Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-05-29
roRr1A. WIFE OF BAssAN1o.
An Interesting D%elineation of that Charm,
ing Sliakesperian Character.

All AHteieStAuk l1elIIle.attIOu III tililV Sllalr1h.
ing ShakesperiaM Character.
AT the entertainment and supper
given at the home of Mr.. and r. T..
Conner by the Shakespeare Club of this
city on the 24th of last month in COM
memoration of the birth of the great
bard of Avon, Mrs. James Bradley re-
spondcd to the toast, 1.-THE Women of
Shakespeare with the following adj
mirable address on the character of
Portia, in the Merchant of Venice:
III Portia does not stand in the first
rank of Sh~akespeare's creations. it is
certainly a noble. beautiful, lovable
character he has gi~en us i'll her. This
high-born lady. richly left and fair, was
not inferior in graces OF mind and per-
SOL totlat other Portia, whowas Cato's
daughter. the wife of i3rutus.
AS Il daughter, what filial obedience
she shows to the father who is dead.
Though she counts it u great hardship
that She may neither choose nor refuse
any of her suitors-yet she says 81 will
live and die as chaste as Diana, if l be
not obtained by the manner of my
fathers will"
How wittily she comments on her
a witforhe can talk nothingbut horse.'
OF the French lord who had noindivid-
uality or character of his own but was
s.everyman and no man, she says "God
made him therefore let him pass for a
man." The young German who is given
to his cups, She slikes very vilely in the
morning when he is sober, and most
vilely i'll the afternoon when he is
drunk"
But when BaSsanio comes. her heart
responds to his wooing. Her love is
not sickly sentiment, being based upon
respect and esteem. She finds him
worthy of all praise" Yet it is ardent
enough to please the most eXacting.
When she perceives he has chosen the
casket containing her portrait, see how
she unveils her heart. 'Oh love be
moderate. allay thy ecstacy. In meas
ure rein thy JOY, scant this Scess. /
feel too much thy blessing, make it
less for fear l surfeit."
When Bassanio confessed to Portia
that he had no fortune, only his high
birth and ancestry to boast of, she, who
loved him for his noLle qualities, an
swered with a graceful modesty that
she would wish herself "a Thousand
times more fair, ten Thousand times
more rich to be worthy of him." and
then this beautiful and accomplished
girl prettily dispraised herself, saying
she was an "unlessoned girl, unschooled,
Impractical" Yet not so old but she
could learn, and that she would COM
NIT her spirit to be directed and gov
erned by him i'll all things.
The happinessof the lovers was soon
broken in upon by Antonio's letter and
Portia learns of the borrowed money,
the bond and the peril of Bassanio's
friend.
What rare unselishness does she
display. Even in this first delight of
loving and being loved, does she urge
Bassanio to 'dispatch all business and
BECOME" asking only that their mar
riage may take place at once, that he
may havea legal right to use her money
for Antonio's relief.
Upon his departure her quick
woman's wit plans out a way in which
she may assist to secure Antonio's re.
lease. With grand courage and the
guidance of her own true and perfect
Judgment, she resolves to go herself to
Venice and speak in Antonio's defense.
She sent in haste to her cousin Doctor
Bellario, a learned -counselor-at-law
for advice how to proceed and coun.
sellor's dress. She arrived in Venice
on the day of trial and went at once to
the court room. Her husband is there
beside his friend, with anguish painted
upon his face, but he does not recog.
nize her. Her sunny curls are hidden
under a big wig andher form disguised
by the c~ounselor's robes.
Portia presented tothe Duke her let.
ters from Bellario in which he re.
quested that she might be permitted
to plead in his stead; which being
granted, she bravely began. She first
addressed herself to Shylock, allowing
that he had q right by the Venetian