Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-19

ITO make thee seek it" Edgar said that
would be suspected of plotting for his
inheritance. and therefore nobody would
he lieve me-" all suspicion Is thus anti
cfpated and destroyed in the mind of the
father. Edgar's offense is made to spring
from his being heir: of the heirship he
is deprived. Gloster might suspect that
Edmund was deceiving him and trying
I" be his heir, but the latter puts this
very suspicion into the mouth of EdgaQ
as the ground Of mistrust against him.
self. The above mentioned trait of Ed
mund Shakespeare has given to other
Vil'ains. notably IagO and Richard III,
Eohuhd Is not willing to wait quietly
Icr the succession, but his father must
De gotten rid of. too. Gloster sympa.
taxed deeply with Lear. and, therefore
incurred the enmity of the ruling pow,
ers. He has received by letter informa-
ton OF the invasion of Cordelia, his
leaning is toward her party. He ex-
presses this inclination and also inn
parts the news which he has received
10 the son whom he supposes to he faith-
1ul. The son at once betrays his father
and is made Earl of Gloster
Edmund. who had been previously TAX.
en- INTO the service of the faithless
uaughters OF Lear, has now obtained all
that MS family possessed. along with the
ancestral titles and has reached the goal
OF his first ambition. He will now
scheme for the possession of the state.
The fearful retribution of Gloster speedi-
~ follows. He has not seen that he has
been doing to his own child what Com
eri' and Regain We're doing to their faith.
er Gloster was seized, his ewes are
Plucked out and he is thrust forth To
sfope his way in the world. He learns
t'aat Edmund Is the informer who has
Drought upon him the present calamity.
ana at once the whole truth flashes upon
his mind
lie mas pursued an innocent son with
numerous wrath and authority; he il
Limself now driven out houseless and
homeless, and he. too. has a price set
upon his head. Another son he has
brought into this world of institutions.
under circumstances which produce
Hothlng but wrong and degradation: that
son Is the necessary instrument of his
punishment.
Inc consequences of his deed are upon
MN. Yet If Edgar We're guilty Of all the
onehses falsely laid upon him; the faith
ei conduct Is wrong, he should never
treat even a wicked son in such a wav.
Edmunds plans rest upon the fart
that his father is first superstitious. then
vengeful. 1t will be seen the character.
OF Gloster and Lear are alike, They arc
ooth unchafitable. Both bring about
5" much evil In family and state by a
want OF that quality which endures for
gives. assumes the limits of others
Ihey pursue with revenge their own
cn!lofen, they have no true love which
u'ssoiVes all shortcomings antagon-
ishs' Misunderstanding, and restores
Tie narmoDies of existence. Both are at
the head of institutions; these they viii
pervert and turn into instruments or
caprice and passion. and thus lead the
way to the grand perversion of theh
whole institutional world.
Both. too, have forgotten that th.v
nave children who will act in the sp,,,t
or the parents and who will bring home
10 them this lack Of charity. But Ed
n'und remains. his success has been
M'hout parallel; he may we'll believe
''at ms lucky destiny cannot be arrest
ed. Hitherto he has obtained ali the
honor, titles. and property of the family
OF Gloster; now his object is the pos
session of the state. He fights bravelv
against the French invasion for a crown
which he regards as his own, and to re-
move every obstacle which might arise
IN his path after the victory, he orders
Lear and Cordelia to be put to death.
This conduct brings him into direct con-
flict with Albany, the present head Of
the state, whose life he has before
sought to destroy. But Albany cannot be
his slayer: this can only be his brother
Edgar whose father he has deceived and
outraged. and who now appears as the
aVenger of the family. The base born
son IN the course of his career, has as
sailed quite all the ethical institutions
OF man his sole faith was in his cum
ming. His fate though long deferred.
IS the necessary consequence of such a.
character, someone armed with the
vengeance of violated rights DESTROYS
him.