New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04

In no other. But his literary practices. his pro-
fessional experiences. were quite like those OK
other men, Here find Mr.. Lee invaluable
First he shows us the boy Shakespeare In his
Warwickshre environment. the son OF once
successful. but afterward rapidly declining.
trader lie is probably attentive to his Latin at
school, and probably mischievous after the FASH
ion of the comrades Of his leisure He is poacher
enough for Sir Thomas Lucy to make the neigh
borhood a little too hot for him, and reckless
gallant enough to land himself in marriage
with Anne Hathaway, that he might later II
uncompromised, have preferred TO aVoiu. MI
Lee follows the Grant young man TO i1onuo'i'
and portrays him there as gravitating perhaps
by instinct. perhaps by force OF circumstance
toward the theatre From this time on ohahe-
spcare Is a Characteristic figure 1T the hte'aiJ
life of London IT, as Rowe observes. he was
received into company OF players at h's' /"
a very mean rank" and served as Malone re-
corded from tradition, as prompters attehuan'
or caboy. his rise was probably rapid because
we soon hear of him in higher position. 'he'-
tle the publisher. writing in 1882. within
four years Of Shakespeare's arrival IN LIE
metropolis. describes him es excellent IN
the oualitie he processes" which may be
Interpreted to mean. Beeston later ex-
pressed it, that he did act exceedingly WELL
But we are less concerned with his acting than
with his work as writer The professional
playwrghts" says Mr. Lee. sold their plays
outright to one or the other OF the acting COM
panes. and they retained no legal interest IN
them after the manuscript had passed into the
hands Of the theatrical manager. IL was nos
unusual for the manager to invite extensive re-
vision Of a play at the hands of others than us
author before ii produced on the stage, and
again whenever it was revived. Shakespeare
gained his earliest experience as a dramatist
by revising or rewriting behind the scenes plays
that had become the property OF his manager
Thus we see the poet slipping at once into his
natural groove and working among his fellows
like any other craftsman with living to make
The date OF his first original production is
matter of conjecture but Mr.. Lees notes on
Loves Labours Lost" fortifies the ascription Of
that play to a position Of priority in time. 1t Is
interesting to observe that it is unique in
Shakespeare's history for its frank employment
Of material lying the surface of the political
and social life he before him. He did not
borrow the pot-an uncommon thing with him
but there are names and motives In the play
that he took straight from contemporaneous
people and events Mr.. Lee pays attention, OF
course to the steady development henceforth
in Shakespeare's genius, saying: In his early
plays the spirit Of comedy or tragedy appears
in its simplicity; his powers gradually
tured he depicted life in its most complex nvo-
lutions, and portrayed with mastery insight
the subtle gradatons OF human sentiment and
the mysterious workings Of human passion.
Comedy and tragedy gradually blended;
and his work finally developed pathos such as
could only come Of ripe experience" But as
cannot be too often stated. we cannot pretend
to discover any OF the forces at work beneath
that stupendous evolution. Mr. Lee can only
show the quiet, sweet-tempered. patient
actor and dramatist touring the provinces
recting the work of other men, and one by one
handing his manuscripts TO the company
We know that he was successful that his plays
were liked at Court and among the people, that
he won the friendship of most OF his professional
contemporaries though others, like Greene re-
scented his triumphant we know, too that as
he grew more popular he grew richer. until his
average annual income. before 1890, amounted
to about tl30 This a large sum, equva-
lent TO more than 81 900 in the currency OF the
present day. After 1899 his fortune vas largely
increased. He good business man. and
carefully invested his money In Stratford ono
Of the first steps he took toward the rehabilita-
ton Of his family consisted in the purchase OF
New Place. property the possession Of which
instantly increased his local Importance "As
a resident Of the town." says Mr.. Lee "he took
a full share Of social and civic responsibilities"
Domestic affairs. litigation. and the most or
binary activities Of life now engaged his atten-
ton His death rounds out his career in char
actcristic quictudc. Though he was for so many
years at the heart of the dramatic enterprises
OF the time. he is a comparatively placid figure