The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-20
D0INGS AT BROWN.
Or. Lee Lectures In SayIes HaIl-Notes
From the College on the Hill.

Sayles hall was nearly filled yesterday
afternoon. when DR.. Sidney Lee. editor
OF the Dictionary OF National Biogra-
ply" delivered the first OF his two lee
lures in Providence. DIR. Lee comes TO
this country primarily to deliver a course
OF lectures before the Lowell institute m
Boston. but before his return to England
he will visit many OF our large universe
ties. Prof. Potter. in introducing the
speaker, announced that his subject
would not be shakespeare Philoso-
ply" but more general view or the
dramatist's life.
DIR. Lee said. briefly: ''Shakespeare's
universality has made him a favorite
among the French, the Germans and
readers in all languages, for all recognize
his genius and give him the highest place
among dramatists Yet the poet has a
studied English history with patriotism
and in his national epic, the English his
torical essays. he writes as only an Eng
We know more about Shakespeare than
we do OF any OF his contemporaries. Very
few points about his life remain to be
cleared UP. He was born in loo4 His
experiences as a boy and youth were
like those OF any other hot-blooded Eng
lish lad. and his education in Stratford
grammar school was the usual instruc-
ton OF the time. His early youth was
stormy, his fathers business was uncon-
genial to him and he married at is.
man had done. he set his face toward
London. and there he found his goal.
The drama was in it's infancy. the first
playhouse being built only about twelve
years ago. AS a first occupation he be-
came doorboy of a theatre. then tried his
hand at revising old plays, and then. en-
couraged by his success, he began to
write plays OF his own. Loves Labor
Lost" played in 1891. was the first play
of his own TO appear. There were many
criticisms. but his poetic fire and wonder
fal insight Immediately brought him sue
cess. Ar early as 1894 he was ordered 10
appear before the queen with more IA
peare IL seems, did not have much his
trionic ability, his greatest success being
IN old mems parts, especially as the ghost
OF King Hamlet.
The young dramatist's work was pro-
gressiye I'm quality, so much so that one
can tell by the writer's handling of a
theme the order that the play was writ
ten. Whatever the type OF writing COM
edy. history. tragedy or psychological
study. he had complete mastery OF his
art In middle life. All the passions to
which the human heart Is liable were
portrayed with unerring fidelity and mag
fcal touch. Even I'm his later period in
the Tempest" the last play he wrote
his powers were not bit dmmed and
the character OF Miranda is still the best
portrait OF the tender girl In our litera-
ture.
IL was Shakespeare's uncha nging ha bit
10 borrow his plots. He took a very wide
range OF authorities. history. biography.
romance and assimilated them into his
own being, so that when he gave them
forth again they bore the stamps OF his
Individuality.
he was not only a dramatist but a
man OF the world. He was rich enough "a
20 back TO his native town and buy the
largest house In the village. and the an
nails OF that place have recorded many OF
his business transactions. In 1916 nc
died. probably on his fifty second birth
day. and was buried In the stratford
church.
At meeting OF the class club yester.
day Harrison y. Hall. '03. was elected
manager OF the chess team, to make
arrangements for the contest with Yale
I'm May. As all OF last years team Is
still In college. n was voted that thes.
men. Easton. Hill. Hicks and Price. bs
again chosen TO represent the college
this year. However. any OF these mer
may be challenged 20 a private match
and II defeated In three out OF Eve games
he must resign to this opponent.
The national convention OF Theta Delta
Chi fraternity viii be held at Boston Feb
1f-2l The delegates from the chapter
af Brown are Blackstone. 03. and Fish
'o3. The entire chapter however. expects
60 be present at the meeting
The second reduction has been made
m the baseball squad. lowering the num-
Der who are now taking cage practice 70
ss. Practice was suspended yesterday
ss the cage was too cold. but otherwise
every man on the squad will be given
daily practice in batting and 1elding.