The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-21
MR. wARDEs LECTURE.

Lon A LARGE ASSEMBLAGE OF
salt Lakers the hands of time were
turned backward 800 years yesterday
afternoon and the people lived ana
walked In Observation-Disclosures with
William Shakespeare. II was Fred
eriek Warde, the eminent actor and no
less eminent lecturer. whose deft
fingers turned back the leaves. whose
simple, unstudied eloquence held the
audience in attention that cannot be
described otherwise than as breathless.
Mr. Warde made his hearers feel
that they knew Shakespeare the man
as we'll as Shakespeare the poet and
playwriter He took his people into his
confidence with intimate, personal
anecdotes of the bard Of Avon and
when the people left the Theatre they
felt that they had known Shakespeare
for the first time, In his lecture Mr..
Warde made no attempt at effects.
Rather he assumed the conversational
tone and manner except when he rose
10 heights Of real greatness in giving
selections from shakespeare's plays.
At the outset the lecturer told Of
shakespeare's life. except for the gap
between his birth and his marriage,
which no Shakespearean student has
ever been able 70 bridge. And the story
was told with all the rare charm that
a finished platform speaker can COM
mand Mr. Warde said he recounted
the circumstances Of Shakespeare's
birth and education in order 70 show
the absurdity OF the claim that the
plays OF Shakespeare were written by
another.
He went into the origin of the
Baconian theory and held up with
keen ridleule its disciples and apostles.
II was evident that Mr.. Warde felt
keenly on the subject for he reverted
10 It at various times during his re-
marks. But the greater part OF the
lecture was devoted 10 a simple but
heartfelt eulogy OF Shakespeare and his
works.
Mr.. Warde talked stiITingly of the
influence OF ShakespeaTeaR plays for
education. He said that the presenta-
ton OF shazespeare's plays. especially
the plays or historical interest, had
the effect OF stirring a desire for more
knowledge about the times and the
subjects treated. And he Is right
There is nothing in the shakespearear
drama that is not elevating. that is
not good. that is not true and thai
does not ring as clear today as il did
when the words were penned.
The lecturer was specially impressive
when he talked OF the Christianity In
Shakespeare. And that was a point
which was new 20 many OF his hear.
ers. He said that every one OF Shakes
peare's leading characters appealed II
their hour o. deepest distress TO Al
mighty God for help. And Shakespear,
dealt 50 gently with al religions. II
a time when religious partisanship RAJ
kigh. he never allowed himself 10 TAX
sides IN his writings with one or an
ether
And then Mr.. warde drifted into tn
subject IN which he Is 50 charming, I
subject on which he lectured befor
but which he has never eNhausted-th
women Of Shakespeare. For every on
OF Shakespeares women he had ;
measure OF praise. one was womanly
another was true to her friends. an
other sacrificed her hopes OF heaven I
advance her husband. and so on dow
the line. Almost the only one who wa
left out was the Anne in Richard III
and 1t is very probable that Mr.. Ward
could have found some good reasol
why she allowed herself to be wooed b,
the bier q her husband.
at intervals during the lecture NJ