Friendly Addresses Made nv M.
bayard and Mayor of Shakes
peare's Nativity.

STRATFoRD-ON-AVoN, April 2s-Th,.
was the final day Of the celebration of Shakes
peare's birthday. The inhabitants turned
out in holiday attire. The streets which
were brilliantly decorated with American and
BRUSH hags, were crowded with visitors, and
everything possible was done to make the
event memorable one. United States AM
passador Bayard and his wife and daughter
arrived at IL: 80 o'clock in conpanv with
George F. Parker, United States consul at
birmingham. The other guests did not arrive
uhtll noon. They included a number cf
members of the Players club. of New York
which organization has presented throneb
Mr.. Parker, portrait of Edwin Booth as
f1analet to the Shakespeare theater and mu-
scum.
AS soon as the noon train arrived tha
bells We're tolled and the streets became
packed with people hurrying to witness the
unVeLlhg Oh the window in the Shakespeare
churcn. The money for the window was
contributed by American visitors. Mr.. Raw
ard drove to the church, accompanied by Lord
Leigh. When the United States ambassador
entered the edifice, Hail, Columbia" was
played upon the organ. The church was
densely crowded and the ceremony was most
impressive. wreath of laurel placed upon
the poets tomb constituted the only decora-
ton. Mr.. Bayard, in the course of a long
address, referred to the special significance
given to the present commemoration by
Americas tribute, pointing out the timeIiness
Of the gift as containing in the recognition
of Shakespeare common bond OF feeling
and sympathy.
Vicar Arbuthnot then made q speech de-
scribing the window, after which Mr. Bayard
was escorted to a raised dais in the south
transept. There he pulled the cord of the
curtain covering the beautiful window and
the American memorial to Shakespeare was
unveiled.
'I wish to thank all America for this noble
gift presented to the church by American
donors. 1t does much to knit the relations
between the two countries"
After the ceremonies at the church the
company had luncheon at the town hall. Mr..
Bayard met with an enthusiastic reception,
and in replying to a toast said:
eve have met at Shakespeare's home with
out a shadow Of difference. There is no
boundary line At another point in his re-
marks, Mr.. Bayard said: 81 am citizen Of
a republic, but I acknowledge the sover-
eighty of King Shakespeare" Mr.. Bayard
was frequently applauded.
The mayor, who responded to Lord Leighs
toast of 'The President of the United
States,' spoke Of the deep affection the
English people had for Lincoln and Gar
field, and called for three cheers for Presi-
dent Cleveland, which were heartily given.
The mayor, in his speech, said:
''It is not enough to call the Americans
cousins; there is a term Of deeper signif-
cance-they our brethren"
Every inch of space in the corridor in
which hung the portrait Of Edwin Booth,
presented by the Players club, of New York,
was occupied, and the theater itself, when the
ceremony Of presentation took place, was
packed. The portrait was surmounted by
laurel wreath and stood upon an ebony easel
in the front Of the stage. Mr. Bayard and
Consul Parker sat on the right side of the
stage. Edgar Flower, who presided an
nounced Mr.. Parker, who made the present.
alton in the name of the Players club. When
Mr.. Parker mentioned the names Of WASH
ington Irving, Hawthorne, George w. Childs.
Holmes, Bret Harte and William Winter in
his speech, they were wildly cheered, as also
were the names Of the American actors and
actresses, especially those of Mary Anderson
and Charlotte Cushman. The chairman said
that the gift was received in the name Of
Shakespeare's American admirers by the
governors, and asserted that 1t only added
another link to the good will between the
two countries, which ''are the same in art
and literatllra.b