The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10

chancel holding Shakspeare's grave IS by |
no means safe from modern interference
Any new incumbent coming after the pres
ent vicar 0he Rev. George ArbuthnoD,
and possessing a "crank"-let US say
against literature-whose bishop Is ready
70 favor his design, could dig the dust
inclose6 here" The only preventive would
be the force Of public opinion. But II no
one happened TO be near 10 give the warning
note that should rouse public opinion. the
world would remain I'm Ignorance OF the
mischief being done. 1t is a matter OF
urgens need that the church Of the Trinity.
IN St-atford-on-Avon, should be forever
protected from all possible local interfer-
ence by an act Of Parliament. 1t is not
too much to ask that the most honored
literary shrine in the world should be espe-
cially and particularly guarded. preserved
and freed from any debt by the govern
ment Of that country which gave ShalS-
speare birth. Such an act once passed
would be invaluable to the whole world.
and it might incorporate with its care of
the church. a governmental protection of
the whole Henley street, the birthplace,
Ann Hathaway's cottage and New Place.
There are, of course. many other hooks
and corners intimately connected with
Shakspearean history in the town and
neighborhood. but the church, the scene
OF Shakspeare's baptism; Henley street.
where he was born. and where his childish
feet wandered I'D and down on his way
20 and from school; shottery. where he
courted and won his wife. Ann Hathaway.
and New Place. where he breathed his
last. are strongly the four chief land
marks OF the passing OF the British Apollo.
THE PHILISTINES APPROACH.
strongly desire TO arouse the attention
of such true lovers of literature as honor
and reverence the genius OF Shakespeare TO
the coE1ition and state Of things as they
are "a Stratford-on-Avon at the present
day, when much more than In time past
the futhsess hand of the modernizer and
jerry builder is allowed 20 play havoc with
such old relics of the past as can never
be replaced. and whose value from their
connection with Shakespeare history Is quite
fncalculable. Many old and picturesque
houses have lately been pulled down to be
replaced by the vulgarest looking VILLAS"
while the fine oak rafters and paneling
contained in them have been sold out OF the
town. And literary England. to-
gether with literary America and all lit
erary Europe, If they please, will do we'll
TO step forward just now and save Henley
street, the street where the poet was born.
Its simple and humble character is threat
ened; Carnegie free library" of staring
new material IS to companion and dwarf
the birthplace. and the whole street will
smell to heaven" of most unpoetic mil
lions The association of the name
of Carnegie with that of Shakespeare is
grotesque, stupid and inadmissible in such
a street as Henley street, which may be
called the cradle Of English literature.
All the mischief comes from the passion
of body snatching and soul killing which
attacks small and undistinguished persons.
Any lie will serve them I'm their ghoulish
work OF rending asunder a noble and
gifted life piecemeal and exposing the NOR
sels to the public gaze labeled side by side
with their own paltry names When they
cannot do 1T in books written to deny the
genius of the man they envy and vilify
they try it on inassertive buildings, which
in the way of 'benehcence" they stamp
with the great name and their own to-
gether, linking the two in the same laurel
wreathed scroll. Buildings serve a double
purpose because they provide building con-
tracts as well public advertisement. and
the contractor can but approve Of such
u.
Literary England haunts the name of her
Shakespeare in the face of all other nations.
who. to their credit be 1t said, bow to the
masters sign. Let us see now how lit
erary England has herself defended her
greatest literary possession.
The prevailing blight OF a disastrous
Ignorance clouds the perception of many
wouio-be examiners in to Shakspearean
records; and even as regards the very
houses OF the town the present inhabitants
OF them are perhaps the least conscious Of
their former history. The Woodworking
and patient librarian at the birthplace, Mr.
Richard Savage (whose unwearying indus
try has opened out mine OF Shakspearean
wealth so vast that it would need many ex-
perts acting entirely under his guidance to
follow out the rich vein OF knowledge and
Information which he would put them all
TO work upon is tied too fast to his desk Of
daily duty to even have the time to explain
how very much there Is yet to be done by
scholars and students who would conscien-
tiously devote themselves to the task of
tracing the Shakespeare history, and es-
tablishing the proofs OF Shakspeare's con-
slant output OF work In that three-hun-
dred-years-ago period. He is only one man.
expected TO do the work OF fifty. He sits,
as * were, in the center OF great web of
time. wSose nlaments float to all points of
the compass. His untiring researches en-
able him to give accurate accounts OF al
most every old building existing in or near
Stratford. Quite lately an old house In the
High Street has been uncovered and re-
stored to its ancient beauty, and Mr.. Saw
age, diving into ancient records, finds the
history OF this house automatically carrying
II back TO the earliest days OF Edward ".
Indeed. all the records OF Stratford-on-Avon
TEEN with proofs of fits importance and
position as a guild OF advanced education
and learning In very ancient days. As early
as i402 there was free school In the town,
and at least three valuable monastic librar-
les, The deplorable ignorance OF some
writers. such as one Mr.. George Bompas
who In a recent book, entitled 1.-THE Prob
lem Of the Shakespeare Plays" describes
STAFFORD In the early days as a filthy,
benighted village.v is scarcely to be ex-
cused or condoned. seeing that every proof
TO the contrary Is on record and ready to
hand for examination. The Bacon theory >