The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-11

I I9 the visitor who goes to Shottery with
the hfm conviction that he will there find
anne HathawayS cottage. There is a
pIetufeSque homestead there famous all
Eyer the world eas the birthplace Of
Shakespeare'S wife, and the scene of his
courtship- The chimney corner in which
the lovers sat is duly pointed out; the
faItif te window at which the girl watched
ior the poets coming across. the fields
Is SHOWN as verify, and made to excite
the most romantic efervor. And vet no
anne Hathaway is to be traced in Shottery
records. Mr.. Sidney Lee finds an AonnS
who might have been called Anne hnt
even this does not prove that if was
SSn snakes sweetheart. Charles
1e most credulous of all Shakes
peare's biographers, sadly admits: 1--WE
cannot say absolutely that Anne Hath
away was of Shottery." Mr. Snowden
ward arrives at the same conclusion
families from whom the poets wife might
have come. mo NJ
But even if Anne lived in the cottage
I ner cottage disappeared long ago; the
present structure is only part of Richard
it1dlnaWay farm, and, as Mr.. Lee saws
mas undergone many alterations and
f ita wang s.; AS for the. family itself,
ago. and the late Mrs Baker-'.the last
OF the Hathaway" a pious decefver
'tho had no real claim to the considera
ton she received.
In the light of such facts, what are wa
10 say OF the Shakespeare and Hathaway
relics at the cottage? What reply shat,
we make to that typical extravaganza in
u IN by Or. Brandes. who draws
picture of Shakespeare's journey to tue
cottage?-'He would enter, and look once
more upon the wooden bench in the chin
ney corner on which he and she had set
In their ardent youth. There was tbe
old fifteenth century bed in which Anne;s
parents had slept, with her, as child
at their feet" The Anne Hatbawav
Sf Tated f II not TIA, myth, is not demon
lovers sat in their ardent YOUTH is a
pretty fancy. The lattice window is
mere, but whether shakespeare wife
was ever within a mile or two of ~ ;S
open to discussion. Shotterv is f,II ~
denghtful romance but romance shouIn
not De offered Shakespearean pilgrims az
substantial realities 80
Inc Stratfofd legends and the alleged
Snakespearean relics should he know, SoIs
what they are. AT period when a do
termlned attack is being made upen th.
b Pi" lai ne ana when doubt is cast upon
ms very identity, Stratford should he the
iast place TO lend itself to any form Of
llpoSture, innocent or designed Rv co
dolng 1t is only supplying ammunition for
the enemyS armory ia
have been induced to call at+entio, 70
a rev sailent facts out of the MANY '
nave noted in order to warn the Styat
a aoId authorlties of the risk they are in
IuiIIhS; shakespeare becomes no clearer
to US by false representation nv ~, go ,,'9i
t t tam ASSOCIATION In Mr.. Salt Bassing
Ton ton at the Memorial theater. and in Mr.
o miebard r savage, at New Place, thor
f Susi fro repre IRE body of trustees,
n1zing their responsibility to the nation
ana TO the whole world of letters woI1Id
ma able, experienced, scholarly and ex
They need more scope nationaI +r,s,
you'd you'd give 1t to them, and would free ths
Shakespeare shrine of Its present defeets
ana make 1t one that we could approach
feVerently, without (7iSfurhip,r f1oir,ItS1r
with easy consciences.-S. Cunine Wal 51aio
tiers, in The London Times