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


as it's good-its mad people as well as it's
sane; but it scarcely behooves Shakspeare's
countrymen to pay special attention to the
bad and mad side Of their transatlantic
cousins. Much talk do Americans make Of
their love for Shakespeare, yet they are the
very people who have flung calumny on
his name. Their conduct in this matter has
by no means evoked any special respect or
affection for them in Stratford-on-Avon.
Certes, they have given a window to the
Trinity Church, very ugly one, too, of
which the whole cost is only G400, and
which is not yet paid for, though it was
unveiled" with all due solemnity by Mr..
Bayard, the then American ambassador.
so far back as 1896. All these years the
american admirers of Shakespeare have
been busy paying off that window, they
are so CHASTITY poor. The sum of clio yet
remains on it; and so, as the vicar pathetic
ally says, sit seems that the window will
not be free from debt for several years
yet Hail Columbia! One must have pa
thence with the poor little pauper who loves
the memory of Shakespeare so much! Then
there is a debt on the church itself. amount
ing to s312, which no "millionaire"-Eng-
lish, South African or American-offers to
pay, probably because it is not likely the
vicar would put stone in the wall saying
that So-and-so had generously paid it.
It would have to be quite a private affair,
sort Of "let not thy right hand know
what thy left hand doeth'-not a bold,
brand-new free library. That is why it is
not done. Apropos of the admiration pro-
fessed by Americans for Shakespeare, IL is
worth noting that Mr.. Choate, the present
United States ambassador. declined the in
vitation of the mayor of Stratford-on-Avoh
to be the principal guest at the anniversary
banquet this year on April %.
Talking of America, a wondrouS Mr..
Childs. Of Philadelphia, generously" put
up a fountain in Stratford-on-Avon some
years ago. OF the ugliest possible squat
design and make. 1t looks as IL 1t had been
hewn out of fit of dull abstraction by a
man Of the Stone period. With that foun-
tain in its eye, with that window in it's
church, Stratford-on-Avon hopes-respect-
fully and earnestly hopes-that America
will give II no more positively ugly things
in honor of Shakespeare. There are just
now certain dark rumors afioat that Amer
lea intends to ''build'' something in Strait
ford to testify TO its love for the great i'm
mortal, and two wandering females from
oceans other side have been seen taking
notes." Now heaven forfend that any more
American gifts of new design and best
material cumber the poor, quaint little
streets! Though assuredly America could
do much II she liked to beautify and ''re-
store the town. She could, for instance.
purchase and pull down the frightful mod
ern excresence known as 'Lloyd's Bank"
a,,I in Ire rN1a nd
full reproduction of the "Globe Theater.
Blackfriars," with a fair garden" at
tached. Such a building could be used
when the Memorial Theater was set aside
for the special warming of the feet of the
custodians, and plays could be given in it
by skilled and powerful actors. without
scenery, as in Shakspeare's own time.
would do this If 1 were in America; more
| over. / would pay for my own window in
the church, and till had done these things
would not talk so much about the i'm
mortal memory of a man to whom i owed
money.
AN URGENT APPEAL.
There is. as has already been said, only
one Shakspeare-there IS only one Strait
| ford-on-Avon-and 1t is not unreasonable.
not unpatriotic. 10 ask the assistance of all
| the lovers of literature in the world 10 join
| in one strong body OF earnest appeal to the
| British government TO keep the spot sacred.
| and hand ii down as intact as may be to
| succeeding generations. who will be CRATE
| full to them for the gift. Nothing more
| and nothing less is required than an act
| of Parliament TO save the old streets and
buildings from modern vandalism and de-
struction. An act, moreover, which shall
not leave everything OF historic value sole
/ ly in the hands OF trustees guardians
who may be In any way UNITED for the
work. or who might possibly take their
| duties too lightly.
| Here Il seems there has been that lack OF
xoraonsfranca which Games from selfish