Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
SHAKESPEARE WAS
AUTHORITY ON SPORT.
Poet Knew More of the Latter Dn,
DoinEs Than Many.

Day after day people with nothing more
important to do dig into the supposed hid
den mysteries of Shakespeares works and
| make believe they can, and do. prove all
sorts Of peculiar things of the immortal
bard of Avon. Unquestionably Shakse-
peare was versatile, but were he to have
possessed all the genius ascribed to him
by latterday wiseacres. he would hardly
have been a mere mamie would have
been G. superhuman wonder.
Justified in the course by custom pre-
vailing. the writer has taken up consider
alton Of Shakespeare as a baseball fan,
and 1t may be interesting to know that
one finds evidences of the poets famil-
liarity with the technicalities OF the game
Finterspersed Unfortunately throughout
his tragedies and comedies
Perhaps the most striking evidences OF
interest in the game is giving by the
character Menenius AgripDa. IN "Corio-
lanus,' who shows himself a true fan by
exclaiming to people on the street:
Where go you with bats and clubs?"
Evidently, II there was a game in sight.
Menenius wanted to know 1t. Later on.
In the same play. this same character
evidences his baseball knowledge by say
ing: There's nine that / know. Comm
ius. another character in "Corioianius,
Uses number of expressions that shows
his familiarity with the technical words
of the game In one place he says he
Cannot speak him home:'" in another.
che stopped the 'fliers,'" and still again
he mentioned an occurrence as being
..kickd at Marcus speaks of an OPP
portunity to make good" and Coriolan-
us himself shows his interest by exclaim-
ing: Here comes brace.'" Incidently
he also says: Let them have 'cush-
ions
Brutus was evidently at some time In
his great career used on the coaching
lines. for he wisely cautions one of his
friends to "go not home" Vo.umnia
was probably a captain of some team in
his day, and had evidently seen the bases
| full with two out. for his statement shows
it when he says. Il play the man
Even Shakespeare's women. like those
Of modern times, were apparently up in
| the terms o. the play, as witness Cres-
! siea In .'Tro.lus and Cressida = One of
| her early lines is the exclamation: How
| earnestly they 'knock'. She was thor
/ ougEly up-to-date creature anyway, and
rather inclined to uee slang. For exam
| pie, she calmly states IN Tro.IGs: Then.
! sweet my lord. I'll call mine uncle down. -
/ Shakespeare does not state what the .told
man. had been doing to merit cali
/ down from his fair niece Size was also
next" on go.f. for in one place she ex-
I claims: ..Hark! There's one up.'. Uiys-
/ ses. the great general. speaks of the
game and the order OF the field, 3 and
| says there is ..expectance on both
| sides Achilles shows himself a thor
nugh "rooter'' by exclaiming: Strike.
fellows. strike. Hector says. .I pray
you, let US see YOU In the Held and
Cressida wisely remarks. What error
| leads, must err.
In Two Gentlemen OF Verona the
duke makes excuses for an error by say
ing. BEING .mask'd. he was not sure OF
IT,. and In the Merry Wives of Wind
sor.a Evans. who Is always making mis-
takes. graveiy5 says. There is three .tIm-
pres IN this matter. as I understand.
In Henry Y. -. the French King. speak
Ing Of Harry ". and his invasion, uses
the Impression. IN the air.' 8 which.