Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-23
FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW.
Some Queer and Almost Unbelievable
Exhibitions of Ignorance.

From Tit Bits
Crit,ctsing a performance OF Robe
sphere" at the Lyceum, the Petit jour
nal of Paris, France, wrote that the
artists obtained a complete success, nota-
blv Sir Henry Irving and Madame Heliy-
Derry! 1t was the Bordeaux police, too,
who after an awkward incident IN con-
nection with Madame Bernhardt Jug
gage wrote to Paris for Information as
to the exact position of zone Sarah Bern
hardt and her means of subsistence.
But these famous people may console
themselves with the reflection tnat tney
are in excellent company. A theatrical
manager in Hungary has been discovered
who never heard of Shakespeare, and
poster In which he announced the nrse
production of Romeo and Juliet, the
sensa tional and world-renowned tragedy by
Viiliam shakespeare" stated that "the
author will be present at the perform
ance" The poster appeared on all the
boardings Of the small Hungarian town
of Illye.
That was hardly worse, however. than
the amazing action Of the editor Of a
Vienna paper, the Bezirkebote, when last
year urged it's readers to see the "Mer-
chant of Venice" In order to realize how
their great countryman Grillparser, had
rdctured Shylock. A local wag wrote, ex-
planning that it was mistake to sup
pose that Grillparser wrote the drama,
and. representing himself as the author,
sion,na his letter "Wm. Shakespeare -
TSa letter was published. and the editor.
who is a member OF a school board hoped
that Mr.. Shakespeare would De satisned
with the acknowledgment
What is less pardonable Is the ignof-
ance Of a reporter, which is seriously as
serted by an American bishop. The bishop
concluded a sermon oy Quoting the Lord
afterward for 1.-The exact words Of his
peroration." = r
The story is perhaps not more unbe-
lievable than the revelation, nn at an INQUEST
Langham had before him boy of nine,
upon whom he was Iimpressing the i'm
portance Of telling the truth. The lad
had never heard OF t ie ' teanh ana grew
Bible at SCHOOL, asked the coroner. 1.-THE
Bible-wots that?'' Haven't you never
heard of the Bible?" No. SIR" Have
the the boy, but he only. shook his head in
amazement, and the coroner refused to
take his evidence
had been born and had lived for ten years
within mile Of the Thames without see
ing q river; and a well-known South Lon
don clergyman, who mas Tor years been
conducting a natural history class, was
asked by a young lady whom he had taken
for a ramble in the country, whats tina,
strange thing in the field there?" It was
a pIoW and she had never seen one before
A traveller in Russia year or two age
came across some RUSSIAN peasants who
had never heard of America. America:
America? What government is that IMP
they asked, thinking America might be q
part of their own country. 1t was nearer
home-at Bedford-that an old lady asked
her grocer for a pound Of electric cur
rents, saying, IF they won't do for light
ing, they'll come In for puddings." We
are not told whether the lazy vas rc,atc,
to the Louisvi-ie woman OF seventy-twe
who has just learned the alphabet, bu,
they have between them, at any rate
touch Of ignorance which should make
them kin.