The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-31
ENGLAND Of BlRDOF avon.
Rev. n. n. Gowsn Lectures On the
Conditions Of Hkingasn In the
Days of willism Shakespeare
Life ana Characteristics ef People

.sThe England Of Shakespeare was the
subfect OF the second Of the course OF leo
lures by the Rev. III. II. Gowen at Collins
hall, delivered last night to q large audi
ence.
The lecturer began by describing the
services of literature to history, and spoke
OF English literature as to a large extent
saving England from being regarded as
foreign country. After dwelling In gem
erai way upon the manner In which from
the poem Of Beowulf downward the his
tory of England had been thus illustrated
The field was limited to study OF the time
and plays Of Shakespeare.
The greatness Of the time was described
from the old English chroniciers, Baker.
Hollenshed and others. and deliberately IL
Illustrated from references to the plays
Such aspects Of English life were dwelt
upon as the houses, food. drink, dress.
means Of travel. punishment Of crime. POI
eition Of woman and such life In the Eng
land Of 300 years ago.
Coming to Shakespeare's life. the
speaker gave description of Warwick
shire. with special reference to those parts
mentioned In the plays. such as the forest
OF Arden, wincot and the town Of Strait
ford-on-Avon. The birthplace OF Shakes
peare was pictured in some detail and a
running sketch given of such incidents OF
his childhood and boyhood as had light
thrown on them from the dramas. Such
were the poets first acquaintance with the
strolling troupes of players, his school
days, his acquaintance with the rural life
Of England, as the strengthening and the
rustic dances at harvest and other times,
and his acquaintance with woodcraft. The
Devastating episode at Sir Thomas Lucy's
park Of Charlecote was alluded to, as was
also his marriage, and then the scene
was changed from Warwickshire to Lon-
don. and a brief account given Of the
poets career In the metropolis. The next
part Of the lecture dealt with the plays
rather than with the life.
The plays of English history or English
scenery were touched upon. viz: The ten
historical plays. the two tragedies OF
Lear and "Cymbaline'' and the comedy
1.-THE Merry Wives OF Windsor" which
was described as Shakespeare's only play
OF contemporary manners. In connection
with this play several English scenes were
described, such as Windsor. New Park,
where Falstaff was pinched by the fairies,
and Datchett Mead. where the fat knight
was emptied from the buck basket into
the river.
Other places famous through their asso-
citation with Shakespeare's plays were de-
scribed, such as Dover Castle, the scene
of Prince Arthurs death; Shakespeare's
CHI, Wnltner the DINO GIOuceStor was leo
by Edgar in Lear; Milford Haven, where
Imogen's appointment was made with
Posthumus in "Cymbeline," and the Beers
Head at Eastcheap. the scene Of SO many
Falstafiian revels. A few types of Eng
lish character were then considered, in
GLIDING Falstaff, who was defended from
some of the charges generally urged
against him: Dogberry and Verges. the
rustic watchmen in Much Ado About
Nothing Bottom and his fellows. from
'The Midsummer Nights Dream" and
othera
The lecture ended by a tribute to Shakes
peare's patriotism, illustrated by refer
ences to several of the historical plays.
and in conclusion the prediction was made
that II ever the time came when a world
wide race, lovers of a worldwide litera-
ture. should decide upon commen festi-
val day. that day might well be April q,
Shakespeare's birthday and death day, sa-
cred to Engllshmen as st. Georges day.
but sacred in no limited national sense
to men of English speech throughout the
world as the festal day of William Shakes
pear0.