Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-26
LECTURE AT THE NEW CENTURY CLUB.

Dr. II. II. Sykes of the University
Extension staff OF lecturers discussed,
on Monday; afternoon, the historical
plays of Shakespeare as illustrated by
Henry Nv. He said: While the early
years Of Elizabeth's reign were devoid
Of literary greatness they were seed
time for its later years; there was ian
astonishing irruption of facts" which
the historical writings OF Raleigh and
Herbert, and the earlier chronicles Of Sir
Thomas More and William of Malmes-
bury put at the service Of the drama.
Shakespeare was 2S years old at the
time of the destruction of the Spanish
Armada; he was perhaps still holding
horses MT tho theatre door, but drink
ing in the greatness of the time through
all his senses. A new style of archi
lecture had displaced the old castles
all things worked together in harmony
to produce greatresults from the opera
tions Of great minds; those were noble
days in which TO live.
The translation Of italian novels put
dramatic plots at the disposal of Eng
lish writer's, and these, with the many
books OF travel of that timo, account
for the un-English names and foreign
lands and people in ShaKespeare's plays.
with that young Eagle Of the stage,
Christopher Marlowe; many of the
details Of his historical plays he owes
to Stowe and Holinshed. He was,
indeed, much indebted man; only
ono Of his plays, "Lovo's Labor LOST
was entirely his own. But he SO trans
fuses with light the bare details of the
historical story that the human life
behind it becomes evident to us. He
could take bald facts and reconstruct
the men who made them; from the
mere outlines of Plutarch's life the
living Brutus is depicted for us, and
Macbeth stands outlined in fire against
the bleak heaths Of Scotland
In Henry w. through comic and
through serious scenes energies the
essential inanliness OF Prince Hal,
which is the motive OF the play.
Imagination, not Judgment, rules Hot
spurs character in contrast with the
statesmanlike factions of the prince,
who in his maddest FRANKS, studies
the characters about him. In him we
see traces of Shakespeare in youth; of
Shakespeare, the deer stealer in the
tavern scenes we are reminded of the
contests of wit at "The Mermaid,
between him and Ben Jonson, tho latter
like great galleon, the former like %
nimbie man OF war, while Shakespeare
energies from the lowly life of London
to be man of family and gentleman
of Stratford upon Avon, as Prince Hal
shakes OFF the acquaintance of the men
in whose company he saw life even to
its dregs, as an essential element of a
kings knowledge.
The second part Of Henry w is an
unequal piece of dramatic composition
with its scrap of leftover rebellion
and the ragged remnants of plot in
which Falstaff really creates the dra-
matte situations. He is the geatest
comic creation. Of all time, witty him
self, and "the cause of wit in others. :"
He is robber, who absolutely spends
on Tuesday the purse he resolutely stole
on Monday; liar yet lie was more
to him than a means of escape from
embarrassing situations; in the alembic
Of. his wit it seemed to melt away, and
We feel with Prince Hal that 1--WE could
have better spared a better man. To
Queen Elizabeth lie was means of
getting out of difficulties;> she might
have appreciated the definition of a
Boston friend that ga lie may be an
abomination to the Lord, but it is a
very present help in time of trouble. !"
DR.. Sykes next lecture will be on
Macbeth. He would be pleased to
have the audience remain after the
close of the lecture and discuss il and
the play. This is a customary practice
in connection with the University Elk
tension lectures and the discussions are
often very interesting.
Among the speakers who will address
the meeting in the interest of prison
reform on next Thursday evening are
Mrs. e. Williamson of Elizabeth, N.
j., and Mr.. Thomas Mercer of West
Chester, Pa. The public is cordially
invited to attend this meeting. A. S.