New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
Dt.sf1lusioned at fbe Shrine OF
Shakespeare.

"A
the train at Stratford- Avon. They were
Americans. as the cabmen guessed 1T once from
the youminous dustcoat and yarIs of travel
ler's veil on the wife. She was rosy young
creature with eyes full Of elation- sac had
evidently come prepared To worship at the
Shakespeare shrine unreservedly. He was a
pale, self-contained college man, with a look OF
suspicion and a sceptics smile. They shook off
the dozen persistent guides and Cabmen VINO
Immediately surrounded them, and, after ask
ing the way to the church where Shakespeare
buried. started briskly up the street The
wife. carrying her red guide book open in her
hand, glanced eagerly from side to side and
talked necessarily as they made their way along
Just think, Ned" she exclimed, I'VE are
really in the town where He lived" land a
capital H" on the he does feeble justice to
the reverent emphasis she placed upon that
little word II suppose He used to come
whistling down this street and jocundly greet
the ancestors Of those very people We are meet
ing now"
My dear Amy" said her husband. IF you
not enthusiastic you would perceive
that these people tourists And far as
1 can see." he added. looking back at the pro-
cession that followed them from the train.
most Of the people in this town to-day per
sonaly conducted tourists at that"
'Oh, look at those queer little houses cried
the elated one, as they turned a corner; Just
think how old they are! There's a date on one
of them Wait moment-fve-th ree-Nhy'-
her voice fell little-"its 1853 Well now, it
looked old. didn't it? But there-see. that gray
stone place-that's the church: l know its the
church where He is buried-hurry'; and she
darted the street and began to peer
rapturOusly at a doorway All the tourists on
the street also stopped, fearful of missing the
sight of single historical treasure.
Isn't the church open?" said the young
American wife. breathessly. to a shOpkeeper
standing by. THAT amt a church, MISS" he
responded cOmpassionately; that's a school"
We'll, its very picturesque anyway" said the
undiscouraged pilgrim to her husband as the
whole tourist train began to move again. so
many buildings in this country look so ike
churches, with their grayStone fronts and
pointed windows and little towers and no door
bells, that 1 don't why you need laugh at
me. / wish all these people wouldn't come be-
hind US. No matter how hard we try. We are
always being taken for Cooks tourists. I'm
sure L don't see why they can't go up back
street. do you? Oh, that's the church. l know
1t is, because their guide is beginning to roar"
The crowd of chattering tourists walked be-
tween the quiet graves in the churchyard like
a political parade and streamed into the his
toric church. Where is the American WIN
Z
Seven ages Of man. Amt it ele.ant?" Il think
its the best thing here don't your exclaimed
q compatriot, appealing to the young couple
Where is Shakespeares grave?' asked the
wife in 4 tremulous voice. Right UP there
where the crowd is inside those altar rails" The
pair worked their way to side view of the
sacred spot. They could not get directly in front
of it, for an extremely large Teutonic traveller
had taken up his position there and was earnest
ly reading and rereadng the world famous in
scription in broken German Afterward he sank
into meditation. but amount of polite pressure
could make him move on.
Isn't il wonderful, dear, to think his bones are
theIeT' said the American wife. Hum I've
often wondered whether some enterprisinq in
habitant didn't make up that cursed be he who
moves my bones just prevent it's being dis
covered that the bard wasn't really laid there at
all. unused her husband. Il him murdered
way out in Kansas City just before left home
said Woud-be wag next to them.
Come away, Ned. for mercy's sake" said the
enthusiastic girl. really shocked. Don't stand
there minute longer. Come and the font
where Shakespeare was baptized"
You mean where he may have been baptized"
said the 5ceptical husband Il don't mean any
such thing There's record OF his baptism
isn't there?" she retorted. hanging over the font